1

ФГОБУ ВО «Финансовый университет при Правительстве Российской Федерации»

ВСЕРОССИЙСКАЯ ОЛИМПИАДА ШКОЛЬНИКОВ

«МИССИЯ ВЫПОЛНИМА.

ТВОЕ ПРИЗВАНИЕ – ФИНАНСИСТ!»

ПО ПРЕДМЕТУ АНГЛИЙСКИЙ ЯЗЫК

2020-2021 уч. года

Time limit: 120 minutes

Maximum score: 100

READING (15 points)

Task 1. (1-5) Read the text and choose the correct option:

However, he perceived now that it did not greatly matter what kind of soldiers

he was going to fight, so long as they fought, which fact no one disputed. There was

a more serious problem. He lay in his bunk pondering upon it. He tried to

mathematically prove to himself that he would not run from a battle. Previously he

had never felt obliged to wrestle too seriously with this question.

In his life, he had taken certain things for granted, never challenging his belief

in ultimate success, and bothering little about means and roads. But here he was

confronted with a thing of moment. It had suddenly appeared to him that perhaps in

a battle he might run. He was forced to admit that as far as war was concerned he

knew nothing of himself. A sufficient time before he would have allowed the

problem to kick its heels at the outer portals of his mind, but now he felt compelled

to give serious attention to it. A little panic-fear grew in his mind. As his imagination

went forward to a fight, he saw hideous possibilities. He contemplated the lurking

menaces of the future, and failed in an effort to see himself standing stoutly in the

midst of them. He recalled his visions of broken-bladed glory, but in the shadow of

the impending tumult he suspected them to be impossible pictures. He sprang from

the bunk and began to pace nervously to and fro. “Good Lord, what’s th’ matter with

me?” he said aloud.

He felt that in this crisis his laws of life were useless. Whatever he had learned

of himself was here of no avail. He was an unknown quantity. He saw that he would

again be obliged to experiment as he had in early youth. He must accumulate

information of himself, and meanwhile he resolved to remain close upon his guard

lest those qualities of which he knew nothing should everlastingly disgrace him.

“Good Lord!” he repeated in dismay.

2

1) The main character … about the people he would have to fight.

A. thought a lot

B. didn’t care

C. was worried

D. contemplated

2) During his life the character … some things that happened.

A. challenged

B. couldn’t believe

C. just accepted

D. doubted

3) The character had to accept the fact that he … at war.

A. didn’t know how he would behave

B. would be very brave

C. wasn’t ready to be a general

D. didn’t understand why people fought each other

4) The character was so worried that he … .

A. couldn’t move

B. was walking around the room

C. sat still for hours

D. couldn’t talk to anyone the whole day

5) The character repeated his words in dismay, which means that he was … .

A. happy

B. relieved

C. exhausted

D. disappointed

Task 2. (6-10) Find in the text expressions that correspond the following

definitions:

This was very uncomfortable, and I was half-afraid. However, the only thing

to be done being to knock at the door, I knocked, and was told from within to enter.

I entered, therefore, and found myself in a pretty large room, well lighted with wax

candles. No glimpse of daylight was to be seen in it. It was a dressing room, as I

supposed from the furniture, though much of it was of forms and uses then quite

unknown to me. But prominent in it was a draped table with a gilded looking-glass,

and that I made out at first sight to be a fine lady’s dressing-table. Whether I should

have made out this object so soon if there had been no fine lady sitting at it, I cannot

say.

3

In an armchair, with an elbow resting on the table and her head leaning on that

hand, sat the strangest lady I have ever seen, or shall ever see. She was dressed in

rich materials, —satins, and lace, and silks, —all of white. Her shoes were white.

