МИНИСТЕРСТВО НА ОБРАЗОВАНИЕТО, МЛАДЕЖТА И НАУКАТА

REGIONAL OLYMPIAD IN ENGLISH

2014
Group Four – 11th grade

Part Two
Reading Comprehension
Section One
Directions: Read the text below. Then read the questions that follow it and choose the
best answer to each question – A, B, C or D. Use the ANSWER SHEET.

The consulate knows I'm here?

For Langdon, the news brought an instantaneous flood of relief. Mr. Collins – who
had introduced himself as the consul general’s chief administrator – spoke in a firm,
professional tone, and yet there was urgency in his voice. "Mr. Langdon, you and I need
to speak immediately. And obviously not on the phone."
Nothing was obvious to Langdon at this point, but he wasn't about to interrupt.
"I'll have someone pick you up right away," Collins said. "What is your location?"
Sienna shifted nervously, listening to the interchange on speaker-phone. Langdon
gave her a reassuring nod, fully intending to follow her exactly.
"I'm in a small hotel called Pensione la Fiorentina," Langdon said, glancing across the
street at the drab hotel that Sienna had pointed out moments ago. He gave Collins the
street address.
"Got it," the man replied. "Don't move. Stay in your room. Someone will be there
right away. Room number?"
Langdon made one up. "Thirty-nine."
"Okay. Twenty minutes." Collins lowered his voice. "And, Mr. Langdon, it sounds
like you may be injured and confused, but I need to know … are you still in
possession?"
In possession. Langdon sensed the question, while cryptic, could have only one
meaning. His eyes moved to the biotube on the kitchen table. "Yes, sir. I'm still in
possession."
Collins exhaled audibly. "When we didn't hear from you, we assumed ... well, frankly,
we assumed the worst. I'm relieved. Stay where you are. Don't move. Twenty minutes.
Someone will knock on your door."
Collins hung up.
Langdon could feel his shoulders relaxing for the first time since he'd woken up in the
hospital. The consulate knows what's going on, and soon I'll have answers. Langdon
closed his eyes and let out a slow breath, feeling almost human now. His headache had
all but passed.
"Well, that was all very MI6," Sienna said in a half-joking tone. "Are you a spy?"
At the moment Langdon had no idea what he was. The notion that he could lose two
days of memory and find himself in an unrecognizable situation felt incomprehensible,
and yet here he was ... twenty minutes away from a rendezvous with a U.S. Consulate
official in a run-down hotel.
What's happening here?

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 He glanced over at Sienna, realizing they were about to part ways and yet feeling as if
they had unfinished business. He pictured the bearded doctor at the hospital, dying on
the floor before her eyes. "Sienna," he whispered, "your friend ... Dr. Marconi ... I feel
terrible."
She nodded blankly.
"And I'm sorry to have dragged you into this. I know your situation at the hospital is
unusual, and if there's an investigation ..." He trailed off.
"It's okay," she said. "I'm no stranger to moving around."
Langdon sensed in Sienna's distant eyes that everything had changed for her this
morning. Langdon's own life was in chaos at the moment, and yet he felt his heart going
out to this woman.
She saved my life ... and I've ruined hers.
They sat in silence for a full minute, the air between them growing heavy, as if they
both wanted to speak, and yet had nothing to say. They were strangers, after all, on a
brief and bizarre journey that had just reached a fork in the road, each of them now
needing to find separate paths.
"Sienna," Langdon finally said, "when I sort this out with the consulate, if there's
anything I can do to help you ... please."
"Thanks," she whispered, and turned her eyes sadly toward the window of her sublet.
***
As the minutes ticked past, Sienna Brooks gazed absently out the kitchen window and
wondered where the day would lead her. Wherever it was, she had no doubt that by
day's end, her world would look a lot different. She knew it was probably just the
adrenaline, but she found herself strangely attracted to the American professor. In
addition to his being handsome, he seemed to possess a sincerely good heart. In some
distant, alternate life, Robert Langdon might even be someone she could be with.
Suddenly something outside the window caught her eye. She bolted upright, pressing
her face to the glass and staring down into the street. "Robert, look!"
Langdon peered down into the street at the sleek black BMW motor-cycle that had
just rumbled to a stop in front of Pensione la Fiorentina. The driver was lean and strong,
wearing a black leather suit and helmet. As the driver gracefully swung off the bike and
removed a polished black helmet, Sienna could hear Langdon stop breathing. The
woman's spiked hair was unmistakable.
She produced a familiar handgun, checked the silencer, and slid it back inside her
jacket pocket. Then, moving with lethal grace, she slipped inside the hotel.
"Robert," Sienna whispered, her voice taut with fear. "The U.S. government just sent
someone to kill you."

