SỞ GD VÀ ĐT THANH HÓA
CỤM 8 TRƯỜNG THPT
(Đề thi có 8 trang)
KỲ THI KHẢO SÁT ĐỘI TUYỂN HSG THPT
NĂM HỌC 2024 – 2025
Môn thi: Tiếng Anh
Thời gian: 150 phút, không kể thời gian giao đề
Họ tên thí sinh:……………………………………………………
Số báo danh:………………………………..…………………….
SECTION A: MULTIPLE CHOICES (70 points)
PART I: LISTENING
HƯỚNG DẪN PHẦN THI NGHE HIỂU
* Bài nghe gồm 2 phần, mỗi phần được nghe 2 lần.
* Thí sinh có 3 phút để hoàn chỉnh bài sau khi kết thúc 3 phần nghe.
* Mọi hướng dẫn cho thí sinh (bằng tiếng Anh) đã có trong đề thi.
You will hear a recording For questions 1-5, choose the answer (A, B, C, or D) which fits best according to what you hear.
Question 1: The speaker says students can visit her ___________.
A. every morning. B. some mornings.
C. mornings only. D. Friday morning.
Question 2: According to the speaker, a tutorial ___________.
A. is a type of lecture. B. is less important than a lecture.
C. provides a chance to share views. D. provides an alternative to group work.
Question 3: When writing essays, the speaker advises the students to ___________.
A. research their work well. B. acknowledge the source of their information
C. share work with their friends. D. avoid using other writers’ ideas.
Question 4: The speaker thinks that plagiarism is ___________.
A. a common problem. B. an acceptable risk.
C. a minor concern. D. a serious offence.
Question 5: The speaker’s aims are to ___________.
A. introduce students to university expectations.
B. introduce students to the members of staff.
C. warn students about the difficulties of studying.
D. guide students round the university.
You will hear a radio discussion about children who invent imaginary friends. Choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes.
Question 6: In the incident that Liz describes, ________________.
A. her daughter asked her to stop the car.
B. she had to interrupt the journey twice.
C. she got angry with her daughter.
D. her daughter wanted to get out of the car.
Question 7: What does the presenter say about the latest research into imaginary friends?
A. It contradicts other research on the subject.
B. It shows that the number of children who have them is increasing.
C. It indicates that negative attitudes towards them are wrong.
D. It focuses on the effect they have on parents.
Question 8: How did Liz feel when her daughter had an imaginary friend?
A. always confident that it was only a temporary situation
B. occasionally worried about the friend’s importance to her daughter
C. slightly confused as to how she should respond sometimes
D. highly impressed by her daughter’s inventiveness
Question 9: Karen says that one reason why children have imaginary friends is that
A. they are having serious problems with their real friends.
B. they can tell imaginary friends what to do.
C. they want something that they cannot be given.
D. they want something that other children haven’t got.
Question 10: Karen says that the teenager who had invented a superhero is an example of
A. a very untypical teenager.
B. a problem that imaginary friends can cause.
C. something she had not expected to discover.
D. how children change as they get older.
You will an expert talking about protecting the environment. Listen and choose the option which best fits according to what you hear. Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.
Question 11: Protecting the environment is a concern of politicians, government leaders, and _____.
A. companies B. citizens C. shopping centres D. Mother Nature
Question 12: The three keys protecting the environment are informing the public, developing technology, and ______
A. increasing demand on recycled materials B. conserving water every day
C. growing a home garden D. sort reuseable materials
Question 13: What can’t be recycled very easily according to the expert?
A. Egg cartons B. Tin cans C. Fast food wrappers D. Newspapers
Question 14: Companies can be supported to recycle more if they are given ______.
A. solar panels B. cheap land to grow C. money D. enzymes
Question 15: What does the speaker mainly discuss ?
A. Recycling newspapers to save trees.
B. Many companies are interested in using recycled goods
C. Recycling and three important keys to make it work
D. Solutions to finding companies using recycled materials
PART II: PHONETICS
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions.
Question 16: A. dream B. meant C. breath D. sweat
Question 17: A. progress B. programme C. process D. profound
Question 18: A. scowl B. frown C. sprout D. dough
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the other three in the position of primary stress in each of the following quetions.