And she had a long white veil dependent from her hair, and she had bridal flowers

in her hair, but her hair was white. Some bright jewels sparkled on her neck and on

her hands, and some other jewels lay sparkling on the table. Dresses, less splendid

than the dress she wore, and half-packed trunks, were scattered about. She had not

quite finished dressing, for she had but one shoe on,—the other was on the table near

her hand,—her veil was but half arranged, her watch and chain were not put on, and

some lace for her bosom lay with those trinkets, and with her handkerchief, and

gloves, and some flowers, and a Prayer-Book all confusedly heaped about the

looking-glass.

6) not like everything else, big and attention-grabbing

7) spread across a certain area

8) a piece of thin cloth which is used to hide your face

9) a brief look at something

10) small items of jewellery (or something nice and beautiful) that do not have

any real value

VOCABULARY (20 points)

Task 1. For items 1 — 5, choose one word that fits all three sentences.

Transfer your answers onto the answer sheet.

1. The company put an ____________ in the local newspaper, offering a high

salary for the right candidate.

Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London are a great __________ for

British higher education.

In the old days I used to think the performances of my horses was a good enough

______________ .

2. Her earliest _________ is of singing at the age of four to wounded soldiers.

The Parliament opened with a minute’s silence in ________ of those who died in

the struggle.

A student with a poor _______ may struggle in school.

4

3. We stopped off for dinner in a ___________ little Welsh town.

Under an apple tree in the left comer of the orchard was a _________ timber built

shed.

When we come to Tallinn we usually rent a small house in the __________ old

quarter of town.

4. I rang for the __________ and asked for some water.

Only an old physiologist in his sixties, and a staff ________ were on duty in

reception.

Parents will become too busy and robots will ________ and play with children.

5. The Arizona highways stretched out ________ and straight ahead.

All staff of the company should pay a ________ rate of £320 annually.

A ______ denial of any involvement has been issued by the Cabinet.

Task 2. For items 6 — 10, read the idioms below and decide which idiom fits

each gap best. You can use each idiom only once. There are extra idioms.

Transfer your answers onto the answer sheet.

(A) be caught red-handed (F) black sheep

(B) gild the lily (G) tail that wags the dog

(C) guinea pig (H) bouquet of orchids

(D) bite one’s tongue (I) forest for the trees

(E) slave driver (J) turn a blind eye

6. I got the impression they weren’t sure of the possible outcome and that I was being

used as a _________.

7. If she became the __________ of the family they were probably glad to have her

gone.

8. My sisters will all tell you that when I was in charge I was a real _____________.

9. She won the difficult case and it was obvious that she deserved a

________________.

10. Her boyfriend and her brother wanted to rob a store but they didn’t want to

____________, so they created an alibi.

5

GRAMMAR (15 points)

Task 1. For items 1 — 5, write the missing part of the second sentence using a

given word, so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Do not change

the given word. You must use between three and six words, including the given

word. Transfer your answers onto the answer sheet.

1. “Will the economy ever produce enough jobs to meet the need”, wondered

Professor Schwarz.

IF

Professor Schwarz wondered ______ enough jobs to meet the need.

2. It didn’t matter how hard I tried, I still could not get her to lower the price.

HARD

____________ I still could not get her to lower the price.

3. The factory was able to reduce its CO2 emissions by 20 % last year.

SUCCEED

The factory ______________ back its CO2 emissions by 20 % last year.

4. She is not to be disturbed under any circumstances.

NO

_________________ she to be disturbed.

5. During the winter period I prefer staying home to going out.

SOONER

During the winter period I _________ go out.

Task 2. (6-10) Choose the word or phrase a, b, c or d, which best completes

each sentence. Transfer your answers onto the answer sheet.

6

6. He will regret … that to me.

a. having said b. to say c. to have said d. her saying

7. The judge wanted him to confine himself … the questions.

a. answer b. to answer c. answering d. to answering

8. What ... you find but a huge spider.

a. would b. should c. did d. will

9. I brought a witness … they should think I’m not telling the truth.

a. lest b. in order c. that d. so that

10. The parcel was sent ages ago. … to arrive any time now.

a. Is bound b. It’s likely c. It’s bound d. Is likely

CULTURE STUDY (30 points)

Tasks (1-7)

Task 1: Arrange these events of the Wars of Roses in the chronological order. Put

the appropriate number in the right column. Transfer your answers onto the answer

sheet.

