Всероссийская олимпиада школьников по английскому языку
олимпиадные задания (11 класс)

Всероссийская олимпиада школьников по английскому языку                                                                                                                                     Школьный этап                                                                                                                                                                   г. Радужный                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11 класс, 2018-2019 уч. год

Инструкция по выполнению работы

На выполнение заданий школьного этапа олимпиады по английскому языку отводится 1 час  50 минут (110 минут). Работа состоит из 4 частей. Максимальное количество баллов – 55.

Желаем успеха!

PART 1

LISTENING (11 POINTS)

Time: 15 minutes

Listen to the text «The Greatest Cellist of All Times» and complete the statements below. You will hear the text twice.

1. Mstislav Rostropovich spent his early years in______.
2. He got his musical education in ______.
3. He studied not only the piano but also_____.
4. _____ he was awarded the highest distinction of the Soviet Union.
5. Rostropovich’s support for dissidents led to official disgrace and as a result he _____.
6. Rostropovich was a huge influence on ______.
7. Rostropovich was a musical director and conductor of the US National Symphony Orchestra in Washington D.C. from ____ to _____.
8. His performance during the fall of the Berlin Wall was shown_____.
9. His Russian citizenship was _____.
10. He received many _____.
11. Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich died in Moscow on _____.

Transfer your answers to your answer sheet!

PART 2

READING (14 POINTS)

Time: 25 minutes

Read the passage below and answer questions 12–25:

Even the tactful Japanese would probably smirk or at the very least express puzzlement if someone told them about a ‘traditional Russian tea party’. And yet, it is a well-known fact that Russians are unstoppable in their incessant consumption of tea and in fact cannot live without it. It has become an extremely significant part of Russian culture. Tea in Russia is not just a beverage – it’s a social activity with a long-reaching tradition behind it. Even coffee that has been slowly but surely making inroads onto Russian tables still has not been able to replace tea. Russians will drink tea on any occasion and with no occasion whatsoever.                                                                    

 For the first time four pounds of tea were brought to Russia in 1638 by the Russian ambassador as a gift from the Mongol Khan for the Russian sovereign of Moscow Michael Fyodorovich. At first the tsar and the boyars were not particularly impressed with the astringent and bitter drink. When all the tea presented by the Mongol Khan had been drunk and the Moscow court began to forget its taste, it was once again the diplomats who reintroduced tea to Russia. Another Russian ambassador Nicholas Spafary brought some tea from China. This time tea was already a known substance in Moscow and in 1679 a contract was entered into with China under which the Chinese were to supply Russia with dried tea. After that, caravans carrying tea began regular journeys from the Great Wall of China to the walls of the Moscow Kremlin.

However, the new beverage took quite some time to grow on Russians, who at first viewed it with suspicion as they did with everything that originated abroad. In addition, Chinese tea was too expensive while Russian herbal teas, such as cranberry, currant, briar, and sweet lime were always easy to get. And it was only by the early 18th century that tea had been fully accepted in Russian households and become a national drink.

An indispensable component of a Russian tea party is the samovar. Samovars are tea poetry; they come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes. A samovar is always placed in the middle of the table. It commonly has curved shapes suggesting warmth and kindness. While water is boiling inside the samovar and smoke is coming off the top of it, its sides reflect the people around the table, adding a surreal feel to the gathering. The slightly bitter aroma of the smoke relaxes and soothes those present. In addition to good looks and efficiency, samovars were always valued for their sound. When the water starts boiling a samovar would announce it with its own unique “song” that would add to the cosiness and intimacy of the occasion.

It is almost an insult not to offer tea to someone who came by your house, as it is an insult to refuse it when offered. In some parts of the former Soviet Union, especially in the North Caucasus region and Central Asia, the amount and quality of the food served when drinking tea indicates a level of respect that a host has for a guest, and it’s not uncommon for relationships to go sour just because only jam and sugar were served during tea.

There is another tradition that foreigners often fail to understand: Russians drink tea from glasses, which they put in special glass holders. This tradition dates back to the 17th and 18th century teahouses and it was only in the early 19th century that it was picked up by the commoners. Expensive glass holders were usually made from silver, the more commonplace glass holders were made primarily from alloys of nickel and silver. The finely decorated holders were used both for esthetic and practical purposes preventing the palms from direct contact with hot tea. Today almost nobody will drink tea from glasses at home and yet it has still survived on trains. It is a special unique kind of pleasure to drink hot tea from a glass in a glass holder sitting in the car of a long distance train and looking out at the landscapes speeding past outside!

