Model subiect olimpiada de Engleza, clasa a 12-a, faza judeteana

SUBIECTUL A – USE OF ENGLISH (40 points) 
 
I. Read the paragraph below and do the tasks that follow. (10 points) 
Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, is a beloved and delicious tradition embraced in many 
countries around the world . The tradition of e ating pancakes to mark the beginning of Lent has been 
observed in Britain since around the 16th century. It is possible that this tradition occurred because some 
ingredients would typically be banned during Lent . These were eggs, butter and fat, which woul d not last 
throughout the lengthy fasting time. One of the easiest ways to dispose of such items was to turn the m into 
pancakes.  
The primary focus of many people on Pancake Day is the excessive consumption of palate -pleasing 
pancakes. Some also take part in an activity called “pancake racing”, which, as the name suggests, involves 
participating in a race while flipping pancakes in a frying pan. People say this tradition originated in 1445. 
According to the story, a woman lost track of time while making pan cakes on Shrove Tuesday. As she heard 
the church bell ring, calling for the community to head to the church for confession, she ran out of her house to 
make her way to church, all the while still holding her frying pan with the pancake on top. 
In the UK, s ome also celebrate Pancake Day by taking part in “mob football” matches. This centuries -old 
tradition used to be more common, and involved teams kicking a ball around on public roads. While many no 
longer partake in the activity, some villages continue to uphold the tradition. 
 
A. Choose the right synonym for the words given below, according to their meaning in the text. 
            3 points 
1. observed a) obeyed b) watched c) remarked d) noticed 
2. dispose of a) deal with b) give away c) get rid of  d) do away with 
3. uphold  a) to defend b) to state c) to renounce d) to keep 
  
B. Rephrase the following sentences so as to preserve the meaning . Use the word given WITHOUT 
changing it.           3 points 
 
1. It is possible that this tradition occurred because the ingredients would typically be banned during 
Lent. GIVEN 
This tradition may …………………………………… of some ingredients during Lent. 
2. One of the easiest ways to dispose of such items was to turn them into pancakes. BUT 
There ……………. ……………………………………………….... to turn them into pancakes.  
3. People say this tradition originated in 1445.  TO 
This tradition ………………………… in 1445. 
 
C. Four words have been removed from the summary of the text above. Choose the right words to fill-
in the summary. There are four extra words which you do not need to use.  4 points 
 
certainty, stack, savor, meal, solemnity, gulp, earnest, tradition 
Shrove Tuesday, known as Pancake Day in Britain and in many parts of the world, is a                                        
delightful occasion to 1___ delicious pancakes and embrace the spirit of celebration before the 2___ of 
Lent. Before Lent could begin in 3___, all edible temptations had to be removed. Whether you’re flipping 
pancakes in a race, playing mob football or enjoying a 4___ at home, Sh rove Tuesday is a day to indulge 
in this tasty tradition.  Ministerul Educaţiei  
Centrul Naţional de Politici și Evaluare în Educație 
Probă scrisă la limba engleză   clasa a XII-a secțiunea B 
Pagina 2 din 4 
 
II. For questions 1 -5, think of one word only which can be used appropriately in all three sentences. 
Write only the missing word on your response sheet.             10 points 
 
1. She responseed their question with a faint ……. of boredom. 
As an English teacher, I often encourage my students to engage in discussions about current affairs to 
…….  their opinions and develop their speaking skills. 
Exploring the majestic Alps, one cannot help but feel invigorate d by the crisp mountain ………, a 
refreshing departure from the city smog. 
 
2. The negotiation process requires careful diplomacy, as no one likes it when one party ……… away 
dissatisfied with the terms of the agreement. 
Growing up in a bustling metropolis, I che rished the opportunity to talk to people belonging to all ……..  
of life. 
With each step, the elderly man’s ……….. became slower and more deliberate, yet he cherished the 
simple pleasure of being outdoors.  
 
3. As an educator, I emphasize the importance of taki ng regular ……..  during study sessions to maintain 
focus and prevent burnout. 
A ceasefire ……..  the relentless cycle of conflict, offering hope for peace in the region. 
I often encourage children to talk to an adult when one of their friends …….  the silence regarding 
bullying. 
 
4. Marylin had a really …….. budget and had to think twice before spending every cent. 
The dress suits me, but it is a bit ……..  around the chest.  
As expected, the security was ………  at the G8 summit. 
 
