MEN – ISJ CLUJ

OLIMPIADA LIMBA ENGLEZA

ETAPA LOCALA – CLASA A 8-A
18 FEBRUARIE 2017
VARIANTA 1

I. Read the following text and choose the right answer: (5x5= 25points)

Let children learn to judge their own work. A child learning to talk does not learn by being corrected all
the time: if corrected too much he will stop talking. He notices a thousand times a day the difference
between the language he uses and the language those around him use. Bit by bit he makes the necessary
changes to make his language like other people’s. In the same way, children learning to do all the other
things, they learn to do without being taught – to walk, run, climb, whistle, ride a bicycle – compare
their own performances with those of more skilled people, and slowly make the needed changes.
But in school we never give the child a chance to find out his mistakes for himself, let alone correct
them. We do it all for him. We act as if we thought that he would never notice a mistake unless it was
pointed out to him, or correct it unless he was made to. Soon he becomes dependent on the teacher. Let
him do it himself. Let him work out, with the help of other children if he wants it, what this word says,
what the answer is to that problem, whether this is a good way of saying or doing this or not.
If it is a matter of right answer, as it may be in mathematics or science, give him the answer book. Let
him correct his own papers. Why should we teachers waste time on such routine work? Our job should
be to help the child when he tells us that he can’t find the way to get the right answer. Let’s end all this
nonsense of grades, exams, marks. Let us throw them all out, and let the children learn what all
educated persons must some day learn, how to measure their own understanding, how to know what
they know or do not know.
Let them get on with this job in the way that seems most sensible to them, with our help as school
teachers if they ask for it. The idea that there is a body of knowledge to be learnt at school and used for
the rest of one’s life is nonsense in a world as complicated and rapidly changing as ours. Anxious
parents and teachers say, “But suppose they fail to learn something essential, something they will need
to get on in the world?” Don’t worry. If it is essential, they will go out into the world and learn it.
(englishteststore.net)
1. What does the author think is the best way to learn things?
A) by copying what other people do;
B) by making mistakes and having them corrected;
C) by listening to explanations from skilled people;
D) by asking a great many question.

2. What does the author think teachers do which they should not do?
A) They give children correct answers;
B) They point out children’s mistakes to them;
C) They allowed children to mark their own work;
D) They encourage children to copy from one another.

3. The passage suggests that learning to speak and learning to ride a bicycle are …….
A) not really important skills;
B) more important than other skills;
C) basically different from learning adult skills;
D) basically the same as learning other skills.

4. Exams, grades and marks should be abolished because children’s progress should only be
estimated by …………
A) educated persons;
B) the children themselves;
 C) teachers;
D) parents.

5. The author fears that children will grow up into adults who are ………….
A) too dependent of others;
B) too critical of themselves;
C) unable to think for themselves;
D) unable to use basic skills.

II. A Choose the best variant (a, b, c or d): (1x10 points)

1. It’s the …………. in this country to offer little badges on 1 March.
a) use; b) habit; c) norm; d) custom

2. They’re staying with us ………. the time being.

a) during; b) in; c) for; d) since

3. She……….. the blouse but it was obviously too small.

a) put off; b) tried on; c) tried; d) tested

4. When I got home, he had already ……… asleep.

a) become; b) gone; c) grown; d) fallen

5. Mary had no hesitation and agreed to join us…….. .

a) at first; b) at best; c) at once; d) at least

6. They would go for a run if…………. .

a) it were not for the storm; b) it would not be for the storm; c) the storm were not; d) the
storm would not be

7. ………..the lack of conversation I enjoyed my stay there.

a) Except; b) In spite; c) Apart from; d) Although

8. I will go fishing with you tomorrow if I ……….. free.

a) am; b) will be; c) shall be; d) were

9. ………… one million people visit Disneyland every year.

a) Many than; b) More than; c) There are more than; d) Much more than

10. ……………. his composition, Jack went to school.

a) After he had written; b) When writing; c) After he has written; d) He wrote
II. B Read the text below and think of a word which best fits each space. Use only one word in
each space ! Money (1x10 =10 points)

There is no doubt that money, in the form that we know it today, 1. ……………………..what keeps
modern economic life functioning. But, throughout history, money, in whatever form, has provided
people 2. ……………the ability to buy 3. …………………..sell goods.

Thousands of years 4. …………., civilizations 5. …………….to rely on the barter system as a method
of exchanging goods. Within this system a person had to exchange one thing for 6. ……………. This
meant that the two parties involved had to 7. …………………an agreement as to what they thought
their products were worth. Items such 8. …………………wheat, tobacco and cocoa beans have been
used as money at one time or another. It was not until much later that people came up 9. ....................
the idea of money in the form of metal coins . So why did the barter system 10. ...............to an end?
Coins were much easier to handle and carry around. Since then, the use of coins has become
widespread. It has made business and trading simpler and has given countries an opportunity of
development by doing business with other countries.

II. C Rewrite the following sentences starting with the words given, so that the meaning stays
the same: (2 p x 5= 10 p)
1. We’re quite sure they are not working now.
They can’t ……………………………….. .
2. Both his mother and his father play the guitar well.
Not only…………………………………………… .
3. It’s a pity I didn’t notice the change.
I wish………………………………. .
4. Someone will steal her expensive phone if she carries it in that open bag.
She will have……………………………………………………….. .
5. They didn’t go for a walk because they were tired.
If………………………………………………………… .

II. D WORD FORMATION 1x10 points

Use the words in capitals to form a word that fits into the space next to it!
STAYING HEALTHY
In today’s hectic world people are always searching for more ways of keeping fit and 1. _________
(HEALTH). Running is an excellent exercise for achieving this goal. Before you start, however, you
should warm up and concentrate on slow 2. ______________________ (MOVE) that make all your
muscles work. But be careful! If you stretch when your muscles are cold, you might actually risk an
3. ______________________ (INJURE). Always wear 4. ______________________ (COMFORT)
clothing and make sure your 5. ______________________ (TRAIN) are in good shape. Wear good
shoes that will put less 6. ______________________ (PRESS) on your knees.
Staying healthy also requires enough sleep. It’s 7. ___________________(OCCASION) OK to go to
bed late, but if you cut down on your sleep 8. ____________________ (REGULAR) it will have a bad
effect on your overall health. It will also affect your 9. ______________________ (APPEAR). Lack of
sleep can cause acne or dry skin. Stay active during the day. If you don’t get enough exercise during
the day, you may end up 10. __________________ (SLEEP) all night.

III. Write a narrative composition of about 150-180 words starting with the following sentences:

“Our athlete neighbour organized a charitable race for all the children living in the poor areas of
the city. It was early October, and when I heard…….”. Give your story a title. (25 points)