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COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT

COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: JUNY 2018 CONVOCATORIA: JUNIO 2018

Assignatura: ANGLÈS Asignatura: INGLÉS

Please answer on a separate sheet of paper

OPCIÓ A / OPCIÓN A

Part A. Reading Comprehension


Read the following text:

NO HUGGING: ARE WE LIVING THROUGH A CRISIS OF TOUCH?

When did you last touch someone outside your family or intimate relationship? Touch is the first sense
humans develop. But somewhere in adulthood what was instinctive to us as children has come to feel
awkward. In countless ways social touch is being eliminated from our lives.

In the UK, doctors were warned last month to avoid comforting patients with hugs to avoid legal
action. Teachers hesitate to touch pupils. And in the UK, in a loneliness epidemic, half a million older
people go at least five days a week without touching a person.

What do humans risk losing, when we lose touch? Francis McGlone, a leader in affective touch, is
worried: “We have demonised touch to a level at which it provokes hysterical responses, and this lack
of touch is not good for mental health”, he says.

McGlone says: “The pleasantness of touch encourages us to keep touching, pleasing babies and
connecting adults. Last year, researchers from London showed that slow, gentle stroking by a stranger
reduced feelings of social exclusion. As a society, we instinctively understand the power of touch.
Caressing slows down heart beats and blood pressure, gives people better control over their stress
hormones. Being touched also increases the number of natural killer cells”.

“You just don’t see people touching each other these days,” Tiffany Field, founder of the Touch
Research Institute, complains. There is still no scientific data to connect declining touch to mobile
technology or social media, but Field’s descriptions of people wrapped in their own worlds rather than
each other, sitting in isolation, are evocative and familiar.

Excerpt from an article by Paula Cocozza, The Guardian, March 7th 2018

1
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the
information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. Why is McGlone worried about humans losing touch?


b. Why may mobile technology be related to less touching among people?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that
supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5
points: 0.5 each)

a. We start touching people as soon as we become adults.


b. People who are touched feel less isolated.
c. Humans intuitively feel the benefits of touching.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options. (1 point:
0.25 each)

awkward eliminated hesitate provokes gives connect

a. provides
b. strange
c. link
d. triggers

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points: 0.5
each)

1. In the UK loneliness epidemic...


a. older people only touch other people at weekends.
b. older people do not touch other people five days a week or more.
c. older people do not touch other old people at least five days a week.

2. The feelings associated with touch...


a. are negative and generate negative reactions.
b. are positive and can lead to long-term relationships.
c. are positive and can lead to more touching.

3. A gentle stroking by a stranger...


a. can lead to a strong relationship with that person.
b. can make you feel like you are not so isolated.
c. can make you be willing to caress that stranger as well.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points)

Why do we touch each other less nowadays?

2
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: JUNY 2018 CONVOCATORIA: JUNIO 2018

Assignatura: ANGLÈS Asignatura: INGLÉS

Please answer on a separate sheet of paper

OPCIÓ B/OPCIÓN B

Part A. Reading Comprehension


Read the following text:

SHOP HIRES ROBOT ASSISTANT... THEN FIRES IT AFTER JUST A WEEK

Fabio was the first robotic retail assistant employed at upmarket store Margiotta
(Edinburgh), but was let go after one week.

At first it got off to a good start, charming customers with hugs and greetings of “hello
gorgeous”. But it wasn’t long before Fabio began irritating and confusing shoppers at the
store. When one asked which aisle the beer could be found, Fabio gave a vague answer:
“It’s in the alcohol section”. And despite its efforts, the background noise in the busy
supermarket made it difficult for the robot to understand customers.

Aware that the first day at a new job can be stressful, its understanding bosses moved Fabio
from the aisles to a sampling role. But the robot became too enthusiastic when asked to
hand out portions of pulled pork. “We thought a robot could show the customers that we
are always wanting to do something new and exciting”, said Elena Margiotta, who runs the
chain of shops. But it wasn’t long before Fabio was noticeably outperformed by its human
colleagues. While it managed to persuade two people to try a pork snack, its colleagues
scored a total of twelve. People seemed to actually avoid it.

