Olympiad - 11th Grade - Reading
Welcome to the Reading part of the Olympiad!
Once you write your name, last name, and email, you will start the Olympiad. You will need to read the texts and the answer the questions which follow the texts (multiple choice: a, b, c, or d; and also true/false).
Best of luck!
Questions and Answers
- 1.
Artist Peter Fuller talks about his hobby There’s a popular idea that artists are not supposed to be into sport, but mountain biking is a huge part of my life. It gets me out of my studio, and into the countryside. But more importantly, racing along as fast as you can leaves you no time to worry about anything that’s going on in your life. You’re too busy concentrating on not crashing. The only things you pay attention to are the pain in your legs and the rocks on the path in front of you. I’m in my sixties now, but I started cycling when I was a kid. In the summer my friends and I would ride our bikes into the woods and see who was brave enough to go down steep hills, or do big jumps. The bikes we had then weren’t built for that, and often broke, so I used to draw pictures of bikes with thick tyres that would be strong enough for what we were doing. They looked just like modern mountain bikes. However, it wasn’t until many years later that someone actually invented one. By the 1980s, they were everywhere. At that time I was into skateboarding. I did that for a decade until falling off on to hard surfaces started to hurt too much. Mountain biking seemed a fairy safe way to keep fit, so I took that up instead. I made a lot of friends, and got involved in racing, which gave me a reason to train hard. I wanted to find out just how fit and fast I could get, which turned out to be fairly quick. I even won a couple of local races. In the end I stopped racing, mainly because I knew what it could mean to my career if I had a bad crash. But I still like to do a three-hour mountain bike ride every week. And if I’m out cycling in the hills and see a rider ahead, I have to beat them to the top. As I go past I imagine how surprised they would be if they knew how old I am. Peter enjoys mountain biking because ....
- A.
It gives him the opportunity to enjoy the views.
- B.
He can use the time to plan his work.
- C.
He is able to stop thinking about his problems.
- D.
It helps him to concentrate better.
Correct Answer
C. He is able to stop thinking about his problems.Explanation
Peter explains that one of the primary reasons he enjoys mountain biking is that racing along at high speeds doesn't leave any time to worry about the issues in his life. The intense focus required to navigate the path and avoid crashing means that all his attention is directed towards the immediate physical demands of the activity and the obstacles in his way. This intense concentration effectively distracts him from any personal concerns, providing a mental break from daily stresses.Rate this question:
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- 2.
Peter says he returned to cycling after several years ...
- A.
Because he had become unfit.
- B.
So that he could enter races.
- C.
In order to meet new people.
- D.
To replace an activity he had given up.
Correct Answer
D. To replace an activity he had given up.Explanation
The correct answer is "to replace an activity he had given up." This suggests that Peter returned to cycling as a substitute for another activity that he had stopped doing. The other options, such as becoming unfit, entering races, or meeting new people, do not provide a clear reason for his return to cycling.Rate this question:
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- 3.
In his childhood Peter Fuller ...
- A.
And his friends enjoyed indoor activities.
- B.
Used to prefer active pastimes.
- C.
Was rather careful and cautious.
- D.
Used to go hiking on the hills and in the woods nearby his home.
Correct Answer
B. Used to prefer active pastimes.Explanation
The correct answer is "used to prefer active pastimes." This is indicated by the phrase "In his childhood," suggesting that the sentence is referring to Peter's past habits. The phrase "used to" further emphasizes that Peter had a preference for active pastimes in the past. The other options do not provide information about Peter's childhood activities or preferences.Rate this question:
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- 4.
What does Peter say about cycling during his childhood?
- A.
He is sorry he didn’t take more care of his bike.
- B.
His friends always had better quality bikes than he did.
- C.
His bike wasn’t suitable for the activities he was doing.
- D.
He was more interested in designing bikes than riding them.
Correct Answer
C. His bike wasn’t suitable for the activities he was doing. -
- 5.
How does Peter feel about cycling now?
- A.
He is proud that he is still so fast.
- B.
He is keen to do less now that he is older.
- C.
He regrets the fact that he can no longer compete.
- D.
He wishes more people were involved in the sport.