5. Garry is so ruthless that he will ……….  at nothing to get what he wants. 
The formula one driver lost precious minutes at a pit …….  and came third in the race. 
Many disgruntled Internet users wanted the Internet provider to put a ……..  to spam. 
 
 
III. For questions 1-10, read the text below and look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct and some 
have a word that should not be there. If a line is correct, put a tick (✓) by the number on your response sheet. If a 
line has a word which should not be there, write the word down next to the number on your response sheet. 
            10 points 
 
0     √        How much does it cost to run a repair cafe? Here’s how to cut waste while        
00    the    raising the money for charity.“It’s abhorrent seeing things thrown away,” says 
1 ______ Chris Murphy, the organiser of Tunbridge Wells Repair Cafe. Chris who is the type 
2 ______ of person who goes to the dump and leaves with much more things than he went 
3 ______ with.  He makes do and mends items when they are broken. And he enjoys bringing  
4 ______ people over together. So when he learnt about repair cafes from a friend back in  2019,  
5 ______ his next step was a no-brainer.“I thought, well, we don’t have the one, I'll start  
6 ______ one,” the 51-year-old from Tunbridge Wells, UK tells Euronews Green. Just over 
7 ______ three years later on, he oversees one of the largest repair cafes in southeast England 
8 ______ with 28 repair stations and 75 volunteers. “There’s broken stuff over here, people 
9 ______ who can mend stuff and they have got a charity ethos. Bring them together - I love the 
10 ______ idea of it,” Chris explains. Repair cafes are some free, community-run meeting  
places where locals can bring broken items for volunteers to fix. 
 Ministerul Educaţiei  
Centrul Naţional de Politici și Evaluare în Educație 
Probă scrisă la limba engleză   clasa a XII-a secțiunea B 
Pagina 3 din 4 
 
IV. Translate the following text into English.     10 points 
 
I se spusese că de la gară până în centrul orașului sunt trei kilometri care pot fi străbătuți într-o jumătate de ceas cu o 
trăsură dusă de cai buni, dacă nu cumva n-a plouat înainte. Legătura dintre capriciile cerului și drumurile târgului 
acestuia omul încă n-o pricepea. Deocamdată privea peronul îngust, fațada roșie de cărămidă a sălii de așteptare 
năpădită de iederă, geamurile pline de praf ale biroului, dinlăuntrul căruia se auzea păcănitul telegrafului. Nu mai 
coborâse nimeni altcineva. Șeful de gară dăduse semnalul de plecare și trenul dispăruse în câteva clipe, mistuindu-se 
în depărtarea sură a zilei de toamnă. Era duminică, apropape de ora două și nu -i rămânea decât să găsească 
trăsura. Îi fu o clipă teamă că dincolo de gardul pitic al gării nu va găsi pe nimeni. Străbătu linia ce-l despărțea de ușile 
peronului. Odată ieșit în piața pavată cu piatră cubică, se lămuri. Și să fi vrut să aleagă, n-ar fi putut, deoarece nu se 
afla decât o trăsură aducând mai degrabă cu obiectele bizare uitate prin expoziții pentru a aminti oamenilor istoria 
mijloacelor de transport. 
(Eugen Barbu – Unsprezece) 
SUBIECTUL B – INTEGRATED SKILLS (60 points) 
 
I. Five paragraphs have been removed from the following text. Choose from the paragraphs A -F the 
one which fits each gap 1 -5. There i s one extra paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your 
response on your response sheet.         10 points 
 
Fear of ageing is really a fear of the unknown – and modern society is making things worse 
 
For the first time in human history, we have entered an era in which reaching old age is taken for granted. 
Unlike in ages past, when living to an older age was a luxury afforded mainly to the privileged, globally around 
79% of women and 70% of men can expect to reach the age of 65 and beyond. Despite longer  life 
expectancy, many people in the contemporary west see growing old as undesirable and even scary. Research 
shows, however, that anxiety about ageing may in fact be fear of the unknown. Society’s focus on 
youthfulness and capability can cause anxiety ab out becoming weak and unwanted. [.................] 1.  We 
frequently hear about attempts to reverse ageing, often by the super rich. For example, Bryan Johnson, a 45 -
year-old American entrepreneur, is spending millions of dollars a year to obtain the physical age of 18. 
 
