Đề thi chính thức vào 10 môn Anh Chuyên Sở TPHCM năm 2025

1/1/2024 6:00:00 AM

Although not everyone is a fan of Justin Bieber, most people agree he is worthy of his _____ success.

influenced
aspiring
phenomenal
resourceful

Helen's plan to study abroad didn't _____ due to a lack of her family's finances.

fall through
knuckle down
pull off
pan out

The empty shops with their _____ windows and graffiti-covered walls are a sorry sight.

off-limits
clear-cut
boarded-up
top-heavy

To my parents' disappointment, my attempts to learn to play the piano were _____.

a seminal contribution
a credit to me
a turn-up for the books
a dismal failure

You'll have to reverse out of this road – it's a _____, we can't go any further.

dead-end
run-down
write-off
built-up

The solicitor advised his client to _____ not guilty to all charges.

condone
plead
punish
charge

Robbie is no _____ student; he gets straight As in all subjects and is captain of the football team.

run-of-the-mill
up-and-coming
off-the-record
out-of-the-box

She was hesitant to quit her job, but she finally _____ and pursued her passion.

kept it at bay
washed her hands
got her lines crossed
took the plunge

The children were _____ by the magician's wonderful performance.

interrogated
entranced
exacerbated
suppressed

It's amazing how the band's popularity has never _____, even after all these years.

plunged
waned
spiralled
slumped

_____ to your health problems is a bad idea. You need to start taking care of yourself.

Not have faced up
Not facing up
Not having faced up
To face up not

_____ visit the British Museum while you're in London, you mustn't forget to look at the famous Rosetta Stone.

For fear that you
In case you
When you might
If you should

Minh made a decision to book a ticket back home only one day in advance, _____ the fare was exorbitant!

by which time
in which case
during which
in which event

You acted as though you _____ Jake when we saw you last night.

didn't meet
wouldn't have met
weren't meeting
hadn't met

Shelves _____, the hypermarket was ready to open its door to the public.

to stack
stacking
stacked
having stacked

Linh: Do we need anything from the market?

Hung: No, we've got _____ everything for the weekend.

a lot
plenty of
too much
enough

In reality, there's _____ a stress-free job. It's time you got your foot in the door.

no such thing as
nothing as
nothing that compares
nothing compared to

Mary: I'm surprised he didn't perform well at the job interview.

Anne: He might have _____ better preparations.

if he made
had he made
did he make
if he would make

Phuong: Why are you so depressed?

Lan: _____

Losing the contract was a bitter pill to swallow.
My boss gave my contract the red light.
My contract was left in the lurch.
My boss made a big thing of the contract.

Binh: Living in a new neighbourhood is really challenging.

An: That's right. We need to get used to those small _____ that come from engaging with new people.

doses of anxiety
bouts of anxiety
lumps of anxiety
dabs of anxiety

Read the following passage and choose the best answer for each blank.

The 300 or so species of octopuses have been around for over 250 million years and are known to 21.1 in every ocean on the globe. They belong to the class Cephalopoda, from the Greek word meaning "head feet." This comes from their lack of a true body, as their eight legs extend 21.2 out from their bulbous heads. Each of these legs has an independently functioning brain at its base, which 21.3 movement and sends signals to a ninth central brain. Octopuses also have three hearts and unusually blue blood. 21.4 the blood of most animals contains iron which carries oxygen around the body, octopus blood uses copper for this purpose, allowing the oxygen to be absorbed better at low temperatures. It is also this metal that 21.5.

With neither a skeleton nor a shell for 21.6, the survival of these creatures for so many millennia may seem 21.7 miraculous. Several explanations have been 21.8: perhaps their survival depends on their ability to eject black ink, in some cases poisonous, as a defense, or on their impressive 21.9 for learning. They can also squeeze themselves into tiny spaces and change the texture and color of their skin, rendering them exceptionally difficult to detect, a trait that 21.10 their survival against predation.

Read the following passage and choose the best answer for each blank.

I was recently offered free tickets to the opening night of the theatrical adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window at the Sun Royal Theatre. Naturally, given the press hype 22.1 the production, not to mention the exorbitant ticket prices, I jumped at the 22.2. Having seen the movie countless times and with vast sections of the script 22.3 to memory, I was intrigued to experience the stage adaptation of the story. On the night in 22.4, I eagerly took my seat in the stalls and waited for the curtain to open. That night there was a full 22.5 and you could palpably feel the anticipation hanging in the air. The curtains drew back and revealed a set which had been 22.6 modelled on the New York apartment in the movie, so much so that there was an audible 22.7 from the audience in recognition of the attention to detail. The female 22.8 was played to perfection by a little-known actor, who managed to really capture the essence of her onscreen 22.9. The very spirit of Hitchcock 22.10 through every scene, creating a show that was truly inspired on every level. Overall, a magnificent production.

