Олімпіада

National Ukrainian Olympiad

Reading Comprehension Test

TEXT 1: From “Against Joie de Vivre”, Ploughshares, Phillip Lopate, 1986

I am invited periodically to dinner parties and brunches — and I go, because I like to be with people and oblige them, even if I secretly cannot share their optimism about these events. I go, not believing that I will have fun, but with the intent of observing people who think a dinner party a good time. I eat their fancy food, drink the wine, make my share of entertaining conversation, and often leave having had a pleasant evening. Which does not prevent me from anticipating the next invitation with the same bleak lack of hope. To put it in a nutshell, I am an ingrate.

Although I have traveled a long way from my proletarian origins and, like a perfect little bourgeois, talk, dress, act and spend money, I hold onto my poor-boy's outrage at the "decadence" (meaning, dull entertainment style) of the middle and upper-middle classes; or, like a model Soviet moviegoer watching scenes of pre-revolutionary capitalists gorging caviar, I am appalled, but I dig in with the rest.

Perhaps my uneasiness with dinner parties comes from the simple fact that not a single dinner party was given by my solitudinous parents the whole time I was growing up, and I had to wait until my late twenties before learning the ritual. A spy in the enemy camp, I have made myself a patient observer of strange customs. For the benefit of other late starting social climbers, this is what I have observed:

As everyone should know, the ritual of the dinner party begins away from the table. Usually in the living room, hors d'oeuvres and walnuts are set out, to start the digestive juices flowing. Here introductions between strangers are also made. Most dinner parties contain at least a few guests who have been unknown to each other before that evening, but whom the host and/or hostess envision would enjoy meeting. These novel pairings and their interactions add spice to the post-mortem: who got along with whom? The lack of prior acquaintanceship also ensures that the guests will have to rely on and go through the only people known to everyone, the host and hostess, whose absorption of this helplessly dependent attention is one of the main reasons for throwing dinner parties.

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS BOOKLET.

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

The author dislikes attending dinner parties, but looks forward to receiving invitations to them.

1.       According to the text, dinner parties exist so that the host and the hostess can enjoy being the center of attention.

2.      The author grew up as a member of the working class.

3.      The author’s parents were gregarious.

4.      The guests at dinner parties are all familiar with one another.

5.      The author is comfortable with attending dinner parties because he attended many in his childhood.

6.      The author sees himself as an outsider, in regards to the ritual of dinner parties.

7.      The purpose of going to dinner parties is to study the guests.

8.      “To dig in” means “to enthusiastically begin eating”

9.      The author is not judgmental about the way people act at dinner parties.

TEXT 2: From “The Code of the Woosters”, Chapter 1, P.G. Wodehouse, 1938

No premonition of an impending doom, however, cast a cloud on my serenity as I buzzed in. I was looking forward with bright anticipation to the coming reunion with this Dahlia-she, as I may have mentioned before, being my good and deserving aunt, not to be confused with Aunt Agatha, who eats broken bottles and wears barbed wire next to the skin. Apart from the mere intellectual pleasure of chewing the fat with her, there was the glittering prospect that I might be able to cadge an invitation to lunch. And owing to the outstanding virtuosity of Anatole, her French cook, the browsing at her trough is always of a nature to lure the gourmet.

The door of the morning room was open as I went through the hall, and I caught a glimpse of Uncle Tom messing about with his collection of old silver.  For a moment I toyed with the idea of pausing to pip-pip and enquire after his indigestion, a malady to which he is extremely subject, but wiser counsels prevailed.  This uncle is a bird who, sighting a nephew, is apt to buttonhole him and become a bit informative on the subject of sconces and foliation, not to mention scrolls, ribbon wreaths in high relief and gadroon borders, and it seemed to that silence was best. I whizzed by, accordingly, with sealed lips, and headed for the library, where I had been informed that Aunt Dahlia was at the moment roosting.

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS BOOKLET.

Questions 11 through 15 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)

1    11.  The narrator is:

A.  Scared.

B.  Excited.

C.  Ambivalent.

D.  Worried.

12. The phrase “chewing the fat” means:

A.  Having a meal with a friend.

B.  Working on a project.

C.  Going on a diet.

D.  Conversing informally.

13. The phrase “browsing at her trough”

means:

A. Eating at her table

B. Reading in her library

C. Working on her farm

D. Helping in her kitchen

14.  The narrator does NOT:

A.    Look forward to visiting Aunt Dahlia.

B.  Ask after Uncle Tom’s state of health.

C.  Want to have lunch at Aunt Dahlia’s house.

D.  Enjoy Anatole’s cooking.

15. The phrase“toyed with the idea” means:

A.  Creating a plan.

B.  Playing a trick on someone.

C.  Considered something

D. Determined a solution

TEXT 3: Grabbing Water from Future Generations

Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/12/121218-grabbing-water-from-future-generations/

Suresh Ponnusami sat back on his porch by the road south of the Indian textile town of Tirupur. He was not rich, but for the owner of a two-acre farm in the backwoods of a developing country he was doing rather well. He had a TV, a car, and a maid to bring him drinks and ensure his traditional white Indian robes were freshly laundered every morning.

The source of his wealth, he said, was a large water reservoir beside his house. And as we chatted, a tanker drew up on the road. The driver dropped a large pipe from his vehicle into the reservoir and began sucking up the contents.

Ponnusami explained: "I no longer grow crops, I farm water. The tankers come about ten times a day. I don't have to do anything except keep my reservoir full." To do that, he had drilled boreholes deep into the rocks beneath his fields, and inserted pumps that brought water to the surface 24 hours a day. He sold every tanker load for about four dollars. "It's a good living, and it's risk-free," he said. "While the water lasts."

A neighbor told me she does the same thing. Water mining was the local industry. But, she said, "every day the water is reducing. We drilled two new boreholes a few weeks ago and one has already failed."

Surely this is madness, I suggested. Why not go back to real farming before the wells run dry? "If everybody did that, it would be well and good," she agreed. "But they don't. We are all trying to make as much money as we can before the water runs out."

Ponnusami and his neighbors were selling water to dyeing and bleaching factories in Tirupur. The factories once got their water from a giant reservoir on southern India's biggest river, the Kaveri. But the Kaveri was now being pumped dry by farmers and industry farther upstream. The reservoir was nearly empty most of the year. So the factories had taken to buying up underground water from local farmers.

It is a trade that is growing all over India—and all over the world.

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Questions 16 through 20 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)

 16.  Based on the article, the water farmers could be best described as:

A) Altruistic.

B) Myopic.

C) Forward-thinking.

D) Superfluous.

 17.  What does Suresh Ponnusami’s neighbor think of water mining?

A) She thinks it is good for the community.

B) She thinks it would be better if the community went back to farming crops.

C) She thinks farming crops was a useless way to make money.

D) She thinks the money from water mining is irrelevant and everyone should farm crops.

 18.  Why won’t people revert to farming the traditional things like crops, and using the water on their land to water them?

A) Because there is too much easy money to be made farming water.

B) Because their neighbors would do it too.

C) Because the water is an easily replenished resource.

D) Because there is no demand for crops to be farmed.

 19.  The mention of the Kaveri serves what purpose in this text?

A) To illustrate the conflict between water farmers and crop farmers

B) To form a contrast between two situations with differing consequences

C) To imply future opportunities in the country

D) To suggest impending calamity for the country

 20.  How does water farming relate to the title of the text?

A) Water farmers are stealing water so that future generations will not survive.

B) Water farmers are grabbing the profits now, while there are profits to be made, without

considering what the sale of this water will do to the people of the future.

C) Water farmers are greedy and only want what is best for their future grandchildren.

D) Governments should regulate the amount of water farmed.

TEXT 4: From “No Obstacles” by Alec Wilkinson, newyorker.com, April 2007

Source: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/04/16/070416fa_fact_wilkinson

Parkour, a made-up word, cousin to the French parcours, which means “route,” is a quasi-commando system of leaps, vaults, rolls, and landings designed to help a person avoid or surmount whatever lies in his path—a vocabulary, that is, to be employed in finding one’s way among obstacles. Parkour goes over walls, not around them; it takes the stair rail, not the stairs. Spread mainly by videos on the Internet, it has been embraced in Europe and the United States by thrill seekers and martial-arts adepts, who regard it as part extreme sport—its founder would like to see it included in the Olympics—and part grueling meditative pursuit. Movies like its daredevil qualities. A bracing parkour chase begins “Casino Royale,” the recent James Bond movie. It includes jumps from the boom of one tower crane to that of another, but parkour’s customary obstacles are walls, stairwells, fences, railings, and gaps between roofs—it is an urban rather than a pastoral pursuit. The movements are performed at a dead run. The more efficient and fluid the path they define, and the more difficult and harrowing the terrain they cross, the more elegant the performance is considered by the discipline’s practitioners.

