Завдання ІІ етапу олімпіади з англійської мови, 11 клас, 2017

Reading Comprehension Test

for 11^th form Students

Student’s Booklet

 Dictionaries are not allowed

Reading Comprehension Test for 11^th Form Students

Directions:

In this test you will read four texts. Each text is followed by some tasks.

Text 1

Video Games – Have Fun and Get Smarter?

We all know about the pleasure and fun that you can get from playing video games. There’s the satisfaction of finally reaching the last level of a game after months of trying, or the thrill of beating your best friend in a game for the first time. But some experts now say that as well as offering fantastic entertainment, video games might also be good for you. Too good to be true? Read on and find out!

It seems that when you play video games, you might be acquiring some very important skills. For a start, games are great for your concentration. Being able to focus on a task for an extended period of time is definitely a skill you can use at school or later, in a job. Because you have to think incredibly quickly, video games can also stimulate your brain and improve the speed at which you react. Fitness games, which are very popular, allow you to practice sports techniques like balancing or hitting balls from the comfort of your living room. A lot of games also teach decision-making skills. For example, when you have to choose the best way to escape from a burning building in a game, you’re learning how to solve problems and use your judgment quickly, and under pressure – skills that will be very useful later in life. Gaming teaches you about success and failure too. The fact that a lot of games are difficult, and you have to work hard to reach that top level, teaches you that in life you can succeed if you keep on trying. On the other hand, games teach you that if you fail, you don’t give up – you have a break, and then try again!

Some psychologists believe that role-playing games are particularly valuable. In the virtual environment, young people can take on roles that are often not available to them in real life. You can become a leader, and have to deal with people who lie to you, hide things from you or want to destroy you. By dealing with these situations, you can develop social skills that might help you in the real world when you’re older.

Gaming does have its downsides, of course. Playing for a while is great, but people who play for hours on end can have problems. Physically, it can stop you from getting enough exercise, which is unhealthy. Psychologically, there is evidence that some players can become addicted to their games and begin to prefer their ‘virtual’ lives, where they are always in control. It is sometimes claimed that very violent games can have a negative effect on players and lead to violence in real life. Although there isn’t much evidence to support this, it is an argument that will go on and on.

But overall, the message is that playing video games is not harmful, unless you spend too much time on them. And while you’re building your city, looking after your farm, defeating your enemies or making your fortune in a game, you’re also developing skills that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

After reading Text 1, look at the questions 1-10 and decide which of them are true (T) and which are false (F) according to the text you have read and mark the letter you have chosen by encircling it.

1. Playing games can help your brain to work faster.	T	F
2. Playing fitness games can help you learn how to make decisions.	T	F
3. Games can teach you that sometimes things are too difficult to achieve.	T	F
4. Playing role-playing games can help you become a successful leader.	T	F
5. Playing games can make you more unfit.	T	F
6. There is no evidence that violent games can have a bad effect on you.	T	F

Text 2

This text is followed by multiple-choice questions. You should do the tasks that follow a text on the basis of what is stated or implied in that text. For each task you will choose the best answer from four possible answers (A, B, C, or D), as specified prior to each task. Choose the best answer and circle the letter of your choice.

Handcycling was developed in the 1980s by people working to create alternate types of human-powered vehicles. So it was almost by accident that a new world of cycling was opened to people with disabilities. …

“The disabled community picked up on it right away,” said Ian Lawless, Colorado regional director and cycling director for Adaptive Adventures. Even people with one working arm can handcycle with some modifications made to the equipment, said Lawless. “Just about anyone can do it. It’s an accessible sport. It’s not just for racing; it’s also for recreational riding. It’s a barrier breaker that allows a disabled rider to participate in cycling with friends and families who may be riding conventional bicycles.”

