Олімпіада (І ШКІЛЬНИЙ ЕТАП), Reading, 8клас

What’s a Bruegel?

Many stolen paintings have a strange history. But one of the strangest was that of a painting by the famous sixteenth-century painter Bruegel, stolen from the Courtauld Institute in London in the eighties.

The four thieves who had stolen the painting, didn’t know how much it cost. The first art expert who came to see the painting said it was priceless and couldn’t name the exact price. The gang telephoned another art expert who told them that the painting was worth £2-3 million. They then tried to sell the painting back to the gallery from which it had been stolen. The gallery contacted the police and a meeting was arranged. The gang asked for the money to be brought in two suitcases in unmarked banknotes. However, the meeting didn’t take place.

A short time before the four were arrested. The police found the painting on top of a wardrobe. When the gang were told they were arrested in connection with Bruegel, one of them said, “What’s a Bruegel? I thought it was rubbish.”

Task 1: Choose the correct answer (a, b,c or d):

1.Which of the following is not true according to the text?

What’s a Bruegel?

Many stolen paintings have a strange history. But one of the strangest was that of a painting by the famous sixteenth-century painter Bruegel, stolen from the Courtauld Institute in London in the eighties.

The four thieves who had stolen the painting, didn’t know how much it cost. The first art expert who came to see the painting said it was priceless and couldn’t name the exact price. The gang telephoned another art expert who told them that the painting was worth £2-3 million. They then tried to sell the painting back to the gallery from which it had been stolen. The gallery contacted the police and a meeting was arranged. The gang asked for the money to be brought in two suitcases in unmarked banknotes. However, the meeting didn’t take place.

A short time before the four were arrested. The police found the painting on top of a wardrobe. When the gang were told they were arrested in connection with Bruegel, one of them said, “What’s a Bruegel? I thought it was rubbish.”

2.What’s a Bruegel?

What’s a Bruegel?

Many stolen paintings have a strange history. But one of the strangest was that of a painting by the famous sixteenth-century painter Bruegel, stolen from the Courtauld Institute in London in the eighties.

The four thieves who had stolen the painting, didn’t know how much it cost. The first art expert who came to see the painting said it was priceless and couldn’t name the exact price. The gang telephoned another art expert who told them that the painting was worth £2-3 million. They then tried to sell the painting back to the gallery from which it had been stolen. The gallery contacted the police and a meeting was arranged. The gang asked for the money to be brought in two suitcases in unmarked banknotes. However, the meeting didn’t take place.

A short time before the four were arrested. The police found the painting on top of a wardrobe. When the gang were told they were arrested in connection with Bruegel, one of them said, “What’s a Bruegel? I thought it was rubbish.”

3.Why didn’t the first expert name the exact price?

What’s a Bruegel?

Many stolen paintings have a strange history. But one of the strangest was that of a painting by the famous sixteenth-century painter Bruegel, stolen from the Courtauld Institute in London in the eighties.

The four thieves who had stolen the painting, didn’t know how much it cost. The first art expert who came to see the painting said it was priceless and couldn’t name the exact price. The gang telephoned another art expert who told them that the painting was worth £2-3 million. They then tried to sell the painting back to the gallery from which it had been stolen. The gallery contacted the police and a meeting was arranged. The gang asked for the money to be brought in two suitcases in unmarked banknotes. However, the meeting didn’t take place.

A short time before the four were arrested. The police found the painting on top of a wardrobe. When the gang were told they were arrested in connection with Bruegel, one of them said, “What’s a Bruegel? I thought it was rubbish.”

4. What is the text about?

What’s a Bruegel?

Many stolen paintings have a strange history. But one of the strangest was that of a painting by the famous sixteenth-century painter Bruegel, stolen from the Courtauld Institute in London in the eighties.

