7-8 класс задания по подготовке к олимпиадам

Listening and Reading

Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

LISTENING

Task 1

For items 1-10 listen to part of a lecture about bilingualism and decide whether the statements (1-10) are TRUE (A), or FALSE (B) according to the text you hear. You will hear the text twice.

1.        The speaker claims that her children are bilingual.

A.   True      B. False

2.        The speaker teaches Chinese.

A.   True      B. False

3.        The speaker’s husband is French.

A.   True      B. False

4.        The speaker communicates with her children in English.

A.   True      B. False

5.        When the speaker’s family lived in France, the dominant language in their family was French.

A.   True      B. False

6.        The speaker followed the advice of psychologists.

A.   True      B. False

7.        The first Mother Language Day was celebrated in 1952.

A.   True      B. False

8.        Mother Language Days are dedicated to different themes each year.

A.   True      B. False

9.        In 2002 the Mother Language Day was dedicated to Sign language.

A.   True      B. False

10.   The speaker speaks Mandarin Chinese fluently.

A.   True      B. False

Task 2

For items 11-15 listen to the text. Choose the correct answer (A, B or C) to answer questions 11-15. You will hear the text only once.

11   Liz is speaking at an exhibition of … A. home appliances.

B.   kitchen gadgets.

C.   electronic devices.

12   Into how many categories is Liz dividing the exhibits she analyzes?

A. 3 B. 4 C. 5

13   What is, according to Liz, the main disadvantage of the vacuum flask?

A.   The materials it’s made of.

B.   The time it can keep drinks hot.

C.   Its price.

14   What is, according to Liz, one of the advantages of the whistle key holder? A. Its size.

B.   Its price.

C.   The noise it makes.

15   To which group does Liz refer the army flashlight? A. Must buy.

B.   Maybe buy.

C.   Never buy.

INTEGRATED LISTENING AND READING

Task 3

Read the text below, then listen to part of a lecture on the same topic. You will notice that some ideas coincide and some differ in them. Answer questions 16-25 by choosing A if the idea is expressed in both materials, B if it can be found only in the reading text, C if it can be found only in the audio-recording, and D if neither of the materials expresses the idea.

Now you have 7 minutes to read the text.

Formation of stars and planets

A nebula is an interstellar cloud consisting of dust, hydrogen, helium and other ionized gases. Originally, nebula was a name for any diffuse astronomical object including galaxies beyond the Milky Way. Some nebulae can be viewed with the naked eye due to fluorescent effect caused by the embedded hot stars, while others are so diffuse that they can only be detected with the help of powerful telescopes as they are extended and contain no well-defined boundaries.

All nebulae in the Milky Way Galaxy are forms of interstellar matter – namely, the gas between the stars that is almost always accompanied by solid grains of cosmic dust. Their appearance differs widely, depending not only on the temperature and density of the material observed but also on how the material is spatially situated with respect to the observer. Their chemical composition, however, is fairly uniform and corresponds to the composition of the universe in general.

According to our current understanding, a star and its planets form out of collapsing cloud of dust and gas, i.e. nebulae are often star-forming regions. In these regions the formations of gas, dust, and other materials stick together to form denser regions, which attract further matter, and eventually will become dense enough to form stars. The remaining material is believed to form planets.

The birthplace of planets is the so-called proto-planetary disk. As the protoplanetary disk spins, the material contained within it travels around the new star in the same direction forming various celestial objects. Many of the celestial objects eventually become planets, and as they form, they "sweep up" other material that surrounds them. However, to be classified as a planet, an object must orbit a star, have sufficient mass in order to acquire a nearly round shape, and have enough gravitational power to attract smaller objects.

Now listen to part of a lecture on the same topic and then do the tasks (questions

16-25), comparing the text above and the lecture. You will hear the lecture TWICE.

