2014-15 Olimp 2etap Anlijska

ПАМ’ЯТКА
ПРО РАЙОННІ ТА МІСЬКІ ОЛІМПІАДИ З ІНОЗЕМНИХ МОВ

ОЛІМПІАДИ ПРОВОДЯТЬСЯ В ЧОТИРИ ТУРИ
ПРОТЯГОМ ОДНОГО ДНЯ
МОВЛЕННЄВА КОМПЕТЕНЦІЯ
Учень повинен висловитись без підготовки на одну з двох запропонованих тем, кожна з яких відповідає
орієнтовній тематиці усного мовлення навчальної програми.
Монологічне висловлювання повинно бути повним, відповідати ситуації, послідовним, комунікативно
спрямованим, лексично насиченим, правильно фонетично і граматично оформленим та містити елементи
співбесіди із членами комісії. Максимальний обсяг висловлювання для учнів 8-9 класів 15 речень, 10-11 класів
– 20 речень
Критерії оцінювання:
Повнота розкриття теми – 1-3 бали
Комунікативна спрямованість – 1-3 бали
Інформаційна значимість – 0-2 бали
Вимова – 1-4 бали
Лексичний запас – 1-6 бали
Функціональна адекватність – 1-2 бали
Граматична правильність – 1-8 бали
Заохочувальний бал – 1-2 бали
Загальна сума –30 балів
ТВОРЧА ПИСЬМОВА РОБОТА
Учням пропонується написати міні-твір на одну з трьох запропонованих тем. Написання твору повинно
тривати 60 хвилин.
Обсяг письмової роботи: 8-9 клас – 18 речень; 10-11 клас – 20 речень.
Критерії оцінювання:
Обсяг письмового повідомлення – 0-2 бали
Зовнішній вигляд і структура – 0-2 бали
Повнота розкриття змісту – 0 – 6 балів
Лексична насиченість – 2 – 8 балів
Рівень розвитку граматичної компетенції – 0-10 балів
Заохочувальний бал – 0-2 балів
Загальна сума – 30 балів
АУДІЮВАННЯ
Учням кожного з 9-11 класів пропонується прослухати тексти з певною кількістю незнайомих слів, частина з
яких, але не більше трьох може бути виписана на дошку з їх значеннями. Аудіотекст пред’являється двічі з
голосу вчителя. Після першого прослуховування учасники виконують перше завдання ( 10 хвилин), після
другого прослуховування учасники виконують друге завдання (10 хвилин). Користуватися словниками або
іншою довідковою літературою не дозволяється. Проведення туру займає не більше 30 хвилин. Вартість
кожного правильно виконаного завдання – 2 бали. За виправлення знімається 50% вартості правильно
виконаного завдання
ЧИТАННЯ
Учням роздаються тексти для читання (кожному окремо), які є єдиними для всіх учасників відповідного
класу. Тексти можуть бути уривками з оригінальної художньої, суспільно-політичної або науково-популярної
літератури. Текст є цільним, сюжетно-завершеним.
У тексті допускається наявність 3-5% незнайомої лексики. Користуватися словниками не дозволяється.
Тестові завдання складаються з правильних та неправильних тверджень до тексту, незавершених тверджень
з різними варіантами відповідей, запитань з різними варіантами відповідей. Тривалість виконання
післятекстових завдань – 20 хвилин.
Вартість кожного правильно виконаного завдання – 2 бали. За виправлення знімається 50% вартості
правильно виконаного завдання..
STAGE II NATIONAL STUDENTS OLYMPIAD IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Speaking Comprehension Test for 8th Form Students
1. Today English is spoken in many countries around the world. It is becoming an

international language.
 How useful do you think English is? Why?
 Why is English becoming a world language? Who decides this?
 What implication does the spread of English throughout the world have on other
languages? Cultures? People?
2. Problems and challenges are a part of life which are not enjoyable. But are life’s
challenges completely bad?
 How can going through a challenging situation be a positive thing? Or are there no
benefits to facing challenges?
 What has been something challenging you have had to go through? Did you learn
anything about yourself?
 If you lived your whole life never having to deal with any real challenges, do you think
that was truly living?
3. Leisure is part of a balanced schedule and healthy life. We must work and study, but
also relax and do things for ourselves as well.
 What are your favorite and least favorite leisure activities?
 Are all leisure activities good? Can some possibly be harmful and dangerous? Why or
why not?
 When do you find you have the most leisure time? The least?
4. If you were the richest person in the world, what would you choose to do with your
money?
 On what would you spend your money?
 Would you donate any of your money to charities, organizations that help other people,
or research for medical cures?
 “Money can’t buy happiness.” Do you agree or disagree with this saying? Could you
truly be happy if you were rich?
5. Many people call different corners of the world their home. Some live in far off places,
other in crowded cities.
 Describe the area where you live.
 What do you like and dislike about this place? If there were one thing you could change
about it, what would it be?
 Where is your dream location to live?
6. School and studying can be really boring sometimes. Students often would rather spend
their time doing something else.
 Is school important to you? Why or why not?
 If you could change how your school operates, how would you change it and why?
 Does a traditional education in a school prepare you for life in the real world? How?
7. Everyone must eat in order to live. People from all over the world eat different kinds of
food.
 Do you enjoy eating, or do you see it more as a chore?
 What is your favorite food? What is your least favorite food?
 Why does food differ from culture to culture?
8. The world is getting smaller. Interactions between people of different countries are
increasing. This is called globalization.
 How is globalization possible? Give some examples.
 Is globalization a good thing or a negative thing? Why?
 Is Ukraine a part of globalization? How? If not, do think it will be in the future?
9. Environmental issues are increasingly becoming bigger problems today. Mankind is
polluting the environment in ways that may harm our future and cause irreversible
consequences.
 Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
 What kinds of issues are causing environmental problems in Ukraine? Europe? The
world?
 What are some ways you would solve these problems?

10. Role models and heroes are people whom we can look up to in order to find hope,
motivation, and ambition.
 Do you have a role model or hero? What characteristics does this person posses?
 Is it possible to be a hero or role model for someone and not even know it?
 Is it possible to be a negative role model or hero? Why?
11. How would you define intelligence? Are there different forms of intelligence?
 Why are some people more intelligent than others?
 Are certain people more intelligent than others in different ways?
 Is it possible for all people to increase their intelligence? Explain.
12. Zakarpattya is said to be the gateway to Europe. This is an oblast that sits on numerous
borders with many countries.
 Do you think Zakarpattya is different from other Oblasts? How?
 Have other countries influenced culture in Zakarpattya? If so, how?
 What are some things you would like to see change about Zakarpattya? Why?
13. Being a productive member of society means contributing to your community. Having a
job and working to make your community a better place is an excellent way to do so.
 What is your dream job? Describe it in detail.
 Do you think most people love their job? Why or why not? Is it possible to love your
work?
 Is volunteering work or leisure in your opinion?
14. Today technology is improving constantly. The world is seeing smaller cell phones,
bigger TVs and faster cars.
 What is your opinion of technology? Is it a good or bad thing?
 What implications can new technology have on our society?
 Can new discoveries in technology ever be bad for mankind? Why or why not?
15. Everyone likes to relax in different ways. Some people even have a special place that
only they know about.
 What special place do you like to go to for relaxation?
 What does it look like?
 What do you do there?
16. Describe the ‘house of your dreams’.

 What does your house look like?
 What is your favorite room and what is in it?
 Where in the world would your house be located?
17. People are often interested in foreign people and cultures. Which foreign culture do you
find most interesting?
 Which tradition from that culture would you like to experience?
 How has the classical understanding of that culture evolved over time?
 What are the advantages and disadvantages of accepting foreign traditions into
your own culture?
18. Supermarkets are becoming more widespread and popular in the modern world, while
traditional markets are becoming less common.
 Where do you (your family) do most food shopping?
 What advantages and disadvantages do you see with modern supermarkets?
 Do you think that traditional markets will disappear? Why or why not?
19. Many people feel that books are friends and companions. Ukraine itself has produced
some amazing contributors to the literary world.
 Do you like to read? Why or why not?
 What kind of books do you read?
 If you could meet any character from a book, who would you meet? Why?
20. In the past few years, social networking sites have become extremely popular. Almost
the entire world is virtually connected. Even some political movements have happened
through the use of websites like Facebook, Twitter or vKontacte.
 Do you have a Facebook or VKontacte account? How much time do you spend on it?
What do you usually do there?
 Do you think that these sites are a waste of time or can they be helpful? Why?
 Have these websites changed how you communicate or stay connected with people?
How? Do you think it is a positive or negative thing to keep relationships through
1. Cheating is considered morally wrong and bad, but is it always wrong?

