One night, returning from Macau and feeling more than a little fatigued, I resolved to splurge on a Hong Kong taxi — an institution known for its high prices (a decision, I should say at the outset, I never came to regret).
🚕 Join Daniil Shuklin, a teacher at APO and a MGIMO student, on his exciting trip back home in Hong Kong.
Daniil also highlighted some vocabulary for you: pay attention to the words in bold, as a winner of "Высшая Проба" would know what he's talking about
#sun_never_sets@level_APO
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15 декабря в 11:00 МСК пройдет консультационный вебинар по организации РЭ ВсОШ. Его проведут председатель ЦПМК Ю.Б. Курасовская и член жюри ЗЭ ВсОШ Т.А. Симонян.
Регистрация
Трансляция в VK
#the_olympiad_times@level_APO
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Tacit
adjective
/ˈtæs.ɪt/
: understood without being expressed directly
Synonyms: unspoken, implied, implicit
Antonym: explicit
Noun: tacitness
Adverb: tacitly
#word_finds@level_APO
adjective
/ˈtæs.ɪt/
: understood without being expressed directly
It was an open-and-shut case, a fixed arrangement, a tacit agreement that there was no question of going back on. The Stranger by Albert Camus
Synonyms: unspoken, implied, implicit
Antonym: explicit
Noun: tacitness
Adverb: tacitly
#word_finds@level_APO
#skill_scan@level_APO
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Which one was the most difficult? Let us know
#skill_scan@level_APO
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🚖 By the way...
Yesterday we talked about the legendary London black cabs. Let's take another look at the text.
🚘 What words can we use to talk about cars and driving?
👉 the windshield – the glass at the front of a car that you look through while driving
👉 to shoot past sb – to drive past someone very quickly
👉 to crawl – to move very slowly
👉 lights (red lights / stop lights) – in this case, the traffic lights that tell cars when to stop
👉 a route – the path or way you take to get somewhere
👉 to pick up passengers – to stop and let people get into your vehicle
👉 road closure – when a road is blocked so cars cannot use it
🚗 Some other great phrases:
👉 to be embossed in one's memory – to be remembered very clearly (to emboss = to print)
👉 grueling (training, exam, etc.) – extremely tiring and demanding
👉 to clock long hours – to work for many hours
👉 to be (tightly) tethered to sth – to be strongly connected or tied to something (physically or figuratively)
🇬🇧 A bit of culture!
👉 Charing Cross – a major area and railway station in central London
👉 Snakes and Ladders – a simple children’s board game where ladders help you move up and snakes make you slide down
👉 Sisyphean undertaking – a task that feels endless and impossible to finish, a reference to the myth of Sisyphus endlessly pushing a boulder uphill
#skill_scan@level_APO
Yesterday we talked about the legendary London black cabs. Let's take another look at the text.
#skill_scan@level_APO
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In his most famous poem “The Road Not Taken” the poet’s lyrical subject takes the road “less travelled by” which then influences his whole life.
#a_bit_of_lit@level_APO
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Which road would you take? 🚙
Anonymous Poll
27%
51%
22%
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For reference, the task was:
You see the following notice in an English youth magazine and decide to send your story.
Stories Wanted
Write a story for our magazine.
The story must end with the sentence:
Jim happened to see the letter and decided to book a ticket for the first train heading home.
The story must include:
● a title
● a rich relative
● a beautiful house
Write 200-250 words (the title is included in the word count).
BLOOD IS THICKER THAN MONEY
Jim was a young boy who lived in the suburbs of London. His family was not particularly rich, but they managed to live happily. One day, Jim found a letter from a mysterious woman named Anna Scrudge on their porch. In that letter, Anna invited Jim to visit her mansion in Scotland. Jim was confused.
He decided to talk to his mother and ask her about Anna. When he explained everything, his mother said, "Oh, Jimmy, Anna is your aunt. She is a nasty woman that always boasts about how affluent she is." Nonetheless, Jim was now intrigued by his aunt's fortune. Later that day he asked his parents to go to Scotland, and they, though unwillingly, agreed.