In the 25 years since its development, handcycling has continued to grow in popularity. It’s been part of the IPC [International Paralympic Committee] cycling program since 1998, and the 2004 Paralympics included handcycling racing for the first time. Today, thousands of people, able-bodied and those with disabilities, have turned to handcycling as a means to improve their cardiovascular health, increase upper-body strength, compete, and ride with friends and family. …

An upright handcycle is an entry-level bike for those who are new to the sport, who just want exercise or recreation, or who don’t want to ride very long distances or go very fast. Because of their higher center of gravity, upright handcycles aren’t suitable for speeds higher than 15 mph. The internal gear systems, borrowed from the cycling industry, usually come in a choice of three or seven speeds, which naturally limits the speed to less than 15 mph. They are easy to transfer in and out of from a wheelchair, and have a natural, fork-type steering system.

Recumbent¹ handcycles come in a few different variations. There are two steering options: fork-steer and lean-to-steer, and two seating options: one where the rider reclines and the other, a “trunk-power” version, where the rider leans forward. They usually come with 27-gear drivetrains,² although they can be purchased with three- or seven-gear drivetrains.

The trunk-power handcycle doesn’t have much of a seatback. The cranks are low to the ground and far away from the rider. With this arrangement, riders are able to put the weight of their trunks behind each stroke, allowing them to go faster for longer. The limitation to this type of handcycle, Lawless said, is that the athlete must have control of most or all of his abdominal muscles, so it may not be suitable for all athletes.

With the other seating option, the rider sits in a seat with a reclined back. The cranks are higher and closer, allowing the rider to use the seatback for leverage to rotate the cranks. …

The lean-to-steer version has a two-piece frame where the top frame swivels over the bottom frame. The front wheel turns along with the seat. The rider initiates the turn by leaning his whole body. There is a bit of a learning curve with this type, but many riders prefer this type because they have a feel similar to monoskiing.³ They’re used primarily, but not exclusively, by people with lower-level disabilities. Lawless said there’s no advantage of one type of steering over the other. It’s primarily a matter of the athlete’s preference. …

—    Disabled Sports USA

excerpted from “Handcycling 101”

Challenge Magazine, Spring 2005

http://www.dsusa.org

¹ recumbent — reclining

² drivetrain — pedal connected to the gears to make the bike move forward

³ monoskiing — one ski for both feet, using the whole body to steer

7. The text includes the quotation about the handcycle being a “barrier breaker” in order to stress its

A. durability

B. affordability

C. portability

D. accessibility

8. The inclusion of handcycling in the 2004 Paralympics demonstrates its

A. profitability

B. popularity

C. dependability

D. intensity

9. According to the text, many people have turned to handcycling in order to

A. improve their health

B. lower transportation costs

C. reduce stress

D. minimize pollution

10.  As used in the text, the phrase “learning curve” refers to the

A. difficulty of learning a skill

B. responsibility of individual riders

C. braking mechanism

D. safety features

11. According to the text, the type of handcycle one should purchase might depend upon

A. unit cost

B. structural defects

C. individual weight

D. physical needs

Text 3

Complete the gaps 12-17 in the article with the sentences A-G. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

How to Get Rich and Famous

Their faces may grace magazine covers and movie screens across the globe, but for most celebrities, the journey to stardom was a long and difficult one. Before they were famous, superstars were ordinary people living ordinary lives, but they all had one thing in common: the determination to make their dreams come true. (12) ____________________.

Hollywood is full of inspirational success stories, and the tale of Charlize Theron’s rise to fame is no exception. When a knee injury put an abrupt end to Charlize’s ballet career, the South African-born beauty decided to give acting a try. In 1994, she flew to Los Angeles with just a few dollars in her pocket and started attending auditions. Unfortunately, Charlize failed to land a single acting job and the almost penniless actress considered calling it quits. Charlize’s mother encouraged her to persevere and sent her a cheque to help her pay her expenses, but, when a bank teller refused to cash the cheque, Charlize became furious and kicked up quite a fuss. (13) ____________________. Within a few months, the actress was on her way to becoming a star.

Before he became known as the whip-wielding archaeologist Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford, the movie star, was Harrison Ford, the carpenter. Though Ford had always had an interest in acting, he had struggled to break into the business and decided to focus on carpentry instead. The actor’s lucky break came when producer George Lucas asked him to make some cabinets for his Los Angeles home. At the time, Lucas was holding auditions for the movie Star Wars and he asked Ford to help red lines with the actors. (14) ____________________. Lucas was so impressed with Ford’s abilities that he cast him in the lead role. The film was a hit, and Ford’s career went from strength to strength.

