Reading Comprehension

Task 1 Maximum score: 15p

The First London Olympics

In 1908 the Olympic movement visited Britain for the first time.
The London Olympics of 1908 should have been the Rome Olympics. The decision to award
the fourth Olympics to Rome was taken in the belief that its fame and accessibility would
encourage competitors to attend from all over the world, attendance at the St Louis Olympics
of 1904 having been disappointing. However, by 1906 the Italian organizers were well behind
with their preparations so, when Vesuvius erupted in April 1906, it was with some relief that
the Italian authorities announced that they would have to devote the resources intended for the
Olympics to the reconstruction of Naples. London was invited by the International Olympic
Committee to step into the breach.
The challenge of preparing London for the 1908 Games, with barely two years’ notice, was
taken up by Lord Desborough (1855-1945), chairman of the British Olympic Association. He
persuaded the organizers of the Franco-British Exhibition of 1908 to build the stadium, at their
own expense, to accommodate an athletics ground. In return they would receive a proportion
of gate receipts. Soon named ‘White City’ after its ugly concrete structures, the stadium was
completed in ten months by George Wimpey and included a swimming pool and cycle track as
well as facilities for track and field athletics. It was designed to accommodate 66,000 spectators
but could hold as many as 130,000 standing on terraces.
Over 2,000 athletes competed in the 1908 Games, more than three times the number than had
competed at St Louis. A record number of twenty-two nations sent teams and for the first time
thirty-seven women were amongst the competitors, though Baron Pierre de Coubertin (1863-
1937), the French aristocrat who had been the moving spirit behind the revival of the Olympics,
was opposed to their participation. One of the British competitors was the formidable Charlotte
‘Lottie’ Dod (1871-1960). Having won the Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles title at the age of fifteen
in 1887 (still the youngest winner) and on a further four occasions, she turned her attention to
archery and won a silver medal in 1908. When her brother William won the gold medal in the
men’s event, they became the first brother-sister pairing to win Olympic medals. The London
Olympics were the first games in which medals were awarded to all winners, some previous
winners having received only a diploma.
The London Games were not without controversy. At the opening ceremony, performed in the
presence of Edward VII on July 13th, the team from Finland refused to carry a flag when they
were told that they would have to march under the standard of Tsarist Russia. The United States
team, whose flag had been inadvertently omitted from those flying at the stadium, retaliated by
refusing to ‘dip’ the Stars and Stripes as it passed the Royal box. This incident was the precursor
of many arguments between the Americans and their British hosts who, by agreement with the
International Olympic Committee, provided all the judges and timekeepers. The disagreements
reached a climax in the final of the 400 metres which was contested by three Americans and
one Englishman, Wyndham Halswelle. Halswelle was adjudged to have been obstructed by the
American J.C. Carpenter, who was disqualified. When the American protested the race was re-
run, but the Americans refused to compete, so Halswelle jogged round the track alone, leaving
the Americans to complain their treatment had been ‘cruel, unsportsmanlike and unfair’.
0) When were the Olympic Games organized in Britain for the first time? _in 1908_.
1. For which reasons was Rome picked first? (2X10 words) (2 points)
2. How did the eruption of Mount Vesuvius influence the Games? (1 point)
3. How did the Italian organizers react when their job was taken away from them,
and why? (1 point)
4. How did the organizers of the 1908 Exhibition benefit from the construction
of a stadium? (1 point)
5. In what ways did the 1908 London Olympics differ from all previous
Olympic Games? (mention two things) (2 points)
6. What did a member of the aristocracy frown upon? (1 point)
7. Which one of Charlotte Dod’s achievements from before the 1908 Games makes
her unique even today, and why? (1 point)
8. What was remarkable about the performance of the Dod siblings at the
London Olympics? (1 point)
9. Why did the Finnish team protest at the opening ceremony? (1 point)
10. Why did members of the American team not lower the pole of their flag
to the King and Queen? (1 point)
11. What did this event culminate in for the British and American teams? (1 point)
12. Why was J.C. Carpenter not allowed to continue the race? (1 point)
13. Why did Halswelle run alone in the end? (1 point)
Task 2