 Do you think cheating is always wrong? Are there any situations where cheating to get
something you want is ok? Explain.
 Have you ever cheated? If so, why? If not, have you ever witnessed someone else cheat?
If so, why do you think they did it?
 What are the effects on the mentality of society if cheating, in any form and for any
reason, is allowed to occur?
2. Prejudice can be defined as a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual
experience.
 What are some examples in the world of prejudice?
 Why does prejudice exist?
 What are some prejudices that you have? Are all prejudices wrong?
3. Today English is spoken in many countries around the world. It is becoming an
international language.
 How useful do you think English is? Why?
 Why is English becoming a world language? Who decides this?
 What implication does the spread of English throughout the world have on other
languages? Cultures? People?
4. Problems and challenges are a part of life which are not enjoyable. But are life’s
challenges completely bad?
 How can going through a challenging situation be a positive thing? Or are there no
benefits to facing challenges?
 What has been something challenging you have had to go through? Did you learn
anything about yourself?
 If you lived your whole life never having to deal with any real challenges, do you think
that was truly living?
5. Leisure is part of a balanced schedule and healthy life. We must work and study, but
also relax and do things for ourselves as well.
 What are your favorite and least favorite leisure activities?
 Are all leisure activities good? Can some possibly be harmful and dangerous? Why or
why not?
 When do you find you have the most leisure time? The least?
money?
 On what would you spend your money?
7. Many people call different corners of the world their home. Some live in far off places,
other in crowded cities.
 Describe the area where you live.
 What do you like and dislike about this place? If there were one thing you could change
about it, what would it be?
 Where is your dream location to live?
8. School and studying can be really boring sometimes. Students often would rather spend
their time doing something else.
 Is school important to you? Why or why not?
 If you could change how your school operates, how would you change it and why?
 Does a traditional education in a school prepare you for life in the real world? How?
9. Everyone must eat in order to live. People from all over the world eat different kinds of
food.
 Do you enjoy eating, or do you see it more as a chore?
 What is your favorite food? What is your least favorite food?
 Why does food differ from culture to culture?
10. The world is getting smaller. Interactions between people of different countries are
increasing. This is called globalization.
 How is globalization possible? Give some examples.
 Is globalization a good thing or a negative thing? Why?
 Is Ukraine a part of globalization? How? If not, do think it will be in the future?
consequences.
world?

12. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” What does this saying mean to you?
 How do you define beauty? In a man? In a woman?
 Do you think that society and advertising puts expectations and pressure on men and
women on what is attractive and what is not?
 Can these expectations be dangerous for teenagers? How?
13. Role models and heroes are people whom we can look up to in order to find hope,
motivation, and ambition.
 Do you have a role model or hero? What characteristics does this person posses?
 Is it possible to be a hero or role model for someone and not even know it?
 Is it possible to be a negative role model or hero? Why?
14. How would you define intelligence? Are there different forms of intelligence?
 Why are some people more intelligent than others?
 Are certain people more intelligent than others in different ways?
 Is it possible for all people to increase their intelligence? Explain.
15. Zakarpattya is said to be the gateway to Europe. This is an oblast that sits on numerous
borders with many countries.
 Do you think Zakarpattya is different from other Oblasts? How?
 Have other countries influenced culture in Zakarpattya? If so, how?
 What are some things you would like to see change about Zakarpattya? Why?
16. Being a productive member of society means contributing to your community. Having a
job and working to make your community a better place is an excellent way to do so.
 What is your dream job? Describe it in detail.
 Do you think most people love their job? Why or why not? Is it possible to love your
work?
 Is volunteering work or leisure in your opinion?
17. Today technology is improving constantly. The world is seeing smaller cell phones,
bigger TVs and faster cars.
 What is your opinion of technology? Is it a good or bad thing?
 What implications can new technology have on our society?
 Can new discoveries in technology ever be bad for mankind? Why or why not?
18. There are many advantages to playing sports. Many people believe that it is very
important to win each time you play.
 Do you believe that this is the case in sporting events? Why or why not?
 What advantages and disadvantages are there to playing a sport?
 What areas of one's character could sports affect in a good or bad way and how?
19. All schools have rules. What are some of the rules you have to follow at your school?
 Which rules do you believe are necessary and which do you believe are unfair?
 What are the advantages and disadvantages of having rules?
 Have you ever been caught breaking any school rules?
20. The way people decorate their rooms usually says something about their personality.
 Give a brief description of your room.
 What do you think your room says about your personality?
 How important is the decoration of your room to you?
1. The world is getting smaller every day. Countries and people from all over the world are
staying connected through technology.
 Do you agree with the statement? If so, why?
 Is technology always a good thing?
 What is the outcome of the world connecting together?
2. There are hundreds of countries in the world today, each with its own culture and
people. Countries must work together on a global scale everyday to be successful.
 What are some ways Ukraine must work with other nations?
 Why do some countries not like the idea of being friendly with the world?
 What does internationalism mean to you?
3. People are traveling more and more today. With improvements in technology and
tourism developing around the world, people are traveling to far and exotic places.
 Where do you want to travel on vacation?
 Why do some people prefer to travel to faraway places?
 Is global tourism always a good thing? What are some advantages and disadvantages of
increased tourism and travel?
4. Every country throughout the world has some police force or military. They protect the
rights of people but also enforce the law.
 How to you think the police differ from country to country?
 Are all laws necessary? Do we need police to enforce these laws?
 If you could change anything about your country’s police what would it be?
5. Happiness is an emotion that all people feel at some point in their life. It is vital to have
happiness in order to live a healthy life.
 When do you feel you’re happiest? And how do you find happiness when you are sad?
 Do you think it is possible to be happy everyday?
 Do you think there is a connection with happiness and how much money you have?
6. Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
 When is a time when you have felt empathy for another person?
 Is this an important characteristic to have? Is it the most important? What others are more
important?
 How should people treat others in society? Is it ever okay to be rude or mean to
someone?
7. Films, TV and other forms of media have spread all across the world. Millions of people
watch popular sitcoms and movies everyday.
 Do you like to watch movies and other forms of media?
 What are some ways that the media can influence people?
 Is it possible for the media to deceive people?
8. Women and men have different roles and responsibility in different cultures and
societies.
 What is the role of women and men in your culture? Is this good or bad?
 Is it better to be a man or woman?
 What are some way women and men are treated differently? Is this right or wrong?
9. Lying is considered morally wrong, but for better or for worse people do lie. It is part of
human nature.
 Is lying ever justifiable? When is it okay to lie and to what extent?
 Why do people choose to lie? Is it possible to always be completely honest?
 If we are taught to believe that lying is wrong? Why do people do it? If it is part of
human nature why do we teach children it is wrong to lie?
10. Throughout history people have fought wars to settle their disputes.
 Is war ever justified or necessary?
 Is it human nature to wage war?
 Do you think humans will always fight wars, or will there ever be a time when it is
eradicated?
11. Ukraine is less than 25 years old as a country. It is still developing and emerging into
the world.
 What do you see for the future of Ukraine?
 What future do you want for Ukraine?
 How can this future be realized?
12. Discrimination is treating someone as inferior and/or denying him/her equal rights
based on race, sex, national origin, age, or other characteristics.
 Why does discrimination exist? Where does it come from?
 Is there discrimination in your own country or culture? How does it hurt people?
 Do you think it will ever be possible to completely eradicate discrimination from society?
13. All of us have personal goals and dreams that we want to make come true. But life
presents many challenges that can make it difficult and prevent us from achieving our
dream.
 Do you have a goal or dream you want to make come true?
 What challenges have you encountered or continue to encounter in trying to make your
dream come true?
 What motivates you to continue when things become too difficult?
14. Human beings are social creatures. Making friends and interacting with others is
important for our mental health and happiness.
 How do you choose your friends? What characteristics and qualities do you look for in a
friend?
 Can you be friends with everyone? Why or why not?
 There are people who prefer and are happy to be alone. Is it truly necessary to have
friends to be happy?
15. Technology is currently developing at a rapid pace. What do you think is the role of
technology with education?
 Do you rely on technology for your own education? For example using a computer,
internet, etc. If so, how often do you use these technologies?
 What are the benefits and what are the negatives of incorporating technology into
education?
 How necessary is it to incorporate technology into education? Should there be more or
less?
16. If you could have any job what would it be and why?
 How does your personality and personal interests effect your choice?
 How important is making a lot of money to you when deciding your dream job? Do you
want to work abroad or stay in your home country?
 How important is your family and their opinions when deciding your dream job?
17. What is the one job you would never want to do and why?
 How does your personality and personal interests affect your choice?
 Would you still choose never to do this job if you were paid a lot of money?
 Does your family effect your decision not to do this profession?
money?
 What would you spend your money on?
consequences.
world?
20. Cheating is considered morally wrong and bad, but is it always wrong?
 Do you think cheating is always wrong? Are there any situations where cheating to get
something you want is ok? Explain.
 Have you ever cheated? If so, why? If not, have you ever witnessed someone else cheat?
If so, why do you think they did it?
 What are the effects on the mentality of society if cheating, in any form and for any
reason, is allowed to occur?
1. What do you think is the best way to prepare children for life?
• In the home?
• At school?
• Leisure activities?
Do you agree that school days are wasted on the young? What do you regret about your own
school days? What skill would you most like to learn in the future? Why?
2. What do you think makes some types of advertising potentially dangerous?