Johnny Depp has starred in a number of box-office successes, including Edward Scissorhands, Finding Neverland, and Pirates of the Caribbean, but few people know that he began his career as a singer. (15) ____________________. During a trip to Los Angeles, Depp was introduced to Nicolas Cage, who persuaded him to pursue a career in acting. Depp auditioned for, and won, a small role in the 1984 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street. Three years later, he landed a part in the hugely popular television series 21 Jump Street. Film success followed, and he is now one of the most highly-paid actors in Hollywood.

Jennifer Aniston may be one of the most recognizable faces in the world, but there was a time when the Friends star worked as a waitress to support herself. (16) ____________________. However, it wasn’t until Friends came along that Jennifer found real success. After a ten-year run, the popular comedy series came to an end, and Jennifer moved into film. Ironically, Jennifer has played a waitress in three of her movies, and her character, Rachel Green in Friends also worked as a waitress at one point.

Though they now earn huge sums of money and enjoy their pick of film roles, things weren’t always so rosy for actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Friends since childhood, the pair took acting lessons together and struggled for years to make their mark in the film world. After numerous small roles and failed auditions, Damon and Affleck decided to take a different approach: they wrote a film script and persuaded a top studio to allow them to start in the film. (17) ____________________.

So, next time you’re in a coffee shop, pay closer attention to your waiter or waitress; the person bringing you your cappuccino might very well be the next Hollywood sensation!

A.    It seems that his performance was quite exceptional.

B.    She took part in a number of theatrical performances before being offered a role in a feature film.

C.    She attended auditions between shifts and was cast in a few minor television roles.

D.    The film, Good Will Hunting, turned out to be an enormous success and won two Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay.

E.     She caught the eye of a talent agent standing in the queue behind her, and he promptly gave her his card.

F.     He performed with a number of small bands but was forced to take a job as a ball-point pen salesman to make ends meet.

G.    That, combined with hard work and a little bit of luck, has helped turn unknowns into household names, proving that in life anything is possible.

Text 4

Match the questions (18-24) to their corresponding answers (A-G).

Writing for Teenagers – We Talk to Malorie Blackman

A.    _________________________________

It’s such an honor. The wonderful thing about this role is that each author or illustrator who is chosen can make it their own. My goal is to convince as many children and young adults as possible that reading is simply impossible to resist – an essential and fascinating part of their lives. And I’ll be concentrating on spreading the reading word to teens, as I think I might be able to make a real difference there.

B.    _________________________________

I believe that we have to get them motivated by showing the many new opportunities they will be able to have through reading. And if a child tells me they don’t like reading, I always say, “You haven’t found the right books for you yet!” First of all, children should be encouraged to read what they are interested in – comics, football stories, romances, whatever!

C.    _________________________________

I think it was mainly down to a love of stories and reading. I spent most Saturdays during my early years at the library, reading fairy stories, myths and legends, contemporary stories, fantasy, science fiction and anything else I could lay my hands on. I also wrote stories and poems for my own amusement, but it never, ever occurred to me as a child or teenager that I could become a published writer. But in my mid 20s, after a few years in computing, I decided that I would try really hard to do that, and eventually I managed to get published.

D.    _________________________________

Because as an audience they show good judgment and their minds haven’t yet been closed down. And I like the way they are honest about what they like and don’t like.

E.     _________________________________

When I first started writing, I attended a basic course in writing for children, and then I attended several more workshops run by the same brilliant individual. It was invaluable and very inspiring – a great, supportive atmosphere where you were able to present your own work and listen to the work of others. Also, it was a great place to try to improve my own critical skills. To cut a long story short, yes it did help!

F.     _________________________________

There wasn’t any one thing. It grew out of a lifetime of experiences. Some of the events in the book were based on real events from my own childhood. And I also wanted to play with the idea that ‘history is luck’ to a certain extent. You put all that together and you have the beginnings of an idea which led to Noughts and Crosses.

