2012 OLYMPIAD STAGE IV.pdf

ENGLISH - N 18 (594) - September 2012

Stage IV National Students Olympiad in the English Language

ROUND I LISTENING COMPREHENSION TEST

For 9th Form Students Student's booklet

DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOKLET UNTIL ADVISED BY THE TEACHER.

DICTIONARIES ARE NOT ALLOWED.

Directions In this test you will carefully listen to a text read aloud

twice. The text is followed by 10 true/false statements and 10 multiple-choice questions.,

You should do the first 10 tasks following the first reading of the text on the basis of what is stated or implied in the text.

The text will be read a second time and you should do tasks 11 through 20 following the second reading of the text on the basis of what is stated or implied in the text.

For each task you will choose from two symbols (+ or - ) or four possible answers (А, В, C, or D), as specified prior to each task.

Choose the best answer and circle the symbol or letter of your choice on the answer sheet.

STUDENT NUMBER:

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS BOOKLET.

From "The Hazards of the Couch" by Ronnie Caryn Rabin, The New York Times, 2011

Statements 1 through 10 (on your answer sheet circle + if the statement is true, - if it is false).

1. People who spend most of their free time watching TV have a low risk for developing health problems.

2. According to the author, the results of the study were unique and previously unknown.

3. Squeezing in an hour at the gym can counteract the effect of motionless sitting.

4. Children who watch a lot of television may have high blood pressure, even if they are thin and active.

5. If you cut your TV watching time in half, you burn more calories than someone who does not.

6. Other casual activities, like reading books, are just as damaging as watching TV.

7. In the US and Britain, people spent 30 minutes on average watching TV.

8. Adults who watch less TV eat less.

9. Eating a healthy diet can counteract the effects of a sedentary life.

10. Spending two or more leisure hours in front of a screen doubles one's risk of a heart attack.

STOP. WAIT FOR THE SECOND READING OF THE TEXT.

Questions 11 through 20 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter А, В, C, or D).

11. This text describes an article recently written in which publication?

A. The Journal of the American Medical Association. B. The British Journal of Health Sciences. C. The National Cardiology and Pulmonology News

paper. D. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

12. Which nationality is not mentioned in the text? A. Irish. C. American. B. Scottish. D. British.

13. The study followed how many men? A. 2,215. C. 400. B. 4,512. D. 4,000.

14. The author of the study works in which department?

A. Cardiology and Pulmonology. B. Epidemiology and Public Health. C. Education and Psychology. D. Landscape and Architecture.

15. Which activity bums the most calories? A. Playing aboard game. B. Watching TV. C. Watching a computer. D. Sitting in the car.

16. Participants in the study who watched TV four or more hours a day..

A. received a reward of SO dollars. B. had a high blood pressure reading. C. were more likely to develop heart problems. D. were more likely to die of any cause.

17. An exercise regimen had which effect on the blood pressure sedentary people?

A. None.

B. It reversed heart disease. C. It made their conditions worse. D. It made them more likely to eat.

18. According to the article, time spent in front of the television is...

A. mandatory for all Americans and British. B. discretionary for everyone. C. well-spent D. a healthy alternative to board games.

19. The article associates all of the following with watching too much television, EXCEPT..

A. heart disease. B. .burning fewer calories. C. over-eating. D. high blood pressure.

20. Children who watch more TY.. A. have more free time. B. eat less. C. have high blood pressure. D. exercise more.

Teacher's Booklet LISTENING COMPREHENSION TEST

Fbr 9* Form Students

From "The Hazards of the Couch" by Ronnie Caryn Rabin

The New York Times, 2011

Many of us sit in front of a computer for eight hours a day, and then go home and head for the couch to surf the Web or watch television, exchanging one seat and screen for another. Even if we try to squeeze in an hour at the gym, is it enough to counteract all that motionless sitting?

A mounting body of evidence suggests not. Increasingly, research is focusing not on how much

exercise people get, but how much of their time is spent in sedentary activity, and the harm that does.

The latest findings, published this week in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology, indicate the amount of leisure time spent sitting in front of a screen can have such an overwhelming, seemingly irreparable impact on one's health that physical activity doesn't produce much benefit.

The study followed 4,512 middle-aged Scottish men for a little more than four years on average. It found that those who said they spent two or more leisure hours a day sitting in front of a screen were at double the risk of a heart attack or other cardiac event compared with those who watched less.

Those who spent four or more hours of recreational time in front of a screen were 50 percent more likely to die of any cause.

It didn't matter whether the men were physically active for several hours a week—exercise didn't mitigate the risk associated with the high amount of sedentary screen time.

The study is not the first to suggest that sedentary activities like television viewing may be harmful.

A study last year found that men who spent more than 23 hours a week watching TV and sitting in their cars were more likely to die of heart disease than those who sat for 11 hours a week or less, even if they exercised.

And a 2009 study reported that young children who watch one and a half to five and a half hours ofTV a day have higher blood pressure readings than those who watch less than half an hour, even ifthey are thin and physically active.

Another small study found that when overweight adults cut their TV time in half, they burned more calories than those who watched five hours or more a day.

Children whose TV time is cut tended to eat less, but that wasn't true for adults. And the light activities adults filled their time with, like reading and playing board games, actually burned more calories than watching TV.

In both the United States and Britain, people are spending three to four hours a day on average watching television, said the study's author, Dr. Emmanuel Stama-takis, of the department of epidemiology and public health at University College London.

"This is excessive," he said. "It is more than 20 percent of total waking time for most people." And, he added, "it's 100 percent discretionary."

Please write the following words and translations on the blackboard prior to reading the text.

Sedentary — сидячий.

LISTENING COMPREHENSION TEST For lOtii Form Students

Student's Booklet




twice. The text is followed by 10 true/false statements and 10 multiple-choice questions. You should do the first 10 tasks following the first reading of the text on the basis of what is stated or implied in the text.


For each task you will choose from two symbols (+ or —) or four possible answers (А, В, C, or D), as specified prior to each task. Choose the best answer and circle the symbol or letter of your choice on the answer sheet.

STUDENT NUMBER:


From "Humans lake on Computer in Jeopardy" by Joyce Grant

Teaching Kids News, 2011

Statements 1 throogh 10 (on your answer sheet circle + if the statement is true, - if it is false).

1. Jeopardy is a game show created by Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings.

2. Watson helped show how complex the human brain is.

3. Watson's "brain power" is equal to a hundred home computers.

4. Deep Blue is a chess program designed by IBM.

5. Computers can easily understand idioms in the English language.

6. The computer incorrectly answered a question about a famous city in Canada.

7. The Jeopardy competition was two days long.

8. Watson was programmed to think very carefully about the question's category.

9. The humans answered many questions faster than the computer.

10. Watson won the first question.

STOP. WAIT FOR THE SECOND READING OF THE TEXT

Questions 11 through 20 (on your answer sheet circk the correct letter А, В, C, or D).

11. According to the article, questions in Jeopardy may include all of the following EXCEPT...

A. cultural references. B. riddles. C. metaphors. D.puns.

12. It took years to prepare Watson for the game show.

A. four B. around four C. fourteen D. around fourteen

13. Watson's "brain" will be used by... A. emergency dispatchers. B. health care professionals. C. computer programmers. D. doctoral candidates.

14. About which category did Watson answei a question incorrectly?

A. US cities. B. Canadian capitals. CWorld War II. D. Famous airports.

15. Watson won the contest by about aoi lars.

A. $21,000 B. $24,000 C. $67,000 D. $77,000

16. Choose the correct ranking of players, from last place to first place.

A. Jennings, Rutter, Watson. B. Watson, Rutter, Jennings. C. Rutter, Jennings, Watson. D. Watson, Jennings, Rutter.

17. The phrase "to get a lot of points on someone" most closely means...

A. to earn more points than someone. B. to receive points from an opponent. C. to steal points from another player. D. to transfer points to a different player.

18. The author would mostly likely agree that in the future, computers will...

A. take jobs away from humans. B. replace the need for human doctors. C. help professionals in certain fields. D. make game shows out of date.

Teacher's LISTENING COMPREHENSION TEST

For 10* Form Students

From "Humans Take on Computer in Jeopardy" by Joyce Grant

Teaching Kids News, 2011

In 1997, there was a very famous chess match. The world champion chess player, Gary Kasparov, went up against a special challenger: a computer.

The computer was called "Deep Blue" and it was built by IBM just to play chess. Deep Blue won the six-game chess match.

This year, IBM came up with a new challenge. They decided to build a computer that could match wits with two humans on a game show called Jeopardy. The computer is called "Watson", and its "brain power" is equal to thousands of home computers.

Playing chess is something computers can do very well because it relies on quickly deciding between different moves.

However, answering questions and understanding English is not something computers do well. In Jeopardy, the questions may include riddles, puns and cultural references. These are things humans are good at, but computers are not.

That's because human language often uses pictures -metaphors - that don't always make sense when they're taken at face value.