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

There's growing alarm about our relationship with food, transcending the simplistic "live to eat or eat to live" debate. Childhood obesity is escalating, with sedentary lifestyles becoming the norm. The focus has shifted from tobacco-related diseases to obesity as the primary health concern. Obese children face social ostracization, which can exacerbate the problem by leading to comfort eating. Research indicates a significant drop in moderate activity levels among children, particularly teenage girls. Parents often lack the nutritional knowledge to support their children in changing their lifestyles. The pressures of work and family contribute to a reliance on pre-cooked or fast food options, worsening the situation. While initiatives like Weight Loss Camps exist, they aren't widely promoted.

Schools bear some responsibility for marginalizing physical education due to national curriculum pressures and financial constraints, often selling off playing fields to invest in computers, ironically furthering sedentary habits. The food industry also contributes through advertising campaigns that target children with high-fat, high-sugar products. These items are often marketed as affordable options, leading to overconsumption. Experts advocate for government intervention, similar to the approach taken with the tobacco industry, including health warnings on fast food and bans on vending machines in schools. Obesity isn't limited to children. Surveys reveal that a significant portion of adults eat on the hoof, relying on convenience foods in the hope of sparing more time for work. This reflects a culture that promotes fast food while simultaneously presenting unattainable beauty standards through images of excessively thin models. This paradox leads to overeating and its extreme opposite, anorexia.

It's crucial to re-evaluate our relationship with food. The ideal diet should consist of fruits, vegetables, protein, and limited carbohydrates, acknowledging the occasional indulgence. The old adage of "a little of what you fancy does you good" remains relevant.

What is the main idea of the passage?

The multifaceted causes and consequences of childhood obesity
The increasing prevalence of sedentary lifestyles among adults
The ethical implications of the "live to eat" philosophy
The socioeconomic factors influencing food choices in low-income families

What does the author imply about social isolation among obese children?

It is a direct result of parental neglect.
It primarily stems from academic underachievement.
It can paradoxically reinforce unhealthy eating habits.
It is effectively addressed by participation in Weight Loss Camps.

What does the phrase "marginalizing physical education" most closely mean?

Completely eliminating PE from school curriculum
Deeming PE as less critical compared to other academic fields
Reducing funds to improve facilities to better physical health
Creating programmes for pupils that are overweight

According to the passage, why are the food industry's marketing strategies particularly concerning?

Because they promote healthy eating habits among children.
Because they are primarily targeted at adults.
Because they encourage children to consume excessive amounts of fruits and vegetables.
Because they exploit the vulnerability of low-income families.

What can be inferred from the passage about Weight Loss Camps?

They address the psychological aspects of obesity.
They are sufficiently widespread and accessible to all children.
They are a universally effective solution for childhood obesity.
They primarily focus on physical exercise and restrictive dieting.

When using the comparison with the tobacco industry, what does the author argue for?

The complete prohibition of fast food advertising
Increased government regulation of the fast food industry
The implementation of higher taxes on sugary drinks
Mandatory nutritional education in schools

What does the phrase "eat on the hoof" mean?

A preference for organic, locally sourced food
A return to traditional eating habits
A rejection of processed convenience foods
A lifestyle characterized by rapid consumption

What is highlighted regarding a paradoxical relationship between contemporary culture and health?

The increasing popularity of vegetarian diets
The promotion of unattainable beauty standards alongside unhealthy food options
The widespread availability of nutritional information
The growing awareness of environmental sustainability in food production

What is the author's tone when contemporary beauty standards are discussed?

Laudatory
Ambivalent
Cynical
Dismissive

What does the phrase "a little of what you fancy does you good" mean?

Strict dietary adherence is of great importance.
Eliminating processed foods completely is beneficial.
The occasional indulgence can be incorporated to have a balanced diet.
All dietary guidelines and restrictions need to be rejected.

Read the passage and then choose from the list A-G given below the best sentence to fill in each of the blanks. TWO of the suggested answers do not fit any blank at all.

