THE SECOND SEMESTER TEST - ENGLISH GRADE 8
DURATION: 60 minutes
(The time spent on paper distribution is not counted)
TOTAL: 47 QUESTIONS
A. LISTENING (1.5 points)
PART 1. Listen to the radio interview about theme parks. Decide if the
statements below are true (T) or false (F). (1.0 point)
1 . Andy Wells has written a guide to theme parks around the world.
T
F
2. Andy says his job doesn't feel like hard work.
T
F
3. Cedar Point in Ohio has life-sized moving dinosaurs.
T
F
4. A dark ride is a ride inside a building.
T
F
5. The "place to watch" for theme parks is Japan.
T
F
PART 2. Listen to the five airport announcements. Listen and complete the
note. (0.5 point)
6. The 9.25 flight to Rome is delayed by __________ hours.
7. Passengers going to Tokyo should go to boarding gate __________ .
8. The flight number of the plane going to Amsterdam is __________ . It will leave
from gate 6.
9. The time in __________ is 18.30.
10. The temperature in New York is __________ ºF.
B. PHONETICS, VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR. (0.6 point)
11. Choose the word that has the main stress placed differently from the others.
A. kangaroo
B. oversleep
C. discover
D. interact
A. formation
B. interesting
C. pagoda
D. protective
A. astronaut
B. region
C. accommodate
D. dialect
12. Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from the others.
A. unique
B. puzzle
C. bus
D. cupcake
A. collected
B. divided
C. instructed
D. worshiped
A. official
B. custom
C. storm
D. region
C. VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR. (2.4 points)
13. Catch the bus! You know we can't afford __________ a taxi!
A. take
B. taking
C. we take
D. to take
14. The Great Wall of China __________ more than 2,500 years ago.
A. built
B. was built
C. was building
D. has been built
15. Would you mind if I __________ the door?
A. open
B. opening
C. opened
D. opens
16. Archaeology are digging the ground to __________ that site.
A. patent
B. explore
C. invent
D. support
17. Water pollution may result __________ the dead of marine life.
A. at
B. on
C. in
D. with
18. Which one can't be recycled?
A. ceramics
B. glass
C. plastic bag
D. paper
19. Which TV programme __________ at 9pm tomorrow?
A. will you be watching B. will you watch C. did you watch
D. do you watch

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20. Production of these chemicals causes serious _________ pollution.
A. environment
B. environmentally
C. environmental D. environmentalist
21. We had not to attend the meeting _________ we were very tired after the trip.
A. even though
B. since
C. due to
D. because of
22. We _________ to the hospital to visit Mike when he _________ to say that he
was fine.
A. were driving - was calling
B. drove - called
C. were driving - called
D. drove - was calling
23. The Yao have _________ rich culture of folk literature and art, with tales,
songs, and poems.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article
24. The Po Nagar Cham Towers are located on Cu Lao Marble Hill, 2km North of
Nha Trang.
A. lain
B. built
C. sited
D. detected
D. COMMUNICATION (1 point)
A: Paul, what kind of music do you like to
listen to?
B: __________ (25)
A: I have tickets to a show. Do you want
to go with me?
B: What kind of music is it?
A: __________ (26)
B: When is it?
A: At 8 PM tomorrow night.
B:__________ (27)
A: Yes, that's a good idea.
B:__________ (28)
A:Oh, I think I know the place you mean.
We ate there last month, right?
B:__________ (29)

A: Yes, that's right. You have a good
memory.
B: All kinds, but mostly Pop, rock and
classical. Why?
C: Yeah, I'd like to go. Do you think we
should have dinner first?
D: Let's eat at the restaurant across the
street from my apartment.
E: Pop. It's Mariah Carey.

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E. READING (2 points)
I. Read the passage. And decide if the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
(1 point)
Vietnam is a country in South East Asia. It has an area of 331.690km. It is divided
into three regions. Ha Noi is the capital city and Ho Chi Minh is one of the biggest
cities of Vietnam. The population of Vietnam is over 97 million. It has an age-old
culture and a long tradition of fighting against foreign invaders. Vietnam is now a
member country of ASEAN and many other international organizations such as
APEC, WTO. Vietnam exports rice, coffee and many other farm products. Vietnam
has lots of tourist attractions and World Heritage Sites such as Ha Long Bay, Phong
Nha Cave, Hoi An Ancient Town, ect. And it is now known as a safe and attractive
destination for tourists from all over the world. Moreover, they prefer to visit Vietnam
because Vietnamese people are very friendly and hospitable. They are very proud of
their country. They have been trying hard to build it into a powerful and prosperous
one.

30. Vietnam is divided into three regions: North, Central and South
__________
31. Vietnam has a population of less than 97 million people
__________
32. Almost Vietnam produces rice, coffee and some other farm products __________
33. Hoi An is Vietnam's only World Heritage Site
__________
34. Tourists from all over the world love to visit VietNam
__________
II. Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best
answers each of the questions. (1 point)
Different cultures have different ways of celebrating the new year. Most of these
customs are observed to bring good luck. On New Year's Eve in Mexico, people
wait for the clocks to strike midnight. At the first sound of the bells, people begin
to eat grapes. They must eat 12 grapes before the bells ring 12 times. In the South
of the United States, people eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day. Some people
think you have to eat 365 peas to have good luck every day of the new year. In
Greece, people throw old things such as plates, glasses, and even furniture out of
the window on New Year's Day.
35. What do they do on New Year's Day in Mexico?
A. They wait for the clocks to strike midnight.
B. They eat grapes.
C. They try to eat 12 grapes before the bells ring 12 times.
D. no information
36. What do they do on New Year's Day in the South of the United States?
A. They eat black-eyed peas.
B. They eat grapes.
C. They throw old things out of the window.
D. no information
37. What does the word 'they' in line 4 refer to?
A. The American B. The Greek
C. The Mexican
D. The Vietnamese
38. What does 'such as' in line 7 mean?
A. however
B. for example
C. instead of
D. as soon as
39. Which of the following is not true?
A. Different cultures have various ways of celebrating the new year.
B. People believe that the customs will bring good luck.
C. On New Year's Eve, the Mexicans begin to eat grapes at 12 p.m.

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D. In the South of the United States, people try to eat 365 black-eyed peas on New
Year's Day
F. WRITING (2.5 points)
Part 1:
*Choose the word or phrase that needs correction: (0.25 point)
40. Drinking water after meals helps wash away many sugar left on your teeth.
A
B
C
D
*Choose the answer with the closest meaning: (0.25 point)
41. After Eric had gone home, Sarah arrived.
A. Before Sarah arrived, Eric had gone home.
B. Before Eric had gone home, Sarah arrived.
C. By the time Eric went home, Sarah had arrived.
D. Eric went home after Sarah arrived.
*Rewrite the sentences with the word given in the brackets. (1.0 point)
42. I don't have much time with my family. (wish)
I ______________________________________________________.
43. The climate is changing. The earth is getting warmer. (because)
Because ___________________________________________________
44. Unless you go to bed early, you may be exhausted the next morning. (don't)
If ______________________________________________________
45. Hanoi capital city is generally not as exciting as Ho Chi Minh city. (more)
Ho Chi Minh ___________________________________________________
46. “Does your aunt often visit you, Phong? '' (asked)
They ______________________________________________________
Part 2: Write a paragraph about the importance of protecting our
environment (about 80-120 words). (1.0 point)

THE END

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