Practice Test For Gifted Students [PDF]

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PRACTICE TEST SERIES FOR GIFTED STUDENTS 01 Chú ý: • Học sinh làm bài trên PHIẾU TRẢ LỜI; và nộp ĐỀ THI kèm theo PHIẾU TRẢ LỜI. • Thí sinh không được sử dụng tài liệu, kể cả từ điển. ______________________________________________________________ I. LISTENING HƯỚNG DẪN PHẦN THI NGHE HIỂU • Bài nghe gồm 4 phần; mỗi phần được nghe 2 lần. • Sẽ có tín hiệu để bắt đầu mỗi bài nghe. Part 1. You will hear part of the interview with the director of a tour company which specializes in diving holidays. For question 1-5, listen to the recording and decide which statements are True (T) or False (F). Write your answers in the corresponding numbered space on the answer sheet. Now you have some time to look at questions 1-5. 1. Fish are inevitably threatened with extinction as a result of tourists visiting coral reefs. 2. Many countries with coral reefs earn most of their income from tourism. 3. Irresponsible tourists might be tempted to damage coral reefs. 4. Tour operators are unable to influence hotels’ environmental policies. 5. Cleaning up the environment in areas with coral reefs is not cost-effective in the long term. Part 2. You will hear a financial expert called Alexandra Harrow talking about the influence of the mobile phone on the way people transfer money on a radio show. For questions 6 13, complete the sentences with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered space on the answer sheet. Now you have some time to look at questions 6 - 13. -

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M-Pesa is a way of effecting (6) _________ and making purchases and payments using your mobile phone. Although some could afford to repay small loans, poor people of Africa were generally ignored by the traditional banking system because their custom was not viewed as (7) ________ to worry about. The idea for M-Pesa was inspired by how Africans had started using pre-paid mobile airtime as a form of (8) _________ and a new way of making payments. People with relatives in (9) _________ found the new system very handy for making fund transfers back home from the big city. In Kenya, M-Pesa shops now outnumber (10) _________ dramatically, which demonstrates the significant influence the new payment system has had there. Despite its success in parts of Africa, (11) _________ has really yet to start using mobile money at all. Mobile money contributes to tackling (12) _________ in traditionally cash-driven economies, which is why it has become so popular. Mobile money also helps to stop (13) _________ because it makes it very hard to hide payments and income.

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Part 3. You will hear a radio program in which two athletes, Julia Im and Darren Finn, are discussing their success at a recent athletics event. For questions 14 - 18, choose the answer A, B, C or D which fits best according to what you hear. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered space on the answer sheet. Now you have some time to look at questions 14 - 18. 14. Julia believes the main reason for the newfound success in tennis is due to A. the recently improved range of facilities. B. the level of financial investment in the sport. C. the impact of foreign coaches. D. an increase in the number of coaching staff. 15. Julia and Darren agree that A. the coaching policy was a key ingredient in their success. B. there is a lack of experienced foreign coaches. C. there will be a huge funding increase for both their sports now. D. the sporting infrastructure needs to be improved. 16. Darren suggests that his motivation to succeed was A. down to receiving a generous grant. B. so that he wouldn’t have to work part-time. C. in order to get a corporate sponsorship. D. to remove some of the obstacles to future success. 17. With regard to the current funding policy, Julia A. is heavily critical of it. B. recognizes the logic behind it. C. feels it is only a matter of time before it changes. D. thinks funds could be invested more cleverly. 18. Darren suggests that A. long-distance running has been neglected. B. the criteria for investment are unjust. C. more money should be invested in traditional sports. D. funding decisions are not impartial and fair. Part 4. You will hear a mountain rescue team leader called Sean McKinley giving a talk on avalanche awareness on a daily radio show. For questions 19 - 25, complete the sentences with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered space on the answer sheet. Now you have some time to look at questions 19 - 25. • Gravity is responsible for natural snowslips which are termed (19) _________. • Avalanches caused by people account for (20) _________ of avalanche-related injuries and deaths. • Powder avalanches only occur around times of (21) _________ when the wind is moderate or still. • The (22) _________ process changes the consistency of powder snow once it has been lying for a while. • When the snowpack has (23) _________ in layers under the surface, an upper layer or layers can break away and slide, resulting in a slab avalanche. • As well as the intensity of snowfall and the angle of slope, (24) _________, which can lead to instabilities in the snowpack, can also be a very significant contributing factor to avalanches. • (25) _________ and large snow-top cornices suggest that there has been a period of heavy winds very recently.