Question 19: A. gasometer B. agriculture C. nostalgic D. enthronement
Question 20: A. intercept B. intercut C. interpret D. interject
PART III: LEXICO-GRAMMAR:
Choose the most suitable word or phrase to complete each sentence. Write the answers on your answer sheet
Question 21: Let me help you, __________?
A. don’t I           B. will I         C. may I        D. shall I
Question 22: _________ , early approaches for copying with workplace stress dealt with the problem only after its symptoms had appeared.
A. although well-intending B. Although it is a good intention
C. although a good intention D. Although well- intended
Question 23: ______________ depends on your gentle persuasion.
A. What he agreed helping you B. That he agreed to help you
C. Provided he agrees to help you D. Whether he agrees to help you
Question 24: Anti-terrorist squad officers _________ the area to search for possible bombs.
A. sealed off B. set off C. come through D. split up
Question 25: Four miles off the southern coast of Massachusetts ______, a popular summer resort.
A. where the island of Martha’s Vineyard lie
B. lies the island of Martha’s Vineyard
C. the island of Martha’s Vineyard lies there
D. does the island of Martha’s Vineyard lie
Question 26: I was ________ in the book I was reading and didn’t hear the phone.
A. submerged B. distracted C. gripped D. engrossed
Question 27: He promised to mend the broken wheel soon without ___________ .
A. fail B. failure C. trouble D. mistake
Question 28: Your rental agreement________ states that no pets are allowed in the building.
A. explicitly B. credibly C. mildly D. decently
Question 29: You can try reformatting your computer, but once you open that can of_______. youll probably be working on it for days.
A. cocoon B. worms C. insects D. caterpillars
Question 30: Could I pick your _______ on the subject before the meeting?
A. intellect B. head C. mind D. brains
Question 31: He had complained of exhaustion after his ________schedule over the past week.
A. solid B. grueling C. concrete D. certain
Question 32: Fiona’s offered to help you. Don’t ask why – never look a gift _____ in the mouth.
A. horse B. cow C. deer D. dog
Question 33: In spite of working their fingers to the______ , all the staff were made redundant.
A. nail B. edge C. flesh D. bone
Read the following advertisement/school announcements and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct option that best fits each of the numbered blanks form 34 to 39 .
ADVERTISEMENT
RELOCATING YOUR BUSINESS
For a smooth move across town or around the world, call C & J Relocation Specialists and take the worry and inconvenience your move.
Sure, you could:
• research moving companies
• deal with phone and utility companies
• order new (34) _________
• prepare checklists
• take care of 1,001 other details
But don’t you have a business to run? Call for (35) ________ free consultation!
Our business is to manage the details of the move so that you can STAY (36) ________ business.
Question 34: A. stationariness B. stationery C station D. stationarity
Question 35: A. the B. an C. a D. Ø (no article)
Question 36: A. at B. in C. with D. on
ANNOUNCEMENT
You must rinse off all surfaces of your fountain, including the polished decorative stones (if (37)_________with your unit) before using the fountain for the first time. Any dirt or (38) _________ which remains on the fountain may obstruct water flow, thereby causing unnecessary noise. Should you experience noise from the pump, please disassemble it, flush parts with water to remove particles, wipe dry, and reassemble. Please refer to our instruction manual should the noise remain, as this may be caused by a variety of other factors. Due to the imperfect edges which are (39 _________ in this fountain or any made from natural stone, water may splash outside the base of the unit. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you place your fountain on a waterproof surface or that you cover the surface with some waterproof barrier. Should you need further information, please call 1-800- SERENITY or email us at [email protected]
Question 37: A. it provides with B. is provided for C. provided with D. providing for
Question 38: A. evaporation B. residue C. reminder D. containers
Question 39: A. coherent B. consistent C. independent D. inherent
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 40 to 45
Reading and its Impact on Cognitive Development
Reading is an essential skill that enhances our cognitive abilities in many ways. Firstly, it improves our language skills. When we read, we learn new words and understand how they are used in context, improving our language skills. (40)____________. Secondly, reading boosts our imagination and creativity. (41)___________________, it takes us to different worlds and situations we might not experience in real life. This stimulates our creativity and helps us think outside the box. Thirdly, regular reading enhances our concentration and focus. It requires us to pay attention to details and follow complex narratives, (42) ____________.
Additionally, reading provides us with knowledge about various subjects and cultures. It allows us to gain (43) ___________ . This broadens our perspective and helps us become more empathetic and understanding.