Parkour was created in Lisses, a medium prosperous suburb of Paris, in the early nineteen-nineties, by a reserved and restless teen-age boy named David Belle. His father, Raymond, who died in 1999, was an acrobat and a hero fireman. In 1969, he appeared in newspaper photographs hanging from a cable attached to a helicopter above Notre Dame. The night before, someone had hung a Vietcong flag on the cathedral’s tower. Raymond was lowered like a spider on a thread, and he grabbed the flag. David Belle is now thirty-three. He has an older brother, Jeff, who is also a fireman; they have the same father but different mothers. (A third brother died a few years ago, of an overdose.) David was raised by his mother’s father. On the few occasions when he tried to live with Raymond, their temperaments clashed. David’s grandfather told him stories about Raymond that revolved around his exploits—“Spider-Man stories and Tarzan stories,” David says—and left him wishing to emulate him. He wanted to be Spider-Man when he grew up.

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Questions 21 through 25 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)

21. Which of the following would not be used in parkour:

A. Bannister

B. Balancing bar

C. Balcony

D. Gutter

  22.   According to the text, where is parkour popular?

A. Amsterdam

B. Shang Hai

C. Johannesburg

D. Toronto

 23.  The goal of parkour, according to Wilkinson, is:

A. To create entertaining videos on the Internet

B. To promote physical fitness

C. To surmount everyday obstacles

D. To fight crime.

24.  In which of these places are you most likely to see parkour?

A. A field.

B. A national park.

C. An apartment building

D. An equestrian competition

  25.  You could replace the phrase “dead run” with:

A. Death march

B. Jog

C. Measured pace

D. Sprint

TEXT 5: From “Babies Recognize Mother Tongue From Birth” by Breanna Draxler, Discover Magazine, 2013.

Infants are known for their impressive ability to learn language, which most scientists say kicks in somewhere around the six-month mark. But a new study indicates that language recognition may begin even earlier, while the baby is still in the womb. Using a creative means of measurement, researchers found that babies could already recognize their mother tongue by the time they left their mothers’ bodies.

The researchers tested American and Swedish newborns between seven hours and three days old. Each baby was given a pacifier hooked up to a computer. When the baby sucked on the pacifier, it triggered the computer to produce a vowel sound—sometimes in English and sometimes in Swedish. The vowel sound was repeated until the baby stopped sucking. When the baby resumed sucking, a new vowel sound would start.

The sucking was used as a metric to determine the babies’ interest in each vowel sound. More interest meant more sucks, according to the study soon to be published in Acta Paediatrica. In both countries, babies sucked on the pacifier longer when they heard foreign vowel sounds as compared to those of their mom’s native language. The researchers suggest that this is because the babies already recognize the vowels from their mothers and were keen to learn new ones.

Hearing develops in a baby’s brain at around the 30th week of pregnancy, which leaves the last 10 weeks of gestation for babies to put that newfound ability to work. Baby brains are quick to learn, so a better understanding of these mechanisms may help researchers figure out how to improve the learning process for the rest of us.

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Questions 26 through 30 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)

26.  According to the article, scientists have new evidence that suggests that infants begin to recognize language:

a.       About three months before birth.

b.      About seven hours to three days after birth.

c.       About three months after birth.

d.      About 6 months after birth.

27.  For what purpose were Swedish and American babies most likely chosen for use in the study:

a.       Swedish and American babies learn differently

b.      Swedish and American parents treat their children differently

c.       Swedish and English vowel sounds are different

d.      Swedish and English languages are similar

28.  When hearing a vowel from a foreign language, activity on the pacifier increased for both groups of infants which indicates:

a.       Abhorrence

b.      Fascination

c.       Apathy

d.      Inundation

29.  What does “gestation” most nearly mean?

a.       Deterioration

b.      Activity

c.       The process of hearing

d.      Development

30.  Aside from learning about a baby’s profound ability to rapidly recognize and acquire language, why else is this study important, according to this author?

a.       It’s an effective test of a modern pacifier product.

b.      Studying accelerated learning in infants may shine light on advancing learning for adults.

c.        It illustrates that all infants have the inclination to learn new languages.

d.      It demonstrates that linguistics and cognitive science are linked.

  NATIONAL STUDENTS OLYMPIAD 

  IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Teacher’s Booklet

Listening Comprehension Test

For 11th Form Students

From “The Guinness Book of World Records” http://www.englishforeveryone.org/PDFs/Level_12_Passage_3.pdf 2012

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.

Student’s Booklet

From “The Guinness Book of World Records” http://www.englishforeveryone.org/PDFs/Level_12_Passage_3.pdf

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

The originators of the book were the explorers Norris and Ross McWhirter.

The book was created after people were discussing the world’s fastest bird.

The book was made to produce the Irish beer, Guinness.

The Guinness Book of World Records is the best-selling non-religious copyright title of all time.

The content in the book has changed slightly over time to keep readers interested.

The book started by recording interesting facts about the natural world.

You can now find the Guinness World Records exclusively on physical paper.

The facts produced by the people of the Guinness World Records have become less entertaining and more educational over time.

Material used in the Guinness Book of Records is quantitative.

In the text, the word “incarnation” means “desecration”.

STOP. WAIT FOR THE SECOND READING OF THE TEXT.

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

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.

7 Tips for Learning English Vocabulary

1. Read whenever possible. Whether it is novel or a magazine or something trivial, pay close attention to anything with writing on it. The more you are exposed to words, the more you will learn. Do not skip unfamiliar words: if you don’t know what a word means, look it up and make a note of it.

2. Write down new words. Writing the actual word with the meaning will help you remember it. Keep a diary so that you will have a collection of all your new words that you can easily revise when needed.

3. Vocally practise new words. Have a “word of the day” and use your newly learnt word throughout the day so you will learn to use it in context and not forget it quickly.

4. Visually remembering words is very helpful. Try writing words on small sticky notes and adding them to items around the house so that you will associate new words with their relevant images.

5. Play word games online and look up the meanings of new words as you encounter them. Scrabble is a fun game to play for this purpose.

6. Use new words regularly so that you don’t forget them. Write articles that people will enjoy reading or start a blog that could be about anything.

7. Correspond with an English pen friend. The best way to gain confidence in speaking any language is by talking to a native speaker.

Listening Comprehension Test for 10^th Form Students

From “A Revolution On The Page: Finding Identity In Poetry” by Roya Hakakian, NPR 2012

An immigrant's arrival in America has a distinct physical beginning marked by the landing of one's plane. But there's another arrival, the cultural one, that's incremental, perpetual.

Of these latter sorts of arrivals, the most memorable for me occurred nearly 20 years ago. I was still a new refugee, my heart's gaze fixed upon all that I'd left behind — upon Iran and the beloved language which, to the fledgling poet in me, meant everything at the time.

My encounter with America, from the moment we drove away from the airport and I saw layer after layer of bridge and road piled vast and high, had dwarfed me through and through. The currency of everything I knew or had was of no value in the American bazaar. Everything here was bigger, better or, as displayed on every shampoo bottle, at least 20 percent more.

Except, and this was my sole consolation, for the treasury of poetry I carried in my head. Persian literature with its ancient tradition of verse was how I cured homesickness and soothed the melancholic byproducts of displacement.

         When feelings of insecurity or inadequacy arose, I fought them, knowing that America, however great, could not match my country's peerless poetry.

Rumi, Omar Khayyam, Hafez were no longer simply writers but the pillars of my reconfigured identity. And when has identity ever been reconfigured without a note of superiority? No verse in this towering new land could outdo the love, passion, devotion and yearning, the beauty in the ones I knew.

         I'd rested in that certainty when a poem by Theodore Roethke unsettled me. It was called "My Papa's Waltz."

         It's a short poem, all of four stanzas. The verses were spare and simple as if the urgency of their meaning makes the use of every trope and device a hindrance. It is the absence of the ornate that lets the presence of the tragedy at the core of the poem shine so brilliantly.

The effect of a great work of literature is often to unhinge its reader, to strip her of all previously cherished beliefs down to discomfiting nakedness. Roethke's "Waltz" did just that. It abruptly unveiled to me everything that centuries of Persian poetry had not — to shift the focus from the outward life to the life at home. To portray the father, the most revered figure in the culture I knew, in a negative light — in essence, to question his credibility and authority. Roethke had pulled the pedestal from beneath the taboo.

         To me, someone whose most formative adolescent experience had been the Iranian revolution of 1979, what Roethke had done was to conduct a revolution on the page. Upend, truly end, the ubiquity, the sanctity of the household "king." Something that generations of Persian poets, who had elegantly written against the tyranny of political rulers, had never challenged.

         Once, I arrived in America on an airplane. Later, I arrived deeper yet on the wings of Roethke's verse. Here, no one was too sacred to be spared critical examination. Suddenly I had access to a whole new reservoir of writing material, and I knew freedom in its most tangible and consequential way.

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

1.     According to the author, an immigrant’s physical arrival to a new country is more permanent and lasting than his or her cultural arrival.

2.     By “fledgling poet” the author means “immigrant poet.”

3.     The author used Persian poetry to comfort herself when she was homesick.

4.     The author felt overwhelmed and insignificant when she first came to America.

5.     The author implies that Roethke’s poem is powerful because it is simple in form.

6.     Roethke’s poem challenged the author’s views of what an effective poem can be.

7.     The author says that a great work of literature should unsettle the reader and threaten the readers’ preconceptions.

