Всероссийская олимпиада по английскому языку. Школьный тур. 9 – 10 классы.
Task I. Reading.
You are going to read a magazine article about the planets of the solar system. Choose the most suitable heading from the list A – H for each part ( 1 - 7 ) of the article. There is one extra heading you do not need to use
A family of worlds
1------
The solar system is a family of worlds. Nearest to the sun is Mercury, a place where the day is hot enough to melt some metals and the night sufficiently cold to make a rubber ball as brittle as glass. The planet has no atmosphere to scatter light so the sun glares down from a pitch black sky.
2------
Venus, on the contrary, has an atmosphere so thick that no one could ever see the sun. Though the sun is concealed, its energy reaches the planet’s surface, turning it into a baking desert where nothing can live.
3------
Beyond the earth and its moon we come to the planet Mars. Its famous redness is due to oxidization – a sort of rusting process that has taken place over millions of years. According to a now discredited theory, intelligent creatures on Mars have dug canals to harness the small amounts of water released when the planet’s polar ice-caps melt in the Martian spring.
4------
Jupiter is a giant ice-ball surrounded by an atmosphere of poisonous gases. It is an atmosphere full of storms and turmoil. The biggest storm of all – visible in the form of the Great Red Spot – has lasted over 200 years and shows no sign of dying away.
5------
Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are giant stepping stones leading us into the unseen coldness of outer space. Saturn is the most distinctive planet of the three, since it has the famous rings which almost everyone has heard about. They form a halo round its equator and no one knows quite how they were formed. A spectacular sight when observed through a powerful telescope, they can also be seen and enjoyed with a simple pair of binoculars.
6------
Beyond Neptune orbits is little Pluto. Too small and too far from the sun to receive much light, it reflects so little that it tells us very little indeed about itself. Its orbit sometimes brings it nearer to the sun than Neptune; at other times it swings out into the blackness of space as if it never means to return.
7------
Could there be another planet even further away than Pluto? There are clues that the answer to this may be yes. A mysterious gravitational pull is disturbing the orbits of Neptune and Pluto, suggesting that an unseen world awaits discovery.
A Too hot for life.
B A place of contrasts.
C Red for danger.
D Gases in turmoil.
E A treat for the amateur.
F A distant wanderer.
G An unseen influence.
H Fact and fiction.
Task II. Use of Grammar and Vocabulary
Read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C or D best fits each space. There is an example at the beginning ( 0 ).
0 A far B great C much D lot
BEING A TEENAGER
Today’s teenagers have (0) …A..more money and expensive possessions (1) ….. their parents ever did. Articles like radios and bicycles, that cost a fortune (2)….. decades ago, are now mass-produced and cheap. And items that nobody even (3)….. of possessing a few years ago, such as mobile phones and computers, are now commonplace. Teenagers are definitely better off financially. (4)….., life is not easy for them. (5) ….. is much more to worry about than there was in the past. Jobs are not secure(6)….. they used to be, and teenagers can no (7)….. be confident that the world will always be peaceful and free of pollution.Teenagers drive their parents crazy (8) many ways. Some of them spray their hair with amazing colours, (9)….. others wear clothes that shock their parents. They all want (10)….. own stereos, mobile phones and televisions. (11)….. these young people are not really behaving differently from how their parents behaved when they were young. Many of today’s parents and grandparents will laugh when they (12)….. the crazy fashions they wore. Those adults, (13)….. are parents now, fought with their own parents about clothes and lifestyles. (14)….., teenagers have fought with their parents (15)….. time began – and no doubt they always will!
1 A as B even C than D that
2 A a little B little C few D a few
3 A imagined B dreamed Cpictured D considered
4 A Despite B However C In spite D Even though
5 A It B TheyC There D This
6 A like B as C but D when
7 A more B farther C sooner D longer
8 A in B on C at D by
9A when B as C meanwhile D while
10 Aan B his C ones D their
11 A And B Although C Also D But
12 A remind B think C remember D review
13 A which B they C such D who
14 A As well B In fact C At last D At once
15 A since B from C when D as
Task III. Word Formation
Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals below the text to form a word that fits in the space in the text. There is an example at the beginning (0).