While the desire to reverse ageing is not a new phenomenon, advancements in biomedicine have brought it 
closer. Work published by genetics professor David Sinclair at Harvard University in 2019 suggests that it may 
be possible to challenge the limits of cell reproduction to extend our lifespan, for example. His inf ormation 
theory of ageing argues that reprogramming DNA can improve damaged and old tissues, and delay or even 
reverse ageing. However, these new possibilities can also heighten our fear of ageing. 
 
People haven’t always dreaded growing older. In many societies, older people used to be widely regarded as 
wise and important – and in some they still are. In ancient China, there was a culture of respecting and 
seeking advice from older family members. There is still an ethos of filial piety (showing reverence and care for 
elders and ancestors) today, even if it’s not as pronounced as it used to be. [............] 2. People who had 
surpassed the age to work, alongside those with incurabl e diseases, were regarded by society as “evils” in 
need of assistance. 
 
The treatment of older people has taken a different form since the early 20th century. The introduction of 
universal pension systems made ageing a central concern in welfare systems. [............] 3. This can result in 
the institutionalisation of older people  in residential facilities that keep them hidden, sequestered from the 
awareness of younger generations. 
 
Research analysing the responses of 1,200 US adults from the American Asso ciation of Retired Persons’ 
Images of Ageing survey shows that much of the perceived fear of ageing is closely aligned with the fear of the 
unknown, rather than the ageing process itself. This fear is only exacerbated by the largely separate lives lived 
by older and younger generations. The prevalence of nuclear families and the d ecline of traditional mixed -
generational communities have deprived younger people of the opportunity to more fully understand the 
experiences of older people. [..........] 4. Older people are frequently portrayed in the media as conservative 
and privileged, making it difficult for younger generations to comprehend why older people act and think the 
way they do. 
 Ministerul Educaţiei  
Centrul Naţional de Politici și Evaluare în Educație 
Probă scrisă la limba engleză   clasa a XII-a secțiunea B 
Pagina 4 din 4 
 
Academics suggest that creating a system for older and younger generations to interact in everyday settings is 
vital. A set of three UK -based studies in 2016 analysed and compared the effects of direct contact, extended 
contact and interactions between younger (aged 17 to 30) and older people (65 and over). [.............] 5.  
Studies show that these activities can not only enhance the wellbeing of older people but also help younger 
people gain an appreciation of ageing as a valuable and fulfilling life stage. 
 
Getting worried about growing older is normal, just as we experienc e anxieties in other stages of life, such as 
adolescence and marriage. But h ere’s the thing – instead of seeing ageing as a looming figure, it is important 
to realise it is just a part of life.  
 
A. The findings indicated that good quality direct intergenerat ional contact can improve young people’s 
attitudes towards older adults (especially when sustained over time). Intergenerational programmes 
have been adopted globally, including mixed and intergenerational housing, community choirs and 
senior volunteers reading to young children in nurseries. 
 
B. Once we understand ageing as a regula r experience, we can let go of these worries and approach the 
journey through different life stages with a positive attitude and a fortified will to enrich our lives and the 
lives of those around us. 
 
C. The same went for medieval Europe, where older people’s experiences and wisdom were highly 
valued. However, the industrial revolution in the west from the 18th century led to a cultural shift where 
older people became excluded from society and were considered unproductive. 
 
D. Adverts for anti -ageing products are everywhere, reinforcing the idea that growing older is inherently 
unattractive. Some people fear ageing so much that it becomes a pathological condition called 
gerascophobia, leading to irrational tho ughts and behaviour, for example, a fixation on health, illness 
and mortality and a preoccupation with hiding the signs of ageing. 
 
E. Plus, the rapid increase in house prices means many young people cannot afford to live near their 
older relatives.The separa tion of older people from children and young people has sparked 
generational conflicts that seemingly continue to grow wider than ever. 
 
F. But as the demands for social and health care have increased, journalists increasingly portray ageing 
as a burden on so ciety. Consequently, growing older is often associated with managing the risk of ill 
health and alleviating the onus of care from younger relatives. 
 
II. The director of the charitable organisation for which you volunteer twice a week would like to start a  
programme meant to bring both senior citizens and teenagers in your community together. The 
volunteers have been asked to write proposals suggesting three common activities for the two age 
groups, describing how these activities will benefit both the youn g and the elderly and recommending 
two activities for the charity to organise.  
 
Starting from the text above, write your proposal. (250-280 words)   50 points