• Content?
• Medium?
• Target market?
How much are you influenced by advertising? Do you think that society has become too
materialistic? Why do you think that shopping has become a leisure activity?
3. What responsibilities do you think individuals have towards the environment?

• Their lifestyle?
• When shopping?
• Financially?
What is being done in your area to improve or protect the environment? How would you like to
see people made more aware of environmental problems? What do you think is the biggest
environmental problem in your area?
4. Do you think that having a good imagination is important in life?

• For personal happiness?
• For individual well-being?
• For personal achievement
Do you think that people can learn to be creative? How? Do you think that technology limits
imagination? Some people say that reading fiction is a waste of time? How far do you agree?
5. What kind of work do you think should be rewarded most highly?

•The kind that requires specific training?
• The kind that is physically or mentally challenging?
• The kind that requires a lot of responsibility?
How far do you agree that job satisfaction is more important than financial reward? Do you think
the age of retirement should be changed? Why/Why not? How far do you agree that computer
skills are essential for every worker in today’s world?
6. Ukraine is a relatively young country. What changes have come about in the country in
the past 23 years?
• Culturally
• Politically
• Internationally
Are these changes all positive? Why or why not? What changes do you think will occur in the
next 20 years? How can you make some changes you wish to see?
7. Gandhi once said: “Be the change you wish to see in the world” What does this quote
mean to you?
• Personally
• As a Ukrainian
• With your goals
Do you believe one person can change the world? What are some changes you wish to see in
your community? City? Country? How can you make some changes? Do these changes have to
be grand? Or can a change be small and make a big difference too?
8. Today, English is the second most widely-spoken language with one out of every five
people on the planet able to speak at least some. How will knowledge of English be
beneficial to you?
• In Ukraine
• With your social life
• With your career
Why is English becoming an international language? Is English affecting cultures and the
development of culture? If so, in what ways? What do you think the future of the English
language will be? Do you think countries are sacrificing their culture or language for English?
What will be the consequences of this?
9. The American President John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do
for you, but what you can do for your country.” What does this quote mean to you?
• Personally
• As Ukrainian
• With your goals
Do you think you have a responsibility to your country? Does your country have a responsibility
to you? How can your generation change the country for the better? Is it possible?
10. Some countries are beginning to place bans on unhealthy foods such as soda and foods
with high saturated fat content. What implications can this have?
• Personally
• Culturally
• Politically
Do you agree with such bans? Would such laws work in Ukraine? Is the government required to
pass such laws, or is it the responsibility of people to manage what they eat?
Do you think people should have the right to consume what they want? Why or why not?
11. Technology is developing rapidly. What advancements in technology do you find most
exciting?
 Medical
 Communication
 Entertainment
Are there any advancement in technology that you worry about? How has life improved due to
advancements in technology? Has technology impeded life in any way? If you could invent one
thing, what would it be and why?
12. Do young people today need good role models? Are role models important?
 At school and among friends
 At home in their own family
 In the community
Who do you think is a good role model for young people in your country and why? What
qualities make a good role model? What would you most want to be remembered or admired for?
In your opinion, how truly significant is the impact of role models, good or bad, on young
people?
13. How important is the news in your daily life? What roles and responsibilities do people
who report the news have?
 In local news where you live
 In news for your entire country
 Different news subjects – politics, entertainment, health, science and technology, etc.
How often do you follow the news? Where do you look for news – internet, television, the
newspaper, friends and family? Is news in your country reliable and trustworthy?
14. How important is it for people to be able to travel abroad to other countries?
 For work or studying
 For leisure
 For immigrating to start a new life
What do you think people gain and learn through travel? Is it important for people to experience
and learn about other cultures? Why? What are the possible challenges and dangers of travel?
What country would you most want to visit and why? Would you ever want to live permanently
in another foreign country? Why or why not?
15. Peer pressure is pressure you receive from your peers to behave in a manner similar or
acceptable to them. These expectations may go against your personal beliefs, but if you do
them you will fit in with your peers.
 Peer pressure to do drugs and drink alcohol when you don’t want to
 Peer pressure from family members to live a certain way or choose a particular career path
 Peer pressure from your boyfriend or girlfriend
Is it acceptable to say no when you are pressured by your peers to do something you don’t want
to do? Is it better to go along with the group’s expectations to fit in and avoid conflict? Why can
it be difficult to say no? Have you ever experienced peer pressure and how did you handle it?
16. Prejudice is the preconceived opinion of a person or a group of people that is not based
on reason or actual experience and interactions with a person or group of people.
 Prejudice based on race, ethnicity, or skin color
 Prejudice based on wealth or social standing in society
 Prejudice based on sexual orientation or choices in lifestyle
Why does prejudice exist? Have you experienced prejudice or seen it in your own country? Do
you think it is important to have education in school to help children understand what prejudice
is and to how to prevent it? Do all humans have the right to make their own personal choices in
how they live and what makes them happy? Or should certain choices be denied to people and
why?
17. Victor Kiam once said, “Even if you fall on your face, you’re still moving forward.” He
was talking about how to deal with failure to obtain success.
 Failure in school
 Failure in work
 Failure in your goals and dreams
What does this quote mean to you? How would you define failure? Is failure always negative?
Can experiencing failure be a learning opportunity? Do you think one must experience several
failures to truly achieve their goals? Or can success be gained without any challenges and
failure?
18. Portrayals of violence in entertainment media and the reports of violence in the news is
increasing? Do you agree or disagree?
 Violence in movies and television
 Violence in videogames
 Violence in the news
Can seeing violence in movies, TV, and videogames be the cause of real life violence? Do these
violent forms of entertainment make people less opposed to violence against others? Can the
violence reported in the news make people feel like their world is a more dangerous place than it
really is?
19. Women and men have different roles and responsibilities in different cultures and
societies.
 At work
 At school
 At home or in marriage
What is the role of women and men in your culture? Is this good or bad? What challenges exist
for both men and women? How are men and women treated differently? Is this right or wrong?
Is it better to be a man or a woman?
20. Wars have been fought throughout history by many cultures throughout the world to
settle their disputes.
 Civil wars: war within a country between its own people
 War to help another people or country in need of help
 War to protect one’s country’s personal interests (defense of its people and ideals, gaining
natural resources, wealth, power, etc.)
Is war ever justified or necessary? Is it human nature to wage war? Do you think humans will
always fight wars? Is world peace truly ever possible?
STAGE II NATIONAL STUDENTS OLYMPIAD IN THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
Listening Comprehension Test for 8th Form Students

Most people think that the cat is an unintelligent animal, fond of ease, and
caring little for anything but mice and milk. But a cat has really more character
than most human beings, and gets a great deal more satisfaction out of life. Of all
the animal kingdom, the cat has the most many-sided character.
He- or she- is an athlete, musician, an acrobat, a romantic, a fighter, a sport
of the first water. All day long the cat lies about the house, takes things easy, sleeps
by the fire, and allows himself to be pestered by the attentions of women and
annoyed by children.
To pass the time away he sometimes watches a mouse-hole for an hour or
two, just to keep himself from dying of boredom; and people get the idea that this
sort of thing is all that life holds for the cat. But watch him as night comes, and you
see the cat as he really is.
When the family sits down to tea, the cat usually puts in an appearance to get
his share, and purrs noisily, and rubs himself against the legs of the family; and all
the time he is thinking of a fight or a tree to climb that is coming in the night.
If there is a guest at the table the cat is very nice to him, because the guest is
likely to have the best dinner. Sometimes, instead of recognizing this kindness with
something to eat, the guest stoops down and pets the cat and says “Pretty cat, Nice
cat!”
“Ow!” says the guest, “the cat stuck his claw into me!” The delighted family
remarks, “Isn’t it sweet of him? Isn’t he smart? He wants you to give him
something to eat.”
The guest doesn’t do what he wants to do- kick the cat through the window-
so, with anger and pain in his eyes, he acts like the cat is funny, and cuts out a
piece of fish from his plate and hands it to the cat.
The cat gingerly receives it, with a look in his eyes that says “Another time,
my friend, now you understand my control,” and purrs happily as he returns to a
safe distance from the guest’s shoe before eating it. A cat isn’t a fool- not at all.


