Đề thi chọn học sinh giỏi môn Tiếng Anh Lớp 9 (Có key)

Prepared by thuongnguyen25678@gmail.com 
TEST 
A. Choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. 
1. The police stated that the accident ______________ soon. 
A. will be investigated B. had investigated C. is being investigated D. would be investigated 
2. There are chances that Manchester United ______________ the last match against Juventus. 
A. won B. will win C. has won D. would win 
3. ______________ to the national park before, Sue was amazed to see the geyser. 
A. Being not B. Not having been C. Have not bee D. Having not been 
4. Hardly ______________ the captain of the team when he had to face the problems. 
A. had he been appointed B. did he appoint C. was he being appointed D. was he appointing 
5. It is six years ______________ we moved to Chicago. 
A. when B. that C. since D. after 
6. I think he will join us, ______________? 
A. doesn’t he B. won’t he C. will he D. do I 
7. I am sorry. I have forgotten ______________ a table at the restaurant for you. 
A. reserving B. to reserve C. having reserved D. to be reserved 
8. ______________ our children may be, we cannot go picnicking in this weather. 
A. Though excited B. Excited as C. Because of excitement D. Exciting 
9. I am leaving the key under the pot in the garden ______________ you should be home earlier than usual. 
A. because B. in case C. so that D. though 
10. Be patient ______________ you won’t succeed. 
A. because B. or C. unless D. otherwise 
11. Sweating increases ______________ vigorous exercise or hot weather. 
A. during B. when C. at the time D. for 
12. Goddard developed the first rocket to fly faster ______________. 
A. than sound is B. as does sound C. than sound D. as sound is 
13. Herbs ______________ in soups and sauces. 
A. are used to be B. are often used C. often use D. get used to being 
14. Studies indicate ______________ collecting art today than ever before. 
A. there more people B. more people that are C. that there are more people D. people there are more 
15. Susan couldn’t help ______________ when I told her the joke. 
A. laughing B. laugh C. to laugh D. laughed 
16. ______________ your effort and talent, we wonder if you can work full time for us. 
A. Regarding B. In regard of C. With respect to D. On behalf of 
17. Let’s move ______________ to the next item on the agenda. 
A. in B. by C. up D. on 
18. I am fed ______________ hanging around here with nothing to do. 
A. up on B. out of C. up with D. by 
19. I do not know my uncle is ______________ doubt ______________ everything he sees. 
A. with / about B. in / of C. of / for D. in / with 
20. ______________ Xmas, more shopping is done. 
A. On B. For C. At D. In 
21. On farms, when the cattle are too ill, farmers often have to put them ______________. 
A. in B. down C. up D. away 
22. ______________ my shyness, they refused to give me the job as a receptionist. 
A. Despite B. As for C. Due to D. Instead of 
23. The professor broke ______________ her lecture when she heard a cell phone ringing. 
A. away B. in C. off D. out 
24. I could not ______________ the peak of the mountain in the foggy weather. 
A. get over B. make out C. see through D. go into 
25. We all need friends whom we can ______________ when we are in trouble. 
A. call on B. break off C. live on D. go by 
26. Constantly staying in cold weather may bring ______________ pneumonia. 
A. in B. about C. up D. on 
27. Don’t let poachers get ______________ hunting animals. They deserve to be punished. 
A. off B. out of C. on D. away 
28. I was named ______________ a wealthy relative of my Mom’s. 
Prepared by thuongnguyen25678@gmail.com 
A. after B. to C. as D. in on 
29. I cannot stay up late at night; I prefer ______________ in early. 
A. going B. breaking C. turning D. doing 
30. My little son is learning how to ______________ his shoes. 
A. put off B. get on C. take to D. do up 
B. Identify the mistake in each sentence and correct it 
31. Graham Bell was once a teacher who ran a school for the deaf in Massachusetts. 
32. Telephoto, a process for sending pictures by wire, has been invented during the 1920s, and the first transcontinental 
telephoto was sent in 1925. 
