OLIMPIADA DE LIMBA ENGLEZA, ETAPA PE SCOALA 2022-2023

SECTIUNEA B CLASA a XI-a

QUESTION 1 (75 POINTS) USE OF ENGLISH

1. READING COMPREHENSION (25 POINTS)

Read the following text and complete the tasks:

Of all the many wonderful ways of running for recreational fitness perhaps one of the most interesting, and certainly
one of the toughest, is parkour. It might be quite a relatively new sport, but it’s fast gaining in popularity all over the
world.

So, what is it? Parkour is what is known as a type of free-running. In other words, participants run in any kind of
urban or rural setting and not just on streets or in stadiums. Parkour doesn’t only include running, though. (1) This is
because participants don’t just run around obstacles, such as walls or buildings, but over them. So they need to be
very fit, agile and strong, with a lot of stamina in order to take part in the sport.

The name of the sport comes from a French word that was first used to describe military obstacle course training
developed by Georges Herbert, a French naval officer. (2) He later used this obstacle course training as the basis for
the development of the sport associated with his name.

In the beginning, parkour was just a way for Belle and a few of his friends to train. (3) They just wanted to use the
features of the surroundings, the urban environment, to develop a training method that involved lots of different
athletic skills. The idea behind parkour is to find the most efficient way to overcome environmental obstacles. The
object is to get over walls, fences and buildings in a way that is graceful and uses good techniques.

Participation in the sport soon grew as its popularity gradually increased. Many of those who take part in it see it as
a way of life, as well as a sport. For them, doing the sport is a new way of interacting with the urban environment. It
is not a competitive sport. (4) It is a way of reclaiming urban spaces from buildings and objects and making them
more human.

Anyone can take up training in the discipline of parkour, as no special equipment is needed. Most participants
favour light weight and loose clothing. So T-shirts and jogging trousers along with proper running shoes are about
the only shoes needed. Some participants like to wear thin gloves to help protect their hands while climbing. The
lack of equipment and the fact that it can be done anywhere has helped fuel the popularity of the sport.

Parkour can certainly be dangerous. (5) However, participants insist that it is not as dangerous as you might imagine.
They say that as learning climbing, jumping and landing techniques is an important part of the training that helps
increase safety.

A. (2p x 5=10p) 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. David Belle, the recognized founder of the sport, had learnt to keep fit from his father by doing this
type of training.
b. Instead of trying to “beat” others, the idea is to develop yourself to the utmost of your limits,
c. One reason for this is because it doesn’t take place in environments which can be controlled.
d. It’s a sport that requires climbing, jumping and gymnastics skills.

1
 e. Some participants like to wear thin gloves to help protect their hands while climbing.
f. They didn’t imagine that the other people might want to learn how to do it.
B. (3p x 5= 15p) For the following questions choose the answer (A,B,C or D) which fits according to the
text.
1. Parkour is a sport which
A. any good runner can practise successfully.
B. involves other sports activities beside running.
C. is the best way to train for a marathon.
D. you do on the city streets and on stadiums.

2. What is the purpose when doing parkour?

A. jump effortlessly over anything obstructing your way
B. train hard for future athletic competitions
C. to find shortcuts among buildings
D. to learn wall climbing

3. For many participants parkour

A. is more than just a sporting activity.
B. is a way of getting to know the urban environment.
C. which teaches them the importance of victory.
D. is a chance to become more human.

4. What do you need to practice parkour?

A. thin gloves to protect your hands
B. suitable running shoes
C. special equipment is necessary.
D. you need to wear light colours so you can be easily noticed

5. Why is parkour not dangerous?

A. Because you learn climbing before you start doing it in the city.
B. It is safe because they do it in a familiar environment
C. You can imagine the dangers and you can prevent accidents.
D. As you learn the techniques, you learn how to protect yourself.

II. 2,5p x 10=25p) Re-phrase the following sentences so that the meaning stays the same, using the word in
capitals. You must not change the word in CAPITALS.

1. “Do your homework first, and then you can go to the cinema,” said Jamie’s mother. LONG
Jamie’s mother agreed to let him go to the cinema…...………………..his homework first.
2. They are decorating our living room, so the house is a mess. DONE
We are…………………………………….., so the house is a mess.
3. Harry thought of throwing a surprise party for Katie’s birthday. CAME
Harry………………………………….. of throwing a surprise party for Katie’s birthday.
4. I was just about to call him when he rang me instead POINT
I was…………………………………. when he rang me instead.
5. “You really must stay and have dinner with us!” Laura said to us. STAYING
Laura……………………………………………………..for dinner.

2
 6. If you need me, call me anytime, night or day. MATTER
Call me if you need me,…………………………………………….be.
7. We’re going to miss the start of the film if we don’t hurry. TIME
Unless we hurry, the film……………………………….we get there.
8. This wardrobe is so big that I don’t believe only one person assembled it. HAVE
This wardrobe is so big that it ……………………………………together by only one person.
9. Someone snatched Sue’s bag at the concert. HAD
Sue ………………………………………… at the concert.
10. “I really don’t like what the press are saying about me, “said Tina. OBJECTED
Tina………………………………………………..about her by the press.

III.(2.5p x 10 = 25p) Read the text below and use the words written 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. CREATE, 2.INFLUENCE, 3. INSPIRE, 4.GENEROUS, 5. REST, 6. MEDICINE,

7. ADMIRE, 8. ENTHUSE, 9. COURAGE, 10. CRY

Famous the world over as the 1………………..of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh
in 1859 into an Irish family who were 2……………..in the art world. Arthur probably inherited the ability to tell
stories from his mother, who was a source of 3……………….to him. Thanks to the 4……………..of some
relatives, Arthur was able to study medicine at Edinburgh University. He was a bright student but 5………….., and
his zest for adventure led him to accept a contract as ship’s surgeon. Returning home, he completed his
6……………studies in 1881 and eventually settled in the south of England.

It is believed that Doyle based Holmes’ character on one of his university tutors, Dr Joseph Bell, whom he regarded
with 7………………..for his powers of logic. The first Sherlock Holmes story was received with such
8…………………that Doyle was 9…………………to write more. In 1893 he killed off his hero in order to
concentrate on writing what he saw as more serious work , but this caused a public 10…………………and he was
forced to bring Holmes back to life.

V. QUESTION II (25 POINTS) PARAGRAPH WRITING

Write an 8-10- line for and against paragraph starting from the following quotation:

“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”Winston Churchill

100 PUNCTE- TOATE SUBIECTELE SUNT OBLIGATORII. TIMP DE LUCRU 3 ORE.

NU SE ACORDA PUNCTE DIN OFICIU.