LANGUAGE
Task 1. Choose the best option

1. According to the text, which of the following is not an assumption people
hold about cats?
a. Cats are lazy
b. Cats are dumb
c. Cats are cunning
d. Cats only want milk and mice
2. According to the text, why does the cat like to watch a mouse-hole?
a. To greet visitors
b. To avoid boredom
c. To catch a mouse
d. To guard the house
3. Why is the cat really nice to visitors?

a. He likes to meet new people
b. He wants to be petted
c. He wants to make a good impression
d. He wants visitors to feed him dinner
4. Based on the text, what does the word “gingerly” mean?

a. Angrily
b. Sadly
c. Slyly
d. Happily
5. What statement best expresses the main idea of the text?

a. Cats make the best pets
b. Cats are great hosts
c. Cats, unlike dogs, are really man’s best friend
d. Cats are much smarter than people think
Task 2. Decide if the statements are true or false
6. Cats are boring animals that do not have much character

7. According to the author, cats have many different professions
8. Cats do many different things to pass the time during the day
9. In general, cats are not interesting animals at night.
10. When the family has tea, the cat stays away and stays quiet
11. Cats act nice to guests because they want something
12. Cats will hurt a guest if they do not get what they want
13. The guest wanted to give the cat some fish
14. The guest gave the cat some fish because he didn’t want to get hurt anymore
15. Cats are much smarter than humans think.
LANGUAGE
Listening Comprehension Test for 9 Form Students
Space Shuttle Endeavour Rolls To Its Resting Place
I'm Audie Cornish.
ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:
And I'm Robert Siegel. They're calling it Mission 26. After 25 trips in orbit, Space Shuttle
Endeavour is making its final journey, this one through the streets of Los Angeles. For the next
two days, the shuttle will be towed from Los Angeles International Airport to the California
Science Center in downtown L.A. where it will become a museum piece. NPR's (name of radio
station) Carrie Kahn caught up with Endeavour along its route today.
CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE: Endeavour's first stop was a bank parking lot in nearby Westchester.
It's just 2 miles from L.A.'s airport, but it took a couple of hours for the 170,000-pound space
shuttle to get there. Rosemarie Gunning and Maureen Taft were ready with lawn chairs and
snacks.
ROSEMARIE GUNNING: What time did we get over here?
MAUREEN TAFT: Six o'clock.
GUNNING: Six o'clock. And we live in Westchester, and we figured, well, we wanted to be able
to sit and enjoy and then stand when it starts moving, so we brought some breakfast and tea, and
it has been great and exciting all the people.
KAHN: Ever seen anything like this before?
GUNNING: No, no. We were - our kids used to call this Westchester, Deadchester, so...
(LAUGHTER)
GUNNING: ...so this is really something special, extra, extra special.
KAHN: By midday, the crowd swelled into the hundreds despite the light rain.
CHRISTIAN DELGADO: It's amazing. It's breathtaking. It's crazy to see it up close.
KAHN: Christian Delgado did get pretty close, about 50 feet away, close enough to see
Endeavour's well-worn heat-resistant tiles.
DELGADO: A little space dust for you.
KAHN: Well, you could see the dents and the bumps and everything.
DELGADO: That's travel - space travel for you. It's really amazing.
KAHN: In its 25 missions, Endeavour logged more than 123 million miles, orbited the Earth
nearly 4,700 times at a speed of more than 17,000 miles an hour. Heather Lemon and dozens of
other volunteers from the California Science Center were full of Endeavour facts for the curious
onlookers.
HEATHER: And it saw a sunset or a sunrise every 45 minutes. Isn't that amazing?
KAHN: Well, I think what's amazing is its last trip is 2 miles an hour.
: Yeah. Exactly. Down these streets.
KAHN: Crews are still cutting trees along L.A.'s streets to make way for Endeavour. Light poles,
traffic signals and street signs are being removed too. The loss of hundreds of trees has upset
residents living along Endeavour's final route, but today as the five-story-tall shuttle craft rolled
through town, all you heard were the oohs and ahhs. Carrie Khan, NPR News.

LANGUAGE
Listening Comprehension Test for 9 Form Students
Space Shuttle Endeavour Rolls To Its Resting Place
Task 1. Choose whether the statements are True or False.
____ 1. The Endeavour has embarked on its final trip.

____ 2. This shuttle made 26 missions in orbit of our planet.
____ 3. It took the shuttle a couple of hours to move a mere two miles.
____ 4. A light rain prevented many people from coming to see the shuttle.
____ 5. The people who live near the airport had already seen the shuttle several times.
____ 6. In orbit, Endeavor's crew saw a new sunset or sunrise every three-fourths of an
hour.
____ 7. Although Endeavor's maximum design speed was 17,000 miles an hour, it never
reached such speeds during missions because of the rough conditions encountered up in
orbit.
Task 2. Choose the best answer.
8. Shuttle Endeavor is being ___ to its new home.

a) carried, b) pulled, c) lifted, d) pushed
9. ____ came to see the shuttle on its way down the street.
a) a couple of people, b) a few dozen people, c) hundreds of people, d) thousands of
people
10. The crowds were not ___ to see the shuttle.

a) thrilled, b) fascinated, c) impressed, d) infatuated
11. Why were some of the neighbors upset?

a) the shuttle was very noisy as it passed through,
b) it damaged the street that it was going down,
c) many trees had to be removed to make way for it,
d) NASA did not let the crowd get as close to the Endeavor as they had hoped
12. Endeavor's final resting place is going to be the:

a) Los Angeles International Airport
b) California Science Center,
c) Los Angeles Space Museum,
d) California NASA Airbase
13. During its space missions, Endeavor orbited the Earth ___ 47,000 times.
a) less than, b) more than, c) almost, d) not even close to
14. This recording is mainly about:

a) although the Endeavor moved very fast in space, it moves extremely slowly on
land,
b) people were very excited about the shuttle being relocated and being turned into
an exhibit,
c) after retiring the Endeavor, NASA is canceling its space shuttle program,
d) it is extraordinarily difficult to move the shuttle from one place to another
15. Future plans for the Endeavor include:

a) Modernizing her and sending her back into orbit for new missions,
b) transfering her back to the Los Angeles International Airport for an exhibition on
the history of air travel,
c) dismanteling her and using her parts for a new faster shuttle,
d) keeping her at the Science Center as a permanent museum piece

Kathie Holmes
Good afternoon, this is Kathie Holmes in our programme, ‘Young and Brainy’. Today I’m going
to be speaking to Ryan Patterson, a teenager whose invention may bridge the communication gap
between the deaf and those that can hear. Ryan, tell us how it all started.
Ryan Patterson
It was two years ago. I was waiting to be served at our local Burger King and I noticed a group
of customers using sign language to place an order. They were obviously deaf. They
communicated with a speaking interpreter and he relayed their choices to a cashier. I thought it
would make things easier if they had an electronic interpreter instead. I remembered the idea
later, when I was thinking of a new project for a science competition. I called it Sign Language
Translator.It consists of a glove which is lined with ten sensors. The sensors detect the hand
positions that are used to shape the alphabet of American Sign Language. Then a microprocessor
transmits the information to a small portable receiver. The receiver has a screen similar to those
on cell phones, and this screen displays the words, letter by letter. In this way people can read the
words, even if they don’t understand sign language, and people who use sign language can
communicate without an interpreter.
Kathie
Are you impressed? So were judges at the 2001 Siemens Science and Technology Competition.
The project received top honours, along with a $100,000 college scholarship for the young
inventor. And now Ryan’s project is already patented. Ryan, how long did you experiment with
the invention before you finally produced the prototype?
Ryan
Around nine months. I started with researching how sign language works. Then I had to figure
out how to translate all that electronically. Fortunately, I’ve always had an interest in electronics.
I’ve liked wiring things together since I was four years old. I also had hands-on experience from
my part-time job at a robotic-equipment lab.
Kathie
Did you have problems finding appropriate materials?
Ryan
I’m used to hunting for hardware to build competition robots, but for this project I also had to try
on many different gloves. A golf glove turned out to be the best solution. It’s soft and flexible
and fits closely.
Kathie
According to the National Institute of Deafness, one to two million people in the U.S. are
profoundly deaf. And most of them use sign language to communicate. Will your invention
make an impact?
Ryan
There was a demonstration at our local deaf community centre and the people were interested.
What I have now isn’t ready for production. I’m sure it’ll be very different by the time it’s
actually manufactured. But I do hope to see it on the market one day.

LANGUAGE
TASK. Decide if the sentences are true or false.