1. Robert Langdon is
A. an employee at the U.S. Consulate in Italy.
B. an American professor visiting Italy.
C. an MI6 agent on a secret mission to Italy.
D. an international assassin with a killer job in Italy.

2. At the beginning of the text, the only thing clear to Robert Langdon is that
A. Mr. Collins is not the man he pretends to be.
B. he can’t explain the details of his situation over the phone.
C. he needs to trust the woman with him unreservedly.
D. the U.S. Consulate will help him.

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3. Robert Langdon is calling the U.S. Consulate
A. from his room in the Pensione la Fiorentina hotel.
B. from the hospital he was taken to after being shot.
C. from a room in Sienna Brooks’ apartment.
D. using his cell phone on the street.

4. When Langdon says he’s “still in possession”, he means

A. he still has something Mr. Collins is looking for.
B. he has regained full consciousness after the accident.
C. he’s in control of the situation despite all troubles.
D. he’s not seized by panic and has managed to keep cool.

5. It can be inferred from the text that the biotube on the kitchen table
A. holds some medicine which Sienna bought for Langdon.
B. is a harmless personal possession of Mr. Collins’.
C. was the weapon used to kill Dr. Marconi.
D. probably contains some kind of potent biohazard.

6. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. Dr. Marconi died while someone tried to kill Langdon.
B. Sienna played a key role in saving Langdon’s life.
C. Sienna has always worked at the same hospital.
D. Langdon and Sienna have grown very fond of each other.

7. In return for what Sienna has done for him, Langdon

A. invites her to the rendezvous with the U.S. Consulate official.
B. encourages her to quit her job at the hospital and run away with him.
C. promises to assist her in case of a police investigation.
D. plans to marry her when eventually he sorts out his own life.

8. The development of the situation at the end of the text comes as a surprise
A. only to Sienna.
B. only to Langdon.
C. to both of them.
D. to neither of them.

9. The killer
A. arrives in a black BMW.
B. has a distinctive appearance.
C. is a lean man in a leather suit.
D. knows where Langdon’s hiding.

10. Which of the following objects in the killer’s possession does Langdon
remember from their earlier encounter?
A. The murder weapon.
B. The black helmet.
C. The U.S. Consulate official badge.
D. None of the above.