Correct Answer
A. He is proud that he is still so fast.Explanation
Peter feels proud about his current speed in cycling, indicating that he has maintained his speed despite getting older. This suggests that he still values his ability to perform well in the sport and takes pride in his achievements.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Subway music in Washington DC Most of us who live in a city know what it means to spend thirty minutes in the subway rushing through corridors and then trying to get into terribly crowded trains. Well, this morning was different. A guy stopped at one of the entrances to the station and played six beautiful Bach pieces for about forty-five minutes. Three minutes after he started, a man noticed him and stopped for a few seconds. A minute later the musician received his first one-dollar tip. The person who was most interested was a three-year-old boy, who really wanted to listen. His mother didn’t let him stay very long though. In the forty-five minutes, one thousand and ninety-seven people passed by and only six stopped. The violinist collected thirty-two dollars. When he finished playing, nobody noticed it and nobody knew that he was Joshua Bell, one of the best soloists in the world. He was playing a violin worth 3.5 million dollars and had played in a concert two days before where people paid an average of a hundred dollars for their seats. The aim of this real-life experiment was twofold. The organizers, including the performer, were eager to get answers to a few philosophic questions. Can we notice beauty in a common place and at a rather unusual hour? Do we recognize genius in an unexpected situation? And the most troubling question of all: if we miss Joshua Bell playing Bach just because we are not in Carnegie Hall, how many other things do we miss? The underground is a busy place in the morning.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
The given answer is true because the passage describes how the subway station is crowded and busy in the morning, with many people rushing through corridors and trying to get onto crowded trains. This is supported by the fact that in the forty-five minutes the musician played, one thousand and ninety-seven people passed by, indicating the high volume of people in the subway.Rate this question:
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- 7.
One morning the passengers could hear beautiful piano music.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The statement mentions that the passengers could hear beautiful piano music in the morning. Since there is no information provided about the passengers not being able to hear the music, it can be inferred that the statement is true. However, the given answer is false, which contradicts the information provided.Rate this question:
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- 8.
The improvised concert lasted for about three quarters of an hour.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
The statement "The improvised concert lasted for about three quarters of an hour" is true. This means that the concert, which was not planned or rehearsed, took place for approximately 45 minutes.Rate this question:
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- 9.
Half a dozen Bach pieces were performed.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
The given statement states that half a dozen Bach pieces were performed. "Half a dozen" refers to six, so the statement implies that six Bach pieces were indeed performed. Therefore, the correct answer is true.Rate this question:
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- 10.
A little boy was one of the most involved listeners.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
The given statement implies that the little boy was actively engaged and interested in listening. This suggests that he was paying attention and showing a high level of involvement in whatever was being said. Therefore, it can be concluded that the statement is true.Rate this question:
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- 11.
Nearly a thousand people passed that place within forty-five minutes.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The statement suggests that a large number of people passed by a certain place within a short span of time. However, the answer is false because it is highly unlikely for nearly a thousand people to pass by a place within just forty-five minutes. This would require an extremely crowded area or a specific event happening nearby to attract such a large crowd in such a short time.Rate this question:
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- 12.
There were quite a number of people who stopped and listened.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The statement "There were quite a number of people who stopped and listened" suggests that a large group of individuals paused and paid attention. However, the correct answer is "False." This implies that there were not many people who stopped and listened, contradicting the initial statement.Rate this question:
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- 13.
On that morning a world-famous violinist acted as a busker.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
The given statement implies that a world-famous violinist performed as a busker, which means they played their violin on the street for tips. This suggests that the statement is true and the violinist temporarily took on the role of a street performer.Rate this question:
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- 14.
Joshua Bell’s regular job is poorly paid.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The given statement suggests that Joshua Bell's regular job is poorly paid. However, the correct answer is False. Since the statement is false, it implies that Joshua Bell's regular job is not poorly paid.Rate this question:
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- 15.
The unusual performance was actually a social experiment.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
The given statement suggests that the unusual performance was intentionally designed as a social experiment. This implies that the performance was not a genuine or typical one, but rather a deliberate act aimed at observing and analyzing people's reactions and behaviors. The word "actually" emphasizes the unexpected nature of the performance and reinforces the idea that it was a planned experiment rather than a spontaneous event. Therefore, the correct answer is True.Rate this question:
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- 16.