1. The idea for the invention occurred to Ryan while working at a Burger King restaurants.
2. The deaf people Ryan saw were showing the cashier what they wanted to order.
3. Ryan used the idea when he entered a science contest.
4. A cell phone is used as the receiver when using the Sign Language Translator.
5. Ryan’s invention helps deaf people learn sign language.
6. The invention brought Ryan money to cover the costs of his further education.
7. Ryan had to learn how deaf people use sign language.
8. Ryan had no previous experience of building electronic devices.
9. Ryan had considered various types of gloves for his invention.
10. Ryan has sold his invention to a deaf community centre.
LANGUAGE
The biggest house of cards, the longest tongue, and of course, the tallest man: these are
among the thousands of records logged in the famous Guinness Book of Records. Created in
1955 after a debate concerning Europe's fastest game bird, what began as a marketing tool sold
to pub landlords to promote Guinness, an Irish drink, became the bestselling copyright title of all
time (a category that excludes books such as the Bible and the Koran). In time, the book would
sell 120 million copies in over 100 countries— quite a leap from its humble beginnings.
In its early years, the book set its sights on satisfying man's innate curiosity about the
natural world around him. Its two principal fact finders, twins Norris and Ross McWhirter,
scoured the globe to collect empirical facts. It was their task to find and document aspects of life
that can be sensed or observed, things that can be quantified or measured. But not just any
things. They were only interested in superlatives: the biggest and the best. It was during this
period that some of the hallmark Guinness Records were documented, answering such questions
as "What is the brightest star?" and "What is the biggest spider?"
Once aware of the public's thirst for such knowledge, the book's authors began to branch
out to cover increasingly obscure, little-known facts. They started documenting human
achievements as well. A forerunner for reality television, the Guinness Book gave people a
chance to become famous for accomplishing eccentric, often pointless tasks. Records were set in
1955 for consuming 24 raw eggs in 14 minutes and in 1981 for the fastest solving of a Rubik's
Cube (which took a mere 38 seconds). In 1979 a man yodeled non-stop for ten and a quarter
hours.
In its latest incarnation, the book has found a new home on the internet. No longer
restricted to the confines of physical paper, the Guinness World Records website contains
seemingly innumerable facts concerning such topics as the most powerful combustion engine, or
the world's longest train. What is striking, however, is that such facts are found sharing a page
with the record of the heaviest train to be pulled with a beard. While there is no denying that
each of these facts has its own, individual allure, the latter represents a significant deviation from
the education-oriented facts of earlier editions. Perhaps there is useful knowledge to be gleaned
regarding the tensile strength of a beard, but this seems to cater to an audience more interested in
seeking entertainment than education.
Originating as a simple bar book, the Guinness Book of Records has evolved over
decades to provide insight into the full spectrum of modern life. And although one may be more
likely now to learn about the widest human mouth than the highest number of casualties in a
single battle of the Civil War, the Guinness World Records website offers a telling glimpse into
the future of fact-finding and record recording.

LANGUAGE
TASK 1. Decide if the statements are true or false

1. The originators of the book were the explorers Norris and Ross McWhirter.
2. The book was created after people were discussing the world’s fastest bird.
3. The book was made to produce the Irish beer, Guinness.
4. The Guinness Book of World Records is the best-selling non-religious copyright title of
all time.
5. The content in the book has changed slightly over time to keep readers interested.
6. The book started by recording interesting facts about the natural world.
7. You can now find the Guinness World Records exclusively on physical paper.
8. The facts produced by the people of the Guinness World Records have become less
entertaining and more educational over time.
9. Material used in the Guinness Book of Records is quantitative.
10. In the text, the word “incarnation” means “desecration”.
.
TASK 2. Choose the best option

11. Which of the following provides the best definition for the word “empirical”?
A. Coming from nature
B. Resulting from experience
C. Recordable
D. Outstanding or fantastic
12. The Guinness Book of Records was created in which year?

A. 1855
B. 1865
C. 1955
D. 1965
13. The book was originally used for what purpose?

A. To collect world records
B. To record interesting facts
C. To help pubs promote an Irish beer
D. To create a record of Irish drinks
14. The Guinness Book of Records has been sold in how many countries?
A. 100 countries
B. Over 200 countries
C. Over 100 countries
D. 200 countries
15. What was the book’s original goal?

A. Impress people around the world
B. Satisfy peoples’ curiosity about the natural world
C. Collect facts from around the world
D. Impress Irish pub owners
16. One of the original Guinness Records documented was:
A. “What is the brightest star?”
B. “What is the biggest bird?”
C. “How long is the longest train?”
D. “How heavy is the biggest spider?”
17. The original “fact finders” were only interested in superlatives. What is a superlative?
A. Something that is strange and interesting
B. Something that is famous
C. Something that is fast and strong
D. Something that is the most in its category
18. Overtime the book began to change, and began recording:

A. More and more facts about nature.
B. Little-known facts and strange human achievements.
C. Important human accomplishments.
D. Entertaining facts about people.
19. Which of these is the best example of what the book may contain in the future?
A. How sunglasses are created
B. The most durable automobile tire
C. The biggest penny in South America
D. The effect of caffeine on rats
20. In this context, the word “deviation” is most closely synonymous to:
A. Combination.
B. Personification.
C. Implication.
D. Separation.

Reading Comprehension Test for 8th Form Students
It’s summer again and we can’t wait to go on our holidays. But not all holidays are so nice
and relaxing! Here’s another story in our series “A holiday that went wrong’. Agnes, over to you.
Agnes: Last year I decided to go on a walking tour along the coast of the Baltic Sea. I was
fed up with the idea of lying on the beach, sunbathing and doing nothing; what I wanted was an
active holiday. I started the preparations in June. I was very excited about it, and I couldn’t wait to
start!
The first day was pretty good. I walked for about four hours in the morning, and about three
in the afternoon. But when I got to the place where I planned to spend the night, it turned out that
there was not a single bed left free. I had to sleep out on the beach. The second day started with
heavy rain, so my things got very wet. On the third day I began to have problems with my shoes.
They were supposed to be ‘perfect trekking boots for all conditions’, but it just wasn’t true. My feet
hurt so much that I had to take a bus to the nearest town to buy some other shoes. When I was there,
I accidentally met an old friend. She invited me to her holiday home in the Lake District, but I
refused to go because I wanted to keep walking along the seashore! So I did.
Next day, though, there was not only a problem with my shoes (I mean the new ones), but
also another worry: there was no way to go! The track along the shore was blocked for some reason.
I thought it would take me a long time to find another route. To make things worse, my feet hurt, so
I didn’t feel like waling any more. In the end, I decided to call my friend with a house in the Lake
District. When she heard my voice, she said happily, ‘Great! We’ll be lying on the beach,
sunbathing and doing nothing!’ Well, I must say I quite liked this idea…

Task 1.
Decide if the statements are True (T) or False (F).
_____ 1) Agnes didn’t want to lie on the beach because she was bored with it.
_____ 2) On the first day of her holiday, she spent about ten hours walking.
_____ 3) She went to the town because she wanted to see her old friend.
_____ 4) Even though she changed her shoes, her problems didn’t stop.
_____ 5) She had to stop her walking tour because she had lost her way.
_____ 6) Agnes said that her bed at the hotel was uncomfortable.
_____ 7) She had problems because she had bought the wrong kind of shoes.
_____ 8) She asked her friend if they would be able to lie on the beach and do nothing.
_____ 9) She didn’t want to go to her friend’s lake house at first.
_____ 10) She started preparations for her trip very early.
Task 2. Choose the best answer.
1) Agnes wanted to take a tour…
a) In a small town near the Baltic Sea.
b) Along the shore of the Baltic Sea.
c) Around the Lake District.
2) At the beginning of the second day…
a) it rained and Agnes got wet.
b) she began having shoe problems.
c) she met a friend in the town.
d) the road was blocked.
3) Agnes went to town…
a) on foot.
b) with an old friend.

c) by boat.
d) by bus.
4) On the third day, she didn’t…
a) take a bus.
b) visit an old friend.
c) meet an old friend.
d) buy new shoes.
5) She didn’t continue walking along the shore because…
a) she met her old friend.
b) there was no path.
c) it was raining.
d) the way was blocked.