Three days later Jim was in Scotland. Anna picked him up at the train station. At first, she seemed lovely, but when they arrived at her house, grandeur and opulence of which took Jim's breath away, she turned into a "vicious monster", as Jim would later desribe Anna to his mother.
She made him work day and night, giving him only three hours of sleep. For some reason, Jim did not want to leave. He seemed mesmerized by his aunt's money and the beauty of her house. Meanwhile, his parents were getting worried. They wrote a letter to Scotland, asking Jim to come back. When Anna received the letter, she hoped no one would see it and threw it away. Oh, how wrong she was! Jim happened to see the letter and decided to book a ticket for the first train heading home.
#the_olympiad_times@level_APO
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Level АПО | Олимпиады по английскому
✨ Ready for the answer? This story got maximum points for everything except grammar , the bane of every student’s existence
Решение коммуникативной задачи:4/4 points
✅ рассказ заканчивается указанной в задании фразой,
✅ в рассказе есть заголовок, соответствующий содержанию рассказа,
✅ в рассказе есть упоминание (или описание) о богатом родственнике,
✅ в рассказе есть упоминание (или описание) о красивом доме.
Организация текста:4/4 points
✅ в рассказе имеется логично построенный сюжет
в работе нет логических ошибок
✅ средства логической связи использованы правильно
текст правильно разделён на абзацы
Лексика:4/4 points
✅ no mistakes!
Грамматика:3/4 points
❌they arrived at her house, THE grandeur and opulence of which took Jim's breath away
Here, an article is missing. The nouns ‘grandeur and opulence’ are determined by the of-phrase, so the definite article is needed.
Орфография и пунктуация:4/4 points
✅ no mistakes!
#the_olympiad_times@level_APO
Решение коммуникативной задачи:
Организация текста:
в работе нет логических ошибок
текст правильно разделён на абзацы
Лексика:
Грамматика:
❌they arrived at her house, THE grandeur and opulence of which took Jim's breath away
Here, an article is missing. The nouns ‘grandeur and opulence’ are determined by the of-phrase, so the definite article is needed.
Орфография и пунктуация:
#the_olympiad_times@level_APO
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Time for another quiz!
Guess which former British colony we’re talking about 👇
🇬🇧 Once governed through indirect rule over local sultanates.
🌴 Built its colonial economy on tin and rubber.
👑 Features a unique system where the head of state is chosen from among monarchs.
Can you guess the country? 👀
☀️ #sun_never_sets@level_APO
Guess which former British colony we’re talking about 👇
Can you guess the country? 👀
☀️ #sun_never_sets@level_APO
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British influence in
Malaya was a vital asset to the Empire: rich in tin and rubber, it played a crucial role in Britain’s industrial economy. However, during World War II, Japanese occupation (1941–1945) shattered the myth of British invincibility in Southeast Asia and accelerated nationalist movements across the region.
In 1957, the Federation of Malaya gained independence, and in 1963 it became Malaysia, together with Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore (which later left the federation in 1965). Since then, Malaysia has followed its own path.
Today, Malaysia is known for its multicultural society: Malays make up only 58% of the total population, with ethnic Chinese accounting for around 23% and Indians for about 7%. Thus, despite Islam being its official religion, Malaysia is constitutionally a secular state, with guarantees for religious freedom.
🤯 However, Malays occupy privileged position within the country under the Malaysian Constitution, which grants them special rights in areas such as education, public service, and economic policy. This system legally cements discrimination at the national level — a practice condemned and avoided in most parts of the world.
Key Symbols:
🏙️ Petronas Twin Towers — once the tallest buildings in the world, symbolising Malaysia’s modern ambitions.
