SỞ GD&ĐT VĨNH PHÚC KỲ THI CHỌN HSG LỚP 9 THPT NĂM HỌC 2024-2025

ĐỀ THI SỐ 7: TIẾNG ANH 9

ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC Thời gian thi: 150 phút, không kể thời gian giao đề
(Đề thi gồm 08 trang)

PART I- LISTENING (50 POINTS)

Question 1. Listen and fill the missing words in the blanks. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS
AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer. (14 points)
THE URBAN LANDSCAPE
Two areas of focus:
1. the effect of vegetation in the urban climate
2. ways of planning our (1) __________ better

Large-scale impact of trees:

1. they can make cities more or less (2) __________
2. in summer they can make cities cooler.
3. they can make inland cities more (3) __________

Local impact of tress:

1. they can make local areas
- more (4) __________
- cooler
- more humid
- less windy
- less dangerous

Comparing tress and buildings

Temperature regulation:
2. trees (5) __________ water through their leaves
3. building surfaces may reach high temperatures
Wind force:
1. tall buildings cause more wind at ground level
2. trees (6) __________ the wind force
Noise:
1. trees have a small effect on traffic noise
2. (7) __________ noise passes through trees

Important points to consider:

1. trees require a lot of sunlight, water and space to grow.
Your answers
1. ………………. 2. ………………. 3. ………………. 4. ……………….
5. ………………. 6. ………………. 7. ……………….
Question 2. You will hear an interview with a man called Daren Howarth, who works as a carbon coach.
Listen and complete the sentences. (16 points)
The Carbon Coach

Daren says that a carbon coach works full-time as a (1) ____________ with various clients.
Before becoming a carbon coach, Daren trained to be an (2) ___________.
When assessing a family's carbon footprint, Daren looks first at their (3) __________.
Daren uses what's called a (4) ________ to see how much electricity things use.
Daren points out that the government will help pay for roof insulation.
Daren feels that using (5) __________ of the old type is the worst waste of energy he sees.
 Daren helped to reduce a band's carbon footprint at their concerts as well as on its CDs.
Daren mentions a new type of green home called an (6) ________ .
The new green home uses both the sun and (7) _______ to produce electricity.
Daren suggests buying a (8) ________ which gives more information about the new green home..
Your answers
1. ………………. 2. ………………. 3. ………………. 4. ……………….
5. ………………. 6. ………………. 7. ………………. 8. ……………….
Question 3. You will hear a woman asking a tutor for more information about a Media Studies course at
a university. Listen and decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). (10 points)
1. Louise worked at a radio station for about 4 years.
2. Louise wants to do a Masters because employers like post-graduate qualifications.
3. It will take 4 years to do the Masters part-time rather than the modular route.
4. To join the course, Louis must have research experience and a completed thesis
5. Students can find the details on funding on the university website.
Your answers
1. …………… 2. …………… 3. …………… 4. …………… 5. ……………
Question 4. You will hear an interview with the television actress Donna Denton. Choose the best answer
(A, B, or C) for each of the following questions. (10 points)
1. As a child, Donna started going to dancing classes because_________.
A. her mother persuaded her to
B. they were relatively expensive
C. she wanted to be with friends
2. What did Donna do to get a place at Knightswell Stage School?
A. She took part in a musical show.
B. She got her parents to pay in advance.
C. She gave a demonstration of her skills.
3. Donna believes that she won the school singing competition because_________.
A. she had learnt to be less nervous when performing.
B. she had chosen to perform her favourite song.
C. she had been practicing one particular song for years.
4. What does Donna say about her first parts on television?
A. A private teacher helped her find them.
B. They were useful in developing her career.
C. It was easy enough for students to get them.
5. When talking about near future, Donna says that_________.
A. she has agreed to record a music CD soon.
B. she has accepted an unexpected invitation.
C. she has had to make a difficult choice.
Your answers
1. …………… 2. …………… 3. …………… 4. …………… 5. ……………
PART II – LEXICO AND GRAMMAR (40 POINTS)
Question 1. Choose the option (A, B, C or D) that best completes each of the following sentences. (20
points)
1. The boxer hit his opponent so hard that he was ___________ for ten minutes.
A. asleep B. knocked about C. unconscious D. stopped
2. Because of an unfortunate ______ your order was not dispatched by the date requested.
A. hindrance B. oversight
C. negligence D. transgression
3. The death ___________ in the earthquake has been put at over one thousand.
A. damage B. toll C. rate D. loss
4. Don’t be __________ by false advertisements. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
A. put off B. given up C. taken in D. put down
5. By next Saturday you ___________ with us for 6 months.
 A. will have stayed B. will stay C. have stayed D. are staying
6. The child sat in the middle of the floor and ___________ refused to move.
A. distinctively B. decisively C. flatly D. totally
7. The manager told his assistant to ___________ the mistake immediately.
A. rectify B. maltreat C. sanction D. banish
8. After a six-year relationship, Martha and Billy have decided to ___________.
A. break the bank B. turn the page C. tie the knot D. make the grade
9. Not until the seventeenth century ___________ to measure the speed of light.
A. anyone did even attempt B. did anyone even attempt
C. even did anyone attempt D. did even attempt anyone
10. The director retired early ___________ ill health.
A. on behalf of B. ahead of C. on account of D. in front of
11. Little did I imagine The Amazing Race would entail long-winded journeys and ups and downs
__________ .
A. aplenty B. inexhaustibly C. profusely D. superabundant
12. It stands to reason that a touch of humor and optimism can work ____________ .
A. on all cylinders B. spectacles
C. wonders D. your fingers to the bone
13. I admit that I am late for the conference, but by _______________ of excuse let me explain: my plane was
delayed for 6 hours in Hanoi.
A. courtesy B. dint C. means D. way
14. A lot of criticism and scorn has been heaped _____________ his opinions.
A. above B. beyond C. on D. up
15. At first, she was ____________ dumbfounded to hear that he wanted to break up, and then came the
stirrings of auto-hypnotic perturbation.
A. exceedingly B. out-and-out C. somewhat D. utterly
16. What stands out from The Voice Kids is that many young children are ___________ with natural talent for
music.
A. bestowed B. conferred C. endowed D. vouchsafed
17. With the economic situation looming large, many families find it difficult to rear their ________.
A. descendant B. lineage C. offspring D. successor
18. Researchers have made a(n) __________ plea for more sponsorship so that they can continue their project.
A. compassionate B. dispassionate C. encompassed D. impassioned
19. That Mary is an ______ liar: you must take what she says with a small grain of salt.
A. incorrigible B. incurable C. irredeemable D. irremediable
20. Unanswered, the demands for nuclear deterrents have _________ fears of civil war.
A. flashed up B. prognosticated C. sidetracked D. stoked up
Answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