For instance, if you said, "I ran like a deer!" your friend would know that you ran fast - not that you had four legs or were running through a forest. Computers need to "learn" those kinds of word pictures.

IBM wanted to prove they could make a computer that could understand many difficult things about the English language. Watson took on Jeopardy's two biggest all-time winners: Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings.

It took four years to get Watson ready to play humans on Jeopardy. Its memory banks are filled with encyclopaedias, the Internet movie database, New York Times articles and the Bible. It also knows thousands of correctly

19. Which US city's largest airport was named after a World War II hero?

A. Ontario. B. Chicago. C. Boston. D. Toronto.

20. If you had a "runaway victory," you could also say that you...

A. crushed your opponent. B. barely defeated your opponent. C. celebrated your victory by running. D. unfairly won the competition.

Booklet answered Jeopardy questions.

So, how did Watson do? Great! In fact, the computer won the two-day contest. But it wasn't a runaway victory.

In fact, the very first question was won by human contestant Brad Rutter. And Watson got some answers wrong. For instance, the computer incorrectly answered this question in the category "US cities":

"Its largest airport is named for a WWII hero; its second-largest for a WWII battle."

Watson answered: "Toronto". Toronto? That's not even a US city, it's the capital of Ontario, Canada! How could Watson have gotten that one so wrong?

It turns out that Watson was programmed to not think very much about the category, so it wasn't really thinking of a US city - it was focused on the WWII part of the question. Both humans answered correctly: Chicago. In any case, Watson went on to win that game.

In the second game, Watson knew most of the answers, but was just too slow buzzing in so the humans got a lot of points on him.

The fact that humans could figure out answers and buzz in more quickly than Watson, an extremely powerful computer, shows how complex the human brain really is.

By the end of game two, Watson had won the match with more than $77,000. Jennings came in second with a two-game total of $24,000 and Brad Rutter came third with $21,600.

What's next for Watson? Watson's Jeopardy win is historical.

It means that computers can do much more than most people thought they could. Watson's "brain" will now be used in hospitals to diagnose and treat patients. It will also be used to give doctors information.

LISTENING COMPREHENSION TEST For 11th Form Students

Student's Booklet




twice. The text is followed by 10 true/false statements and 10 multiple-choice questions. You should do the first 10 tasks following the first reading of the text on the basis of what is stated or implied in the text.


For each task you will choose from two symbols (+ or —) or four possible answers (А, В, C, or D), as specified prior to each task. Choose the best answer and circle the symbol or letter of your choice on the answer sheet.

STUDENT NUMBER:


Excerpt from "How Many Notes Would a Virtuoso Violinist Pay for a Stradivarius?" by Ian Sample

The Guardian, 2012


1. Stradivarius violins are considered the best in the world and are worth hundreds of dollars.

2. The violinists involved in the study could not tell the difference between the sound of a Stradivarius violin and a modern violin.

3. Claudia Fritz believes that the beauty of a Stradivarius justifies its price.

4. Guarneri del Gesu and Antonio Stradivari were Spanish violin makers.

5. The study was conducted by Kai-Thomas Roth.

6. Overall, the violinists preferred newer models over the classic ones.

7. Of the six violins used in the study, three were modern and three were made in the 1700s.

8. Claudia Fritz thinks the quality of an instrument is more important than its age or reputation.

9. Fritz's study was the first to compare the sound of modern and antique violins.

10. Roth concluded that the difference between playing a Stradivarius and a modern violin is the musician's mindset toward the instrument.

STOP. WAIT FOR THE SECOND READING OF THE TEXT.


11. The purpose of the experiment was to discover... A. if playing a Stradivarius affects the quality of a per

formance. B. if playing a Stradivarius affects the audience dif

ferently. C. if Stradivarius violins actually sound better than

modern instruments. D. if Stradivarius violins actually sound better than

Guarnari violins.

12. Of the six violins tested how many were made by Antonio Stradivari?

A. One. B.Two. C. Three. D. Four.

13. The results of the study were surprising because... A. Stradivarius violins are thought to be vastly superior

to modern instruments. B. string instruments sound better with age. C. Stradivarius violins are worth millions of dollars. D. modern violins are usually considered to be better

crafted.

14. The musicians were prevented from knowing which violin they were playing by..

A. wearing goggles and standing behind a curtain. B. wearing a blindfold and standing in a separate room. C. wearing goggles and standing in a separate room. D. wearing a blindfold and standing behind a curtain.

15. The best synonym for "commandeer" as it is used in the article is...

A. to command. B. to control.

C. to appropriate. D. to take over.

16. Which of the following was noted as a shortcoming of the study?

A. Only a few violins were tested. B. Not all the violinists were qualified. C. Only half of the violins were made by Stradivari. D. One of the violins was made by Guarneri del Gesu.

17. This study used the "double blind" testing method because...

A. neither the researcher nor the violinist knew what instrument was being played.

B. both the researcher and the violinist were blindfolded.

C. the test was done twice, once with blindfolds and once without.

D. none of the above.

18. Kai-Thomas Roth thinks that... A. the myth of Antonio Stradivari is the main factor. B. people aren't educated enough to tell the difference. C. Stradivarius violins aren't worth their price. D. Guarneri instruments actually sound better.

19. The musicians participating in the study did NOT rate the violins for...

A. resonance. B. playability. C. craftsmanship. D. overall quality.

20. Antonio Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesu lived and worked in the...

A. 15th century. B. 16th century. C. 17th century. D. 18* century.

Teacher's Booklet LISTENING COMPREHENSION TEST

For I I а Form Students

From "How Many Notes Would a Virtuoso Violinist Pay for я Stradivarius?" by Ian Sample

The Guardian, 2012

They are deemed to be among the most exquisite musical instruments ever made, and collectors have parted with millions just to have one to call their own.

But it appears that concert violinists cannot tell from the sound alone whether they are playing a 300-year-old Stradivarius or an instrument made last week. And, for playing quality alone, the virtuoso will opt for the modern one when asked which fiddle they would like to take home.

These discordant findings emerge from experiments by Claudia Fritz, a researcher at the University of Paris, at an international violin competition in Indianapolis in 2010.

She asked 21 musicians to play six different violins, three modern instruments and three by Italian maes-1

tros — one made by Guarneri del Gesu around 1740, and two made in Antonio Stradivari's workshop around 1700.

Fritz commandeered a large.room, dimmed the lights and passed the violins in random order to the musicians, who had to wear welders' goggles and stand on the other side of a dividing curtain.

Each had time to play the six instruments and rank them according to their playability, projection, response and "tone colours", a measure of the quality of the sound.

Writing in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Fritz and her co-authors describe their findings as a "striking challenge to conventional wisdom".

The violinists mostly preferred new instruments, and overall they were least keen on one of the two Stradivarius. And, when each had chosen their favourite violin out of the six, they could not say whether it was old or new.

The researchers could find no link between the age and value of the violins and how they were rated by the violinists.

The three old instruments had a combined value of $ 10m, a hundred times that of the modern violins. "They are beautiful instruments, but the prices are insane," Fritz said. "The old versus new issue doesn't make any sense." "It doesn't matter if the violin's old or new, all that matters is whether it's a good violin or a bad violin. Many modern violin makers are doing a great job."

One shortcoming of the study was that the violinists were asked to rate a particular instrument's projection, how well its sound travels, themselves. Another was that only a few violins were tested.

Kai-Thomas Roth, secretary of the British Violin Making Association, said that double blind tests, where neither experimenter nor musician knows which violin is played, had already shown people cannot distinguish a modern violin from a priceless work of art.

"There's some myth-making that helps old instruments," Thomas said. "If you give someone a Stradivari and it doesn't work for them, they'll blame themselves and work hard at it until it works.

Give them a modern violin, and they'll dismiss the instrument straight away if it doesn't work for them. That's the psychology at work. Modern violins are easily as good, but even a good maker can make an instrument that doesn't work out."

Please write the following Words and translations on the blackboard prior to reading the text.

Fiddle - скрипка.

ROUND II READING COMPREHENSION TEST

For 9th Form Students

TEXT 1 From "Living with Dons'" by Joe Levit

National Geographic, 2012

Darkness falls over a small village in Kenya. Kenya is a country in Africa. The people who live here are getting ready to go to sleep. They're herders, and their cows are resting in a nearby wooden pen called a "boma". All is quiet.

The sound of a snapping twig changes everything. The cows raise their heads. They perk their ears. They know something is outside their pen. It's a female lion.

The lioness pounces. Her sharp claws rip at the walls of the pen. The frightened cows ran in different directions.

The lioness tears through the fence and races toward the nearest cow. All the noise wakens the sleeping herders. They run to the pen, but they're too late.

One cow is dead, and the lioness is gone. Scared off by the herders, she left her kill behind.

The lioness returns to her pride without a fresh kill. Her two hungry cubs greet her as she comes closer.

They rub their faces against hers. She answers them with a low, rumbling noise. She cannot stay long, though. She has to hunt again so her cubs won't go hungry.