Finally, reading is a great way to relax and de-stress. It can be a form of escapism, where we can lose ourselves in a story and forget about (44)__________, and (45)___________________.
In conclusion, reading is not just a leisure activity. It plays a significant role in our cognitive development, helping us to improve mentally and emotionally. Therefore, its important to cultivate a habit of reading from a young age.
Question 40:
A. That helps in expanding our vocabulary and improves our communication skills
B. Which helps in expanding our vocabulary and improves our communication skills
C. This helps in expanding our vocabulary and improving our communication skills
D. They help in expanding our vocabulary and improving our communication skills
Question 41:
A. When we read interesting stories B. when we will read interesting stories
C. To read interesting stories D. Having read interesting stories
Question 42:
A. keep our minds to sharpen B. keep our minds sharply
C. keep our minds sharpen D. keep our minds sharp
Question 43:
A. insights into the lives and experiences of people from diverse backgrounds
B. diverse insights into backgrounds of peoples lives and experiences
C. people from diverse backgrounds and insights into their experiences
D. experiences and lives of people from insights into diverse backgrounds
Question 44:
A. our daily worries B. their daily worries C. our daily worrisome D. their daily worrisome
Question 45:
A. provided a much-needed breaking B. provides a much-needed break
C. provides a much-needing breaking D. provided a much-needed break

PART IV: READING
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 46 to 55.
Sad as it is, a social misperception of the disabled is still prevalent in many communities. It is only in a few highly civilized states (46) ____ the problems and needs of people with physical and mental incapacities are given the proper consideration. In the remaining countries, the discrimination against the disabled is still (47)________ in many areas of social life. As in the past, they are ignored, denounced and forced to stay away from the normal community which, unfortunately, isnt capable of making any (48) ____________ for its less fit members.
For decades, the (49) ________ and hearty part of every society has stripped the disabled of their fundamental rights as their job applications have been turned down, their active participation in business life has on most occasions been disallowed and there has been (50) ______ concern for their convenience in access to public transport. Equally little effort has been (51)______ to help the disabled fully (52) ________ with the able-bodied thus laying foundations for greater community awareness of the drawbacks that the handicapped have to wrestle with daily.
Theres an urgent need to offer the disabled more adequate assistance and support in the struggle for putting their basic rights into (53) _________. The key principle is that the stereotype approach towards the impaired individuals ought to be exchanged for a more considerate one. Another pressing matter is that the disabled shouldnt be (54) ________on the basis of their handicap, (55)_____ society should rather focus on providing them with complete acceptance irrespective of any imperfections thus treating them as fully-fledged citizens.
Question 46: A. where B. when C. which D. what
Question 47: A. implemented B. practised C. occurred D. remained
Question 48: A. accounts B. provisions C. measures D. concerns
Question 49: A. right B. vivid C. fit D. hale
Question 50: A. little B. much C. many D. few
Question 51: A. took B. did C. made D. created
Question 52: A. collaborate B. incorporate C. ally D. integrate
Question 53: A. handling B. operation C. activation D. performance
Question 54: A. measured B. deduced C. reckoned D. appraised
Question 55: A. but B. so C. and D. or
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 56 to 62.
Life Writings
The diary and the letter were the most extensively practiced forms of life writings in eighteenth-century America. From the numerous examples of these two types of writing from the period, a portrait of daily life of the period can be gleaned.
Many of the diaries that were kept during this period were life diaries by authors interested in maintaining day-to-day records of reflective self-examination, but some of the most compelling were situational diaries; those prompted by and limited to lengthy descriptions of personal reflections about a particular event. Three of the many situational journals of this period are those written by Sarah Kemble Knight, William Burd II, and Dr. Alexander Hamilton. Sarah Kemble Knights diary of her five-month trip at the end of 1704 and the beginning of 1705 from Boston to New Haven to New York and back again to Boston was published more than a century later as The Journal of Madam Knight. Though this diary does include an account of the hardship that she encountered along the way, it is principally composed of humorous descriptions of and commentary on the hospitality that she was offered and the manners of those that she encountered. William Burd II kept two diaries to describe his experiences on a 1729 surveying expedition to settle a border dispute between Virginia and North Carolina. One of the diaries, History of the Dividing Line between Virginia and North Carolina, was published in 1842, while its companion, Secret Diary, was published in 1929. In these diaries, Burd used a humorous and satirical approach to describe not just the day-to-day events of the trip but also the characteristics which set his beloved Virginia culture apart from the (in his opinion) decidedly less praiseworthy culture of those non-Virginians that he encountered in his trip. Dr. Alexander Hamiltons Itinerarium (1744) describes a four-month voyage of discovery undertaken by Hamilton through the mid-Atlantic and New England colonies; in the diary that he kept of this trip. Hamilton provides considerable commentary on the social customs of various areas, comparing the customs and culture of the better homes of the American colonies with those of the great salons of Europe.
