The 3rd stage of the Republican Olympiad on the English language among schoolchildren of the

2023-2024 academic year.

Keys and grading criteria for the jury and display.

2nd day

1. Listening (2 points for each correct answer)

Listen to the text and choose the best answers to the questions below. You will hear the text twice.

Audioscript Text “Communication review”.

Good morning, everybody. Thank you for coming. I know that you're all busy studying for finals and
finishing your projects. I hope coming here so early this morning hasn't been too stressful for you.
Today, I'll be talking about the causes of stress for college students. Then I have some suggestions for
dealing with stress. We'll end with a short relaxation activity.
One cause of stress that I probably don't need to tell you about is not having enough money. Money issues
affect so much of your life as a student. Do you buy a book that you need, or do you reward yourself for
all your hard work by going out for a good meal? Now, this is a pretty obvious one. Some of you may, in
fact, be dealing with this already by working part-time.
This leads me to another major cause of stress for students – trying to juggle going to classes, keeping up
with coursework, studying for exams, and working. Some of us also try to fit in a social life.
There are, of course, other causes of stress for students. You may be studying too much. If you're a new
student who is living away from home, you may be learning to live on your own and do things for
yourself for the first time in your life. You may also be missing family and friends you left behind.
So, how do you handle stress? I've got a few suggestions. First, find a physical activity that you enjoy and
make time for it. For example, playing tennis, going for a walk, swimming – anything that gets you
moving. Secondly, organize your time and set reasonable goals that can be accomplished. Third, don't
make unnecessary appointments or agree to impossible deadlines. Learn to say “No”. Number four, make
time to relax. Create opportunities when you can relax your entire mind and body. Time to just chill out.
Five, eat breakfast. And try to space your meals evenly throughout the day. And don't drink too much
coffee. Finally, learn to develop a sense of humor about yourself and your problems.
Now we're going to try that relaxation activity…

1. What is the main purpose of the speaker?

A. To evaluate the listeners.

B. To educate the listeners.
C. To entertain the listeners.
D. To inform the listeners.

2. Who are the listeners of the lecture?

A. College instructors.
B. University students.
C. Conference participants.
D. Parents and care givers.
1
3. During the lecture the speaker _____.
A. highlights the main causes of stress
B. provides the listeners with the suggestions how to deal with stress
C. explains the causes of stress and gives tips how to handle it
D. teaches the listeners how to avoid stress

4. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the speaker?

A. Regular sport exercises might help to avoid stress.
B. Trying to combine studies and work leads to stress.
C. Living away from home helps to avoid stress.
D. Eating regularly might help handle the stress.

5. At the final stage of the lecture, the listeners will probably _____.
A. do a warm-up activity
B. hear a joke from the speaker
C. introduce themselves to the speaker
D. breathe deeply

6. How many suggestions for dealing with stress has the speaker provided?
A. Six.
B. Five.
C. Four.
D. Three.

7. Which of the following does NOT help to deal with stress?

A. Playing games.
B. Eating three meals a day.
C. Drinking coffee.
D. Laughing at oneself.

8. What does the speaker mean saying that most students have to juggle?

A. The listeners are skillful at tossing into the air and catching different objects.
B. The listeners are mainly multitaskers.
C. The modern life is similar to life in the jungle.
D. Jogging is a good physical activity.

9. Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?

A. The lecture is delivered early in the morning.
B. The lecture is delivered at the beginning of the Academic year.
C. Working part-time helps to reduce stress.
D. In order to deal with stress all people should play tennis and swim.

10. Which of the major causes of stress is NOT mentioned in the text?

A. Lack of financial support.

B. Inability to concentrate and work hard.
C. Difficulties with socialization.
D. Lack of background knowledge.

2
 2. Grammar and vocabulary (1 point for each correct answer)

Part I. Test. Read the following items and circle the correct option.
Bakyt is very amenable.
1. Which of the following is probably true about him?
A. He sometimes confronts people.
B. He follows the crowd in most cases.
C. He makes waves.
D. He stands up for his opinion.

