Variant 1 You could have come first and won the race if you … faster

21. The problem with the ballpoint pens invented between 1888 and 1935 was that …
A) the technology to manufacture them did not exist. B) they cost a great deal of money to manufacture.
C) they could not write on ordinary paper. D) they were affected by weather conditions.
22. What does COME UP WITH in bold mean?
A) to suggest B) to move towards C) to get rid of D) to reject
23. What is the biggest challenge about pens?
A) How to sell them a lot of amount B) How to advertise them
C) How to send the ink to paper D) How to create long-lasting pens.


About 1500 years ago, King Vakhtang Gorgasali shot a peacock while hunting in the dense forests of the Kura Valley. When he bent down to pick the bird up, he felt the warmth of a hot spring on his fingers. At once, he announced that this would be the site of his new city, which he named Tbilisi, a word meaning "warm" in the Georgian language. Later Tbilisi replaced Mtskheta as the country’s capital. Since then, Tbilisi has become the economic and cultural centre of Georgia. It has an area of 350 square kilometres and a population of 1,5 million, which is comprised mainly of native Georgians with a number of other peoples, such as Russians, Armenians and Azeri Turks, represented.
24. We can determine from the passage that ...
A) Mtskheta had to be destroyed to build Tbilisi. B) Tbilisi was built some time around 500 AD.
C) all ancient kings liked hunting and hot springs. D) the hot springs of Tbilisi have since cooled.
25. It is stated in the passage that Mtskheta ...
A) was the capital of Georgia before Tbilisi. B) has never been such a major city as Tbilisi.
C) was the name given later to Tbilisi. D) has no hot springs or dense forests.
26. According to the text within the population of Tbilisi, ...
A) there are several ethnic minorities. B) Georgians and Russians are the biggest minorities.
C) the number of native Georgians is 1,5 million. D) there are fewer natives than the outsiders.