Question 2. Use the word given in capitals at the end of each sentence to form a word that fits in the space
in the sentence. There is an example. (10 points)
0. admirable
Example:
0. Mr. Brown has a great many ______qualities. ADMIRE
1. Deaths caused by reckless driving are ______. AVOID
2. The coat was ______ in shades of blue and green. PATTERN
3. Most tinned fruits contain ______amounts of sugar. EXCESS
4. He fell off the bike, but his______ were not serious. INJURE
5. In electronics, we learn to repair______ appliances. HOUSE
6. Trung's sense of humor______ him from other students. DISTINCT
7. People use first-aid to ease the victim's pain and______. ANXIOUS
8. The scenery was really ______ beautiful. BREATHE
 9. You don't respond well to positive______, which is only made to help you. CRITIC
10. ______as it may seem, mammoths were alive only five thousand years ago.
CREDIBLE

Your answers:
1. …………. 2. …………. 3. …………. 4. …………. 5. ………….
6. …………. 7. …………. 8. …………. 9. …………. 10. ………….
Question 3. Each line of the following passage contains ONE mistake. Identify and correct them. Write
your answer in the space given. (10 points)
Sport in society
The position of sport in today’s society has changed out of all recognization. People no longer seem to
think about sport as ‘just a game’ – to be watched or played for the sake of enjoyment. Instead, it has
become large business worldwide. It has become accepted practice for heading companies to provide
sponsorship. TV companies pay large sums of money to screen important matches. The result has been
huge financial awards for athletes, some of them are now very wealthy, particularly top football
players, golfers and tennis players. In addition, it is not usual for some athletes to receive large fees on
top of their salary, for advertising products or making individual appearances. A trend towards shorter
working hours mean that people generally tend to have more free time, both to watch and to take part in
sport activity.
Your answers:
Mistake Correction Mistake Correction
1. ………………… ………………… 6. ………………… …………………
2. ………………… ………………… 7. ………………… …………………
3. ………………… ………………… 8. ………………… …………………
4. ………………… ………………… 9. ………………… …………………
5. ………………… ………………… 10. ………………… …………………

PART III – READING (60 POINTS)