The Second Battle of St Albans

The Battle of Stoke Field

The Battle of Towton

The First Battle of St Albans

The Battle of Bosworth

The Battle of Blore Heath

Task 2: Arrange these events of the American Civil War in the chronological

order. Put the appropriate number in the right column. Transfer your answers onto

the answer sheet.

The Battle at Gettysburg

The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

The Emancipation Proclamation issued

The First Battle of Bull Run

Abraham Lincoln elected president

The Battle at Antietam

Jefferson Davis elected president

7

Task 3: Arrange these periods and events of British History in the chronological

order. Put the appropriate number in the right column. Transfer your answers onto

the answer sheet.

Edward VIII relinquishing the throne for a divorce

The Creation of the National Health Service of the UK

The Balfour Declaration

The Irish Free State becoming independent

The Battle of Britain

The Victorian Age

The Reign of Edward VII

Task 4: Arrange these American presidents in the chronological order of their

presidential terms. Put the appropriate number in the right column. Transfer your

answers onto the answer sheet.

William J. Clinton

Harry S. Truman

Richard M. Nixon

George W. Bush

Franklin D. Roosevelt

John F. Kennedy

Ronald Reagan

Abraham Lincoln

Thomas Jefferson

Task 5: Arrange these books according to the year of publishing. Put the

appropriate number in the right column. Transfer your answers onto the answer

sheet.

Alice’s Adventures in the Wonderland

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The Sun Also Rises

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

The Lord of the Rings

Nineteen Eighty-four

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Frankenstein

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again

8

Task 6: Match the tradition with the holiday. Two options are extra. Transfer your

answers onto the answer sheet.

1. Easter Monday a. Marching in the streets in green attire and

shamrocks

2. Good Friday b. Pulling crackers and burning letters in the

fireplace

3. May Day c. In the past the day servants in wealthy

households would receive a Christmas gift from

the head of the family

4. Thanksgiving d. Egg hunts

5. Christmas e. Eating hot cross buns and fish

6. Hogmanay f. Maypole dancing

g. First-footing

h. Cooking and sharing traditional food, holding

parades as well as sport events

Task 7: Match the song with the singer. Transfer your answers onto the answer

sheet.

1. Michael Jackson a. “Family Portrait”

2. Elvis Presley b. “Men in Black”

3. Frank Sinatra c. “Golden Eye”

4. Whitney Houston d. “My Way”

5. Selena Gomez e. “Can’t Help Falling in Love”

6. Tina Turner f. “I Will Always Love You”

7. Will Smith g. “We Don’t Talk Any More”

8. Pink h. “Earth Song”

Tasks (8-10) Choose the correct option. Transfer your answers onto the

answer sheet.

8. Which statements about London is not true?

1) There are four UNESCO world heritage sights.

2) There are 11 national museums.

3) The Mayor’s Thames Festival is the biggest street festival in the southern

hemisphere.

4) “Big Ben” is the name of the bell not the tower itself.

9

9. Which statement is true?

1) Delaware was the first state to accept the first American Constitution.

2) The USA doesn’t have a national anthem.

3) There are 14 stripes on the American flag that symbolize 14 colonies.

4) The Mount Rushmore National Memorial features heads of four American

presidents who wrote the American Constitution.

10. Which statement about employment and education in the UK is false?

1) The minimum age to study a degree programme at a university is 21 years

old.

2) The youngest age a child can work part-time is 13.

3) A young person must be in part-time education or training until they’re 18.

4) The minimum school leaving age in the UK is 16.

