Đề thi thử được cung cấp bởi Amslink English Centre – Trung tâm đào tạo Tiếng Anh cho trẻ từ 5 đến 15 tuổi - được chứng nhận bởi Hội đồng khảo thí Cambridge English UK. Amslink là đơn vị tổ chức cuộc thi Amslink Cambridge Challenge hàng năm, và thường xuyên cung cấp đề thi cho CTH Edu đưa lên TiengAnhK12 sau mỗi lần tổ chức.
For questions, read the text below and decide which answer best fits each blank. There is an example at the beginning.
A POWERFUL INFLUENCE
There can be no doubt at all that the Internet has made a huge difference in our lives.
However, most parents worry that their children spend too much time browsing the Internet or playing computer games, hardly ever doing anything else in their spare time. Naturally, parents want to know if these activities are for their children. What should they do if their children spend hours a computer screen?
Obviously, if children spend too much time in some games instead of doing their homework, then something is wrong. It is a good idea if parents and children decide together how much use should be of the Internet, and the child should promise that it won’t interfere with homework. If the child does not to this arrangement, parents can take more drastic steps.
Any parents who are alarmed about a child’s behavior should make an appointment to discuss the matter with a teacher. Spending time in front of a computer screen does not affect a child’s performance at school. Even if a youngster seems obsessed with the computer, he or she is probably just through a phase, and in a few months, parents will have something else to worry about!
Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning.
Agriculture in Ancient Britain
Professor Emma Thomas is an archaeologist WHO specializes in the study of the Neolithic and Mesolithic periods. The Mesolithic period extended from 9,000 to 5,200 years ago, and the Neolithic period came after that, lasting until about 2,500 BC. Human beings were living in Britain during of these periods.
Professor Thomas and her colleagues have been involved the analysis of Stone Age skeletons to discover more about the way Ancient Britons lived. ‘Studying bones can tell us a great deal about our ancestors,’ says Professor Thomas. ‘We know for a fact that Mesolithic people ate a seafood diet, while Neolithic people had a preference plants and animals. We are what we eat, and the change from fish to meat is recorded in the bones.’
It is still a mystery why people just gave eating fish. One explanation might be the influence of migrants from Europe, brought new ideas over to Britain, ‘Ancient Britons changed their diet after the Europeans arrived,’ says Professor Thomas. ‘It was a time of big changes. Our ancestors stopped hunting and started growing crops. Farming methods imported from Europe. People would no longer rely wild foods; they could control what they ate and what they grew.’ This marked the beginning of agriculture in Britain.
Read the text below. Use the word given to form a word that fits in the blank. There is an example. Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS.
Sailing away
One Sunday morning Aunt Emily made an (ANNOUNCE) ANNOUNCEMENT. She told us happily that she was going to take us on a cruise! I was surprised, knowing how (EXPENSE) a holiday like that could be. We weren’t a (WEALTH) family, but we had put some money aside over the years, so in the end, we used some of our (SAVE) for the holiday.
When the day of our departure finally came, we were delighted and thrilled to see how huge and (LUXURY) the ship looked. Our cruise liner sailed elegantly out to sea and our holiday began. But it was such a (DISAPPOINT) .
There was so little to do on board. The (BORE) almost drove us mad. We visited several ports, but we didn’t have the (FREE) to do what we wanted. We had to follow a very tight schedule of guided tours and visits to museums. It was a (DISASTER) holiday!
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given. Here is an example:
It is said that gardening is very good exercise. (SUPPOSED)
Gardening ..................................... very good exercise.
Answer: IS SUPPOSED TO BE
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.
It was silly of him to buy the software without reading the requirements. (OUGHT)
=> He the requirements before buying the software.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.
The English teacher had the respect of his students. (UP)
=> The students English teacher.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.
The lawyers postponed the meeting until the following month. (OFF)
=> The meeting the lawyers until the following month.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.
They say beef production produces 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions. (SAID)
=> Beef production 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.
"Switch off your mobile in Mr. White's classes," Carlos said to Maria. (WARNED)
=> Carlos her mobile in Mr. White's classes.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.
Jason regrets losing his temper with his son. (wishes)
=> Jason his temper with his son.
You are going to read an article about female football referees. For each question, choose the answer which you think fits best according to the text.
Woman’s work
During a recent game between two of Brazil’s biggest football teams, the country’s top striker head-butted an opponent and was sent off. 'Idiot' he shouted to the referees. ‘Just what you would expect from a woman.’ It was this comment rather than this aggression to his opponent that really landed him in trouble. He was punished for this by being banned from the next four matches. The target of his venom, Gisele Fabio, has become the most high-profile woman in Brazilian football.
Times are changing in British football, too. Not long ago the manager of a Scottish team was forced to resign after criticizing the country.
