SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO KỲ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI LỚP 9 CẤP THÀNH PHỐ

THÀNH PHỐ HỒ CHÍ MINH NĂM HỌC 2024 - 2025

MÔN: TIẾNG ANH
ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC Ngày thi: 14/3/2025
(Đề thi gồm 04 trang) Thời gian làm bài: 120 phút (Không tính thời gian phát đề)

LISTENING (20 pts) There are two recordings. You will listen to each recording twice.

PART 1. You will hear a talk about deserts. For questions 1 to 10, fill in each blank with ONE word.
1. Deserts are often defined as areas of land with less than 10 inches of ______ each year.
2. Although most deserts are found in the mid-latitudes, they make up nearly one ______ of Earth’s total land mass.
3. Semi-arid deserts are located in Asia, ______, and North America.
4. Tall mountain ranges block ______ and form deserts through a process called the rain shadow effect.
5. Deserts are important ______ for plants and animals.
6. Many plants in the deserts have long and ______ root systems.
7. Desert wildlife is ______ to ecological changes.
8. Desertification occurs when certain factors ______ the biological productivity of a region.
9. The poor irrigation practices and ______ water usage led to the formation of the youngest desert.
10. Desertification can be curbed with responsible agriculture, better ______ of water resources, and limiting further
development.

PART 2. You will hear an interview in which two experts are talking about why people believe things which are not
true. For questions 1 to 5, listen carefully and choose the correct option (A, B, C or D).
1. Donna says people believe untrue things because they _____.
A. depend too heavily on the internet B. are not able to deal with so much data
C. feel they must understand why things happen D. lack the scientific skills required to know better
2. On the link between the cold virus and cold weather, they both feel that _____.
A. the idea is initially plausible B. it precedes the arrival of computers
C. there is a scientific explanation for it D. the confusion is caused by the homophone
3. Donna thinks it is difficult to remove a false belief because _____.
A. it can cause emotional distress B. nobody likes admitting they were mistaken
C. it involves a large amount of mental energy D. there is a natural hostility towards the unfamiliar
4. According to Derek, the best way to avoid false beliefs is _____.
A. seek a diverse range of opinions B. learn more about human psychology
C. question your own thought processes D. be more selective in your information sources
5. When talking about the future, they both believe that _____.
A. the ways of spreading false information are multiplying
B. people are more willing to believe anything they see or hear
C. the amount of misinformation is increasing a great deal
D. education is vital for people to make continued progress

USE OF ENGLISH (20 pts)

Choose the word or phrase (A, B, C or D) that best completes the sentence.
1. If Tom ______, would you forgive him?
A. should have apologised B. were to apologise
C. had been apologised D. had better apologise
2. ______ all your money on the first day of the trip was not wise.
A. Having to spend B. You to spend C. Your being spent D. That you spent
3. _____ the bad weather, the marketing event was a success.
A. Albeit B. Despite of C. Nevertheless D. Notwithstanding
4. Sue objected _____ on more tasks.
A. to take B. having taken C. to have taken D. to taking
5. Nothing _____ than a full refund will satisfy the displeased customer.
A. another B. rather C. other D. farther
6. They haven’t been in need of extra staff as _____, but they may in the future.
A. though B. yet C. much D. still
7. They say they _____ it in time due to the traffic congestion.
A. can’t make B. not make C. wasn’t able to make D. hadn’t managed to make
8. Sometimes we need to read _____ the lines to understand what people imply.
A. upon B. by C. between D. among
9. The couple _____ aside some money every month for their retirement.
A. set B. stand C. cast D. brush
10. Don’t be taken _____ by his story. He’s definitely lying.
A. away B. down C. off D. in
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11. – Vicky: “You don’t bring too much luggage this time, do you?” – Chloe: “______”
A. No! I learnt my lesson. B. I will give you the benefit of the doubt.
C. Yes, I second that. D. I wonder why.
12. The lecture is about several events that changed the ______ of history.
A. course B. cycle C. origin D. duration
13. They are proposing new regulations which _______ the special needs of minority groups.
A. activate B. accommodate C. enable D. inhabit
14. Is football your country’s most popular _______ sport?
A. audience B. onlooker C. spectator D. viewer
15. The team has been conducting _______ research into the side effects of the drug.
A. enlarged B. innumerate C. worn-out D. exhaustive

Choose the word or phrase (A, B, C or D) that is incorrect.