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Section Two
Directions: Read the text below about stress and ways of coping with it. Five
paragraphs have been removed from it. Choose from paragraphs A-F after the text the
one which best fits each gap 1-5. There is one extra paragraph which you do not need
to use. Write your answers on the ANSWER SHEET.
Diana’s Story: Private Anguish, Public Trauma
When 700 million people around the world tuned in their TV sets on July 29, 1981,
they knew what they were looking for. They wanted to see Lady Diana Spencer step
down from a glass coach in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London. They wanted to see
the fabulous gown in which she was about to wed Charles, Prince of Wales. And more
than anything else, they wanted to witness the fulfilment of the ultimate fantasy: the
marriage of a beautiful young girl to a prince in his fairy-tale kingdom. They looked
toward the promise of life lived happily ever after. It was a marriage that brought the
promised love of the new princess’s people. It was a grand moment, and in homes
across the globe, 700 million viewers could not take their eyes off the splendid sight.
1. _____
The eventual coming to terms with this truth, however, was a long and painful
process. And while the Princess of Wales publicly tried to exude an air of dignified
serenity, in private she was pushed to the edge of despair, and, on more than one
occasion, she almost plummeted over the precipice.
2. _____
Diana could also be fiery, bullish, incredibly stubborn, and unreasonably demanding
in her expectations of those around her. She was not unaware of the resentment that her
glamorous image and sometimes flirtatious gestures could inspire in other women. She
wanted to be loved, and had little time for those who chose not to admire her.
All this, of course, could have been the result of insecurity stemming from a
troubled childhood in which she unjustifiably took upon herself part of the blame for
her parents' divorce. It could also be attributed to the fact that Diana married a man to
whom she was once wholly dedicated, but who reciprocated little in terms of either
warmth or attention.
3. _____
The present royal family wanted very much to continue this proper tradition, despite
the fact that past members of the family had not always behaved in the accepted
manner. Edward VII, for example, successor and son to Queen Victoria, happily
indulged himself in extramarital affairs. But royal carryings-on of this sort were
conveniently ignored and royal life continued in the grand, familiar fashion. This
method of dealing with royal indiscretion worked acceptably until the 1930s, when
Edward VIII threw an enormous wrench into the royal works by opting for abdication in
order to experience married life with the commoner (and two-time divorcee), Wallis
Simpson. Somewhat more recently, Princess Margaret provided the royal family with
embarrassment and the public with plenty of juicy gossip via her romances with Peter
Townsend and Roddy Lowellyn, and her rather short-lived marriage to Tony
Armstrong-Jones.
4. _____

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 Yet all this came at the end of a calm period during the early to mid-eighties when
royal popularity was at one of its all-time highs. This was due in no small part to Diana,
for her arrival on the scene was like a breath of fresh air pumping new life into the
monarchy, revamping its traditionally stuffy image, and changing the public
perspective. Suddenly, here was someone whose appearance and whole demeanour gave
added depth to the term "royal glamour" – a sweet-faced debutante, who looked equally
at ease dressed up in traditional costume or modelling the creations of Britain's top
fashion designers as she was sporting a baseball cap, T-shirt, and jeans. She was
outwardly reserved while retaining youthful vivacity: a modern-day princess with the
style and charisma to capture the imagination of the press and the hearts of the people.
5. _____
The importance and effect of such work should not be underestimated, and this
aspect alone helped justify Diana's lofty position. It also provided people with the
perfect reason for liking her. She was seen as generous and kind, earning her keep, and
therefore worthy of everyone's affection. Everyone, that is, except her husband, a
supreme irony in light of the fact that it was his attention and approval that she craved
the most in the early days of their marriage.
What followed is a story of romance, heartache, loneliness, fabulous recognition,
and unfulfilled dreams. It is the tale of a poor little rich girl who was forced to grow up
quickly and to reassess her values in life. The story is worthy of the longest running
soap opera, and it is a story that ended far too soon.

A. Despite all this, during that time Diana blossomed from a charming, sweet girl,
into a highly attractive, self-assured, and gracious woman. At once a loving mother and
princess, she attended to a considerable list of royal duties with the same degree of care
and dedication as she provided her own two boys. Her most striking physical features
were her height – almost 6 feet tall in heels – her beautiful blonde hair, and crystal blue
eyes. According to those who were closest to her, Diana was warm and endearing, with
a sharp sense of humour that was often camouflaged by her apparent unimposing
manner.

B. Over the years, such irregularities have made slight chinks in the royal armour,
but they have been sufficiently spaced apart to cause little damage to the monarchy's
overall image. This has not been the case in recent times, however, as one royal disaster
followed another in such quick succession that the family felt itself reeling under the
weight of increasingly adverse and unsympathetic public opinion.

C. On the other hand, especially during periods of economic recession, the British
taxpayers are less willing to subsidize a lifestyle more attuned to Beverly Hills than
Buckingham Palace. Royal glamour is one thing, but Hollywood it is not. When lavish
amounts of money were apparently being spent on clothes, makeup, and glitzy
vacations, and, worse still, the national figureheads behaved in less than royal fashion,
tongues began to wag, grievances were aired, and headlines glared. Diana was not the
sole culprit in this regard, and not necessarily the worst, either.