Aibek’s wife, Aziza, has a sister named Aiperi.

2. Which of the following variants is TRUE?
A. Aiperi is Aibek’s sister-in-law.
B. Aiperi is Aibek’s sister.
C. Aiperi is Aibek’s niece.
D. Aiperi is Aziza’s cousin.

1) What sources of money can we _____ in order to finance the project?

2) We’ll have to call in a plumber. That _____ just won’t stop dripping.
3) This porcelain is extremely delicate. The slightest _____ and it will break.
3. Which of the following words can be used in the blanks in all three sentences above?
A. push
B. tap
C. faucet
D. knock

Bacteria consists of only a single cell, but don’t let their small size and seeming simplicity
A B C
fool you.
D
4. Which of the underlined elements must be changed to make the sentence above correct?
A.
B.
C.
D.

– These pieces of art are very original.

– Yes. The artist is famous for his _____.
5. Which of the following variants must be used to complete the sentence above?
A. enthusiasm
B. creativity
C. dedication
D. confidence
__________________________________________________________________________
It’s the first time I _____ all the answers right in the test!
6. Which of the following variants must be used to complete the sentence above?

A. have got
B. had got
C. have been getting
D. had been getting

3
 I. My friend Mark hates when I try to give him a piece of good advice.
II. Do you think it’s bad to get an advice?
III. He gave me good advice.
IV. Let me give you some advices.
7. Which of the above sentences are correct?
A. I and IV only
B. II and III only
C. I and III only
D. II, III, IV only

I _____ across this magazine about the planets in the school library. It’s very interesting.
8. Which of the following variants must be used to complete the sentence above?

A. went
B. found
C. came
D. looked

What’s the difference _____?

9. Which of the following variants must be used to complete the sentence above?

A. in us having to read this book

B. between black tea and green tea
C. to that piece of equipment over there
D. with salty and fresh water

Anara’s report _____ by the time Aslan comes.

10. Which of the following variants must be used in the blank in the sentence above?

A. will be made
B. will have made
C. will have been made
D. will be making

11. Which of the following speakers describes angry feelings?

A. I’m totally baffled by people who equally well can speak five or more languages.
B. I remember feeling stunned when my umbrella broke in the wind 5 minutes after
I had bought it.
C. I would feel infuriated if airlines lost my luggage.
D. I always feel discouraged when I am not able to get what I want.

I suggest _____ pizza for dinner tonight.

12. Which of the following variants must be used in the blank in the sentence above?

A. have
B. to have
C. having
D. us to have

4
Part II. Text “The sport that refuses to die” (word formation).
Read and complete the text with an appropriate form of the words in brackets.

1 2
The Spanish (govern) 2012 decision to reverse a ban on (show) live bullfighting on the state-run
3 4
channel Television Espanola sparked a (heat) debate about the sport and (it) role in Spanish culture.
5
The initial ban came in 2006 amidst claims that the rights to show fights were too (expense), and
6 7
that bullfighting was violent for children who could be (watch). However, the (conserve) Popular Party

sees the sport as an art with deep roots in Spanish history and has given the industry tax breaks and

ensured low ticket prices.

8 9
To fans bullfighting is full of drama, risk and (brave). (Oppose), though, insist the sport is cruel
10 11
and the region of Catalonia has (complete) banned all fights. (Increase), younger Spaniards seem
12 13
(uninterest). In recent opinion poll, over 70 % claimed to have no interests in (watch) the sport at all.
14 15
In (add), bull (breed) are finding it increasingly hard to make a profit. This is partly down to the
16
rising cost of food, but also due to increased (compete) from the growing number of rich breeders
17 18
(involve) in the business mainly as a hobby. Many now only survive (thank) to European Union

subsides of around 200 euros per bull per year.