16   In the past, the term nebula was used to denote any diffuse astronomical object.

17   Some nebulae cannot be seen with the naked eye.

18   Stars are formed as a result of collapse.

19   High-speed computers can be used for modelling the processes which cannot be observed in natural conditions.

20   The formation of planets is believed to follow the formation of a new star.

21   Planets are formed in a proto-planetary disk.

22   Some planets in other solar systems can be inhabited by living organisms.

23   Interstellar matter always has fluorescent effect due to diffuse gas and dust.

24   Our solar system belongs to the Milky Way Galaxy.

25   To be considered a planet, a celestial object must meet several conditions.

READING 

Task 4

Read the text and answer questions 26-40 below.

The Design of Living Spaces

A                  Home. It is where we cook our meals, invite our friends to visit, and go to sleep. It is also a place that can reflect our personality. The process of buying or renting a house or room and giving it colour, furniture, and style is called interior design. Think about where you live. What would a stranger know about you if he or she walked into your home or room? White walls, wooden floors, and a few pieces of modern furniture suggest that you are a calm and organized person. Colourful walls, books and pictures, and lots of furniture suggest you are a more energetic and active person. How you choose to design your home or room says something to the world about who you are.

It tells the world about your interests and about your personal identity.

B                  One important aspect of interior design is balance. This means there is a good combination of colours and furniture so that a room feels comfortable. How do people achieve balance in their homes? Some people use feng shui to help them with this aspect of design. Feng shui is an Eastern philosophy. It teaches that all parts of people's lives should balance two kinds of energy _– yin and yang. Yin is the quiet, passive energy, whereas yang is the strong and active energy. According to this philosophy, a living space with a good balance of these two types of energy brings good luck, health, and happiness.

C                  Feng shui provides guidelines about how to decorate a room. In a bedroom, for example, the head of the bed should point in the correct direction. It should point north for an older married couple. North is a quiet, peaceful direction. For a young adult, however, feng shui says the head of the bed should point south. This direction has more energy and passion. The head of the bed must not point northeast because this direction causes nightmares. Also, a bedroom should not have any mirrors in it because mirrors make it difficult to remove negative energy.

D                  Colour is another important aspect of interior design. Different colours have different emotional and physical effects on people. For example, people usually feel that red is the most exciting and stimulating colour. For this reason, it is not good for a bedroom. Many people say they have nightmares if they sleep in a red room. In contrast, green is a more peaceful colour. In some cultures green means health and good luck, so it is a popular colour. Blue is also a good colour in most cultures. It represents peace and stability. According to some studies, it is a masculine colour; men often choose it for their living spaces. White, however, is used more than any other colour in interior design. White is the combination of all colours, so it is a colour of balance. It is often used in small rooms because it reflects light and therefore makes a small room look bigger. In addition, it does not conflict with other colours in the room.

E                  Small homes and rooms create special challenges for architects and interior designers. Some architects and designers are specialists in small living spaces. They try to make them both functional and attractive. In Japan, these small living spaces are called kyosho jutaku. For example, windows appear anywhere across a wall or in the ceiling, to allow as much light as possible into narrow spaces. Furniture folds into the wall, which allows one room to be used in many different ways. A bed may have a desk, chair, and dresser underneath it. Traditional designers think of horizontal, or floor space. In contrast, designers of small living spaces say that they try to use threedimensional space. For example, they may put storage space, such as closets or bookshelves, high on walls, above other furniture. 

Questions 26-30 

Match ideas 26-30 expressed in the text with paragraphs A-E of the text. 

26              Small living spaces need careful design.

27              Feng shui designers believe it is important to arrange furniture in a specific way.

28              The design of our home or room reflects who we are.

29              Colours can produce specific impressions on people.

30              Feng shui teaches that balance is an important part of design.

Questions 31-35 

For questions 31-35 choose one answer A, B, C or D which best fits according to the text. 

31              What kind of person is probably living in a room that is painted yellow and orange and is full of furniture and books? 

A                 A disorganized and artistic person.  

B                  A quiet person who prefers staying at home alone.

C                 A busy person who enjoys an exciting life.

D                 An organized and very intelligent person.