The scientific method Every year in the spring, large numbers of frogs appear in the mud near the river Nile. They aren’t there in dry weather, so in the past ancient Egyptians used to believe that the mud produced frogs. The problem is they didn’t test their belief scientifically. The first step in the scientific method is to observe the world around you. For example, Newton noticed that an apple fell down, not up. The Egyptians did this part alright; they observed the frogs. Step two is to ask yourself a question based on your observations. ‘Why does the apple go down?” “Where do the frogs come from?” And then think of a hypothesis: a possible answer. “Objects are pulled to the ground by an invisible force.” “Mud produces frogs.” The Egyptians did this too. But it isn’t enough just to think of an answer to a question and believe it’s true. You have to discover some evidence that confirms your hypothesis. So, the next step in the scientific method is to test your ideas with experiments and more observations. Galileo believed that two objects with different masses would fall at the same rate. So, the story goes, he carried out an experiment. He dropped a heavy ball and a light ball from the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and confirmed his belief. The Egyptians never did any experiments on their mud-frog hypothesis, so they never found out it was false. If you do an experiment only once, you may make a mistake. So repeat your experiment to make sure you get the same results, and analyse your findings statistically to check they’re significant. Then make any necessary changes to your hypothesis and conduct more experiments. Carefully record everything you do so other scientists can duplicate your work and check your conclusions. A hypothesis with lots of experimental evidence becomes a theory. A theory which has been confirmed many times is a scientific law. The great thing about hypotheses, theories and laws is that you can use them to make predictions. The law of gravity predicts that astronauts should float in space. And they do. Chemists and physicists, geologists and biologists, researchers in every laboratory in every field of research use the scientific method. They don’t accept untested observations. So they don’t believe that mud produces frogs. Plenty of frogs used to appear near the Nile in spring.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The explanation for the correct answer, which is False, is that the passage states that the ancient Egyptians used to believe that the mud produced frogs. However, it is mentioned that they did not test their belief scientifically. The scientific method requires observing the world around you, asking questions based on those observations, forming a hypothesis, and then testing that hypothesis through experiments and observations. Since the Egyptians did not conduct any experiments on their belief, they never found out if it was true or false. Therefore, the statement that plenty of frogs used to appear near the Nile in spring is false.Rate this question:
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- 17.
Dry weather was the precondition of frogs’ recurrent arrival.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The statement suggests that dry weather was a precondition for the recurrent arrival of frogs. However, the correct answer is false. This means that dry weather was not a precondition for the frogs' recurrent arrival.Rate this question:
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- 18.
Observation is a necessary stage of the scientific method.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
Observation is a necessary stage of the scientific method because it involves gathering information and data through careful and systematic observation of phenomena or events. This initial step allows scientists to identify patterns, make hypotheses, and formulate theories based on empirical evidence. Without observation, the scientific method would not be able to generate reliable and valid conclusions.Rate this question:
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- 19.
A hypothesis is a properly asked question.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The statement that a hypothesis is a properly asked question is false. A hypothesis is actually a proposed explanation or prediction that can be tested through research and experimentation. It is not a question itself, but rather a statement that can be supported or refuted by evidence. Therefore, the correct answer is false.Rate this question:
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- 20.
A number of experiments should be carried out either to confirm or to reject the hypothesis.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
The statement is true because in the scientific method, experiments are conducted to test a hypothesis. These experiments are designed to gather data and evidence that can either support or refute the hypothesis. By carrying out multiple experiments, scientists can increase the reliability and validity of their findings, ensuring that the conclusions drawn are accurate and robust. Therefore, it is essential to perform a number of experiments to confirm or reject a hypothesis.Rate this question:
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- 21.
At least once in history did the Leaning Tower of Pisa serve science.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
The statement suggests that the Leaning Tower of Pisa has served science at least once in history. This implies that the tower has contributed to scientific research or experiments in some way. It could have been used as a platform for conducting experiments related to gravity, physics, or architecture, or it could have provided valuable data for scientific studies. Therefore, the answer "True" indicates that the tower has indeed served science at least once in its history.Rate this question:
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- 22.
