Angol nyelv-vetélkedő/English Language Competition

Országos döntő/National finals

2023. május 6/6th May 2023

PART I. USE OF ENGLISH

I. For questions 1-10, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each
gap. (10 points)

THE CHANGING EARTH

Although the earth was formed about 4,500 million years ago, human beings have inhabited it for
less than half a million years. Within this time, population has increased hugely and people have
had a vast (1) .......... upon the earth. They have long been able to (2) ……... the forces of nature
to use. Now, with modern technology, they have the power to alter the balance of life on earth.
Reports back from the first astronauts helped dispel the dangerous (3) ………. that the world had
no boundaries and had limitless resources. (4) ………., ecologists have shown that all forms of
life on earth are interconnected, so it (5) ………. that all human activity has an effect on the
natural environment.
In recent years, people have been putting the environment under stress. As a result, certain
(6) ............ materials such as timber, water and minerals are beginning to (7) …………. short.
Pollution and the (8) ........... of waste are already critical issues, and the (9) …………. of the
environment is fast becoming the most pressing problem (10) ………. us all. The way we
respond to the challenge will have a profound effect on the earth and its life support systems.
1 A imprint B indication C impression D impact
2 A put B make C place D stand
3 A judgement B notion C reflection D concept
4 A However B Likewise C Moreover D Otherwise
5 A results B follows C complies D develops
6 A raw B coarse C crude D rough
7 A tum B come C go D run
8 A disposal B displacement C dismissal D disposition
9 A state B situation C case D circumstance
10 A encountering B opposing C meeting D confronting
II. For questions 1-10, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use
only one word in each gap.
(10 points)

FINDING THE RIGHT WORD

A recent study has suggested an answer to a question that has preoccupied philosophers for
centuries: Do people need words in order to think? A tribe living in the Amazon basin could
provide the answer. The Pirahã tribe (1) ……… be small - there are only about 200 members
all told – (2) ………. they exhibit a fascinating cultural peculiarity. These people have no
words for numbers, (3) ……… from 'one', 'two' and 'many'. What is more, (4) ……… words
for 'one' and 'two' are very similar. As (5) ........ as anyone can tell, this tribe has never had any
sort of vocabulary for numbers, but they appear to survive quite well without it.

It was soon realised that these people might supply an insight into the way our minds work.
Studies have shown that adult members of the tribe are no (6) ………. at counting than a
baby is at speaking. (7) ………. they were shown a row of objects and asked to duplicate the
number they saw, they could not get beyond two or three before starting to make mistakes.

So it looks (8) … … … . though the Pirahã are not very good at counting simply because
they (9) ………. not have a vocabulary for numbers. This would suggest that human beings in
general cannot think if they have no words to do (10) ……….. .
III. For questions 1 -10, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of
the lines to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line.
(10 points)

COMMUNITY CENTRE
SUMMER EVENTS
June 3rd sees the opening of an incredible exhibition of photographs by
professional photographer and local (1) ............................, John Taylor. In the 50 RESIDE
years that John has been taking photographs, he has amassed a (2) VISION
...................................... fascinating record of village life. The show is (3) TITLE
............................ History Through the Lens and includes nostalgic portraits of
local people and hypnotic images of the landscape. There is also a section on (4) HISTORY
......................important events which is equally fascinating.
Another upcoming event is a book reading by author Maria Treadway. You may know
Maria as a children's writer, but over the last three years she has (5) ....................... DIVERSE
into adult fiction. Her novels, all set in the 17th century, are both entertaining and
highly (6) .................................... . Maria has often admitted in the past to INFORM
being a (7) ............................ and she carries out extensive PERFECT
research before she writes. On June 9th, she will be reading from her latest novel The
Last Key, which is (8) ...................... her best work to ARGUE
date. MISS
This is a really (9) ......................... evening so be sure to book well in advance. ADMIT
(10) ........................... to both events is $10 for adults and free for pensioners.
IV. Rewrite the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the
word given. DO NOT CHANGE the word given. You must use between three and six
words, including the word given.
(20 points)

1. I thought Sue's original plan was to move to Australia.

IMPRESSION
I…………………………………………… was originally planning to move to Australia.

2. Mr. Smith was well-known as a bad-tempered man, but he was also fair.
REPUTATION
Despite ………………………………………………. bad-tempered, Mr. Smith was also fair.

3. Signing the contract without the director's approval is not allowed.

CIRCUMSTANCES
Under …………………………………… sign the contract without the director's approval.

4. It looks like you didn't sleep well last night.

IF
You look …………………………………………………………………. much sleep last night.
5. I don't believe that Jane ran that distance in only five minutes!
POSSIBLY
Jane …………………………………………………………. that distance in only five minutes!
6. Simon doesn't agree with me about which slogan is best for the campaign.
DIFFERENCE
Simon ………………………………. opinion over which slogan is best for the campaign.
7. Jane's lawyer suggested that she ignored all the reporters.
ATTENTION
Jane's lawyer advised ……………………………….…………………………. all the reporters.

8. I doubt that Simon will lend us the money.

CHANCE
I think …………………………………………..…………………. Simon lending the money to us.

9. There is a strong possibility that this species of rhino will become extinct.
DANGER
This species of rhino is …………………………………………………..…………………. extinct.

10. As he continued to listen to the speech, Richard became increasingly sleepy.

SLEEPIER
The more Richard listened to the speech, ……………………………...………..……
became.
PART II. WRITING

V. REVIEW

Write a review of a book or a film that focuses on somebody who has made an important
contribution to society. Did you learn anything new about the person’s life from the book or
film? Did the book or film help you understand why this person made their important
contribution?

Write your review in 180-240 words.

(50 points)