CREATIVE WRITING (20 points)

Choose one topic:

1. Educational institutions should actively encourage their students to choose

fields of study that will prepare them for lucrative careers.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you either agree or

disagree with the claim. In developing and supporting your position, be sure to

address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to

challenge your position. You should write about 250 – 300 words.

2. In any profession - education, business, politics - those in power should

resign after five years.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you either agree or

disagree with the claim. In developing and supporting your position, be sure to

address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to

challenge your position. You should write about 250 – 300 words.

10

1

ФГОБУ ВО «Финансовый университет при Правительстве Российской Федерации»

ВСЕРОССИЙСКАЯ ОЛИМПИАДА ШКОЛЬНИКОВ

«МИССИЯ ВЫПОЛНИМА.

ТВОЕ ПРИЗВАНИЕ – ФИНАНСИСТ!»

ПО ПРЕДМЕТУ АНГЛИЙСКИЙ ЯЗЫК

2020-2021 уч. года

Time limit: 120 minutes

Maximum score: 100

READING (15 points)

Task 1. (1-5) Read the text and choose the correct option:

I charge Gilray’s unreasonableness to his ignoble passion for cigarettes; and

the story of his flowerpot has therefore an obvious moral. The want of dignity he

displayed about that flowerpot, on his return to London, would have made any one

sorry for him. I had my own work to look after, and really could not be tending his

chrysanthemum all day. After he came back, however, there was no reasoning with

him, and I admit that I never did water his plant, though always intending to do so.

The great mistake was in not leaving the flowerpot in charge of William John.

No doubt I readily promised to attend to it, but Gilray deceived me by speaking as

if the watering of a plant was the merest pastime. He had to leave London for a short

provincial tour, and, as I see now, took advantage of my good nature.

As Gilray had owned his flowerpot for several months, during which time (I

take him at his word) he had watered it daily, he must have known he was misleading

me. He said that you got into the way of watering a flowerpot regularly just as you

wind up your watch. That certainly is not the case. I always wind up my watch, and

I never watered the flowerpot. Of course, if I had been living in Gilray’s rooms with

the thing always before my eyes I might have done so. I proposed to take it into my

chambers at the time, but he would not hear of that. Why? How Gilray came by this

chrysanthemum I do not inquire; but whether, in the circumstances, he should not

have made a clean breast of it to me is another matter. Undoubtedly, it was an

unusual thing to put a man to the trouble of watering a chrysanthemum daily without

giving him its history. My own belief has always been that he got it in exchange for

a pair of boots and his old dressing gown.

2

1) The storyteller was … blamed for not watering the friend’s plant.

A. rightfully

B. wrongly

C. pleasantly

D. hatefully

2) The storyteller thought that his friend … the plant to Mr.John.

A. couldn’t leave

B. must have left

C. should have left

D. decided to leave

3) Gilray … that he had watered the plant every day before leaving.

A. wasn’t sure

B. hinted

C. lied

D. claimed

4) The storyteller presupposed that he would have watered the plant if … .

A. someone had reminded him.

B. he had had it at his place.

C. it hadn’t been a chrysanthemum.

D. he had been a florist.

5) The storyteller would like to … .

A. have someone else water the plant

B. give the plant back

C. know the origin of the plant

D. not wind up the watch

Task 2. (6-10) Find in the text expressions that correspond the following

definitions:

One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in

pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the

vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation

of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One

dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas. There was

clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della

did it. Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and

smiles, with sniffles predominating.

3

While the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from the first stage to

the second, take a look at the home. A furnished flat at $8 per week. It did not exactly

beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy

squad. In the vestibule below was a letterbox into which no letter would go, and an

electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring. Also appertaining

thereunto was a card bearing the name "Mr. James Dillingham Young."