TASK 1. Read the article and choose the best answer (a, b or c), according to the text
The Hard Rock Cafe Story
"No matter where you are or what time it is, there's something going on at a Hard Rock Cafe. All
over the world our cafes not only serve great food, but they serve up great music."
Hard Rock Cafes around the world symbolize the timeless energy, originality and unifying spirit
that have helped to shape rock music over the last century.
The first Hard Rock Cafe (HRC) opened its doors to the public on June 14, 1971, in London.
Founded by Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton, two enterprising and music-loving Americans, HRC
was a classic at once, attracting crowds of customers with its first-rate, but moderately priced American bill
of fare, warm service and ever present rock'n' roll music and sensibility.
With more than 108 Hard Rock Cafes in 41 countries Hard Rock Cafe has become a truly global
phenomenon. From its launch in London, England, to New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Tokyo, and on to
such exotic locales as Kuala Lumpur and Taipei, Hard Rock offers a special experience to its devoted,
ever-expanding clientele.
HRC has also become the world's leading collector and exhibitor of rock 'n' roll memorabilia.*
It all started when Eric Clapton, a regular at the first Hard Rock Cafe in London, asked the staff if
he could hang his guitar on the wall to mark his favourite bar stool as "his spot".
They did and one week later, a package from "The Who's" Pete Townshend arrived by messenger
with a guitar and a note with the message, "Mine's as good as his! Love, Pete."
Ever since then, Hard Rock Cafes have been collecting pieces of rock memorabilia and covering
their walls with them. Their unparalleled collection consists of more than 60,000 pieces. It is rotated from
restaurant to restaurant and provides the world's most comprehensive "visual history" of rock 'n' roll.
These treasures include an awe-inspiring collection of classic guitars and other instruments,
posters, costumes, music and lyric sheets, album art, platinum and gold LPs, photos and much more.
Throughout its history, HRC has been governed by a special service philosophy: "Love All -
Serve All." HRC is a place where all people have always been welcome, regardless of age, sex or class.
Since it was established Hard Rock Cafe has taken part in a wide variety of human activities
around the world. Following its idea of being more than just a restaurant, Hard Rock tries to connect its
business and its passion to make the earth a safer, healthier and a better place to live. For example, HRC
cafes take an active role in organizing parties to raise funds for different local charities.
They have also founded special initiatives like 'Save the Planet' or 'Ambassador Program'.
All in all, today Hard Rock Cafe International is an entertainment and leisure company that
continues to successfully expand the Hard Rock brand through countless music-related activities.
1. The first Hard Rock Cafe (HRC) was opened by

A London Hard Rock fans.
B two Americans.
C Eric Clapton.
2. Lots of people like these cafes because there you can hear
A rock 'n' roll music.
B all kinds of music.
C your favourite heavy metal music.
3. The big collection of rock memorabilia

A is shown in a museum in the USA.
B can be seen in the London HRC.
C is passed from restaurant to restaurant all over the world.
4. Pete Townshend sent his guitar to the first HRC in London because
A he wanted to do the same as Eric Clapton before him.
B it was a present to the staff.
C he wanted to pay his bill with it.
5. Hard Rock Cafes also organize

A instrument sales for musicians.
B school concerts.
C activities to help people or the environment.

TASK 2. Read the following article from a newspaper. Six paragraphs have been removed. You
must choose which of the paragraphs A-G match the numbered gaps 1-6. There is one extra
paragraph which does not fit in any of the gaps.
The Pressure point Stressed out? Don't fret, enjoy it!
I recently gave a course on stress, which had nothing to do with stress management. It said that
stress is magical and needful to our inner lives. This is a very unfashionable idea. Everyone knows that
stress at work is the disease of our time. That it can kill. That it should be avoided at all cost by stress
management techniques such as visualization of calm scenes, aromatherapy and yoga.
6
In peace and war, stress has turned ordinary people into heroes and heroines. It can galvanize
and inspire. Those who actively seek stress know the value of it, so why does current thinking suggest
that we should avoid it?
7
Yet the word 'stress' is used to refer to both cause and effect, to what makes people feel stressed
and to how they feel when they are stressed. Because of this conflation of stimulus and response,
arousal has come to be blamed for the harm caused by threats and dangers.
8
This isn't necessarily so, although it may happen. Animals, for instance, subjected to long-term,
uncontrollable pain and threat eventually resign themselves to their fate and then succumb to disease.
This behaviour has been labeled 'learned helplessness' and human research supports this theory.
Helplessness causes changes which affect the immune system and make the body more susceptible to
disease.
9
The unsatisfactory scientific research into stress has had two consequences. First, it has led to
the medicalisation of the normal stress response, turning a survival mechanism into a disease. Second, it
has led to a lucrative, underqualified and largely unregulated industry of stress counselors, offering to
'manage' and manipulate stress arousal and make it go away. An industry that says both overwork and
underwork can be “stressful”. An industry whose techniques have been questioned by a number of
scientific investigators as to their effectiveness and their purpose. An industry that encourages people to
be calm about real threats they face at home and at work, when they should be getting off their
backsides and doing something to help themselves.
10
There is one pattern to them all. Arousal, increasing tension and exhilaration leading to a
resolution of the experience. By these activities we learn to survive. They toughen us up and help us to
cope.
Yet nowadays, while every emphasis is placed on stressing the body to achieve physical fitness,
stressing the brain is avoided. We are into mind flab in a big way.
11
A The problem here is not stress arousal, but failure to act on it. Doing nothing about a threat is clearly
linked in the research literature to disease. Despair can be an anaesthetic but it is also a killer.
B In my course we look at society's training exercises for dealing with danger and actually go through with
the arousal experience. Spectator sport, fairground rides, quizzes, thrillers and chillers of every
kind, childhood dares and daredevil pursuits.
C Recently, I have been looking at the research on stress. Disturbingly, I found no agreed definition of the
term. Stress arousal is a response to threat or challenge.
D My course was rather different. It featured clips from the climaxes of horror films, interviews with sports
stars, creepy-crawlies (I have a giant metal spider named Esmerelda) and lots of evidence from
the arts and sciences on stress arousal as the key to peak experiences.
E Lamentably, if we see somebody working flat out on a project, the fashion is to say 'they'll kill
themselves', How sad and strange. In reality, triumphing over adversity can give people a
tremendous sense of achievement.
F The experimental literature on stress and disease is also prone to another serious error. It says 'disease
often follows stressful experience, so stress must cause disease.' In logic, this is a flaw known as
post hoc, ergo propter hoc - which means that 'it followed it, therefore it was caused by it'.
G Third, it is my view that in the triumph over terror we find our greatest rewards. Such experiences help
us to become mature and independent.
TASK 3. Read the text below and decide whether the following statements are true or false.
THE HAWKING STORY
Jane Hawking met the man who was to become her husband in 1963, shortly before the
beginning of his illness. They married two years later and, as Hawking got down to work, the disease
progressed tandem with his fame.
A string of academic positions and awards came his way did an increasing dependence on his
wife and those around him. For Mrs Hawking, life became paradoxically easier. An American
philanthropic organization provided the for 24-hour nursing. For the first time in their marriage, she
was no wholly for keeping him alive, and could devote more time concentrating on her work and their
three children.
Mrs Hawking has a neat, organised air, and at that is high-pitched and genteel of which conceal
the fact that she regards the world’s belief that her husband is about to come up with an explanation for
the universe the deepest suspicion. It is ironic that his work threatens to undermine the foundations of
her strongly religious convictions, which have sustained
12. Hawking’s illness prevented him from working. T/F

13. The Hawkings were initially unable to afford full-time professional nursing. T/F
14. Jane Hawking gave up working when she had children. T/F
15. Jane Hawking is dubious about her husband’s work. T/F


TEXT 2
TASK 1. Read the text and choose the best answer (1, 2, 3 or 4), according to the text
My friendship with Kathy wasn’t a perfect friendship. I learned very soon in our relationship that
Kathy was jealous. We would have great fun going out shopping but if I bought, say, a dress for a party
and she thought my dress was better than hers, she would start to say slightly unkind things about it. She
would be keen to come out with me to buy the dress. She would give me a lot of helpful advice while I
was trying on the various dresses in the shops. Her advice would be good. She would even tell the shop
assistant if she thought the price was too high. I can remember one occasion when she said this and, to
my surprise, they knocked the price down so that I could afford to buy it. The trouble would come later.
When we were actually going to the party and we were both dressed up and she was looking marvellous
(for she was very beautiful) she would suddenly say, “I think, Sarah, we were both wrong about that
dress. It looks a bit cheap, doesn’t it!”
Once or twice I “dropped” Kathy. I told her I was too busy to see her. Or I told her I had to see
another friend. All these lies hurt me because I had no other friend and I was so lonely. But they never
hurt her. She just smiled sweetly and said she’d see me next week. And of course, within a week or so,
I’d be on the phone asking her to come out. She never minded this. She never sulked at me and pretended
that she was too busy.
Students always celebrated the end of the college year with a fancy-dress ball. It was a big event.
But as luck would have it, Kathy and I had made other arrangements for the day of the ball. We had
booked to go to the theatre. We had talked for ages of going, and at last we had our tickets. For us it was
a big event. It was a musical and our favourite singer star was in it, so our hearts were set on the theatre.
Then Kathy came round to see me. Mother was in at the time, and I had to speak to her on the
doorstep because Mum had just been having a go at me for seeing too much of Kathy.
“I don’t want that girl coming in this house and nosing around.” So I told Kathy I couldn’t invite
her in because my Mum had a bad headache.
Kathy didn’t mind. She smiled and said she was sorry about my mother’s bad head. I was sure she
knew what had really happened.
But she carried on smiling, and then she said: “I’m sorry, but I can’t come to the theatre with you
after all. My brother’s come home and he wants to take me to the fancy-dress ball at the college. I can’t
let him down.” I couldn’t believe that she would let me down. She knew how much I had looked forward
to the theatre trip. We had talked about it together for months.
I was almost in tears by the time I had said goodbye to her and closed the door. My Mum was kind
and understanding. She made me promise I would never see Kathy again. I agreed, and felt that was the
least I could do by way of revenge for my disappointment. I told myself that I would never so much as
talk to Kathy if I saw her. Our relationship was at an end. I would never forget what she had done to me.
1. When Sarah says that Kathy was jealous she implies that Kathy didn’t like it when Sarah
1) had fun going out.