32              A husband and wife, who are both 65 years old, are designing a peaceful bedroom.

What principle of design is not applicable to their situation?

A                 There should be a lot of pictures on the walls.

B                  The head of the bed should point north. 

C                 There should not be any mirrors in the room. 

D                 The walls should be blue.

33              Why do most people paint their rooms white?

A                 It makes rooms appear larger than they are.

B                  It is the most popular masculine colour.

C                 It helps people to sleep better.

D                 It is the colour of health.

34              Which of the following is not a way to solve the problem of small living spaces?

A                 Using three-dimensional space. 

B                  Painting the walls a bright colour.

C                 Folding furniture into the walls. 

D                 Putting bookshelves high up on the walls.

35              Which of the following is not stated in the text?

A                 Blue is an appropriate colour for men.

B                  The head of a bed should not face northeast.

C                 Red is a masculine colour.

D                 Some people believe that rooms have energy.

Questions 36-40 

Are the statements 36-40 true, false or not given? If a statement is true, circle A on your answer sheet. If it is false, circle B on your answer sheet. If it is not given, circle C on your answer sheet.

36              Yin is strong active energy.

37              The door should point north to remove negative energy.

38              The colour of a bedroom that may cause nightmares is white.

39              If the room is small, a desk and a chair may be kept underneath the bed.

40              Soft music can make the home environment more peaceful.

TRANSFER ALL YOUR ANSWERS TO YOUR ANSWER SHEET

Всероссийская олимпиада школьников по английскому языку 2018 г. Заключительный этап

SPEAKING

Карточка участника

Set 1 Student 1

Preparation – 15 minutes

Presentation and questions – 15 minutes

“National Heritage Treasures”

TASK 1

1. Monologue: Time 3-4 minutes, depending on the length of the video.  

You have to present a video tour for foreign students of one of the most famous Russian museums

The Armoury and Diamond Fund, Moscow  Speak about:

Location of Buildings	Halls/ Collections
History/Background	Masterpieces

•        You can make notes during the preparation time while watching the video and studying the data from the fact file, but YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO READ your notes during the presentation.  

•        Your presentation is limited by the time of the video clip.

•        Coordinate your narration with the action on the screen (the original sound track is not recorded). 

2. Questions/ Answers: Time 2- 3 minutes.

Answer 2 QUESTIONS from your partner – ‘a foreign student’, who wants to get ADDITIONAL INFORMATION not mentioned in your presentation.  

TASK 2

1.  Listen to the video tour presentation of your partner (Set 2 STUDENT 2: The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg). 

2.  Questions/ Answers: Time 2 - 3 minutes


Ask 2 QUESTIONS about the museum to get ADDITIONAL INFORMATION not mentioned in the presentation.

YOUR ANSWERS WILL BE RECORDED

 Use of English

Time: 60 minutes

Task 1

For items 1-10 read the text about taking care of things and solve the puzzle by putting  the missing words into the crossword below, using the definitions given in the brackets. USE THE CORRECT GRAMMAR FORM IN THE

CROSSWORD. The first two words (0 and 00) are done for you as an example. 

 It is always worth 0 … (to examine closely and minutely) numerous labels, which 00 … (to hang loosely and usually so as to be able to swing freely) on different items of clothing. All those little 1 … (a cardboard marker on an article of clothing showing the price at which it is offered for sale) give directions for cleaning, washing and pressing 2 … (an article of clothing). Most 3 … (made of the soft thick undercoat of various hairy mammals, especially sheep) sweaters can be hand-washed in 4 … (moderately warm) or cold water. They should be 5 … (to exert pressure) gently without twisting. Some fabrics, such as corduroy or 6 … (cloth with a soft, furry surface), should be left to drip dry without 7 … (to twist especially so as to make dry or to extract moisture or liquid). Some clothes that are 8 … (having a line or mark made by or as if by folding a soft substance) after wearing may lose these imperfections if they are carefully hung up overnight. 9 …  (leather whose surface has been made slightly rough so that it is soft but not shiny) pocketbooks and shoes should be 10 … (to clean with an object with short pieces of stiff hair or plastic attached to a base or handle) before and after each wearing. Calfskin shoes should be polished to keep the leather soft.