Her busiest time to year is spring and early summer, when the tulips are out, followed by the poppies. ‘They all come out together, and you’re so busy,’ she says. But the gradual decaying process is also part of the fascination’s first woman referee by saying: ‘I knew it wasn’t going to be our day when I found out we had a woman running the line. She should be at home making the tea or the dinner for her man after he has been to the football. This is a professional man’s game.’ An attitude like this may have been relatively common a few generations ago, but over the last decade or two, the vast majority of men have changed their view of the place a woman should have in society.
Annie Macintosh has been a referee for six years and is currently the highest level female official in Britain. During her rise to this position, she has learned to be tolerant of criticism, and not to become excited or get offended by hurtful verbal attacks. She takes the comments with a pinch of salt. ‘He is entitled to say what he likes. There is no point in getting yourself all upset. From the experience that I have had, he is in the minority.
You have to develop a thick skin as a female referee in the men’s game. In spite of all this, Macintosh says that being a woman in the field can have its advantages too. Many men consider it wrong to use bad language in front of women. ‘Sometimes you get the odd idiot who shouts something, but usually, they use less colorful language. They behave better. One team coach told me he wanted me to referee another game at that club to improve the players’ behavior.’
While it is unlikely that a woman footballer will have the physical strength to compete at the top level in a men’s team, there is no similar obstacle to women refereeing men’s football. In fact, the authorities running European football are actively encouraging women’s referees, believing it helps increase women’s interest in football generally.
In Brazil, Gisele Fabio says the path to becoming a referee has been about breaking down cultural rather than legal barriers. ‘For as long as I’m aware there have been no rules against women refereeing the men’s game. It was just that none did.’ Fabio agrees that footballers treat female referees differently. ‘In principle, they treat you with more respect. They are scared that you will give them a card more readily. This is an advantage for us.’ Most impressively, Fabio has been top of the referee rankings published by daily sports papers. ‘I think I was first because I am a novelty. But I don’t think I am better than the others. My refereeing is the same.’
The football player was punished because
What point is made to show that times are changing in British football?
Which phrase best describes Macintosh’s reaction to the manager’s words?
What does ‘In spite of all this,’ suggest?
What does Gisele Fabio say about the barriers to women becoming referees?
According to Gisele Fabio, ____
You are going to read a newspaper article about a blind runner. Six sentences have been removed from the article. Choose the one which fits each blank. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
A. These provide the familiarity and consistency essential for the blind runner.
B. Their support gave him extra confidence regarding his changing surroundings.
C. Simon believes the feelings of liberation and independence he gets from running solo far outweigh any anxiety over such dangers.
D. He began by training on football pitches behind his house, running between the goalposts.
E. It gives him a great opportunity to run with everyone.
F. That’s not to say the learning curve has been without incident.
G. As a result of this slow experimentation, he was able to memorize a set five-kilometer course.
Blind Runner
Paul Hardy reports on a blind runner called Simon Wheatcroft who enjoys taking part in the marathon and ultra-marathon races, running distances between 42 km and 160 km.
Running marathon, a race of 42 km, has become increasingly popular. This distance poses extreme physical and mental challenges for anyone, but for Simon Wheatcroft, there is another hurdle; he has been blind since he was 18 years old.
For the past two years Simon, now 29, has been overcoming his disability to compete in marathons and ultra-marathons by training with runners who act as his guides, and also, rather uniquely, by teaching himself to run solo, out on the streets. ‘I got bored exercising indoors, so thought, “I’ll have a go at running outside”,’ he explains Then he got bored again and wanted to try running on the roads.
Weeks of gradual exploration followed, walking a route alone. It took home along little-used pavements alongside a busy main road. He also recruited technology to help him form his mental map of the area using a smartphone app, to provide feedback through headphones about his pace and distance. This information could then be cross-referenced with his knowledge of the route and any obstacles.
Now, having covered hundreds of km alone on the route, Simon has been able, gradually, to phase out the app. ‘When I first started I had to really concentrate to an unbelievable level to know where my feet were falling. Now, it has become quite automated.’ ‘I did make a few mistakes early on – like running into posts. But you only run into a post once before you think “Right, I’m going to remember where that is next time”,’ he laughs.
Joining Simon for a training session, it’s striking how natural and fluid his movement is; he takes shorter, shallower, more gentle steps than most runners, using his feet to feel his way. His landmarks are minute changes in gradient and slight variations in the running surface. ‘I have to believe this route is going to stay consistent, and there won’t be things like roadwork signs or big rocks,’ he says.
I’ll try to concentrate on the millions of footsteps that go right and think positively,’ he explains. When it comes to racing in ultra-distance events, Simon has to use guides to run sections of the course with home; after all, it would be almost impossible to memorize a 150 km stretch of the countryside by heart. However, the physical and practical advantages of training in the fresh air, on his own terms, are vast and have boosted his confidence in his running ability as well as providing inspiration to others.
But for Simon, the real thrill and motivation for training come from simply being able to compete on equal terms. ‘I can’t hide the fact I’m blind,’ he says, ‘but at the same time, I would rather compete with everybody else and not be put into a special group. Being visually impaired doesn’t mean you can’t run.’