G.    _________________________________

No! We must never underestimate teens. As a teen, that kind of attitude used to drive me mad – the belief that I couldn’t understand certain ‘grown-up’ issues because I was just a teen. If we want mature, responsible teenagers making good decisions about the difficult issues that they face, then they have to be exposed to these subjects early enough to make a difference. We really need to get past this idea that teens can’t think for themselves – they can.

18.  Why did you decide to become a writer?

19.  Do you ever worry that young people might struggle with the complex questions your books raise?

20.  What does it mean to be the Children’s Laureate?

21.  What inspired you to write your first novel?

22.  How can teenagers be encouraged to keep reading?

23.  Have you ever belonged to a writer’s group – and if so, was it useful?

24.  Why do you like writing for children and teens?

Find the answers (A-G) to questions 25-30. In which paragraph (A-G) does Malorie Blackman…

25.  Praise teenagers for being open to different ideas?

26.  Express her pride and pleasure in taking on a challenge?

27.  Argue that teenagers need to experience adult topics through reading?

28.  Mention her desire to experiment in her writing?

29.  Talk about a change in her attitude in being an author?

30.  Explain her views on why some children aren’t keen to read?

Listening Comprehension Test

for 11^th form Students

Listening Passage

The following passage is from an article entitled “Appalachian Trail Magic” by Kerri Westenberg, published in the Star Tribune in November 2006. In this article, Westenberg discusses the Appalachian Trail’s history and appeal.

In the thick woods of New Hampshire, a hiker known as Old School awoke at daybreak and lay still, listening to squirrels and songbirds chirp and trill. The leaves of maples and hemlocks stirred above; the sound grew louder and faded like a wave. Slowly, the man pulled the pants he’d been using as a pillow from under his head, coaxed them to the depths of his sleeping bag and eased his legs into them. Then he emerged from his tent into the chilly morning air, testing his body’s willingness to take yet another long walk in the woods.

The body consented, despite a kink in the right calf.

It was late August in the White Mountains, where peaks of jagged stone have foiled fitter men. Old School — also known as Billy Mason, a 48-year-old short-order cook from Virginia Beach, Va.— had been trudging north nearly every day since March 3. On his back, he carried a 30-pound pack, which included a sleeping bag, a sleeping pad, a tent, food, a water filter, but no camp stove. He’d deemed that unnecessary weight and unloaded it somewhere in Connecticut.

His 18-year-old stepson kept pace at his side. His wife had been there at the beginning, but she had returned home to tend to their younger teens. Other hikers were close at hand, too.

More than 1,000 people every year are drawn to the particular challenge that Old School had set for himself: to hike the entire Appalachian Trail, a 2,175-mile dirt path that runs up mountain peaks, across meadows and alongside streams from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine.

Some of these through-hikers wear boots scruffy from years of wear. Others come with gleaming new equipment they barely know how to use. They are accountants, mail carriers, schoolteachers, retirees, recent college grads. But in the woods, where most take on trail names, they leave those old labels behind.

They come to strip life to the basics: up at sunrise, down at dusk, eat food, drink water. They come for the contemplative act of putting one foot in front of the other — again and again and again and again — following the white blazes painted onto trees and rocks that mark the Appalachian Trail. They come for the joy of exerting their muscles, meeting other hikers, merging with nature. Primarily, they come to see if they’re up to the task. …

That Americans romanticize life in the woods and revere the tenacity of those who try it comes as no surprise since pioneers and naturalists populate our collective psyche. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, Daniel Boone, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Laura Ingalls Wilder: They all speak to the power of the American landscape and its ability to transform lives.

Devotees of the Appalachian Trail would add to their ranks another great thinker, Benton MacKaye.

MacKaye was an undistinguished public servant working for the Labor Department in 1921 when he published an article in the Journal of the American Institute of Architects proposing an ambitious undertaking: the building of a footpath that would scale Appalachian peaks from New England to the South.

At the time, mountain clubs already maintained hiking trails in New England, but none had thought to tame the tangled wilderness that covered much of the mountainous South. Still, the idea slowly gained traction.

In 1925, MacKaye brought together Forest Service and hiking club leaders in Washington, D.C., and formed the Appalachian Trail Conference. The group mapped a 1,200-mile course from North Carolina to New Hampshire.