2) managed to buy the dress cheaply.
3) wore expensive clothes.
4) wore clothes smarter than her own.
2. When Sarah was buying a dress in a shop Kathy would
1) start to say slightly unkind things about it.

2) do her best to ensure that Sarah made the best buy.
3) insist that Sarah should buy a cheap dress.
4) be keen to buy a marvellous dress for herself.
3. When Sarah tried to “drop” her, Kathy
1) pretended to be busy.
2) went to see another friend.
3) felt hurt and lonely.
4) always took it easy.
4. “But as luck would have it” in paragraph 3 means Kathy and Sarah
1) had the luck to get the tickets for the musical.

2) were happy to have made arrangements for the ball.
3) were looking forward to hearing their favourite singer.
4) had by chance two events on the same day.
5. Sarah couldn’t invite Kathy to come in because
1) their house was in a mess.

2) her mother was suffering from a bad headache.
3) her mother disapproved of her daughter’s friend.
4) Kathy had come to their house to nose around.
6. Kathy said she didn’t mind speaking to Sarah on the doorstep because she
1) didn’t want to make Sarah feel uncomfortable.

2) believed that Sarah’s Mum had a headache.
3) did not want anyone to overhear them talking.
4) was in a hurry to see her brother.
7. Sarah decided not to see Kathy again because
1) her mother forbade her.

2) she couldn’t forgive Kathy.
3) her mother was disappointed.
4) she wanted to revenge for her mother.
TASK 2. Read the text and look at the questions that follow it. In this reading comprehension, the
questions are true or false.
Mother Fined For Son's Absences.
An Ipswich mother, who allowed her son to go on holiday during school term, has been fined
Ј400 after her son repeatedly refused to go to school.
The 36-year-old mother, who can not be named for legal reasons, appeared before South East
Suffolk Magistrates Court yesterday where magistrates heard her 14-year-old son was currently on
holiday in Spain.
She told that court: "He just does not like going to school. Although he is getting better now and
seems to be enjoying it."
The boy has had 145 unauthorised absences between October 15 last year and March 22 this
year. His absences were blamed on a late-night life style.
The mother has been attending parenting classes voluntarily and told the court that she thought
they were helping her.
Out of the last eight school sessions - there are two a day - he has attended five.
Chairman of the bench David Coe asked her if she thought she could get her son to school in
future.
"Yes I think I can with some help," she said.
She told the court that he was on holiday during the time other pupils were doing work
experience because he had not been given a place.
On sentencing Mr Coe said: "He is not in school and then he disappears on holiday. We would
expect the local authority to bring this back to court quickly if there are further problems."
She was fined Ј400 and ordered to pay Ј50.
Yesterday's case is the second to be dealt with by south east Suffolk magistrates recently. Last
month a 37-year-old was fined Ј50 after her son had attended just 16 out of 182 sessions.
And the cases follow national concern after Oxfordshire mother Patricia Amos was jailed for
allowing her children to miss school. She was originally sentenced to 60 days' jail, but this was reduced
on appeal.
8. The boy had returned to school when his mother was in court. T/F
9. The main reason for his absences was the fact that he went out late every night. T/F
10. The mother has to go to parenting classes. T/F
11. The mother claims her son is not currently missing school lessons. T/F
12. The mother may find herself in court again soon. T/F
13. There have been other similar cases nationwide but this is the first in this area. T/F
14. There was national support for the tough treatment of Patricia Amos. T/F
TASK 1. You are going to read an extract from a novel. For questions 1-8, choose the answer
(А-D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Many trees in the Brackham area were brought down in the terrible storms that March. The town
itself lost two great lime trees from the former market square. The disappearance of such prominent
features had altered the appearance of the town centre entirely, to the annoyance of its more conservative
inhabitants.
Among the annoyed, under more normal circumstances, would have been Chief Inspector Douglas
Pelham, head of the local police force. But at the height of that week's storm, when the wind brought
down even the mature walnut tree in his garden, Pelham had in fact been in no fit state to notice. A large
and healthy man, he had for the first time in his life been seriously ill with an attack of bronchitis.
When he first complained of an aching head and tightness in his chest, his wife, Molly, had tried
to persuade him to go to the doctor. Convinced that the police force could not do without him, he had, as
usual, ignored her and attempted to carry on working. Predictably, though he wouldn't have listened to
anyone who tried to tell him so, this had the effect of fogging his memory and shortening his temper.
It was only when his colleague, Sergeant Lloyd, took the initiative and drove him to the doctor's
door that he finally gave in. By that time, he didn't have the strength left to argue with her. In no time at
all, she was taking him along to the chemist's to get his prescribed antibiotics and then home to his
unsurprised wife who sent him straight to bed.
When Molly told him, on the Thursday morning, that the walnut tree had been brought down during the
night, Pelham hadn't been able to take it in. On Thursday evening, he had asked weakly about damage to
the house, groaned thankfully when he heard there was none, and pulled the sheets over his head.
It wasn't until Saturday, when the antibiotics took effect, his temperature dropped and he got up,
that he realised with a shock that the loss of the walnut tree had made a permanent difference to the
appearance of the living-room. The Pelhams' large house stood in a sizeable garden. It had not come
cheap, but even so Pelham had no regrets about buying it. The leafy garden had created an impression of
privacy. Now, though, the storm had changed his outlook.
Previously, the view from the living-room had featured the handsome walnut tree. This had not
darkened the room because there was also a window on the opposite wall, but it had provided interesting
patterns of light and shade that disguised the true state of the worn furniture that the family had brought
with them from their previous house.
With the tree gone, the room seemed cruelly bright, its worn furnishings exposed in all their shabbiness .
And the view from the window didn't bear looking at. The tall house next door, previously hidden by the
tree, was now there, dominating the outlook with its unattractive purple bricks and external pipes. It
seemed to have a great many upstairs windows, all of them watching the Pelhams' every movement.
'Doesn't it look terrible?' Pelham croaked to his wife.
But Molly, standing in the doorway, sounded more pleased than dismayed. 'That's what I've been
telling you ever since we came here. We have to buy a new sofa, whatever it costs.'
1 Why were some people in Brackham annoyed after the storm?
A The town looked different.
B The police had done little to help.
C No market could be held.
D Fallen trees had not been removed.
2.In the third paragraph, what do we learn about Chief Inspector Pelham's general attitude to
his work?
A He finds it extremely annoying.
B Не is sure that he fulfills a vital role.
C Не considers the systems are not clear enough.
D He does not trust the decisions made by his superiors.
3 Who does 'her' in paragraph 4 refer to?

A Molly Pelham
B the doctor
C the chemist
D Sergeant Lloyd
4 When Inspector Pelham's wife first told him about the walnut tree, he appeared to be
A worried.
B shocked.
C saddened.
D Suninterested.
5 What aspect of the Pelhams' furniture does 'shabbiness' in paragraph 8 describe?

A its colour
B its condition
C its position
D its design
6 As a result of the storm, the Pelhams' living-room

A was pleasantly lighter.
B felt less private.
C had a better view.
D was in need of repair.
7 Why did Molly sound pleased by her husband's comment?