A. This means the water is effectively recycled and available for re-use when the next peak in demand occurs.

B. For these reasons, hydroelectric dams are a vital part of the environment.

C. The initial investment – dam construction, turbine installation, and power line networks – is substantial.

D. Another resource-saving strategy involves developing pump-storage dams.

E. Instead, they should be supplementing the reliability of hydroelectric systems.

F. In contrast, hydroelectric dams rapidly respond to fluctuating power demands by simply adjusting a valve.

G. There are various ways of managing hydroelectric facilities to conserve the water resource.

Hydroelectricity, a form of solar energy due to the sun driving the precipitation-supplying water cycle, is globally the most utilized renewable energy source. Nations like New Zealand and Nepal, blessed with abundant rainfall and mountainous terrain ideal for water storage, generate over half their electricity through hydropower. This involves water falling onto turbines, causing them to spin. 33.1. However, once operational, the ongoing running costs are minimal.

33.2. For example, it is possible to build several dams on the same river. This helps multiply the productivity of the water flowing through. 33.3. These pump-storage dams function effectively when hydroelectric dams supplement, rather than supplant, coal power stations. Coal stations require days to power up and often operate continuously. 33.4. At night, demand for electricity is much less than during the day, and so coal stations are generating electricity for which there is no need. A pump-storage dam uses some of this surplus power to pump water uphill from one lake to another during this time. 33.5.

Fill in each blank with ONE best word.

The blind box trend is more than just a passing 34.1; it's a window into the contemporary teenage experience. The appeal lies not simply in the acquisition of collectible items, 34.2 in the ritualistic aspect of the unboxing and the subsequent sharing of that experience on 34.3 like TikTok and Instagram. This feeds 34.4 the desire to create an online persona, showcasing carefully selected interests and displaying a sense of 34.5 to a specific community. Furthermore, blind boxes often feature characters and themes from popular culture, allowing 34.6 to tap into existing fandoms and connect with 34.7 individuals. However, the trend also raises concerns about the manipulation of consumer desires. Some companies exploit the addictive nature of blind boxes by creating ultra-rare figures that are almost 34.8 to obtain, setting up a cycle of relentless purchasing and disappointment. It's crucial that teenagers learn to take with a 34.9 of salt the claims made by manufacturers and influencers. The key is to encourage a balanced approach, where blind boxes are enjoyed as a lighthearted hobby, rather than becoming an all-consuming obsession that puts a 34.10 in one's bank account.

Fill in each blank with ONE best word.

Some people possess extraordinary memory, a result of brains naturally optimized for 35.1. They recall effortlessly, 35.2 most who struggle. While few are born this way, hope remains for others to improve. Boris Konrad exemplifies this: a self-trained champion memorizer who, 35.3, starting with average recall, achieved remarkable feats. Konrad's example underscores the dedication needed. However, new research suggests significant improvement is possible with just 30 minutes of daily practice using 35.4 like the Memory Palace. The Memory Palace technique, also known as the method of loci, is widely used, 35.5 by innate memorizers. Dating back to Ancient Greece, it involves 35.6 information with specific locations in an imagined space. Impressively, recall performance remained high even 35.7 training ceased. A study divided participants into three groups: no training, everyday techniques, and Memory Palace. The Memory Palace group more than doubled their recall capacity and exhibited brain patterns 35.8 to natural super memorizers. This indicates a potential for total 35.9 rewiring, suggesting that memory is less about innate ability and 35.10 about training. Most people can significantly improve their memory with the right approach.

Identify the FIVE errors in the following passage and correct them. Indicate the line at which mistakes are found, and how to correct them. Type "X" if an error needs to be omitted.

Write the mistakes in the order they appeared in the text. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.

Line
1	The increasing online availability of books and other written material for download has forced many publishing
2	companies to reevaluate their business models. The digital age has caused gradual shift in book-buying
3	trends. Today, many books can be cheaply purchased online and then downloaded onto portable devices,
4	which has made a good deal of actual printing necessary. Still, it should be noted that, while some analysts
5	predict digital book sales will soon overpace those of printed books, there are many readers who remain loyal
6	to read on paper. However, the real change is happening elsewhere, in what is called publishing on demand
7	(POD). Publishers edit and lay out a new book on a computer. They then wait until somebody wants to buy
8	one, and they print a copy. It's a cost-effective alternative to traditional publishing and allows for a wider range
9	of ideas being published.

Example: Line 1: for -> of

Line	Errors	Corrections
36.1	36.2	36.3
36.4	36.5	36.6
36.7	36.8	36.9
36.10	36.11	36.12
36.13	36.14	36.15