Bộ 3 đề tự ôn luyện lên 10 môn Tiếng Anh (Có đáp án)

ĐỀ TỰ LUYỆN LÊN 10 (1)
PHẦN TRẮC NGHIỆM: (8 điểm)
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word for each of the blanks.
	The first question we might ask is: What can you learn in college that will help you in being an employee? The schools teach a (1)____ many things of value to the future accountant, doctor or electrician. Do they also teach anything of value to the future employee? Yes, they teach the one thing that it is perhaps most valuable for the future employee to know. But very few students bother (2)____ it. This basic is the skill ability to organize and express ideas in writing and in speaking. This means that your success as an employee will depend on your ability to communicate with people and to (3)____ your own thoughts and ideas to them so they will (4)____ understand what you are driving at and be persuaded. 
Of course, skill in expression is not enough (5)____ itself. You must have something to say in the first place. The effectiveness of your job depends (6)____ your ability to make other people understand your work as they do on the quality of the work itself.
Expressing one's thoughts is one skill that the school can (7)____ teach. The foundations for skill in expression have to be (8)____ early: an interest in and an ear (9)____ language; experience in organizing ideas and data, in brushing aside the irrelevant, and above all the habit of verbal expression. If you do not lay these foundations (10)____ your school years, you may never have an opportunity again.
Question 1: 	 A. lots	 B. large	 C. far	 D. great	
Question 2: 	 A. learn	 B. with learning	 C. learning	 D. to learn	
Question 3: 	 A. give out	 B. present	 C. interpret	 D. transfer
Question 4: 	 A. as well	 B. either	 C. not	 D. both	
Question 5: 	 A. in	 B. on	 C. for	 D. by	
Question 6: 	 A. much on	 B. most on	 C. on most	 D. on much
Question 7: 	 A. hardly	 B. quite	 C. truly	 D. really
Question 8: 	 A. lay	 B. laid	 C. lain	 D. lied	
Question 9: 	 A. if	 B. in	 C. for	 D. by	
Question 10: 	 A. when	 B. of	 C. during	 D. for	
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to choose the sentence which is closest in meaning to the given one. 
Question 11: Rather than disturb the meeting, I left without saying goodbye.
 A. I disturbed the meeting because I said goodbye.	B. The meeting was disturbed as I left saying goodbye.
 C. I would rather disturb the meeting than leave without saying goodbye.
 D. I left without saying goodbye as I didn't want to disturb the meeting.
Question 12: Jenny is so creative that we all can rely on her for original ideas.
 A. Creative as Jenny is, we can rely on her for original ideas.	
B. Being creative, we can all rely on Jenny for original ideas.
 C. So creative is Jenny that we all can rely on her for original ideas.
 D. Jenny is such creative girl that we all can rely on her for original ideas.
Question 13: In the class of twenty, Jack is the third best student.
 A. Jack is not as smart as most of the other students	 B. The class has only three smart students.
 C. Two students in the class are smarter than Jack.	 D. No other students in the class is as smart as Jack.
Question 14: As far as I am concerned, you can do whatever you like.
 A. What you like is not as much as what I am concerned about.	 
 B. You can do what you like providing that it is not too far.
 C. I am concerned about what you like.	 D. In my opinion, you can do what you like
Question 15: Bill has no business going to Paris next December.
 A. Bill went to Paris in December.	B. Bill shouldn’t go to Paris next December.	
 C. Bill will open a business in Paris next December	D. Bill runs a business in Paris next December.	
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the rest in the position of the main stress in each of the following questions.
Question 16: A. responsibility	B. conversation	C. trigonometry	D. documentary	
Question 17: A. surprise	B. intelligent	C. competitive	D. education
Question 18: A. trouble	B. alter	C. ashamed	 D. patient
Question 19: A. preferential	B. apprehension     	C. conventional	D. calculation
Question 20: A. holiday	B. attraction	C. explore	D. exceed	
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to show the underlined part that needs correction. 
Question 21: 
I hadn’t understood his directions. However, I asked him to repeat what he’d said.
 A B C D
Question 22: 
The top of the mountain covered with snow during winter.
 A B C D
Question 23: 
It’s time you went home, but I’d rather you stay here.
 A B C D
Question 24: 
Mining over 2,000 years ago, copper is one of the earliest known metals .