8.     The author’s Persian poets focused more on home life than on the critique of government.

9.     As it is used in the passage, the phrase “melancholic byproducts of displacement” could be rephrased as “excitement from living in a new place.”

10.                       The subject of Roethke’s poem is a political revolution.

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

11. When the author first came to America, she felt all of these emotions EXCEPT:

         A. Insecurity.

         B. Displacement.

         C. Awe.

         D. Euphoria.

12. A good synonym for the word “sanctity”, as it is used in the phrase “sanctity of the household king”, would be:

         A. Holiness. 

         B. Infallibility. 

         C. Conservatism.

         D. Abdication.

13. The author questions whether identity has ever “been reconfigured without a note of_______”

         A. Superiority.

         B. Nostalgia.

         C. Regret.

         D. Uncertainty.

14. Roethke’s poem was different from the author’s Persian poetry because:

         A. It was simpler.

         B. It challenged the author’s traditional beliefs.

         C. It was focused more on the personal rather than the public.

         D. All of the above.

15. The author thought that at the center of Roethke’s poem was:

         A. Serenity.

         B. Tragedy.

         C. Hope.

         D. Confidence.

16. The novelty in Roethke’s poetry for the narrator was:

         A. Questioning the authority of government.

         B. Mocking the sanctity of marriage.

         C. Promoting the equality of men and women.

         D. None of the above.

17. Why did Roethke’s poem make the author feel free?

         A. It destroyed gender barriers.

         B. It made the author realize that no one is above criticism.

         C. It challenged the author’s traditional views on religion.

         D. It brought the author closer to nature.

18. The author felt that the meaning of Roethke’s poem was particularly poignant because:

         A. The language was simple and without embellishments.

         B. The author identified with Roethke’s ideas on flying.

         C. The poem was ornate and beautifully scripted.

         D. The author had always loved the style of writing Roethke used.

19. What life-changing event does the author compare to reading Roethke’s poem?

         A. The genocide in Darfur

         B. The death of Sodom Hussein

         C. The author’s first few days in America

         D. The Iranian Revolution

20. Did Roethke’s poem affect the author’s physical and/or cultural arrival in America?

         A. Physical

         B. Cultural

         C. A and B

         D. Neither A nor B

Speaking Comprehension Test

National Ukrainian Olympiad

Form 10

Завдання ІІI етапу

Всеукраїнської учнівської олімпіади з англійської мови

  1.      People attend college or university for many different reasons (for example, new experiences, career preparation, and increased knowledge). Why do you think people attend college or university? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

2.      Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are the best teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

3.      A company has announced that it wishes to build a large factory near your community. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this new influence on your community. Do you support or oppose the factory? Explain your position.

4.      If you could change one important thing about your hometown, what would you change? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.

5.      Many people visit museums when they travel to new places. Why do you think people visit museums? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

6.      In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students. Do you think this is a good idea? Support your opinion by using specific reasons and details.

7.      It has recently been announced that a new movie theater may be built in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

8.      Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television, newspapers, magazines, and other media pay too much attention to the personal lives of famous people such as public figures and celebrities. Use specific reasons and details to explain your opinion.

9.      Some people believe that the Earth is being damaged) by human activity. Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to live. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

10. Choose one of the following transportation vehicles and explain why you think it has changed people’s lives. (E.g. automobiles, bicycles, airplanes). Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

11. Learning about the past has no value for those of us living in the present. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

12. People work because they need money to live. What are some other reasons that people work? Discuss one or more of these reasons. Use specific examples and details to support your answer.

13. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? One should never judge a person by external appearances. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

14. Some movies are serious, designed to make the audience think. Other movies are designed primarily to amuse and entertain. Which type of movie do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

15. What do you want most in a friend — someone who is intelligent, or someone who has a sense of humor, or someone who is reliable? Which one of these characteristics is most important to you? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your choice.

16. Some people say that computers have made life easier and more convenient. Other people say that computers have made life more complex and stressful. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

17. If you were asked to send one thing representing your country to an international exhibition, what would you choose? Why? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.

18. Some people choose friends who are different from themselves. Others choose friends who are similar to themselves. Compare the advantages of having friends who are different from you with the advantages of having friends who are similar to you. Which kind of friend do you prefer for yourself? Why?

19. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? There is nothing that young people can teach older people. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

20. A gift (such as a camera, a soccer ball, or an animal) can contribute to a child's development. What gift would you give to help a child develop? Why? Use reasons and specific examples to support your choice.

21. Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things we really do not need. Others say that advertisements tell us about new products that may improve our lives. Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

22. Many parts of the world are losing important natural resources, such as forests, animals, or clean water. Choose one resource that is disappearing and explain why it needs to be saved. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

23. When famous people such as actors, athletes and rock stars give their opinions, many people listen. Do you think we should pay attention to these opinions? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

24. People listen to music for different reasons and at different times. Why is music important to many people? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

25. Films can tell us a lot about the country where they were made. What have you learned about a country from watching its movies? Use specific examples and details to support your response.

TEXT 1: From 

“Important Questions Answered: Is Belgium Still the Chocolate Capital of the World?”

By: Laura Beck, Jezebel, 2012

The BBC reports that countries such as Australia and Japan are rising up through the chocosphere. In fact, the next World Chocolate Masters is happening in Paris in November 2013 and entrants are coming from 20 different countries. Also, how do we all secure tickets to this immediately? My inner Augustus Gloop is literally bursting at the seams with excitement.

As far as the Belgian's packing up their candy thermometers and going back to a time without chocolate, Veerle de Pooter, a magazine writer who has also worked as a chef for the country's federal government, says "Just because one [non-Belgian] chef happens to win a few prizes, sponsored by a chocolate brand, I don't think Belgian chocolatiers should start to quake in their boots." Since only Germany sells more chocolate abroad, I think de Pooter is probably right.

Of course, while Belgium is still Queen de Chocolat, their association with chocolate has terrible roots — cocoa was first shipped from the Congo, one of their African colonies. Not to be a super downer, but as we all know, chocolate can come from some incredibly human-rights-violating sources. When I binge on the good stuff, I stick to the Food Empowerment Project's list of fair-trade chocolatiers that don't fund child slavery. Well, this story took a turn for the worse.

Point is, nobody is the boss when it comes to chocolate, but everyone else is gonna have to really pop-off to officially take the chocolate crown from Belgium. Personally, I hope it's somewhere on the continents of Africa or South America because, you know, that's where the heart of the delicious product comes from.

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS BOOKLET.

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

1.   The World Chocolate Masters is a competition in which chocolatiers compete for international prestige.

2.     This year the World Chocolate Masters will take place in France.

3.     Veerle de Pooter is a French writer and chef.

4.  de Pooter is worried that Belgium is losing its place in the chocolate-making world.

5.     Germany sells the most chocolate internationally.

6.     The cocoa that Belgium uses to make its chocolate comes from South America.

7.     The cocoa used to make chocolate can be controversial because of how the laborers in those countries are treated.

8.     The Food Empowerment Project condemns chocolatiers that don’t fund child slavery.

9.     The author of this article thinks that other countries will have to try very hard to surpass Belgium in its chocolate-making expertise.

10. The author hopes that Mexico wins the World Chocolate Masters competition this year.

TEXT 2: “The Science and Art of Listening”, The New York Times, Seth S. Horowitz, 2012

Here’s a trick question. What do you hear right now? If your home is like mine, you hear the humming sound of a printer, the low throbbing of traffic from the nearby highway and the clatter of plastic followed by the muffled impact of paws landing on linoleum — meaning that the cat has once again tried to open the catnip container atop the fridge and succeeded only in knocking it to the kitchen floor.

         The slight trick in the question is that, by asking you what you were hearing, I prompted your brain to take control of the sensory experience — and made you listen rather than just hear. That, in effect, is what happens when an event jumps out of the background enough to be perceived consciously rather than just being part of your auditory surroundings. The difference between the sense of hearing and the skill of listening is attention.

 Hearing is a vastly underrated sense. We tend to think of the world as a place that we see, interacting with things and people based on how they look. Studies have shown that conscious thought takes place at about the same rate as visual recognition, requiring a significant fraction of a second per event. But hearing is a quantitatively faster sense. While it might take you a full second to notice something out of the corner of your eye, turn your head toward it, recognize it and respond to it, the same reaction to a new or sudden sound happens at least 10 times as fast.

This is because hearing has evolved as our alarm system — it operates out of line of sight and works even while you are asleep. And because there is no place in the universe that is totally silent, your auditory system has evolved a complex and automatic “volume control,” fine-tuned by development and experience, to keep most sounds off your cognitive radar unless they might be of use as a signal that something dangerous or wonderful is somewhere within the kilometer or so that your ears can detect.

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS BOOKLET.

