Đề thi thử Anh Chuyên vào 10 Chuyên Sư Phạm năm 2022 - Lần 3

Choose the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Provided that you live within your means at this luxurious and glamorous metropolis, you won't get into debt.

Choose the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s).

It's not a pleasant feeling to discover you've been taken for a ride by a close friend.

Read the passage and choose the best answer for each question.

When Art Comes in Small Packages

Miniature art has been created for a very long time for a variety of reasons. Artists have made it for patrons as a display of wealth, as a form of adornment, as toys or as items of whimsy, or sometimes just because they can. Whatever the reasons, it seems that it is human nature to be fascinated by tiny, intricate things.

Miniature painting is a very old practice with its origins in the time when books were elaborately written out by hand. Often, hidden in the letters, would be a portrait of the person who paid to have the book made. Then, miniature portraiture began to appear independently of manuscripts, as status symbols for rich families. The demand for pint-sized portraits was huge until the advent of photography put an end to this business opportunity. But miniature art did not die out and has taken on new directions today.

Part of our fascination for miniature art is surely because of the incredible skill required to execute it. If only a small proportion of the population can create a lifelike sculpture, then imagine how few can create a lifelike sculpture on the head of a pin or in the eye of a needle. Willard Wigan is a British micro artist who has this amazing ability, which he developed from the time he was a child. He works under a microscope, moving in the moments between his own heartbeats, because the work requires a truly steady hand.

Graham Short is another micro-artist with a breath-taking talent. He is a master engraver who became known for etching the words "nothing is impossible" onto the edge of a razor blade, and that was just the beginning. He has continued to make smaller and smaller works, and is perhaps most famous for engraving several five-pound notes and releasing them into circulation for lucky people to find, with the help of magnifying glasses, of course.

It was a particularly generous gesture because tiny artwork has again become a status symbol. Both of these artists are renowned and hugely successful, with works selling for tens of thousands of dollars. Owning a mind-blowingly small artwork has become a must for modern-day celebrities, with the rich and famous queuing up to procure their own micro-sculpture or micro-engraving. Gallery exhibitions routinely sell out within minutes of opening.

But miniature art is not just for millionaires. After all, what is jewelry other than minuscule sculptures that can be worn? Another example is the modern trend of nail art, where tiny, elaborate designs are painted directly onto fingernails and displayed to the world in this way. And children's toy soldiers and ornate doll houses are not so many steps away from the diminutive works created by artists who work in miniature. Miniature art is all around us, we just have to look closely enough to appreciate it! 

What point does the writer make about miniature art in the first paragraph?

Why are hand-written books mentioned?

In the third paragraph, the writer suggests that micro-art can _____

What does the word "that" in paragraph 4 refer to?

In the fifth paragraph, what does the writer say about the demand for micro-art?

To conclude, what point does the writer emphasize?

Choose the word which has the underlined part pronounced differently from the others.

Choose the word which has the underlined part pronounced differently from the others.

Read the text and choose the correct word from the box to fill in each blank.

To most people, the idea of living on a 11.1desertsinglesolitarylonely island sounds instantly appealing. Just imagine, you could 11.2adjustalterswaptransform your life by exchanging your dull flat for white sands and crystalline waters. Most of us at some point in our lives have roughed it on camping expeditions, but because we have quite 11.3discerningdiscriminatingchoiceselective memories, we only remember the best bits. The moments of cold and hunger are generally not the ones which we are most likely to 11.4memorizeremindrecognizerecall the most, which is perhaps why some people decide to 11.5turngetmakemove their lives around by moving to remote locations. According to real-life accounts of people who, driven by some 11.6burningendearingeternalcolossal ambition, have actually exchanged their comfy lives for island life, it can be tough, very tough. There are some accounts of idyllic lives that have clearly been a 11.7challengingrunningresoundingmitigating success, but there are also stories that can be only classified as 11.8dismalfutilelukewarmeternal failures. Sadly, some of these people end up having to cut their 11.9casualtieslossesdamagesfailings and return home.

These measures have been taken _____ increasing the company's profits.

