Ministerul Educaţiei, Cercetării şi Inovării

Centrul Naţional pentru Curriculum şi Evaluare în Învăţământul Preuniversitar

Examenul de bacalaureat 2009

Proba E/F
Proba scrisă la Limba engleză
L1 - Bilingv

• Toate subiectele sunt obligatorii. Se acordă 10 puncte din oficiu.

• Timpul efectiv de lucru este de 3 ore.

SUBIECTUL I (30 de puncte) Varianta 032

Read the text below and complete the following tasks.

The Celts were probably one of the most enigmatic races which spread across Europe
during what is known as the Iron Age. (1) ... Fortunately, the Romans never reached Ireland, and
for that reason, Celtic values were still prominent there well into the fifth century.
Celtic societies were based on the extended family unit or fine, and a number of fines
grouped together to form a TUATH, a clan or a tribe. (2) ... Although detailed records which might
explain how the king was chosen no longer exist, it would appear that his good character would
have been taken into account when making a selection. This democratic method probably ensured
loyalty from the influential members of the tuath.
A clan system operated within Celtic society, with the nobles and warriors at the top, who
controlled the land and wealth of the clan. Craftsmen and technicians, the Aes Dara, were the
equivalent of the modern middle classes and were highly respected. They had the added
advantage of being free to travel between clans and know that they would be valued and accepted
wherever they went. (3) ...
In Ireland, there is sufficient evidence on the ground to reconstruct Celtic homesteads.
These included the main house, a circular building of wood or stone, often partly underground, and
consisting of one large room or hall. Furniture was sparse, apart from a few low tables and a
central fire for cooking and heating. Each homestead was self-sufficient, with its own bread oven,
cheesehouse, smithies, grain storage, processing areas and livestock pens. (4) ... In the event of a
serious threat, the whole clan would retreat to the safety of a hilltop fort.

1. Four 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.
4 points

A. Despite their apparent love of warfare, the Celts had a deeply spiritual side to their nature and
a great deal of respect for their environment.
B. The third clan, the commoners, although free, did not own land and were therefore tied to
landowners or craftsmen if they wished to farm land or take up a trade.
C. These people made a tremendous impact on the spheres of art, society, warfare and learning,
until they were forced ever westward by the advance of the Romans.
D. Surrounding the homestead, a palisade fence kept out raiders and wolves.
E. The tuath was ruled by a RI, a king who was elected by the elders and warriors of a tuath.

2. Explain the following words. 6 points

1. loyalty
2. craftsman
3. self-sufficient

3. Sum up the text in about 50 words. 10 points

 Ministerul Educaţiei, Cercetării şi Inovării
Centrul Naţional pentru Curriculum şi Evaluare în Învăţământul Preuniversitar

4. For the following questions, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best
according to the text. 6 points

1. The Celtic culture lasted so long in Ireland because …

A. they were craftsmen and technicians.
B. of their religion.
C. the Romans never invaded Ireland.
D. the nobility owned the land.

2. The Aes Dara were probably the most fortunate clan because they …
A. owned and controlled the land and wealth.
B. made beautiful things from metal and wood.
C. were the equivalent of the modern middle class.
D. were free to travel and were highly respected.

3. The interior of a Celtic home would appear to be fairly spacious because …

A. of the central fire.
B. there was hardly any furniture.
C. it was on the top of a hill.
D. of its circular shape.

5. Comment on the following in about 100 words: Although detailed records which might
explain how the king was chosen no longer exist, it would appear that his good character would
have been taken into account when making a selection. 4 points