Letter-writing also held a place of importance in eighteenth-century America (indeed, the ability to produce cultured letters was considered a form of art), and many letters extant from that period provide insights into the culture, mores, and styles of written communication of that era. Many of the letter writers employed devices in common usage in European models of the time, demonstrating that letter writers felt a sense of cohesiveness with the cultured classes of Europe: John and Abigail Adams signed the names Lysander and Constantia to their early letters, while Thomas Jefferson created an elaborate dialogue between his head and his heart to discuss the nature of friendship in a 1786 letter to Maria Cosway. The variety of purposes that these letters served provides additional insight into the priorities of the society of the time. The letters were used to cement love matches and friendships, as the previously mentioned letters did; they were the primary method for relaying news among family and friends who were scattered across various geographic locations; they were often used as a means of carrying out business in this era before more rapid long-distance communication; they were often used used as a way of sharing professional, social, or political ideas among leaders in various fields who perhaps had no other way to get together and exchange ideas.
Question 56: The word “gleaned” in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by ______.
A. left out B. pulled up C. taken back D. put together
Question 57: What is stated in the passage about the works by Knight, Burd, and Hamilton?
A. Each gave details about business ventures
B. Each provided insight into the culture
C. Each was published soon after it was written
D. Each described visits to nice homes
Question 58: Which of the following is NOT listed in paragraph 3 as a purpose served by eighteenth century letters?
A. Conducting business B. Maintaining relationships
C. Discussing various ideas D. Developing newspapers
Question 59: The phrase “those” in paragraph 2 is reffred to ______ .
A. diaries B. descriptions C. journals D. reflections
Question 60: The word “companion” in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by _______ .
A. associated product B. faithful pet
C. longtime friend D. respected colleague
Question 61: Which of the sentences below expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 3?
A. Examples from the time show that American letter writers were interested in following the style of letters that was fashionable in Europe
B. European letter writers were greatly influenced by Americans such as John and Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson
C. The use of letter-writing devices by some American authors was criticized by cultured Europeans.
D. The devices used in letter writing from the period made the writing appear more cultivated and cohesive.
Question 62: What can be inferred from the passage about situational diaries?
A. They were limited to reflective self-examination
B. They were not ongoing journals of the details of daily life
C. Very few of them still exist
D. They were the only type of eighteenth-century diary
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 63 to 70
All plants need nutrients, but an excess of nutrients can be lethal to the ecosystem. Water bodies such as lakes or estuaries naturally have certain amounts of nutrients, and are rich in species. Species- rich ecosystems have a high level of biodiversity. However, when chemical nutrients infiltrate water in marine habitats, the plants will begin to grow without restraint and then decay rapidly. This process, known as eutrophication, can disturb the ecological balance and eventually result in severe reductions in water quality. Inspections of lakes and reservoirs around the world demonstrate that 54% of lakes in Asia are eutrophic; 53% in Europe; 48% in North America; and 28% in Africa. Today, eutrophication or what some call nutrient pollution is the number one water quality problem around the world.
In the 1950s, eutrophication was acknowledged as a waste problem in several lakes in Europe and North America although it was not immediately clear what the causes were. It had taken place over a short period of time in these lakes, and this shocked scientists because eutrophication had normally been known as a natural process that develops over thousands of years as a lake or river becomes
older. Scientists, who observed the excessive growth of plants and algae, often called an algal bloom, studied the phenomenon intensely from the 1960s to the 1970s. Their research pointed to the presence of large amounts of plant nutrients, including phosphorous, nitrogen and carbon, which are vital for life in the river and sea. The nutrients were traced to human activities: runoff from livestock waste, the release of domestic sewage and industrial wastewater. Moreover, in some ecosystems, nutrients had been deliberately added for purposes of enrichment. The large amounts of nutrients accumulated and their compounds acted as a stimulant to uncontrolled phytoplankton growth.