33. The immune system is the bodies way of protecting itself against viruses. 
34. What I told her a few days ago were not the solutions to most of her problems. 
35. However cheap it is, the poor quality products cannot always appeal to customers. 
Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from that of the others: 
36 A. chapter B. yatch C. manage D. panel 
37 A. example B. feed C. ink D. inhumane 
38 A. junior B. humour C. stew D. purify 
39 A. hall B. doll C. chalk D. forecast 
40 A. recite B. reconcile C. refund D. reproduce 
Choose the word whose stress pattern is pronounced different from that of the others: 
41 A. relax B. recognize C. realize D. relatively 
42 A. permanent B. power C. permission D. carpet 
43 A. photography B. minority C. heroic D. amateur 
44 A. practicality B. politician C. uncontrollable D. comfortable 
45 A. managerial B. determination C. unbelievable D. inability 
Fill each blank with an appropriate word formed from one of the words in the list below: 
similarity – suit – advise – value – fit – dispense – predict – water – foolish – warn 
It is astonishing how many people set off to climb Mount Olympus in completely (46) ________ clothing. The weather 
conditions on the mountain are notoriously (47) _______but people are (48) ________ into thinking that just because the 
bottom is sunny, the summit will be (49) ______ warm and bright. Nothing could be further from the truth. Bearing in mind 
that “ (50) _______ is forearmed”, consult the local climbing club about likely conditions before setting off. Such local 
knowledge can be absolutely (51) ________ and you would, to put it mildly, be extremely (52) _________ to ignore it. 
Whatever the likely weather, a good pair of boots is (53) _______ and is some form of (54) _______. And it is a steep climb so 
it goes without saying that a reasonable level of (55) ________ is essential. 
You are going to read an article about photography. For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits 
best according to the text. 
Photo research 
Photographer Jim Richardson tells us how he aims to get the most from photo shoots. 
 'If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of better stuff.' That's a simple mantra and I repeat it over and over to 
myself. I share it with other photographers and I endeavour to follow my own advice. As a result, I spend a great deal of time 
doing photo research, looking for great locations to shoot. Put simply, I'm a better photographer when I'm standing in front of 
something wonderful like the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA. 
Prepared by thuongnguyen25678@gmail.com 
 Seeing wonderful places is bread-and-butter photography - it's just part of the job. But getting there is only half of any great 
photograph's story. The other half is how the photographer prepares to capture the subject once in front of it. Example: today 
my mind is absorbed in the long climb up Skellig Michael, a remote island isolated in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of 
Ireland, where Celtic monks found their solace in spiritual isolation 1,400 years ago. I have never been on Skellig Michael, 
though I have come close four times. Each time I was held back by high seas. In my head I am getting ready to be among the 
little huts in the monastery at the summit, in the mindset of those who sought their spirituality in the vast Atlantic all those 
years ago. 
 In four days I'll be setting sail on a cruise of the British and Irish Isles, and I'll have a chance once again to ascend the slopes 
of Skellig Michael. I want to be ready to seize the day. For me, groundwork is part of photography, as essential as knowing 
exposure and lighting or recognising the decisive moment to take the shot. Research sounds like a boring task to many 
photographers, but for others, digging into a subject in advance is part of the pleasure. I'm one of those photographers. 
 Philosophically, photographers seem to divide along that line. On one side are those who desire only to be in the moment. 
On the other side are the planners. These folks would never dream of going out the door without a full list of how they're going 
to approach the shoot. (Actually, there is a third group nowadays. They just capture the whole scene and do all the creative 
work in Photoshop after the event.) Fortunately, it doesn't have to be an either/or decision. Most photographers I know do 
both: research extensively to prepare their schedule (and their minds) and then act in the moment once on site. 
 I do extensive research in order to get ready for a photographic trip. This includes creating a file for each location I'm due to 
visit. For my upcoming cruise I already know where we are going day by day. So I start a file for each place and begin to 
compile information. Knowing what the place looks like in advance is invaluable, so I'll hit several internet photo sites. 
Besides clueing me in to the photographic possibilities of the location, this can also show me what angles have already become 
overused and which I should therefore avoid. But I'll also find angles I didn't expect from locations I hadn't imagined. Armed 
with these I'll be better prepared to push the boundaries of what people expect. 
 Above all, I'll look for places and events that are seasonal and timeless. I open my mind to what might make a great subject 
for a picture. Most travellers tend to think only of places they're visiting, without looking deeper into culture, history or 
meaning. I try to get in time with the rhythm of the place and in tune with its melody. But most of all I just want to be ready. If 
I'm ready, I can just about count on being lucky. 
