Школьный этап Всероссийской олимпиады по английскому языку – 8 класс.

Время выполнения – 120 минут.

PART 1. READING.

1. Match the headings and the texts.

1. Irish hand-made tweed is famous all over the world for its individual look, its quality and different colours. This cloth is made from wool and widely used for caps, hats, skirts, trousers, and jackets. Tweeds can be bought in most of the larger cities as well as in the specialist tweed shops. The most famous place for tweed production in Ireland is Donegal.

2. Ceili consists of hundreds of people. They join arms together, dance up and down a hall at high speeds to the fast sounds of Irish traditional music. Men and women move so quickly turning round and round, that if they don't fall at least once, it means that they are not trying hard enough.

3. Gaelic is not widely used today in Ireland. With hundreds of years of colonisation by the British it lost its significance and was used less and less. It wasn't allowed to be taught in the schools, and it became impossible to use Gaelic in most jobs.

4. Irish products are very popular. Irish hand-made farmhouse cheeses, chocolates and wild smoked salmon taste so nice that they are known everywhere. Many people like Irish coffee which is a hot drink made with coffee, whiskey, and cream. Baileys, a cream liqueur, is becoming known internationally. We must also mention Guinness, is a type of beer, which for many years has been as the meal in a glass.

5. Children in Ireland love to listen to stories about leprechaun, a small wizard with magic powers who could make impossible things happen. He is dressed in green velvet and wears a shiny black belt and magic shoes. He is very small, no more than half a metre tall. He has a pot of gold and gets very angry if he thinks someone is trying to steal it.

6. Irish products are of great value and high quality. They can always tell a story of the history, culture and geography of the place where they were made. Most visitors know of Aran sweaters, Irish lace, Ulster linen table-cloths and bed covers, Galway glasses, Tara plates and cups. Hardly any visitor leaves the country without buying something which will remind them of the country later.

2. Read the text. For questions 7- 11, put the correct letter (A-D) on your answer sheet

I went to the cinema last week and laughed all the way through the new film "Waiter!” which is set in a restaurant. The American actor Tom Waters plays the worst cook the world has ever seen and he employs one of the worst waiters, played by Joe Vermont.

The London restaurant where the filming took place does actually exist.

Jane Connors, the owner, runs a successful business and, although she thinks "Waiter!” is a good film, she is very annoyed with the director. When she agreed to the filming, she wasn’t told that the film is about a restaurant where everything goes wrong and the food is disgusting. Although the film might make Jane’s restaurant famous if it is a success, she is afraid that people will stop coming because they will think that the food and service is terrible- like it is in the film. Jane is worried she will lose business and may even have to close and start again with a new restaurant.

Having seen this film, I agree that she has a problem. The film company paid her a very small fee and she has since asked for more. The best solution though is for her to contact the newspapers. I am sure they will be interested in her story and it will actually help her business in the end.

7. What is the writer trying to do next?

A) to advertise the restaurant   B) to review a film   C) to explain someone’s problem    D) to take someone’s advice

8. What can the reader find out from the text?

A) Why Jane is feeling angry   B) Why Jane’s restaurant has closed   C) Why Jane didn’t enjoy the film

D) Why Jane’s restaurant is unpopular

9. What does the writer think Jane ought to do?

A) To open a new restaurant   B) To ask the film company for more money   C) To improve the quality of the food in her restaurant   D) To write to the newspapers

10. What did the director not tell Jane?

A) That the film would be a success   B) That the restaurant in the film would be very bad   C) That she would not be paid   D) That she would need to employ extra staff

11. What is Jane worried about?

A)  That she would have to close her restaurant    B) That she would have to close her business and start a different one    C) That she would become unpopular    D) That she would have to close her restaurant and open a new one.

PART 2. USE OF ENGLISH.

1. Choose the correct letter.

1. I've just bought ... copy of his latest book.

a) — , b) a, c) the, d) any.

2. ... in my class likes him.

a) All, b) All pupils, c) All the pupils, d) Everyone.

3. Jack left ... Paris last week.

a) in, b) for, c) from, d) to.

4. They... yet.

a) didn't arrive, b) haven't arrived, c) hadn't arrived, d) don't arrive.

5. Turn right... the end of the street.

a) at, b) in, c) to, d) on.

6. Nelly is ... at History than Jane but worse at French.

a) as good, b) not so good, c) better, d) best.

7. A young man asked if we ... students.

a) are, b) were, c) have been, d) shall be.

8. I have asked some friends — for tea.

a) to go, b) to stay, c) to bring, d) to drink.