Questions 11 through 15 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)

11.  What does the phrase “hearing has evolved as our alarm system” imply?

A.  Hearing can wake us in the morning so we aren’t late to work or school.

B.  Hearing allows us to know if there is a burglar in our homes, even if we are not there.

C.  Hearing serves to warn humans of danger.

D.  Early in human history, humans could not hear well and, as a result, were more relaxed.

12.                       Which of the following words does NOT

describe a type of sound?

A.  Throbbing

B.  Humming

C.  Landing

D.  Clatter

13.    You pay more attention to sounds when

you are:

A.  Hearing.

B.  Listening.

C.  Thinking.

D.  Watching

14.  The word “underrated” means:

A. Not often used.

B. Not appreciated.

C. Not valuable.

D. Not interesting

15. People can hear sounds:

A.  Only when they pay attention.

B.  Only when there is danger.

C.  Only when they are awake.

D.  Even when they are asleep.

TEXT 3: from “Philadelphia”

Source: http://www.englishforeveryone.org/PDFs/Level_8_Passage_3.pdf

Philadelphia is a city known for many things. It is where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, and it was also the first capital of the United States. But one fact about Philadelphia is not so well-known: it is home to nearly 3,000 murals painted on the sides of homes and buildings around the city. In fact, it is said that Philadelphia has more murals than any other city in the world, with the exception of Rome. How did this come to be?

More than 20 years ago, a New Jersey artist named Jane Golden started a program pairing troubled youth with artists to paint murals on a few buildings around the city. From this small project, something magical happened. The young people involved helped to create magnificent pieces of art, but there were other, perhaps more important benefits. The young people learned to collaborate and get along with many different kinds of people during the various steps required to paint and design a mural. They learned to be responsible, because they needed to follow a schedule to make sure the murals were completed. They also learned to take pride in their community. It is hard for any resident to see the spectacular designs and not feel proud to be a part of Philadelphia.

Take a walk around some of the poorest neighborhoods in Philadelphia, neighborhoods full of broken windows and littered front steps, and you will find beautiful works of art on the sides and fronts of buildings. Of course the murals are not just in poor neighborhoods, but more affluent ones as well. Special buses take tourists to different parts of the city to see the various murals, which range from huge portraits of historical heroes, to cityscapes, to scenes depicting the diverse ethnic groups that call Philadelphia home. As a result of its success, the mural program has now become the nation’s largest public art program and a model for other cities throughout the country seeking to help troubled youth.

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Questions 16 through 20 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)

16.     In the passage, “collaborate” means:

A. To work alone.

B. To work hard.

C. To be creative.

D. To work together.

17.    What was the most important thing this project taught the participants?

A. Painting skills and techniques

B. Responsibility and pride in the city

C. Key historical events and figures

D. The geography of Philadelphia

18.   What is the nationwide impact of this program?

A. There are similar programs in other countries.

B. There are similar programs in other cities.

C. Crime rates are decreasing.

D. There is no nationwide impact.

19.   What is the main idea of the passage?

A. An art program that helps troubled youth

B. Encouraging youth to participate in community service

C. Improving Philadelphia’s tourist industry

D. Inexpensive city beautification

20.   Why did the author describe the “broken steps and littered front steps”?

A. To discourage people from visiting Philadelphia

B. To create a sense of contrast between Rome and Philadelphia

C. To illustrate the contrast of the poorer and wealthier neighborhoods

D. To illustrate the contrast between the beautiful mural and its surrounding

TEXT 4: From “On the Open Road” by Ralph Waldo Trine

Source: http://www.livinglifefully.com/flo/flobeontheopenroad.htm

Our complex modern life, especially in our larger centers, gets us running so many times into grooves that we are prone to miss the all-around, completer life.  We are led at times almost to forget that the stars come nightly to the sky, or even that there is a sky; that there are hedgerows and groves where the birds are always singing and where we can lie on our backs and watch the treetops swaying above us and the clouds floating by an hour or hours at a time; where one can live with his or her soul or, as Whitman has put it, where one can loaf and invite one's soul.

We need changes from the duties and the cares of our accustomed everyday life.  They are necessary for healthy, normal living.  We need occasionally to be away from our friends, our relatives, from the members of our immediate households.  Such changes are good for us; they are good for them.  We appreciate them better, they us, when we are away from them for a period, or they from us.

We need these changes occasionally in order to find new relations.  By such changes there come to our minds more clearly the better qualities of those with whom we are in constant association; we lose sight of the little frictions and irritations that arise; we see how we can be more considerate, appreciative, kind.

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Questions 21 through 25 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)

21.          The phrase “loaf and invite one’s soul” means:

A.   Relax and get to know yourself.

B.   Allow yourself to be lazy.

C.   Invite your soul over.

D.   Lie around and talk to others.

22.          According to the text, which of these could be an example of “the little frictions and irritations that arise?”

A.   Looking at the stars at night

B.   Taking an exam at school

C.   Disputes at home

D.   Barking dogs

23.      Which statement best summarizes the first paragraph?

A.   People often forget that the stars come out at night, and there are birds always singing.

B.   Our busy lives lead us to forget about the small things and ourselves.

C.   We sometimes forget we have a soul.

D.   Our complex lives are not always as healthy and fulfilling as we think they are.

24.     Which statement best summarizes the second paragraph?

A.   Change helps us to forget what irritates us.

B.   Change helps us find new friends.

C.   We need change to stay healthy and happy.

D.   We need change occasionally to remind us what we appreciate in our everyday lives.

25.                       Which statement best summarizes the text?

A.   We need changes from the duties and the cares of our accustomed everyday life.

B.   We need to learn to be more considerate, appreciative, and kind.

C.    By living every day the same we miss everyday things and the opportunity for change.

D.   We need to learn to meet new people and listen to ourselves.

TEXT 5: “Second Languages Slow Brain Decline”

Source: http://news.discovery.com/human/bilingualism-protects-brain-into-old-age-130108.html

         A growing number of studies in recent years have pointed to the benefits of bilingualism. There is research to suggest, for example, that people who speak multiple languages are better at other kinds of multi-tasking, too, with the greatest differences showing up youth and in old age. The idea is that, by learning to switch easily between languages, the brain becomes skilled at taking control over the tasks it’s working on at any given moment and at suppressing information it doesn’t need. This sort of cognitive flexibility is important in many areas of life, but it tends to decline with age.

To figure out how exactly bilingualism might boost brain functioning, Gold and colleagues put 80 people in an MRI machine that showed patterns of oxygen flow in their brains as they performed a basic task: While looking at a circle or square that was red or blue, participants pressed a button in response to a question about the object’s shape or color. Participants were split equally between bilinguals and single-language speakers. Half were young adults. The other half were in their 60s.

At first, people answered questions in clusters about an object's shape or its color. When the category switched unpredictably between shape and color, though, it took people longer to react. And, as in previous studies that used this kind of protocol, older people slowed the most. But when the researchers compared the performance of the seniors in the experiment, they found that older people who spoke two languages fluently were faster than their only-English speaking peers at switching from one category to another.

In the brains of the older bilinguals, there was also less activity in the prefontal cortex and anterior cingular cortex -- two areas involved in controlling what the brain is doing, not just regarding language but in general. In other words, the older bilingual brain appears to function more efficiently than the older monolingual brain -- using less energy to complete the same kinds of brain processing tasks. When it came to speed, performance for older bilinguals fell in between that of younger bilinguals and older monolinguals. And the same was true for brain activity, suggesting that speaking two languages doesn’t stop aging-related declines but might help slow down the process.

 Speaking Comprehension Test

        National Ukrainian Olympiad

Form 11

1. Many people believe that, as people rely more and more on technology to solve problems they become less and less able to think for themselves.  Such people believe technology and the easy knowledge that it offers has replaced critical and original thought.

- Do you agree with this belief?  Use examples to support your answer.

- How are people relying on technology to solve their problems?

- Is it always bad for people to rely on technology to solve their problems?  Why or why not?

2. Even if you don’t realize it, you use body language in addition to words when communicating with people.

- How does body language aid communication and why is it important?

- What actions or gestures may be perceived as threatening? As friendly? Which are to be generally avoided?

- How can you misinterpret someone’s body language? Analyze the potential effects of misunderstanding someone’s body language using examples.

3. If you could write one law that would be enacted immediately, what would it be?

- Explain the primary aim of your law and why it is important.

- How is your law better, or an improvement upon, existing laws?

- Predict the outcome or effect on society if this law were to be enacted.

4. Many people around the world think that “volunteer work” is a valuable thing, but some people think it is a waste of time.

- Critique the concept of “volunteer work” and give your opinion.

- What are the advantages and disadvantages of “volunteer work” for a community?

- Why you think most people volunteer? What motivates them?

5. A Yiddish proverb says: “A half-truth is a whole lie.”

- Explain the meaning of this proverb and whether or not you agree.

- Many people distinguish between a true lie and a white lie; they say it is okay to tell a white lie. Do you agree?

- Construct a scenario to illustrate if and when it is appropriate to tell a lie.

6. Bullying has always been a problem in schools, but now with this problem is following children home through acts of cyber-bullying, or harassment that takes place on the Internet. It deeply affects teens and can lead to serious consequences.

