MINISTERUL EDUCAȚIEI NAȚIONALE
INSPECTORATUL ȘCOLAR JUDEȚEAN CLUJ
OLIMPIADA DE LIMBA ENGLEZǍ
ETAPA LOCALǍ, 18 FEBRUARIE 2017
CLASA a XI-a, SECȚIUNEA B
Varianta 1
Subiectul I: Reading Comprehension (25p)
- You are going to read a report on eco-tourism. For questions 1-5, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text. (10 points)
Eco-tourism: Suitable for all
Background
In the last decade of the twentieth century and the first few years of the twenty-first century, eco-tourism was regarded as a luxury that a few could afford. It meant luxurious hotels which used organic products, ranging from organically-grown cotton to toilet paper which had not been chemically bleached. It used expensive solar-powered systems and other modern technologies which conserved energy, whilst at the same time providing costly, quality services.
All that came to an end when eco-tourism was severely hit by the recent economic crisis. However, this section of the holiday industry is now showing signs of recovery. By changing its approach to include anything from conservation-based adventure programmes to high-end luxury hotels, eco-tourism is managing to increase the number of customers and therefore improve its chances of success in the tourism industry.
Current trends
According to Ron Erdmann, Director of Research at the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, the number of people taking part in environmental or ecological travel started rising again after 2007. Eco-tourism has grown to mean much more than just luxury bungalows or tents in unspoilt areas and it now focuses on supporting local communities – a model of holiday that considers both travellers and local communities. One of the leaders in eco-tourism is the country of Costa Rica, where almost 49 per cent of two million visitors in 2010took part in eco-tourism activities during their stay, bringing an income of nearly a billion dollars to the country. The manager of Lapa Rios, one of the most successful green resorts in Costa Rica, explained that one of the main benefits of eco-tourism is that it protects areas from the sort of damage that ordinary (non-eco) tourists usually cause.
Eco-Tourism worldwide
Destinations like Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Nepal, Bhutan and Patagonia are also seeing an increase in the numbers of tourists that visit them hoping to have a holiday full of natural beauty. These areas are famous for their unspoilt surroundings and rare flowers and animals, and for the perfect landscapes and the unique architecture which have remained unchanged for centuries. Trekking and backpacking are among the cheapest options in some of these locations, but there are other much more luxurious and costly choices as well. The director of the safari service Roar Africa, Deborah Calmeyer, says, “Our clients often spend up to $30,000 per person for personal African adventure that’s environmental-friendly”. Her company shares the aims of its partner organization, Singita, a tourism operation whose purpose is to protect wildlife and its habitat as well as to prevent the illegal killing of animals.
The future
In the opinion of Steve Case, who is also working on a project in Costa Rica, the future of eco-tourism lies in the cooperation between the local people and the hoteliers. He also believes it is essential that the impact of waste on the resort is neutralised either by recycling it or by re-using it, so that the location can retain its beauty and character, and the tourism industry can continue. Bruce Poon Tip, director of GAP Adventures, agrees with him and adds that the goal is to help local people and that is the reason why his company uses small-scale accommodation, local means of transport and businesses owned by the locals in every area they visit.
Conclusion
It certainly seems as if eco-tourism is here to stay; more and more travellers are aware of the impact that travelling can have on the environment and are demanding that measures should be taken to reduce the damage or even reverse it.
1. What do we learn in the first paragraph about eco-tourism?
A. It was only for wealthy people.
B. Plenty of people could afford it.
C. It didn’t use advanced technologies.
D. It didn’t existbefore the end of the twentieth century.
2. What does “all that” refer to in line 6?
A. modern technologies
B. the economic crisis
C. organic products
D. expensive green holidays
3. What is one of the advantages of eco-tourism?
A. Many visitors take part in ecologically friendly activities.
B. Local communities are engaged in ecology.
C. Tourist activities cannot be done in some areas.
D. Some areas remain unspoilt
4. What do travellers expect when they visit places like the Galapagos Islands or Nepal?
A. to find places undisturbed by modern civilisation
B. to spend some time in a costly hotel
C. to go on a safari
D. to have a cheap holiday
5. What should be done to ensure that eco-tourism has a future?
A. People should not dump their waste.
B. Local communities should be involved.
C. Waste should not be produced.
D. Travellers should not stay at hotels
- You are going to read an article about the trend of drinking bottled water. For questions 1-10, choose from the sections (A-E). The sections may be chosen more than once. (15 points)
In which section of the article are the following mentioned?
commonlyheld myths about the benefits of drinking bottled water1.
bottled water being responsible for a change in a social custom2.
the existence of cities having been dependent on the consumption of a particular drink3.
an explanation for why a temporary trend in bottled water sales occurred4.
the view that the role a particular person plays is largely redundant5.
the ability of a certain drink to provide comfort and bring people together6.
appreciation for an insight that supported the writer’s own viewpoint7.
the desire to behave in a way that would highlight the absurdity of a situation8.
the potential uses of a drink to enhance physical well-being and mental performance9.
the habit of drinking bottled water being used to promote the image of its consumer10.
A. I am occasionally engaged to speak in public, and the preliminary formalities are handled by a functionary who telephones to ask whether I will be needing a power point, and whether I have ‘any special dietary requirements’. Sooner or later I am going to answer both in the affirmative: ‘Being a novelist, I will naturally be illustrating my talk with a series of graphs – and, as for the dinner, I will get my doctor to forward you the list of my allergies.’ Immediately before the talk, the pointless man will stand up and say, ‘A few housekeeping notes’, before pointing out the exits, which, since they are usually the same as the entrances by which we came in, we already know. He then wastes further effort by marshalling before me some bottles of water. Again, I am tempted to call his bluff. I ought to spend the first five minutes of my speaking time tipping the contents of these bottles down my throat. But, in practice, I never touch them. It just so happens that I have never been gagging with thirst while being introduced as a speaker. Don’t get me wrong, when I am thirsty, I have a drink: ideally, apple juice, because I prefer something with a taste. Above all, I drink tea – no fewer than a half a dozen cups a day.