Task 1. Questions 12–19

In boxes 12–19 on your answer sheet, write: A (TRUE) if the statement agrees with the information given in the text; B (FALSE) if the statement contradicts the information given in the text or if there is no information given in the text.

12. Tea and coffee are equally favoured by the Russian people.

13. Russians indulge in having tea whenever the opportunity affords itself.

14. The Russians instantly favoured the peculiar flavour of the new beverage.

15. Envoys introduced the new beverage to Russia twice.

16. Tea drinking gradually evolved into a kind of social ceremony.

17. The Russian samovar was a symbol of prosperity, well-being, and comfort.

18. Water in samovars is boiled ahead of time and just warmed up afterwards.                                    19. Glass holders were made to help the tea cool quicker.

Task 2. Questions 20 – 25

Choose option A, B, C which best fits according to the text. Write the correct letter in boxes 20–25 on your answer sheet.

20. For the Japanese the idea of having tea parties in Russia seems

A. perplexing.

B. explicable.

C. evasive.

21. The word “incessant” in the first paragraph means

A. constant.

B. temporary.

C. irregular.

22. The Russians did not welcome the new drink as

A. they were forced to drink it.

B. it took long to make it.

C. it was totally alien to them.

23. In the North Caucasus region and Central Asia

A. sour fruit and vegetables are commonly served during the tea party.

B. lavish snacks are served at the tea party if the guest is highly honoured.                                          C. traditionally only jam and sugar are served during the tea party.

24. Samovars placed in the middle of the table usually

A. warmed the water quicker and more economically.

B. helped gather the guests by their special “song”.

C. added to the calming atmosphere round the table.

25. The tradition of having tea from glasses in glass holders

A. is completely forgotten now.

B. has survived on railroads.                                                                                                                   C. has become a family tradition.

Transfer your answers to your answer sheet!

                                                                      PART 3

USE OF ENGLISH (20 POINTS)

Time: 25 minutes

Task 1

For questions 26 -31, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given. There is an example at the beginning (0):

0     My brother is too young to drive a car.
not
My brother  is not old enough to drive a car.

26.          Robert has not had a job for two years.
       out

      Robert has        for two years.

27.      'I will complete the work only if you pay me £500 extra,' said Frank.
      not

      'I will        you pay me £500 extra,' said Frank.

28.         The thief ran right past you so I'm sure you saw his face.
      must

      The thief ran right past you so        his face.

29.      The clients demanded to stay in a first-class hotel.
      staying

      The clients        in a first-class hotel.

30.         The author wrote her latest novel while she was staying in Majorca.
     was

      The author's latest novel        stay in Majorca.

31.         The newspaper offered Lynda £5,000 for her story, but she refused.
      turned

       Lynda        of £5,000 from the newspaper for her story.

Task 2

Put the sentences in the correct order. [SHAKESPEARE, SONNET 66]

A. And art made tongue-tied by authority,

B. And captive good attending captain ill:

C. And folly, doctor-like, controlling skill,

D. And gilded honour shamefully misplaced,

E. And maiden virtue rudely strumpeted,

F. And needy nothing trimm’d in jollity,

G. And purest faith unhappily forsworn,

H. And right perfection wrongfully disgraced,

I. And simple truth miscalled simplicity,

J. And strength by limping sway disabled

K. As to behold desert a beggar born,

L. Save that, to die, I leave my love alone.

M. Tired with all these, for restful death I cry,

N. Tired with all these, from these would I be gone,

32. Томимый этим, к смерти я взываю;

33. Раз что живут заслуги в нищете,

34. Ничтожество ж — в веселье утопая,

35. Раз верность изменяет правоте,

36. Раз почести бесстыдство награждают,

37. Раз девственность вгоняется в разврат,

38. Раз совершенство злобно унижают,

39. Раз мощь хромые силы тормозят,

40. Раз произвол глумится над

искусством,

41. Раз глупость знанья принимает вид,

42. Раз здравый смысл считается

безумством,

43. Раз что добро в плену, а зло царит —

44. Я, утомленный, жаждал бы уйти,                                                                                                                 45. Когда б тебя с собой мог унести!

Transfer your answers to your answer sheet!

PART 4

WRITING (10 POINTS)

Time: 45 minutes

Comment on the following statement:

“Know most of the rooms of the native country before you go over the threshold thereof.” — (Thomas Fuller)

What is your opinion? Do you agree with this statement?

Write 150—200 words.

Use the following plan:

— make an introduction (state the problem)

— express your personal opinion and give 2—3 reasons for your opinion

— express an opposing opinion and give 1—2 reasons for this opposing opinion

— explain why you don’t agree with the opposing opinion

— make a conclusion restating your position