ĐỀ THI HSG TỈNH – VÒNG 1 I. Read the passage and choose the best answer: Although speech is the most advanced form of communication, there are many ways of communicating without using speech. Signals, signs, symbols, and gestures may be found in every known culture. The main function of a signal is to impinge upon the environment in such a way that it attracts attention, as for example, the dots and dashes of a telegraph circuit. Coded to refer to speech, the b codification potential for communication is very great. Less adaptable to the cod i ficat i on of words, signs also contain meaning in and of themselves. A stop si g n or a barber pole conveys meaning quickly and more difficult to describe than either signals or signs because of their intricate relationship with the receiver's cultural perceptions. In some cultures, applauding in a theatre provides performers with an auditory symbol of approval. Gestures such as waving and handshaking also communicate certain cultural messages. Although signals, signs, symbols, and gestures are very useful, they do have a major disadvantage. They usually do not allow ideas to be shared without the sender being directly adjacent to the receiver. As a result, means of communication intended to be used for long distances and , extended periods are based on speech. Radio, television, and the telephone are only a few. 1. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? A. Signs, Signals, and Symbols B. Gestures C. Communication D. Speech 2. What does the author say about speech? A. That it is the only true form of communication. B. That it is dependent upon the advances made by inventors. C. That it is necessary for communication to occur. D. That it is the most advanced form of communication. 3. Applauding was cited as an example of A. a sign B. a signal C. a symbol D. a gesture 4. Why were the telephone, radio, and TV-Invented? A. Because people were unable to understand signs, symbols, and signals. B. Because people wanted to communicate across long distances. C. Because people believed that signals, and symbols were obsolete. D. Because people wanted new forms of entertainment. 5. It may be concluded from this passage that A. signals, signs, symbols, and gestures are forms of communication. B. symbols are very easy to define and interpret. C. only some cultures have signals and symbols. D. waving and handshaking are not related to culture. II. Read the passage and answer following questions: Weather is created by the heat of the sun. When the sun shines on the earth, the air close to the surface heats up, expands and rises. The higher it goes, the cooler it becomes. Meanwhile, an area of warmer, low-pressure air forms below it. Winds are caused by air moving from an area of high pressure to one of low pressure. The closer the pressure centers are to each other, and the greater the pressure difference between them, the stronger the wind will be. High and low-pressure air masses travel the globe and cause major weather changes. When a cold, high-pressure polar air mass meets an extremely low-pressure tropical air mass, their combination can produce intense storms such as typhoons, hurricanes, and tornados. Less severe weather conditions are often caused by small, local, pressure areas. A mild rain storm occurs when rising warm air combines with cool air. Clouds are created as the moist warm air cools and condenses to form water droplets. When clouds reach a saturation point, or the point at which they can no longer contain their moisture, the droplets fall to earth as rain or snow. Weather forecasters look at the movement of warm and cold air masses and try to predict how they will behave. Although weather forecasting is not completely accurate, satellites, sophisticated instruments, and computers make weather prediction far more accurate today than in the past. The advantages of weather prediction are numerous, but in the end, nature does whatever it pleases. We may attempt to predict weather but we cannot control it. 1. What causes the wind to become stronger? 2. What are typhoons, hurricanes and tornados caused by? 3. When does a mild rain storm take place? 4. Can you explain how we have rain or snow? 5. Why is weather prediction today much more accurate than in the past? IV. Use correct forms of the words in parentheses: Thanks to the ubiquitous use of vanilla as a flavoring in ice creams and cakes the world over, its taste is more (1.RECO GNISE) to the majori ty o f p eop le tha n the appearance of the plant. The plant itself is actually a native of the tropical forests of Central America and is the only variety of orchid to be grown on a commercial scale. Its delicate white flowers open in the early morning and, after pollination by insects or humming birds, a narrow bean-like pod forms and (2. RIPE) taking a period of five to seven months to reach (3. MAT U R E) . It is t h is p o d w hic h is har vest ed t o provide the food crop we know as vanilla. Despite its American origins, for decades it was only cu lt ivat e d (4. E XTEND) o n t he Ind ian O c e an island of Madagascar, where it was introduced at the end of the nineteenth century. It soon became clear that the vanilla grown there was of a quality (5. KNOW) in other areas, and the island quickly became one of the world's major (6. SUPPLY) In recent years, however, new (7. COMPETE) have entered the vanilla market and, (8. CONSEQUENCE), Madagascar's importance has started to slip. Of course, the (9. EMERGE) of new producers means a smaller market share, whilst the development of artificial substitutes is (10. THREAT) to undermine demand for the real thing. V. Fill in each blank with one suitable word: There are four people in my family. Each of us has a different hobby. My dad likes reading (1) because he can get the latest (2) every morning. However, my mom enjoys watching (3) and reading (4) Mom often spends hours reading articles about fashion and cooking. Unlike my mom and dad, my brother only loves exploring (5) about airplanes. He spends most of his free time getting (6) about the history and development of aircraft. He also writes (7) or (8) with his friends about his hobby. For me, I am really interested in listening to music. I love listening to music on the FM (9) . I also like music (10) on TV on Sundays. What about you? What is your hobby? VI. Rewrite the following sentences: 1.It is thought that Jack London's life and writings represent the American love of adventure. Jack London’s life . 2."Shut the door but don't lock it" she said to us. She . 3. The child ate the cookies even though his mother had told him not to. Despite . In spite of the fact that they . 4. This room is too dark for us to study. This room isn’t . It is . So . This room . This room . 5. A computer can be used for various purposes, so it becomes very popular nowadays. Owing 6. Because you don't leave immediately, I call a policeman. If you . 7. Jason would like to be an astronaut when he grows up. Jason wishes . 8. I'm sorry for not having helped you. I wished . 9. I don't know her number, so I don't ring her up. If . 10. She went to bed early because she felt tired. Because of . 11. He studied too badly to pass his exam. He didn’t . So . 12. She drank coffee to keep herself warm although she disliked it. In spite 13. Tom said, "New York is bigger than London". Tom said that . 14. They say that John is the brightest student in class. John . 15. “ Why don’t you get up earlier?” Jason said to me. Jason suggested . VII. Write complete sentences from words/phrases given: Dear Sir / Madame, 1. I / write you / short stop / your trucks / around my house. 2. trucks your company / often have / short breaks streets around my house. 3. drivers / leave / lot of garbage / ground / after refreshment 4. When / trucks leave / place, / ground cover / with trash. 5. And, / few minutes later / there be / bad smell / be unbearable. 6. I would suggest / your company / do something / this nuisance. 7. drivers / should clear / trash / ground / before / leave. 8. If they / not stop / do this / I / send / complaint / local authorities. 9. The complaint / be / sign / most people / neighborhood. 10. I look forward / hear / you / and see positive respond / your company. Yours faithfully, . ĐỀ THI HSG TỈNH – VÒNG 1 I. Read the passage and choose the best answer: Although speech is the most advanced. to. Despite . In spite of the fact that they . 4. This room is too dark for us to study. This room isn’t . It is . So . This room . This room . 5. A computer can be used for various purposes,. don't ring her up. If . 10 . She went to bed early because she felt tired. Because of . 11 . He studied too badly to pass his exam. He didn’t . So . 12 . She drank coffee to keep herself