This time, she will hunt prey elsewhere. The herders wait for the lioness to return. Losing livestock to lions is a big deal for these herders. They are the Maasai.

They need livestock to survive. Cows, sheep, and goats are like money to the Maasai.

They use the animals to pay for what they need. If one is killed, life becomes harder for the herders.

Perk — задирати; herders — пастух.



1. Lions hunt only in the daytime.

2. The herders and savannah predators have an antagonistic relationship.

3. The cubs depend solely on the male lion.

4. Herders kill lions for sport and as a supplementary source of income.

5. Livestock is used as currency among the Maasai people.

6. The lioness successfully captured her prey.

7. The lioness will not immediately return to the village to hunt.

8. The lioness feeds the cow to her hungry cubs.

9. The author sets his piece in the country of Africa.

10. In this context the word "pride" means "arrogance".

TEXT 2 From "Rowling Hints at Possible New HP Book"

by Joyce Grant Teaching Kids News, 2011

Another Harry Potter adventure? Might Harry Potter be called into service again, to keep the wizarding (and Muggle) world safe from the likes of Voldemort and his accomplices?

The answer is: "maybe". It's not much, but as anyone who's ever asked his parents for a new video game knows, it's better than "no".

Author J. K. Rowling is open to the possibility that she may write another Harry Potter book. Or maybe even a few more.

That's what she told talk show host Oprah Winfrey in an interview recently. The characters are still in her


Directions In this test you will read five texts. Each text is followed

by either 10 true/false statements or 5 multiple-choice questions.

You should do the tasks that follow a text on the basis of what is stated or implied in that text.

For each task you will choose the best possible answer from two symbols (+ or - ) or four possible answers (A, B, C, or D), as specified prior to each task.


STUDENT NUMBER:

head, Rowling said, and she "could definitely" write more books in the series.

The Harry Ratter series, beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and ending with the se\enth novel, ЯалуіЬ/-terand (he Deathly Hallow, brought Rowling international feme.

More than 400 million books have been sold worldwide. The series also made her one of the richest women in Britain, according to Forbes magazine.

With wealth have also come pressures, such as reporters searching through her trash and constant pestering from the paparazzi.

So will we see another Harry Potter novel in the very near future?

Probably not very soon. Rowling says she's moved on to a new phase in her writing. In the meantime, kids can always close their eyes, wave a wand... and make a wish.

Pestering — надокучати, набридати.


Questions 11 through IS (on усип* answer sheet circle the correct letter А, В, C, or D).

11. The author believes the likelihood that Rowling will write another Harry Potter novel soon is...

A. low. B. strong. Chigh. D. unclear.

12. The author has a(n) attitude about Rowling writing more books.

A. pessimistic B. unrealistic C. hopeful D. indecisive

13. The author encourages children to... A. ask their parents for video games. B. tell Rowling to write more books. C. practice Harry Potter spells. D. be patient and wait.

14. Rowling told a that she is open to the possibility of writing more Harry Potter novels.

A. famous actress B. Forbes Magazine correspondent C. book editor D. popular TV personality

15. The Harry Potter series has given Rowling all of the following EXCEPT...

A. international fame. B. a lot of money. C. a full private life. D. worldwide recognition.

TEXT3 From "A New Aquarium for Toronto?" by Julia Mo-

hamed Teaching Kids News, February 2011

Toronto has a huge sports stadium, a science centre and great museums. But there's one attraction it doesn't have, that some big cities have - a large aquarium.

Now, an aquarium may be built in Toronto. If it is approved by the City Council, it could be ready by July 2015. The aquarium would be in a large building.

It could include many thousands offish and marine animals including sharks. One idea is to have a jellyfish room with special lighting and mirrors to make it look very exciting.

Another idea is for a tunnel that people could walk through to see the fish swimming around and above them.

An aquarium would make a lot of money for Toronto. Visitors to the city would come to the aquarium to see

the fish. It would also attract school groups for field trips to see the life that exists underwater.

The makers of the book and TV show Ripley's Believe it or Not are supporting the project and will be helping to pay for it.

The Canadian government will also put some money toward the project.

People living in Toronto will also be contributing to the payments since some of their tax money will help to pay for the building.

The aquarium may be placed near the CN Tower downtown. There are many things that could stop the aquarium from being built such as lack of money or City Council (Toronto's government) saying no to the project.

But if it goes through, it will be a wonderful tourist attraction for the city.



16. The new aquarium in Toronto could include everything EXCEPT...

A. a tunnel where people can see fish under their feet. B. a room with special lights and mirrors. C. sharks, fish, and other marine animals. D. a special display for jellyfish.

17. The aquarium must be approved by... A. taxpayers of Toronto. B. the Canadian government. C. Ripley's Believe it or Not. D. the City Council.

18. How many years will it take to finish the aquarium? A. Two. B. Three.

C. Four, D. None of the above.

19. The aquarium will be paid for by the following groups, with the exception of...

A. residents of Toronto. B. school groups. C. the Canadian government. D. Ripley's Believe it or Not.

20. It can be inferred from the article that the author probably...

A. works for the City Council. B. believes the aquarium will bring in money. C- is employed by Ripley's Believe it or Not. D. has never been to Toronto.

TEXT 4 From "Rats to the Rescue in Experiment" by Sindya N.

Bhanoo The New York Times, 2011

In the Chinese zodiac, rats are considered witty, imaginative and curious. Now scientists have discovered another attribute.

A new study in the journal Science has found that rats can be helpful - the first instance that such behavior has been documented in rodents.

The researchers placed a free-roaming rat in an arena with a caged rat. Over the course of several days, the free rats realized they could nudge open a door and release the caged rat.

After figuring this out, they did so repeatedly, day after day. "They then did what we refer to as a celebration," said

an author of the study, Peggy Mason, a neuroscientist at the University of Chicago.

"The trapped rat runs around the arena, and the free rat appears excited and runs after the trapped rat."

That behavior alone is not enough to show that rats are empathetic, she said. The rats could be releasing their caged cohorts simply for companionship.

So the researchers changed the setup: when the free rat released the caged rat, the caged rat went into a second arena, and the two were unable to interact.

Still, the free rats released the caged rats, day after day. Then the researchers placed a free rat in an arena with

a caged rat and locked-away chocolate. The free rats were just as likely to free the caged rat

as they were to liberate the chocolate and eat it. Moreover, when they got the chocolate they almost al

ways shared it; on average, they would leave about one and a half out of five pieces for the caged rats, Dr. Mason said.

There was also a difference in the behavior of male rats and female rats.

"The females, once they open the door, they open the door every day, and within a few minutes," Dr. Mason said. "But the male rats would occasionally take off a day."



21. Peggy Mason's study of rodents includes all of the following EXCEPT...

A. the brain and emotions. B. emotional reactions. C. relationships among rodents. D. digestive systems of rats.

22. The rats most likely celebrated in order to... A. get to know each other. B. express their happiness. C. get exercise. D. the researchers don't know why.

23. The scientists adjusted the experiment because... A. someone made a mistake. B. they were forced to start again. C. further proof was necessary. D. they didn't believe the results.

24. Expressing empathy means... A. being compassionate. B. being understanding. C. being considerate. D. all of the above.

25. The study also showed that female rats are.. A. less empathetic than males. B. equally empathetic as males. C. as empathetic as males. D. more empathetic than males

TEXT 5 From "Ancient Capita] Wilted When Water Ran Low"

by Sindya N. Bhanoo New York Times, 2012

Angkor, the ancient city in Cambodia that was the seat of the Khmer empire, flourished from the 9 t h to the 15th century.

Today, tourists still appreciate the remnants of its architecture and sophisticated hydro-engineering systems, composed of canals, moats and large reservoirs known as barays.

Researchers now studying sediments from one of the reservoirs report that prolonged droughts and overuse of the soil may have interfered with Angkor's water management system and led to the empire's decline.

"When Angkor collapsed, there was a drop in water levels," said Mary Beth Day, an earth scientist at the University of Cambridge in England.

"And much less sediment was delivered to the baray at the time." Angkor's population may have been grow-

ing, and the soil may have been stressed from aggressive use, she said.

"The sediment being delivered to the reservoir during Angkor times was more weathered than the sediment being delivered post-collapse," she said. "The land was used fairly aggressively for agriculture, as opposed to when people left."

Ms. Day sampled six and a half feet of sediment core from Angkor that allowed her to study its physical properties, like the abundance of various elements and the ratio of sand to finer-grained materials.

She and her colleagues published their research in the current issue of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Sediments — осад, гуща.



26. Angkor was... A. the capital of Cambodia. B. an important city in the Khmer empire. C. a modern city with simple hydro-engineering systems. D. a very rainy, ancient city in Cambodia.