6

2

4

W

A

R

M

9

3

T

U

5

E

L

8C

S

00D

L

A

E

0S

C

R

U

1T

I

N

I

Z

I

N

G

10

G

7

R

I

N

L

E

Task 2 

	For items 11- 15, fill in the gaps in the sentences, using capitonyms. One meaning
	of the word is a proper name, the first letter of which is given to you, the second meaning of the required word is given in brackets. The first example (0) is done for you.

0. M… realized that her memories of childhood were triggered by eating a sweet … (a small rich shell-shaped cake) cake.

0. Madeleine

11.            C… loved to sing her favourite … (a popular song or ballad of religious joy) at Christmas. 

12.            A… entered the room, which was illuminated by the … (a variable colour averaging a dark orange yellow) light of the setting sun.

13.            H…. had short brown hair and kind … (brown) eyes. 

14.            J… bought a … (tough compact typically green gemstones that take a high polish) silver pendant to match her green eyes.

15.            T … gave its name to a … (a large bird grown for its meat on farms) by mistake.

Task 3 

	For items 16 - 20, complete the sentences with one word, making puns. A pun is a
	joke that plays on the multiple meanings of a word, or on two words that sound
	the same.  The first example (0) is done for you.

0. You were right, so I ….

0. left

16.            Do you know why it’s easy for a hunter to find a leopard? Because a leopard is always… .

17.            Always trust a glue salesman. They tend to … to their word.

18.            I’m not scared of insects, but they really … me. 

19.            The best way to communicate with fish is to drop them a … .

20.            I’m pretty sure these stairs are up to something. But I’m going to take … to prevent it.

Task 4

	For items 21 - 30, complete each description with the name of the castle/ palace
	and the year, choosing the correct number and letter from the boxes. There are 2
	extra options in the boxes, which you do not have to use.
	The first example (0) is done for you.

1.Blarney Castle        2.Blenheim Palace 3.Buckingham Palace   4.Dover           Castle 5.Edinburgh Castle 6.Kenilworth Castle 7.Monticello 8.Mount Vernon          9.The Tower of London        10.The White House              11.Warwick Castle 12.Windsor Castle

A. 1066             B. 1312           C. 1563           D. 1650           E. 1690           F. 1761               H. 1800           I. 1826            J. 1939            K. 1940           L. 2016

G.

1778

0. _______ 

This Irish castle was built by Dermot McCarthy, King of Munster, in 1446 over the remains of an older stone castle dating to 1210. The Protestant Jefferyes family acquired this castle after William III’s war against the deposed Catholic monarch, King James II, in _____. They added a Georgian Gothic house beside the keep, followed by a new castle nearby in 1874. The castle’s most famous feature is the Stone, reputed to endow anyone who kisses it with eloquence.

0. 1E

21. _____________

The biggest castle in the world, it was begun in the 11^th century to guard the western approach to London. Easy access from the capital and proximity to a royal hunting forest made it an ideal location for a royal residence. Since the time of Henry I, it has been used by succeeding monarchs and it is the longest-occupied castle in Europe. It is an official residence of Queen Elizabeth II, whose standard flies from the Round Tower when Her Majesty is in residence. In _______, the Queen celebrated her 90^th birthday in the castle with a huge concert.

22. ____________

The first American president, George Washington, selected the site for this building. After eight years of construction, President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, moved into the unfinished house in _______. At various times in history, it has been known as the “President’s Palace” and the “Executive Mansion.” President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave it its current name in 1901.

23. __________

William the Conqueror, whose reign started in _______, began the castle keep but today it is surrounded by numerous fortifications and other buildings belonging to its notorious history as a place of imprisonment, torture and execution including that of Lady Jane Grey. The castle was also used as the royal mint, and is today famous for its yeoman warders, the Beefeaters, and its ravens. 