1. What is Jim trying to do in the first paragraph? 
A. convince the reader that his method of working is appropriate 
B. explain his approach towards taking good photographs 
C. remind himself that he should listen to the ideas of others 
D. clarify what makes a location good to photograph 
2. Why does Jim provide an example in the second paragraph? 
A. to explain why he hasn't managed to visit Skellig Michael before 
B. to describe what he imagines the next place he will visit to be like 
C. to offer details of what he has discovered about Skellig Michael 
D. to show how he prepares herself mentally before going to a new place 
3. How does Jim feel about the cruise he will go on? 
A. excited about an opportunity he didn't think he would get 
B. uncertain whether he will know when to take the best photo 
C. confident he will produce better work than other photographers 
D. uninterested in certain aspects of preparing for travel 
4. What point does Jim make about photographers in the fourth paragraph? 
A. They are unable to decide on the best plan of action. 
B. It is possible for them to adopt flexible ways of working. 
C. Some of them refuse to try to understand the way others work. 
D. The third group are not as imaginative as some of the others. 
Prepared by thuongnguyen25678@gmail.com 
5. What does 'this' refer to in line 20? 
A. having a daily plan of travel 
B. knowing which angles to avoid 
C. looking at photo websites 
D. compiling location files 
6. What does Jim suggest in the final paragraph? 
A. He is careful about choosing the right place to visit. 
B. Many people who travel don't understand what they see. 
C. He likes to go to places that few people bother to visit. 
D. Some travellers don't spend enough time in a place. 
You are going to read a newspaper article about orangutans. Six sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from 
the sentences A-G the one which fits each gap (7-12). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. 
ALMOST HUMAN 
 Orangutans and chimpanzees are capable of 
performing intellectual feats we once thought to be uniquely 
human. Using language, being self-aware, learning by 
imitation and problem-solving are high level abilities that are 
not limited to humans. Research has shown that orangutans 
and other great apes, like chimpanzees and gorillas, share 
these abilities too. 
 There are several projects studying the use of language by 
these creatures. Understanding their mechanisms of 
developing language will help us evaluate our own linguistic 
abilities. One of the orangutans involved in a project in 
Virginia, USA, has learnt how to use over 100 words in sign 
language, the language used by the deaf to communicate 
with each other. Another orangutan, Hannah, has learnt 13 
symbols that represent different nouns and verbs. Hannah 
can combine the symbols into simple commands like 'open 
bag'. 7_______ 
 Not really. One of the fundamental elements of human 
thought is the ability to recognise numbers and express ideas 
with them within meaningful strings of words. Hannah can 
recognise numbers from one to three with reasonable 
accuracy. 8_________ 
 A fundamental difference between humans and 
orangutans is their ability to comprehend abstract ideas. 
Abstract concepts are basic to human thinking, while there's 
little evidence that orangutans can understand abstract ideas 
at all. 
 One of the most interesting experiments in the Virginia 
project concerns memory. 9________ Orangutans, on the 
other hand, appear to do so according to where they saw 
them last. This seems a less efficient way of storing 
information, so it may well be that orangutans have a limited 
capacity for memory in comparison to humans. 
 10 ______ They feel extremely frustrated when they 
make an error and they never rush into a task because they 
don't want to be wrong. Orangutans have idiosyncracies and 
differences in character. Some are slow learners, while 
others are more impulsive. 
 Unfortunately, most of the research on great ape 
intelligence has been done with animals in captivity. 
11_____ Studies of orangutans, however, that suffered 
captivity but were then freed showed that they are capable of 
learning by imitation. Imitating someone yawn or scratch his 
head is not a great intellectual accomplishment, but learning 
a new behaviour just by watching is a very advanced ability. 
Orangutans could chop firewood or wash dishes without 
being taught. The only way they could have done it was by 
watching humans. 
 Compared to orangutans, chimpanzees are genetically 
closer to human beings and they are thought to be more 
intelligent. There are differences in the way the minds of 
chimps and orangutans work. 12_____ The chimps seem to 
work fast, almost intuitively, while orangutans are slower 
and more methodical. 
