MINISTERUL EDUCAŢ IEI NAȚ IONALE

INSPECTORATUL Ș COLAR AL MUNICIPIULUI BUCUREȘ TI

OLIMPIADA DE LIMBA ENGLEZĂ 2019-2020, ETAPA PE SCOALA,
SECȚ IUNEA B - CLASA A X-A - VARIANTA 1

QUESTION I (75 POINTS): USE OF ENGLISH

I. READING COMPREHENSION (25 p)

Read the following text and complete the tasks:

A steep learning curve

Living in an area of the country where there’s little more than a slight incline to stroll up on the way to
the shops, the highest climb I’d ever done was up the stairs to bed. As a writer on an adventure sports
magazine, I’d always fought shy of doing the adventurous stuff myself, preferring instead to observe the
experts from a safe distance and relay their experiences to readers in the form of prose. (1)______

Despite their awe-inspiring strength and agility, even experienced climbers fail to make climbing look
simple. I knew a mammoth task lay before me if I was to get into even half-decent physical shape before
the four thousand-meter climb, which would involve sheer rock faces and steep, snow-covered terrain.
(2)______

I was lucky enough to have a brilliant climbing coach called Keith, who put me through my paces after
the daily grind at the keyboard was over. (3)______I listened, speechless while he went into detail about
everything to do with the sport. It quickly became apparent that the mechanics of climbing were more
complex than I could have ever imagined. And it wasn’t only the strength and endurance-building to
contend with, but the gear, too. I had to get to the grips with an array of equipment and techniques I’d
never even heard of: ‘crampons’, ‘glissade’ and ‘self-arrest’, all of which, I learned, would come in handy
on the snow-capped peak I’d be ascending in a few months’ time.

All too soon I was on the plane to my destination - Switzerland. Early one clear spring morning I peered
out of a hostel window and up at the mountain I would attempt to ascend that day. My hard-won
confidence took a nosedive as the enormity of what I’d let myself in for struck me as suddenly as an
avalanche. I sank down on my bed and for a moment considered fleeing. And then I remembered all the
hard work I’d done to get here and how disappointed Keith would be if I ducked out at the last minute -
not to mention letting down the charity and the sense of failure I’d experience myself. (4)______

And as I sit here now, tapping away on my laptop, with the ordeal safely behind me, I’m amazed at the
detail in which I can recall every second of the climb; the burning muscles, the sheer exhaustion, the
minor setbacks along the way. (5)______ Possibly. Would I be back for another go? Thankfully not. The
exhilaration of standing on top of the world is a never-to-be-repeated experience, but one I will cherish
forever, nonetheless.

A. (2px5=10 points) 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. I set about consuming not only energy-boosting food to help me get through my intense training
regime, but also devouring every climbing magazine I could get my hands on.
B. Could I have been better prepared?

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 MINISTERUL EDUCAŢ IEI NAȚ IONALE
INSPECTORATUL Ș COLAR AL MUNICIPIULUI BUCUREȘ TI
OLIMPIADA DE LIMBA ENGLEZĂ 2019-2020, ETAPA PE SCOALA,
SECȚ IUNEA B - CLASA A X-A - VARIANTA 1

C. My mentor imparted keen knowledge about everything from the importance of building specific
muscle groups to how to combat fatigue through nutrition.
D. With a deep breath I tied my boot laces, gathered my gear and headed out into the sunshine to meet
the rest of the group.
E. So, when I was challenged to take part in a mountain climb in aid for raising money for charity - and
to write about it afterwards - I was unwilling, to say the least.
F. I perfected my technique on the climbing wall.

B. (3px5=15 points) For the following questions, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits
according to the text.

1. In the first paragraph, the writer reveals his

A. difficulty in accurately recounting the stories of expert sportspeople.
B. disappointment in the exercise opportunities available in his town.
C. lack of interest in listening to professional climbers’ personal tales.
D. lack of enthusiasm for the challenge he’d been offered.

2. In the second paragraph, we know that the writer is

A. keen to learn as much about mountain climbing as he is able to.
B. worried that he won’t have time to prepare well enough for the climb.
C. amazed by how easy professional climbers make the activity seem.
D. concerned about the difficulty of climbing in certain conditions.

3. What do we learn in the third paragraph?

A. The coach makes the writer realise how complicated climbing is.
B. The writer doesn’t think he’ll be able to cope with the equipment he needs to use.
C. The writer is confused by the information about food that the coach gives him.
D. The coach doesn’t believe the writer is doing enough work towards his climb.

4. How does the writer use the example of an avalanche in the fourth paragraph?
A. to highlight a strong and unexpected feeling
B. to explain the way he sat down on his bed
C. to describe what he could see from his window
D. to emphasize how quickly he wanted to run away

5. How does the writer feel looking back on his climb?

A. satisfied that he had done his best
B. relieved that he wouldn’t have to do it again
C. surprised that he had managed to complete it
D. regretful that it hadn’t gone as smoothly as it could have

II. (2.5px10=25 points) Rephrase the following sentences so that the meaning stays the same,
using the word in capitals. You must not change the word in capitals.