- In your opinion, who is responsible for addressing the issue of cyber-bullying, parents or schools? If so, in what ways can they do this?

- Explain some ways that students can more safely communicate through the Internet.

- How can a community combat this phenomenon?

7.  Alexander the Great said “I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.” Think about your relationship with your teachers.

- Identify the most important teacher in your life and explain the characteristics which made this person an excellent teacher.

- Use examples to illustrate a time when a teacher challenged you and positively impacted your growth.

- Predict how your life may be different had this teacher not been a part of your life.

8.   The British poet John Donne once said that, “No man is an island.”

- Explain the meaning of this quote.

- Analyze the importance of human relationships. Is it possible to live without them?  Why, in your opinion, do some people require more relationships than others?

- Relate this to your personal experience; describe a time when you impacted, or were impacted, by another person and it changed your life.

9. Certain subjects are generally avoided by teachers and students in the school setting.

- Should students and teachers be able to speak freely on all topics of conversation?

- Should there be certain boundaries between teachers and their students?

- What are some positive and negative aspects of the formal student/teacher relationship? Do you believe that if a teacher is less formal, students will lose respect for that teacher?

10. Is a good education a right or a privilege?

- Why do you think so?

- What is a right? What is a privilege?

- Are only certain people entitled to these things, or are they for everyone?

11. Every generation of people develop different characteristics due to the influence of different events, technologies, and people in their lifetimes.

- Summarize events that you believe define your generation and why.

- Compare your generation to older generations.

- What are some potential misunderstandings?

12. On New Year’s Eve, many people reflect on what happened in the past year and look forward to the new one.

- What will you remember about 2012?

- Is there anything you wish you could have changed in 2012?

- What do you want to accomplish in 2013?

13. Across the world, public places such as libraries and museums are now smoke-free environments, and restaurants are now required to have separate smoking and non-smoking sections. Some smoke-free advocates are now campaigning to ban smoking in all public places.

- Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not?

- To what degree is it acceptable if one person’s freedom infringes on another person’s rights?

- Are certain rights inalienable? What about privileges?

14. In today’s world, taking care of your body has become very important as more and more people choose to exercise regularly, refrain from smoking and are very careful about the types of food they put in their body. Becoming a vegetarian is an increasingly popular lifestyle decision all over the world.

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

- What is the effect of consuming meat on the environment?

- What are the challenges of being a vegetarian in Ukraine? How do Ukrainians typically view vegetarians?

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

- When collaborating with others, how does success depend on teamwork?

- How would one’s strategy for cooperation change from dealing with a difficult teacher or director to a difficult classmate?

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

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

- How are the elderly regarded in Ukrainian culture?

- What are the advantages and disadvantages of a society that places more value on youth?

17. Some people believe it is important to share the wisdom of age with younger generations so that they can avoid making the same mistakes. What are some life lessons that have been passed down to you from your grandparents or older family members?

- Do you believe these lessons are important?  Why?

- What traditions have been passed on to you?

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

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

- Why would society look down on your past actions?

- How would you make amends?

- Do you believe it is possible to find redemption or do we always live with the consequences of our actions in the past?

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

- What examples can you give to explain this?

- Is it important to live in a place where there is diversity?

- How does living in a society influence a person’s worldview?

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

- How can art reflect our personal ideals?

- Do you think we can learn from different forms of art?

- How does art communicate the values of a culture?  Give an example

Завдання ІІI етапу

Всеукраїнської учнівської олімпіади з англійської мови

                                                         Form 11

1.It has been said, "Not everything that is learned is contained in books." Compare and contrast knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books. In your opinion, which source is more important? Why? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.

2."When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with success." Do you agree or disagree with the quotation above? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.

3.Some people think that they can learn better by themselves than with a teacher. Others think that it is always better to have a teacher. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons to explain your answer.

4.Should governments spend more money on improving roads and highways, or should governments spend more money on improving public transportation (buses, trains, subways)? Why? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

5. In general, people are living longer now. Discuss the causes of this phenomenon. Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

6. We all work or will work in our jobs with many different kinds of people. In your opinion, what are some important characteristics of a co-worker (someone you work closely with)? Use reasons and specific examples to explain why these characteristics are important.

7.Some people spend their entire lives in one place. Others move a number of times throughout their lives, looking for a better job, house, community or even climate. Which do you prefer: staying in one place or moving in search of another place? Use reasons and specific examples to support your opinion.

8.Do you agree or disagree that progress is always good? Do you think our lives have been improved by technologies? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

9.Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? With the help of technology; students nowadays can learn more information and learn it more quickly. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

10.What is a very important skill a person should learn in order to be successful in the world today? Choose one skill and use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

11.What are the important qualities of a good son or daughter? Have these qualities changed or remained the same over time in your culture? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

12.People work because they need money to live. What are some other reasons that people work? Discuss one or more of these reasons. Use specific examples and details to support your answer.

13.Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A person should never make an important decision alone. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

14.What do you want most in a friend — someone who is intelligent, or someone who has a sense of humor, or someone who is reliable? Which one of these characteristics is most important to you? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your choice.

15. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Advertising can tell you a lot about a country. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

16.Some people prefer to live in places that have the same weather or climate all year long. Others like to live in areas where the weather changes several times a year. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

17.People have different ways of escaping the stress and difficulties of modern life. Some read; some exercise; others work in their gardens. What do you think are the best ways of reducing stress? Use specific details and examples in your answer.

18. It is generally agreed that society benefits from the work of its members. Compare the contributions of artists to society with the contributions of scientists to society. Which type of contribution do you think is valued more by your society? Give specific reasons to support your answer.

19. Some people trust their first impressions about a person’s character because they believe these judgments are generally correct. Other people do not judge a person s character quickly because they believe first impressions are often wrong. Compare these two attitudes. Which attitude do you agree with? Support your choice with specific examples.

20.Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A person’s childhood years (the time from birth to twelve years of age) are the most important years of a person’s life. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

21. Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things we really do not need. Others say that advertisements tell us about new products that may improve our lives. Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

22. When famous people such as actors, athletes and rock stars give their opinions, many people listen. Do you think we should pay attention to these opinions? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

23. Decisions can be made quickly, or they can be made after careful thought. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The decisions that people make quickly are always wrong. Use reasons and specific examples to support your opinion.

24. When people move to other country, some of them decide to follow the customs of the new country. Others prefer to keep their own customs. Compare these two choices. Which one do you prefer? Support your answer with specific details.

25.Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face communication is better than other types of communication, such as letters, email, or telephone calls. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS BOOKLET.

Questions 26 through 30 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D)

2       26.According to the text, all of these are benefits of bilingualism EXCEPT:

A. You become better at multi-tasking.

B. Your brain uses energy more efficiently

C. The decline of cognitive aging slows down

D. Your memory is improved

 27.What is the function of an MRI machine in the context of this experiment?

A. To record how performing tasks affects oxygen flow to the brain.

B. To show pictures of circles and squares in certain colors representing brain activity.

C. To improve brain function by allowing more oxygen to the brain.

D. To record patterns of electrical activity in the brain.

28.  Why is cognitive flexibility important?

A. It helps us to remember information easier.

B. It helps us perform tasks faster and more efficiently.

C. It helps us differentiate between right and wrong.

D. It helps us be more creative in solving problems.

29.  What are the implications of this study for future generations?

A. The study implies that second languages increase brain activity.

B. The study implies that second languages stop age-related brain decline.

C. The study implies that second languages slow age-related brain decline.

D. There are no implications from this study.

30. What is true about bilingual brains?

A. There was less activity in the two areas of the brain involved in controlling what the brain is doing.  

B. Speaking two languages stops aging related decline. 

C. The monolingual brain uses less energy than the bilingual brain to complete the same tasks.

D. Both A and B are true about bilingual brains.

Form 10

1. Write 18 sentences to justify your point of view on the following topic:

Some people say that the Internet provides people with a lot of valuable information. Others think access to so much information creates problems. Which view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

 2. According to Bill Gates, “Leaders will be those who empower others” and, in life, we come across many different 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 characterize 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.  In today’s technological age, communication experts are worried that people are too wired and too distracted by their electronic devices.  Experts have noticed that people are slowly replacing face-to-face communication with emails and texts, which isolate people instead of connecting them.

-   In your opinion, do electronic devices and communication isolate or connect people? Use examples to illustrate your choice.

-   How much time per day do you spend communicating on electronic devices (computer, phone, etc.)?

-   Compare the advantages and disadvantages of face-to-face communication versus electronic communication.

 4. 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?

 Form 11

1. Write 20 sentences to justify your point of view on the following topic:

Woodrow Wilson once said, “Friendship is the only cement that will hold the world together.” Do you agree? Why or why not? How can this be applied to global politics? How can this be applied to your personal life?

2. Things like opera, ballet and theatre are considered high culture while television, video games and comic books are considered low culture.

-   Evaluate the accuracy of such a judgment.

-   Which types of such activities do you prefer and why?