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II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR Part 1. For questions 26 - 40, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the following questions. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered space on the answer sheet. 26. His _____ from school damaged his career prospects, as he was labelled a trouble-maker. kicked out of school A. extradition B. expulsion C. extraction D. exclusion 27. We were informed that the burglar had been _____ by the police while in possession of the stolen goods. arrest blocked by fences A. apprehended B. accounted C. blocked D. compounded 28. The newcomers were easily _____ into the community. burn sth completely A. incarcerated to put s/o B. assimilated become part of a group C. embedded D. incinerated in prison 29. Peter was _____ without being _____: he held fast to his beliefs but avoided arguing about them with others. argues a lot randomness generous, open-handed A. decisive ...philanthropic B. haphazard ... quarrelsome + affectionate determiend take arguments to attack/defend D. resolute ... polemical strongly - cam tinh C. sentimental ... litigious court for deciison an opinion 30. African American poet Lucille Clifton writes in a notably _____ style, achieving great impact in a few unadorned words. saving energy money etc disapprove generous with time, money etc relating A. incantatory B. economical C. unstinting D. disaffected 31. Momentum gathered for a new property tax, but the _____ from home owners was so great that this proposal had to be _____. prediction abt bad situation A. anticipation ... endorsedsupport/advocate B. publicity ... revealed punishment D. penalty ... abridged make shorter/briefer rejection C. opposition ... abandoned+proposal: bac bo de xuat 32. The accused affected a nonchalant air during the interview: he made no vehement protestation express strong feelikngs of innocence, just a _____ denial of guilt kiem loi/ seen as rude talkative done quickly w/o care A. perfunctory B. remorseful hoi han C. terse D. loquacious 33. The award-winning novel is such _____ tale that its very intricacy has a daunting effect on detailed readers. briefly and clearly expressed complex, hard to follow appealing deserving blame A. a culpable B. a succinct C. an enthralling D. a convoluted 34. Because her new job required daily attendance, Joan was obliged to _____ her formerly _____ lifestyle as a traveling musician increase sth's value xa hoa cause sth to continue A. perpetuate ... nomadic du muc B. augment ... lavish not do sth enjoyagle unwillingly D. forgo ... sedentary involve little physical activity give up C. relinquish ... itinerant schedule for a journey 35. Not wanting to speak _____, Julia suppressed the urge to announce her scientific findings until she had double-checked the data. severe careless A. prematurely B. inappropriately C. rashly D. harshly 36. The kiwi bird’s wings are _____: that is, they are rudiments of wings and serve no function. involve movement A. prodigiousphi thuong B. ostentatiouskhoa truong C. kinetic D. vestigial small remaining part 37. The defence attorney felt the judge had been _____ against her client, and lodged an appeal. co xu huong hanh xu thanh kien, unfair A. prejudiced B. predetermined C. predisposed D. premeditated arrange beforehand co chu y trc 38. Any _____ of the project would need government approval. A. implicationngu y B. increase C. collaboration D. expansion 39. The _____ attitude was one of support, so the meeting ended positively. most noticeable A. deepening B. spreading C. prevailing tdo dang D. dominating ton tai 40. As soon as he finished university, he was _____ into the army. force sb to transform nhap ngu hien dang to protect A. consecrated B. conserved C. converted D. conscripted serve in the army 41. His life was not without _____, and could be said to have been full of adventure. A. incident B. dignity pham gia C. hesitation D. implication 42. The attempts of epidemiologists to _____ the infectious disease ultimately proved futile: as achieve nothing soon as they managed to _____ it in one community, it would emerge somewhere else. A. replicate ... monitor B. eradicate ... unleash copy epidemiologist: s/o who study diseases