27. The hydro-engineering systems were composed of all of the following EXCEPT...

A. aqueducts. B. reservoirs. C. moats. D. canals.

28. When Angkor collapsed, there was a in water levels.

A.surge B. growth C. jump D. reduction

29. Angkor prospered between about years ago.

A. 600-1200 B. 800-1400 C. 1000-1600 D. 1500-2100

30. The word "weathered" in the third paragraph means...

A. fresh. B. synthetic. C. depleted. D. abundant.

READING COMPREHENSION TEST For 10th Form Students

TEXT 1 From "Arctic Ice Hits Record Lows" by Gregory Mone

Discover Magazine, 2011

Satellites first began measuring the extent of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean during the 1970s. One summer reading revealed nearly 3 million square miles of it.

Last summer that coverage shrank to 1.67 million square miles, the second-lowest number on record, according to climatologist Mark Serreze of the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado. "The year 2011 is another exclamation point on the overall downward trend that we see in sea-ice extent," he says.

Georg Heygster, a physicist at the University of Bremen in Germany, goes further. His 2011 data shows the lowest coverage of sea ice since records began.

The researchers may have slightly different numbers regarding the exact amount of ice remaining, but both agree that nature is outpacing projections from computer models and that summer sea ice in the Arctic could vanish by 2030.

The effects would be far reaching: Polar bears and walruses would lose the ice they depend on for hunting and resting. Ice-free lanes during summer months could open the area to shipping and onshore drilling but could also trigger new geopolitical conflicts.

These changes come atop the strong seasonal variation in Arctic ice, which melts through the summer and freezes up in the winter months.

The last decade has been one of the warmest on record for the polar region, with 2007 summer temperatures having risen 9 degrees Fahrenheit above average in some areas.

The warming trend accelerates the summer melt even during years of ordinary temperatures. This year the average temperature hovered near the freezing point—typical

for the area — yet ice still disappeared at an accelerated pace.

Serreze explains that the ice refreezes in winter, but by the time spring arrives, the remaining layer is thinner, so it melts faster.

"We've got to the point now where the ice is so thin that we don't need a boost from the weather," he says.



1. All data show that 2011 had the lowest sea ice coverage ever reported.

2. Mark Serreze is a professional climate researcher.

3. Satellites began measuring sea ice in the Arctic Ocean more than forty years ago.

4. Both scientists agree that by 2030, sea ice in the Arctic could disappear.

5. The researchers found very different measurements of sea ice.

6. Arctic ice stays frozen all year.

7. Weather in the polar region has changed in the last ten years.

8. Melting ice will cause problems for native animals of the polar region.

9. Ice refreezes in the spring and melts in the summer.

10. The author of this article probably does not believe in global warming.

TEXT 2 From a,v\feather Beaten" by Jim Cantore

Time Magazine, 2012

To look ahead, we must look back. This is especially true when it comes to weather - which might not be the kind of thing you expect to hear from a guy whose job it is to forecast storms and droughts, not to reflect on past ones.

All forecasts are initially based on good data, and the margin of error increases the further out we project.

Our ability to create even five-day forecasts is a relatively recent development — about as good as our ability to create three-day forecasts 20 years ago.




You should do the tasks that follow a text on the basis of what is stated or implied in that text.

For each task you will choose the best possible answer from two symbols (+ or —) or four possible answers (A, B, C, or D), as specified prior to each task.


STUDENT NUMBER:

This, of course, means that predicting all four seasons in 2012 is impossible, but 2011 does provide a good starting point.

The earth's complex atmosphere includes large-scale global patterns and phenomena such as La Ni a and El Ni o, and last year saw many of these coming together at the right time (which, of course, means the wrong time) to create a historic season of heartache and havoc.

The numbers, as compiled by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), were jaw dropping.

In one three-day stretch in April, 343 tornadoes struck in a swath from Alabama to Virginia.

Precipitation in the Ohio Valley exceeded normal levels by 300%, leading to flooding along the Mississippi River.

Drought-fueled wildfires burned more than a million acres in Texas alone. State and federal budgets, already stretched tight, took a big hit.

The U.S. saw a dozen or more weather events that did at least $1 billion each in damage - and $54 billion collectively - according to the NOAA.



11. The author says what is a relatively recent development?

A. Five-day forecasts. B. Three-day forecasts. C. Four-day forecasts. D. Five-week forecasts.

12. Jaw dropping means... A. exciting. B. shocking. C. turbulent. D. gregarious.

13. Where did 343 tornadoes hit the U.S. in April 2011? A. Alabama and Virginia., B. Alabama and Virginia, among others. C.Ohio\fclley. D. Mississippi.

14. What does the word "precipitation" imply? A. Winds. B. Droughts. C. Rainfall. D. Dangerous weather.

15. What does the phrase "already stretched tight" mean?

A. There is a lot of money. B. There is extra money.

C. The budget in endless. D. There are limited funds as it is.

TEXT3 From "American Art in Delaware"

http://www.americaslibrary.gov, 2012

Henry Francis du Pont (1880-1969) was an heir to Delaware's DuPont Company fortune.

He was one of the first serious collectors of American decorative art objects - furniture, textiles, paintings, and other objects made in the United States between 1640 and 1840.

American furniture and household objects had been considered inferior to those from Europe. But du Pont helped develop a new appreciation for American decorative arts.

He created a legendary showplace for these objects on his family's estate just outside of Wilmington, Delaware.

In 1951 it was opened to the public as .the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur (pronounced winter-tour) Museum.

Du Pont assembled objects from his collection into 175 "period rooms", each with examples of American antiques and decorative arts that followed a certain theme or period in early American history.

For example, the du Pont Dining Room has furniture dating from the late 18 th and early 19th centuries.

And, because this was the time when the United States became a new nation, there is a patriotic theme in the room.

Another example is the Chinese Parlor, which has furnishings that reflect Americans' fascination with Asian culture during the 18th century.

In these period rooms du Pont believed he could tell the story of the early United States through furniture and other decorative arts.



16. Henry Francis du Pont was one of the first serious collectors of what?

A. Paintings. B. American d cor. C. American cars. D. Postage stamps.

17. What is the best description of a "period room"? A. A room designed by a historical figure. B. A room in which the contents reflect a certain pe

riod of time. C. A room where you sit for a period of time and think. D. A room that follows a certain theme, for example,

a patriotic theme.

http://www.americaslibrary.gov

18. From what time period did du Pont collect objects? A. The 16th to 17th century. B.The 19th to 20 t h century. C. The 17 ,h to 19th century. D. The 20 t h to 21 s t century.

19. What BEST describes why du Pont collected, and later displayed, American decorative art objects?

A. He believed that he could convey early United States' culture through them.

B. He wanted to sell them for more money later in his life.

C. He wanted them so that no one else could have them.

D. He thought they were beautiful.

20. What was the result of Henry Francis du Pont collecting American decorative art objects?

A. There was no art left in museums. B. American-made furniture and household objects

gained popularity. C. A period of art that was considered lost was found

again. D. Du Pont sold everything for a lot of money.

TEXT 4 From "Chapter 1: The One to Get Away," by Barbara

Kingsolver The Bean Trees, 1988

I have been afraid of putting air in a tire ever since I saw a tractor tire blow up and throw Newt Hardbine's father over the top of the Standard Oil sign. I'm not lying.

He got stuck up there. About nineteen people congregated during the time it took for Norman Strick to walk up to the Courthouse and blow the whistle for the volunteer fire department.

They eventually did come with the ladder and haul him down, and he wasn't dead but lost his hearing and in many other ways was never the same afterward. They said he overfilled the tire.

Newt Hardbine was not my friend, he was just one of the big boys who had failed every grade at least once and so was practically going on twenty in the sixth grade, sitting in the back and flicking little wads of chewed paper into my hair.

But the day I saw his daddy up there like some old overalls slung over a fence, I had this feeling about what Newt's whole life was going to amount to, and I felt sorry for him.

Before that exact moment I don't believe I had given much thought to the future.

My mama said the Hardbines had kids just about as fast as they could fall down the well and drown.

This must not have been entirely true, since they were abundant in Pittman County and many survived to adulthood. But that was the general idea.

Which is not to say that we, me and Mama, were any better than Hardbines or had a dime to our name.

If you were to look at the two of us, myself and Newt side by side in the sixth grade, you could have pegged us for brother and sister.

And for all I ever knew of my own daddy I can't say we weren't, except for Mama swearing up and down that he was nobody I knew and was long gone besides.

But we were cut out of basically the same mud, I suppose, just two more dirty-kneed kids scrapping to beat hell and trying to land on our feet.

You couldn't have said, anyway, which one would stay right where he was, and which would be the one to get away.



21. Why is the narrator afraid of tires? A. She almost got hit by a tractor as a child. B. She saw someone get hit by a tractor and die. C. She watched a tire burst and hurt someone. D. She was in a tire accident.

22. What best describes Newt Hardbine? A. Poor, dim-witted, unlucky. B. Lazy, educated, sad. C. Sweet, disadvantaged, uneducated. D. Hardworking, poor, energetic.

23. Why does the narrator feel sorry for Newt Hardbine?

A. She sees that his life is hard and has little chance of improvement.

B. She saw his father get blown over a large fence and die.

C. Because he failed so many grades. D. All his brothers and sisters fell down wells and

drowned.