By the time the trail was completed in 1937, with the help of volunteers and the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps, the route had changed and grown significantly.

No one believed the pathway could be covered in one push; the trail founders considered that beside the point, anyway. Then in 1948, Earl Shaffer, who had recently served in the Army, achieved it, hiking from April through August. Out among the trees, following a sometimes poorly marked trail, Shaffer had been utterly alone.

Every year now as winter wanes, more than 1,000 people head to Springer Mountain to attempt the same feat. While those who end their hike at Katahdin number in the low hundreds, solitude often eludes through-hikers. …

Most take on a trail name. They’ll tell you that something like “Dinosaur” is easier to remember than Kathryn Herndon. But it’s more than that. A trail name — which hikers can bestow on themselves or wait until other hikers do so — marks a change: An old life has been temporarily set aside for a new one on the trail.

Through-hikers have their own lore, too, in the form of “trail magic,” acts of unexpected goodwill. A cooler filled with drinks and candy tucked alongside the trail is typical. Lucky through-hikers get grander gifts. …

Weeks later, on Sept. 28, Old School made one of the physically toughest climbs of his months on the trail: He scaled the craggy backbone of Katahdin. His stepson and wife, who’d rejoined them for the occasion, made the ascent with him.

At the top, mist set in. When Old School looked outward, he saw a gray void instead of a mountaintop view. It didn’t matter. He looked deep inside instead. He had achieved a monumental goal, and that fact was as solid as the earth beneath his feet. …

—excerpted from “Appalachian Trail Magic”

Star Tribune, November 19, 2006

 Listening Comprehension Test

for 11^th form Students

Student’s Booklet

Directions: in this part of the section you will listen to a text. After listening look at the questions 1-10, decide, which of them are true (T) and which are false (F) according to the text you have heard and mark the letter you have chosen by encircling it.

1. Old School is the trail name of an Appalachian Trail hiker whose real name is Billy Mason.	T	F
2. Among the things that Old School carried in his pack was a camp stove.	T	F
3. Hiking the Appalachian Trail is a repetitive task.	T	F
4. Lewis and Clark and Laura Ingalls Wilder are pioneers who romanticized the American spirit of discovery and pursuit of the outdoors.	T	F
5. According to the text, people are inspired to hike the Appalachian Trail because they are nostalgic for the past.	T	F
6. The Civilian Conservation Corps, which gave jobs to unemployed people in the Depression, helped to build the Appalachian Trail	T	F
7. Taking a hiking name is a rite of passage for most hikers on the Appalachian Trail.	T	F
8. A through-hiker is someone who hikes the entirety of the Appalachian Trail in one attempt.	T	F
9. Each year, less than 1,000 people try to hike all 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail.	T	F
10. Most people begin to hike the Appalachian Trail in autumn.	T	F

PLEASE STOP AND WAIT FOR THE SECOND READING OF THE TEXT.

Directions: in this part of the section you will listen to the text tor the second time. After listening look at the questions 11-20, decide, which of the given answers (A, B, C or D) best corresponds to what was stated or implied in the text you have heard and mark your answer by encircling the letter of your choice.

11. What did the speaker want to illustrate by mentioning that Old School threw away his camp stove while on the trail?

A. fire is always a danger

B. food odors may attract animals

C. equipment must meet hiking codes

D. backpacks should be manageable

12. The entire Appalachian Trail runs from

A. Maine to Georgia

B. Florida to Maryland

C. Springer Mountain to West Virginia

D. Virginia to the White Mountains

13. The speaker’s reference to pioneers and naturalists, such as Laura Ingalls Wilder and Ralph Waldo Emerson, illustrates the idea that

