Junior School Olympiad in English (Grade 9)

Welcome to the annual English Language Olympiad designed specifically for Grade 9 students! This competition aims to challenge your knowledge, critical thinking skills, and fluency in the English language. Each section tests different aspects of proficiency—grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, listening, writing, and speaking. Let’s begin!

SECTION 1: GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY (Time limit: 20 minutes)

Instructions: For each question below, choose the best answer or fill in the blank using the appropriate word form.

1. The teacher asked us _______ what we thought about the novel.

A) say

B) said

C) saying

D) to say

2. If I _______ more money, I would buy that laptop.

A) have

B) had

C) will have

D) having

3. The weather forecast predicts heavy rain tonight, so don’t forget to bring your umbrella when you leave the house this evening.

Choose the correct verb tense for the underlined phrase "leaving the house":

A) Leave

B) Left

C) Will leave

D) Are leaving

4. It’s important _______ regular exercise if you want to stay healthy.

A) take

B) to take

C) taking

D) took

5. Fill in the blanks with the proper comparative forms: This cake tastes better than that one because it's sweeter and fluffier.

6. Rewrite the sentence correctly: I used to play tennis when I was younger.

SECTION 2: READING COMPREHENSION (Time limit: 25 minutes)

Read the passage carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

Passage: In the early 20th century, people began migrating from rural areas into cities as industrialization grew rapidly across Europe and America. These migrations changed not only demographics but also cultural landscapes. People living in cities faced challenges such as overcrowding, pollution, and lack of access to basic amenities like clean water and sanitation facilities. However, urban life offered opportunities too—better jobs, education systems, entertainment options, healthcare services, transportation networks, communication technologies—and eventually led to improved standards of living.

1. Why did large numbers of people move from rural regions to cities during the Industrial Revolution?

A) To escape poverty

B) Because they wanted better jobs and education

C) Due to agricultural failures

D) All of these reasons combined

2. Which statement is NOT true according to the text?

A) Urban life provided more job opportunities compared to rural areas.

B) Migration resulted in fewer problems related to health and safety.

C) Cities became crowded due to mass migration.

D) Life in cities brought improvements in overall quality of life.

3. Identify the main idea of the passage.

A) Mass migration caused major environmental issues.

B) City dwellers enjoyed higher living standards despite challenges.

C) Industrial growth transformed societies globally.

D) Both positive and negative changes occurred due to city expansion.

SECTION 3: WRITING TASK (Time limit: 30 minutes)

Write a short essay (approximately 150-200 words) discussing whether technology helps improve educational outcomes or hinders them. Provide examples to support your argument.

SECTION 4: SPEAKING (Time limit: 10 minutes per student)

Prepare a brief presentation introducing yourself and describing your favorite subject in school. Explain why you find it fascinating and how it benefits you personally. Be ready to respond to any questions from judges regarding your topic.

Scoring Rubric:

Each section carries equal weight towards final scoring. Maximum points = 100.

Good luck, participants! May the best student win!