The four thieves who had stolen the painting, didn’t know how much it cost. The first art expert who came to see the painting said it was priceless and couldn’t name the exact price. The gang telephoned another art expert who told them that the painting was worth £2-3 million. They then tried to sell the painting back to the gallery from which it had been stolen. The gallery contacted the police and a meeting was arranged. The gang asked for the money to be brought in two suitcases in unmarked banknotes. However, the meeting didn’t take place.

A short time before the four were arrested. The police found the painting on top of a wardrobe. When the gang were told they were arrested in connection with Bruegel, one of them said, “What’s a Bruegel? I thought it was rubbish.”

5.The word gang means:

Text 2

The Maya lived in southern Mexico and they existed from 300 BC to 800 AD. They built many cities which had temple pyramids, palaces, workshops, marketplaces and houses. In the early days the biggest city was El Mirador, which had a population of 80000 people. Later Tikal became the biggest city with 100000 people. The nobles, priests, officials and their servants lived in the cities and the common people lived on farms and worked on the land. They only came to the cities for markets days and special festivals.

The Maya had an alphabet and studied maths and astronomy. They were also skilled craftspeople and they made beautiful objects from jade, gold and copper and statues from stone as well as pottery and paintings.

The cities needed farmers for food and labour. Finally, the farming system failed and so did the cities and the Mayan civilization finally died out.

Task 2: Decide if the statements are true (T) or false (F):

6. The Maya existed until 800 AD.

Text 2

The Maya lived in southern Mexico and they existed from 300 BC to 800 AD. They built many cities which had temple pyramids, palaces, workshops, marketplaces and houses. In the early days the biggest city was El Mirador, which had a population of 80000 people. Later Tikal became the biggest city with 100000 people. The nobles, priests, officials and their servants lived in the cities and the common people lived on farms and worked on the land. They only came to the cities for markets days and special festivals.

The Maya had an alphabet and studied maths and astronomy. They were also skilled craftspeople and they made beautiful objects from jade, gold and copper and statues from stone as well as pottery and paintings.

The cities needed farmers for food and labour. Finally, the farming system failed and so did the cities and the Mayan civilization finally died out.

7. The city of El Mirador had a population of 8000 people.

Text 2

The Maya lived in southern Mexico and they existed from 300 BC to 800 AD. They built many cities which had temple pyramids, palaces, workshops, marketplaces and houses. In the early days the biggest city was El Mirador, which had a population of 80000 people. Later Tikal became the biggest city with 100000 people. The nobles, priests, officials and their servants lived in the cities and the common people lived on farms and worked on the land. They only came to the cities for markets days and special festivals.

The Maya had an alphabet and studied maths and astronomy. They were also skilled craftspeople and they made beautiful objects from jade, gold and copper and statues from stone as well as pottery and paintings.

The cities needed farmers for food and labour. Finally, the farming system failed and so did the cities and the Mayan civilization finally died out.

8. The servants only came to the city for special occasions.

Text 2

The Maya lived in southern Mexico and they existed from 300 BC to 800 AD. They built many cities which had temple pyramids, palaces, workshops, marketplaces and houses. In the early days the biggest city was El Mirador, which had a population of 80000 people. Later Tikal became the biggest city with 100000 people. The nobles, priests, officials and their servants lived in the cities and the common people lived on farms and worked on the land. They only came to the cities for markets days and special festivals.

The Maya had an alphabet and studied maths and astronomy. They were also skilled craftspeople and they made beautiful objects from jade, gold and copper and statues from stone as well as pottery and paintings.

The cities needed farmers for food and labour. Finally, the farming system failed and so did the cities and the Mayan civilization finally died out.

9. The Maya had an alphabet.

Text 2

The Maya lived in southern Mexico and they existed from 300 BC to 800 AD. They built many cities which had temple pyramids, palaces, workshops, marketplaces and houses. In the early days the biggest city was El Mirador, which had a population of 80000 people. Later Tikal became the biggest city with 100000 people. The nobles, priests, officials and their servants lived in the cities and the common people lived on farms and worked on the land. They only came to the cities for markets days and special festivals.