The unlimited growth of phytoplankton species provokes profound changes in the lake or river. Marine plants and plant particles breathe out oxygen during photosynthesis. When eutrophication occurs, however, the excessive amount of phytoplankton species spread over the surface of waters and block the sunlight, so the marine plants are not able to photosynthesize, then the amount of oxygen is reduced. When the dead plants and animals are decomposed, oxygen is consumed, therefore the dissolved oxygen is also reduced greatly. The lack of oxygen causes many organisms to suffocate and numbers of dead fish begin to appear in the water, and more animal species die out. The water loses its transparency, sometimes changing into a murky brown, red or orange color, and this phenomenon is called “red tide”. If the oxygen becomes completely depleted, bacteria called Clostridium botulinum becomes abundant and causes botulism, a disease of the nervous system that is often fatal. The bacteria poisons and kills birds and mammals that eat any existing phytoplankton in the water body. With so much death taking place, scientists call anaerobic waters “dead zones”. Ultimately, these effects have an impact on human beings.
The swift eutrophication in Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes, was the subject of much concern and instigated experimental research. In 1968, the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) was established as a field station and had been added various nutrients to determine which combination of nutrients was the key to controlling eutrophication. The most interesting experiment was a lake that was divided into two with a plastic curtain. One half was left alone while the other half was divided into three parts and each fed carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous. The lake was monitored for 8 years, and it was observed that the portion receiving phosphorous had eutrophic algal blooms. The parts containing carbon and nitrogen did not have those. The American government has since earmarked billions of dollars for a phosphate control program.
(TOEFL iBT Activator- Reading expert)
Question 63: The word “infiltrate” in the passage is closest in meaning to ______.
A. stimulate B. penetrate C. operate D. aggravate
Question 64: Which of the following can be inferred about the process of eutrophication?
A. It has largely been an intentional process.
B. It has been accelerated because of humans.
C. It is exacerbated by the presence of phytoplankton.
D. It is impossible to stop once it is started.
Question 65: All of the following are mentioned in the passage as contributing to eutrophication EXCEPT _____.
A. wastewater from cleaning activities
B. excess water from farming regions
C. garbage that is not properly subjected to treatment
D. plants growing excessively at human residences
Question 66: The author cites the presence of huge amounts of phytoplankton in a lake as .
A. a sign that the lake will sustain a number of negative changes
B. an indication that the lake has a sufficient amount of nutrients
C. evidence that birds and mammals are not feeding on marine plants
D. a warning that the water is not fit for human consumption
Question 67: Which of the following dangers arises when there is no oxygen in a lake?
A. An increase in carbon dioxide B. The production of a toxic germ
C. Too much of phytoplankton D. Accelerating the decomposition of living things
Question 68: The author discusses the work of ELA in the passage in order to _____.
A. describe the ongoing research on what factors may be causing lakes around the world to die
B. determine the best techniques for conducting research on lakes
C. illustrate how researchers discovered what caused eutrophication
D. compare the findings that ELA has made with those of the US government
Question 69: The word “those” in the passage refers to ____.
A. three parts of a lake B. eutrophic algal blooms
C. the portions receiving phosphorous D. the parts containing carbon and nitrogen
Question 70: According to the passage, what does the author say about the global incidence of eutrophication?
A. majority of lakes on earth are eutrophic and cause a big water problem.
B. The worst incidence of eutrophication is in lakes in Asia and it results in regional disparities.
C. Africa has fewer eutrophic lakes because there are not many water bodies.
D. Lakes in Asia are showing the fastest rate of lake eutrophication
SECTION B: WRITING (30 points)
Part 1. Letter writing (10 points)
You are a reporter researching for an article about wind farm of the coast of Ninh Thuận to reduce global warming. Write a letter to the organization in charge of the energy project to ask information about this project.
In your letter, you should ask about:
- How long the project is going to take.
- What its environment impact is.
- How electric price may change.
- How it will look.
* Write about 120- 150 words.
* You do NOT need to write any addresses, do NOT need to write your name .
Part 2. Essay writing (20 points)
Some people think that all teenagers should be required to do unpaid work in their free time to help the local community. They believe this would be benefit both the individual teenager and society as a whole.