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C. contain ... check

bipartite trilateral

D. control ... extend

Part 2. For questions 43 - 52, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the constrainment corresponding numbered space on the answer sheet. 43. People can decide how to care for their children,unencumbered ________ by interference from the state. ko bi can tro (CUMBERSOME) cong kenh technophile of his generation, he was fascinated by the Internet. (TECHNOLOGY) 44. Like many ________ >< technophobes tripartite 45. A ________ agreement between the UK, France and Ireland allows horses to travel between the tree countries without health certificates. (PART) shared by 3 parties 46. She bought somedecaffeinated ________ coffee as she cannot stand caffeine. (CAFFEINE) 47. I think my last statement encapsulates ________ the situation pretty well - at least, I can’t think of any better summary. (CAPSULE) accreditation with the state’s university system. (CREDIT) su cap phep 48. Private school feared losing its ________ 49. “I am going to ask that very question of you,” said Norton ________. (URBAN) urbanely vicissitudes of exploratory research. (VICIOUS) 50. The project was subject to the usual ________ iconoclast who refused to be bound by tradition. (ICON) s/o who oppose beliefs and traditions 51. He was a(n) ________ 52. She stood there completely ________, so I had no idea at all what she was thinking. expressionless (EXPRESS) III. READING Part 1. For questions 1–14, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered space on your answer sheet. It must seem an incredibly long time ago indeed that critically acclaimed author J.K.Rowling (53.) by _______ herself sitting thoughtfully in her local cafe writing the first book in the Harry Potter series, a series which has since, as we know, gone on to enjoy unprecedented success. It is fascinating to see (54.)_______ Rowling’s development as a writer throughout the series. She appears to have (55.) _______ recognized the shortcomings of her earliest offerings and improved her (56.) _______from one novel to the next. The last book of the original seven is truly outstanding as a result. satisfy Indeed, Rowling’s fantastical world of magicians has undeniably (57.) _______ the imagination of millions of readers across the world. Perhaps that is why the mighty Potter franchise continues to strength go from strength to (58.) _______. Cinematic success followed the original book releases, and now are there have been follow-up plays, prequels and sequels - all (59.) _______ thunderous receptions. There seems to be no (60.) _______ in sight to our insatiable appetite for Rowling’s world of (61.) magicians and magic. And, as to the oft-asked question of whether magic really exists, to this I _______ would say the evidence in the (62.) _______ can be found in Rowling’s very own prolific wand. Let us hope she continues to write with it for many years to come.

Part 2. For questions 63 -76, read the following passage and do the tasks that follow. THE MEASUREMENT OF TIME The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries opened the way to a series of changes in daily life and human mentality. One example among many is the replacement of the rhythms of traditional agriculture with the uniform and precise schedule of industry. Traditional agriculture depended on cycles of natural time and organic growth. Most societies were unable to make precise time measurements, nor were they very interested in doing so. Life went on without clocks and timetables, subject only to the movements of the sun and the growth cycle of plants. There was no uniform working day, and all routines changed drastically from season to