THE LOCH NESS MONSTER
For many centuries, people have believed in the (0)_existence_ of a “ Loch Ness monster”. Loch Ness is a lake in Northern Scotland. It is 39 kilometres in (1)______. It is quite narrow, but it reaches a (2)______of 297 metres in places. Sightings of “ huge creatures “ in the lake have attracted a wide (3)______of visitors. Some of these visitors have (4)______claimed to see “ Nessy”. They have even taken photos of the monster. However, there is a strong (5)______that some of the photos are fakes. Scientists are (6)______by the stories. They think it is (7)______that monsters live in the lake. There just isn’t any (8)______. They believe the shapes which visitors see on the lake may have a simple (9)______. They could be caused by the wind, by currents or even by small boats. Until someone (10)______manages to capture it “ Nessy” seems certain to remain a romantic legend.
(0) EXIST
(1) LONG (6) CONVINCE
(2) DEEP (7) LIKE
(3) VARY (8) PROVE
(4) OCCASION (9) EXPLAIN
(5) POSSIBLE (10) ACTUAL
Task IV. Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only one word in each space. There is an example at the beginning (0).
I get on fairly well with my parents. However, last night we had one of the (0)_the__ worst quarrels we’ve had for years! It was my brother (1)______started the trouble. He asked me if he (2)______borrow my Walkman and when I refused he just went into my bedroom and took it. When I complained to Mum, she told (3)______not to be childish. She said I ought to be a bit (4)______generous!
I was annoyed but I didn’t say any more. I went upstairs to finish my homework, (5)______I thought would take about an hour. After that, I planned to go out. My friends had suggested (6)______to a disco and I had agreed to meet (7)______there. The disco is quite a long way away so I knew I (8)______be home (9)______than usual. I thought I (10)______better ask Dad if that would be okay. He usually (11)______me do what I want, because he knows I’m not as irresponsible (12)______my brother. But this time he refused (13)______allow me to go out alone. He wanted me to go to the disco with my brother! He said that (14)______I agreed to go with him, I couldn’t go at all! We had a terrible argument. The (15)______I protested, the angrier he became. In the end, he ordered me to go to my bedroom, (16)______I spent a very boring evening. I have not forgiven my brother yet!
Task V. You have received a letter from your English friend Jane who writes:
______
… So you see that I enjoy films based on true historic facts. What kind of films do you like watching? Do you prefer watching films in the cinema or at home? Why? Do you agree that it is better to read a book before watching the film based on it? Why or why not?
As for the latest news, I’m planning to take up tennis!
______
Write a letter to your friend in 100 – 140 words. Remember the rules of letter writing.
THE KEYS.
Task I. Reading.
1B 2A 3 H 4D 5E 6F 7G
Task II. Use of Grammar and Vocabulary.
1C 2 D 3B 4 B 5C 6 B 7 B 8 A 9D
10 D 11 D 12C 13 D 14B 15A
Task III. Word Formation.
1length 2 depth 3variety 4occasionally 5possibility
6unconvinced 7 unlikely 8 proof 9explanation 10actually
Task IV.Filling the Gaps.
1who 2 could 3me 4 more 5 which 6 going 7 them 8 would
9 later 10 had 11 lets 12 as 13 to 14 unless 15 more 16 where
Total: 48 points
Task V. Letter - 6 points
Total: 54 points
Task I. Reading
You are going to read an article about an island off the coast of south-west England. Choose the most suitable heading from the list A - I for each part ( 1 - 8 ) of the article. There is one extra heading you do not need to use.