To what extent do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. Write an essay of about 250 -300 words to express your ideas.
... THE END ...
SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO
THANH HÓA
CỤM 8 TRƯỜNG THPT
(ĐÁP ÁN CHÍNH THỨC)
KHẢO SÁT CHẤT LƯỢNG HỌC SINH GIỎI
LẦN 8 NĂM HỌC 2024 – 2025
MÔN: TIẾNG ANH
I. ĐÁP ÁN ĐỂ CHẤM BÀI:
PHẦN TRẮC NGHIỆM
QUESTION
KEY
QUESTION
KEY
1
B
36
B
2
C
37
C
3
B
38
B
4
D
39
D
5
A
40
C
6
B
41
A
7
C
42
D
8
A
43
A
9
B
44
A
10
C
45
B
11
B
46
A
12
A
47
B
13
C
48
B
14
C
49
D
15
C
50
A
16
A
51
C
17
D
52
D
18
D
53
B
19
B
54
D
20
C
55
A
21
C
56
D
22
D
57
B
23
D
58
D
24
A
59
C
25
B
60
A
26
D
61
D
27
A
62
B
28
A
63
B
29
B
64
B
30
D
65
D
31
B
66
A
32
A
67
B
33
D
68
C
34
B
69
B
35
C
70
A
TAPESCRIPT
PART 1:
If your lecturers are unavailable, you can always come and see me in my office. I’m available on Wednesday and Thursday mornings and on Friday afternoons. Outside these hours, perhaps you could ring the secretary and make an appointment. Now you’ll note that all of the subjects which you undertake in the first year are composed of lectures and tutorials. A lecture is about an hour long and a tutorial usually runs for about two hours. A lecture is rather like what I am doing now where one person will talk to all of you together on a subject. We do ask you to try to attend the lectures.
A tutorial is perhaps where most of the learning occurs at a university. You will be divided into groups of between 12 and 15 students and each week one of you will have to present a piece of work to the group as a whole and then the group will discuss what you’ve said. It’s this discussion, this exchange of ideas, which really constitutes the basis of university learning, in my view. Listening to lectures in many ways is just giving you information that you could access for yourself in the library but the discussion at the tutorial is very important. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go to the lectures though!
Other factors to be particularly concerned about are the structure of essays and delivery of written material and in particular I would like to mention the question of plagiarism. Plagiarism is taking other people’s work without acknowledging it, that is, without saying where it comes from. Of course all essays are based on research done by other people but you must remember to attribute the work to the original writer. And while it’s a good idea to work with other people don’t hand in work which is exactly the same as your friend’s work because we will notice! If you don’t acknowledge the source of your information then you run the risk of failing the subject or in very serious cases you might be denied entry to the university.
Last but not least, stay in touch with us. If things are getting you down, don’t tests go and hide. Come and talk to us about it. That’s what we are here for. Right, global thank you very much for coming along today.
Part 2:
You will hear a radio discussion about children who invent imaginary friends.
Presenter: Today we’re talking about children and their tendency to have imaginary friends. Liz McManus has a daughter called Caitlin, who’s eight now. When she was three, she had an imaginary friend called Tytner. Liz, tell us about Caitlin and Tytner.
Mother: Well, I’ll give you an example. One day I was driving Caitlin and Greg, her baby brother, home, when she solemnly informed me that Tytner was hitting the baby. So I said: ‘You tell Tytner that if he does that again, he’ll be walking home.’ Fifteen seconds later cam the inevitable news: ‘He’s just done it again, Mummy.’ So I found myself in the embarrassing position of having to pull over, open the back door and say to this imaginary little boy. ‘Tytner, out, now!’ And of course, as we drove off, Caitlin started crying because her friend was standing on the pavement all alone. I had to turn back and go through the rigmarole of pulling over and opening the door to pick him up again.
Presenter: Wow, that’s some story! But in fact Caitlin is no different from many children and her invented, make-believe friend is far from unusual. As many as 65% of children have had an imaginary friend at some point in their lives. The latest research suggests that invisible friends, far from being a cause for concern, should be welcomed by parents because they can help children to be more creative, confident and articulate, and have more advanced communication skills. It is thought that these findings will help reverse misconceptions about children with imaginary friends and that they will come to be seen as having an advantage, rather than a problem that needs to be worried about. Did it worry you, Liz?