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season. People knew where the sun was, and watched anxiously for signs of the rainy season and harvest time, but they did not know the hour, and hardly cared about which year it was. In contrast to medieval peasants and craftsmen, modern industry cares little about the sun or the season; it values precision and uniformity. For example, in a medieval workshop each shoemaker made an entire shoe, from sole to buckle. If one shoemaker was late for work, it did not hinder the others. However, in a modern, footwear-factory assembly line, every work mans a machine that produces just a small part of a shoe, which is then passed on to the next machine. If the worker who operates one of the machines has overslept, it hinders all the other machines. In order to prevent such calamities, everybody must adhere to a precise timetable. Each worker arrives at work at exactly the same time, and everybody takes their lunch break together, whether they are hungry or not. Everybody goes home when a whistle announces that the shift is over - not when they have finished the project. The Industrial Revolution turned the timetable and the assembly line into a template for almost all human activities. Shortly after factories imposed their time frames on human behavior, schools too adopted precise timetables, followed by hospitals, government offices and grocery stores. Even in places devoid of assembly lines, the timetable became king. A crucial link in the spreading timetable was public transportation. If workers needed to start their shifts by 08.00, the train or bus had to reach the factory gate by 07.55; a few minutes’ delay would lower production and perhaps even lead to the lay-offs of the uncomfortable latecomers. In 1784, a carriage service with a published schedule began operating in Britain, but its timetable specified only the hour of departure, not arrival. Back then, each British city and town had its own local time, which could differ from London time by up to half an hour. When it was 12.00 in London, it was perhaps 12.20 in Liverpool, and 11.50 in Canterbury. Since there were no telephones, no radio or television, who could know, and who cared? The first commercial train service began operating between Liverpool and Manchester in 1830, and ten years later the first train timetable was issued. The trains were much faster than the old carriages, so the differences in local hours became a severe nuisance. Eventually, in 1847, British train companies put their heads together and agreed that from then on all train timetable would be linked to the time at the Greenwich Observatory in London, rather than to the local times of other towns. More and more institutions followed the lead of the train companies. Finally, in 1880, the British government took the unprecedented step of legislating that all timetables in Britain must follow Greenwich. For the first time in history, a country adopted a national time, and obliged its population to live according to one artificial clock rather than local ones, or sunrise-to-sunset cycles. This modest beginning gave rise to a global network of timetables, synchronized down to the tiniest fraction of a second. When the broadcast media - first radio, then television - appeared, they entered a world of timetables and became enthusiastic enforcers. Among the first things radio stations broadcast were time signals, beeps that enabled far-off settlements and seafaring vessels to set the clocks. Later, radio stations adopted the custom of broadcasting the news every hour, and nowadays, the first item of every news broadcast is the time. Meanwhile, in order to run the timetable network, inexpensive but precise portable clocks with simple winding mechanisms had spread everywhere. In the world’s ancient cities there might have been at most a few sundials; in European medieval cities there was usually a single clock - a giant machine mounted on top of a high tower in the town square. Today, however, we are surrounded

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by timepieces: you can tell the time by looking at your wristwatch, glancing at your phone, peering at the alarm clock by the bed, or taking in the task-bar on your computer out of the corner of your eye. Yo need to make conscious effort not to know what time it is. The typical person consults these clocks several dozens of times a day, because almost everything we do has to be done on time. Complete the summary using the list of words/phrases, A-J below. Write the correct letter A-J in the corresponding numbered space on your answer sheet. Life before the Industrial Revolution Up until the 18th century, there was little interest in the precise measurement of time. Activities were largely governed by natural processes, such as weather patterns and the position of the sun, as these affected (63.) _______. There was no fixed routine for the (64.) _______, as activities changed from one time of year to another. For crafts such as shoe making there was no (65.) _______. For individuals, in contrast to workers today, (66.) _______ with others was not a matter of concern. Even when clocks were invented, these were usually seen only in cities, and were often inaccurate. However, this general lack of regulation all changed with the arrival of (67.) _______. A. working day F. factories B. trade

G. coordination

C. good relations

H. special training

D. farming

I. division of labor

E. harvesting methods

J. women

Below are some possible reasons why there were no detailed transport timetables in 18thcentury Britain. Which TWO of these reasons are mentioned by the writer of the passage? Choose TWO letters, A-E. Write your answers in space numbered 68-69 on your answer sheet. A. Roads were in poor condition. B. There were many different transport companies. C. Carriages suffered frequent breakdowns. D. There was no standard time. E. Means of communication were limited. Complete each of the following sentences with the correct ending, A-H from the list below. Write the correct letter A-H in the corresponding numbered space on your answer sheet. 70. The first workplaces in Britain to operate according to a standard time were ______. 71. The British government was the first in the world to enforce______. 72. From the outset, radio stations transmitted time signals for the benefit of______. 73. Nowadays, time is at the top of the agenda of all______. 74. Managing daily life according to timetables was made easier by the widespread introduction of______. 75. These days, individuals in many countries are surrounded by______.