D. The girl did marry her prince, and she did get to live in palatial splendour amid
an opulent lifestyle. And she had the love of her adoring public. Yet the rest of the

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fairytale eluded Diana. It remains only the stuff of dreams, romantic novels, and old-
fashioned Hollywood movies. For the television viewers could not have known that
behind the cultured looks and the shy smile there was a naive, confused 20-year old,
about to enter a loveless marriage, to suffer the consequences of a match made
anywhere but in heaven. Aspiring to the dream is one thing, but living it was quite
another, and this was a lesson that Diana, the young aristocrat from a broken home,
started to learn almost before her marriage began.

E. Diana managed to acquire the status of the favourite royal. A caring soul, she
worked tirelessly for a very long list of charitable causes. Among them were Dr.
Barnardo's (Britain's largest child-care institution), and Help the Aged. She was also
involved with many health-connected projects relating to drug rehabilitation, deafness,
blindness, cancer, and AIDS. All of this work deservedly gained her the love and
admiration of millions of people around the world. But Diana was not content in the
role of president or patron of these many and varied organizations. She went out of her
way to promote each cause, to help raise the much-needed funds, and to provide support
where she could for those who were ill or for those put in charge of caring for them. Just
the simple act of shaking ungloved hands with patients at a London hospital's AIDS unit
sent a clear message around the globe, helping to dispel the widespread prejudice and
ignorance attached to this horrible disease.

F. Either way, one thing was certain: in her own inimitably sweet way, Diana gave
the British monarchy a jolt. This was not all bad. Diana's manner and point of view
opened the eyes of a country that was steeped in Victoriana – the mode of an earlier age
when Britain still ruled much of the world; when the word of British men was law and
the place of proper British women was in the home. The Victorian era valued
appearance above everything else. If there was philandering or other scandal in high
places, it was discreetly ignored or hushed up.

Part Three
Use of English
Section One: Cloze
Directions: Read the text below and for each numbered gap 1-20 circle the letter (A, B,
C or D) of the word or phrase that best suits each space. Use the ANSWER SHEET.

Born on February 8, 1955 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to a construction worker and a

homemaker, John Grisham 1. A. like B. as C. when D. while a child dreamed of
being a professional baseball player. 2. A. Finding B. Inferring C. Comprehending
D. Realising he didn’t have the right stuff for a pro career, he shifted gears and majored
3. A. in B. on C. for D. to accounting at Mississippi State University. After
graduating from law school at Ole Miss in 1981, he went on to 4. A. exercise B. apply
C. practise D. implement law for nearly a decade in Southaven, specializing in
criminal defense and personal injury litigation. In 1983, he was elected to the state

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House of Representatives and 5. A. served B. acted C. performed D. functioned until
1990.
One day at the Dessoto County courthouse, Grisham 6. A. eavesdropped
B. overheard C. listened D. snooped the harrowing testimony of a twelve-year-old
rape victim and was inspired to start a novel exploring what would have happened if the
girl’s father had murdered her assailants. Getting up at 5 a.m. every day to get 7. A. in
B. on C. up D. out several hours of writing time before heading 8. A. for B. away
C. off D. on to work, Grisham spent three years on A Time to Kill and finished it in
1987. Initially 9. A. ejected B. dejected C. objected D. rejected by many publishers,
it was eventually bought by Wynwood press, who gave it a modest 5,000 copy printing
and published it in June 1988.
That might have put a/an 10. A. cross B. end C. final D. stop to Grisham’s
hobby. However, he had already begun his next book, and it would quickly turn that
hobby into a new full-time career – and 11. A. flash B. twinkle C. spark D. flicker
one of publishing’s greatest success stories. The day after Grisham completed A Time to
Kill, he began work on another novel, the story of a 12. A. hotpot B. pot shot C. shot
put D. hotshot young attorney 13. A. lured B. tempted C. appealed D. fascinated to
an apparently perfect law firm that was not what it appeared. When he sold the film
rights to The Firm to Paramount Pictures for $600,000, Grisham suddenly became a/an
14. A. easy B. cosy C. fast D. hot property among publishers, and book rights were
bought by Doubleday. Spending 47 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, The
Firm became the bestselling novel of 1991.
The successes of The Pelican Brief, which also hit number one on the New York
Times bestseller list, and The Client, which debuted at number one,
15. A. acknowledged B. confirmed C. supported D. commended Grisham’s
reputation as the master of the legal thriller. Grisham’s success even renewed interest in
A Time to Kill, which was republished in 16. A. cardboard B. solid-bound
C. hardcover D. firm jacket by Doubleday and then in paperback by Dell. This time
17. A. around B. over C. about D. again , it was a bestseller.
Since first publishing A Time to Kill in 1988, Grisham has written one novel a year
and all of them have become bestsellers, 18. A. making B. letting C. leading
D. resulting Publishers Weekly to declare him “the bestselling novelist of the 90s”.
There are 19. A. lately B. recently C. contemporarily D. currently over 60 million
John Grisham books in print worldwide, which have been translated into twenty-nine
languages. Seven of his novels have been turned into films (The Firm, The Pelican
Brief, The Client, A Time to Kill, The Rainmaker, The Chamber, and A Painted House),
20. A. likewise B. as C. similarly D. also was an original screenplay, The
Gingerbread Man.