 A B C D
Question 25: 
It was suggested that he studies the material more thoroughly before attempting to pass the exam.
 A B C D
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions. 
Question 26: The doctor insisted that his patient ___________.
 A. doesn’t work too hard for three months	 B. taking it easy for three months	
 C. to take some vacations for three months	 D. take it easy for three months
Question 27: In a new culture, many embarrassing situations occur _________ a misunderstanding.
 A. due to	 B. as	 C. for	 D. of
Question 28: “Would you rather go to the beach or to the mountains?” 	Kim: “________”
 A. That’s very nice of you B. The beach definitely C. Thanks for the mountains	D. I’d love to 	
Question 29: Until she was arrested last week, the young woman thought she had _______ the perfect crime.
 A. charged	 B. got away	 C. committed	 D. escaped
Question 30: Professional people expect __________ when it is necessary to cancel an appointment. 
 A. that you would call the B. you to call them	 C. your calling them	 D. that you are calling them	 
Question 31: Jane came _______ a beautiful picture when she was tidying the room.
 A. pass	 B. round	 C. across	 D. into
Question 32: We all _______ working with you. You are so dynamic.	
 A. believe	 B. judge	 C. think	 D. appreciate
Question 33: Research in the work place reveals that people work for many reasons ________.
 A. beside money B. money beside	 C. money besides	 D. besides money
Question 34: It is believed ___causes weight loss.
 A. much stress that B. that much stress	C. much stress	 D. it is much stress
Question 35: ___ have made communication faster and easier through the use of email and Internet is widely recognized. A. That it is computer B. That computers C. Computers that	 D. It is that computers
Question 36: Dad: “I have bought you a toy. Happy birthday to you!” – Son: “__________________.”
 A. Have a nice day B. The same to you!	C. What a lovely toy! Thanks.	 D. What a pity!
Question 37: _______ students in our class is 45.
 A. A large amount of B. A lot of C. A number of	 D. The number of	
Question 38: English and French, _______ do you think is easier to learn?
 A. which one	 B. which language	 C. which language that	 D. what
Question 39: Why don't you try praising your students occasionally instead of ________ them all the time?
 A. rushing into	 B. shouting at	 C. falling over	 D. crying to	
Question 40: Are you sure you can do it on ___________ ?
 A. yourself	 B. secret	 C. your own	 D. side
Question 41: The bomb ________ in a crowded street.
 A. went off 	 B. went out	 C. came off	 D. came out
Question 42: We still meet up for a drink and a chat once ________.
 A. at a time B. in a while C. in a blue moon	 D. in a black mood
Question 43: ________ we’ve been having!
 A. What dreadful weather	 B. How dreadful is the weather	 
 C. How dreadful the weather	 D. What a dreadful weather	 
Question 44: When I told the doctor that I had had earache for nearly a month, he gave me a ________ for ear-drops.
 A. prescription	 B. recipe	 C. receipt	 D. ticket
Question 45: The train accident _________ the other trains’ departure by a few hours.
 A. called off	 B. delayed	 C. sent back	 D. went off
Question 46: ______ we invested in telecommunications industry, we would be rich now.
 A. Would 	 B. Had 	 C. Should	 D. Were 
Question 47: Today, women are increasingly involved ________ the politics.
 A. of	 B. to	 C. in	 D. at
Question 48: John. “Do you think that we should use public transportation to protect our environment?” Laura. “_______ ”. A. There's no doubt about it 	B. Yes, it's an absurd idea 
 C. Well, that's very surprising	 	D. Of course not. You bet
Question 49: My brother is intelligent but he ____common sense .
 A. misses	 B. fails	 C. lacks	 D. wants
Question 50: The jugde _______ the murderer to a lifetime imprisonment.
 A. sentenced	 B. prosecuted	 C. convicted	 D. accused
Question 51: I’m sorry for _______ such a fuss about the unfruitful plan.
 A. taking	 B. paying	 C. doing	 D. making	
Question 52: The Government hopes to _______ its plans for introducing cable T.V.
 A. keep on	 B. carry on	 C. carry out	 D. turn out
Question 53: Is this the address to _______ you want the package sent?
 A. which	 B. whom	 C. that	 D. where
Question 54: He thinks you are _____ your time looking for a job in this town. There’s not much to do here.