You are going to read a magazine article in which four people talk about railway journeys. For each questions, choose from the people (A - D). The people may be chosen more than once.
A Chip off the Old Block
How much are children influenced in their choice of profession by their parents’ jobs? We asked four people about their experience.
A. Graham Button
I suppose most people are influenced in one way or another by the jobs their parents do. My dad is a freelance builder, like his father and his grandfather, and that means he was often out working in the evenings or at weekends when I was a child. I grew up thinking the hard physical word was what fathers usually did. I think he was proud of doing a ‘real’ job, something with his hands, which is perhaps why he always tried to push me into taking up the same profession. And of course, he had his own business, which he wanted to continue after he retired. When I was in high school, I decided that I really didn’t want to go into the family business, so at the moment I’m studying History at university. My father probably thinks I’m going to become a partner in his firm after I graduate, so I do worry that we might have a big fight about this sometime in the future.
B Sue Smith
My mother’s a nuclear physicist, which sounds very exciting. The truth is it’s a pretty tough profession. For years my mother wasn’t getting paid very well at the institute where she worked. That’s one of the things that discouraged me from going into the same sort of work. And I just don’t think it’s a very interesting job. Of course, it sounds very important, but as far as I can see, you spend most of the day at a desk doing hundreds of calculations and then checking and rechecking them. My mother did try to motivate me to take an interest in science subjects when I was about 14 or 15, and I think she’d be secretly pleased if I wanted to be a scientist, but she’s never put any sort of pressure on me. But I know she also thinks – as I do – that there aren’t so many jobs available in pure research, which is what she does.
C Barry Porter
When people find out my mother’s an actress, they always ask what Hollywood films she’s been in, and I have to explain that she’s only ever worked in provincial theatres. She’s hardly ever been on television, which is why not many people know her. That’s one of the problems with the theatres: very few people get to the top of the profession, and you have to be extremely lucky just to make a living from it. Actors are nervous, highly-strung people, worrying about where the next job’s coming from. Even if I had any talent for acting, I’d be put off by that side of it. Most of the other actors I’ve met, people working with my mother, strike me as very arrogant people; I don’t really think I’d get on with them. As you can gather, I really don’t think my future is in the theatre, and in any case, my mother has always tried to steer me away from taking up the profession.
D Ruth Lawrence
My father teaches Maths at high school, which definitely used to come in handy when we had a Maths test the next day! I suppose there were disadvantages, too. I think in the back of his mind he expected me to be good at Maths because he was always there to explain it. The truth is I have always been terrible at the subject. He also used to tell me about the satisfaction you can get from teaching, and I do think he’s right about that. He’s talking about the long holidays and the short working day, trying to get me interested in taking a teaching qualification. I used to think I wanted to be a teacher, but then I began to think of the disadvantages. The profession’s changed and these days teachers have to work a lot in the holidays and prepare a lot at home. In the end, I decided to go into accounting, and I don’t really think my dad’s job affected my decisions at all.
Question
1. Which person was discouraged from following the same profession?
2. Which person changed his or her mind about a future career?
3. Which person experienced pressure to follow the same profession?
4. Which person would not follow the same profession for financial reasons?
5. Which person feels he or she has not been influenced in choosing a career?
6. Which person comes from a long line of people in this profession?
7. Which person thinks the profession in question offers few opportunities?
8. Which person is concerned his or her choice will cause an argument?
9. Which person thinks that success in his or her parent’s profession is difficult?
10. Which person thinks his or her parent’s profession is rewarding?
You must answer this question. Write your answer in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.
1. In your English class, you have recently had a discussion about living in the city. Now your teacher has asked you to write an essay.
Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view.
"Urban life or rural life? Is it better to live in the city or the country?"
Notes
Write about:
1. living environment
2. people
3. ………………(your own idea)
Write your essay. You must use grammatically correct sentences with accurate spelling and punctuation in a style appropriate for the situation.
(Với câu hỏi tự luận này, TiengAnhK12 không thiết kế chỗ để bạn nhập vào câu trả lời và chấm điểm tự động được.)
Write an answer to one of the questions 2 - 5 in this part. Write your answer in 140 - 190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet. Put the question number in the box at the top of the answer sheet.
2. You recently saw a film which was part of a trilogy. You thought this film was not as good as the first two films in the trilogy. Write a review of the film for your school magazine. Compare the films with the first two films in the trilogy and say why you think it was not as good as they were.
Write your review.
3. It is a dark and stormy night and there is a short power cut which plunges you into darkness. You look out of the window to see if the neighbors have been affected by the power cut too. Upon opening the curtains, you see a note stuck to the window. It has just one word written on it, “Run!”
Write your story.
4. Your school newspaper has asked you to write a report on spare time activities that are typical of teenagers in your country.
Write your report.
(Với câu hỏi tự luận này, TiengAnhK12 không thiết kế chỗ để bạn nhập vào câu trả lời và chấm điểm tự động được.)