Question 1. Choose the best option (A, B, C or D) that best fits the blank space in the following passage.
(10 points)
Proof that silence is golden for studying
The combination of music and study has long been a source of disagreement between adults and
children. Parents and teachers alike maintain that silence is important when learning, (1) ________ youngsters
insist that their favourite sounds help them concentrate.
Now a study shows the grown-ups have been right all along. Psychologists in Florida tested how fast
students wrote essays with and without music in the (2) ________. They found that the sounds (3) ________
progress down by about sixty words per hour. 'This demonstrates clearly that it is difficult to (4) ________ with
listening and writing at the same time,' said Dr Sarah Randall. She also (5) ________ to conclusion that it is a
myth that instrumental music is less distracting that vocals. 'All types of music had the same (6) ________,' she
said in her report. 'One's ability to pay attention and write fluently is likely to be (7) ________ by both vocal
and instrumental music,' she added.
Dr Randall claimed the research demonstrated that the idea that music could improve performance was
wrong. 'Writing an essay is a complex (8) ________. You are (9) ________ information and putting it in order.
An additional stimulus in the form of music is bound to distract. But music is not the only distractor. What is
(10) ________ worrying is that more and more teenagers are studying in front of the television.
1. A. whereas B. unlike C. besides D. despite
2. A. setting B. background C. surrounding D. circumstances
3. A. slowed B. reduced C. lowered D. decreased
4. A. manage B. support C. cope D. stand
5. A. reached B. drew C. arrived D. came
 6. A. affect B. effect C. consequence D. result
7. A. disturbed B. interfered C. bothered D. shocked
8. A. project B. concern C. scheme D. task
9. A. recalling B. memorizing C. remembering D. organizing
10. A. partly B. largely C. particularly D. mainly
Your answers:
1. …………. 2. …………. 3. …………. 4. …………. 5. ………….
6. …………. 7. …………. 8. …………. 9. …………. 10. ………….
Question 2. Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only ONE word in
each space. (10 points)