Mother: I know it does lots of parents but I never fretted about it, I think I was just amused. I’d be reading to her and I’d say, ‘Is Tytner around?’ and she’d say, ‘Yes, he’s just sitting at the end of the bed.’ He became the centre of her life. She’d have tea parties with him, and he’d go to bed with her. She was shy and this was her answer. I knew she would grow out of it.
Presenter: Now Liz is one of 15 people taking part in a study of imaginary friends at the Institute of Education in London, run by Karen Majors, an education psychologist and lecturer at the institute. Karen, should parents worry about it?
Expert: Well, parents sometimes think, ‘Is this healthy and how long should it go on for?’ But it is a normal phenomenon for normal children. And it’s very healthy.
Presenter: Why do children invent imaginary friends?
Expert: I think that children create pretend friends for many reasons; as safe, trustworthy best friends at a time when they are just starting to make real friends; as someone to confide in; and as someone to play with. Sometimes it is about wish fulfilment; children who cannot have a pet, for example, will invent one. I interviewed one little girl, aged six, who had a pony called Minty for several years. It went to school with her and the teachers knew all about it. It was a really strong relationship.
Presenter: Presumably, when they get older, children no longer have these imaginary friends, Karen?
Expert: Well, my most surprising finding is that children don’t always stop having these made-up playmates when they start school. The imaginary friends often stay with them through their teenage years, providing comfort and escape – although in secret. One teenager I talked to had invented a superhero to help him through tricky patchers. When things hadn’t gone well at school, he would come home and play with the superhero, for whom everything always went well.
Presenter: How should parents treat these invisible people, Karen?
Part 3:
We hear it a lot in the news these days: Recycle newspapers and save a tree, collect bottles and cans so they can be reused in the manufacturing of new products. Protecting our delicate environment seems to be on the agenda of politicians, government leaders and citizens in many parts of the world to show support for Mother Nature. The concept of green consumerism has gained momentum more and more over the last decade, and the public feels moved to pitch in and help. However, three essential keys need to power this movement include a more informed public, the development of improved technology, and a greater demand for recycled materials.
The first step is to raise public awareness about the recycling process, to explain the kinds of materials that can be recycled and provide ways on how to properly dispose of them. Local governments should educate the public on how to properly sort reusable materials from those like wax paper, carbon paper, plastic, laminated materials such as fast food wrappers. They cant be recycled very easily.
Then, a system of collecting these sort of materials needs to be established. The public interest might be there, but soon may wane if there isnt a system where they can take these materials to be recycled. Sometimes we become complacent when it comes to recycling, but when you speak in terms of actual facts and figures that everyone can understand, people become more cognizant of the problem. I remember reading one time that the energy saved from one recycled can provides enough power to operate a television for three hours. Give the public information they can grasp, and then youll increase the chances of gaining followers.
Second, technological progress has been made on many fronts, but governmental agencies need to step up their support for companies involved in recycling by providing tax incentives, lowcost loans, and even grants to upgrade equipment and to encourage further research. One breakthrough has been the development of a new manufacturing process that uses enzymes to help remove ink from paper. In more energy efficient and environmentally safe methods, recycling paper materials can be expensive in both monetary and environmental terms. The difficulty in removing print from paper, the amount of energy expended during the process and caustic waste that is sometimes produced are costs that companies incur that are then passed on to the consumer. There may be a great outpouring of support, yet the great stumbling block to implementing the second stage of this plan could be impeded by the corporate sectors inability to find commercial enterprises interested in using recycled goods, especially when the cost exceeds those of virgin materials.
Recycling, is a crucial key to protect our planet. The three keys mentioned are important ways to achieve this end.
II. ĐÁP ÁN CHI TIẾT CHO CÁC CÂU VẬN DỤNG VÀ VẬN DỤNG CAO
Question 16: A. dream B. meant C. breath D. sweat
A. /driːm/ B. /ment/ C. /breθ/ D. /swet/
Đáp án: A
Question 17: A. progress B. programme C. process D. profound
A. /ˈprəʊɡres/ B. /ˈprəʊɡræm/ C. /ˈprəʊses/ D. /prəˈfaʊnd/
Đáp án: D
Question 18: A. scowl B. frown C. sprout D. dough
A. /skaʊl/ B. /fraʊn/ C. /spraʊt/ D. /dəʊ/
Đáp án: D

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