OLIMPIADA DE LIMBA ENGLEZĂ, ETAPA LOCALĂ – 17 EBRUARIE 2018

CLASA a XI-a, SECȚIUNEA B

SUBIECTUL A. USE OF ENGLISH

I. Read the paragraph below and do the tasks (10x2p=20 points)

The name of Florence Nightingale lives in the memory of the world by virtue of the heroic adventure
of the Crimea. Had she died - as she nearly did - upon her return to England, her reputation would
hardly have been different; her legend would have come down to us almost as we know it today -
that gentle vision of female virtue which first took shape before the adoring eyes of the sick soldiers
at Scutari. Yet, as a matter of fact, she lived for more than half a century after the Crimean War; and
during the greater part of that long period all the energy and all the devotion of her extraordinary
nature were working at their highest pitch. What she accomplished in those years of unknown labor
could, indeed, hardly have been more glorious than her Crimean triumphs; but it was certainly more
important. The true history was far stranger even than the myth. In Miss Nightingale's own eyes the
adventure of the Crimea was a mere incident - scarcely more than a useful stepping-stone in her
career. For more than a generation she was to sit in secret, working her lever: and her real life began
at the very moment when, in popular imagination, it had ended.

A. Answer the questions:

1. What does the author say about the work done during the last fifty years of Florence
Nightingale's life was, when compared with her work in the Crimea?

2. Why does the author say that her real life began at the very moment when it had ended?

3. Does the author use facts or opinions in his/her presentation of the material?

4. Why does the author use the words myth and legend in portraying Florence Nightingale?

B. Choose the right synonym:

pitch: a) level; b) term ; c) moment

lever: a) insight; b) rigid bar; c) device

stepping stone: a) force; b) paucity; c) way

C. Rephrase the following sentences so as to preserve the meaning:

1. If Florence Nightingale hadn’t looked after the sick soldiers during the Crimean war, she
wouldn’t have enjoyed such a great reputation.

…………………. the sick soldiers, she wouldn’t have enjoyed such a great reputation.

2. She was a remarkable woman and nobody can deny it.

1
 That ………………….

3. She had never been abroad before the Crimean war.

Never ………………….

II. Use the word given in brackets to form a word that fits in each sentence (10items
x1p=10 points)

1. How long do we have to sit in this police station waiting? It's making me feel
very……………. watching all these criminals walking past. (easy)

2. He did a great report on the future of the ship-building industry but I didn't agree with
his……………. at all. (conclude)

3. I'm afraid Mr. Perkins is……………. at the moment. He seems to be in a meeting. Is there any
message you would like me to pass on to him? (available)

4. People with……………..have been demanding better access to the local government

buildings downtown. They want a wheelchair ramp built and electric sliding doors. (able)

5. I don't speak Spanish very well but I can read it quite…………….. . (easy)

6. I accepted the job without……………. when I heard what the wage was! (hesitate)

7. Yesterday, the government announced a $10 million increase in the town's budget to try and
tackle the ……………. problem that exists. (house)

8. I do like your new friend Jasper. He tells the funniest jokes and seems to be a
very……………. young man. (entertain)

9. He has just asked me for money again. That's the……………. time and he doesn't seem to
understand the word "no"! (three)

10. Come to my house tomorrow……………. as early as possible. (prefer)

III. Translate the following text into English. (10 points)

Se opri brusc și mă privi fără să mă vadă , cu ochii sticloși. Cât a durat asta? Cât a durat? Dar l-
am văzut că se ridică și își caută servieta.
- Aș vrea să mai pot adăuga ceva, spuse el. Dar, așa cum mă așteptam, nu se mai poate adăuga
nimic. Căci, iertați-mă dacă îmi permiteți să fiu sincer, ce-ați putea înțelege mai mult acum decât
ați înțeles acum o jumătate de ceas, când vă spuneam că, pentru mine misterul este incognoscibil?
Într-un anumit sens, vă invidiez, dar pe de altă parte. Ce-aș mai putea adăuga? Acum că am
început să vă cunosc, nu pot spune decât atât, că ni se întâmplă, fiecăruia dintre noi, fel de fel de
lucruri, dar, din nefericire le uităm. Iar când nu le uităm, nu știm să le recunoaștem. Cu puțină
imaginație, aș fi putut să vă recunosc și atunci mi-aș fi amintit și eu tot ce-ar fi trebuit să-mi
amintesc.
Își luă servieta, ne strânse mâna cu căldură și ieși. Nu îndrăzneam să mai adăugăm ceva. Dar îl
priveam toți depărtându-se.

2
 SUBIECTUL B. INTEGRATED SKILLS

Read the text below and do the tasks that follow:

The American Heritage Dictionary defines euthanasia as “the act of killing a person painlessly for
reasons of mercy.” Such killing can be done through active means, such as administering a lethal
injection, or by passive means, such as withholding medical care or food and water.

In recent years in the United States, there have been numerous cases of active euthanasia in the news.
They usually involve the deliberate killing of ill or incapacitated persons by relatives or friends who
plead that they can no longer bear to see their loved ones suffer. Although such killings are a crime,
the perpetrators are often dealt with leniently by the legal system, and the media usually portrays
them as compassionate heroes who take personal risks to save another from unbearable suffering.