16. Hardly had Mimi not entered the room when she caught a glimpse of Daniel, for whom she was looking.
A B C D
17. We regret to inform you which you have ordered is out of stock for the time being.
A B C D
18. The young lady’s diary entries provide a fascinating insight to life in post-war Europe.
A B C D
19. It is strongly advised that your identity card to be carried with you at all times.
A B C D
20. The playwright is full of discovery and therefore has come up with a great number of thrilling plot twists.
A B C D

WORD FORMS (40 pts)

PART A. Fill in the blank with the appropriate form of the word given in brackets.
1. Our _______ software is designed in view of the recent and expected advances in technology. (future)
2. The _______ beautiful town attracts a lot of tourists every year. (spectacle)
3. The mountainous region’s _______ has discouraged all but the sturdiest of hikers. (access)
4. Unless the child works harder, passing the entrance exam can be a(n) _______ struggle. (hill)
5. The economy has performed well this year, _______ experts’ gloomy predictions. (prove)
6. The _______ of infrastructure is an investment for future generations. (good)
7. Technology has helped us to store sound and pictures _______. (digit)
8. Paul _______ his shoulder while he was practising for the final. (locate)
9. Though small, this local bakery offers the tasty egg tarts _______ in this city. (equal)
10. If you have any health problems, please request permission for _______ before regular meetings. (attend)

PART B. Put the words given in the correct blanks. You have to use their correct forms to make a meaningful
passage. There are two extra words that you cannot use.

computer archive enthusiasm list scepticism innovate

knowledge instruct intention render music mortal
A disc was found to contain several songs that were played by a computer built by Alan Turing, long (11)_____ as
the pioneer of modern computing. The computer in question, called the Mark II, has long since been dismantled. Using
the acetate disc, two audio (12)_____ have managed to recreate the way Turing’s computer must have sounded back
in 1951, as it played the world’s very first (13)_____ melody.
The Mark II was able to emit a range of bleeps, buzzes, and tones. These were merely (14)_____ to inform the user
about what the computer was doing; the Mark II was not designed to double as a(n) (15)_____ instrument. Still, a music
teacher and avid computer (16)_____ named Christopher Strachey devised a program to make the Mark II play ‘God
Save the Queen.’ Turing agreed to let him install it, despite being (17)_____ initially. Upon witnessing his computer
launch into a rousing (18)_____ of the British national anthem, the computer’s inventor was really amazed, however.
So much so that he wasted no time in (19)_____ the help of a sound technician to (20)______ this strange new music.
GUIDED CLOZE TEST (30 pts)
Read the passage and choose the best option (A, B, C or D) for each blank space.
In 1934, on his way to London after visiting his friend Agatha Christie, the young Allen Lane stopped at the
station bookstall at Exeter St Davids and saw that the books on sale were (1)_____ a poor quality and overpriced. That
experience inspired him to create the sixpenny paperback and (2)_____ a global paperback movement. At the (3)_____,
this was revolutionary. On a mission to make good quality books affordable, Sir Allen Lane arguably propelled the
(4)_____ of reading and made it a pastime that everyone, (5)_____ of their background, could enjoy.
All he needed was a name for his new (6)_____. It was Sir Allen’s secretary, Joan Coles, (7)_____ suggested
the penguin when he expressed his desire for a “dignified but flippant” symbol for his publishing endeavour. (8)_____
with his brothers, Dick and John, Sir Allen decided it would be called Penguin Books. 21-year-old Edward Young was
then sent to London Zoo to draw the bird that would become one of the most (9)_____ brands in the world.
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 To complement the inclusive pricing of his Penguin books, Sir Allen Lane dreamt (10)_____ the Penguincubator
in 1937, a vending machine (11)_____ a selection of Penguin books on Charing Cross Road, London. Sir Allen Lane’s
innovative streak is evident here, (12)_____ he identified the demand for books to be available outside of bookshops.
Today at Penguin Random House, Sir Allen Lane’s founding principles remain as important as ever. A (13)_____
plaque for Sir Allen Lane has been (14)_____ at Exeter St Davids station, in the very (15)_____ where he was inspired
to create the sixpenny paperback.
1. A. of B. in C. for D. on
2. A. rise B. launch C. release D. issue
3. A. age B. time C. present D. moment
4. A. title B. formation C. figure D. profile
5. A. reckless B. thoughtless C. regardless D. senseless
6. A. finding B. venture C. outcome D. procedure
7. A. whom B. what C. who D. which
8. A. Along B. Except C. Besides D. Alongside
9. A. recognised B. proclaimed C. celebratory D. declamatory
10. A. off B. up C. on D. beyond
11. A. offering B. offered C. to be offered D. having been offered
12. A. so that B. provided C. as D. thereby
13. A. memorable B. immemorial C. commentary D. commemorative
14. A. exposed B. revealed C. disclosed D. unveiled
15. A. position B. locality C. spot D. speck

