Đề thi chọn học sinh giỏi môn tiếng Anh lớp 9 trường THCS Tam Hưng, Hà Nội năm học 2015 - 2016

British space scientists are planning to join the American in the race to find evidence of life on (46) ……………..…. planets. Alan Penny and his team at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory have designed a telescope that is 40 times more powerful than Hubble. Known as ‘Darwin’, his telescope could tell if planets 50 (47) ……………..….years away have any kind of life on them. Two days (48) ……………..…., NASA scientists had shown a proof that one of Jupiter’s moons could support life, Penny announced that his telescope may be included in a European Space Agency mission. The Darwin project, with a (49) ……………..…. of 500 million, is on a short list of two proposals. If approved it will probably be (50) ……………..…. around 2015, its destination somewhere between Mars and Jupiter. The blueprint is actually for five telescopes positioned 50 meters apart in space, slowly circling a (51) ……………..…. processing station. The combined data from these telescopes would build up a full picture of a planet, picking out faint images that have never been seen before. Darwin would not be able to take detailed photographs of the planets it (52) ……………..…., but Penny believes a second- generation telescope could be sent up to do this. He claims it is worthwhile mapping the universe around our (53) ……………..….galaxy, even though these planets lie (54)_______ our reach for the moment. The European Space Agency will make its decision (55) ……………..…. Darwin within three years.

Traveling to all corners of the world is (56) ……………..…. easier and easier. We live (57) ……………..…. a global village, but how well do we know and understand each other ? Here is (58) ……………..…. simple test. Imagine you have arranged a meeting at 4 p.m. What time should you expect your foreign business colleagues to arrive? If they are German, they'll be exactly (59) ……………..…. time. If they are American, they'll probably be 15 minutes early. If they are British, they be 15 minutes (60) ……………..…., and you should allow up to an hour for the Indians. Therefore, these are some small advice in (61) ……………..…. not to behave badly abroad. In France you shouldn’t sit down in a cafard until you are shaken hands with everyone you know. In Afghanistan you'd better spend at last 5 minutes (62) ……………..…. hello. In Pakistan you mustn’t wink. It is offensive. In the Middle East you must never use the left hand for greeting, eating, drinking or smoking. Also, you should care not to admire (63) ……………..…. in your host’s home. They will feel that they have to give it to you. In Russia you must your hosts drink for drink or they will think you are unfriendly. In Thailand you should clasp your hands (64) ……………..…. and lower your head and your eyes when you greet someone. In America you should eat your hamburger with both hands and as quickly as (65) ……………..….. You shouldn’t try to have a conversation until it is eaten

Man is a land animal, but he is also closely tied to the sea. Throughout history the sea has served the need of man. The sea has provided man with food and a convenient way to travel to many parts of the world. Today, nearly two thirds of the world’s population live within 80 kms of the sea coast. In the modern technological world, the sea offers many resources to help mankind survive. Resources on land are beginning to be used up. The sea, however, still can be hoped to supply many of man’s needs. The list of riches of the sea yet to be developed by man’s technology is impressive. Oil and gas explorations have been carried out for nearly 30 years. A lot of valuable minerals exist on the ocean floor ready to be mined. Fish farming promises to be a good way to produce large quantities of food. The culture of fish and shellfish is an ancient skill practiced in the past mainly by Oriental people. Besides oil and gas, the sea may offer new sources of energy. Experts believe that the warm temperature of the ocean can be used in a way similar to the steam in a steamship. Ocean currents and waves offer possible use as a source of energy. Technology is enabling man to explore ever more deeply under the sea. The development of strong, new materials has made this possible. The technology to harvest the sea continues to improve. Experts believe that by the year 2050s the problems that prevent us from fully exploiting the food, minerals, and energy sources of the sea will be largely solved.