The seeming acceptance of active forms of euthanasia is alarming, but we face a bigger, more
insidious threat from passive forms of euthanasia. Every year, in hospitals and nursing homes around
the country, there are growing numbers of documented deaths caused by caregivers withholding life-
sustaining care, including food and water, from vulnerable patients who cannot speak for themselves.

While it is illegal to kill someone directly, for example with a gun or knife, in many cases the law
has put its stamp of approval on causing death by omitting needed care. Further, many states have
“living will” laws designed to protect those who withhold treatment, and there have been numerous
court rulings which have approved of patients being denied care and even starved and dehydrated to
death.

Because such deaths occur quietly within the confines of hospitals and nursing homes, they can be
kept hidden from the public. Most euthanasia victims are old or very ill, so their deaths might be
attributed to a cause other than the denial of care that really killed them. Further, it is often relatives
of the patient who request that care be withheld.

“Extraordinary” or “heroic” treatment need not be used when the chance for recovery is poor and
medical intervention would serve only to prolong the dying process. But to deny customary and
reasonable care or to deliberately starve or dehydrate someone because he or she is very old or very
ill should not be permitted. Most of the cases coming before the courts do not involve withholding
heroic measures from imminently dying people, but rather they seek approval for denying basic care,
such as administration of food and water, to people who are not elderly or terminally ill, but who are
permanently incapacitated. These people could be expected to live indefinitely, though in an
impaired state, if they were given food and water and minimal treatment.

No one has the right to judge that another’s life is not worth living. The basic right to life should not
be abridged because someone decides that someone else’s quality of life is too low. To protect
vulnerable patients, we must foster more positive attitudes towards people with serious and
incapacitating illnesses and conditions. Despite the ravages of their diseases, they are still our fellow
human beings and deserve our care and respect. We must also enact positive legislation that will
protect vulnerable people from those who consider their lives meaningless or too costly to maintain
and who would cause their deaths by withholding life-sustaining care such as food and water.

3
 III. For each question choose the correct answer A, B, C or D. (5 items x2p=10 points)

1. The tone of the author can best be described as

A. empathetic
B. argumentative
C. compassionate
D. emphatic

2. In paragraph 3, the author finds starvation and dehydration induced euthanasia is to

be “more insidious" because

A. euthanasia is legally considered to be a criminal act

B. the public’s attitude toward euthanasia is becoming more positive
C. it often involves those who cannot protest
D. the patient has asked to die with dignity

3. The author maintains that death by withholding care

A. occurs only in hospitals

B. occurs only in the case of the terminally ill
C. is often requested by family members
D. is difficult to prove if prosecuted

4. In paragraph 6, it is inferred that old or very ill people

A. should be allowed to live indefinitely, even if they are in an impaired state

B. shouldn’t be allowed to live indefinitely as they are in an impaired state
C. should be denied customary and reasonable treatment
D. will eventually die with or without customary and reasonable treatment

5. In the final paragraph the author writes, "Despite the ravages of their diseases, they are still
our fellow human beings and deserve our care and respect." The main purpose of this
statement is to

A. prove that euthanasia is justified

B. illustrate an example
C. object to a larger idea
D. justify an earlier statement

II. Write a for and against essay addressing the question below: (50 points)
Should euthanasia be legalized? (280-300 words)

NOTĂ
 Toate subiectele sunt obligatorii.
 Nu se acordă puncte din oficiu.

4
  Timp de lucru: 3 ore

KEY AND MARKING SCHEME CLASA a XIa SECTIUNEA B

SUBIECTUL A

I. (10x2p=20points)
A. Suggested answers

1. It was less well-known to the public, less dramatic, but more important and rewarding to
Miss Nightingale herself.
2. Because her work after the Crimea adventure was much more important and defining.
3. Both facts and opinions.
4. Her achievements were so great, so spectacular that her person was associated in popular
imagination with the deeds of the ancient heroes of the old myths and legends.

B. 1- a); 2- b); 3- c)

C. 1. Hadn’t she looked after/If she hadn’ t ……………………..

2. ……………………..she was a remarkable woman is undeniable.
3. ……………………..before the Crimean war had she been abroad.

II. (10 items x1p=10 points)

1. uneasy; 2 conclusion(s); 3 unavailable; 4 disabilities; 5 easily; 6.hesitation; 7 housing;
8. entertaining; 9. third; 10. preferably;

III. Translation (10 points)

Suggested answer:

He stopped short and looked at me with glassy eyes, without seeing me. How long did it last? How
long? But I saw him stand up and look for his briefcase.
I wish I could add something, he said. But as I expected, nothing more can be added. For, forgive me
if I take the liberty of being honest, what could you understand now besides what you understood
half an hour ago, when I was telling you that, to me, mystery is impossible to probe? In a way I envy
you, but on the other hand…what more, what else could I add? Now that I have come to know you a
little, I can only tell you that all kinds of incidents/things keep happening to each of us, but
unfortunately, we forget them. And when we do not forget them, we don’t know how to recognize
them. With a little imagination, I could have recognized you, and then, I, too, should have
remembered everything I ought to have remembered.’ He took his briefcase, shook our hands
warmly and left. We did not dare add anything. But we watched him going away.

SUBIECTUL B. INTEGRATED SKILLS

I. (5 items x2p=10 points) II. 50 p

1. C;
2. C;

5
3. C;
4. A;
5. D;