9. Has he ... you of his decision?

a) talked, b) said, c) told, d) spoke.

10. She made her husband ... the tree.

a) to cut down, b) cut down, c) to have cut down, d) cutting down.

11. When I entered they ... to music.

a) have listened, b) were listened, c) were listening, d) listen.

12. She spoke to ... person at the party.

a) few, b) a few, c) every, d) many.

13. I ... glasses since I was a child.

a) wear, b) am wearing, c) have been wearing, d) was wearing.

14. They took a rest after they ... the yard.

a) had cleaned up, b) were cleaning up, c) would clean up, d) have cleaned up.

15. I knew I'd forgotten ... .

a) somewhere, b) anywhere, c) something, d) anything.

16. You usually have dinner at home, ... ?

a) do you, b) don't you, c) have you, d) haven't you.

17. The police haven't got ... information to catch the robber.

a) some, b) enough, c) another, d) these.

18. I haven't heard ... you.

a) anyone call, b) anyone to call, c) someone call, d) someone to call.

19. The news you've brought ... much better than last time.

a) is, b) are, c) have been, d) were.

20. I hope I've got ... mistakes in my test today.

a) little, b) less, c) fewer, d) fewest.

2. Read the text below. Complete the spaces (1-7) with the correct form of the words in capitals. There is an example (0) at the beginning.

PART 3. QUIZ

For questions 1-20, choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D).

1. What is the name of the British flag?

A. State Standard,           B. Stripes and Stars,   C. Union Jack,           D. John Bull.

2. Who is the official head of Great Britain?

A. the Queen,                  B. Prime minister,                  C. Mayor,       D. Lord Chancellor.

3. Where is Cardiff situated?

A. in England,                 B. in Scotland,           C. in Ireland,  D. in Wales.

4. Which day is not observed in Britain?

A. St. Valentine’s Day,   B. Thanksgiving Day,  C. Mother’s Day,     D. Guy Fawkes’ Night.

5. In what part of London is St. Paul’s Cathedral situated?

A. in the West End,         B. in the East End,      C. in Hampton Court     D. in the City.

6. What is Humpty Dumpty?

A. a toy,               B. an egg,                   C. an animal,  D. a monster.

7. Who wrote ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’?

A. A. Milne,         B. L. Carroll,  C. O. Wilde,   D. J.R. Tolkien.

8. Who invented the telephone?

A. Isaac Newton,             B. Michael Faraday,     C. Alexander Bell,               D. James Watt.

9. When did the Romans first invade Britain?

A. in the 5^th century AD,             B. in the 5^th century BC,

C. in the 1^st century BC,             D. in the 1^st century AD.

10. Where does Elizabeth II live?

A. in the Tower of London,                    B. in Westminster Palace,

C. in Buckingham Palace,                       D. at No.10 Downing Street.

11. What is the British money today?

A. euros,               B. dollars,                   C. pounds,                  D. crowns.

12. What important historical event happened in 1066?

A. the Roman invasion,               B. the Danish invasion,

C. the Battle at Waterloo,                       D. the Battle at Hastings.

13. Which holiday is traditionally celebrated on 25 January?

A. Burn’s Night,  B. Hogmanay,           C. Eisteddfod,               D. Guy Fawkes’ Night.

14. Which is not a traditional English dish?

A. scrambled eggs,          B. bacon and eggs,                 C. porridge,                D. haggis.

15. Who was Robin Hood?

A. a character of English legendary stories,       B. a national hero of Great Britain,

C. a popular cartoon character,                        D. a leader of the people’s uprising.

16. What is a "public school” in England?

A. a state-financed school,                      B. a private school,

C. a comprehensive school,                     D. a religious school.

17. Where are the Crown Jewels kept?

A. in Buckingham Palace,                       B. in the Tower of London,

C. in Westminster Palace,                       D. in the British Museum.

18. Which word is missing in the saying "To kill two _____ with one stone”?

A. hares,               B. mice,          C. birds,          D. flies.

19. What is a limerick?

A. a joke,  B. a rhyme,                 C. a song,        D. a play on words.

20. Which is the right Russian equivalent to the English proverb "Birds of a feather flock together”?

A. Рука руку моет.                                В. Рыбак рыбака видит издалека.

С. Всяк кулик свое болото хвалит.     D. В нужде с кем ни поведешься.

PART 4. WRITING

You have received a letter from your English-speaking pen friend John who writes

Write a letter to John.

In your letter

-        answer his questions

-        ask 2 questions about his plans for excursion.

Write 80 - 120 words.

Remember the rules of letter writing. Don’t forget to write your address and the date.