Ministerul Educatiei Nationale

Inspectoratul Scolar al Municipiului Bucuresti

OLIMPIADA DE LIMBA ENGLEZA -2014-2015-, etapa pe scoala-clasa a IX-a-V1

I. (12 points) Read the texts below and decide which variant (A, B, C or D) best fits each space.

A love of travelling

For Nigel Portman, a love of travelling began with what’s called a ‘gap year’. In common with many other British teenagers,
he chose to take a year out before ___(1) to study for his degree. After doing various jobs to ___(2) some money, he left
home to gain some experience of life in different cultures, visiting America and Asia. The more adventurous the young
person, the ___(3) the challenge they are likely to ___(4) themselves for the gap year, and for some, like Nigel, it can ___(5)
in a thirst for adventure.

Now that his university course has ___(6) to an end, Nigel is just about to leave on a three-year trip that will take him ___(7)
around the world. What’s more, he plans to make the whole journey using only means of transport which are ___(8) by
natural energy. In other words, he’ll be ___(9) mostly on bicycles and his own legs; and when there’s an ocean to cross, he
won’t be taking a ___(10) cut by climbing aboard a plane, he’ll be joining the crew of a sailing ship ___(11). As well as doing
some mountain climbing and other outdoor pursuits along the way, Nigel hopes to ___(12) on to the people he meets the
environmental message that lies behind the whole idea.

1 A settling down B getting up C taking over D holding back

2 A achieve B raise C advance D win
3 A stronger B wider C greater D deeper
4 A put B set C aim D place
5 A result B lead C cause D create
6 A come B turned C reached D brought
7 A just B complete C whole D right
8 A pulled B charged C forced D powered
9 A relying B using C attempting D trying
10 A quick B short C brief D swift
11 A anyway B alike C instead D otherwise
12 A leave B keep C pass D give

II. (15 points) Fill the gaps in the text below with ONE suitable word.

We are in KidZania Tokyo, ___(1) of 16 branches of the fast-expanding global theme park chain: a two-thirds-scale indoor
town, ___(2) fake sky, fake streets and fake buildings housing 70 shops, restaurants and businesses – ___(3) pizza parlours
to police stations; there’s even the fuselage of a Boeing 737 for budding cabin crew – all staffed by the thousands of children
aged four to 15 ___(4) visit each day. The idea ___(5) KidZania is that children will experience the world of work via role play
with adult “zupervisors” – parents ___(6) excluded from the town – teaching lessons ___(7) responsibility, decision-making
and teamwork. Since the first one opened in Santa Fe in 1999, more ___(8) 35 million children have visited branches of
KidZania in cities from Mumbai to Seoul. Early next year, the first branch in the UK is due ___(9) open in west London, and
the company predicts a million people ___(10) year will visit. ___(11) entering KidZania, children are given radio-frequency
tags – so they can’t leave ___(12) an alarm going off – and handed 50 kidzos – KidZania’s currency. These they ___(13)
deposit in the KidZania bank, which is staffed by children of course and offers 10% interest – to retrieve later using bank
cards ___(14) pretend ATMs. Or they can spend ___(15) on souvenirs and junk food. They can then earn more by working –
between five and eight kidzos for a 25-minute shift, depending on the job.

III. (20 points) Rephrase the following sentences so that the meaning stays the same and using the word in capitals.
You must not change the word in capitals.

1. She can’t wait to start her new job. FORWARD

She _____________________________ her new job.

Olimpiada de limba engleză 2014-2015, etapa pe școală

Clasa a IX-a, v1
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 Ministerul Educatiei Nationale
Inspectoratul Scolar al Municipiului Bucuresti
OLIMPIADA DE LIMBA ENGLEZA -2014-2015-, etapa pe scoala-clasa a IX-a-V1

2. Carla borrowed a CD from me last week and now she has lost it. I
Carla has lost _________________________________ last week.
3. Although he has been to Spain for more than a year, Tom can’t speak a word of Spanish. SPITE
In _________________ in Spain for more than a year, Tom can’t speak a word of Spanish.
4. This is your third warning from me this week about being late for work. NOT
This is the third time this week I ___________________be late for work.
5.’I invent stories,’ Julian said. ADMITS
Julian______________ stories.
6. Mum said we had run out of milk and couldn’t make pancakes. LEFT
Mum said there _________________________to make pancakes.
7. Unless someone comes late, we should be able to get through all the points in today’s meeting. TURNS
As __________________ on time, we should be able to get through all the points in today’s meeting.
8. I only watched the movie because you recommended it to me. NEVER
I would __________________ you hadn’t recommended it to me.
9. They considered any further rescue attempts pointless. CONSIDERED
Any further__________________________ .
10. ‘I don’t know how I am going to get home at this time of night’, Mary said. WAS
Mary said __________________________at that time of night.