ACROSS TO LUNDY ISLAND
1.______
I had always been slightly puzzled as to why the boat trip to Lundy Island, eleven miles off the coast of Devon in south-west England, takes such a long time. The scheduled two-hour journey time seems excessive. Now, three hours into the voyage, the island felt no nearer than when I had boarded the ship. I began to understand something of Lundy’s isolation, for this stretch of water, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Bristol Channel can be very rough.
2.______
The captain’s voice came over the loudspeaker, “ Would all day visitors please report to the main lounge area.” It was the only thing to make me smile during the whole voyage; the shocked expression on the faces of the day-trippers as they’d have to spend the night on the island because the sea was too rough for the return crossing. Those of us who had pre-booked accommodation on the island could afford to look smug.
3.______
My thoughts were already turning to the warm little stone house that was awaiting my arrival on dry land. And suddenly, we were there. Lundy presents a formidable face to seaborne arrivals. Its cliffs rise 400 feet, along the island’s three-mile length, and fingers of rock jut out into the sea, making the water dance white with agitation. It is not surprising that the island has resisted all attempts at invasion over the centuries.
4.______
The tiny collection of stone buildings that make up the village of Lundy are situated at the southern end of the island, and here you find the only anchorage too. The clear blue water of the landing bay made me think we must have taken a wrong turn at sea and somehow found ourselves coming ashore on one of the Greek Islands. I had never seen such beautiful waters around the English coast.
5.______
Before leaving home, I had read that Lundy was famous for its diving and snorkeling, but I had laughed at the idea of swimming in these cold seas and had left my snorkel and face mask behind. Now, confronted with this brilliant-blue truth,I was almost beginning to regret my decision. I would certainly come to regret leaving behind my hooded waterproof jacket and my torch, in favour of a small for the evenings that was clearly not needed.
6.______
The absence of any true native population on Lundy means that as a tourist, you don’t feel that you are invading anyone’s privacy. Most of the residents are people employed to look after the welfare of visitors. The rental accommodation is both imaginative and evocative of the island’s past. There are 166 buildings for rent. You can choose between a 12-room castle, a fisherman’s cottage or, like me, a modest lighthouse keeper’s house.
7.______
When I told people that I was going to Lundy, the most frequent remarks were,“ Won’t you be bored and lonely? “ and “ Isn’t it only for bird-watchers? “ What surprised me on arrival was just how diverse a range of activities my fellow travellers were planning. As well as divers, there were rock climbers, artists, naturalists and, of course, some birdwatchers because Lundy is famous as a haven for all kinds of seabirds.
8.______
But, should you be thinking of a trip to Lundy, remember that you don’t have to take part in the outdoor pursuits. The most popular activity on Lundy these days must be doing very little. I went for rest and relaxation and found it in abundance. I suggest taking a good book and then a sheltered corner where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and the incomparable tranquility.
A A natural fortressB An unfortunate choice
C An undeserved reputation
D A lack of variety
E A chance to escape / F A range of facilities
G A surprising impression
H An unexpected development
I A mystery solved
Task II. Use of Grammar and Vocabulary
Read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C or D best fits each space.
TREES FOR LIFE
Trees are amongst the biggest and long-living things on Earth, some (1)______back longer than the oldest buildings. But (2)______being nice to look at, trees also (3)______an important role in improving the quality of our lives.
On a world-wide (4)______, forests help to slow down the effects of global warming by using up the gas (5)______as carbon dioxide and giving (6)______the oxygen we need to breathe. At local neighbourhood level, trees also (7)______important environmental benefits. They offer shade and shelter, which in (8)______reduces the amount of energy needed to heat and cool (9)______buildings; at the same time, they also remove other impurities from the air we breathe.
Urban trees are especially important because for many people they provide the only daily (10)______with the natural world. What’s (11)______, urban trees also provide a home for birds, small animals and butterflies. (12)______the trees we would lose the pleasure of seeing these creatures in our cities. Regrettably, (13)______, trees in cities are now coming under (14)______. There is a limit to the level of pollution they can (15)______and, down at street level, their roots are being seriously (16)______by the digging needed to make way for modern telephone, television and other cables.