MINISTERUL EDUCAIEI I CERCETRII TIINIFICE

INSPECTORATUL JUDEEAN TULCEA

COALA GIMNAZIAL GHEORGHE BANEA MCIN

VARIANTA 2

OLIMPIADA DE LIMB ENGLEZ

CLASA a VII-a
18.01.2016
I.

Read the text and answer the questions:

We normally think of chocolate as a sweet treat, but it began as a bitter beverage! Chocolate as a food got its start
in ancient times, when it wasnt just a dessert it played an important part in ritual and culture. In ancient Latin America,
chocolate was worshipped literally! Both the Mayan and Aztec people had gods that they believed were responsible for
bringing chocolate to the earth. The two cultures consumed chocolate as a drink, which was popular among nobility. It
was believed that the cocoa bean had magical powers, and it was used during major life events like births, marriages and
deaths.
Chocolate wasnt mixed with sugar until Europeans came in contact with the Americas in 1500s. They brought it
home to Europe, where it became an expensive import and a symbol of wealth. Instead of chili and corn, Europeans added
cinnamon and sugar to chocolate. But because chocolate was imported from another country, chocolate was available only
to the upper class and became a symbol of wealth and status.
In the mid-1600s chocolate houses, which were like the coffee houses we have today, were a trendy meeting
places for English citizens. By the 1700s chocolate was a part of life for upper-class citizens in Europe; believed to be a
nutritious drink with many benefits. Back in America chocolate was so popular that it was included in the rations for
soldiers on the battlefield in the Revolutionary War.
In the early 1800s, the Industrial Revolution was in full swing, and people quickly found ways of speeding up the
chocolate-making process. In 1828, a Dutch chemist found a way to remove some of the natural fat from chocolate, which
lead to the creation of chocolate in food form. The first chocolate bar was made in 1847 and by 1868 a company called
Cadbury began selling chocolate candies. The same year, Nestle invented milk chocolate.
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Which cultures were the first to consume chocolate?

How did chocolate become popular in Europe?
For most of its history, chocolate was mainly eaten by: everyone, peasants or upper class?
Why was chocolate so expensive in Europe?
When was made the first milk chocolate?
(20 points)

II.
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10.

Complete with the right tense of the verbs in brackets.

Youll break it if you _______________________ (not be) careful.
If it __________________ (rain), youll have to take your umbrella.
You wont find the key if you ________________________ (not open) the bag.
What would you do if you __________________ (see) someone steal something?
I ______________________ (not come) if I finish work late.
Will he send me the money if he ________________ (know) my address?
What ____________________________ (happen) if he didnt go to work?
Im sure he _______________________ (help) me if I need him.
If you go to town, _________ you _________ (buy) something for me?
If she __________ (try) very hard, she will succeed.
(10 points)

III.

Put the verbs into the correct form: past simple or past continuous:
Colin Boyle was born in 1983 near Dublin, Ireland. In 1996 he (1). (become) seriously ill. While
he (2). (recover), his uncle (3).. (give) him an old drumkit. He enjoyed playing and
practiced in a friends garage every evening. One day, in 1998, John Leaf, the manager of several successful musicians,
(4)..(pass) the garage when he (5).. (hear) Colin practicing. He (6)
.(bang) on the garage door and (7).. (invite) Colin to appear in one of the concerts he
(8). (organize) that year. Colin, however, (9)..(refuse) Leafs invitation, because at that
time he (10) (prepare) for some important school exams.
1

(10 points)
Choose the correct alternative:
My sister has been / was interested in medicine ever since she has been / was a child.
One day, when he waited / was waiting at a station, he noticed / was noticing a small boy.
When her children were in their early teens, they were enjoying / used to enjoy looking at her old photo albums.
I prepare / Im preparing for a conference next Wednesday, but that only lasts / that is only lasting until Friday
so Im free at the weekend.
5. If I miss / will miss the bus this afternoon, Ill get a taxi instead.
6. Last night I have shown / was shown around a castle by the owner.
7. Im hoping to visit / visiting my grandparents if I can.
(10 points)

IV.
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V.
Put in the present perfect or past simple of the verbs in brackets.
e.g. I've had (have) these shoes since my eighteenth birthday.
I tidied (tidy) my desk, but now it's in a mess again.
1 The last time I ............................................... (go) to Brighton was in August.
2 I'd like to meet a ghost, but I .................................................(never / see) one.
3 I've finished my homework. I ....................................... (do) it before tea.
4 I ................... (work) for a computer company for a year. That was after college.
5 What time .................................................(you / get) to work this morning?
6 Martin ............................... (be) to Greece five times. He loves the place.
7 You won't believe this, but I've got some tickets for the concert. ~ Oh, well done. How ........................ (you / get) them?
8 Of course I can ride a bike. But I ........... ....................(not / ride) one for years.
9 .................. (you / ever / bake) your own bread? ~ No, but I might try it some time.
10 Janet .................................. (be) very ill three years ago.
(10 points)
VI.
Fill in the blanks with the correct words.
1. I cant think of an ____________________ for his absence. (EXPLAIN)
2. The accident caused the ____________________ of five people. (DIE)
3. Lots of accidents happen because of ________________ drivers. (CARE)
4. They need the governments ____________________ before they can go ahead. (APPROVE)
5. The government is taking measures to reduce _____________________. (EMPLOY)
6. We were surprised by his ____________________ to discuss the matter. (DENY)
7. After some time he recovered ____________________. (CONSCIOUS)
8. Children show ___________________ about everything. (CURIOUS)
9. There was a look of ____________________ on her face. (SAD)
10. As she was already ____________________ independent, she decided to buy her own flat. (FINANCE)
(10 points)
Write a composition in 120 words, beginning with the following words and give it a title.
It was a stormy day. The wind drove down the rain and everywhere there was standing water and mud, but we
decided to leave anyway, as the place has turned into a real danger for all of us
( 30 points )