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Section Two: Error Identification
Directions: Some of the sentences below contain an error in grammar or usage. Others
are correct. The error, if any, is contained in one of the underlined parts of the
sentence. For each sentence, circle the letter (A, B or C) of the underlined part that
contains the mistake. If there is no error in the sentence, mark answer D. Use the
ANSWER SHEET.

1. John Kennedy was an extremely popular president: he planned to improve education

A
and civil rights in the US, although it was Lyndon B. Johnson who actually achieved
B C
most of these plans after Kennedy’s death. No error
D

2. The driver attempted to turn into Acorn Lane but he was going too fast to negotiate
A B
safely the corner and smashed into a lamp post. No error
C D

3. Not only keeping fit will help you control your weight, but it will also give you
A B
a sense of general well-being. No error
C D

4. I believe Sheila does want to work for us, but she’s playing hard to get so that we
A B
offer to her more money. No error
C D

5. The team has been under a lot of pressure recently, which may account for their
A B
poor performance in the game last night. No error
C D

6. Gossip was commonplace among the committee members, who were ever so anxious
A B
to know each others’ business and affairs. No error
C D

7. It is often said that travel broadens the mind and I would agree since the experience
A
one gets from, say, visiting a foreign country can give you a completely different
B C
perspective on life. No error
D

8. Richard Jackson and his wife are said to have spent their honeymoon going down
A B
Zambezi river in a canoe. No error
C D

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9. Due to the increased number of late returns, it is proposed that a five pounds fine
A
be imposed upon any student who is late returning his or her library books. No error
B C D

10. Evidence of everyday practices, social customs and modes of thought can be found
A
in this now obsolete local terminology, which might otherwise been forgotten
B
were it not for the words that denote them. No error
C D

11. Students often spend time worrying about the text they are reading at word level
A
rather than trying to get a more global view of what’s it about. No error
B C D

12. Being a reporter on a student newspaper can be a daunting task – you have to ensure
A
that students on the college campus are aware of everything they need to know,
B
especially the stuff that others would rather they don’t. No error
C D

13. There’s more to being a top chef than just create fabulous dishes: it’s all about
A B
teamwork, and basically I just wasn’t up to being in charge of a whole kitchenful
C
of people. No error
D

14. I could sense time passing and I knew that if I didn’t give it a try,
A
I’d never have known if I had it in me to be a writer. No error
B C D

15. Answer all test questions, even if you are not sure, as there are no marks deducted
A
for wrong answers and it maybe that you have understood and know more than
B
you think. No error
C D

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Section Three: Paraphrase
Directions: Transform the sentences in bold type following the instructions and
choosing one of the suggested structures - A, B or C - so that the meaning is best
preserved. Circle the right letter on the ANSWER SHEET.