The "Dillingham" had been flung to the breeze during a former period of

prosperity when its possessor was being paid $30 per week. Now, when the income

was shrunk to $20, though, they were thinking seriously of contracting to a modest

and unassuming D. But whenever Mr. James Dillingham Young came home and

reached his flat above he was called "Jim" and greatly hugged by Mrs. James

Dillingham Young, already introduced to you as Della. Which is all very good. Della

finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag. She stood by the

window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard.

6) a type of thought or belief

7) used for a long time, dirty and not in a good condition

8) without showing any interest or excitement

9) a situation when a person has enough money and other things to live well

10) not wanting to be noticed

VOCABULARY (20 points)

Task 1. For items 1 — 5, choose one word that fits all three sentences.

Transfer your answers onto the answer sheet.

1. They went up the ___________, neither of them speaking as they climbed.

Their journey took them through river valleys and over __________ passes.

Their company abroad is faced with a _________ of bureaucracy.

2. I vaguely __________ reading about this event it in the local paper.

It is important to __________ that each person reacts differently.

“__________ me to Lyle, won’t you?” I said.

3. There are hundreds of people desperate to ________ a child.

We usually _________ a southern accent when speaking to family back home.

4

Try to ________ positions of relaxation and lengthening.

4. Betsy looked forward to retirement and a life of ___________.

Our hotel offers various _________ facilities such as a gym, a swimming pool and

sauna.

An academy would train the unemployed to work in hospitality and __________.

5. The drugs were hidden in a suitcase with a ________ bottom.

The girl was wearing ________ eyelashes and a sweater two sizes too small.

She bowed her head and smiled in _________ modesty.

Task 2. For items 6 — 10, read the idioms below and decide which idiom fits

each gap best. You can use each idiom only once. There are extra idioms.

Transfer your answers onto the answer sheet.

(A) teacher’s pet (F) out of the blue

(B) once in a blue moon (G) cat among the pigeons

(C) come up roses (H) broken reed

(D) down in the mouth (I) late bloomer

(E) make one’s blood boil (J) bee in one’s bonnet

6. A ______________, she wrote her first novel when she was almost 50.

7. Polly obviously has a _______________, but her friends are very fond of her.

8. Morella was damn lucky to have Luke as a company __________.

9. We saw her the other night, and Max said she looked very ___________.

10. In fact, she was _______________, and everyone hated her and didn’t want to

share secrets.

GRAMMAR (15 points)

Task 1. For items 1 — 5, write the missing part of the second sentence using a

given word, so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Do not change

the given word. You must use between three and six words, including the given

word. Transfer your answers onto the answer sheet.

5

1. This issue cannot be solved instantly.

NO

There _________________ this issue.

2. Thomas knew what the answer was after reading the letter.

READ

By the time Thomas ___________ knew what the answer was.

3. “I don’t think we will get any mail today”, Francis said.

IF

She doubted ________________ any email today.

4. He didn’t mention the subject of unpaid holidays until the end of the

interview.

BRING

Not until the end of the interview___________ the subject of unpaid holidays.

5. Alice had only just got home when the alarm went off.

SOONER

No_______________________ when the alarm went off.

Task 2. (6-10) Choose the word or phrase a, b, c or d, which best completes

each sentence. Transfer your answers onto the answer sheet.

6. Well, Ms Smith, I regret … that you have failed your mid-term test.

a. to tell b. telling c. saying d. to say

7. I can’t help … what would have happened in that case.

a. to wonder b. wondering c. to wondering d. having wondered

8. Confine yourself … your work well.

a. to doing b. in doing c. to do d. doing

9. I don’t know why you … think that I did it.

a. would b. should c. might d. must

6

10. That sort of thing … to happen ever again.

a. is not likely b. is not bound c. it is not likely d. it is not bound

CULTURE STUDY (30 points)

Tasks (1-5)

Task 1: Arrange these events of the Norman Conquest in the chronological order.

Put the appropriate number in the right column. Transfer your answers onto the

answer sheet.

