WRITING COMPREHENSION TEST
Directions:
In this test you will select from three writing tasks. Choose the one that you feel you are most capable to write about. You will then begin writing your essay on the pages provided. When you are finished close your papers, lay down your pen and wait for us to collect your test materials
For 8th Form Students
1. Television and computer games will soon lead to disappearing of books.
2. People don't need sport to live happily.
3. There is no ideal school in the world.
For 9th Form Students
1. Food is a very important part of our lives as we must eat to live, but not live to eat. What is your favourite dish and how is it made? Tell about the process of preparing the dish. What are the ingredients and where do you buy them? Why do you love this dish so much? Does it mean something special to you?
Mobile phones have become more and more popular around the world. In some countries, people depend on mobile phones to do their daily jobs or to keep in contact with other people. But what would the world be like without mobile phones? Have mobile phones truly improved the quality of life of those who use them?
You have been called upon to create a new national holiday for Ukraine. What person or event do you choose to honour, and why? When would you have the holiday, and how would this affect the celebration? What traditions will be associated with this holiday? Why will this holiday appeal to citizens around the country?
For 10th Form Students
1. If you were the president of the country what country would you choose to rule? Why? What would you do to make the life of your people better?
It is often said that “the world is getting smaller. How has the technology made the world smaller? What most influential inventions have made us think so? What are the advantages and disadvantages to live in a more connected world?
Reading fiction (such as novels and short stories) is more enjoyable than watching movies. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.
For 11th Form Students
1. Many years ago, pupils graduating secondary schools were expected to know the basics of Latin, Greek and French. Yet today, many students leave school without knowing the basics of one foreign language.
• Which system of education do you prefer, the old or current?
• Is it important to learn a foreign language in school? Why?
• How could learning Latin, ancient Greek or other dead languages, help you in life?
2. What roles do our friends play in our life? Do they have positive or negative influences? What do you look for in a friend?
3. What do you believe to be the greatest problem in today’s society? Explain why you consider it to be so bad. How would you propose to do away with this problem?
Завдання I етапу Всеукраїнської олімпіади з англійської мови
Клас
LISTENING COMPREHENSION TEST
History Jokes
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby boy. He dropped his tools and ran to the boy. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the boy from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's place. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy farmer Fleming had saved.
"I want to repay you", said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life". "No, I can't accept payment for what I did", the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel. "Is that your son?" the nobleman asked. "Yes", the farmer replied proudly. "I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the fellow is anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be proud of.
And that he did. In time, farmer Fleming's son graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the nobleman's son was close to death from pneumonia. What saved him?
Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name?
Sir Winston Churchill
'Task 1. For each of the questions 1-10 decide which of the statements are true or false
1. The text mainly tells about ordinary events in history. '
2. At the beginning of the story, the farmer was bathing in a river.
3. There must have been an accident with a little boy.
4. The action takes place nowadays.
5. The farmer's children were all girls.
6. The little boy's father wanted to give the farmer a sum of money.
7. The farmer seemed to know the importance of knowledge.
8. The nobleman's prediction did not come true.
9. The boy glorified his family name.
10. Sometimes wonderful coincidences happen in life.
Task 2. For each of the questions 11 —20 decide which of the answers (a, b, c or d) best complete the statements
11. It may be inferred from the text that the Fleming family lived:
a) in the south of Great Britain; b) in the north of Great Britain;
c) in the centre of Great Britain; d) outside Great Britain.
12. The farmer must have been:
a) kind and wealthy; b) noble and proud;
c) hardly able to make ends meet; d) idle and suspicious.
13. One can make a conclusion that the saved boy's father was:
a) a successful farmer; b) a good hunter;
c) an aristocrat; d) a beggar.'
14. The farmer's son must have been:
a) worth pride; b) a wonder kid;
c) a nobleman; d) from Ireland.
15. The nobleman's offer was:
a) rather stupid;. b) just and generous;
c) not worth considering; d) never accepted.
16. After receiving his education, young Fleming was supposed to:
a) work with customers; b) sell medicines;
c) look for criminals; d) treat patients.
17. Alexander Fleming discovered: a) a penny ceiling; b) a pan sealing; c) penicillin; d) pennies while pealing.
18. Fleming's discovery made him:
a) cruel and dangerous; b) famous worldwide;
c) thrilling and exciting; d) quite boring.