Peter and Jimmy have just watched a movie.

Peter: "That movie was so awful!"

Jimmy: "_____"!

It is strongly recommended that the machines _____ every year.

The patient's condition looks very serious and it is doubtful that he will pull _____.

The Vauxhall automobile _____ to be economical has recently regained popularity among car collectors.

The latest novel by Grant is hilarious. It had me _____ stitches.

James forgot the _____ pen he bought yesterday at school.

I don't believe there's a _____ of evidence that could be held against him.

Their house is the _____ of the whole street.

On the battlefield _____.

I don't suppose there is anyone there, _____?

We've seen its effects in many experiments, but there's still a _____ chance. It's just an illusion.

The use of robots on farms is growing rapidly since it is often _____ human farm workers.

It is _____ possible to spend all of your life in this city.

Nick threw _____ his chances of getting admitted into Stanford by spending too much time wondering about his abilities.

Choose the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s).

He left home at the drop of a hat without saying a word.

Choose the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s).

The bus driver left the door ajar so that returning passengers could reboard after the rest stop.

Choose the word that differs from the rest in the position of the main stress.

Choose the word that differs from the rest in the position of the main stress.

Choose the word that differs from the rest in the position of the main stress.

You are going to read about leadership. Write the correct letter (A-D) in each blank. Some may be chosen more than once.

Could you be a leader?

Do you think you could be a leader for your peers? We asked a group of teenagers what it is like to lead their peers.

A. I've recently been heading up an arts project as part of a performance award we're working towards at college, which I'm hoping might give me an edge over other candidates when I'm applying to university. What was tough was to come up with an original idea. There were several alternatives floating around in my head, but I finally settled on one related to local history, and I'm currently working with the local youth theatre to produce a short film which tells the tale of working lives in my town. I'm in charge of absolutely everything, from budgeting to costumes, and I must admit that I'd really underestimated the complexity of the whole enterprise - sorting out everything does get pretty draining. But what I'm getting out of it is major and you can't quantify it in terms of money or training. The screening is next week and fingers crossed we get a sizeable audience who will appreciate the final result and all the effort we've put in!

B. Becoming leader of our band wasn't at all intentional - it sort of happened by default really, as things do! I'm not actually the face of the band; it's the lead vocalist who's the one with the star-quality charisma, but there's no way he's organized enough to cope with things like bookings for gigs or working out the finances of the band. So that fell to me, presumably because I'm the oldest and supposed to be a bit more down-to-earth. What I also have to do is manage the group dynamics and ensure that we showcase everyone's talents. It's tricky at times because we're all individuals and the thing that's hardest to do is stabilize us as a band, dealing with all the egos and squabbles. Also, people look to me as the public voice of the band, which involves managing our image, and that can be quite a nerve-wracking business.

C. My first love is taekwondo and in my group, some of us get selected to take on special leadership roles, which don't, by the way, follow the more traditional concept of a leader as someone who tells others what to do! My role within the group is really that of being a role model for the up-and-coming youngsters. To do that successfully, you need respect and that is something that doesn't come automatically: it has to be earned. It's a privilege being looked up to and copied, but it's only when you are actually in that position that you realize you have to be acutely aware of everything you say and do, both on and off the floor. That can pile on quite a lot of pressure. Communicating well is another major part of my role as I also have to help develop the technical abilities of the younger members, which is particularly important when we put on demonstrations for an audience. For me, it's vital to be authoritative without the bossiness and arrogance that is sometimes linked with being in such a position. I hope I manage that.

D. One thing that always surprises people is how old I am - they find it hard to get their heads round the fact that a teenager can be a successful app developer. I don't think it's that surprising, really. Tech is definitely one thing teenagers know more about than their parents! Another point is that the teenage market is perhaps one of the biggest for new apps, and my age puts me in the ideal position to be able to plug gaps in that market. As opposed to the popular belief that software developers are lonely geeks who spend all their time stuck in front of a computer, a lot of mine is taken up doing research on my classmates! App design has been my passion for several years and it's great to be sought out for my advice by people who are themselves really talented. So many kids were asking me questions that I eventually started an app group at college myself, and we've got some very clever people in this. People wonder how it feels to be the leader of such a talented bunch of people, but I don't see it like that. I see myself as more of a mentor, getting the best out of everyone, learning from each other and sharing our knowledge and talents to create the most successful apps possible.