The number of experiments performed by the Egyptians was not sufficient to prove their theory.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The statement suggests that the Egyptians did not perform enough experiments to prove their theory. However, the correct answer is False, indicating that the number of experiments performed by the Egyptians was sufficient to prove their theory. This implies that the Egyptians conducted an adequate number of experiments to support their theory, contradicting the initial statement.Rate this question:
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- 23.
Multiple experiments are needed in order to prove the hypothesis.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
Multiple experiments are needed to prove a hypothesis because conducting only one experiment may not provide enough evidence to support or reject the hypothesis. By conducting multiple experiments, scientists can gather more data and replicate the results, increasing the reliability and validity of their findings. This also helps to account for any variables or errors that may have influenced the results of a single experiment. Therefore, multiple experiments are necessary to ensure the accuracy and robustness of the hypothesis.Rate this question:
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- 24.
A theory is a confirmed hypothesis that automatically becomes a law.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
This statement is incorrect. A theory and a law are two different concepts in science. A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of evidence and scientific reasoning. It is not automatically confirmed and can be revised or replaced if new evidence is discovered. On the other hand, a scientific law is a statement that describes an observed phenomenon consistently and is often expressed in mathematical terms. Laws are typically derived from repeated observations and experiments.Rate this question:
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- 25.
Only scientific laws can enable the scientists to make predictions.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
Scientific laws are generalizations based on repeated observations and experiments that describe how the natural world behaves. While scientific laws are useful for making predictions, they are not the only tool scientists use. Scientists also rely on theories, hypotheses, models, and empirical evidence to make predictions and understand the natural world. Therefore, it is incorrect to say that only scientific laws can enable scientists to make predictions.Rate this question:
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- 26.
Invented or discovered by accident A The teabag The teabag is over one hundred years old but not everyone is celebrating. A time- consuming ritual has been transformed by the little paper packet into a five-minute break, and it has saved the tea industry by fulfilling the modern need for convenience and speed. Like many inventions, the teabag came about by accident. Struggling to cut costs, Thomas Sullivan, a New York coffee merchant who turned to tea, sent out samples of poor quality tea in small silk sachets rather than as good quality loose tea. His customers failed to realise that they were supposed to cut open the sachet and empty its contents into a pot. The result was an immediate hit with American tea drinkers. It was viewed with suspicion by British tea drinkers at first and only took off in the 1960s. B Potato crisps George Crum reportedly created the potato crisp in 1853 near Saratoga Springs, New York. Fed up with a customer who continuously sent his fried potatoes back, saying that they were soggy and not crunchy enough, Crum sliced the potatoes as thinly as possible, fried them in hot grease, then sprinkled them with salt. Eventually, the crisps were mass-produced, but since they were kept in barrels or tins, they quickly went stale. Then, in the 1920s, Laura Scudder invented the airtight bag by ironing together two pieces of waxed paper, thus keeping the crisps fresh longer. Today, potato crisps are packaged in plastic or foil bags. C Post-it Notes In 1968, Spencer Silver from the company 3M attempted to make ordinary sticky tape, which was in use all over the world, even stickier. During an experiment, the researcher made a thick substance which did not sink into surfaces and could be removed with ease. However, no one at 3M was interested in the substance because it didn’t stick. Sometime later, Spencer’s colleague remembered the not-so-sticky substance. This man sang in a choir in his spare time. He had a problem knowing where in the book the various songs were. He managed to solve this problem with the help of the sticky substance invented by his colleague: the substance helped stick bookmarks in the song book without spoiling the pages. Post-it Notes were first sold in 1980. D Velcro The Velcro fastener was invented in 1941 by George de Mestral, a Swiss engineer. He noticed that flower seed heads (burrs) kept sticking to his clothes when he was walking in the Alps. He decided to devise a unique fastener that duplicated the burrs’ tiny hooks. Although de Mestral first met with resistance and even laughter, he stuck to his idea. After many experiments, he realized that nylon, when sewn under infra red light, formed tiny but tough hooks, which easily attached themselves to softer, velvety nylon fabric. Velcro became a revolutionary fastening system which never goes wrong and is both simple and strong. It is still being used with great success today. E The shopping cart Sylvan Goldman invented the first shopping cart in 1936 when he saw his customers were reluctant to purchase a large number of groceries at any one time at his store because they were too heavy to carry. Once, Goldman saw a customer putting her bag with groceries on a toy machine that her son was pulling with a string. He came to the conclusion that he needed to fix small wheels to an ordinary shopping basket. Later, Goldman created the first modern shopping cart with the help of mechanical engineers. The carts were first manufactured in 1947. F Penicillin Sir Alexander Fleming, a British biologist, was researching a strain of bacteria in 1928, and noticed that one of the glass culture dishes that had accidentally been left near an open window had become contaminated with a fungus. He noticed that the fungus was destroying the bacteria. When he first published his findings, Fleming didn’t think anyone would be very interested because the fungus (penicillin) was difficult to cultivate and slow-acting. It wasn’t until 1945 that penicillin was able to be produced on an industrial scale, changing the way doctors treated bacterial infections forever. Question: Which section mentions the need to change people’s attitude when buying goods?
