II. READING

Task 1. Read the reading below carefully, and then complete it with the best option A, B, C or D given below.

CHESS

Chess, often (1)______ to as the Royal Game, is the oldest of all board games which do not contain an element of chance. The origins of chess are uncertain, (2)______ there are a number of legends regarding its invention. In fact, chess almost certainly originated in India in the sixth or seventh century AD. The game’s popularity then spread quickly through Persia (now known as Iran) and from there came to Europe. It is (3)_______ that the word ‘chess’ comes from ‘shah’, the Persian word for ‘king’ and that ‘checkmate’, the game’s winning (4)_______, comes from the phrase ‘shah mat’, (5)______ ‘the king is dead’.

Chess, often (1)______ to as the Royal Game, is the oldest of all board games which do not contain an element of chance.