 A. wasting	 B. missing	 C. losing	 D. spending
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
Colors are one of the most exciting experiences in life. I love them, and they are just as important to me as emotions are. Have you ever wondered how the two are so intimately related?
	Color directly affects your emotions. Color both reflects the current state of your emotions, and is something that you can use to improve or change your emotions. The color that you choose to wear either reflects your current state of being, or reflects the color or emotion that you need.
	The colors that you wear affect you much more than they affect the people around you. Of course they also affect anyone who comes in contract with you, but you are the one saturated with the color all day ! I even choose items around me based on their color. In the morning, I choose my clothes based on the color or emotion that I need for the day. So you can consciously use color to control the emotions that you are exposed to, which can help you to feel better.
	Color, sound, and emotions are all vibrations. Emotions are literally energy in motion; they are meant to move and flow. This is the reason that real feelings are the fastest way to get your energy in motion. Also, flowing energy is exactly what creates healthy cells in your body. So, the fastest way to be healthy is to be open to your real feelings. Alternately, the fastest way to create disease is to inhibit your emotions.
Question 55: What is the main idea of the passage?
 A. Colors can help you become healthy.	 	 B. Colorful clothes can change your mood	
 C. Emotions and colors are closely related to each other 	D. Colors are one of the most exciting.
Question 56: Which of the following can be affected by color?
 A. Your need for thrills B. Your appetite	 C. Your friend's feelings 	 D. Your mood
Question 57: Who is more influenced by colors you wear?
 A. Anyone 	 B. Your family C. The people around you are more influenced D. You are more influenced	
Question 58: According to the passage, what do color, sound, and emotion all have in common?
 A. They are all forms of motion 	B. None is correct 
 C. They all affect the cells of the body 	D. They are all related to health
Question 59: According to this passage, what creates disease? 
 A. Wearing the color black	 B. Ignoring your emotions
 C. Being open to your emotions	 D. Exposing yourself to bright colors 
Question 60: The term "intimately" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to
 A. simply	 B. clearly	 C. closely	 D. obviously	
Question 61: The term "they" in paragraph 3 refers to 
 A. none of these	 B. colors	 C. people	 D. emotions	
Question 62: Why does the author mention that color and emotions are both vibrations?
 A. Because vibrations make you healthy	 B. Because they both affect how we feel.
 C. To prove the relationship between emotions and color. 
 D. To show how color can affect energy levels in the body.
Question 63: The phrase "saturated with" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to 
 A. covered with	 B. lacking in	 C. bored with	 D. in need of	
Question 64: What is the purpose of the passage?
A. to give an objective account of how colors affect emotions 
B. to persuade the reader that colors can influence emotions and give a person more energy
C. to show that colors are important for a healthy life	
D. to prove the relationship between color and emotion
PHẦN TỰ LUẬN: (2 điểm)
I. Rewrite the following sentences using the words given so that it means exactly the same as the first sentence. 
16. Could you give me some advice?	(like)	
à I _________________________________________
17. “Please don’t smoke in the house.” she said to us.	(to)	
à She _________________________________________
18. “Why didn’t you mention the problem before?” I asked them. (had)	
à I asked them _________________________________________
19. You are unfit because you don’t do enough exercise. (would)
à If  _________________________________________
20. I bought myself some good new clothes. I need them for my new job. (	which)
à I bought _________________________________________
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ĐỀ TỰ LUYỆN LÊN 10 (2)
PHẦN TRẮC NGHIỆM: (8 điểm)
Blacken the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to each of the following questions
1 The more a boxer fights, the higher the chance that she will get brain damage
A. There is a high chance that a boxer will become brain- damaged when she fights
B. Boxers have a higher chance of getting brain damage than other people, as they fight more
C. The boxers that fight too often are the only one at risk of having their brains damaged.
D. The risk of a boxer’s brain being damaged increases with the number of his or her fights.
2. In my whole life, nothing has fascinated me as much as woodcarving has been doing recently
A. Woodcarving is such a fascinating activity that, for the first time in my life, I am actually enjoying doing something
B. I am glad that I have taken up woodcarving, since nothing before has attracted my interest so much
C. I have never been as interested in anything before as I am now in woodcarving 
D. I’m really interested in woodcarving, and in fact I have rarely been as happy doing anything as I am doing it
3. There is, in fact, less alcohol in beer than there is in wine, though the former’s taste is more bitter
A. Beer tastes much more bitter than wine because of its lower alcohol content.
B. Despite tasting less bitter, wine actually contains a higher amount of alcohol than beer does
C. Although beer is not as good-tasting as wine, it is just as full of alcohol
D. The more bitter taste of beer as compared with wine indicates that the former does not have as much alcohol as the latter.