1. I regret wasting my time with him, for in the end he did what he wanted to do.
Finish with “... for in the end he did what he wanted to do.” and choose a beginning
among:
A. I needed not wasting my time with him
B. I didn’t need to waste my time with him
C. I needn’t have wasted my time with him

2. The two boys can’t be our witnesses at the trial as they don’t speak Spanish.
Finish with “..., so they can’t be our witnesses at the trial.” and choose a beginning
among:
A. Neither boy speak Spanish,
B. Neither boy speaks Spanish,
C. Neither boy doesn’t speak Spanish,

3. “You should begin to act your age,” the teachers often told Jim.
Start with “In the teachers’ opinion it was high time Jim …” and choose an ending among:
A. to begin to act his age.
B. begins to act his age.
C. began to act his age.

4. We got on the bus and immediately realised that the video camera was missing.
Finish with “… that the video camera was missing.” and choose a beginning among:
A. No sooner had we got on the bus than we realized
B. We hardly got on the bus when we realized
C. The minute we got on the bus, we had realized

5. Opportunities for the IT business were better five years ago.

Start with “Opportunities for the IT business are …” and choose an ending among:
A. not so well as they had been for the past five years.
B. not so good as they would be five years ago.
C. not as good as they used to be five years ago.

6. Our only chance of survival is to continue climbing.

Transform the sentence, choosing among:
A. We should have continued climbing to survive.
B. We may survive if we continue climbing.
C. In order to survive we must be continuing to climb.

7. They didn’t give him the job because he was late for the interview.
Start with “Being late for the interview, …” and choose an ending among:
A. they didn’t give him the job.
B. he was not given the job.
C. the job was not given to him.

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8. She doesn’t particularly like driving, but she decided to go sightseeing by car.
Finish with “… she decided to go sightseeing by car.” and choose a beginning among:
A. Dislike driving as she may,
B. In spite her dislike for driving,
C. Even though disliking driving,

9. I wished I had asked a mechanic to check the car before I bought it.
Start with “I regretted ...” and choose an ending among:
A. not checking the car before I bought it.
B. buying the car without having it checked.
C. having bought the car without checking it.

10. The only reason for his defeat was not training hard enough.
Transform the sentence, choosing among:
A. What led to his defeat was not enough training.
B. It was hardly training which led to his defeat.
C. No hard training was why did he get defeated.

Part Four
Writing
Directions: Write an essay of 220-260 words on ONE of the following topics. Comment
drawing upon your own experience, observations or reading.

1. Many people today seem to believe that education abroad is much better than in Bulgaria.
What’s your opinion? Use factual arguments and give reasons to support your opinion.

2. “Success comes before work only in the dictionary.” Do you agree or disagree with this
statement? Give your opinion supporting it with arguments and examples.

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МИНИСТЕРСТВО НА ОБРАЗОВАНИЕТО, МЛАДЕЖТА И НАУКАТА

REGIONAL OLYMPIAD IN ENGLISH - 2014

Group Four – 11th grade

ANSWER SHEET
Part One
Dictation

13
Part Two
Reading Comprehension
Section One Section Two
1. A B C D 6. A B C D 1. ______
2. A B C D 7. A B C D 2. ______
3. A B C D 8. A B C D 3. ______
4. A B C D 9. A B C D 4. ______
5. A B C D 10. A B C D 5. ______

Part Three
Use of English

Section One: Cloze

1. A B C D 8. A B C D 15. A B C D
2. A B C D 9. A B C D 16. A B C D
3. A B C D 10. A B C D 17. A B C D
4. A B C D 11. A B C D 18. A B C D
5. A B C D 12. A B C D 19. A B C D
6. A B C D 13. A B C D 20. A B C D
7. A B C D 14. A B C D

Section Two: Error Identification

1. A B C D 6. A B C D 11. A B C D
2. A B C D 7. A B C D 12. A B C D
3. A B C D 8. A B C D 13. A B C D
4. A B C D 9. A B C D 14. A B C D
5. A B C D 10. A B C D 15. A B C D

Section Three: Paraphrase

1. A B C 6. A B C
2. A B C 7. A B C
3. A B C 8. A B C
4. A B C 9. A B C
5. A B C 10. A B C

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Part Four
Writing

Topic 1 / Topic 2 (Please underline to indicate your choice.)

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