The Battle of Stamford Bridge

The Capetian Conquest

The Revolt of the Earls

The Battle of Fulford

The Battle of Hastings

Harold Godwineson crowned king

Task 2: Arrange these events of the American Civil War in the chronological

order. Put the appropriate number in the right column. Transfer your answers onto

the answer sheet.

Jefferson Davis elected president

The Surrender of the Confederates at Appomattox Court House

The Battle at Shiloh

The Secession of southern states from the Union

The Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln

The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter

The First Battle of Manassas

Task 3: Arrange these events of British History in the chronological order. Put the

appropriate number in the right column. Transfer your answers onto the answer

sheet.

The Good Friday Agreement

British Petroleum announced striking a large oil field in the North Sea

The UK voting to leave the EU

The UK joining the European Communities

The nationalization of the Bank of England

The Suez Crisis

The London Declaration

7

Task 4: Arrange these ranks of nobility in order of precedence. Put the appropriate

number in the right column. Transfer your answers onto the answer sheet.

Marquess

Viscount

Duke or duchess

Esquire

Knight

Earl

Prince

Baron

Baronet

Task 5: Arrange these books according to the year of publishing. Put the

appropriate number in the right column. Transfer your answers onto the answer

sheet.

Nineteen Eighty-four

Atonement

The Great Gatsby

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again

The Jungle Book

The Adventures of Oliver Twist

Winnie-the-Pooh

Robinson Crusoe

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Task 6. Match the tradition with the holiday. Two options are extra. Transfer your

answers onto the answer sheet.

1. The Boxing Day a. Burning letters in the fireplace

2. Christmas b. In the past the day servants in wealthy

households would receive a Christmas gift from the

head of the family

3. The Independence Day c. Baking and eating hot cross buns

4. The Remembrance Day d. Arranging boxing matches to commemorate the

origin of boxing in the UK

5. St. Patrick’s Day e. Observing a two-minute silence throughout the

country

6. Good Friday f. Wearing a white lily on clothing

g. Marching in green attire and shamrocks

h. Firing a salute of one gun for each state at noon

by any capable military base

8

Task 7: Match the song with the singer. Transfer your answers onto the answer

sheet.

1. John Lennon a. “Photograph”

2. Freddy Mercury b. “Angie”

3. Ozzy Osbourn c. “Englishman in New York”

4. Adele d. “Mama, I am Coming Home”

5. Mick Jagger e. “No Regrets”

6. Robbie Williams f. “The Show Must Go On”

7. Ed Sheeran g. “Give Peace a Chance”

8. Sting h. “Skyfall”

Tasks (8-10) Choose the correct option. Transfer your answers onto the

answer sheet.

8. Which statement about London is not true?

1) Feeding pigeons in Trafalgar Square is prohibited.

2) People living in London speak over 300 languages.

3) The history of The Globe goes back to Shakespeare’s times.

4) The British Museum holds the Magna Carta.

9. Which statement is true?

1) Queen Elizabeth II is head of state of 15 independent states.

2) Boris Johnson is the leader of the Labour Party.

3) The UK is a founder member of NATO.

4) Britain left the European Union in 2019.

10. Which statement about employment and education in the USA is false?

1) The minimum age for employment is 14 years old.

2) Bachelor’s degrees typically take 3 years to complete.

3) In some states, teens need a permit completed by a school official or signed

by parents to get a job.

4) A person needs to be at least 17 years old to attend an American university.

9

CREATIVE WRITING (20 points)

Choose one topic:

1. Governments should offer vocational and higher education free of charge

to all students.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you either agree or

disagree with the recommendation and explain your reasoning for the position

you take. In developing and supporting your position, describe specific

circumstances in which adopting the recommendation would or would not be

advantageous and explain how these examples shape your position. You should

write about 250 – 300 words.

2. In most professions and academic fields, imagination is more important than

knowledge.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you either agree or

disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take.

In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which

the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations

shape your position. You should write about 250 – 300 words.