4. The likelihood of suffering a heart attack rises as one becomes increasingly obese.
A. Anyone who is obese is likely to experience a heart attack at any time
B. Heart attacks are happening more and more often, and most of the sufferers are obese
C. Obesity results in only a slight increase in the probability of having a heart attack
D. The more obese one is, the higher the chances for heart attack become.
5. This book is probably the most boring one that I have ever read.
A. I would never have guessed that the book would be so terribly dull
B. Many other books that I have ever read have been as uninteresting as this one.
C. It’s very likely that every other book I have ever read in my life is more interesting than this one
D. A number of books are supposedly as boring as this one, but I have not read any of them
Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from other words.
6. A. honest 	B. home 	C. vehicles 	D. heiress
7. A. youths 	B. maps 	C. cigarettes 	D. months
8. A. hole 	B. nose 	C. lost 	D. only
9. A. thorough 	B. without 	C. although 	D. mouths
10. A. permission 	B. ship 	C. decision 	D. inversion
Choose the word whose stress pattern is different from other words.
11. A. escape 	B. lotion 	C. prefer 	D. review
12. A. discourage 	B. document 	C. general 	D. politics
13. A. assure 	B. behind 	C. grateful 	D. regrets
14. A. appointment 	B. argument 	C. arrival 	D. enjoyment
15. A. accommodate 	B. appreciate 	C. accessory 	D. competition
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions 
The Native American peoples of the north Pacific Coast created a highly complex maritime culture as they invented modes of production unique to their special environment. In addition to their sophisticated technical culture, they also attained one of the most complex social organizations of any nonagricultural people in the world.
In a division of labor similar to that of the hunting peoples in the interior and among foraging peoples throughout the world, the men did most of the fishing, and the women processed the catch. Women also specialized in the gathering of the abundant shellfish that lived closer to shore. They collected oysters, crabs, sea urchins, mussels, abalone, and clams, which they could gather while remaining close to their children. The maritime life harvested by the women not only provided food, but also supplied more of the raw materials for making tools than did fish gathered by the men. Of particular importance for the native tool than did the fish gathered by the men. Of particular made from the larger mussel shells, and a variety of cutting edges that could be made from other marine shells.
The women used their tools to process all of the fish and marine mammals brought in by the men. They cleaned the fish, and dried vast quantities of them for the winter. They sun-dried fish when practical, but in the rainy climate of the coastal area they also used smokehouses to preserve tons of fish and other seafood annually. Each product had its own peculiar characteristics that demanded a particular way of cutting or drying the meat, and each task required its own cutting blades and other utensils.
After drying the fish, the women pounded some of them into fish meal, which was an easily transported food used in soups, stews, or other dishes to provide protein and thickening in the absence of fresh fish or while on long trips. The women also made a cheese-like substance from a mixture of fish and roe by aging it in storehouses or by burying it in wooden boxes or pits lined with rocks and tree leaves.