IV. READING COMPREHENSION

Read the following text and complete the tasks:

A recent survey of crime statistics shows that we are all more likely to be burgled now than 20 years ago and the police
advise everyone to take a few simple precautions to protect their homes.
1.________This is much less of a challenge than an occupied house, and one which is well-protected. A burglar will wonder
if it is worth the bother.
There are some general tips on how to avoid your home becoming another crime statistic. 2. ______ When you have to go
out, leave at least one light on as well as a radio or television, and do not leave any curtains wide open. The sight of your
latest music centre or computer is enough to tempt any burglar.
Never leave a spare key in a convenient hiding place. 3.________ It is much safer to leave a key with a neighbour you can
trust. But if your house is in a quiet, desolate area be aware that this will be a burglar's dream, so deter any potential criminal
from approaching your house by fitting security lights to the outside of your house.
But what could happen if, in spite of the aforementioned precautions, a burglar or intruder has decided to target your home?
Windows are usually the first point of entry for many intruders. Downstairs windows provide easy access while upstairs
windows can be reached with a ladder or by climbing up the drainpipe. 4. ________ No matter how small your windows may
be, it is surprising what a narrow gap a determined burglar can manage to get through. For extra security, fit window locks to
the inside of the window.
What about entry via doors? Your back door and patio doors, which are easily forced open, should have top quality security
locks fitted. 5.__________ Install a burglar alarm if you can afford it as another line of defence against intruders.

A. (10 points) Five sentences have been removed from the text. Select the appropriate sentence for each gap in the
text. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

A) Before going to bed you should double-check that all windows and shutters are locked.
B) Avoid leaving signs that your house is empty.
C) The first fact is that burglars and other intruders prefer easy opportunities, like a house which is very obviously empty.
D) The first place a burglar will look is under the doormat or in a flower pot and even somewhere more ‘imaginative’ could
soon be uncovered by the intruder.
E) Why go to the trouble of breaking in if you can just knock and be invited in?
F) Even though this is expensive it will be money well spent.

B. (8 points) For the following questions, choose the answer (A, B, C, D) which fits according to the text.

1. According to the statistics the rate of burglaries:

A) is the same as it was 20 years ago.
B) has gone up in the past 20 years.

Olimpiada de limba engleză 2014-2015, etapa pe școală

Clasa a IX-a, v1
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 Ministerul Educatiei Nationale
Inspectoratul Scolar al Municipiului Bucuresti
OLIMPIADA DE LIMBA ENGLEZA -2014-2015-, etapa pe scoala-clasa a IX-a-V1

C) is still going up.

D) will increase in the next 20 years.

2. A well-protected house
A) is less likely to be burgled.
B) is regarded as a challenge by most criminals.
C) is a lot of bother to maintain.
D) looks like a fortress.

3. The writer thinks that the doormat is:

A) a predictable place to hide a key.
B) a convenient place for a neighbor to find a key.
C) a more ‘imaginative’ place than a flower pot.
D) where you always find a spare key.

4. Gaining entry to a house through a small window:

A) is surprisingly difficult.
B) is not as difficult as people think.
C) is less likely to happen than gaining entry through a door.
D) is tried only by very determined burglars.

V. (10 points) Read the text below and use the words given in capitals to form words that fit in the gaps. The words
in capitals are given in the order in which you need to use them.

1 – LIKE; 2 – APPEAR; 3 – TEND; 4 – RESEMBLE; 5 – CHILD; 6 – ABLE; 7 – SHY; 8 – FASHION; 9 – FORTUNE; 10 –

AGREE;

Although my two sisters have a different mother, we are definitely (1) __________. This is not just a matter of (2) _______
though we are small with curly hair and a (3) _______ to overeat and put on weight. The (4) ________ goes much further
than that. Throughout our (5) ______ we were brought up to be very adaptable and our (6) _______ to accept change is
another characteristic we share. Another would be (7) ______ . We all hate parties where you have to walk into a roomful of
strange faces. We are all interested in wearing (8) ______ clothes and we often share our clothes. (9) ______, this causes
arguments. We really should come to some (10) ______ about who can borrow what from whom.

VI. (25 points) Write a 8-10 narrative paragraph starting with the following words:

‘Holding his lantern high, he surveyed the small square room, simply but elegantly furnished. On the left was a high narrow
window; directly in front of it stood ….’

SCRIEȚI RĂSPUNSURILE PE FOAIA DE RĂSPUNS (ANSWER SHEET). BARAȚI TOATE SPAȚIILE NECOMPLETATE.
TIMP DE LUCRU: 3 ORE. NU SE ACORDĂ PUNCTE DIN OFICIU.

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