Заключительный этап Олимпиады РГГУ по английскому языку 2010-2011 гг.
Вариант 1
READING
Do men and women understand the same things fr om the spoken word? Judging by the misinterpretation, misunderstanding and general mystification that can arise fr om a single simple sentence, there are grave reasons for doubt. In fact, I would put it even stronger. Do we even speak the same language?
First – and contrary to the general impression – men use language more. “Like everyone else, I used to believe that women were the talkative sex,” says Dale Spender, a sociolinguist. “But when I analysed the results of over one hundred and forty recorded conversations between men and women, the result was quite the opposite. Whether we’re talking about social gatherings or business meetings, one element never changes: in any conversation with a man, a woman who talks more than a third of the time is seen as talking too much.
Nowhere is this more obvious than on radio or TV talkshows. One host, Robert Robinson, once said, “It’s difficult to find the right kind of woman to participate in my programme. Most of them can’t stand up to me and so stay silent. They also find interrupting a bit tricky.” On one occasion, a well-known female thinker became so cross and unhappy at being what she regarded as “shouted down” that she remained silent for the last fifteen minutes of the programme. Even those women who are perfectly capable of holding their own are notably less talkative than their male counterparts.
Another female characteristic is the belief that conversation should be a reciprocal exchange rather than an attempt to dominate the other person. According to sociologist Jennifer Coates, “When a woman in a group raises a topic, the others will encourage, sympathise or elaborate. The next female speaker may enlarge on some point, add a personal anecdote, or simply make ‘Go on’ interjections. But one thing she won’t do is flatly contradict the previous speaker and abruptly change the subject. But men in a group with women often get bored with what they see as the slow build-up of a topic.” The tried and tested method of avoiding this hazard is by doing what most women hate: interrupting.
“The effect constant interruption has on women is that they become silent,” says Dr Coates. It isn’t solely that men regard conversation as a contest; there is also a clash of styles. “We all think we know what a question is. But with men and women it triggers different reactions. Men think questions are requests for information, whereas women think they are part of the way in which a co-operative conversation works. If a woman asks a man a question, she’s trying to keep the conversation going, while the man thinks this is request for information, so he gives her a lecture.” In social situations, this different view of the polite enquiry can often cause bad feelings. “The woman thinks, ‘What is he on about? I didn’t want a run-down on company accountancy,’ and the man thinks, ‘Why is she looking so cross? If she didn’t want to know, why did she ask?’”
Although women have much greater sensitivity to what the other person is feeling, it is equally true that, in situations wh ere power is concerned, the male cut-and-thrust style is the norm. “Male language allows them to have clear goals, stick to decisions, answer directly without fudging and assert themselves,” says Natasha Josefowitz, author of Paths to Power. “Women say ‘I think I can’, wh ere men say, ‘I can’. And though the woman may be right – who knows if she cam carry out a particular task until she is doing it? – what employers go for is confidence.” In female conversation, this general tentativeness emerges in the use of ‘soft’ phrases such as ‘I wonder if I might…?’, and ‘Perhaps this isn’t the moment to disturb you but …’ instead of the simpler expressions ‘Please may I …?’ or ‘Can I come in?’.
Dr Coates believes female politeness involves other factors as well. “Partly it is a recognition that other people may not be imposed on. If I go next door, I say, ‘I hope you don’t mind, but could you possibly lend me a pint of milk, please?’ not ‘Can I have some milk?’, which allows my neighbour the freedom to say ‘Yes, of course’ or ‘I’m sorry, I haven’t got one.’ What it is doing is giving the other person a chance to get out of an obligation without losing face. Partly, too, it is a question of giving what Dr Coates calls ‘positive face’, which means reassuring others about their own value.
The reason for such discrepancies is something that frequently makes male English a rather different language fr om the female version of English: most men use language to conceal their feelings whereas women see it as means of revealing their emotions.
1) Before Dale Spender undertook her research, she
- intended to show what made women aggressive.
- thought she knew what the outcome would be.
- realised men tended to speak more than women.
- wanted to discover the situations wh ere women spoke most.
2) When women appeared on his chat show, Robert Robinson
- was delighted they had agreed to appear.
- provided special support.
- found their behaviour inappropriate.
- thought they were impolite.
3) According to Dr Coates, in a mixed group of speakers
- men tend to contradict.
- women concentrate on talking about themselves.
- women discuss boring topics.
- men experience feelings of frustration.