The Maya had an alphabet and studied maths and astronomy. They were also skilled craftspeople and they made beautiful objects from jade, gold and copper and statues from stone as well as pottery and paintings.

The cities needed farmers for food and labour. Finally, the farming system failed and so did the cities and the Mayan civilization finally died out.

10. The Mayan civilasation ended because the farmers died.

Text 3

The Minoans lived on the island of Crete in Greece. It was the earliest European civilization and it started about 4500 years ago and disappeared in about 1450 BC. It is named after the legendary King Minos who kept a Minotaur (half man, half bull) under his palace.

The Minoans built many large cities, each with paved roads, a water supply and a palace. The Minoan craftsman were excellent potters and builders and also made very beautiful jewellery. They were expert shipbuilders and they travelled around the Aegean Sea exchanging their goods with other societies. This made the Minoans very good sailors and very rich. However, it also made other nations want what they had, and the Minoan civilization came to sudden end in 1450 BC when the Myceneans invaded.

Task 3: Decide if the statements are true (T) or false (F):

11. The Minoans lived in Greece.

Text 3

The Minoans lived on the island of Crete in Greece. It was the earliest European civilization and it started about 4500 years ago and disappeared in about 1450 BC. It is named after the legendary King Minos who kept a Minotaur (half man, half bull) under his palace.

The Minoans built many large cities, each with paved roads, a water supply and a palace. The Minoan craftsman were excellent potters and builders and also made very beautiful jewellery. They were expert shipbuilders and they travelled around the Aegean Sea exchanging their goods with other societies. This made the Minoans very good sailors and very rich. However, it also made other nations want what they had, and the Minoan civilization came to sudden end in 1450 BC when the Myceneans invaded.

12. The Minoan civilisation started in 1450 BC.

Text 3

The Minoans lived on the island of Crete in Greece. It was the earliest European civilization and it started about 4500 years ago and disappeared in about 1450 BC. It is named after the legendary King Minos who kept a Minotaur (half man, half bull) under his palace.

The Minoans built many large cities, each with paved roads, a water supply and a palace. The Minoan craftsman were excellent potters and builders and also made very beautiful jewellery. They were expert shipbuilders and they travelled around the Aegean Sea exchanging their goods with other societies. This made the Minoans very good sailors and very rich. However, it also made other nations want what they had, and the Minoan civilization came to sudden end in 1450 BC when the Myceneans invaded.

13. A Minotaur was a bull.

Text 3

The Minoans lived on the island of Crete in Greece. It was the earliest European civilization and it started about 4500 years ago and disappeared in about 1450 BC. It is named after the legendary King Minos who kept a Minotaur (half man, half bull) under his palace.

The Minoans built many large cities, each with paved roads, a water supply and a palace. The Minoan craftsman were excellent potters and builders and also made very beautiful jewellery. They were expert shipbuilders and they travelled around the Aegean Sea exchanging their goods with other societies. This made the Minoans very good sailors and very rich. However, it also made other nations want what they had, and the Minoan civilization came to sudden end in 1450 BC when the Myceneans invaded.

14. The Minoans were very good shipbuilders.

Text 3

The Minoans lived on the island of Crete in Greece. It was the earliest European civilization and it started about 4500 years ago and disappeared in about 1450 BC. It is named after the legendary King Minos who kept a Minotaur (half man, half bull) under his palace.

The Minoans built many large cities, each with paved roads, a water supply and a palace. The Minoan craftsman were excellent potters and builders and also made very beautiful jewellery. They were expert shipbuilders and they travelled around the Aegean Sea exchanging their goods with other societies. This made the Minoans very good sailors and very rich. However, it also made other nations want what they had, and the Minoan civilization came to sudden end in 1450 BC when the Myceneans invaded.

15. The Minoans were rich.