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A. ships at sea

E. news broadcasts

B. cheap, mechanical clocks

F. limits on working hours

C. government offices

G. objects which register the time

D. the train companies

H. standard national time

What is the main purpose of the writer of the passage? Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D. Write your answer in space numbered 76 on your answer sheet. A. to argue that modern life is needlessly dominated by timetables. B. to compare attitudes to time in various parts of the world. C. to outline how people’s sense of time has changed over the centuries. D. to challenge the view that modern life is less stressful than life in the past. Part 3: In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. For questions 77-83, read the passage and choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap. There is ONE extra paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered space on your answer sheet. THE NEW CONSUMERS Have you ever considered your ten-year-old child a consumer? As parents, you may not have done, but a growing number of business entrepreneurs are targeting 9-to 12-year-olds, and are doing very nicely, thank you! We have acknowledged that teenagers have been the targets of advertisement for fast food outlets, clothes, food and drink for many years, but preteens? Isn’t that going too far? Doesn’t it smack of immorality?

77

Today’s children aren’t just connected via modem - they possess mobile phones and pagers to boot. Other generations absorbed product information through TV and magazines, but these children live in a technological world which is, in many ways, more complex than ever before; they have access to information from sources that were unimaginable fifty years ago. They have grown up in a world of information and knowledge that is unmatched by previous eras.

78 Another consequence of the trend towards two-parent incomes is the increasing tendency for parents to take their kids wherever they want to go, thus giving preteens more indirect purchasing power. And where do the kids want to go? Fast food outlets. Take a walk along the high street and see the number of families eating in such establishments which give away “free” toys with meals. The toys may be of dubious value, but they appeal to the chains’ target group.

79

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Children of this generation are referred to as the “Millennials” (born between 1982-2002) or “Generation Y”, and are more likely to have friends from different ethnic or racial groups. They are also growing up in an era of community. They have more activities to occupy their time, doing group project work in school, are involved in extra-curricular activities together after school (so that their school day fits into their parents’ work schedule) and in the evening, they text friends and use the Internet. In contrast, their parents grew up in an era more concerned with individuality.

80 On the whole, advertisers have been slow to recognize the potential market for the elderly, as longevity and the increased wealth of today’s retirees had not been foreseen by many industries. Insurance companies were amongst the first to tap this market, with ever-increasing success.

81 It must have taken a lot of courage for businesses to target the 9-to 12-year-old market. They now understand the critical powers of the group and do not underestimate their intelligence be being patronizing. They don’t try to sell make-up to young girls, for example, on the grounds that they’re not in the business of making their customers grow up too quickly, but may well display nail varnish.

82 Of course, such ideas have their origins in children’s radio programs, which began in the 1950s and proved very popular. In the 1960s, children’s comics had Birthday Corners and would print a child’s photograph during the week of their birthday, even on occasion offering a small prize for each one published. Children always get a thrill out of receiving presents of public recognition.

83 There is usually outrage when TV stations run a glut of advertisements for toys at children’s viewing times during the run-up to Christmas, but it seems that this type of direct marketing to 9-to 12-year-olds is becoming accepted. Is this because the marketing is more direct and unashamed, or are the marketing people right in their belief that our children are more sophisticated than previous generations, and that this makes them fair game?

A. Of course, parents still control the purse-strings of pre-teenagers, but these parents, known as the generation of “Baby Boomers”, are those who deferred child-bearing until later than was the norm. They spend less time on housework and food preparation, so have more time to spend with their cherished children. B. Once such marketing proved effective, other manufacturers began to experiment with mailorder catalogues for this group. As an inducement to their young consumers, some came up with the winning idea of a Birthday Club, which sends birthday cards and small value gift vouchers to customers. Given that this age group doesn’t usually receive mail, they have hit upon a winning idea. C. Not so, say the marketing people. These preteens are a lot more sophisticated than those of previous generations. No one is implying that they have lost that innocence associated with

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D.

E.

F.

G.