24. Why does the narrator say she and Newt Hardbine are basically the same?

A. They have the same father. B. They are from the same town and go to the same

school. C. They look similar and have the same future pros

pects. D. They are neighbors and have the same friends.

25. In this context "overalls slung over a fence" means...

A. the overalls were folded neatly on the fence. B. the overalls were placed on top of the fence. C. the overalls were tossed over the fence. D. the overalls were forgotten on a fence.

TEXT 5 From "Conversation Starters: 201 l's Top 5 Book Club

Picks" by Lynn Neary NPR, 2011

In Caleb's Crossing, Geraldine Brooks has created a lovely heroine in Bethia Mayfield, a young girl living on Martha's Vineyard in colonial times.

Bethia longs to break free of the restrictions of her strict Puritan community.

Smarter than her older brother, who is destined to get the education she wants and deserves, Bethia finds comfort in exploring the wilds of the island with a young Native American named Caleb.

It is a secret friendship and remains so, even as the two end up in Cambridge: Caleb to study at Harvard, Bethia as an indentured servant who takes care of the students.

When I first heard about this book, I wasn't sure I wanted to read it. I knew it was about the first Native American to graduate from Harvard.

That sounded pretty academic to me, not to mention elitist and politically correct.

But it is by Geraldine Brooks, a writer I admire. So I plunged ahead and was quite delighted to get swept up in the kind of story I loved as a kid: a headstrong, rebellious young girl in a wild, untamed place defies all the rules and finds love.

Actually, scratch that last part. This is a book for grown-ups written by Geraldine

Brooks, who not only respects history, she loves it. So while she sets up a story that's easy to fall into, she

doesn't shy away from the realities of those times. And Bethia and Caleb's lives take some unexpected

turns. The result is a satisfying but sobering look at the early days of this country.

This is a great pick for lovers of historical fiction.

Untamed — дикий.



26. The reviewer's first impression of Caleb's Crossing was that...

A. it would be boring and snobby. B. it would be slow and difficult. C. it would be difficult but interesting. D. it would be discriminatory and offensive.

27. The novel takes place... A. in a conservative Protestant community. B. in the untamed wilderness of the New World. C. in a college town. D. all of the above.

28. The reviewer chose to read Caleb's Craswjg because... A. she loves historical fiction. B. she is Native American. C. she identifies with the main character. D. she is a fan of the author.

29. The reviewer's overall opinion of the book is... A. negative. B. neutral. C. indifferent. D. positive.

30. The plot of Caleb's Crossing focuses on... A. How a young Puritan girl helped a Native American

go to Harvard while working as a servant. B. How a young girl made it possible for a poor Indian

boy to get an education. C. How the first Indian Harvard graduate and a young

indentured servant help each other. D. The struggle for Bethia to succeed in a sexist society.

READING COMPREHENSION TEST For 11th Form Students

TEXT 1 "Why Multitasking May Be Bad for \ber Brain" by Ka

ren PalJarito Health.com, 2011

Are you reading this while thumbing through text messages, streaming a TV show online, or scribbling a note to your child's teacher? (Or maybe doing all three?) Don't congratulate yourself.

Even though most people think an amped-up, gadget-dependent lifestyle makes them more nimble, focused, and efficient, that may not be the case. In fact, many researchers believe the human brain can't really perform two or more tasks simultaneously, as the word multitask implies.

Rather, they say, the mind toggles between tasks. And while mindless activities like walking and chewing gum aren't a problem, the brain doesn't fare well when people double up on complex tasks, such as driving and talking on a cell phone.

" Something's got to give," says David E. Meyer, PhD, director of the Brain, Cognition, and Action Laboratory at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. "Either your cell phone conversation will suffer or your driving will suffer."

And it's not just behind the wheel. There's mounting evidence that multitasking can slow you down no matter what you're doing. In a study published a decade ago, Meyer and his colleagues found that, contrary to popular belief, people are less efficient — not more — when they multitask.

That's because it takes more time to complete one of the tasks, especially as they become more complex, versus focusing on a single task.

To scribble — недбало писати; nimble - кмітливий; toggles — метатися.



1. Multitasking means doing several things at different times.

2. Researchers believe multitasking is focusing on several things at the same time.

3. Most people believe that multitasking makes them more efficient.

4. Many researchers believe it is good for the brain to perform different tasks at the same time.

5. In this article, "toggling" most likely means staying on one task until it's finished.

6. David Meyer thinks you should talk on the phone and drive at the same time.

7. The author of this text would most likely agree that you should not do your homework while watching TV.

8. Twenty years ago, Dr. Meyer found that people were less efficient when they multitasked.

9. Growing evidence shows that multitasking will always slow you down.

10. Chewing gum and driving have the same level of complexity.

TEXT 2 From "Climate Change Warning" by Pete Spotts

www.csmonitor.org, 2010

Already, global warming's fingerprints are evident in broad temperature and precipitation trends over the past 60 years, say scientists from the two working groups — one that focuses on climate science and one that focuses on assessing the effects and vulnerability.

Globally, the number of warm days and nights has grown, while the number of cold days and nights has decreased. In the United States, researchers have documented an increase in the number of high-temperature records set per decade and a decrease in the number of record lows set.




You should do the tasks that follow a text on the basis of what is stated от implied in that text

For each task you will choose the best possible answer from two symbols (+ or —) or four possible answers (A, B, C, or D), as specified prior to each task.

Choose the best answer and circle the symbol or letter of your choice on the answer sheet

STUDENT NUMBER:

http://Health.com

http://www.csmonitor.org

Also globally, the number of storms delivering a deluge rather than gentle showers has increased in more regions than those regions recording decreases in intense rain or snowfall — a sign that the warming atmosphere is holding more moisture.

Moreover, a warming climate has contributed to sea-level rise, the report says. This has led to an increase in incidents of extreme coastal flooding during storms.

Among the changes researchers have tracked, they're most confident in the conclusions drawn about the changes described above. The picture is more mixed for trends in tropical cyclone activity, droughts, and river floods globally.

Looking ahead, the report acknowledges that projecting further changes to extreme-weather patterns as the cli-matewarms carries significant uncertainties — particularly over the next 20 to 30 years, "because climate-change signals are expected to be relatively small compared to natural climate variability" over that period.

Still, the report projects with virtual certainty that if greenhouse-gas emissions continue unabated, temperature extremes will grow warmer and occur more frequently.

By the end of the century, expect heat waves that occur on average every 20 years now to take place every two years, Field says. Likewise, the number of storms delivering heavy precipitation by century's end is expected to grow.

The storms include tropical cyclones as well as winter storms in the northern mid-latitudes.



11. How do scientists measure the effects of global warming, according to this article?

A. By looking at temperature, rain, and snow. B. By measuring how fast ice melts. C. By countinghow many storms there are in a week. D. By making predictions.

12. What effect is global warming having worldwide? A. The number of cool days and nights is growing. B. The salinity of the oceans is rising. C. The severity of storms is increasing. D. All of the above answers are correct.

13. What is the antonym of the word "unabated"? A. Restricted. B. Freely. C. Nonstop. D. Unrelenting.

14. What phenomenon has been happening in the United States in relation to global warming?

A. There is an increase in the number of record highs. B. The rainforests are dying.

C. There is an increase in the number of severe storms. D. The ocean levels are rising.

15. What do scientists believe will happen to the planet in the future?

A. Temperatures extremes will increase and be more frequent.

B. The number of tropical cyclones will decrease. C. The sea will rise too high. D. Global weather patterns will remain relatively un

changed.

TEXT3 From "The Naturalist" by Barry Lopez

Orion Magazine, 2011

My home stands on a wooded bench, set back about two hundred feet from the north bank of the McKenzie River in western Oregon.

Almost every day I go down to the river with no intention but to sit and watch. I have been watching the river for thirty years, just the three or four hundred yards of it I can see from the forested bank, a run of clear, quick water about 350 feet wide.

If I have learned anything here, it's that each time I come down, something I don't know yet will reveal itself.

If it's a man's intent to spend thirty years staring at a river's environs in order to arrive at an explanation of the river, he should find some other way to spend his time.

To assert this, that a river can't be known, does not to my way of thinking denigrate science, any more than saying a brown bear can't be completely known. The reason this is true is because the river is not a thing, in the way a Saturn V rocket engine is a thing.

It is an expression of biological life, in dynamic relation to everything around it — the salmon within, the violet-green swallow swooping its surface, alder twigs floating its current, a mountain lion sipping its bank water, the configurations of basalt that break its flow and give it timbre and tone.

In my experience with field biologists, those fresh to a task — say, caracara research — are the ones most likely to give themselves a deadline - ten years, say — against which they will challenge themselves to know all there is to know about that falcon. It never works.

More seasoned field biologists, not as driven by a need to prove themselves, are content to concentrate on smaller arenas of knowledge. Instead of speaking definitively of coyote, armadillo, or widgeon, they tend to say, "This one animal, that one time, did this in that place."