A.  physical labor may produce fame

B. silence is often the best companion

C. nature has a powerful effect on people

D. survival is dependent on collaboration

14. Who can be credited with suggesting the idea of the Appalachian Trail?

A. Earl Shaffer

B. Benton MacKaye

C. Daniel Boone

D. Billy Mason

15. According to the account, before 1948 the trail founders did not consider that people would eventually

A. desire some shortcuts

B. rename the trails

C. require heavy loads

D. hike the entire trail

16. Why do many hikers take on a trail name?

A. They want to suspend their daily lives.

B. They want to protect themselves.

C. They want to honor famous outdoorsmen.

D. They want to make new friends.

17. As used in the account, “trail magic” refers to

A. odd natural occurrences

B. surprise acts of kindness

C. artwork by hikers

D. starry night skies

18. As Old School completed his through-hike, he considered his reward to be

A. a reunion with his family

B. the glory of winning

C. a sense of accomplishment

D. the beautiful view

19.  The text suggests the Appalachian Trail is difficult to finish because it mentions

A. the many injuries that hikers often sustain while undertaking it

B. that while more than 1000 people start the hike, only a few finish it

C. the path is dangerous due to the number of vicious animals and criminals found on it

D. how home sick hikers get

20. According to the text, the Appalachian Trail took many years to complete because

A. they couldn’t get the funding needed to pay trail workers

B. it required flattening mountaintops with expensive explosives

C. it took a lot of coordination among planners and mountain clubs to map the entire route

D. “trail magic” often caused trail workers to be sick or even die while working on the trail

Speaking Comprehension Test

for 11^th form Students

Directions:

In this test, you will select three task slips from those before you. After selecting three, choose the one you feel you are most capable to speak about and return the other two to the table face down. Then take about a minute to collect your thoughts before you begin to speak on the topic. You may refer to the topic as needed. Take a deep breath and begin.