A It proved that he was well again.
B She agreed about the tree.
C She thought he meant the sofa.
D It was what she expected him to say.
8 From what we learn of Inspector Pelham, he could best be described as

A open-minded.
B well-liked.
C warm-hearted
D strong-willed.
TASK 2.You are going to read a magazine interview with a sportswoman. Seven sentences have
been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-H the one which fits each gap (9-
15). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
The Netball Captain
In our series on women in sport, Suzie Ellis went to meet
England's netball captain.
Kendra Slawinski is captain of England's netball team.
When I met her, she'd had a typical day for the weeks
But the Championships are leading up to next month's World Championships: a day's
different because there's only teaching at a local school followed by a training session in
A
one chance and you have to be the local supermarket car park.
ready to make the most of it. I was surprised to hear about her training venue.
In fact, some of them help me 'Don't you get strange looks?' I asked her. Tin too involved
B with my speed and ball-skills in what I'm doing - concentrating on my movements and my
training. feet - to see anything else,' she said. 'I might notice cars
slow down out of the corner of my eye, but that's all.'
But once the final whistle blows, "My whole life now is all about making sure I'm at my
C
you become a different person. absolute best for the Championships,' says Kendra.
'I 9_____ These are her fourth World Championships and
So I took the decision some time they are guaranteed to be the biggest ever, with 27 nations
ago that this competition would taking part.
D
be the end of it as far as playing 'We'll have home support behind us, which is so special,'
is concerned. she says. 'And it's important that the reputation of netball in
I'm on a strict timetable to gain this country should be improved. 10_____ A home crowd
E will have expectations and give more support. People will
maximum fitness for them.
expect us to start the tournament with a good game.'
As far as I'm aware, we have Their first game is against Barbados and it comes
F always beaten them, but they'll immediately after the opening ceremony. 11_____ They
be exciting to play. have lots of ability.'
The England team are currently ranked fourth in the world.
As captain, I think it's important But, as Kendra points out, the World Championships will be
G that I have a strong mental tough. 'You have to push yourself to play each day, there's
attitude and lead by example. no rest between games as in a series. And you can still win
As a result of playing here, there an international series if you lose the first game.12_____
H will be more pressure than we're In the fifteen years since she has been playing at top level,
used to. the sport has become harder, faster. On court, players are
more aggressive. 'You don't do all that training not to come
out a winner,' says Kendra.
"13_____ We're all friendlier after the game.'

Netball is also taking a far more scientific approach to
fitness testing.
'It is essential that we all think and train like world-class

players,' says Kendra.
"14_____ I see my role as supporting and encouraging the

rest of the team.'
'From the very beginning, my netball career has always

been carefully planned.' she says. "15_____"
Doubtless she will coach young players in the future, but at

the moment her eyes are firmly set on her last big event. As
she leads out her team in the opening candlelight ceremony,
she is more than likely to have a tear in her eye. Her loyal
supporters will be behind her every step of the way.

Writing Comprehension Test for 8th Form Students
1. You have got a letter from your English pen-friend. He\she writes that he\she is going to visit you this
summer and asks you to meet him\her at the station (airport). Unfortunately, you’ll be in another place during
his\her visit. Write a letter to your friend in which
- asks him\her about the time of the visit and explain your absence
- give him\her information where to live and what to see in your town (region)
- welcome him\her and suggest meeting later in the summer.
2. You have received the following letter from your English-speaking friend.
...We're doing a project this month at school on eating habits and customs around the world. Will you be able to
help me by telling me what the traditional meals are in your country, what people typically eat and at what time
of day?
Thanks very much!
Love Alison
Write a letter to your friend giving her the information she needs.
3. Are out-of-school activities as important as schoolwork?

- What different skills can students learn from out-of-school activities than from school subjects in
school? Give examples.
- How can out-of-school activities help a student’s future?
- What might be some disadvantages of participating in out-of-school activities?
1. In your English class you have been discussing different ways of studying English. Your teacher has asked
you to write a composition with the following title:
The advantages and disadvantages of learning English abroad compared to learning in your own country
2. Warren Buffet wrote, “Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
What is Buffet talking about here? Think of your own life. How have you gotten to where you are? Who has
helped you? What events of your family history have allowed you to exist today in this “shade?” What will
you do in your life so that your children may also “sit in the shade?”
3. Many students have a very busy schedule during the school year and find it hard to complete all of their
homework. Imagine you and your peers have this problem in your English class - the teacher simply assigns
too much homework. You have been elected as the class president, and the first thing your fellow peers have
asked you to do is to write a letter to your English teacher about the amount of homework she gives you and
your class. Please explain to her what the problem is, why it is a problem, and offer possible solutions.
STAGE III NATIONAL STUDENTS OLYMPIAD IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
1. In your English class you have been discussing the pros and cons of different types of transport. For your
homework your teacher has asked you to write a composition giving your reaction to the following
statement:
"Cars should be banned from the centres of all major cities."
2. According to Bill Gates, “Leaders will be those who empower others” and, in life, we come across many dif-
ferent types of leaders in different parts of our lives.
- Choose a person whom you believe to be a great leader and describe the qualities he or she has that charac-
terize him/her as a leader?
- In your opinion, are these qualities unique or do all great leaders possess them?
How have leaders influenced your own life? Or how have you influenced others as a leader?

3. Listening to the radio programme you heard different people discussing the topic of friendship between
teens. You have decided to write a letter to the editor of the programme. In your letter
 describe what kind of friend your prefer and why
 say what can cause a friendship to go wrong
 argue whether it is better to have a wide circle of friends or a few close friends.
STAGE III NATIONAL STUDENTS OLYMPIAD IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
1. Some days ago you watched a television programme. In this programme you heard parents saying that teen-
agers enjoy too much freedom nowadays. Write an article to your school English language magazine, in
which you describe the following points:
 getting freedom at home (at school);
 advantages and disadvantages of having freedom;
 the ways to build relationships between grown ups and teenagers;
 your attitude to curfew and the ways to deal with it.
2. In countries all over the world, people are learning English. How are people and countries affected by the
widespread use of English? What attitudes towards English do they have? Why do you think English is im-
portant for the future and how do you see it in your future? Do you think that in the future one language will
become more important than another? What are the advantages and disadvantages of speaking only one lan-
guage?
2. “When we bother to look, it’s hard to deny that our day-to-day choices shape the world.”
Jonathan Safran Foer
Give two to three examples of how your personal behaviors shape the world. Do you think that, overall, you
have a positive or negative effect? Do people need to take more responsibility for their behaviors? How can
you inspire them to “bother to look?”

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Speaking Comprehension Test for 8th Form Students

1. Today English is spoken in many countries around the world. It is becoming an

16. Describe the ‘house of your dreams’.

Speaking Comprehension Test for 9th Form Students

1. Cheating is considered morally wrong and bad, but is it always wrong?

Speaking Comprehension Test for 10th Form Students

Speaking Comprehension Test for 11th Form Students

2. What do you think makes some types of advertising potentially dangerous?

3. What responsibilities do you think individuals have towards the environment?

4. Do you think that having a good imagination is important in life?

5. What kind of work do you think should be rewarded most highly?

STAGE II NATIONAL STUDENTS OLYMPIAD IN THE ENGLISH

Task 1. Choose the best option

3. Why is the cat really nice to visitors?

4. Based on the text, what does the word “gingerly” mean?

5. What statement best expresses the main idea of the text?

Task 2. Decide if the statements are true or false

6. Cats are boring animals that do not have much character

Listening Comprehension Test for 9 Form Students

Space Shuttle Endeavour Rolls To Its Resting Place

I'm Audie Cornish.

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

ROSEMARIE GUNNING: What time did we get over here?

MAUREEN TAFT: Six o'clock.

KAHN: Ever seen anything like this before?

GUNNING: ...so this is really something special, extra, extra special.

DELGADO: A little space dust for you.

: Yeah. Exactly. Down these streets.

STAGE II NATIONAL STUDENTS OLYMPIAD IN THE ENGLISH

Space Shuttle Endeavour Rolls To Its Resting Place

Task 1. Choose whether the statements are True or False.

____ 1. The Endeavour has embarked on its final trip.

Task 2. Choose the best answer.

8. Shuttle Endeavor is being ___ to its new home.

10. The crowds were not ___ to see the shuttle.

11. Why were some of the neighbors upset?

12. Endeavor's final resting place is going to be the:

14. This recording is mainly about:

15. Future plans for the Endeavor include:

Listening Comprehension Test for 10th Form Students

STAGE II NATIONAL STUDENTS OLYMPIAD IN THE ENGLISH

TASK. Decide if the sentences are true or false.

TASK 1. Decide if the statements are true or false

12. The Guinness Book of Records was created in which year?

13. The book was originally used for what purpose?

15. What was the book’s original goal?

18. Overtime the book began to change, and began recording:

Reading Comprehension Test for 8th Form Students

Decide if the statements are True (T) or False (F).

_____ 9) She didn’t want to go to her friend’s lake house at first.

Task 2. Choose the best answer.

1) Agnes wanted to take a tour…

a) In a small town near the Baltic Sea.

b) Along the shore of the Baltic Sea.

c) Around the Lake District.

2) At the beginning of the second day…

a) it rained and Agnes got wet.

b) she began having shoe problems.

c) she met a friend in the town.

d) the road was blocked.

3) Agnes went to town…