H.

childhood, but they are influenced by the world around them and have become streetwise at an earlier age in several aspects. Such marketing seems quite tame compared with today’s, but it was still rooted in consumerism. The radio programs wanted to compete with other stations and the comics aimed to increase their circulation. Because there is more ethnic diversity in the modern world, youngsters are becoming accustomed to different foods, and are more adventurous in their tastes, than before. Not only do they see their friends eating different food and share it with them, but there is also an unprecedented variety of convenience foods on the market. Another factor which influences these children is that they increasingly come from twoincome families, so parents feel the need to be in close communication with their children. Because of the increase in the number of working mothers, more children have been given greater responsibility. This does not mean that they are neglected, but they are, of necessity, bigger consumers of high-tech equipment than their parents were. However, children of today, despite their busy schedule, are still driven by fun, as were previous generations. What is different now is that they can be more speedily gratified. Grandparents have long been indulgent towards their grandchildren, and now, as well as buying products which target children, also prepare them for the future by taking out insurance policies or setting up trust funds, so that they will be ensured a comfortable life whilst at university or college. One reason for the lack of foresight is that advertisers follow the theory that whichever age group contains the largest numbers drives the culture and, historically, this has never been the elderly. The only other group comparable in numbers to pre-teenagers is their parents, the Baby Boomers, but they have lost their appeal as a target group for advertisers.

Part 4. For questions 84 - 90, read the following passage and choose the answer A, B, C or D which you think fits best according to the text. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered space on your answer sheet. MASS CULTURE In recent decades, the development and spread of new information technologies such as satellite television have engendered many debates about the consequences of the use. One of the first writers to see the possibilities of these changes was the American writer Marshall McLuhan, who argued in the 1960’s that communications technology would have two effects: first, it would create a global village where everyone and everything were accessible to the television camera and secondly, that it would become the case that “the medium is the message”, that is, how the message is transmitted would outgrow in importance what the message is. Other theorists have gone further in arguing that the explosion of, and increasing dependence on, information technology have brought about profound changes in the way society is organised. Some, for example, believe that we can now describe a “post-modern society”, characterised partly by an information-based international division of labor that allows increasing freedom of movement. At the cultural level, distinctions between “high” and “low” culture have disappeared as new technology transmits across class boundaries, while stylistically, form has become more important than substance, and the ubiquity of television means that everything is seen in television codes. McLuhan’s global television-led culture is now with us. The accuracy of such a description, however, has been questioned. At one level, many people are reluctant to accept any argument that technology can lead to social and economic changes,

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arguing instead that the relationship is exactly the other way round. In other words, they are critical of any tendency to technological determinism. Furthermore, evidence can be cited that queries the notion that information technology has spread evenly throughout the world or even throughout Britain. This has been described as the uneven development of the information economy. Many areas of Great Britain, for example, are not yet equipped with the on-line communications systems necessary to receive technologies such as cable and interactive television, and the take-up of these technologies varies according to socio-economic factors. We are still a long way from the full-scale and comprehensive implementation of the information super-highway. What does seem to be the case, however, is that the stereotypical image of the nuclear family sitting together in the front room cheerfully choosing their evening’s viewing from a limited range of television stations is disappearing. This is partly due to the increased number of sets per household as well as the rapid growth in the number of channels, a development mirrored by the niche marketing of magazines to a multiplicity of interest groups. The amount of time spent watching television per head has stabilised in recent years to around 27 hours a week. Women watch on average four more hours of television per week than men and all statistics show a relationship between social class and viewing This is not to say that diversity and choice have necessarily been achieved. It remains the case that satellite television caters for mass-appeal interests such as music, sport, news, children’s programmes and American films and light entertainment, ignoring many disadvantaged social groups. New media technologies have not empowered people in the sense that there are increased numbers of community-based television networks. In Britain, it is no less valid today to describe a mass culture based on a centrally directed mass media. Doubts have also been raised about the ability of satellite stations to succeed in creating a global television culture. Rupert Murdoch is widely known to own substantial parts of the global media industry. A few years ago, he added a controlling share of Star TV to his collection, meaning that he gained access to 2.5 billion people in 50 countries, or forty percent of the world’s television sets, in a region stretching from Jordan to Japan. Capturing the market in India, however, and hooking the population onto hit talk shows and American mega-series such as Baywatch and LA Law, has not been as straightforward as first imagined. Cultural differences are complicated in a nation of 18 official languages and further compounded when you consider the staggering figure of 1,700 dialects. Hindi films transmitted by the state broadcasting network still rank a coveted first in the ratings table. Murdoch’s response to this realisation was to immediately buy into a local TV station as well, Indian culture, for the present at least, remains resistant to western broadcasting and highlights that the creation of a global mass culture will not be solely induced by technology. 84. According to the writer, Marshall McLuhan envisaged a world where A. everyone would use a TV camera. B. TV would lessen the impact of information C. less serious content would be shown on TV. D. TV would create greater understanding between peoples. 85. Theorists describing society as “post-modern” claim information technology has A. meant more people doing identical jobs around the world. B. enabled “high” and “low” culture to share a common audience. C. benefited artistic creativity. D. resulted in other technologies challenging the dominance of TV. 86. The writer raises doubts about “technological determinism” because it

