THI HỌC SINH GIỎI LỚP 9 (VÒNG I) HÀ NỘI

 Trường học
 Học sinh giỏi Hà Nội

 Lớp học
 9

 Năm học
 1999

 Môn thi
 Anh văn

 Thời gian
 120 phút

 Thang điểm
 10

I. Look at this story and give the correct forms of the verbs. (7.5 pts)
When I (1. be) a child, things (2. be) very different. I (3. live) very happily with my parents like all the other children I (4. know). We (5. have) a small but comfortable house and I (6. go) to school, which I (7. not like) very much. Then when I (8. be) fourteen, my parents (9. get) divorced. I will never forget how they (10. tell) me. I (11. study) geography in my bedroom when my mother (12. come) in and (13. tell) me the news. When I (14. be) sixteen, (at that time I (15. live) with my father), he (16. tell) me some more news. The news (17. be) that he (18. want) to get married again, and his new wife (19. have) two small children, so I would have to leave school and start working because there would not be enough money. I (20. cannot) believe it, but I (21. see) that he really (22. want) to get married, and so I (23. agree). Well, three years ago I (24. find) a job as a secretary and translator in an office near my home. I (25. work) there since then. I (26. save) some money during the last years. Life at home is not perfect because I (27. not like) children very much, but it (``28. not be) really difficult - just boring! And so next year I (29. move) into my own flat and I (30. study) at night school. Or perhaps a handsome prince on a beautiful horse will save me!

II. There are twelve mistakes in the following passage, underline and correct them. (6.0 pts)
Dear Mr and Mrs Wilcox, I`m very happy that you can come to visit us in August, but I would like to tell you something in my town. The weather here in August is usually very good, and bring a warm jumper or jacket with you because it is sometimes cool in the evenings. I know if you like going to the theatre and to the opera, then I have booked tickets for the performance of `Aida` in August 4th. An opera will start at 9.00 in the evening. Because there are lots of people when the seats do not have numbers we must arrive very early. I know that you will like the monuments in Verona, especially the Arena and the Roman theatre. There is a lot of good restaurants and cafés in Verona and we can try some of the local dishes. I`m sure you like our food, especially the pasta and the fruit ice-cream. Please write to me early and tell me early what time you are arriving in Verona. With best wishes,

III. Arrange these sentences to make a complete passage. (5.0 pts)
a. As they built bigger and bigger ships, they were able to sail further and further away. b. They don`t really mean that the world is getting smaller, of course. c. They found that as they sailed further away from their home countries, the world became bigger. d. Then men began to use ships to explore the world. e. Today, there are no undiscovered countries left to put on the map. f. But 2,300 years ago the Egyptians and the Greeks thought that the world was very small and flat and that around it was the ocean. g. We often hear people saying that the world is getting smaller. h. So they had to make new maps to show the countries that they found. i. And they discovered new countries that they didn`t know about. j. What they mean is that with modern means of transport, we can now reach every part of the world very quickly.

IV. Use the suggested words to make a complete letter. (1.5 pts)
Dear Jane, 1. It/ be/ month/ since/ I/ write/ you. 2. And we/ not meet/ or see/ each other/ three months. 3. Now/ here/ be/ suggestion/ I/ be/ very happy/ make. 4. You/ come/ stay here/ me/ weekend