Concurs de limba engleză Quest-faza pe scoala

Clasa a XI-a

Read the text below and choose the right answer.

In 1997, a group of twenty British women made history. Working in five teams with four
women in each team, they walked to the North Pole. Apart from one experienced female
guide, the other women were all ordinary people who had never done anything like this in
their lives before. They managed to survive in an environment which had defeated several
very experienced men during the same few spring months of that year. Who were these
women and how did they succeed where others failed?
In the summer of 1995, an advertisement was put in several British newspapers: ’Adventurers
are being sought for the formation of an all-woman team to walk to the North Pole.
Applications are invited from women of any age, background and occupation who are willing
to put up with real pain and discomfort to achieve an important goal’. Nearly one hundred
women took part in the first selection weekend and then, after several training expeditions
designed to weed out unsuitable applicants, twenty women were chosen. The youngest of
these was twenty-one and the oldest fifty-one. In the group there was a mother of triplets, a
teacher, a flight attendant, a policewoman and a film producer.
They were a very mixed bunch but they all really wanted to take part in the venture and make
it a success. Each of the women agreed to raise the £2500 needed for expenses and the airfare
to Canada, where the expedition began. They also committed themselves to following an
intensive physical training programme before leaving the UK so that they were fit enough to
take part in the expedition without endangering their own or others’ lives. The women set off
as soon as they were ready. Once on the ice, each woman had to ski along while dragging a
sledge weighing over 50 kilos. This would not have been too bad on a smooth surface, but for
long stretches, the Artic ice is pushed up into huge mounds two or three metres high and the
sledges had to be hauled up one side and carefully let down the other so that they didn’t
smash. The temperature was always below freezing point and sometimes strong winds made
walking while pulling so much weight almost impossible.
I. Choose the best answer to these questions or unfinished statements (5 x 2p= 10p)
1. What was so extraordinary about the expedition?
A. There was no one to lead it.
B. The women did not have any men with them.
C. It was a new experience for most of the women.
D. The women had not met one another before.

2. What did the women who answered the advertisement have in common?
A. They were about the same age.
B. They had all suffered pain and discomfort.
C. They all had plenty of money.
D. They all wanted to achieve a goal.

3. What does the underlined word ‘these’ refer to?

A. All the applicants
B. The training expeditions
C. The women who went on the trip
D. The unsuitable applicants
4. What did each woman have to do before the start of the expedition?
A. Visit Canada
B. Get fit
C. Learn to ski
D. Meet the other women

5. On the expedition, the women had to be careful to avoid

A. Falling over on the ice
B. Being left behind
C. Damaging the sledges
D. Getting too cold at night

II. Fill in each blank with one word. 15x2p = 30 p

AN EXPENSIVE BARGAIN
When Pamela Thompson bought a new frying pan at 30% off in the sales , she (1) ……….
she had got a real bargain. But as it turned (2)………. , that was only the beginning of a very
expensive day.
First of all, she (3) ………. the pan on her foot on the way home. She had lots of shopping
and she hadn’t (4) ………. planning to buy a frying pan, but couldn’t resist (5) ……… a
tempting offer. Unfortunately, the pan was really heavy and she just couldn’t (6) ……… it all.
At the hospital her foot was bandaged and she (7) ……… sent home in a taxi.
Then, (8) ……… she got home, she decided to use the new pan to cook dinner. She’d just put
some oil in it and started to (9) …….. it up when the phone rang. She only left it for a couple
of minutes, but when she came back (10) …….. were flames coming out of it. So she picked
up a bowl of water and (11) …….. it onto the pan. Now she knows it was a stupid thing to do,
but she just panicked and the (12) …….. got bigger.
Fortunately, her neighbours saw smoke and called the fire brigade, who arrived and (13)
…….. out the fire in a few minutes. She is going to need a new kitchen, but the rest of
Pamela’s flat was only slightly damaged (14) …….. smoke. A shocked but unhurt Mrs
Thompson was taken to hospital (15)..... routine tests.

III. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using
the word given. Do not change the word given.Use between 3-5 words. 5x2p=10 p

1.”Peter, you’ve broken my radio,”said Claire. ACCUSED

Claire ....................... her radio.
2. Everyone except Lucy failed the exam. PERSON
Lucy .............. managed to pass the exam.
3. ’Can you lend me some money , Marta?’ asked David. BORROW
David asked Marta .................... some money.
4. I’m afraid we don’t have any bread left. RUN
I’m afraid ....................bread.
5. A friend is redecorating my bedroom next week. AM
I.............. by a friend next week.
IV. Fill in each gap with a word derived from the word in capitals corresponding to it:
10x1p=10p

The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

The first Boat Race was a 1.... occasion and took place in1829. One of the 2... of the race was
Charles Wordsworth, who had 3.... established the university cricket match in 1827.Today,
almost two centuries later, one of the most amazing things about the race is its 4....
worldwide.In fact, there is even a Boat Race society which is responsible for for the annual
5.... of videos of the Race to all its members.

The Race is rowed on the River Thames in London over a 6.... of about 4 miles. Thousands
stand on the banks to watch, however 7.... and cold the weather might be. Just 8... , if the
weather is windy, a boat might fill with water and sink, a 9.... sight and obviously a great
10.... to the boat’s crew.

1 MEMORY 2 FOUND 3 SUCCESS 4 POPULAR 5 DISTRIBUTE 6 LONG 7 PLEASE

8 OCCASION 9 DRAMA 10 EMBARRASS

V. WRITING - 30p

You recently saw this announcement on a teenage website.

Write an article for us!

Our eating habits differ greatly from our grandparents’. Do you believe our diet is less healthy
nowadays?

The best articles will be published on the website next month.

Write your article using 120-180 words.

 Clasa a XI-a

Barem

Answers

Subiectul I. Reading (5x2p=10p)

1. C; 2. D; 3. C; 4. B; 5. C

Subiectul II 15x2p = 30 p

1 thought 2 out 3 dropped 4 been 5 such 6 carry/manage 7 was 8 when 9 heat 10 there 11
poured/threw 12 flames/fire 13 put 14 by 15 for

III 5x2p=10 p

1. accused Peter of breaking /having broken

2. was the only person who /that

3. if/whether he could borrow

4. have run out of

5. am having my bedroom redecorated

IV 10x1p=10p

1MEMORABLE 2 FOUNDERS 3 SUCCESSFULLY 4 POPULARITY 5 DISTRIBUTION 6

LENGTH 7 UNPLEASANT 8 OCCASIONALLY 9 DRAMATIC 10 EMBARRASSMENT

V. WRITING (30p)

- organization and cohesion ……………………5p.

- language accuracy …………………………….6p.
- content …………………………………………8p.
- range of vocabulary …………………………...6p.
- register …………………………………………5p.
Se acordă 10p din oficiu.