Prueba de Acceso a la Universidad de Extremadura

Asignatura: Inglés Tiempo máximo de la prueba: Una hora

El alumno deberá escoger una de las dos opciones, A o B, y responder ​en inglés a todas las preguntas ​que se formulan en
la opción elegida, sin mezclar preguntas de una y otra. E​n el caso de la primera pregunta ​(la redacción), ​deberá escribir
tan sólo sobre uno de los dos temas propuestos​. (Puntuación máxima del ejercicio: 10 puntos. Puntuación máxima de
cada pregunta: 1ª pregunta = 3 puntos; 2ª = 2 puntos; 3ª = 1’5 puntos; 4ª = 1 punto; 5ª = 2’5 puntos).

Opción A ​English or Chinese? 

For  decades,  China  isolated  itself  from  the  rest  of  the  world.  However,  as  China  has  opened  up  and  modernized,  Western  culture and the English 
language  have  expanded  throughout  the  country.  Western  brands  are  now  widely  available,  and  there  are  large numbers of students wanting to study 
English.  However,  not  everyone  is  so  enthusiastic  about  these changes. Some Chinese feel that the craze for English and Western culture in China could 
be detrimental to their country in the long run. 
In  particular,  some  people  are  concerned  that the increasing flow of English words and phrases into Chinese conversation could endanger the future 
of  the  language.  This  concern has resulted in a demand for linguistic purity. For example, Chinese media were told by the government to start using a list 
of official Chinese translations for English abbreviations. 
Some  people  believe  that  in  order  to  strengthen  young  people’s  connection  to their language and culture, it’s necessary to shift the emphasis away 
from  English  and  towards  Chinese.  As  a  result,  the  demand  for  private  Chinese-language  tutoring  schools  is  growing.  In  addition  to  the  normal 
curriculum, these schools introduce children to classic Chinese literature and traditional culture. 
What’s  more,  there’s  a  move  to  lessen  the  importance  of English in the education system. At the moment, English has equal weight with maths and 
Chinese  in  the  annual  university  exams.  Recently,  the  Ministry  of  Education  has  announced  plans to reduce the points allotted to English in the exams, 
while raising the points for Chinese. 
While  this  attempt  to  contain  the  spread  of  Western  values  in  China  may  be  understandable,  there’s  a  danger  that  it  may  backfire.  A  reduced 
emphasis  on  English  education  in  school  may  well  result  in  lower  English  proficiency  among  secondary-school  students,  which  may  have  a  negative 
effect on international business and the Chinese economy further down the line. 
What’s  more,  the  Chinese  government  may  have  to  accept  the  fact  that  “cultural  purity”  is  a thing of the past. As China continues to develop as an 
economic superpower, people from all over the world are flocking to study Chinese. Cultural exchange, it appears, goes both ways. 

1. Write a composition about ​one of the following topics ​(maximum 3 points):

a. S
​ hould the Chinese government continue to protect the purity of the Chinese language at the expense of
English? Give your opinion in at least 80 words.
b. ​Write a story of at least 80 words ​ending with ​this sentence: "​That’s why Chen didn’t want to return to China
again​". Remember that ​the 24 words in this sentence cannot be counted in the 80 words you must write​.

2. Answer the following two questions:

a.​ ​Do the Chinese use abbreviations? Explain your answer, providing evidence from the text (maximum 1 point).

b. ​According to the text, what is the connection between the level of English in China and the Chinese economy?
Explain your answer, providing evidence from the text (maximum 1 point).

3. Find in the text words having a similar meaning to the following words. Give ​only one synonym ​for each
word (maximum 0.5 points each word):

a. worry, issue b. reduce ​ ​keen on

c.

4. Read the following short dialogue:

Chen:​ Guess what? I feel awful! In July we are going back to China. My parents have just sold their shop here.
Paul:​ Really? So sorry to hear that. So will you take the English test in June in order to have a B2 certificate?
Chen:​ No indeed! There is no point in wasting my time studying English to work in a store in China.

Now imagine that you are Paul and Chen is your friend. ​Use just two or three sentences t​ o advice him not to do that
and give him a good reason for it (maximum 1 points)​.

5. Grammatical transformation.
a. Rewrite the following sentence in the passive voice (maximum 1.5 points). DO NOT OMIT ANYTHING:
The Ministry of Education has announced plans to reduce the points allotted to English in the exams

b. Rewrite the following sentence in the past simple interrogative negative (maximum 1 point):
This concern has resulted in a demand for linguistic purity

concerned lessen what's more