16. Which aspect of the lives of the Native Americans of the north Pacific Coast does the passage mainly discuss?
A. Methods of food preservation 	B. How diet was restricted by the environment
C. The contributions of women to the food supply 	D. Difficulties in establishing successful farms
17. The word “unique” in line 2 is closest in meaning to____.
A. comprehensible 	B. productive 	C. intentional 	D. particular
18. The word “attained” in line 3 is closest in meaning to____.
A. achieved 	B. modified 	C. demanded 	D. spread
19. It can be inferred from paragraph 1 that the social organization of many agricultural peoples is____.
A. more complex than that of hunters and foragers B. less efficient than that of hunters and foragers
C. more widespread than that of hunters and foragers D. better documented than that of hunters and foragers
20. According to the passage, what is true of the “division of labor” mentioned in line 5? 
A. It was first developed by Native Americans of the north Pacific Coast. B. It rarely existed among hunting
C. It was a structure that the Native Americans of the north Pacific Coast shared with many other peoples.
D. It provided a form of social organization that was found mainly among coastal peoples.
21. The word “abundant” in line 7 is closest in meaning to ____.
A. prosperous 	B. plentiful 	C. acceptable 	D. fundamental
22. All of the following are true of the north Pacific coast women EXCEPT that they_____.
A. were more likely to catch shellfish than other kinds of fish
B. contributed more materials for tool making than the men did
C. sometimes searched for food far inland from the coast 	D. prepared and preserved the fish
23. The word “They” in line 16 refers to____.
A. women 	B. tools 	C. mammals 	D. men
24. The Native Americans of the north Pacific Coast used smokehouses in order to____.
A. store utensils used in food preparation 	B. prevent fish and shellfish from spoiling
C. have a place to store fish and shellfish 	D. prepare elaborate meals
25. The word “peculiar” in line 19 is closest in meaning to_____.
A. strange 	B. distinctive 	C. appealing 	D. biological
26. All of following are true of the cheese-like substance mentioned in paragraph 4 EXCEPT that it was____.
A made from fish B. not actually cheese C. useful on long journeys D. made in a short period of time
Identify the one underlined word or phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct:
27. Each chemical element is characterized to the number of protons that an atom of that element contains, called its atomic number A B C D
28. From 1905 to 1920, American novelist Edith Wharton was at the height of her writing career, publishing of her three most famous novels. A B C D
29. Although pure diamond is colorless and transparent, when contaminated with other material it may appear in various color, ranging from Pastels to opaque black. A B C D
30. In the 1970’s, consumer activities succeeded in promoting laws that set safety standard for automobiles, children ‘s clothing, and a widely range of household products A B C D
31. Zoos in New Orleans, San Diego, and the Bronx have become biological parks where animals roams free and people watch them across a moat. A B C D
32. In human beings, as in other mammal, hairs around the eyes and ears and in the nose, prevent dust, insects, and other matter from entering the organs. A B C D
33. Because of its vast tracts of virtually uninhabited northern forest, Canada has one of the lowest population density in the world. A B C D
34. Rice, which it still forms the staple diet of much of the world’s population grows best in hot, wet lands. 
 A B C D
35. Electric lamps came into widespread use during the early 1900’s and have replaced other type of fat, gas or oil lamps for almost even purpose. A B C D
36. Dinosaurs are traditionally classified as cold- blooded reptiles, but recent evidence based on eating habits, posture, and skeletal structural suggests some may have been warm-blooded. A B C D
Choose A, B, C or D to complete the following sentences
37. The cast ____ several times and then left the stage to wild applause.
A. bowed 	B. ducked 	C. crouched 	D. stooped
38. The pilot spoke to the passengers to ____ their fears when the plane entered a storm.
A. allay 	B. deter 	C. soothe 	D. placate
36. Then he started out on what ____ to be a very eventful journey
A. proved 	B. arose 	C. turned 	D. developed.
37. I think you are being ____ pessimistic and that you’ll do better than you expect
A. additionally 	B. abundantly 	C. unduly 	D. worthlessly
38. She often appears not to care about her work, but appearance can be____.
A. cunning 	B. deceitful 	C. deceptive 	D. insincere
39. In ____ to them, it wasn’t their fault that the party went so badly
A. fairness 	B. justice 	C. recognition 	D. sympathy
40. Peter isn’t keen on exercise, but he isn’t ____ to the occasional walk
A. averse 	B. unwilling 	C. reluctant 	D. contrary
41. It is difficult to decide on the best ____ of action in these circumstances
A. measure 	B. course 	C. process 	D. policy
42. He has been with the company for 35 years, but the management has now decided to ____ with his services.
A. discard 	B. dispense 	C. disuse 	D. dismiss
43. Richard is ____ to give up immediately when faced with any problems.
A habitual 	B. subject 	C. susceptible 	D. apt
44. With the exception of mercury,____ at standard temperature and pressure.
A. The metallic elements are solid 	B. which is a solid metallic element
C. metallic elements being sold 	D. since the metallic elements are solid.
45. The computer has dramatically affected____ photographic lenses are constructed.
A. is the way 	B. that the way 	C. which way do 	D. the way
46. In bacteria and in other organisms, ____ is the nucleic acid DNA that provides the genetic information
A. both 	B. which 	C. and 	D. it.
47. Although thunder and lightning are produced at the same time, light waves travel faster____ , so we see the lightning before we hear the thunder.