It's the approach to nature many hunting and gathering peoples take, to this day. The view suggests a horizon rather than a boundary for knowing, toward which we are always walking.



16. Why does the author visit the river every day? A. To measure its distance. B. To clear his mind. C. To look at it. D. To develop a scientific explanation of the river.

17. Why are a river and a rocket engine different? A. The river is an expression of nature. B. A rocket engine can't be completely understood. C. The author doesn't want to denigrate science. D. A rocket engine is an expression of nature.

18. Experienced field biologists... A. learn everything about a subject. B. give themselves a deadline. C. speak with authority on their subjects. D. limit them to a specific area of study.

19. When the author says that knowledge should be viewed as-a horizon without boundaries, he means that...

A. it is impossible to learn everything about a subject. B. people should become field biologists before study

ing nature. C. knowledge is limited those who hunt and gather. D. it is possible to master a subject only by giving

yourself a deadline.

20. By speaking about the river and field biologists, what is the author trying to say about knowledge?

A. Ten years of study is necessary in order to speak definitively on a subject.

B. Knowledge is not a destination so much as a path or habit.

C. Knowledge about nature is more important than knowledge about science.

D. People should not try to develop their knowledge, because it's impossible to learn all there is to know about a subject.

TEXT 4 From "The Shallows: How the Internet Is Changing the Way We Read, Think, and Remember" by Nicholas Can

2010

The Dutch humanist Desiderius Erasmus, in his 1512 textbook De Copia, stressed the connection between memory and reading.

He urged students to annotate their books, using "an appropriate little sign" to mark "occurrences of striking words, archaic or novel diction, brilliant flashes of style, adages, examples, and pithy remarks worth memorizing."

He also suggested that every student and teacher keep a notebook, organized by subject, "so that whenever

he lights on anything worth noting down, he may write it in the appropriate section." Transcribing the excerpts in longhand, and rehearsing them regularly, would help ensure that they remained fixed in the mind.

The passages were to be viewed as "kinds of flowers," which, plucked from the pages of books, could be preserved in the pages of memory.

Erasmus, who as a schoolboy had memorized great swathes of classical literature, including the complete works of the poet Horace and the playwright Terence, was not recommending memorization for memorization's sake or as a rote exercise for retaining facts.

To him memorizing was far more than a means of storage. It was the first step in a process of synthesis, a process that led to a deeper and more personal understanding of one's reading.

He believed, as the classical historian Erika Rummel explains, that a person should "digest or internalize what he learns and reflect rather than slavishly reproduce the desirable qualities of the model author."

Far from being a mechanical mindless process, Erasmus's brand of memorization engaged the mind fully. It required, Rummel writes, "creativeness and judgment."



21. Which of the following did Erasmus not offer people advice on?

A. How to remember more clearly. B. How to memorize better. C. How to annotate their books. D. How to organize subjects.

22. Erasmus encouraged people to do the following to books they were reading.

A. Make notes at interesting parts. B. Make connections between memory and reading. C. Memorize them entirely. D. Clean them often.

23. For Erasmus, memorizing texts was... A. a mechanical process. B. a way to keep a notebook. C. a deeper understanding and relationship to the text. D. a means of storing vast amounts of information

about a topic.

24. What is meant by "memorization for memorization's sake"?

A. For no other purpose but to recall material. B. Contributing to a deeper understanding of the text. C. The process of analysis. D. To better retain his memorization notebooks.

25. Which best describes Erasmus' view of memory? A. A way to remember important dates and quotes. B. A part in the process of understanding something. C. A way to read better. D. A mechanical, mindless process.

TEXT 5 From "Game of Her Life" by Tim Crothers

ESPN Magazine, 2011

Agape Church could collapse at any moment. It is a ramshackle structure that lists alarmingly to one side, held together by scrap wood, rope, a few nails and faith. It is rickety, like everything else around it.

At the church on this Saturday morning in September are 37 children whose lives are equally fragile. They wander in to play a game none had heard of before they met Coach Robert, a game so foreign that there's no word for it in Luganda, their native language. Chess.

When they walk through the door, grins crease then-faces. This is home as much as any place, a refuge, the only community they know. These are their friends, their brothers and sisters of chess, and there is relative safety and comfort here.

Inside Agape Church it is almost possible to forget the chaos outside, in Katwe, the largest of eight slums in Kampala, Uganda, and one of the worst places on earth.

There are only seven chessboards at the church, and chess pieces are so scarce that sometimes an orphan pawn must stand in for a king. A child sits on each end of a wobbly pew, both straddling the board between their knobby knees, with captured pieces guarded in their laps.

A 5-year-old kid in a threadbare Denver Broncos No. 7 jersey competes against an 11-year-old in a frayed T-shirt that reads "J'Adore Paris". Most of the kids are barefoot. Some wear flip-flops. One has on black wing tips with no laces.

It is rapid-fire street chess. When more than a few seconds elapse without a move, there is a palpable restlessness.

It is remarkably quiet except for the thud of one piece slaying another and the occasional dispute over the location of a piece on a chessboard so faded that the dark spaces are barely distinguishable from the light ones. Surrender is signaled by a clattering of captured pieces

on the board. A new match begins immediately without the slightest celebration.

Coach Robert Katende is here. So are Benjamin and Ivan and Brian. And up near the pulpit sits Phiona.

One of two girls in the room, Phiona is juggling three matches at once and dominating them with her aggressive style, checkmating her young opponents while drawing a flower in the dirt on the floor with hertoe. Phiona is 14, and her stone face gives no sign that the next day she will travel to Siberia to compete against the very best chess players in the world.



26. "Luganda" is... A. a country. B. a language. C. the name of the church. D. a colloquial dialect. 27. "Palpable" means the same as.... A. unable to be detected. B. able to be sensed. C. unable to be heard. D. able to be seen. 28. What is the author's tone toward chess games

played in Agape Church? A. Incredulous. B. Interested. C. Resentful. D. Indifferent. 29. "Stone faced" can best be described as... A. emotionless. B.hard. C. elated. D. somber. 30. Coach Robert introduced chess to the children

because he wanted... A. to give the children an after-school activity. B. to teach them logical thought process. C. them to be more involved with the church. D. the text does not specify his reasons.

ROUND III SPEAKING COMPREHENSION TEST


Directions In this test you will select three task slips from those

before you. After selecting three, choose the one you feel you are

most capable to speak about and return the other two to the table face down.

Then take about a minute to collect your thoughts before you begin to speak on the topic.

You may refer to the topic as needed. Take a deep breath and begin.

1. Fast food is generally considered unhealthy, but many people still eat it.

Why do you think restaurants like McDonald's are so popular?

How would you make McDonald's better? If you could add one thing to the menu, what would

youadd?

2. Think of a powerful childhood memory. How did you feel at that time? How does the memory affect you when you think

about it today? What sensory experiences trigger that memory for you

(smells, tastes, etc.)?

3. Many children grow up listening to or watching fairytales that contain moral lessons. What was your favorite childhood book or story?

What was the moral of the story, and is it still relevant today?

Why do you think stories are a good way to teach morals?

If you could write a new fairytale, what moral or value would you want your readers to take away from it?

4. Some people believe that living a healthy lifestyle is the key to one's happiness.

What is your idea of a healthy lifestyle? How has the definition of health changed over time,

and from culture to culture? Can a person who is hot healthy still be happy?

5. Imagine you are in charge of giving five billion dollars to any country in the world. What country would you give aid to, and why does this country deserve it?

How has this country demonstrated a need for the money?

What criteria did you use to make yourdecision? How could you ensure that the money would not

be wasted?

6. In the age of computers and instant information, we are constantly exposed to the latest news and information.

What influences your choices when selecting what content to view?

How should people sort and filter the information they take in?

What are the positives and negatives of such constant exposure?

7. The proverb, "The more languages you speak, the more of a person you are", is often heard in our language classrooms. What does this saying mean to you?

Do you agree with this proverb? Do you know any examples of people who embody

this statement? How does knowing more than one language enrich

your life?

8. In your opinion, what are the three most important qualities a great teacher should have?

Tell about a time when you were in a challenging class and you witnessed a teacher demonstrate these qualities.

How do these qualities help students learn? Would you rather have a teacher with high expectations

who teaches interesting, difficult classes, or a teacher whose classes are easy and boring?

9. Imagine that you are a newspaper reporter. You have the opportunity to interview any living person in the world.

Who would you choose to interview, and why? How has this person influenced the lives of others? How has this person influenced your life?

10. Some people live for music and some people do not seem to care.

What is your attitude towards music? What role does music play in your life and in your

culture? Why are some people moved by music and others not?

11. If you could be a character in any book you have read, who would you choose? Why?

Describe the character you have chosen, including both their physical appearance and their personality traits.

Does this character have any weaknesses? What traits does this character have that you do not?

Similarly, is there anything you like about yourself that this character does not possess?

12. Social networking sites like Vkontakte and Face-book are becoming more and more popular.

Do you see social networking as a positive or negative thing? Why?

