INSPECTORATUL SCOLAR JUDETEAN VALCEA

OLIMPIADA DE LIMBA ENGLEZA – FAZA LOCALA – 28.01.2018 – CLASA A VIII-A

SUBJECT I READING COMPREHENSION (10X2,5p=25p)

Read the text and the questions below carefully. For each question 1-10 choose the correct answer (A, B,
C or D).
My Life with CVD
I never knew there was anything different about me until I was about eleven. I had just started middle
school and we were all frightened because we had to do a series of tests. Like everyone else, I was taken
to a small room where a mysterious, complicated and apathetic woman in a white coat was waiting for
me. She handed me an odd-looking picture made up of dots in a shape of a long grey spiral.
“What number do you see? she asked with a smile. I didn't know why she was smiling because there were
a lot of dots to count. Once I got to about ten, she asked the same question. I felt confused and, at the
same time, a bit threatened. I didn't know what to say, so she gave me another picture which looked the
same as the first. She asked me the question for the third time, and then I got frustrated.”I don't see any
numbers,”I said. 'There aren't any numbers here! That was how I learnt that I had CVD, colour vision
deficiency, or, as it's known by the general public, colour blindness.

What most people would have seen in that test was a number made of pink dots which they were expected
to pick out from a circular field of green dots. I saw lots of dots that were a sort of muddy grey.

I'm not alone. It is estimated that about eight per cent of men have some form of CVD, while it only
affects less than one per cent of women. You see, CVD is a guy thing. It's all down to genes, apparently,
and scientists hope to cure it one day, although I can't say that I would be keen on any gene therapy.
Personally, I don't feel like I suffer from CVD.

Generally speaking, people with CVD just adapt to the world around us. For example, when you get to
the traffic lights, the key thing is not the colour but the order of the lights. Of course, with all the
vandalism in my neighbourhood, I'm just happy if the traffic lights are working.

Unfortunately, not everything is so clear cut. When my e-reader is recharging, the light is orange when it
is charging and green when it is finished. That's great, except that both colours look more or less the same
to me. A much better system would be the one that my electric razor uses. It flashes when it is charging
and then stops when it has finished.

Life is full of surprises and I often feel embarrassed. Because I see green and red as pretty similar, I do
sometimes put on a top that doesn't go with my trousers. Thankfully, my wife is usually there.
However , there are bigger problems that can occur when profesionals don't take CVD into account. I
once failed an exam at school because a key questions related to a chart coloured red, green and blue. I
felt so angry and a bit humiliated then. Similar problems still crop up in course books and exams today.

1. From the first paragraph, we understand that Tony

A felt disappointed when he took the test.
B immediately understood the test.
C thought the test was pointless.
D was confused by the test.
2. The word “muddy” in the first paragraph (muddy grey) means
A bright
B red
C clear
D dirty-looking, not bright or clear.
 INSPECTORATUL SCOLAR JUDETEAN VALCEA
OLIMPIADA DE LIMBA ENGLEZA – FAZA LOCALA – 28.01.2018 – CLASA A VIII-A
3. The word “apathetic” in the first paragraph means
A annoyed
B enthusiastic
C feeling less confident
D showing little or no emotion or animation.
4. In the third paragraph , what is Tony's purpose in mentioning gene therapy?
A to criticize it
B to describe how it works
C to express positive feelings about it
D to show he's not interested in it.
5. Tony lives in
A an area with a lot of crime.
B an area without a lot of traffic.
C a wealthy area.
D an area with a lot of noise.
6. The word “vandalism” in the fourth paragraph means
A colour blindness.
B intentionally damaging property belonging to other people.
C ashamed of something .
D to happen or appear unexpectedly
7. To help him use his e-reader, Tony
A does not want any coloured lights on it.
B wants it to make a special noise.
C wants it to use moving lights.
D wants two separate lights to appear on it.
8. Tony says he sometimes makes colour mistakes when
A he's at work.
B he gets dressed.
C he goes shopping.
D he makes dinner.
9.When he makes colour mistakes, Tony
A gives up.
B doesn't go to work .
C gets angry.
D is helped by his wife.
10.The words “crop up” in the last paragraph suggests that these problems
A happen a lot today.
B happen very rarely.
C occasionally happen today.
D never happen today.