 One feature of both chimps and orangutans is the ability 
to recognise themselves in a mirror. This seems to suggest 
that they both have a concept of 'self' - they know who they 
are and think of themselves in a particular way. 
Chimpanzees are manipulative and capable of deception. 
They are very good problem-solvers, clearly capable of 
complex cognitive performance, which makes them almost 
human. 
Prepared by thuongnguyen25678@gmail.com 
A. Orangutans can become very emotional when they fail a test. 
B. One obvious disadvantage is that we cannot study their behaviour in their natural environment. 
C. Does this mean she is starting to think in a human way? 
D. None of these tasks can be performed well by orangutans. 
E. Humans generally remember things by putting them into groups or categories. 
F. However, she hasn't yet learnt to use them in sentences. 
G. This becomes apparent when they are each given the same task to do. 
For questions 1-8, read the text below and decide which word (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example at the 
beginning (0). 
A powerful influence 
There can be no (0) _____ at all that the internet has made a huge difference to our lives. However, there is some concern over 
whether people spend too much time browsing the internet or playing computer games, (1) _____ ever doing anything else in 
their spare time. Are these activities genuinely (2)______ to our well-being? Does spending too much time chatting on social 
networking sites really (3) _____ our ability to form meaningful relationships in real life? 
Quite the reverse, (4) _____ to some social media experts, who suggest that using websites to keep in touch with friends may 
(5) _______ help to enhance personal relationships and provide people with an increased (6) _______ of belonging. 
There may be room for argument in (7) _____ of limiting time spent online, especially when it may break into study or work 
time. Research, however, also indicates that spending a healthy amount of time in front of a computer doesn't necessarily 
(8) _______ with academic performance. 
0 A doubt B reason C purpose D motive 
1 A nearly B literally C almost D hardly 
2 A harming B harmful C hurting D hurtful 
3 A affect B bother C effect D concern 
4 A agreeing B corresponding C owing D according 
5 A completely B probably C actually D rightly 
6 A function B sense C attitude D meaning 
7 A favour B help C choice D opinion 
8 A trouble B interrupt C oppose D interfere 
For questions 9-16, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There 
is an example at the beginning (0). 
Driving blind 
The idea that a blind person could drive a car sounds crazy. And the concept of someone (0) who can't see driving a car at 
almost 150 miles per hour sounds even crazier. Miranda Naylor, (9) __________ blind accountant from the UK, has done 
exactly that in an attempt (10) __________ raise money for charity. Mrs Naylor drove a sports car for two miles along the 
runway of a disused airfield. She was (11) __________ radio contact with her husband, who gave her directions and advice. 
Her achievement (12) __________ expected to raise about £50,000, which will be donated to a company that trains dogs for 
(13) ___________ blind. 
Prepared by thuongnguyen25678@gmail.com 
Mrs Naylor (14) ___________ been blind since she was six, and still has some visual memories of the world around her. She 
admits that (15) __________ having sight makes life awkward (16) __________ times, but she says, 'Achieving something can 
be a great source of self-confidence.' Miranda is now looking for a new challenge and wants to try motorbiking. 
For questions 17-24, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a word that fits 
in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0). 
Following swallows 
Bert Cook's job doesn't immediately strike you as (0) EXCITING He sits 
inside a small construction made of cloth and wire and watches birds: 
swallows, in fact, whose (17) _______________ in Britain after a dangerous 
flight marks the (18) _______________ of summer. The severe weather 
caused by (19) _______________ warming makes their journey tougher each 
year. 
One of their main (20) ______________ is getting enough to eat. Insect 
numbers have declined (21) _____________, and if the birds do make it to 
Britain, they may still die of (22) ________________. 
Farm buildings such as barns have been converted into houses, and as a result, 
there are now fewer places for birds to nest. Bert finds it (23) ______________ 
to say with any precision how far the numbers of swallows have declined in the 
area under (24) _______________ Bird populations can increase considerably 
if swallows have had a good breeding season, and for the moment at least, 
scientists are not overly worried. 
EXCITE 
ARRIVE 
BEGIN 
GLOBE 
DIFFICULT 
SHARP 
HUNGRY 
POSSIBLE 
OBSERVE 
For questions 25-30, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. 
Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given. 
25. Our teacher always makes us do our homework before we leave the class. ALLOWS 
Our teacher_________________________________leave the class until we've done our homework. 
26. It was almost dark when we got home. UNTIL 
We__________________________________________________it was almost dark. 
27. Peter woke up early because he didn't want to miss his flight. THAT 
Peter woke up early___________________________________________not miss his flight. 
28. 'You'd better not go for a walk,' said my father. ADVISED 
My father ______________________________________ for a walk. 
29. I wish I hadn't left the window open. SHOULD 
I ______________________________________ the window open. 
30. All the guests enjoyed themselves at the party apart from George. WHO 
George was the ________________________________ enjoy himself at the party. 
Rewrite the following sentences without changing its meaning 
Prepared by thuongnguyen25678@gmail.com 
31. It was wrong of you to allow a 4-year-old child to walk home alone. 
- You should _____________________________________________________________________ 
32. I could realize how important the family is only after I left home. 
- Not until _____________________________________________________________________ 
33. Mrs. Green is proud of her son’s contribution to the play. 
- Mrs. Green is proud of what ___________________________________________________________ 
34. The recruited very few young engineers. 
- Hardly _____________________________________________________________________ 
35. Only two out of the five rooms we have booked have air conditioning. 
- We have booked five rooms, only ____________________________________________________________ 
KEY 
A. Choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. 
1. The police stated that the accident ______________ soon. 
A. will be investigated B. had investigated C. is being investigated D. would be investigated 
2. There are chances that Manchester United ______________ the last match against Juventus. 
A. won B. will win C. has won D. would win 
3. ______________ to the national park before, Sue was amazed to see the geyser. 
A. Being not B. Not having been C. Have not bee D. Having not been 
4. Hardly ______________ the captain of the team when he had to face the problems. 
A. had he been appointed B. did he appoint C. was he being appointed D. was he appointing 
5. It is six years ______________ we moved to Chicago. 
A. when B. that C. since D. after 
6. I think he will join us, ______________? 
A. doesn’t he B. won’t he C. will he D. do I 
7. I am sorry. I have forgotten ______________ a table at the restaurant for you. 
A. reserving B. to reserve C. having reserved D. to be reserved 
8. ______________ our children may be, we cannot go picnicking in this weather. 
A. Though excited B. Excited as C. Because of excitement D. Exciting 
9. I am leaving the key under the pot in the garden ______________ you should be home earlier than usual. 
A. because B. in case C. so that D. though 
10. Be patient ______________ you won’t succeed. 
A. because B. or C. unless D. otherwise 
11. Sweating increases ______________ vigorous exercise or hot weather. 
A. during B. when C. at the time D. for 
12. Goddard developed the first rocket to fly faster ______________. 
A. than sound is B. as does sound C. than sound D. as sound is 
13. Herbs ______________ in soups and sauces. 
A. are used to be B. are often used C. often use D. get used to being 
14. Studies indicate ______________ collecting art today than ever before. 
A. there more people B. more people that are C. that there are more people D. people there are more 
15. Susan couldn’t help ______________ when I told her the joke. 
A. laughing B. laugh C. to laugh D. laughed 
16. ______________ your effort and talent, we wonder if you can work full time for us. 
A. Regarding B. In regard to C. In respect of D. On behalf of 
17. Let’s move ______________ to the next item on the agenda. 
A. in B. by C. up D. on 
18. I am fed ______________ hanging around here with nothing to do. 
Prepared by thuongnguyen25678@gmail.com 
A. up on B. out of C. up with D. by 
19. I do not know my uncle is ______________ doubt ______________ everything he sees. 
A. with / about B. in / of C. of / for D. in / with 
20. ______________ Xmas, more shopping is done. 
A. On B. For C. At D. In 
21. On farms, when the cattle are too ill, farmers often have to put them ______________. 
A. in B. down C. up D. away 
22. ______________ my shyness, they refused to give me the job as a receptionist. 