SHARKS
For anyone who wants either to film or study great white sharks, Australian expert, Rodney Fox, is the first
contact. Fox knows exactly (1) ________the sharks will be at different times of the year; and can even predict
(2) ________ they will behave around blood, divers and other sharks. He understands them as well as anyone
else alive. In fact, he’s lucky to be alive; a ‘great white’ once (3) ________ to bite him in half.
Three decades (4) ________this near-fatal attack, Fox still carries the physical scars, but feels no hate for his
attacker. Instead he organizes three or four trips (5) ________ year to bring scientists and photographers to the
kingdom of the great white shark. The main aim of these trips is to improve people’s understanding of an
animal (6) ________ evil reputation has become an excuse for killing it.
Great white sharks are not as amusing as dolphins and seals, (7) ________their role in the ocean is critical.
They kill off sick animals, helping to prevent the spread of disease and to maintain the balance in the ocean’s
food chains. Fox feels a responsibility to act (8) ________ a guardian of great white sharks. (9) ________ the
scientists, film makers and photographers can communicate their sense of wonder (10) ________ other people,
he is confident that understanding will replace hatred.
Your answers:
1. …………. 2. …………. 3. …………. 4. …………. 5. ………….
6. …………. 7. …………. 8. …………. 9. …………. 10. ………….
Question 3. Read the passage and choose the option (A, B,C or D) that best answer each of the following
questions. (10 points)
Printmaking is the generic term for a number of processes, of which woodcut and engraving are two
prime examples. Prints are made by pressing a sheet of paper (or other material) against an image-bearing
surface to which ink has been applied. When the paper is removed, the image adheres to it, but in reverse.
The woodcut had been used in China from the fifth century A.D. for applying patterns to textiles. The
process was not introduced into Europe until the fourteenth century, first for textile decoration and then for
printing on paper. Woodcuts are created by a relief process; first, the artist takes a block of wood, which has
been sawed parallel to the grain, covers it with a white ground, and then draws the image in ink. The
background is carved away, leaving the design area slightly raised. The woodblock is inked, and the ink adheres
to the raised image. It is then transferred to damp paper either by hand or with a printing press.
Engraving, which grew out of the goldsmith's art, originated in Germany and northern Italy in the middle
of the fifteenth century. It is an intaglio process (from Italian intagliare, "to carve"). The image is incised into a
highly polished metal plate, usually copper, with a cutting instrument, or burin. The artist inks the plate and
wipes it clean so that some ink remains in the incised grooves. An impression is made on damp paper in a
printing press, with sufficient pressure being applied so that the paper picks up the ink.
Both woodcut and engraving have distinctive characteristics. Engraving lends itself to subtle modeling and
shading through the use of fine lines. Hatching and cross-hatching determine the degree of light and shade in a
print. Woodcuts tend to be more linear, with sharper contrasts between light and dark. Printmaking is well
suited to the production of multiple images. A set of multiples is called an edition. Both methods can yield
several hundred good-quality prints before the original block or plate begins to show signs of wear. Mass
production of prints in the sixteenth century made images available, at a lower cost, to a much broader public
than before.
1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The origins of textile decoration
B. The characteristics of good-quality prints
C. Two types of printmaking
D. Types of paper used in printmaking
2. The word "prime" in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to __________.
A. principal B. complex C. general D. recent
3. The author's purposes in paragraph 2 is to describe __________.
A. the woodcuts found in China in the fifth century
B. the use of woodcuts in the textile industry
C. the process involved in creating a woodcut
D. the introduction of woodcuts to Europe
4. The word "incised" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to __________.
A. burned B. cut C. framed D. baked
5. Which of the following terms is defined in the passage?
A. "patterns" (paragraph 2) B. "grain" (paragraph 2)
C. "burin" (paragraph 3) D. "grooves" (paragraph 3)
6. According to the passage, all of the following are true about engraving EXCEPT that it __________.
A. developed from the art of the goldsmiths
B. requires that the paper be cut with a burin
C. originated in the fifteenth century
D. involves carving into a metal plate
7. The word "yield" in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to __________.
A. imitate B. produce C. revise D. contrast
8. According to the passage, what do woodcut and engraving have in common?
A. Their designs are slightly raised.
B. They achieve contrast through hatching and cross-hatching.
C. They were first used in Europe.
D. They allow multiple copies to be produced from one original.
9. According to the author, what made it possible for members of the general public to own prints in the
sixteenth century?
A. Prints could be made at low cost.
B. The quality of paper and ink had improved.
C. Many people became involved in the printmaking industry.
D. Decreased demand for prints kept prices affordable.
10. According to the passage, all of the following are true about prints EXCEPT that they __________.
A. can be reproduced on materials other than paper
B. are created from a reversed image
C. show variations between light and dark shades
D. require a printing press
Your answers:
1. …………. 2. …………. 3. …………. 4. …………. 5. ………….
6. …………. 7. …………. 8. …………. 9. …………. 10. ………….
Question 4. Read the passage and do the tasks that follow.
The Hollywood Film Industry
A This chapter examines the ‘Golden Age’ of the Hollywood film studio system and explores how a
particular kind of filmmaking developed during this period in US film history. It also focuses on the two
key elements which influenced the emergence of the classic Hollywood studio system: the advent of sound
and the business ideal of vertical integration. In addition to its historical interest, inspecting the growth of
the studio system may offer clues regarding the kinds of struggles that accompany the growth of any new
medium. It might, in fact, be intriguing to examine which changes occurred during the growth of
Hollywood studio, and compare those changes to comtemporary struggles in which production companies
are trying to define and control emerging industries, such as online film and interactive television.
B The shift of the industry away from ‘silent’ films began during the late 1920s. Warner Bros.’ 1927 film
The Jazz Singer was the first to feature synchronized speech, and with it came a period of turmoil for the
 industry. Studios now had proof that ‘talkie’ films would make them money, but the financial investment
this kind of filmmaking would require, from new camera equipment to new projection facilities, made the
studios hesitant to invest at first. In the end, the power of cinematic sound to both move audiences and
enhance the story persuaded studios that talkies were worth investing in. Overall, the use of sound in film
was well-received by audiences, but there were still many technical factors to consider. Although full
integration of sound into movies was complete by 1930, it would take somewhat longer for them to regain
their stylistic elegance and dexterity. The camera now had to be encased in a big, clumsy, unmoveable
soundproof box. In addition, actors struggled, having to direct their speech to awkwardly-hidden
microphones in huge plants, telephones or even costumes.
C Vertical integration is the other key component in the rise of the Hollywood studio system. The major
studios realized they could increase their profits by handling each stage of a film’s life: production
(making the film), distribution (getting the film out to people) and exhibition (owning the theaters in major
cities where films were shown first). Five studios, ‘The Big Five’, worked to achieve vertical integration
through the late 1940s, owning vast real estate on which to construct elaborate sets. In addition, these
studios set the exact terms of films’ release dates and patterns. Warner Bros., Paramount, 20th Century
Fox, MGM and RKO formed this exclusive club. ‘The Little Three’ studios - Universal, Columbia and
United Artists - also made pictures, but each lacked one of the crucial elements of vertical integration.
Together these eight companies operated as a mature oligopoly, essentially running the entire market.
D During the Golden Age, the studios were remarkably consistent and stable enterprises, due in large part
to long-term management heads - the infamous ‘movie moguls’ who ruled their kingdoms with iron fists.
At MGM, Warner Bros, and Columbia, the same men ran their studios for decades. The rise of the studio
system also hinges on the treatment of stars, who were constructed and exploited to suit a studio’s image
and schedule. Actors were bound up in seven-year contracts to a single studio, and the studio boss
generally held all the options. Stars could be loaned out to other production companies at any time. Studio
bosses could also force bad roles on actors, and manipulate every single detail of stars’ images with their
mammoth in-house publicity departments. Some have compared the Hollywood studio system to a factory,
and it is useful
to remember that studios were out to make money first and art second.
E On the other hand, studios also had to cultivate flexibility, in addition to consistent factory output.
Studio heads realized that they couldn’t make virtually the same film over and over again with the same
cast of stars and still expect to keep turning a profit. They also had to create product differentiation.
Examining how each production company tried to differentiate itself has led to loose characterizations of
individual studios’ styles. MGM tended to put out a lot of all-star productions while Paramount excelled in
comedy and Warner Bros, developed a reputation for gritty social realism. 20th Century Fox forged the
musical and a great deal of prestige biographies, while Universal specialized in classic horror movies.
F In 1948, struggling independent movie producers and exhibitors finally triumphed in their battle against
the big studios’ monopolistic behavior. In the United States versus Paramount federal decree of that year,
the studios were ordered to give up their theaters in what is commonly referred to as ‘divestiture’ -
opening the market to smaller producers. This, coupled with the advent of television in the 1950s,
seriously compromised the studio system’s influence and profits. Hence, 1930 and 1948 are generally
considered bookends to Hollywood’s Golden Age.
For question 1- 4 : The reading passage has seven paragraphs A - G. Choose the correct heading for
paragraphs A - G from the list of headings below.