1.	Develop a fitness programme for yourself. Describe the type of food you eat  and the type of health programme you would  like to follow.
2.	Face-to-face communication is better than other types of communication, such as letters,        e-mail or telephone calls. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
3.	An utopia is described as an ideal community or society.  Describe your ideal society. Who would be invited to live in your society? Who would be excluded from your society?
4.	Television shows like “American Idol” and “Ukraine Has a Talent” have become incredibly popular in recent years.  Ordinary people present their talents before judges and a viewing audience, and if they are well-received, they have a chance at becoming stars. What does it mean to be a ‘celebrity’ today — is talent the most important thing? Are shows like these a good way to discover an unknown talent? Do all talented people have an equal chance at fame, regardless of  looks, age, or status?
5.	Being an immigrant nation, America is very obviously diverse and multicultural. Ukraine may have fewer visible differences among its citizens, but Ukrainians are certainly not identical. In what ways is Ukraine diverse? How does diversity help or hurt a country? Do you wish Ukraine was more diverse or less? Why?
6.	Some people argue that the content of mainstream media such as TV, movies, video games, and the Internet has a negative influence on young people.  Do you think that mainstream media negatively influence young people? What are some positive and negative aspects of the content of these media?  If there are negative effects, what can we do to combat them?
7.	You interact with teachers on a daily basis. What do you think of teaching as a profession? Is it important or not? Is it hard or easy? What position do teachers occupy in society? How do you think the profession of teaching will change in your lifetime?
8.	What is more important: fame and money or strong character and good values? Explain your point of view and how you define "good values". Use examples of real people who have followed either fame or money, or pursued a strong character. How do people normally act? Do they aim for moral character or for money? Why? Is it impossible to have both?
9.	Do you think that Internet blogs should be regulated by the government? Should people have the right to access any information they choose on the Internet? Should "political" blogs be forced to pay fees for supporting a particular candidate? What do you think will happen if government tries to censor certain information on the Internet?
10.	What kind of jobs have you had (part-time and full-time)? Are there many good job vacancies in your country? What is your dream job? Are there jobs only for women or only for men? How many jobs do you think you will have in your life? Are there any jobs you would refuse to do, regardless of the pay? Is being a rock star or a sports star a job? What do you think the job of being an English teacher is like? Does everyone have equal job opportunities in your country?
11.	Why is good leadership important? Do the people automatically have leadership or must they learn it? What do you think of leadership of your country? Have you ever been a leader? What leadership quality do you most admire/value? Would you like to take a leadership course? What leadership qualities do you want or need in the future?
12.	What is your attitude to a violation of laws? Do you think that men and women are punished the same for the same crimes? Why or why not? Do you think it's possible to prevent certain kinds of crimes? If so, which ones and how? What do you think are reasonable penalties for people who commit environmental crimes?  Have you (or anyone you know) been the victim of a crime? What happened? What do you think of the death penalty?
13.	“Look before you leap” is a popular saying.  Is it important to think before you act in every situation? In which situations is it most difficult to think before you act? Describe a time in your life when you did not follow this advice, and explain the consequences.
14.	What is journalism? Would you be interested in studying journalism? Is journalism a respected profession in your country?  What good does journalism do in your country? Is it always about reporting the truth? What do you think of journalists who report in war zones? What kinds of people are good at journalism? Do you think investigative journalism would be interesting for you? What do you think of paparazzi?
15.	Imagine that you are the owner of a new museum. What type of museum would you like to own? Who would be interested in visiting your museum? What techniques or things would you use to attract tourists? From which time period would you gather most of your materials?
16.	What are the most serious problems of the present day world which worry millions of people everywhere? How do you imagine the future of your planet? What may happen to the world in the next ten years?
17.	If you were the mayor of your city what do you think would need to be done in order to make the place where you live better? Explain why these things are important to you.
18.	You are going to start up a business. You have the money, you have the space, and you have the workers. What product will you sell? What types of people would be interested in your product? How will you advertise this product? Give a simple advertising motto.
19.	What stereotypes do you think the foreigners have about Ukraine? Do you feel that these stereotypes are correct? What stereotypes do you feel are particularly harmful for the Ukrainian people? What can you do to change these stereotypes?
20.	All’s well that ends well. How does this saying concern you, a schoolleaver? What is your daily routine? Has your daily routine changed since you became an 11th form student? Are your still in search of your future profession or have you made a firm decision to become a lawyer, an architect or some other professional? What actions do you take now and what personal qualities do you possess to be a successful person and a qualified professional in the future?
21.	Imagine a youth club in your school holds a conference on literature. The  theme of the conference is “ Are literary heroes your role models?” Do you think the theme of the conference is vital? Who was your favourite fairy tale hero in early childhood? Why? What childhood books influenced you most? What literary hero can you consider to be your role model?
22.	Each country is famous for its outstanding statesmen, writers, sportsmen, scientists, musicians, etc. What famous Englishmen/women do you know? Who of them do you think was the most influentional? What was his/her occupation? What makes his/her personality outstanding? What did he/she do for his country? Was he/she involved in improving the English society or the world?
23.	What do you think are the three main social problems in your country? Do you think these problems are present all over the world or are they specific to your country?  For each problem, can you suggest one change or action that could make a positive difference?
24.	Comment on the idea expressed by Ray Bradbury – “Don’t think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It’s self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can’t try to do things. You simply must do things”. Do you think creative people are born or made? What adjectives do you associate with creative people? How creative do you consider yourself to be?
25.	It is generally agreed that society benefits from the work of its members. Compare the contributions of artists to society with the contributions of scientists to society. Which type of contribution do you think is valued more by your society? Give specific reasons to support your answer.

Writing Comprehension Test

for 11^th form Students

Directions:

In this test, you will be given the task written on the board to complete. You will begin writing your essay on the pages provided. When you are finished close your papers. Lay down your pen and wait for us to collect your test materials.

Choose one of the three suggested topics and develop it in a written form. Make sure that you do not only make general comments but also provide personal facts, ideas, and feelings.

1. Mother Teresa said, “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.”

§  How are young people in Ukraine involved in improving their communities?

§  What challenges do young Ukrainians face when they try to improve things person to person?

§  What do you personally do to improve the lives of the people around you?

2.     It has been said that those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. History plays an important role in our lives, whether we know it or not.

·       What main lesson have you learned from history? 

·       How have you used this lesson in your life?

·       How would society suffer were we not to heed this lesson?

3.     You are now in the eleventh form. Soon you will finish school. Looking back...

·       What advice would you like to give to younger pupils about school life?

·       What would you like to see changed about your school or the system of education in Ukraine?

·       What are your goals to improve yourself in your future life at the university or in your career?