-    Do you think certain cultural activities are inherently better than others or is it a matter of taste? Who or what determines what is “high culture”

3. Some people believe that different vocations are more important than others within a society; for example, an engineer or a doctor is more important than a journalist or a lawyer.

-   Evaluate the importance of different vocations within a society, such as those requiring an education in humanities or liberal arts and those requiring education in the fields of science and technology. Do you believe some are more important than others; use examples to defend your position.

-   Identify and describe criteria for what determines the importance of a profession.

-   Is it necessary to have so many different professions in the world?

4. Bill Gates said, “The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.” Many people agree stating that, because communication via the Internet is not instantaneous, the world seems a smaller place, a more global community.

-   Do you agree that the Internet creates a more accessible global community? Provide examples as support.

-   In your opinion, is a “global village” more beneficial or disadvantageous? Explain.

-   Relate this to your personal experience: explain a time when the Internet was either helpful or harmful in communication. 

The 8th Form For TEACHERS

Round I – Listening Comprehension

Directions for Teachers: Read this story 1 time to the students then after 5 minutes read it again.

The Statue of  Liberty

One of the most famous statues in the world stands on an island in New York harbor. This statue is, of course, the Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty is a woman who holds a torch up high. The statue is so large that as many as twelve people can stand inside the torch. Many more people can stand in other parts of the statue. The statue weighs 225 tons and is 301 feet tall.

The Statue of Liberty was put up in 1886. It was a gift to the United States from the people of France. Over the years France and the United States had a special relationship. In 1776 France helped the American colonies to gain independence from England. The French wanted to do something special for the U.S. centennial, its 100th birthday.

Laboulaye was a well-known Frenchman who admired the United States. One night at a dinner at his house, Laboulaye talked about the idea of a gift. Among Laboulaye’s guests was the French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. Bartholdi thought of a statue of liberty. He offered to design the statue.

Many people contributed in some way. The French people gave money for the statue.

Americans designed and built the pedestal for the statue to stand on. The American people raised money to pay for the pedestal. The French engineer Alexander Eiffel, who was famous for his Eiffel

Tower in Paris, figured out how to make the heavy statue stand.

In the years after the statue was put up, many immigrants came to the United States through New York. As they entered New York Harbor, they saw the Statue of Liberty holding up her torch. She symbolized a welcome to a land of freedom.

Olympiad

Round I – Listening Comprehension

Section 1

Directions: Listen to the story, The Statue of Liberty, and mark True (+) or False (-) next to the number.

1.) Twelve people can stand inside the torch of the Statue of Liberty.

2.) The United States helped France gain its independence in 1776.

3.) Alexander Eiffel was among the guests at Laboulaye’s house.

4.) Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was a French engineer.

5.) Alexander Eiffel figured out how to make the statue stand.

6.) Americans designed the pedestal for the statue.

7.) The Statue of Liberty stands in a park in downtown New York City.

8.) New immigrants to America saw the statue when they arrived at the harbor in New York.

9.) The Statue of Liberty is a woman who holds a book up high.

10.) The French wanted to do something special for America’s 100th birthday.

Section 2 Statements 11 through 20 (circle the correct letter A, B, C, or D).

Listen to the text again. Choose the one best answer А, В, С, D to each question

11.) France and the U.S. had a special ___________.

A.) independence B.) freedom C.) relationship D.) gift

12.) France helped the American colonies to______________ independence.

A.) build B.) gain C.) become D.) maintain

13.) A famous Frenchman, Laboulaye, _____________ the United States.

A.) admired B.) visited C.) engineered D.) offered

14.) Frederic Bartholdi _______________ to design the statue.

A.) helped B.) paid for C.) contributed D.) offered

15.) The Statue of Liberty stands on a __________________.

A.) torch B.) sculptor C.) pedestal D.) harbor

16.) The Statue of Liberty symbolizes __________________.

A.) a woman with a torch B.) a land of freedom

C.) independence from England D.) a gift from France

17.) Immigrants came to the United States ______________ New York.

A.) through B.) between C.) along side of D.) along with

18.) ___________________ can go inside the statue.

A.) engineers B.) sculptors C.) designers D.) visitors

19.) The Statue of Liberty was _________________ in 1886.

A.) put up B.) set up C.) get up D.) stand up

20.) Laboulaye was a _____________ Frenchman in France.

A.) an unknown B.) little known C.) new D.) well-known

Round II – Reading Comprehension

Directions: Read the text, Noah Webster, and mark True (+) or False (-) next to numbers 1-10.

Text 1 Noah Webster

As a young adult, Noah Webster was a teacher. At this time the colonies were fighting for independence from Britain. Yet the books that American children used in school all came from Britain. The books were all about British people and British places. Webster wanted books that would mean more to American children. So he wrote three books that used American examples - a grammar book, a spelling book, and a reader. These books were very popular, and millions of them were sold.

Webster was interested in changing the spellings of words. He wanted words to be spelled the way they were pronounced. For example, he thought the word head should be spelled “hed,” and the word laugh should be spelled “laf.” People liked Webster’s suggestions. Unfortunately, though, few words were changed. One group of words that were changed were words in which an unpronounced u followed an o. That is why Americans write color and labor, and the British write colour and labour.

With the money he made from his books, Webster was able to start on his great work. This work took more than twenty years to write. It was the first American English dictionary, published in 1828. Webster’s dictionary had over 70,000 words, and gave the meaning and the origin of each. To this day, Webster’s work is the example that

most dictionaries of American English follow.

1. American children used to learn from British school books.

2. 1 million copies of Webster’s books were sold.

3. Webster wanted to change the spelling of words.

4. The American spelling of the word color is different from the British spelling.

5. Webster’s dictionary took exactly 20 years to write.

6. Webster’s dictionary was the first American dictionary.

7. Webster’s dictionary had only seven thousand words.

8. Webster’s dictionary gave both the meaning and the origin of words.

9. People liked Webster’s suggestions and many words were spelled differently from the British.

10. When Noah Webster was a teacher, America was free and independent from Britain.

Speaking Comprehension Test for 8th Form Students

Directions:

In this test you will select three task slips from those before you. After selecting

three, choose the one you feel you are most capable to speak about and return the

other two to the table face down. Then take about a minute to collect your thoughts

before you begin to speak on the topic. You may refer to the topic as needed. Take

a deep breath and begin.

1. A well known proverb states: «When in Rome, do as the Romans do.» What

does this mean? Do you agree or disagree?

2. Should uniforms be worn in school? Explain advantages and disadvantages of

wearing uniforms.

3. If you could become a character from any book or play that you have read,

who would that character be?

4. Is organized tour the best way of learning about the world? Explain advantages

and disadvantages of such kind of travel?

5. What would happen if there were no television? Why would this be good/ bad?

6. Describe the social and professional activities that give you the most

opportunity to speak English.

7. What would you say to persuade your parents that the music you listen to is

worth listening to?

8. When people from other countries visit our country, how do they see

Ukrainians?

9. How do mobile phones truly improve the quality of life of those who use them?

10. You are having a meeting with American sportsmen. Ask them about the most

popular kinds of sport in the USA and say whether you play the same games in

Ukraine.

11. Describe the moral, or lesson, that you have learned from your favorite story? .

How do books influence your behavior?

12. It's Sunday. You see your friend hurrying somewhere. Ask him about his plans

for the day off and suggest your way of spending it.

13. In the past, sports were activities that people did for fun in their free time. This

has changed a lot in recent years. Tell about some things that have changed .

14. If you were asked to send one thing representing your country to an

international exhibition, what would you choose? Why?

15. What are the most important components of a healthy lifestyle? How do you

keep yourself healthy?

16. Do you believe that the majority of youth in Ukraine prefers watching TV to

reading? What benefits, if any, does reading provide that watching TV does not?

17. A gift (such as a camera, a soccer ball, or a pet) can contribute to a child's

development. What gift would you give to help a child develop? Why?

18. Many pupils dream of travelling to other countries. Imagine that you have to

choose one country, not your native country, where you will go to live for a long

time. Where will you go? Why?

19. You are given a chance to choose the route about Great Britain. What parts of

this country would you recommend to see and express your own preferences

bearing in mind your devotion to literature.

20. Many of the best athletes in the world earn extremely high salaries for both

playing sport and for advertisements. Do you think this is fair?

Writing Comprehension Test For 8th form Students

Directions:

In this test you will select from the three tasks written on the board one which 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. Your test materials will be collected.

1. It has been said, "Not everything that is learned is contained in books."

Compare and contrast knowledge gained from experience with knowledge

gained from books. In your opinion, which source is more important? Why?

2. Which person has had the greatest influence on your life? Was this person in your

family or outside of your family? Why was this person influential? What did this

person teach you?

3. Sport is very important for young generation as well as for adults.

Which sport is a favourite one in Ukraine? Why do you think so?

What is your favourite sport? Why? Are you a sports fan? Do you do any

sport? Why is there so much sport on TV in your opinion?

The 9th Form For TEACHERS

Round I ~ Listening Comprehension

Directions for Teachers: Read this story 1 time to the students then after 5 minutes read it again.