- A.
A
- B.
B
- C.
C
- D.
D
- E.
E
- F.
F
Correct Answer
E. EExplanation
Section E, which discusses the invention of the shopping cart, mentions the need to change people's attitude when buying goods. The inventor, Sylvan Goldman, noticed that customers were reluctant to purchase a large number of groceries at once because they were too heavy to carry. This led him to create the shopping cart, which allowed customers to easily transport their groceries and changed their attitude towards buying goods in larger quantities.Rate this question:
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- 27.
Which sections mentions someone who didn’t believe their discovery was important?
- A.
A
- B.
B
- C.
C
- D.
D
- E.
E
- F.
F
Correct Answer
F. FExplanation
Section F mentions someone who didn't believe their discovery was important.Rate this question:
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- 28.
Which sections mentions an idea which resulted from someone not being able to find what they wanted easily?
- A.
A
- B.
B
- C.
C
- D.
D
- E.
E
- F.
F
Correct Answer
C. CExplanation
Section C mentions an idea that resulted from someone not being able to find what they wanted easily.Rate this question:
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- 29.
Which sections mentions a misunderstanding of how to use something?
- A.
A
- B.
B
- C.
C
- D.
D
- E.
E
- F.
F
Correct Answer
A. AExplanation
Section A mentions a misunderstanding of how to use something.Rate this question:
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- 30.
Which sections mentions a decision to keep on trying to make an idea better?
- A.
A
- B.
B
- C.
C
- D.
D
- E.
E
- F.
F
Correct Answer
D. DExplanation
Section D mentions a decision to keep on trying to make an idea better.Rate this question:
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- 31.
Which sections mentions the need for a new method of storage?
- A.
A
- B.
B
- C.
C
- D.
D
- E.
E
- F.
F
Correct Answer
B. BExplanation
Section B mentions the need for a new method of storage.Rate this question:
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- 32.
Which sections mentions the need to manufacture something in large amounts for it to be worthwhile?
- A.
A
- B.
B
- C.
C
- D.
D
- E.
E
- F.
F
Correct Answer
F. FExplanation
Section F mentions the need to manufacture something in large amounts for it to be worthwhile.Rate this question:
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- 33.
Which sections mentions an idea which was a copy of something found in nature?
- A.
A
- B.
B
- C.
C
- D.
D
- E.
E
- F.
F
Correct Answer
D. DExplanation
Section D mentions an idea that was a copy of something found in nature.Rate this question:
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- 34.
Which sections mentions an idea which arose from an attempt to improve on an already well-known item?
- A.
A
- B.
B
- C.
C
- D.
D
- E.
E
- F.
F
Correct Answer
C. CExplanation
Section C mentions an idea that arose from an attempt to improve on an already well-known item.Rate this question:
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- 35.
Which sections mentions the need to find a cheaper way of doing something?
- A.
A
- B.
B
- C.
C
- D.
D
- E.
E
- F.
F
Correct Answer
A. AExplanation
Section A mentions the need to find a cheaper way of doing something.Rate this question:
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Apr 29, 2024Quiz Edited by
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Oct 07, 2020Quiz Created by
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