List of Headings
i. The power with each studio
ii. The movie industry adapts to innovation
iii. Contrast between cinema and other media of the time
iv. The value of studying Hollywood’s Golden Age
v. Distinguishing themselves from the rest of the market
vi. A double attack on film studios’ power
vii. Gaining control of the industry
 viii The top movies of Hollywood’s Golden Age

Example: Paragraph A ______iv____

1. Paragraph B __________
2. Paragraph C __________
Example: Paragraph D ____i_____
3. Paragraph E __________
4. Paragraph F __________
For question 5- 7: Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
5. After The Jazz Singer came out, other studios immediately began making movies with synchronized sound.
6. There were some drawbacks to recording movie actors’ voices in the early 1930s.
7. There was intense competition between actors for contracts with the leading studios.
Complete the summary below.
For questions 8 – 10, choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
THE HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
Throughout its Golden Age, the Hollywood movie Industry was controlled by a handful of studios.
Using a system known as (8) ______________, the biggest studios not only made movies, but handled their
distribution and then finally showed them in their own theaters. These studios were often run by autocratic
bosses - men known as (9) ______________, who often remained at the head of organisations for decades.
However, the domination of the industry by the leading studios came to an end in 1948, when they were forced
to open the market to smaller producers - a process known as (10) ______________.
Part 7:
PART IV – WRITING (50 POINTS)
Question 1. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the
words given. (10 points)
1. Martin may not be very well but she still manages to enjoy life.
Martin’s poor______________________________________________
2. The Pacific Ocean is on average deeper than the Atlantic.
The average ______________________________________________
3. The fire led to the setting up of a public enquiry.
As a ______________________________________________
4. Vitamin intake and intelligence are not connected.
There is______________________________________________
5. The only reason the party was a success was that a famous film star attended.
Had it______________________________________________
Question 2. For each of the sentences below, write a new sentence as similar as possible in meaning to the
original one, using the word given. DO NOT CHANGE the word given. (10 points)
1. A rise in temperature in the next century seems likely. (CHANCE)
______________________________________________
2. You must accept the fact that she has left you. (RESIGN)
______________________________________________
3. They arrived at the station with only a minute to spare. (NICK)
______________________________________________
4. They sent him to prison for three years. (SENTENCED)
______________________________________________
5. I don’t intend to tell you my plans. (INTENTION)
______________________________________________
Question 3. Write a essay (at least 250 words) on the following topic. (30 points)
‘Books are the best source of knowledge’
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give example and explanation to justify
your viewpoint.