A. than sounds do waves B. than sound waves are C. than do sound waves 	D. sound waves
48. Richard Wright enjoyed success and influences____ among Black American writers of his eras
A. were paralleled 	B. are unparalleled 	C. unparalleled 	D. the unparalleled
49. ____ kind of organization throughout the world uses computers to conduct business,
A. Virtually all 	B. Virtually every 	C. Nearly most 	D. Nearly all
50. One of the first exercises in math class is____ measure the radius of a circle.
A. to learn and 	B. learning to 	C. learn to 	D. to learn how to
51. Which sentence is grammatically true?
A. born in the mid- to late-1980s and the 1990s, children have been labeled the “Internet Generation”: the first generation growing up in a world where the Internet was always present.
B. born in the mid- to late-1980s and the 1990s, they have labeled the “Internet Generation”: the first generation to grow up in a world where the Internet was always present.
C. Being born in the mid- to late-1980s and the 1990s, children have been labeled the “Internet Generation”: the first generation to grow up in a world where the Internet was always present.
D. born in the mid- to late-1980s and the 1990s, children have been labeled the “Internet Generation”: the first generation to grow up in a world where the Internet was always present.
52. ____ in most of this discourse about the Internet Generation and its transformative potential is the continued presence and influence of adults in the larger digital landscape inhabited by young people. 
A. Neglecting 	B. Having neglected 	C. Neglected 	D. Being neglected
53. The present experiment explored the relationship between academic confidence and performance within a college setting ____ both self-ratings and peer-ratings.
A. uses 	B. by use 	C. used 	D. using
54. Finally, this experiment measured evaluations of confidence and performance as rated by participants' peers, ____ a multi-trait multi-method matrix. A. yield 	B. yielded 	C. yielding 	D. yields 
55. We explored the caves enthusiastically, ____
A. Jim acted like an experienced guider 	B acting Jim like an experienced guider
C. Jim acting as an experienced guider 	D. Jim acted as an experienced guider.
Read the following newspaper article about an expedition and answer questions 45 – 50. 
There are very few big adventures left and very few heroes. Children's stories used to specialize in them – courageous explorers with sun-burnt, leathery skin and eyes narrowed by straining to see into far horizons on their journeys into the unknown. These days you no longer find such people in fiction, let alone in real life. Or so I thought until I met Charles Blackmore. Blakemore’s great adventure consisted of leading an expedition across one of the last unexplored places on earth, the Taklamakan Desert in western China. Its name means `once entered you never come out', but local people call it the Desert of Death. He recalled the dangers and exhilaration of that amazing trek, in the calm atmosphere of his family home. The team he led was composed of four Britons (one of them the party' s medical 
officer), an American photographer, four Chinese (all experts on the area), 30 camels and six camel handlers. It later turned out that the camel handlers had never worked with camels before, but were long-distance lorry drivers: a misunderstanding that could have cost everyone their lives and certainly jeopardized the expedition's success. This mixed bunch set out to cross 1,200 kilometres of the world's least hospitable desert and Charles Blackmore has written a mesmerizing account of their journey.
At the time, he was about to leave the Army after 14 happy years. He launched the expedition for fun, to fill a gap in his life, to prove something. `I had always assumed I'd spend my whole life in the Army. I had been offered promotion but suddenly I felt I wanted to see who Charles Blackmore really was, outside all that. It was a tremendous gamble. Tina, my wife, was very worried that I wouldn't come back as nobody had ever done that route; we went into it blind. In the event, it took 59 days to cross from west to east, and the desert was very kind to us.' Anyone reading his extraordinary account of that crossing will wonder at the use of the word `kind'. The team suffered unspeakable hardships: dysentery; extremes of temperature; severe thirst and dehydration; the loss of part of their precious water supply. `But', Blackmore explains, `when we were at the limits of our own endurance and the camels had gone without water for seven days, we managed to find some. We didn't experience the Taklamakan's legendary sandstorms. And we never hit the raw, biting desert cold that would have totally immobilized us. That's not to say that we weren't fighting against hurdles the whole time. The fine sand got into everything, especially blisters and wounds. The high dunes were torture to climb, f