Which leader:

attributes their leadership role to factors unrelated to ability? 32.1

believes that their experience will be beneficial in future? 32.2

finds the position of leader more challenging than anticipated? 32.3

appreciates the value of peer collaboration? 32.4

uses a comparison to explain what they do as a leader? 32.5

feels compelled to control their behavior? 32.6

wants to energize others? 32.7

mentions the problematic issue of getting people to work together? 32.8

points out negative characteristics sometimes associated with leaders? 32.9

profits from being a certain age? 32.10

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the gap. There is an example at the beginning.

To ski or snowboard in Colorado is to experience the pinnacle of winter sports. The state of Colorado is known for its spectacular (SPECTACLE) scenery and (BREATH) 33.1 views, which inspire today's travelers as much as they spurred on the (SETTLE) 33.2 who first arrived in this part of the US over a century ago. And whether you're seeking the outdoor adventure of a (LIFE) 33.3, exciting nightlife, or a great family getaway, Colorado has everything you need from November through April, snow conditions are (CONSIST) 33.4 and reliable, featuring Colorado's (LEGEND) 33.5 "champagne powder" show. Extensive snow-making and grooming operations always keep trails in top shape.

The mountain destinations in the Colorado Rockies can turn your wildest ski dreams into thrilling (REAL) 33.6. There, you'll find the best skiing and snowboarding on (PICTURE) 33.7 slopes, as well as the finest ski schools in the US. Together, they present a(n) (PARALLEL) 33.8 winter paradise.

And the best part is that you'll enjoy friendly, (CARE) 33.9 service in resorts that are (COMMIT) 33.10 to deliver the highest quality amenities.

Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A - F from the list of numbered headings i-ix. Write the correct number in each blank.

Demystifying Our Dreamworld

Paragraph A

As a teenager, Brenda Giguere went ice skating with her friends every week, but they improved much faster than she did. She could only go round in circles and got fed up with watching her friends effortlessly switching from backward skating to forward. Lying in bed one night, she thought she would try to practice those backward moves in her sleep. "Before long I was dreaming, I was skating, and I got very excited. It was so realistic. I felt the sensation of skating backward - the movement of my legs, the cool air, the feeling of propelling myself this way. Suddenly it all made sense as a set of logical, fluid, sequential body movements." 

Paragraph B

Brenda later found out she had experienced what is called a "lucid dream". Lucid dreaming is one of the most controversial areas of dream research, partly because of misperceptions over how much individuals can influence their dreams - or indeed, whether they should. Those in favor say that lucidity is an important step in understanding dreams and argue that lucid dreams can take the horror out of nightmares, inspire new ideas, promote self-healing of physical ailments and unravel mysteries of the psyche that can improve a person's well-being.

Paragraph C

Lucid dreaming is a technique that has been practiced by Tibetan Buddhist priests for more than a millennium. Writings by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle also refer to the conscious exploration of dreams. And when the discovery of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep 50 years ago opened up new avenues of sleep research, it also strengthened the argument for lucidity. Today, the leading guru in this field is Stephen LaBerge, who founded the Lucidity Institute in 1987.

Paragraph D

LaBerge believes that the state of awareness reached during lucid dreaming is akin to that of being awake. With colleagues, he has developed electronic devices that give the dreamer a reminder during REM Sleep to try to become lucid. The "Nova Dreamer" is a sleep mask that emits a flashing light or sound cues when the user is dreaming (detected by eye movement). LaBerge claims that this increases the dreamer's chances of becoming lucid threefold, as evidenced by research he has carried out. Ed Wirth, who has used the Nova Dreamer, says the flashing light becomes incorporated into his dreams, like the flickering image of a TV screen. Of the 600 or so dreams a year that Wirth recalls, only five or six are lucid, but their effect is powerful and overwhelming. He flies in his dreams and walks through walls: "You can turn a threatening situation into a funny situation. It eliminates the whole nightmare. They, in effect, have changed my life. For me, it's an exploration." 