19. The word "sir" before Fleming's name may mean that he:
a) became as noble as Churchill;
b) came from Syracuse;
c) performed in a circle;
d) was a sergeant in the British Army.
20. One can infer from the text that:
a) the Flemings and the Churchills were close friends;
b) Alexander Fleming may not necessarily have seen Winston Churchill after the childhood accident;
c) Winston Churchill almost died from the medicines given by Fleming;
d) Alexander Fleming was Winston Churchill's personal doctor
READING
TEXT 1. VIII FORM
Elizabeth Blackwell was born in England in 1821, and emigrated to New York City when she was ten. One day she decided that she wanted to become a doctor. That was nearly impossible for a woman in the middle of the 19th century. After writing many letters asking for admission to medical schools, she was finally accepted by a doctor in Philadelphia.
In 1849, after graduating from medical school, she decided to continue her education in Paris. She wanted to be a surgeon, but a serious eye infection crashed her plans.
Returning to the USA she found it difficult to start her own practice because she was a woman. By 1857 Elizabeth and her sister, also a doctor, along with another female doctor, could open a new hospital, the first for women and children. Besides being the first female physician and founding her own hospital, she also founded the first medical school for women.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT VARIANT:
1. Where had Elizabeth lived till she was ten?
A) in New York B) in England C) in Philadelphia D) in Paris
2. What did she do in Philadelphia?
A) she worked as a doctor B) she studied at a medical school
C) she wrote letters D) she taught medicine at school
3. What country did she continue her education?
A) in England B) in the USA C) in France D) on the Philippines
4. Why couldn’t she become a surgeon?
A) she couldn’t get to medical school B) she decided to continue her education in Paris
C) because of a serious eye infection D) it was difficult for her to start practice
5. What was the main problem for her as a doctor?
A) she was a woman B) she wrote too many letters
C) she couldn’t graduate from medical school D) she couldn’t open her hospital
Text 2.
Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. This story is about something that happened to them when they were sent away from London during the war because of the air raids. They were sent to the house of an old Professor who lived in the heart of the country, ten miles from the nearest railway station and two miles from the nearest post office. He had no wife and he lived in a very large house with a housekeeper called Mrs. Macready and three servants. He himself was a very old man with shaggy white hair which grew over most of his face as well as on his head, and they liked him almost at once; but on the first evening when he came out to meet them at the front door he was so odd-looking that Lucy (who was the youngest) was a little afraid of him, and Edmund (who was the next youngest) wanted to laugh and had to keep on pretending he was blowing his nose to hide it.
STATE TRUE OR FALSE SENTENCES:
- The four children went to live in a house in the country.
- The Professor was very old with brown hair.
- Lucy was the youngest child.
- The Professor lived two miles from the nearest post office.
- The names of the four children are Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Betty.
- This story is about four children’s trip to Paris.
TEXT 3. WHAT IS HALLOWEEN?
Halloween was first celebrated many centuries ago in Ireland and Scotland by Celtic priests called Druids. They observed the end of autumn and the beginning of winter. The Druids thought that Halloween was the night when the witches came out. As they were afraid of witches they put food and small gifts near the doors of their houses for the witches.
It is considered that Halloween was brought to America by the immigrants from Ireland and Scotland. In the 19th century they celebrated Halloween according to their old traditions (the integral part of the festival was a lantern made of a pumpkin with holes in the forms of eyes, and nose and a mouth). Nowadays people hold parades on Halloween. On the 31st of October they dress as witches, demons, ghosts and the like, with large ‘pumpkins’ in their hands, take part in the festival that lasts till early morning.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT VARIANT:
1. Halloween was first celebrated A) in the 19th century B) many years ago
C) many centuries ago D) two centuries ago
2. It was first celebrated A) at the end of autumn B) at the end of winter
C) in the middle of autumn D) in the middle of winter
3. The Druids placed small gifts for A) children B) witches C) neighbours D) guests
4. Halloween was brought A) to Ireland from Scotland B) to Scotland from America
C) to America from Ireland D) to Ireland from America
5. In the 19th c. Americans A) didn’t celebrate Halloween B) didn’t have Halloween
C) celebrated according to the new rules D) celebrated according to the old customs
6. The integral of the festival was A) a lantern made of cabbage B) a melon with holes
C) a cabbage with holes D) a lantern made of pumpkin.
7. On the 31st of October people are dressed as A) good spirits B) pumpkins
C) evil spirits D) animals