SUBJECT II USE OF ENGLISH (50 p)

1. Read the text and think of the best word for each gap. Write ONE word only. There is an example.
(10X2 p = 20 p)
 INSPECTORATUL SCOLAR JUDETEAN VALCEA
OLIMPIADA DE LIMBA ENGLEZA – FAZA LOCALA – 28.01.2018 – CLASA A VIII-A

The Origin of Our Language

Sir William Jones , born in 1746, was (0)..one......of the greatest linguists who ever lived. He had an
amazing talent (1).................. languages and learnt several at a young age. (2)................... the time of his
death, he knew 13 languages and had knowledge of a further 28. Apart (3).................. studying
languages, he also study law and became a judge in India. He was fascinated (4 )...... this subcontinent
and wrote about Indian life. He also translated important works of Indian literature. Jones noticed
(5).................Sanskrit, a classical Indian language , was similar to Greek and Latin in a number of ways.
The resemblance (6).....................not be a coincidence. Several other people(7)....................also noted
similarities, but Jones was (8).......................first to suggest hat these three languages had a
common origin. He also suggested that they could be grouped together (9)............. other European and
Asian languages into one family, known (10)................Indo-European languages, which included English.

2. For questions 1-10 , read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.
There is one example. (10X1p=10p)

Hot-air Balloons

A hot-air balloon(0)......A.......... of three basic parts. The large balloon is (1)...............as the “envelope
“and is made of nylon- the same material used to produce kites, sails and sleeping bags. There are burners
under the envelope to heat the air inside and finally a basket (2).................. the passengers stand. From
this (3).................the passengers can enjoy the views of the countryside below.
(4)................. understand what allows the balloon to lift into the air you must know about “convection” or
heat transfer. The scientific (5)............... is that by heating the air inside the envelope you increase the
space the air (6)................. . When this happens, (7)............ air gets pushed out of the envelope. With less
air in the envelope, it (8)................ lighter and therefore able to travel up.Once the burner is shut off,
however, the (9)............... thing happens. Cold air from outside enters the envelope, (10).......... the
balloon heavier and it starts to fall.

0. A consists B forms C stands D holds

1. A said B told C called D known

2. A which B that C where D when

3. A position B situation C place D condition

4. A For B By C From D To

5. A reason B explanation C thought D purpose

6. A needs B wants C receives D demands

7. A any B all C many D some

8. A changes B moves C becomes D develops

 INSPECTORATUL SCOLAR JUDETEAN VALCEA
OLIMPIADA DE LIMBA ENGLEZA – FAZA LOCALA – 28.01.2018 – CLASA A VIII-A

9. A different B opposite C other D unequal

10.A causing B letting C making D allowing

3. For questions 1-10, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of the lines to form a
word that fits in the space in the same line. (10X2p=20p)

Weather forecasting is the single most important practical reason for

the(1)........................... of meteorology as a science.An accurate EXIST
(2).......................... of the weather used to(3).............................. be a case PREDICT/PRIMARY
of intelligent estimates that consistently turned out to be wrong. Now the
(4)......................... of weather forecasters has improved and there is a REPUTE
(5)......................... for them to be taken more seriously. TEND
(6)................................. in the weather caused by pollution and global DISTURB
warming have worrying (7).................................. , though. The weather has
become (8).................................. with cold days in summer and hot days in IMPLICATE
winter. These (9).................................. in the temperature act as a PREDICT
(10).................................. from other world problems such as war but this VARY
makes them no less of concern. DISTRACT

SUBJECT III: WRITING (25 points)

Write a story to continue the sentence below. You should use between 150-180 words.

The snow in the garden reflected enough light for Bill to make out the snowman down below
his window.

Nota: Toate subiectele sunt obligatorii. Timp de lucru 90 min.

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