1. government's 7. conservative 13. watching

2. showing 8. bravery 14. addition
3. heated/hot 9. opponents 15. breeders
4. its 10. completely 16. competition
5. expensive 11. increasingly 17. involved
6. watching 12. uninterested 18. thanks

5
 3. Reading (2 points for each correct answer)

Read the text and choose the best answers to the questions.

Zoos are hugely popular attractions for adults and children alike. But are they actually a good thing?
Critics of zoos would argue that animals often suffer physically and mentally by being enclosed. Even
the best artificial environments can't come close to matching the space, diversity, and freedom that
animals have in their natural habitats. This deprivation causes many zoo animals to become stressed
or mentally ill. Capturing animals in the wild also causes much suffering by splitting up families. Some
zoos make animals behave unnaturally: for example, marine parks often force dolphins and whales to
perform tricks. These mammals may die decades earlier than their wild relatives, and some even try to
commit suicide.

On the other hand, by bringing people and animals together, zoos have the potential to educate the public
about conservation issues and inspire people to protect animals and their habitats. Some zoos provide
a safe environment for animals which have been mistreated in circuses, or pets which have been
abandoned. Zoos also carry out important research into subjects like animal behaviour and how to treat
illnesses.

One of the most important modern functions of zoos is supporting international breeding programmes,
particularly for endangered species. In the wild, some of the rarest species have difficulty in finding mates
and breeding, and they might also be threatened by poachers, loss of their habitat and predators. A good
zoo will enable these species to live and breed in a secure environment. In addition, as numbers of some
wild species drop, there is an increased danger of populations becoming too genetically similar. Breeding
programmes provide a safeguard: zoo-bred animals can be released into the wild to increase genetic
diversity.

However, opponents of zoos say that the vast majority of captive breeding programmes do not release
animals back into the wild. Surplus animals are sold not only to other zoos but also to circuses or hunting
ranches in the US or South Africa, where some people are willing to pay a lot of money for the chance
to kill an animal in a fenced enclosure. Often, these animals are familiar with humans and have very little
chance of escaping.

So, are zoos good for animals or not? Perhaps it all depends on how well individual zoos are managed,
and the benefits of zoos can surely outweigh their harmful effects. However, it is understandable that
many people believe imprisoning animals for any reason is simply wrong.

1. What type of the essay is the text?

A. Opinion.
B. Descriptive.
C. Cause and effect.
D. Problem/Solution.

2. What might be the best tittle of the text?

A. Conservation mission of modern zoos
B. Breeding animals in reservation
C. Scientific contributions of Zoos
D. Navigating the pros and cons of captive wildlife conservations

6
3. Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the text?
The animals in zoos are under stress because _____.
A. there is not enough room for them
B. they live apart from their prides or packs or families
C. they have to do something that is against their nature
D. they don’t have a chance to hunt other animals for food

4. Which of the following variants is closest in meaning to the underlined word “mistreated”?
A. Having experienced unfair or unjust behavior.
B. Well-rested and rejuvenated.
C. Having powers, abilities or talents to perform in public.
D. Feeling lonely or abandoned.

5. Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the text?

The advantages of zoos are as follows _____.
A. they contribute to animal conservation
B. they teach people to be kind to and considerate of animals
C. scientists can study animal habits there
D. scientists use animals there as subjects for the treatment of people

6. The underlined phrase “rarest species” means animals the number of which is _____.
A. big
B. small
C. adequate
D. proportional

7. What is NOT TRUE according to the text?

Critics think that zoos and circuses do a lot of harm because _____.
A. animals are deprived of their natural habitat
B. animal families are destroyed
C. animals are made to do unnatural things
D. animals are not allowed to reproduce

8. Which of the following variants is NOT mentioned in the text?

People do many things to protect animals. They _____.
A. take care of them
B. donate money to support them
C. teach other people how to treat them
D. save rare species

9. According to the text, the author _____.

A. is against zoos
B. is for zoos
C. occupies a dual position
D. is indifferent to the problem

10. According to the text, international breeding programs mostly aim at saving _____.
A. all wild animals
B. animals facing extinction
C. animals in South Africa
D. all domestic animals