24. ___________

Thomas Jefferson, who had a keen interest in architecture and gardening, designed this home and its elaborate gardens himself. Over the course of his life, he remodeled and expanded the house called little mountain in Italian and filled it with art, fine furnishings and interesting gadgets and architectural details. Jefferson died here on July 4, _______, the 50^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which he wrote.

25. ____________

Sitting astride the basalt remains of an extinct volcano, this castle has one of the most picturesque settings. It stands high on a rock above the capital city. Research undertaken in 2014 identified 26 sieges in its long history, giving it a claim to having been the most besieged place in Great Britain and one of the most attacked in the world. One of the longest sieges in _______ lasted for 3 months, after which the castle surrendered to Oliver Cromwell.

26. ___________

The place is the only non-royal non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace. This estate was built as a gift to John Churchill, 1^st Duke of Marlborough, from Queen Anne and a grateful nation in thanks for his victory on 13^th August 1704. Nowadays it is best known as the birth place of Sir Winston Churchill, the most famous British politician.

Winston Churchill reached the peak of his popularity in _______, when he became the prime minister of Great Britain and led the country through World War II.

27. _________

The estate is an iconic American landmark, an enduring reminder of the life and legacy of George Washington. Washington personally supervised each renovation, advising on design, construction and decoration. Conscious that the world was watching, Washington selected architectural features that expressed his growing status as a Virginian gentleman planter and ultimately as the leader of a new democratic nation. The construction of the mansion was finished in _______, three years after the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

28. ___________

The palace started its history from George III, who acquired the site in _______ to serve as a family home for him and Queen Charlotte. The balcony of this palace is one of the most famous in the world. The first recorded Royal balcony appearance took place in 1851, when Queen Victoria stepped onto it during celebrations for the opening of the Great Exhibition. Since then, Royal Balcony appearances have marked many occasions, such as the Queen’s annual official birthday celebrations, royal weddings, as well as special events of national significance.

29. __________

Towering over the busy port, the site of the castle was vitally important from Roman times to the Second World War. A Roman lighthouse still stands here. It is the largest castle in England and has been described as “the key to England” due to its defensive significance throughout history. In ________, when the Second World War began, its underground tunnels from the Napoleonic Wars were converted into a command centre and underground hospital. 

30. ____________

First built in the 1120s and a royal castle for most of its history, it was expanded by King John, John of Gaunt (fourth son of Edward III) and Henry V. In _______ Elizabeth I granted it to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, who converted the place into a lavish palace. Elizabeth visited it several times. It is believed that Shakespeare saw one of her visits and described it in his play. The castle achieved international fame with the publication in 1821 of Sir Walter Scott’s tragic novel revolving around Queen Elizabeth, Robert Dudley and his wife, Amy.

TRANSFER ALL YOUR ANSWERS TO YOUR ANSWER SHEET

Всероссийская олимпиада школьников по английскому языку

2018 г. заключительный этап 

Writing

Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

You have decided to enter a short story competition in an English-language magazine. The competition rules say that your story should be written in full accordance with the following review:

It is an exciting story from the life of a young boy, who, all of a sudden, found an old photo, which changed his life. The author describes the event in detail. He remembers the day when it all happened. The story starts with a trivial phrase: “I usually go to school through the park…” The phrase promises nothing but a dull narration about the everyday life of a schoolboy. Do not be misled. Actually, it is only the first half of a longer sentence. The quiet beginning quickly develops into a dramatic investigation.

The author rolls up his sleeves and sets out on an amazing race after the person in the photo. Why does he feel that he has to find this person? Read the story! You will get the answer. 

The story is short and full of direct speech, which makes it more dynamic. Although it looks like a detective story at first sight, it turns out to be a story about different generations. As for the title of the story, it should be taken as a piece of irony, since in the case of the author a bit of luck went together with a lot of effort.

Write 250–500 words