Paragraph E

Not everyone shares this enthusiasm. Rosalind Cartwright, the Grande dame of sleep medicine research, believes the whole concept has been overblown. Cartwright, director of the Sleep Disorders Service and Research Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, says: "It's a wish to control things out of their usual function and time. It is trying to redesign the mind in a way I don't think is necessarily helpful. It gives people false hope."

Paragraph F

LaBerge admits he doesn't have all the answers yet, but feels lucky to be able to work in such a fascinating field. His goals are simple: to learn more about lucid dreaming and to make it more accessible to the public. At the moment, he's experimenting with chemical inducements to increase the release of acetylcholine, the main neurotransmitter in REM sleep, in order to encourage seasoned lucid dreamers to have more of them. He's also testing herbal supplements such as galantamine, which is extracted from daffodil bulbs, to promote a similar effect. But LaBerge laments that more isn't being done. Research funds are not exactly pouring in for lucid dreaming, and his business operates on a shoestring with a six member staff, lots of volunteers and funding from grants, donations and sales.

List of headings

Matching: 

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only ONE word in each gap.

Dear Juliet 

Verona, the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, is steeped in the legend of the star-crossed lovers. Not 35.1 are there hotels named after the pair, but there are a motorcycle racecourse and campground too. The local tourist office will show you 35.2 you can find their family homes. 35.3 powerful is the myth that 35.4 sites attract two million visitors a year. But it is Juliet who gets most of the attention these days. Bizarrely, the local post office receives about 5,000 letters a year from all over the world, addressed to her as a kind of international agony aunt. Even more surprisingly, every single letter 35.5 receive an answer. Verona has founded a voluntary organization, The Juliet Club, to reply to 35.6 and every letter personally. Not until you have read some of the letters, do you realize how deep some people's need is to pour 35.7 their feelings. Many of the problems are timeless: parental opposition to teenage love and the trials of marriage and divorce. But 35.8 people should turn to Juliet is a mystery. In Shakespeare's play, Juliet, in love with Romeo and facing an arranged marriage, fakes her 35.9 death with poison. Romeo, believing she is really dead, kills himself at her side. She wakes up and stabs herself in despair at the sight of her beloved. Is this really the kind of person you'd expect good advice from? Maybe not, but the myth lives on - not just in Verona but on the Internet too - where you can view some of the letters written to her, or send her an electronic letter yourself 35.10 you be feeling lovesick.

Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning to the first.

I handed in my business proposal on Friday, not Monday.

=> It ..........

Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning to the first.

Buying such an expensive present for your boss's wife was completely unnecessary.

=> You ..........

Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning to the first.

It was more a miscalculation than an accident.

=> It was not so ..........

Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning to the first.

Apart from a few minor mistakes, you did a good job on the whole.

=> By ..........

Complete the second sentences so that it has the same meaning to the first.

I'm enormously relieved you're safe.

=> It ..........

Complete the second sentences so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between THREE and SIX words, including the word given.

Anthropologists have learned a lot about human behavior by studying dolphins. (SO)

=> If anthropologists hadn't studied dolphins, they about human behavior.

Complete the second sentences so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between THREE and SIX words, including the word given.

I'm not going to feel guilty that my parents are upset about my decision. (CLOUD)

=> I'm not going to allow my parent's feelings to about my decision.

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between THREE and SIX words, including the word given.

A person who puts a negative comment online usually won't tell you in person. (FACE)

=>  A person who writes something negative online usually won't .

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between THREE and SIX words, including the word given.

It was agreed that the issue would be brought up at the next meeting. (BRING)

=> They resolved up at the following meeting. 

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between THREE and SIX words, including the word given.

The documentary went some way to telling things exactly as they were. (PICTURE)

=> The documentary gave the circumstances to some extent.

Write a paragraph of around 150 words about a special childhood toy or memento. Describe why it is important to you and how it makes you feel.