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Блок 2 Вариант 3 стр.
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ПОНИМАНИЕ ПИСЬМЕННОГО ТЕКСТА
You are going to read an extract from a book. Read the text and answer the questions that follow.
Decide whether each statement is True or False and provide your arguments drawn from the text to
justify your choice.
Early humans were able to sustain themselves through the use of stone tools. To make such tools,
early people used very hard stones, such as flint. They used one stone to chip away parts of another,
creating an edge. Hand axes of various kinds—pointed tools with one or more cutting edges—were
the most common. Hand axes eventually were set in wooden handles, making them easier to use.
By attaching wooden poles to spear points and hardening the tips in fire, humans created spears to
kill large animals.
Over the years, Paleolithic hunters developed better tools. The invention of the spear, and later the
bow and arrow, made hunting much easier. Harpoons and fishhooks made of bone increased the
catch of fish. Early humans used sharp-edged tools to cut up plants, dig up roots, and cut branches
to build simple shelters. Scraping tools were used to clean animal hides for clothing and shelter. By
the end of the Paleolithic period, there is evidence of such refined tools as bone needles. These
needles could be used for making nets and baskets and even sewing hides together for clothing.
Because Paleolithic people were hunters and gatherers, they had to follow animal migrations and
vegetation cycles. Paleolithic humans were nomads—people who move from place to place to
survive. Archaeologists and anthropologists think these nomads probably lived in small groups of
twenty or thirty. Hunting depended on careful observation of animal behavior patterns and
demanded group cooperation for success.
1. Early humans made stone tools with the help of iron objects.
2. Humans improved the quality of stone their tools were made of.
3. To make tools, humans used different materials.
4. Bone was used only for weapons.
5. Paleolithic people settled in one place for life.
Блок 2 Вариант 3 стр. 7 из 8
ПОНИМАНИЕ ПИСЬМЕННОГО ТЕКСТА С ВОПРОСАМИ ОТКРЫТОГО ТИПА
You are going to read an article. Read the text and answer the following questions in full sentences.
The proof should be given in your own words.
In Norse mythology, Balder is the second son of Odin. Highly regarded by the Vikings,
Balder was known as Balder the Good; he was the incarnation of beauty, justice, and gentleness. He
had no faults and harbored malice toward none. Balder was the husband of the goddess Nanna and
the father of Forseti, the god of justice and conciliation. He lived in a mansion in the sky called
Breidablik (Broad Gleaming), a place where no unclean or evil thing was permitted.
The story of Balder's death, told in the ‘Prose (or Younger) Edda', is one of the most
complete Norse myths surviving. Balder dreamed that he was in great danger. He told his dreams to
the other gods and goddesses, and they gathered their council in Asgard to deliberate on what to do.
They decided that to prevent the realization of these dreams, they would ask everything in the world
not to harm him.
Frigg, Balder's mother, traveled everywhere on Earth, obtaining oaths from all creatures and
all things—including animals, birds, snakes, serpents, fire, water, iron, ores, trees, and stones—
swearing that they would not hurt Balder, since Balder had never harmed a single being.
Since nothing would injure Balder, the gods began to amuse themselves by throwing
weapons and shooting arrows at him for sport. Everything they hurled at him was simply deflected.
But Loki, the trickster fire god, was not pleased that Balder was immune to injury. He
disguised himself as an old woman and went to Frigg, gaining her confidence. Frigg admitted she
had made one exception to the oath: the slender shoot of a mistletoe tree, because it had seemed too
young to have to take a vow. Loki immediately went out, gathered a shaft of mistletoe, and took it
back to the assembly where the gods were still entertaining themselves. Loki approached the blind
god Hod (or Hoder), another of Odin's sons, who stood outside the crowd. He gave Hod the shaft of
mistletoe and volunteered to guide his aim. The missile flew through Balder, who fell dead on the
ground.
The gods, overcome with shock and grief, sent Odin's son Hermod the Swift to the
underworld to ransom Balder from Hel, the queen of the underworld. Hel was not unsympathetic;
she said she would allow Balder to go back to Asgard if all things in the world, alive and dead, wept
for him, but if one single thing refused or objected, Balder must stay in the underworld.
The gods sent messengers to every corner of the world. Only a giantess refused to weep for
Balder. She said her name was Thokk (or Thanks), but she was thought to be Loki in disguise.
Balder therefore had to remain in the underworld.
1. Why was Balder universally respected?

2. Why did Balder’s mother have to travel around the world?
3. Why did Loki decide to kill Balder?
4. How did he manage to kill Balder?
5. Why couldn’t Balder leave Hel?

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Блок 2 Вариант 3 стр.

ПОНИМАНИЕ ПИСЬМЕННОГО ТЕКСТА С ВОПРОСАМИ ОТКРЫТОГО ТИПА

1. Why was Balder universally respected?

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