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A. B. C. D.

argues that cultural change determines economic change. has exaggerated the importance of the Internet. underestimates people’s resistance to change. assumes technology will impact on everyone in a similar way. 87. TV viewing within households has changed because A. viewing habits are more stable than in the past B. different family members will watch TV at different times. C. TV stations can now target specific audiences. D. typical nuclear families are less common. 88. The spread of TV culture through an increasing number of networks has A. limited centralized control of the media. B. been of little benefit to minorities. C. enabled local community television to emerge. D. increased diversity in mass culture. 89. The popularity of films in Hindi in India A. has caused TV companies to change strategy. B. indicates less cultural and language diversity in India than people imagine. C. resulted from screening programs unpopular in their home markets. D. is a result of the state TV monopoly 90. The writer’s general view of “technology” is that it A. has the power to drive social change. B. can liberate the economically disadvantaged. C. is not the most important factor in cultural change. D. hasn’t really changed our cultural habits. Part 5. The passage below consists of five paragraphs marked A, B, C, D and E. For questions 91 - 100, read the passage and do the task that follows. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered space on your answer sheet. In which section are the following mentioned? the ability to work on several projects simultaneously

91. ______

the fair treatment of applicants, irrespective of gender, race or color

92. ______

the availability of part-time employment

93. ______

the fact that appointments and pay are contingent upon skills

94. ______

a post where an important aspect of the job is resolving problems

95. ______

the wearing of exclusive garments

96. ______

an attempt to change customers’ attitudes

97. ______

permission necessary for employment

98. ______

the importance of punctuality

99. ______

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cooperation among colleagues

100. ______

AIRLINE CARRER OPPORTUNITIES A WIDE CHOICE A. In our company, people come first. We know that our success depends on the people who work for us. We believe in equal opportunities, and we certainly offer a variety of career paths, from flight attendants to management positions, baggage handlers to pilots, IT experts to engineers, and many more. Flight attendants are expected to work hard, but they receive good salaries, get to wear designer uniforms and see the world! A career as a flight attendant begins with two month’ s paid training, and there are great opportunities for career advancement. Flight attendants learn to handle emergency situations and provide essential medical aid. Of course, duties also include serving meals and beverages, selling on-board duty-free items and assisting passengers to stow their hand luggage. To work as a flight attendant, you must be at least 21 years old and be willing to work on international and domestic flights. In-flight professionals should display superior customer service skills and have a strong work ethic. B. Customer service agents work at airports, and are responsible for checking passengers in, dealing with tickets and bookings, directing passengers to their gate and helping them to find their luggage when they arrive at their destination. We want our customers to know that we are aware of the fact that air travel can be stressful, and that we always do our utmost to make the experience as trouble-free and enjoyable as possible. Our aim is, therefore, to provide top customer service so that travelers may begin to view air travel as a positive experience. Customer service agents need to work flexible hours, but benefits include flight privileges. To qualify for a position as a customer service agent, you need to be 18 years of age or over, and be authorized to work in this country. You also need to be able to read, write and speak English. C. Members of the ground crew work in a team environment. As a baggage handler or ramp operator, it will be your job to make sure that passengers’ luggage arrives when they do. Many passengers worry that they will arrive at their destination only to find that their cases have ended up somewhere else. It is our job to make sure this never happens. Ramp operators load, unload and transport luggage, post and cargo to and from our aircraft. The work also involves operating equipment such as tugs and conveyor belts. The ground crew must be safety conscious at all times, and applicants should be able to understand detailed job instructions. As part of our new program, successful candidates can work up to 1,000 hours per year to begin with, and later apply for a full-time position if they wish. To qualify, candidates must have the physical strength to lift at least 30 kilos, and possess a valid driving license. Previous experience is preferred but not essential. D. An information technology field engineer provides operational support to IT infrastructure at airports, reservation centers and offices. The field engineer is responsible for the installation and maintenance of desktop and network devices, peripherals, airline-specific equipment such as flight information display systems, and telephone systems. He or she will be expected to be able to upgrade hardware and software. The work also involves troubleshooting. The field engineer position requires formal IT training or equivalent experience, and the candidate must have the technical know-how to successfully apply technical processes to satisfy business needs. You will be required to deliver quality work on time. Most importantly, the field engineer must be willing to