If Vkontakte and all other social networking sites were shut down forever, how would your life be affected?

In what way do social networks affect communication between people?

13. Language barriers often make it difficult to communicate with people from other countries.

Would you prefer to live in a world where everyone spoke only one universal language? Why?

What would be the advantages and disadvantages of having only one universal language?

What do you think would change if everyone spoke the same language?

14. C. S. Lewis once wrote, "Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather, it is one of those things that gives value to survival."

How do you interpret this quote? What is more valuable in your life, your friends or your

family? Why? What does friendship mean to you?

15. Mahatma Gandhi said, "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

What is your opinion of this statement? Is there a time when you have forgiven someone even

though it was difficult? Do you regret your decision? Why or why not?

16. Ever since humans landed on the moon, people have been obsessed with the idea of extraterrestrial life.

Do you believe in this possibility? What would you do if you met an alien?

How do you think humanity would react to the discovery of alien Ще?

17. Assume you are a descendent of Albert Einstein. You have found his journal and it has information that would affect his reputation.

Would you publish it, or would you keep it hidden? What would be the consequences?

Does the public interest in the information outweigh your personal right to protect your family's name?

What would you consider when making this decision?

18. If you made a terrible life-changing mistake and you had the option to forget it, would you take this opportunity?

What are the positive and negative consequences of your answer?

What role do painful experiences play in shaping our character?

Is it necessary to experience difficult situations to appreciate the good?

19. You are working as a volunteer for Euro Cup 2012, translating for foreign English speaking tourists. Describe a problem you think you might have to deal with.

How will foreigners perceive Ukrainian culture? Do you think the presence of so many foreigners will

affect the Ukrainian mentality? Do you think these changes will be permanent or short

term? Why?

20. Imagine that you are the owner of a new museum. From which time period would you gather most of your

materials? Who would be the most interested in visiting your

museum? What, type of museum would you like to own?

SPEAKING COMPREHENSION TEST For 10th Form Students






1. Athletics are very popular among the nation's youth. They are a good way to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and they help kids to develop skills as team players and athletes.

Do you think kids should be forced to participate in athletics while growing up?

Is competition among peers a good or a bad thing? Should athletics focus more on winning or just hav

ing fun?

2. Imagine that you are a villain from your favorite book or movie. Give an apology to the hero of the book or movie.

What have you done wrong? What do you regret? How will you make amends?

3. Some people believe it is important to share wisdom with future generations so that they avoid making the same mistakes. Imagine that you are speaking to your future granddaughter or grandson about the lessons you have learned so far in your life.

What life lessons would you like to share? What traditions do you hope he or she will carry on in

the future? What wisdom would you pass to him or her from your

grandparents?

4. Some people believe that living a healthy lifestyle is the key to one's happiness.

What is your idea of a healthy lifestyle? How has the definition of health changed over time,

and from culture to culture? Can a person who is not healthy still be happy?

5. C. S. Lewis once wrote, "Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather, it is one of those things that gives value to survival." Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

If you didn't have friends, how would your life be easier?

How would it be more difficult? Throughout history, how has friendship helped people

survive?

6. The Internet and television have made the world a much smaller place, as virtually everyone is aware of pop culture icons like David Beckham and Lady Gaga.

Is it important to keep up with pop culture? Why or why not?

If you stopped paying attention to pop culture, would you be able to participate in the same kinds of conversations with your friends?

Does pop culture create similar interests in people throughout the world, regardless of culture?

7. There is a commonly known phrase, "Jack of all trades, and master of none."

How do you interpret this phrase? Would you rather be really good at one thing or average

at many things? What is the difference between being good at some

thing and being great at something?

8. Imagine you had the power to change one historical event. However, this action would create a chain reaction which would result in you never being born.

What event would you change? Why? What would be the consequences of you never being

born? Is it better to sacrifice one person for the benefit of all

or not?

9. The way that people behave and what they desire are constantly changing. What differences can you predict about food, culture, clothing, etc. in the future?

Do you think it will be easier to live one hundred years from now?

In what ways would it be more difficult? What new challenges do you imagine your generation

will face in the future? Are you prepared to face these challenges?

10. Many people are distrustful of modern medicine. They believe that natural medicines from herbs and plants work much better.

If you were sick, would you go to a regular doctor or a doctor who uses herbs and plants as medicine?

Some argue that laughter makes a person feel better than any medicine can. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Have your parents ever treated you with medicinal remedies? Were they effective?

11. Both men and women spend a lot of time and money on fashion in an attempt to keep up with the latest trends.

Does beauty affect one's success in life?

Do you think the standard of beauty is the same in Ukraine as in America?

Is there more pressure on women than on men to be beautiful?

12. Each country has different rules of etiquette and behavior.

What are some common rules of etiquette in Ukraine? Why is it important to respect the rules of etiquette

in a foreign country? Which practices have you heard about or experienced

that are different from what you are used to?

13. Leo Tolstoy wrote, "Art is a human activity which has as its purpose the transmission to others the highest and best feelings to which men have risen."

How can art reflect our personal ideals? Tell about a painting, play, book, or song that reflects

your beliefs. Do you think we can learn from different forms of art?

14. Imagine that you are a newspaper reporter. You have the opportunity to interview any living person in the world.

Who would you choose to interview, and why? How has this person influenced your life and the lives

of others? What is the goal of your article, and how will you make

it newsworthy?

15. If you could be the pet of a character in any book you have read, who would you choose?

Why did you choose this person? Describe your new owner's caretaking habits.

Why did you choose them to be your caregiver? What kind of food do you think you would eat?

16. Social networking sites like Vkontakte and Face-book are seemingly all over the place. Do you see this as a good thing or bad thing? Why?

If Vkontakte and all other social networking sites were

shut down forever, how would your life be affected? Aside from socializing with friends, what other uses

do social networking sites have? How can social networking sites be used as an agent

of social change in Ukraine?

17. Imagine that you are in a place that does not speak your native language. Instead, the world will now be required to speak English.

What would be the advantages and disadvantages of having only one universal language?

How important is your native language to your own cultural identity?

What do you think would change if everyone spoke the same language?

18. Mahatma Ghandi said, "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong."

Do you agree with this statement? What would be the hardest thing to forgive? Are there any situations where doing something un

forgivable can be justified?

19. In Ukraine, children grow up believing in Father Frost. In America, children believe in Santa Claus. Why do you think societies create fictitious parental figures?

What role did these figures play in your upbringing? How do you think being told an untruth as a child

manifests itself later in life? If you could create a new fictional holiday character,

what would he or she be like?

20. As one grows older, schedules become more important.

What do you think your schedule will be like five years from now?

Do you prefer following a strict schedule, or do you prefer to be spontaneous?

How can you maintain independence while following a routine someone else made for you?

SPEAKING COMPREHENSION TEST For 11th Form Students






1. Many people are distrustful of modern medicine. They believe that natural medicines from herbs and plants work much better.

Do you think that using natural medicine is a valid form of treatment? Why or why not?

Some argue that laughter is a better cure than any medicine. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Some say that curing illnesses is more mental than physical. Do you agree? To what extent?

2. It is said that first impressions are the most important. Perhaps for this reason, both men and women spend a lot of time and money on their appearance in an attempt to keep up with the latest trends.

How does beauty affect one's success in life? What are the different standards of beauty in Ukraine

for men and women? Is there more pressure on women to modify their ap

pearance than men?

3. Each country has different rules of etiquette and behavior.

Why is it important to respect the rules of etiquette in a foreign country?

What practices have you heard about or come into contact with that seemed strange to how you were raised?

Are there any common rules of etiquette in Ukraine that you believe are outdated?

4. Leo Tolstoy wrote, "Art is a human activity which has as its purpose the transmission to others of the highest and best feelings to which men have risen."

How can art reflect our personal ideals? Do you think we can learn from different forms of art? How does art communicate the values of a culture?

Give an example.

5. The Internet and television have made the world a much smaller place, as virtually everybody is aware of pop culture icons like Paris Hilton and Lady Gaga.

Is it important to keep up with pop culture? Why or why not?

If you stopped paying attention to pop culture, how would your life be different?

How does pop culture create similar interests in people throughout the world, regardless of nationality?

6. Athletics are very popular among the nation's youth. They are a good way to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and they help kids to develop skills as a team player as well as an athlete.

Do you think kids should be forced to participate in athletics while growing up?

How does competition among peers influence their development into adulthood?

If a child is not interested in athletics, what are viable alternatives and what skills can they develop?

7. How would you explain diversity to a person who has lived in a homogenous society where everyone looks the same?

What examples can you give to explain this? Is it important to live in a place where there is diversity? How does living in a society influence a person's

worldview?

8. Imagine that you are a villain from your favorite book or movie. Give an apology to the hero of the book or movie.

Why would society look down on your past actions? How would you make amends? Do you believe it is possible to find redemption or do

we always live with the consequences of our actions in the past?