4) Dr Coates considers that questions can cause bad feeling if
- the reason behind the question is misunderstood.
- a sensitive subject has been raised.
- there is a desire to hide the truth.
- an uninteresting topic has been introduced.
5) Dr Coates thinks that the politeness of female language
- works against women.
- is helpful to other people.
- could easily be modified.
- allows others to be assertive.
USE OF ENGLISH
Choose the correct word.
6) The Sussex downs are part of the English national ….. .
A. ancestry B. heritage C. inheritance D. tradition
7) The ink on the old manuscript had faded with time and so the parts of the text were….. .
A. illegible B. illegitimate C. illiterate D. inedible
8) The King was obliged to ….., and a republic was proclaimed.
A. abdicate B. die C. renounce D. vacate
Find the restatement of the original sentence.
9) ‘Heavy smokers and drinkers run a fifteen times greater risk of developing cancer of the mouth and throat than nonsmokers and nondrinkers.’
- People would probably be healthier if they did not drink and smoke too much.
- Cancer of the mouth and throat is more likely to occur in heavy smokers and drinkers than in nonsmokers and nondrinkers.
- Heavy drinkers who run have a greater risk of developing cancer than nondrinkers.
Circle the letter of the underlined portion which is not correct.
10) If motorists do not observe(A) the(B) traffic regulations, they(C) will be stopped, ticketed, and have to pay a fine(D).
11) After(A) the rain had let out(B), the Mitchells continued(C) their hike(D) up the mountain.
In each headline, replace the word underlined with one of the “headline” words:
A. vows B. clears C. looms D. bids
12) ‘Miners` union promises to fight over local pay deals.’
13) ‘Rail strike approaches.’
Complete each sentence with a colour.
A. green B. red C. blue D. white
14) When Bill saw my new car he was … with envy.
15) They fell deeper and deeper into the … and then went bankrupt.
Choose the correct answer to complete each sentence.
16) She now says she didn`t really want the job that she failed to get, but I think it`s just … .
A. sour grapes C. peanuts
B. a piece of cake D. cup of tea
17) She ... out with her best friend last week and hasn`t spoken to her since.
A. fell B. took C. split D. broke
18) Adam is a really cold-hearted man who wouldn`t help anyone out, however desperate
they ... .
A. are B. will be C. had been D. were
19) There was hardly enough food for everyone at the wedding, ... ?
A. was there B. wasn’t there C. was it D. wasn’t it
20) The government demanded that the ambassador ... recalled.
A. be B. will be C. would be D. has been
21) No sooner had he put the phone down ... it started ringing again.
A. that B. so C. when D. than
22) It`s strange that we can sometimes see the moon in ... daylight.
A. broad B. full C. bright D. real
23) My plans to travel around the world have … through because I couldn`t save enough money.
A. dropped B. given C. put D. fallen
24) If Fleming ... penicillin, there ... far more fatalities every year than there actually are.
A. hadn’t discovered; would be C. wouldn’t have discovered; have been
B. hadn’t discovered; would have been D. wouldn’t discover; are
25) You can tease him as much as you like – he won`t rise to the ….. .
A. fight B. insult C. challenge D. bait
26) It should be safe to climb as long as you ….. sensible precautions.
A. make B. do C. put D. take
27) ... simply, the accident has affected his mind.
A. Placed B. Put C. Told D. Said
28). He has received several scholarships ... .
A. not only because of his artistic but his academic ability
B. for both his academic ability as well as his artistic
C. because of his academic and artistic ability
D. as resulting of his ability in the art and the academy
29) There are some strange noises coming from Jane’s room. What on earth can she ...?
A. be up to B. look down on C. make up for D. put up with
30) We`ve been waiting five hours and we still don`t know when the plane is going to leave. Do you think it`ll be tonight?
-- I`m sorry, sir. ... . We`re as much in the dark as you. As soon as we hear anything, we`ll make an announcement.
A. It`s all up in the air. C. It`s a foregone conclusion.
B. It`s touch and go. D. It`s anyone`s guess.
Примерные темы раздела «Говорение» заключительного этапа Олимпиады РГГУ для школьников по иностранным языкам (английский, немецкий, французский)
- Образование.
- Семья.
- Экология.
- Искусство и культура.
- Спорт.
- Путешествие.
- Хобби.
- Здоровый образ жизни.
- Обычаи и традиции.
- Деньги в нашей жизни.
- Наша страна или страна изучаемого языка.
- Источники информации.
- Дружба.