Jonas Salk Discovers the Polio Vaccine

A terrible disease called polio struck the United States in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. It

crippled 300,000 people, mostly children, and killed 57,000. There was no cure for the disease,

although scientists were working hard to find one. Finally the National Foundation for Infantile

Paralysis, better known as the March of Dimes, with the contributions of millions of Americans,

began a research program at the University of Pittsburg Medical School. They asked Dr. Jonas Salk,

who was already known for his work on flu viruses, to direct the program. Salk joined the fight

against polio.

Salk knew the only way to stop the disease was to develop a vaccine, a serum containing a

small amount of the killed virus. When this vaccine was injected into a person’s body, it would cause

the body to fight the virus and make it harmless. Once this occurred, the body would be protected

against the live virus. Salk concentrated all his energy on developing the vaccine. Sometimes he

worked 20 hours a day, seven days a week with his dedicated staff. Finally, after much testing, Salk

was so sure of his vaccine’s success that he tested it on himself. Then he gave it to his wife and

children. The vaccine was then tried on 500 volunteers. It proved successful every time.

On April 12th, 1955, medical history took place. After three and a half years of work, Dr. Jonas

Salk announced that he and his staff had developed a successful vaccine against the dreadful disease.

It was a momentous occasion and people rejoiced upon hearing the news. In some towns, church

bells rang, schools closed for the day, and factories stopped for a moment of silence. People honked

their car horns. Department stores announced the news over loud speakers. One store window

displayed the words, “Thank you Dr. Salk.” The announcement was not only a turning point in the

history of medicine but the moment at which Dr. Jonas Salk became a great medical hero.

Round I ~ Listening Comprehension

Directions: Listen to the story, Jonas Salk Discovers the Polio Vaccine, and mark True (+) or False (-) next to

the number.

1.) A terrible disease called polio struck the United States in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s.

2.) Polio crippled 57,000 people, mostly children.

3.) Salk joined the fight against the March of Dimes.

4.) Salk knew that the only way to stop the disease was to develop polio.

5.) When a vaccine was injected into a person’s body, it would cause the body to fight the virus and make it harmless.

6.) Salk concentrated all his energy on developing the vaccine.

7.) Salk was so sure of his vaccine success that he tested it on animals.

8.) The vaccine was then tried on 500 volunteers. It proved successful every time.

9.) In some towns, church bells rang, and schools closed for a year.

10.) Dr. Jonas Salk announced that he and his staff had developed a successful vaccine against the dreadful disease.

Directions: Listen to the story, Jonas Salk Discovers the Polio Vaccine again, and circle A, B, C or D.

11.) Polio struck the United States in the late 1940’s.

A.) attacked B.) resisted C.) slowed down D.) vaccinated

12.) The announcement was a turning point in the history of medicine.

A.) time of important change B.) most enjoyable time C.) highest point D.) end of century

13.) People rejoiced when they heard the news.

A.) screamed B.) danced C.) celebrated D.) realized

14.) Salk tested the vaccine on _______________.

A.) himself B.) his wife C.) his children D.) all of these

15.) When the vaccine was injected into a person’s body, it would cause the body to fight the _ and make it harmless.

A.) injection B.) cure C.) serum D.) virus

16.) There was no ________________ for the disease, although scientists were working hard to find one.

A.) virus B.) contribution C.) cure D.) injection

17.) _______________ of Americans contributed to the March of Dimes.

A.) Millions B.) Thousands C.) 300,000 people D.) The United States

18.) Salk knew the only way to stop the disease was to develop a vaccine, a serum containing a small amount of the

_______________ virus.

A.) prepared B.) killed C.) flu D.) developed

19.) Sometimes he worked 20 hours a day, seven days a week with his _______________.

A.) dedicated staff B.) patients C.) children D.) program

20.) It was a ___ when Dr. Salk announced that a successful vaccine against the dreadful disease had been developed.

A.) killed virus B.) tradegy C.) research program D.) momentous occasion

Round II ~ Reading Comprehension

Directions: Read The Joshua Tree, and answer questions 1-10. Mark True(+) or False (-) next to the number.

Text 1 The Joshua Tree

In the 1840’s the Mormons, who are a religious group, traveled west searching for a new home. Many

Mormons lived in the state of Illinois. But they had been badly treated and finally were forced to leave. As the

Mormons traveled through the desert they became discouraged. Then they saw a strange tree. The tree’s branches

stretched out like arms. The Mormons thought that the tree looked like Joshua, a hero from the bible. The Mormons

thought that the arms of the tree were telling them to continue on their way, so they did. They found a new home in

the state of Utah. In Utah they saw trees like the one in the desert. They called them “Joshua trees.”

The Joshua tree was very useful. The Indians of the West used almost all its parts. They ate not only the fruit

of the tree, but also its seeds and white blossoms. They used its leaves for shoes. From its roots they made baskets and

colors for clothes.

Settlers in the West used the Joshua tree for firewood and fences. Unfortunately, they often needed to cut

down the trees. Some of the trees were as tall as fifty feet. These trees were 700 or 800 years old. The Joshua tree

grows very slowly. It grows only about one inch a year.

By the beginning of the 1900’s, most Joshua trees had been cut down. People were sad that this strange tree had

almost disappeared. In 1936 the Joshua Tree National Monument was established in California. It has many kinds of

interesting desert plants, including, of course, many Joshua trees. None of these trees are fifty feet. But perhaps

someday they will be.

1.) The Mormons traveled west searching for gold.

2.) The Mormons were treated badly in Illinois and were forced to leave.

3.) The Mormons thought that the strange tree looked like Joshua from the Koran.

4.) The Mormons became discouraged as they traveled through the desert.

5.) The Indians of the West made shoes from the roots of the Joshua Tree.

6.) Some of the trees the settlers cut down were 700 meters tall.

7.) In Illinois the Mormons saw trees like the one in the desert.

8.) The tree grows about one inch a year.

9.) In 1936 the Joshua Tree National Monument was established in California.

10)Indians could use the Joshua trees’ roots to color their clothes.

Directions: Read Jazz, and answer questions 11-15. Choose A, B, C or D.

Text 2 Jazz

Americans have contributed to many art forms, but jazz, a type of music is the only art form that was created in the United States by black Americans. Many blacks were brought from Africa to America as slaves. The black slaves sang and played the music of their homeland.

Jazz is a mixture of many different kinds of music. It is a combination of the music of West Africa, the work songs the slaves sang, and religious music. Jazz bands formed in the late 1800’s. They played in bars and clubs in many towns and cities of the South, especially New Orleans.

New Orleans is an international seaport, and people from all over the world come to New Orleans to hear jazz. Improvisation is an important part of jazz. This means that the musicians make the music up as they go along, or create the music on the spot. This is why a jazz song might sound a little different each time it is played.

Jazz became more and more popular. By the 1920’s, jazz was popular all over the United States. By the 1940’s, you could not only hear jazz in clubs and bars, but in concert halls as well. Today, people from all over the world play jazz. Jazz musicians from the United States, Asia, Africa, South America, and Europe meet and share their

music at festivals on every continent. In this way jazz continues to grow and change.

11.) Jazz is a musical art form that was created by ________________.

A.) black Africans B.) black Americans C.) slaves in Africa D.) their homeland

12.) Jazz is a mixture of music. It is a combination of all of these except ______________.

A.) religious music B.) music of West Africa C.) club music D.) work songs

13.) Jazz may sound different each time it is played for all of these reasons except that___________.

A.) people from all over the world come to New Orleans B.) its improvised C.) its created on the spot

D.) musicians make the music up as they go along

14.) By the 1940’s, people could only hear jazz music in clubs and bars.

A.) true B.) false

15.) Jazz musicians from all over the world meet at _________ to play and share their music.

A.) festivals B.) concert halls C.) bars D.) spots

Directions: Read The Wright Brothers Take Off, and answer questions 16-20. Choose A, B, C or D.

Text 3 The Wright Brothers Take Off

From the time of primitive men, humans have wanted to fly. Centuries ago men strapped wings on themselves in an attempt to fly. Needless to say, more than one leg was broken trying that. By 1900, humans had finally

succeeded in flying through the air. They had done it in balloons and gliders. Now they were ready for the next step.

Two brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, owned a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio, and loved mechanical things. They were also fascinated with the idea of flying. They had read about the glider experiments of Otto Lilienthal, a German inventor, and Octave Chanute, a French-born American engineer. They decided to make a glider

of their own. They came up with a biplane, or double-wing, glider. It had a new feature called “wing warping,” a way of bending the wings to make the best use of air flowing over them. They made several successful flights with their

biplane glider. But the Wright brothers wanted more.

They asked the U.S. Weather Bureau where the strongest and steadiest winds blew, which were necessary for glider flying. As Orville and Wilbur and other pilots knew, when the winds died down, the plane went down too. In

the Fall of 1900, the Wright Brothers took a new glider to the windy beaches near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. It had bent wings and a flap in front for better up-and-down movement. Once again, their glider was successful. Once again,

it wasn’t quite good enough.