9. Some people believe it is important to share wisdom with future generations so that they avoid making the same mistakes. Imagine that you are speaking to your future granddaughter or grandson about the lessons you have learned so far in your life.

What life lessons would you like to share and why are they important?

What traditions do you hope he or she will carry on in the future?

What constitutes wisdom and what makes you qualified to pass it on?

10. Multimedia has become extremely advanced within the last decade. What is your view on media in the 21 s t century?

Is it good that people can have access to almost anything through the Internet? Why or why not?

In your opinion, what are the benefits of the advances in media?

What do you imagine media will be like by the year 2025?

11. In many cultures age is regarded differently, either as a positive or a negative attribute.

How are cultural values reflected in the way elders are treated?

How are the elderly regarded in Ukrainian culture? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a society

that places more value on youth?

12. In today's world, taking care of your body has become very important as more and more people choose not to smoke, exercise regularly, and are very careful about the types of food they put in their body. Becoming a vegetarian is an increasingly popular lifestyle decision all over the world.

What is the effect of consuming meat on our bodies? What is the effect of consuming meat on the environ

ment? What are the challenges of being a vegetarian

in Ukraine? How do Ukrainians typically view vegetarians?

13. Extreme sports have become increasingly popular in today's society. The X Games competitions demonstrate how popular these sports have become.

Would you ever participate in an extreme sport like sky diving or snowboarding? Why or why not?

Do you think these sports require more or less training than sports like football, hockey, and basketball? Why or why not?

Do you believe an athlete who wins a gold medal in curling or snowboarding is as athletic as an athlete who wins a gold medal in football or gymnastics? Why or why not?

14. Parents often have certain expectations for their children regarding education, career, and life choices.

Do you think it is more important to listen to your parents or follow your heart?

How do parental expectations affect the lives of their children?

What societal factors shape parental expectation?

15. Mark Twain wrote, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness. Broad, wholesome, charitable views cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth."

How do you interpret Twain's statement? Is it necessary to travel in order to. develop an under

stating of other peoples? Why or why not?

What are other ways of learning to be open-minded and tolerant?

16. Many people around the world volunteer on a regular basis.

What kinds of services do volunteers provide that government or private companies do not?

Why would someone work for free? In what ways could the Euro 2012 tournament affect

volunteerism in Ukraine?

17. In life you are sometimes required to work with people whom you do not like or agree with.

Some people do not voice their opinions because they are afraid of conflict. What is the correct balance between keeping the peace and voicing your opinion?

How does success in the workplace depend on teamwork?

How would one's strategy for cooperation change from dealing with a difficult boss to a difficult coworker?

18. Friendships are a very important part of life. What is the process of a person changing from being

an acquaintance to a friend? How do people balance their romantic relationships

with their friendships? Is it possible to be close friends with someone from

the opposite sex in a non-romantic way? Why or why not?

19. In recent years there have been many breakthroughs in genetic engineering.

What factors should be considered in genetically engineering food products?

Do you think that eating food that has been genetically modified is unhealthy? Are there benefits to producing genetically modified foods?

Do you think that people should have this power? Why or why not?

20. Imagine you had the power to change one historical event. However, this action would create a chain reaction which would result in you never being born.

What event would you change? Why? What would be the consequences of you never being

born? Is it better to sacrifice one person for the benefit of all

or not?

ROUND IV WRITING COMPREHENSION TEST


Directions In this test you will select from three writing tasks. Choose the one that you feel you are most capable

to write about. You will then begin writing your essay on the pages provided.

When you are finished close your papers, lay down your pen and wait for us to collect your test materials.

STUDENT NUMBER:

1. "True friends are hard to find" is a popular American saying.

Do you agree with this saying? Why or why not? What qualities do you think a person must have to be

a true friend?

Do you have a true friend? What is he/she like?

2. Even the Ancient Romans knew that a sound mind could be found in a sound body.

What do you do to take care of yourself both physically and mentally?

Think about your eating and exercise habits. What could you do to lead a healthier lifestyle?

3. Imagine you are given the chance to be a character from your favourite book.

Which character would you choose and why? How does this character advance the plot of the story? How would you change the plot of the story if you

were this character?

WRITING COMPREHENSION TEST For 10th Form Students




STUDENT NUMBER:

1. As technology grows and the world becomes smaller, "globalization" has become a buzz word.

What does this buzz word mean to you? What do different countries and cultures stand to lose or gain?

How is globalization affecting smaller and/or poorer countries as opposed to larger and/or richer countries?

How is globalization affecting Ukraine right now?

2. Some people argue that learning from a book is not useful and that your experiences in life will teach you everything that you need to know. Others believe that learning from books is more significant.

What do you think is more significant in a person's life: book learning or experience?

Can you have one without the other? Why or why not? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

3. There is a proverb which states that a student can follow only so far as a teacher can lead.

What teacher has been most influential in the development of your education? How has their teaching style helped you learn?

What methods does your favorite teacher use that other teachers do not?

If you became a teacher, which methods would you use?

WRITING COMPREHENSION TEST For 11th Form Students




STUDENT NUMBER:

1. Every day of our lives we are bombarded with advertising images and messages in the supermarket, on billboards, on television, etc.

Do you think advertising reflects the products that people want or do people want these products because of advertising?

What influences does advertising have on our culture?

What would life be like without advertising?

2. Imagine you are faced with a difficult decision; choosing a career that guarantees financial security or a career that you are passionate about but is financially unwise.

Which would you choose and what factors would affect your decision?

What outside influences may sway your decision?

Does money guarantee happiness or is passion enough to keep you content?

3. Watching films and TV shows is a popular pastime among teenagers today. As such, not many young people enjoy reading books anymore.

Do you think that this is a good change or a bad one? What are the advantages and disadvantages of watching

films as opposed to reading a book? How do you think this shift in teenagers' choice of en

tertainment will affect them as they get older?

TO READING AND LISTENING COMPREHENSION ANSWER KEY » LISTENING О

9™ FORM STUDENTS

OFFICIAL RECORD KEEPER BOOKLET

Answer Key to the Listening Comprehension lest for 9* Form Students

Answer Key to the Reading Comprehension Test for 9* Form Students

SECTION 1 SECTION 2

1 • • A В • .6 A В С

2 • • ,2 • • c D 17 В С D

3 J • I A • D 18 A С D

4 • 9 A • D 19 A В D • • 15 • • c D 20 A В D

TEXT 1

1 + 6

2 7

3 + 8

4 + 9

5 10

TEXT 2

11 В С

12 А В

13 А В С

14 А В С

15 А В

ANSWER KEY TO READING AND LISTENING COMPREHENSION

FOR 10 t h FORM STUDENTS OFFICIAL RECORD KEEPER BOOKLET

Answer Key to the Listening Comprehension lest for 10* Form Students

Answer Key to the Reading Comprehension Test for 10* Form Students

ТЕХТЗ

16 В с D

17 А В с 18 А В D

19 А с D

20 А с D

TEXT 4

21 А с 22 А с D

23 А D

24 А с D 25 А с

TEXT 5

26 А с D 27 В с D 28 А В с 29 А В D

ЗО А В D

SECTION 1 SECTION 2

1 + D OD в • «» 16 А в D

2 - 7 - 12 в с D • в с D 3 + ч DD • D 18 А в D

4 + 9 - 14 в с D 19 А с D

5 + В DD в с 20 в с D

TEXT 1 1 2 - 7 3 - 8 4 - 9 5 шш

ANSWER KEY TO READING AND LISTENING COMPREHENSION

FOR 1 1 t h FORM STUDENTS OFFICIAL RECORD KEEPER BOOKLET

Answer Key to the Listening Comprehension Test for 11 t h Form Students

TEXT 2 11 В с D 12 А с D 13 А с D 14 А В D 15 А В с

ТЕХТЗ 16 А с D 17 А с D 18 А D

-19 с D 20 А с D

TEXT 4 21 А В D 22 В с D 23 в с D 24 А в D 25 А с D

TEXTS 26 В с 27 А в с 28 А в с 29 А в с 30 А в

SECTION 1 SECTION 2

1 LP • щвш - 11 А В D 16 В С D

• Г ш 12 А С D 17 В С D

3 ш • • 13 В с D 18 А В D

4 І Зі В с D 19 А В D

5 • • 15 А - • -> 20 А В С

TEXT 1

1 + б

2 И 7

3 ш 8

4 Я В 9

5

TEXT 2

11 В с D

12 А В D

13 В с D

14 В с D

15 В с D

ТЕХТЗ

16 В D

17 В с D

18 в с

19 в с D

20 с D

TEXT 4

21 с D

22 в с D

23 в D

24 в с D

25 с D

TEXTS

26 А

TEXTS

І с D

27 А

TEXTS

с D

28 А

TEXTS

1 с D

29 В с D

30 А В с

iaswer Key to the leading Comprehension Test for 11 t h Form Students

2012 OLYMPIAD STAGE IV.pdf

Documents

Transcript of 2012 OLYMPIAD STAGE IV.pdf