Read the text about PWC, a.k.a. Jet Skis. Write in the boxes on the answer sheet the letter
of the most suitable expression (A-M) that fits into the gap. There are two extra letters
that you do not need.
There is an example (0) for you. Maximum score: 10 p

Thousands take to the water each day on personal water craft (PWC), ...[0]... as Jet Skis.
With an estimated 1.5 million personal watercraft in use, these vessels make up only 8.6% of
the U.S. recreational fleet. Yet a study by the California Dept. of Boating and Waterways
found that for every hour of operation, a PWC is 24 times more likely to be involved in a
serious accident than a canoe or kayak.
While cultural and lifestyle issues associated with PWC ownership ...[1]... , there is also
considerable evidence that certain design characteristics ...[2]... the relatively high accident
and fatality count.
Most accidents occur because of an important element of PWC control: off-throttle steering.
A common accident scenario involves sudden release of the throttle control when a hazard
appears or is first noticed, ...[3]... an unsuccessful attempt to turn out of the way. Although
manufacturers ...[4]... this problem in various ways, considerable debate ...[5]... the
effectiveness of their efforts.
Operator manuals warn that it is necessary to apply power in order to steer with waterjet
thrust. But throttle release is a reflexive and intuitive reaction when a hazard is seen. What is
not intuitive is that the steering becomes completely ineffective when thrust is lost, a response
characteristic that is foreign to people ...[6]... road vehicles. Even operators with long
experience on boats ...[7]... the same error.
A beginner ...[8]... the throttle lever when trying to steer clear of an obstruction. As speed
and power of PWC products increased and operators became more casual, ...[9]... that a high
proportion of accidents are caused by this lack of effective braking or steering ...[10]... the
throttle.
A. have addressed H. it became clear
B. accustomed to I. remains over
C. are severely decreased J. followed by
D. after releasing K. highly profitable
E. commonly known L. may be a factor
F. tends to release M. may contribute to
G. are subject to

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

E
 Writing tasks

Writing 1

Choose one of the topics. Write a letter/an e-mail to your English-speaking friend. Write about each
prompt. You can decide about the order of the prompts. Use the appropriate letter/e-mail format
(greeting, paragraphs, signature). Please do not use your own personal details (e.g. name, address).

Write 220-250 words. Maximum score: 15 points

i.
In his/her last letter, your friend complained to you that two of his/her electronic devices/two pieces
of electrical equipment in his/her home had stopped working only about two years after purchase. In
your response letter/e-mail, write about the following:

a) React to the news and tell your friend whether you have had similar experiences before.
b) Do you think we live in a throwaway society? Why (not)?
c) Do you think products are made to last only a short time on purpose? Who benefits from this?
d) Does a throwaway society offer the consumer any possible advantages?
e) Are there any environmental implications of living in such a society? If so, what are these?

OR

ii.

In her last letter, your friend told you that she could see more and more people who are overweight.
She said obesity was a serious problem in her country, even among children. In your response letter/e-
mail, write about the following:

a) React to the news and tell her if the situation is similar or different in Hungary.
b) What can people do to lose weight? How can parents prevent their children from becoming
obese?
c) What could the government do to solve the problem of obesity?
d) Why would it be advantageous for the individual as well as the healthcare system if obesity
levels were reduced?
e) In general, what attitude do Hungarians have towards people who are obese? How understanding
are they?
Writing 2

Read the comment and give your opinion about it in 120-150 words. Maximum score: 10
points

While I agree that cycling has several advantages over driving, I find many cyclists annoying because
they are so careless on the roads and can even cause accidents. There should be much stricter rules
governing where and how people can use their bicycles, and those breaking the rules should have to
pay heavy fines.