Further on:
— Video: How Malaysia is Becoming Asia’s Most Strategic Economy — link (⏰ 17 min)
— Article: Britannica: Malaysia — Overview — link (⏰ 15–20 min)
#sun_never_sets@level_APO
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Irascible
adjective
/ɪˈræs.ə.bəl/
: (of a person) easily made angry
Synonyms: irritable, fiery
Antonyms: affable, amiable
Adverb: irascibly
Noun: irascibility
#word_finds@level_APO
adjective
/ɪˈræs.ə.bəl/
: (of a person) easily made angry
That sound—the swift, shocking report of gunfire—called the scattered, irascible, permanently seeking part of his mind into focus like nothing else. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Synonyms: irritable, fiery
Antonyms: affable, amiable
Adverb: irascibly
Noun: irascibility
#word_finds@level_APO
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Today we have a holiday-themed crossword for you! Share your guesses in the comments
For items 1–5, read the song lyrics below and solve the crossword using the definitions of the required word given in brackets. There is an example (0) done for you.
Sweet dreams of 0. _holly_ (a plant with red berries) and ribbon
1. ____ (Things you do wrong by accident) are forgiven
And everything is icy and blue
And you would be there too
Under the 2. ____ (a plant that grows on trees, a Christmas symbol)
Watching the fire 3. ____ (to give off a soft light)
And telling me, "I love you"
Just being in your arms
Takes me back to that little farm
Where every wish comes true
In my heart is a Christmas tree farm
There's a light in the 4. ____ (a large building for animals or crops)
We'd run inside out from the cold
In the town, kids are dreaming of 5. ____ (vehicles that slide on snow)
And they're warm and they're safe
They wake to see a blanket of snow
#skill_scan@level_APO
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Нам поступила просьба оценить письменную работу участника муниципального этапа. Разбираемся вместе!
THE STRANGEST FAMILY REUNION
That morning Jim went for a run. He was a very active 20-year-old man, he had to keep in shape. He left his home at the crack of the dawn. After his morning workout, he returned to his flat. While passing the staircase, he bumped into a dark figure of a man. Jim had no idea who that was.
lex.: ‘at the crack of dawn’ is a fixed expression. Here it has an extra article.
When Jim entered the flat, he saw that the floor was covered with envelopes. Every single one had the same invitation card inside, which said "Jim, we are waiting for you at your uncle's anniversary". It was signed by Mr. Fink. There was also written an address and a date on another side of the invitation. The party was tomorrow night.
punct.: missing comma after ‘said’
gr.: ‘there was written’ is a structural copy of a Russian phrase ‘там было написано’; in English, we should rephrase it as ‘An address and a date were also written there.’
gr.: another side of the invitation: an invitation only has two sides, so it’s ‘the other’
Jim decided to take a leap of faith and go there. It was about 1500 kilometres away from the city, where he lived. The way to the mysterious location took him several hours. When he arrived at the gate, he was met by a man who introduced himself as the very Mr. Fink. He was wearing a Rolex watch and some exorbitantly expensive sunglasses. "What a rich relative, I might have," - Jim thought to himself. After entering the gate, he saw a beautiful house, where the party was going to be.
punct.: improper direct speech punctuation: extra ‘-‘ after direct speech
gr.: Jim didn’t see just any house, he saw the house where the party was going to be. So, we need ‘the’ before ‘beautiful house’
Mr. Fink's nephew was offered to wait in the living room. And he did. Although a little later, he went to the bathroom. On the way there, he heard a loud conversation. Mr. Fink was tellingsomeone that he also wrote a letter to someone else, stating that he was their uncle too. Jim was really suspicious, and was ready to leave if it was true. Jim happened to see the letter and decided to book a ticket for the first train heading home.
gr. + lex.: ‘Mr. Fink's nephew was offered to wait’ is a structural copy of Russian ‘Племяннику мистера Финка предложилиподождать’, which is incorrect in English. Besides, the verb ‘offer’ should be replaced with ‘suggest’: if you offer something, you will be the one to do it. So, here we should say, ‘They suggested that Mr. Fink should wait’.
org.: ‘Although’ here is used incorrectly, because it doesn’t connect any two sentences. It should be replaced with ‘however’.
gr.: In ‘was telling someone that he also wrote a letter to someone else’ the Past Perfect is missing, we should have ‘had written’.
👩⚖️Overall score:
А чтобы не только учиться на чужих ошибках, но и получать подробный разбор своих работ с фидбэком от преподавателя — записывайтесь на видеокурс по подготовке к письменным заданиям!
#the_olympiad_times@level_APO
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