English Olympiad

Level B1+/B2

English Olympiad Year 10 Reading Test 8 Text 1. 

Read the text about an alcohol-free tradition called Dry January and choose the correct missing sentence for each gap. There is ONE extra sentence that you don’t need to use.

Dry January is a public health tradition where people choose not to drink alcohol for the whole month of January. It began in the UK in 2013 as a campaign by the charity Alcohol Change UK, but it has since spread to many other countries.

The idea is simple: after the holidays, people take a break from alcohol to give their bodies rest, save money, and reflect on their drinking habits. Many use it as a way to start the new year with healthier routines. Some people do it alone, others join organized campaigns or groups. Participants often report better sleep, improved mood, more energy, weight loss, and financial savings. This tradition helps people think about their relationship with alcohol and sometimes reduces drinking in the long term. So culturally, Dry January is more than just a health challenge. It reflects how modern societies are rethinking traditions around alcohol, community, and well-being. Dry January makes people question how much alcohol is part of social life and if alternatives can be just as enjoyable.

Dry January: The alcohol-free month challenge

Dry January is a month-long commitment that encourages people to avoid drinking alcohol. The aim of this programme is to understand the type of relationships between the individual and the drink and to see if there’s a risk of addiction. The concept of Dry January finds its roots in Finland’s “Sober January” initiative during World War II in 1942, but in Britain, it was inspired by the activist Emily Robinson. In 2011, she decided not to drink any alcohol in January to get ready for a half marathon.

1 _. The first time, about 4,000 people took part. Two years later, it got even more popular when Public Health England, a part of the British government, joined in.

In 2022, over 130,000 people signed up for Dry January through Alcohol Change UK, and in 2023, registrations increased to over 175,000 on their website. 2 _. This is the time of the year when people usually set themselves short- and long-term goals for the year ahead. 3 _. This increase in interest across the globe matches a significant rise in alcohol consumption, with studies indicating a 70% increase between 1990 and 2017.

More people are thinking about Dry January and how it affects them. One study from the University of Sussex found that many people who did Dry January in 2018 were drinking on fewer days and having less alcohol each time for the following months. 4 _. Among others, there are benefits such as better liver function, lower risks of heart problems, and diabetes. Additionally, staying sober for a while can lead to positive changes in lifestyles, such as saving money, sleeping better, and losing weight.

Overall, Dry January seems to work best for people who usually drink in moderation. 5 _. When it comes to how, and for how long, not drinking may help people who drink too much or are addicted to alcohol, the evidence isn’t as clear. Some research suggests that taking a break from drinking might not do much good in the long run. 6 _. This is especially true for countries where there’s a dominant drinking culture, particularly in connection with any form of social occasions.

A. Other studies show positive effects on physical health of drinking less.
B. Its goal is to reduce any form of damage caused by alcohol.
C. In the U.S., 15% of the adult population, which totals more than 260 million, committed to participating.
D. And for some people, stopping drinking for a while might just make them drink even more later.
E. Later, Alcohol Change UK turned her idea into an official campaign in 2013.
F. However, for those who struggle with alcohol, it might not be helpful and could even be harmful.
G. The initiative is also gaining popularity internationally, especially among young folks, as a common New Year’s resolution.

English Olympiad Year 10 Reading Test 8 Text 2

Read the text about eco-terrorism and for questions 1 to 6, choose the correct answers.

Eco-terrorism

A terrible heatwave hits the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, leading to the deaths of 20 million people. From the disaster arises a new movement: The Children of Kali. 1 ____. Don’t worry – this scenario is not real. It is the premise of a novel by Kim Stanley Robinson entitled ‘The Ministry for the Future.’ However, some believe that, with increasing temperatures and a rise in eco-terrorism, this kind of scenario could happen in the future.

Eco-terrorism is the use of illegal tactics to prevent or halt activities that are harmful to the environment. It differs from environmental terrorism, which uses tactics that impact the environment to meet social or political goals. For example, during the Gulf War, in 1991, the Iraqi forces set fire to multiple oil wells, creating smoke and oily clouds that affected warfare. 2 ____.

Unlike environmental terrorists, whose goal is to seek power and invoke fear, environmental activists rarely intend to harm people. Instead, they commit acts of economic sabotage, vandalism, and trespass in pursuit of environmental and animal rights goals. 3 ____. This is because, following the 9/11 incident, the FBI defined terrorism as ‘Violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals … such as those of a(n)… environmental nature’.

Such incidents are commonplace and may be increasing. The FBI is currently investigating 41 incidences of eco-terrorism in Washington State alone, including the derailment of a train that caused 29,000 gallons of crude oil to be spilled. 4 ____. Moreover, there has been a rise in extreme environmental activism, with groups such as the ITS. Formed in Mexico in 2011, this anarchic environmental movement has caused the deaths of 37 people.

5 ____. At least a dozen environmental activists were denied entry to Poland before the 2018 United Nations Climate Conference in Katowice because they were considered a threat to national security. In 2019, forty-six environmental activists were killed in the Philippines because, after the government introduced a new anti-terrorism bill that same year, they were categorized as terrorists. In the UK and elsewhere, under the guise of preventing terrorism, the government is attempting to introduce policies that restrict civil liberties, such as the right to protest.

The public’s reaction to environmental groups’ tactics is mixed. Well-designed and well-publicized campaigns can gain public support if the group’s intentions and tactics are accepted. The vast number of people who joined in climate protests worldwide in September 2019 is a case in point. 6 ____. What’s more, the media has considerable power in influencing public opinion against environmentalists and pushing the government’s agenda.