1. We must make a decision now. HIGH

It's ____________________ a decision.
2. The cinema was practically empty. HARDLY
There ____________________ the cinema.
3. The vet examined my brother's pet dog last week. HAD

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 MINISTERUL EDUCAŢ IEI NAȚ IONALE
INSPECTORATUL Ș COLAR AL MUNICIPIULUI BUCUREȘ TI
OLIMPIADA DE LIMBA ENGLEZĂ 2019-2020, ETAPA PE SCOALA,
SECȚ IUNEA B - CLASA A X-A - VARIANTA 1

My brother ____________________ last week.

4. I really didn't know what to say. LOSS
I ____________________ words.
5. Her parents don't want her to smoke at home. OBJECT
Her parents ____________________ at home.
6. The expert had no idea that the painting was not genuine. KNOW
Little ____________________ that the painting was not genuine.
7. Michael's wife finds getting up early every morning difficult. USED
Michael's wife ____________________ up early every morning.
8. What a pity you didn't come to the party! WISH
I ____________________ to the party.
9. The burglar failed to enter the house through the first floor window. SUCCEED
The burglar ____________________ the house through the first floor window.
10. All the students had a lot of respect for their teacher. LOOKED
All the students ____________________ their teacher.

III. (2.5px10=25 points) Read the sentences below and use the words given 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) BREATH; (2) TRAVEL; (3) SETTLE; (4) LIFE; (5) AWAY; (6) CONSIST; (7) LEGEND; (8) REAL; (9)
PICTURE; (10) PARALLEL
Do you like winter sports? Have you ever thought of going to Colorado? To ski or snowboard there is to
experience the pinnacle of winter sports. This state is known for its spectacular scenery and (1)________
views, which inspire today’s (2)________ as much as they spurred on the (3)________ who first arrived in this
part of the US over a century ago. And whether you’re seeking the outdoor adventure of a (4)________,
exciting nightlife or a great family (5)________, Colorado has everything you need. November through April,
snow conditions are (6)________ and reliable, featuring Colorado’s (7)________ ‘champagne powder’ snow.
The Colorado Rockies can turn your wildest ski dreams into thrilling (8)________ . The (9)________ ski slopes
you will find there, as well as the finest ski schools in the US, will present an (10)________ winter paradise.

QUESTION II (25 POINTS) - PARAGRAPH WRITING

Write an 8-10-line narrative - descriptive paragraph to continue the story:

The weather took its emotional hold over the coastal town, making daily bold statements about its power
to shatter lives and land. Its first violent attack arrived on Sunday with howling winds. The waves crashed
against the steep cliffs which normally offered ample protection. But this unseasonable nightmare held the
inhabitants of Cleveland in fear of their lives, and sandbags were hastily placed in doorways in case of
flooding. But Tom’s heart was frozen over and he alone paid no attention to the threat that lay outside his
door. By Wednesday it had calmed somewhat though the winds were still strong enough to dissuade people
from leaving their homes unless out of necessity.

TOTAL 100 PUNCTE

TOATE SUBIECTELE SUNT OBLIGATORII. TIMP DE LUCRU 3 ORE. NU SE ACORDĂ PUNCTE DIN
OFICIU.

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 MINISTERUL EDUCAŢ IEI NAȚ IONALE
INSPECTORATUL Ș COLAR AL MUNICIPIULUI BUCUREȘ TI
OLIMPIADA DE LIMBA ENGLEZĂ 2019-2020, ETAPA PE SCOALA,
SECȚ IUNEA B - CLASA A X-A - VARIANTA 1

INSPECTORATUL ȘCOLAR AL MUNICIPIULUI BUCUREȘTI

OLIMPIADA DE LIMBA ENGLEZĂ, 2019-2020
ETAPA PE ȘCOALA – CLASA A X-A – Sectiunea B

PUNCTAJ SI BAREM
VARIANTA 1

I. READING COMPREHENSION (25 p)

A. (2px5=10 points) 1-E; 2-A; 3-C; 4-D; 5-B

B. (3px5=15 points) 1-D; 2-A; 3-A; 4-A; 5-B

II. (2.5x10=25 points) REPHRASE

1. HIGH time/ we made

2. was HARDLY/ anyone in
3. HAD his pet dog/ examined
4. was at a LOSS/ for
5. OBJECT to/ her smoking
6. did the expert KNOW
7. is not USED/ to getting
8. WISH you had come
9. didn’t SUCCEED/ in entering
10. LOOKED up/ to

III. (2.5x10=25 points) WORD FORMATION

1. breathtaking
2. travellers
3. settlers
4. lifetime
5. getaway
6. consistent
7. legendary
8. reality
9. picturesque
10. unparalleled

IV. QUESTION II (25 POINTS) - PARAGRAPH WRITING - Use the Marking Scheme

NOTA: Pentru subiectul II se acceptă orice altă variantă corectă.

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