I Powiatowy Konkurs Języka Angielskiego VERBAL VELOCITY SPEAKING CHALLENGE – informacje dla uczestników
Dear Students,
First of all, we would like to thank you kindly for your interest in our competition. We are immensely pleased to greet you on board and we sincerely hope that the challenge you are undertaking will prove to be a source of motivation, satisfaction, and joy.
= We are SO happy to have you!
Please find enclosed a text which will help you prepare for the online eliminations that are to take place in February. The text contains historical knowledge which will help you successfully complete the tasks in the qualifications quiz. All the history questions in our quiz are based on this particular text.
= Read the text, it’ll help you pass the quiz. It’s history stuff.
The online qualifications serve to appoint the three participants worthy of representing your school in the actual speaking challenge, i.e. the main tournament which will take place in March and where you will perform various tasks while competing against opponents from other schools.
= Pass the quiz and you get to have fun at our school!
The entire qualification quiz consists of 40 questions, 35 of which are multiple choice questions, and 5 are open-ended ones.
- 10 questions: geography of the UK
How to prepare? Go throught the materials Małopolskie Kuratorium Oświaty recommended for their Konkurs Przedmiotowy z Języka Angielskiego (etap szkolny, etap rejonowy). - 10 questions: history of the UK between 1938 and 1946
How to prepare? Read the text we’re providing and memorize the facts! - 15 questions: Grammar, Vocabulary, Use of English
How to prepare? Actually, you’ve probably got this, don’t worry about it. - 5 questions: riddle-like
How to prepare? Ugh, you actually can’t J We’re testing your logical-thinking and fun-having skills
We will be informing your Teacher about everything you need to know, e.g. that date of the February quiz! Have a great winter vacation! J
Anna Bereta & Katarzyna Kamińska-Bafia
Publiczna Katolicka Szkoła Podstawowa im. św. Jana Pawła II w Zakopanem
The History Text:
The years from 1938 to 1946 were among the most important and challenging in the history of the United Kingdom. This period was dominated by the Second World War and its aftermath, which transformed Britain’s political leadership, military role, society, and global position.
In 1938, Britain attempted to avoid war through a policy of appeasement led by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. This policy resulted in the Munich Agreement, which allowed Nazi Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia in the hope of preserving peace. However, Adolf Hitler continued his aggressive expansion. In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, and Britain declared war, marking the beginning of the Second World War.
In early 1940, Germany invaded Denmark and Norway, threatening British access to vital sea routes and iron ore supplies. Britain intervened militarily, sending naval and ground forces to Norway, but the campaign was poorly coordinated and ultimately failed. This defeat weakened confidence in Chamberlain’s leadership, leading to his resignation. Winston Churchill became Prime Minister in May 1940.
Soon afterward, German forces swept through Western Europe, pushing British and Allied troops back to Dunkirk in northern France. Between May and June 1940, the United Kingdom carried out Operation Dynamo, evacuating over 330,000 Allied soldiers using Royal Navy ships and civilian boats. Although it was a retreat, the evacuation became a powerful symbol of British resilience and unity.
Later in 1940, Britain faced one of its greatest threats during the Battle of Britain. The German Luftwaffe attempted to destroy the Royal Air Force in preparation for an invasion. The RAF successfully defended British airspace, preventing invasion. This was followed by the Blitz, during which German bombing caused widespread destruction in British cities. Despite heavy civilian casualties, public morale remained strong.
In June 1941, Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. Although Britain and the USSR had previously been suspicious of each other, Churchill immediately pledged support, recognising the importance of defeating Nazi Germany. Britain provided significant aid to the Soviet Union through the Lend-Lease programme, supplying weapons, food, vehicles, and raw materials. British naval forces also protected dangerous Arctic convoys carrying supplies to Soviet ports.
Later in 1941, the United States entered the war, greatly strengthening the Allied alliance. British forces continued to fight across multiple fronts, including North Africa, Italy, and the Atlantic. In June 1944, British troops played a major role in D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy, which led to the liberation of Western Europe. Germany surrendered in May 1945, and Victory in Europe Day was celebrated on 8 May.
After the war, tensions emerged between Britain and the Soviet Union. In 1945, Churchill ordered plans for Operation Unthinkable, a secret proposal considering a possible future conflict with the USSR. Although never carried out, it reflected growing mistrust and the early stages of the Cold War.
By 1946, Britain had won the war but was economically exhausted. The British Empire was beginning to crumble rather than grow stronger, as nationalist movements gained momentum, particularly in India. Britain’s global role was shifting away from empire toward post-war recovery, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in British history.