A. Despite B. As for C. Due to D. Instead of 
23. The professor broke ______________ her lecture when she heard a cell phone ringing. 
A. away B. in C. off D. out 
24. I could not ______________ the peak of the mountain in the foggy weather. 
A. get over B. make out C. see through D. go into 
25. We all need friends whom we can ______________ when we are in trouble. 
A. call on B. break off C. live on D. go by 
26. Constantly staying in cold weather may bring ______________ pneumonia. 
A. in B. about C. up D. on 
27. Don’t let poachers get ______________ hunting animals. They deserve to be punished. 
A. off B. out of C. on D. away 
28. I was named ______________ a wealthy relative of my Mom’s. 
A. after B. to C. as D. in on 
29. I cannot stay up late at night; I prefer ______________ in early. 
A. going B. breaking C. turning D. doing 
30. My little son is learning how to ______________ his shoes. 
A. put off B. get on C. take to D. do up 
B. Identify the mistake in each sentence and correct it 
31. Graham Bell was once a teacher who ran a school for the deaf in Massachusetts. 
32. Telephoto, a process for sending pictures by wire, has been invented during the 1920s, and the first transcontinental 
telephoto was sent in 1925. 
33. The immune system is the bodies way of protecting itself against viruses. 
34. What I told her a few days ago were not the solutions to most of her problems. 
35. However cheap it is, the poor quality products cannot always appeal to customers. 
Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from that of the others: 
36 A. chapter B. yatch C. manage D. panel 
37 A. example B. feed C. ink D. inhumane 
38 A. junior B. humour C. stew D. purify 
39 A. hall B. doll C. chalk D. forecast 
40 A. recite B. reconcile C. refund D. reproduce 
Choose the word whose stress pattern is pronounced different from that of the others: 
41 A. relax B. recognize C. realize D. relatively 
42 A. permanent B. power C. permission D. carpet 
43 A. photography B. minority C. heroic D. amateur 
44 A. practicality B. politician C. uncontrollable D. comfortable 
45 A. managerial B. determination C. unbelievable D. inability 
Fill each blank with an appropriate word formed from one of the words in the list below: 
similarity – suit – advise – value – fit – dispense – predict – water – foolish – warn 
It is astonishing how many people set off to climb Mount Olympus in completely (46) _unsuitable_______ clothing. The 
weather conditions on the mountain are notoriously (47) __unpredictable_____but people are (48) __ fooled ______ into 
thinking that just because the bottom is sunny, the summit will be (49) __ similarly ____ warm and bright. Nothing could be 
further from the truth. Bearing in mind that “ (50) ___ Forewarned ____ is forearmed”, consult the local climbing club about 
Prepared by thuongnguyen25678@gmail.com 
likely conditions before setting off. Such local knowledge can be absolutely (51) ___ valuable _____ and you would, to put it 
mildly, be extremely (52) ___ inadvisable ______ to ignore it. Whatever the likely weather, a good pair of boots is (53) ____ 
indispensable ___ and is some form of (54) ___ waterproof ____. And it is a steep climb so it goes without saying that a 
reasonable level of (55) _____ fitness ___ is essential. 
You are going to read an article about photography. For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits 
best according to the text. 
Photo research 
Photographer Jim Richardson tells us how he aims to get the most from photo shoots. 
 'If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of better stuff.' That's a simple mantra and I repeat it over and over to 
myself. I share it with other photographers and I endeavour to follow my own advice. As a result, I spend a great deal of time 
doing photo research, looking for great locations to shoot. Put simply, I'm a better photographer when I'm standing in front of 
something wonderful like the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA. (1) 
 Seeing wonderful places is bread-and-butter photography - it's just part of the job. But getting there is only half of any great 
photograph's story. The other half is how the photographer prepares to capture the subject once in front of it. Example: today 
my mind is absorbed in the long climb up Skellig Michael, a remote island isolated in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of 
Ireland, where Celtic monks found their solace in spiritual isolation 1,400 years ago. I have never been on Skellig Michael, 
though I have come close four times. Each time I was held back by high seas. In my head I am getting ready to be among the 
little huts in the monastery at the summit, in the mindset of those who sought their spirituality in the vast Atlantic all those 
years ago.(2) 
 In four days I'll be setting sail on a cruise of the British and Irish Isles, and I'll have a chance once again to ascend the slopes 
of Skellig Michael. I want to be ready to seize the day(3). For me, groundwork is part of photography, as essential as knowing