READING COMPREHENSION (20 pts)

Choose the item (A, B, C or D) that best answers each question or best completes each statement.
Most regional accents in the United Kingdom (UK) are becoming less obvious in this age of 600-channel satellite
TV systems, but it seems that Scouse, the Liverpool accent, is actually becoming more distinct. Scouse was first made
famous by early Liverpool rock legends the Beatles, and is a mishmash of Welsh intonations, Irish lilts and Lancashire
twangs. Adding to that, Scouse is muffled within the sinuses, a feature some linguists say is an effect that coal burning
had on the nasal passages during the city’s industrial period.
Accents in the UK are a timeless obsession. They have long separated the miner from the minister and the
more sophisticated south from the industrial north. But just as the boundaries between the social classes are fading,
regional accents are also no longer as tightly linked to class. Television has picked up on the trend too. The British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), for example, has stopped using the English of the educated classes called “Received
Pronunciation” (RP). The rise of the Labour Party, with its working-class roots, has also helped gradually weaken the
accent barrier. Even the former Prime Minister David Cameron, a member of the Conservative Party with a strong RP
accent, would dip into “Estuary English”, a combination of accents with Cockney inflections.
Despite all this cross-switching, accent discrimination still exists. A survey of discriminatory attitudes found that
many people who would never judge people based on color of skin or gender would not hesitate to comment on accents.
Even though Scouse ranks among the most stigmatized of accents, this doesn’t stop the Liverpudlians from taking
pride in it.
1. What is the passage mainly about?
A. the Beatles and the Liverpool accent B. changes in accents in the UK
C. the survival of the Liverpool accent D. television and its effect on accents
2. In the second sentence of the first paragraph, which word could best replace “mishmash”?
A. structure B. category C. mixture D. collection
3. What is implied about Scouse?
A. It was influenced by Liverpool’s past air pollution.
B. It contains many words that come from Welsh.
C. It has recently received more attention from linguists.
D. Its use became more widespread because of the Beatles.
4. In the fourth sentence of the second paragraph, what does “trend” mean?
A. style B. gist C. fashion D. tendency
5. According to the author, what does the current English used by the BBC demonstrate?
A. the power of the Labour Party B. the UK’s obsession with accents
C. weakening class structures in the UK D. the growing influence of “Received Pronunciation”
6. Why does the author mention the case of the UK’s former Prime Minister?
A. to analyse how Esturary English is used B. to mention other British accents
C. to demonstrate the stereotype about accents D. to give an example of accent switching
7. What does the author claim about people in the UK today?
A. They often try to sound like the speakers on the BBC.
B. They are occasionally ashamed of their regional differences.
C. They assume RP speakers are well educated.
D. They may show prejudice against some accents.
8. In the last sentence of the passage, the word “stigmatized” could be best replaced by _____.
A. classified B. labelled C. addressed D. discussed

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9. In the last sentence of the passage, what does “it” refer to?
A. Scouse B. a survey C. cross-switching D. discrimination
10. This passage is likely to be found in a _____.
A. guidebook B. manual C. journal D. biography

OPEN CLOZE TEST (40 pts)

Fill in each blank with ONE suitable word to make a meaningful passage.