Having said that, governments’ attempts to quash ‘eco-terrorism’ could work against them. By attempting to restrict the public’s right to protest and campaign, more and more people could come out in support of environmental groups. What’s more, those groups might become more and more radical. 7 ____.

Gap Fillers

A. However, the public has less sympathy for actions that are disruptive, selfish and poorly considered.
B. They could turn to extremism not only in defence of animals and the environment, but also in defence of their human rights.
C. These might include sabotaging whaling ships and disrupting deforestation activities.
D. These extremist supporters of the Goddess of Doomsday seek revenge on the people whose actions caused climate change.
E. Even so, since 2002, these activities have qualified as a form of terrorism.
F. Meanwhile, in the UK, 53 activists were arrested in 2021 while attempting to block a motorway.
G. Similarly, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has targeted water resources as a means to control the population.
H. Authorities are dealing with these so-called terrorists with increasingly strict measures.

English Olympiad Year 10 Reading Test 8 Text 3

Read the text about binge-watching and for questions 1 to 6, choose the correct answers.

Binge-watching

Binge-watching has become a popular way of consuming television and movie content, with streaming services making it easier than ever to marathon entire seasons or movie franchises in a single sitting. With the growing number of original series and the convenience of on-demand viewing, binge-watching has transformed how we watch television and has become a ubiquitous part of popular culture.

This week, we wanted to provide a unique look into the different experiences and perspectives on binge-watching within families. So, we talked to various members of the Evans family to discuss their habits and attitudes towards this trend.

13-year-old Amelia admits to being a huge binge-watcher. She says, ‘For me, it’s an important part of fitting in. My friend Denise isn’t allowed to watch loads of television at home, and that makes joining in conversations really hard’. So now, Denise comes to the Evans house to binge-watch. Amelia admits that she doesn’t do much besides watching films and series. Once keen on ballet, she gave that up years ago and hasn’t picked up anything else since. However, Amelia knows that her grades at school are crucial in determining her ability to continue her TV-viewing habits.

Her mother, Karen, realises that Amelia is getting into a bad habit, but hasn’t done anything about it. ‘If I stopped her, then I would have to cut down on the amount that I watch to set a good example, and to be honest, I don’t want to,’ she says. ‘After a hard day doing work and chores, who doesn’t love chilling out for a few hours with some episodes of a good drama? Besides, it’s not like I could do anything else instead, like join an evening class. I rarely get a chance to sit down before eight o’clock’.

Kyle, aged 17, usually has a video playing in his room. ‘I wouldn’t call myself a binge-watcher, though,’ he says. ‘I’m not one of those people who watch all the latest series as soon as they are released. For me, it’s just background noise while I’m getting on with my hobbies. I just let it play whatever comes up next. I’ve seen all sorts of interesting stuff that I’d never choose for myself. I once saw a guy teaching how to cut up different fish. That was really cool.’

Father, Rob, sees it in financial terms. ‘The monthly fee for streaming services is quite expensive, but in terms of the amount of entertainment we get, it’s good value. And the more you watch, the cheaper it gets. It’s much less than going out to the cinema, and everyone can watch whatever they like. Plus, even though movies or series are often bad, you can just switch to something else. Some of my friends have stopped paying for streaming services recently, saying they’re too expensive. That’s their loss’.

Rob’s mother, Gill, is less enthusiastic, despite once enjoying watching back-to-back episodes of her favourite classic drama while bedridden due to illness. ‘I remember having to wait a whole week for the next episode of that series to come out,’ she says. ‘And months for the next series. You got the excitement of wondering what was going to happen next. Nowadays, you get everything as soon as you want it, not like old-fashioned TV, and I think you lose something as a result’.

Meanwhile, Karen’s brother Kevin is interested in the intelligent design of streaming platforms. ‘They make recommendations based on what you’ve enjoyed, and often the recommendations are right up your street, so I guess that encourages binge-watching. Some people say that this limits what you watch. I’m not sure I agree, though. As a sci-fi fan, live-streaming services have introduced me to some great foreign and low-budget movies and series that I wouldn’t have known about. I’m sure that up-and-coming filmmakers worldwide are benefiting from that promotion.’

1. Which of the following has resulted from Amelia’s binge-watching habit?

A. She has poor conversation skills.
B. She does not have any hobbies.
C. She has problems fitting in.
D.She has improved her grades at school.

2. What is Karen’s attitude to watching series on television?

A. She’ll try to watch less television, to set a good example.
B. She watches television before eight.
C. She watches a lot of television as a way to relax.
D. She plans to do an evening class to reduce television time.

3. What does Kyle enjoy watching?

A. Series, although not the most recent ones.
B. Instructional videos related to his hobbies and interests.
C. Videos that he didn’t pick himself.
D. Programmes that his friends have recommended.

4. What does Rob think about streaming services?

A. They are well worth the money if you are a binge-watcher.
B. They aren’t as enjoyable as going out to the cinema.
C. They aren’t worth it because the movies and series are often bad.
D. He may stop paying for them soon because they are too expensive.

5. Gill thinks that binge-watching…

A. is good entertainment for people with long-term illnesses.
B. is better, as you don’t have to wait to find out what happens.
C. results in people wasting a lot of their time.
D. prevents people from enjoying a sense of expectation.

6. Kevin feels that live streaming platforms…

A. only recommend videos that they is trying to promote.
B. prevent people from watching a wide range of videos.
C. are helping people new to the film industry to get attention.
D. aren’t very good at recommending things to watch.

You’ve done English Olympiad Year 10 Reading Test 8. Which text was: the most difficult, the most informative, the easiest, fun to read?