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provide on-site, on-call support as needed, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, all year round. E. As for technical operations, our engineers are responsible for ensuring that all the aircraft in our fleet are safe, reliable and efficient. Successful candidates will be able to multitask, prioritize multiple projects based on urgency, and identify critical information when sorting through an enormous amount of data. Engineers have to handle large, in-depth projects for which it may take months to collect information and come up with appropriate proposals. Clearly, an engineer has to be very well-organized so that any one document (from the dozens of on-going projects) will be instantly available. In fact, he or she needs to be something of a perfectionist, since full compliance with regulations is vital. The candidate must be able to read and interpret technical drawings and should have completed a bachelor’s degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering. The position and salary offered to successful applicants will depend on their experience and abilities.

PRACTICE TEST SERIES FOR GIFTED STUDENTS

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WRITING Part 1. Read the following article and use your own words to summarise it. Your summary should be between 100 and 120 words long. Delays in detection and recall of bad meat happen because the industry is too weakly regulated," Schlosser says. "By the time the USDA discovers tainted meat, it's already being distributed," he wrote in The Nation on September 16. Since then, the agency has announced that it will begin random tests at all meatpacking plants in the U.S., and will have the power to close facilities where contamination is found. What hasn't changed? The USDA still lacks the power to order the recall of contaminated meat. "Every other defective product can be ordered off the market. Mandatory recall is important because under the current voluntary standard the company decides how much meat needs to be recalled and doesn't have to reveal where the meat has been shipped," Schlosser says. He advises that we write our congressional representatives in support of the SAFER Meat, Poultry, and Food Act and the Meat and Poultry Pathogen Reduction Act, which would give the agency power to enforce limits on contaminants, order recalls and impose fines. The meat industry says it cannot produce bacteria-free meat, so it's up to us to cook it until it's safely well done (160° F) to kill E. coli. But the tainted food should not be getting to us in the first place. The industrial food system produces force-fed, disease-prone animals and people. An estimated 120 million Americans are overweight or obese. McDonald's announced in September, 2002 that it would switch to heart-healthier polyunsaturated vegetable oil, but that won't make the fries any less fattening. It's just a gloss on the system in which, through their massive purchasing and marketing power, giant companies control how our food is produced, from seed to feed to processing. As Wilhelm says of the big meat processors who buy from megafarms, "They say that we consumers want this pork and they need it to come from one place to be efficient. "It's time we consumers made it clear that industrial farms, fast foods and their costly "efficiencies" are not what we want. Excerpted from Mindy Pennybacker, "Why Fast Food Costs Too Much”

Part 2. The table shows the proportion of pupils attending four secondary school types between 2000 and 2009. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. You should write about 150 words.

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Part 3. Write an essay of 350 words on the following topic: Many thoughtful people have said that cooperation brings out the best in people and leads to success in almost all endeavors. There is a limit, however, to the value of cooperative behavior, since such behavior may suppress people’s willingness to be creative and to stand out from the crowd. Too often, cooperating means going along with the group even if that is not necessarily the best way. Question: Does working with others lead to better results than acting as an individual? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience or observations.

THE END

PRACTICE TEST SERIES FOR GIFTED STUDENTS

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