B.I find the bottled water fad to be a distressing instance of mass hypnotism, so when the remarks of an Australian scientist were reported last week, they represented to me a series of nails being hit firmly on the head. DrSperoTsindos resoundingly pronounced that bottled water has become ‘a fashion accessory and a token of instant gratification’. Unfortunately, the British public is not so sensible. Sales of bottled water have ascended continually since 1980s apart from a brief dip from 2006-2010. This was probably accounted for by a backlash against bottled water – at the glibness of the whole phenomenon, whose only tangible result is a mountain of landfill. Restaurants that refused to serve tap water were condemned and often shamed out of the practice. But notwithstanding the fact that it doesn’t flush toxins out of the body, improve the skin, or taste better than tap water, people now consume more bottled water than ever before.
C. I suspect that the appeal of small bottled water is that it is not a glass of wine. ‘Look’, the water carrier proclaims, ‘I am not drinking alcohol!’ (at least, not right now). The water bottle is a priggish symbol of purity and piety, and insofar as this is radiated externally, it is a reproof to the person daring to drink wine in the presence of the water-drinker. Insofar it is not so radiated, then the water-drinker is claiming moral points for being conscious of their own well-being. The other reason I can’t stand bottled water is that it seems unpatriotic. Since the 1980s, our traditional four cups of tea a day have apparently dropped to three. But let’s quickly eliminate one suspect in the case of the lost cup. At first glance, it might appear to be coffee when we notice the proliferation of high street coffee shops. But sales show that the culprit is actually bottled water, and to a lesser extent, fruit juice.
D.Why should we be celebrating tea? Being 99 per cent water, it has all the hydrating virtues of bottled water but with a bonus, namely the tea itself, which provides a moderate dose of cerebrally-stimulating caffeine the best (the best thing you can do before an exam is drink a cup of tea). It is also rich in flavonoid antioxidants, which aid cardiovascular fitness and tea leaves applied externally can act as an antiseptic, as monkeys in the jungle know very well. And unlike bottled water, tea requires the boiling of water, and it is said that tea consumption enabled the concentration of population necessary for urban living in the 18th century, when metropolitan water supplies were not clean.
E. As a child, I was involved in a serious car crash, and I could not speak from shock until a woman – a complete stranger, and angelic in my memory - came up with a cup of sweet, milky tea. I doubt that a bottle of water would have done the trick. Tea is associated with an enjoyable and very social ritual, but imagine the sheer crassness of a host who inquired, ‘More bottled water, anyone?’ Tea is our national common denominator, and it would be helpful in these uncertain times if it could be allied to our other such symbol, namely a certain Elizabeth. But I fear that Her Majesty is invariably accompanied on her travels by bottles of mineral water.
Subiectul II: Writing (75p)
- The following extract is related to studies on happiness. Readers were asked to consider the problems teenagers have nowadaysand to find solutions to these problems. Write an essay starting from the points raised in the extract and giving your own solutions. Write your essay in 350 words. (50 points)
‘It seems that if we want to unearth the roots of happiness, we should look no further than our children. A recent survey of kids aged 10 to 15 revealed that a range of factors – money being one of the least significant – positively contributed to the average pre-teen and teenager’s level of emotional well-being. When asked what made them happiest, factors such as having friends over for tea, participating in sports and having a stable home life were mare conducive to having a happy state of mind than their parents’ income. This indicates a tendency to derive happiness from the simpler things in life. Such news should empower parents who can now refuse to hand over money for mobile phones or video games in the knowledge that such policy really is for the children’s own good. The study also took gender into account; both the happiest and the unhappiest groups were girls. Those aged 10 to12 were happiest, but this changed once girls matured and became more conscious of their look, a factor less important for boys.”
- A science magazine aimed at young people has invited readers to send in articles about how they envision the future. Read the readers’ comments and write the article, referring to some of the points raised and describing your own vision of the future.Write your article in 200-220 words. (25points)
“What does the future hold? It’s a question we constantly ask ourselves and yet it’s not easy to predict what may happen in different areas of our lives.
“Climate change is definitely going to affect the world.”
“I’m not sure that every medical advance is a good thing.”
“I’m concerning about how an aging population will affect society.”
“Robots will be doing all the best jobs.”
“What are we going to do about our transport problems?”
“What about waste? The simply tragedy of waste is this: not only are we using up many of the Earth’s irreplaceable products and packaging in a mad rush for instantly gratifying consumption, but then we spend billions to sustain a polluting waste disposal industry. What do you have to do? As an individual, change yourconsumption habits to minimize your non-biodegradable waste and optimize your use of reusable packaging; as a consumer, punish companies that are wasteful and pollute by boycotting their products.”
Notă: Toatesubiectelesuntobligatorii; nu se acordăpunctedinoficiu!Timpde lucru: 3 ore
BAREM, clasa a XI-a, Sectiunea B
Reading:
1. (10 poins)
1 A
2 D
3 D
4 A
5 B
2. (15 points)
1 B
2 C
3 D
4 B
5 A
6 E
7 B
8 A
9 D
10 C
WRITING
1.Essay - providing solutions to problems (50 points)
2.Article (25 points)