PASSAGE A
You thought the beaver was a rodent of unusual (1)_____? The capybara is twice (2)_____ big – the biggest
rodent on Earth. These impressive semi-aquatic mammals are found throughout much of northern and central South
America, though a (3)_____ invasive population has been seen in Florida. Like beavers, capybaras are strong
swimmers. Their pig-shaped bodies are adapted for life in bodies of (4)_____ found in forests, seasonally flooded
savannas, and wetlands. Their toes are partially webbed for paddling around, and their reddish to dark brown fur is
long and brittle – perfect for (5)_____ out quickly on land. Small eyes, noses, and hairless ears are (6)_____ high on
their heads so that their faces remain (7)_____ to the air and alert when most of their body is (8)_____. Being alert
is important when you’re often dinner for jaguars, pumas, and, in the water, caimans. Capybara young have even
more to worry about: they are a favorite snack food of snakes, foxes, small cats, and birds of (9)_____ like the black
vulture. Along with the seasons, the presence of predators affects what time of day capybaras are active, which may
be day or night, and is often at dawn and (10)_____.

PASSAGE B
Exercise doesn’t have to be narrowly (1)_____. There’s no requirement to spend hours struggling to play football
in the park if that’s (2)_____ your thing. What’s important is to choose a physical activity you enjoy and that raises your
heart rate; one (3)_____ simultaneously exercises the mind is a bonus – this is where dancing comes in. Several studies
have proved that dancing is a great way to exercise body and (4)_____ – and might in some circumstances help to
(5)_____ the onset of dementia, a medical condition that affects our memory. A study by the Albert Einstein College of
Medicine in New York explored the activities of a group of people aged 75 and over, and the (6)_____ these practices
had on slowing down dementia. The results were fascinating: reading showed a 35 percent reduction in the (7)_____ of
developing the condition, doing crosswords four days a week saw a 47 percent decrease, (8)_____ dancing
demonstrated a huge reduction of 76 percent. This might be because dancing (9)_____ both physical and mental activity.
The multifaceted nature of dancing, which involves developing coordination, learning choreography, executing routines,
interpreting music, and (10)_____ to other dancers, helps to keep those neural pathways active and firing.

SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION (30 pts)

Rewrite each sentence in such a way that it means almost the same as the one printed before it. Use the word in
brackets without making any change to it.

1. My partner oughtn’t to have changed our script without asking me first. (liberties)
 I would rather _____________________________________ our script.
2. Paul argued with his friend, so they aren’t speaking to each other now. (terms)
 Had Paul _____________________________________ now.
3. Fred promised me that he would send me his assigned part soon. (less)
 Fred gave _________________________________ no time.
4. The judges were taken aback by the contestant’s decision to sing her own song. (opted)
 Much _________________________________ her own song.
5. Mr. Smith got very angry when he saw that the window was broken. (sight)
 Mr Smith flew _________________________________ window.
6. The issue wasn’t mentioned because they didn’t want to get into trouble. (steer)
 No one brought _________________________________ trouble.
7. Locals are upset that the new building doesn’t fit in with the surroundings. (odds)
 Locals find _________________________________ the surroundings.
8. Jimmy’s such a capable engineer that he rarely makes mistakes. (far)
 Jimmy’s mistakes _______________________________________ an engineer.
9. The students are looking forward to relaxing after the exam time. (feet)
 The students can __________________________________ after the exam time.
10. We can assure you that we will make every effort to solve the problem. (utmost)
 Please rest __________________________________ the problem.

THE END OF THE TEST