The Wright brothers went back to their home in Dayton. They set up a wind tunnel to test the data that Lilienthal and Chanute had come up with in their glider experiments. The wind test showed the figures were wrong.

The Wright brothers had more designing to do.

In 1902 Wilbur and Orville were back in Kitty Hawk with a redesigned glider. This one had straighter wings, a movable rudder, and better control. They made more than a thousand successful flights on the deserted beaches. But the Wright brothers weren’t happy with having to rely on nature and its unpredictable winds. They wanted more.

They wanted powered flight.

No engine on the market was light and powerful enough for an airplane. So they built their own. There were no propellers around either. So they built them too. They put one propeller behind the engine and one behind the pilot.

Power from the engine was carried to the propellers by a bicycle chain.

16.) Before 1900 humans had already successfully flown through the air in ____________.

A.) jets B.) helicopters C.) rockets D.) ballons

17.) “Wing warping” helps a plane to fly by _________________.

A.) making air flow over the wings B.) increasing the speed of a plane

C.) a new glider feature D.) making a double-wing

18.) The flap in front of the glider caused for ________________.

A.) the strongest and steadiest winds B.) the winds to die down

C.) better up-and-down movement D.) more designing to be done by the Wright brothers

19.) The redesigned glider of 1902 had ________________.

A.) straighter wings B.) a movable ruder C.) better control D.) all of these

20.) ________________ carried power to the propellers from the engine.

A.) a bicycle chain B.) a glider C.) the pilot D.) a redesigned engine

Directions: Read The Wright Brothers Take Off–(continued), and answer questions 26-30. Choose A, B, C or D.

Text 4 The Wright Brothers Take Off – (continued)

The brothers went back and forth to Kitty Hawk. With each unsuccessful flight, they corrected the problem and tried again. On December 17th, 1903, they were ready for another trial. They had named their odd-looking, twowinged contraption Flyer. It was a cold windy day. No one except four men and a boy, was interested enough to

watch the Wright brothers try their funny flying machine. No one believed that humans would ever fly a mechanical plane.

The brothers always took turns at piloting their experimental airplanes. This day, Orville climbed into Flyer and lay flat on the lower wing. He started the engine and the plane moved forward. Then it lifted off the ground, reaching 40 feet. Orville found the controls so sensitive that when he changed the angle of the controls just a little, the

plane rose or fell sharply. Then he altered one of the controls a little too much and the plane came down. It had flown 120 feet and had been in the air for 12 seconds. History had been made. What humankind had dreamed about for thousands of years had become reality.

The Wright brothers made three more flights that day. The fourth flight lasted 59 seconds and went a distance of 852 feet. After this flight, everyone gathered around the aircraft. They joyfully discussed what had happened.

Suddenly a strong gust of wind picked up the plane and turned it over and over while everyone watched in dismay. It was badly damaged and could not be flown again that day. But the Wright Brothers could not be sad. They had accomplished their goal.

In spite of this historical achievement, the Wright brothers and their flight went nearly unnoticed. They continued their research and experimentation for almost three more years. Finally, they were granted a U.S. patent on their plane in 1906. In 1907 they went to Europe and flew their aircraft from place to place, to the delight of thousands of Europeans. The success of this tour reached American newspapers. The Wright brothers finally achieved their long-deserved fame and honor. The door was opened to the future. That having been done, it took Americans only 66 years to go from the beaches of Kitty Hawk to the distant moon.

21.) _____________ was the name of the odd-looking funny flying machine.

A.) Kitty Hawk B.) Flyer C.) Contraption D.) Wright

22.) The plane rose and fell sharply due to ______________________.

A.) reaching 40 feet B.) laying flat on the lower wing

C.) an experimental airplane D.) sensitive controls

23.) The Wright brothers were not sad because _______________________.

A.) a strong gust of wind picked up the plane B.) it was badly damaged and could not be flown

C.) they had accomplished their goal D.) they were dismayed when the plane turned over

24.) At first the Wright brothers were more famous ________________ then in America.

A.) in Europe B.) on the moon C.) in Kitty Hawk D.) on the beach

25.) Americans reached the moon in _________. 66 years after Flyer flew for the first time.

A.) 1906 B.) 1907 C.) 1966 D.) 1969

Speaking Comprehension Test for 9th Form Students

Directions:

In this test you will select three task slips from those before you. After selecting

three, choose the one you feel you are most capable to speak about and return the

other two to the table face down. Then take about a minute to collect your thoughts

before you begin to speak on the topic. You may refer to the topic as needed. Take

a deep breath and begin.

1. You are the owner of a pet store, and you have been asked to speak about the

importance of having pets.

- Explain how to choose the right pet for you.

- What benefits do pets offer their owners?

- What responsibilities do owners have to their pets?

2. If you could have lunch with one person, living or dead, real or fictional, who

would it be?

- What questions would you ask this person?

- What would you tell this person about yourself?

- What would you suggest you do for lunch?

3. Describe your dream house and why you want to live there.

- What does it look like?

- Where is it located?

- What amenities does it have?

4. You find a magical mirror that can show you anything in the world.

- What do you want to see?

- Why do you want to see it?

- What will you do with this information?

5. If you could have any talent that you don`t already possess, what would it be?

- Why is this talent so important for you to have?

- How would you use it?

- Do you feel it is more important to gain talents through hard work or through

natural ability?

6. There is a proverb in English that says, « You are what you eat.»

- What does this saying mean to you?

- How much thought do you give to the food you eat?

- How is food connected to our bodies and moods?

7. You are at a job interview and are asked to describe yourself. What will you

say?

- What kind of character do you have?

- How do you get along with other people?

- What are your strengths and weakness?

8. You are an alien and your spaceship lands on Earth. As you step off your ship,

you meet a human being. What is your first impression of humanity?

- What person do you meet?

- Describe his or her appearance.

- Do you want to be a friend of humanity? Why or why not?

9. You have $100 to improve your English. You may use computers,

a private tutor, books, or whatever materials you think are necessary. How

will you spend the money?

- What resources would you choose for your education?

- Describe a typical English lesson using your new budget.

10. You would like to create your own personal website.

- What kinds of information would you put on it and why?

- Who would be your target audience?

- How would you advertise your website so that people would be interested?

11. Games and puzzles have been part of human traditions since the beginning

of our existence.

- What is the value, if any, of such traditions? What are your favourite

games and why?

- What games and puzzles are indicative of your country and/or culture?

- Are games as important for adults as they are for children? Why or why

not?

12. If you had a week to travel out of your native country and an endless supply

of money, where would you want to go, and how would you get there?

- Would you travel alone, with a few people, or with many people? Why?

- What are the top three things you would do in each place and why?

- What does your travel style say about your personality?

13. Some people would say that winning is the most important part of playing

sports. Do you agree? Why?

- What are some reasons why people play sports?

- What do you think about the saying, «Second place is the first loser»?

- How important do you think sports are in the development of person`s

character ?

14. A renowned publisher has given you an opportunity to write a book and have

it published. What would you write about?

- What would be on the cover of your book? What would its title be?

- What genre of books do you find most interesting? Why?

- What kind of obstacles might you need to overcome when writing your

book?

15. Your best friend is having a birthday soon. You are going to plan a surprise

party.

- Whom would you invite and why?

- Describe the party`s theme and decorations.

- What kinds of food and entertainment will you prepare? Why?

16. Our parents greatly influence our personalities.

- Which personality traits do you share with your mother and father?

- What makes you different from them?

- Who has more impact on you, your mother or father? Explain.

17. Describe your perfect day, including location and weather.

- What activities would you do? With whom would you spend it?

- How would this day be different than every other day?

- Do you think it`s possible to have a perfect day? Explain.

18.What do you believe are the most popular free time activities among youth

in Ukraine?

- Why do you believe they are so popular?

- Are these activities beneficial to Ukraine`s youth as a whole?

- What are some constructive free time activities that can help our society?

19. Transportation greatly influences our lifestyles and the growth patterns of our

communities.

- What means of transportation does your community have, and how have

they affected people`s lifestyles?

- How do you and your family usually get around?

- Which form of transportation in your town could you go without if necessary?

Why?

20. People make choices everyday that affect their health.

- What are the most important components of a healthy lifestyle?

- How do you keep yourself healthy?

- What can be done to convince people with unhealthy habits to live a healthy

lifestyle?

Writing Comprehension Test For 9th form Students

Directions:

In this test you will select from the three tasks written on the board one which 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. Your test materials will be collected.

1. What is your favorite family tradition, something that is unique to your family? Why

does your family follow this special tradition? How did this tradition get started in

your family? Would you like to continue this tradition in the future, when you have a

family of your own?

2. Art, literature, poetry, music, and theatre are among some of the most popular

ways for people to express their emotions. In which of the previously

mentioned ways do you best express yourself? Explain. Is it any different from

how your friends express themselves? In which other ways do you express

your emotions?

3. The mass media are currently being talked about by many people in Ukraine.

What media are the most popular with adults and teenagers in our country?

Which media do you prefer? Write about your favourite channel/radio

programme/newspaper. Express your opinion on the importance of the media

in the society.