Sadly Elena was left with no other choice than to let it go. And when she told Fabio that she
would not renew its contract, the robot asked: “Are you angry?” It was an emotional
moment for the staff and some were reduced to tears when Fabio was packed away. In its
short time at the store, Fabio had clearly become a well-liked member of the team.

Adapted from an article by Fiona Parker, The Daily Mail, January 2nd 2018

3
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into
account the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. What went wrong soon after Fabio started working in the aisles of the store?
b. Why did Ms Margiotta hire the robot?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the
text that supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer
sheet. (1.5 points: 0.5 each)

a. At the beginning Fabio did well in its job.


b. Fabio could understand the customers despite the noise in the supermarket.
c. The staff was sad when Fabio was fired.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options. (1
point: 0.25 each)

despite aware stressful understanding noticeably actually

a. in fact
b. conscious
c. full of tension
d. sympathetic

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5
points: 0.5 each)

1. At the sampling section...


a. Fabio performed its task as expected.
b. Fabio performed its task better than expected.
c. Fabio performed its task worse than the other employees.

2. When Fabio was fired, …


a. it was sad.
b. the staff was sad.
c. Elena was angry.

3. The staff...
a. had become attached to Fabio.
b. felt Fabio was competing for their job.
c. were packed away.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points)

Do you think that robots will perform human roles better than us in the future?

4
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: JULIOL 2018 CONVOCATORIA: JULIO 2018

Assignatura: ANGLÉS Asignatura: INGLÉS

Please answer on a separate sheet of paper

OPCIÓ A /OPCIÓN A

Part A. Reading Comprehension


Read the following text:

WOMEN REALLY ARE THE STRONGER SEX

A recent academic study has shown that under extreme conditions such as famines, epidemics and
enslavement, women are able to survive for longer than men. Across modern populations, women
outlive men in almost all instances, with life expectancy for English women being 83.1 years,
compared to 79.5 years for men.

Now, academics from the Southern University of Denmark have looked at data from seven historic
cases when populations were exposed to extreme hardship, in order to gain new insights into the
gender mortality gap. Case studies included the Irish famine of 1845-1849, the Iceland measles
epidemics of 1846 and 1882, and the experiences of freed Liberian slaves returning to Africa from the
US in the early 19th century. During the 1882 Iceland measles epidemic, for example, life expectancy
dropped from 43.99 to 18.83 years for females and from 37.62 to just 16.76 years for males.

The researchers found that women had lower mortality across almost all ages, and women lived longer
on average than men. Based on these findings, the academics concluded, “the hypothesis that the
survival advantage of women has fundamental biological underpinnings is supported by the fact that
under very harsh conditions females survive better than males even at infant ages when behavioral and
social differences may be minimal or favor males”. The academics referred to research that suggests
hormonal differences might explain the gender mortality gap. For example, estrogens, found in larger
quantities in women, have anti-inflammatory effects, whereas testosterone, found in larger amounts in
men, may actually suppress the immune system.

Excerpt from an article by Tomasz Frymorgen, BBC.co.uk, January 10th 2018

1
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account
the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. Under what severe circumstances do females live longer than males?


b. Why do women live, biologically, longer than men?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text
that supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5
points: 0.5 each)

a. Women outlive men only under extreme conditions.


b. Women have always lived longer than men except during the 1882 Iceland measles
epidemic.
c. Hormones do not explain differences in life expectancy.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options. All
words are underlined in the text (1 point: 0.25 each)

outlive hardship measles survival underpinnings harsh

a. severe
b. difficulty
c. foundations
d. survive

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points:
0.5 each)

1. Danish researchers have found relevant data about life expectancy using...
a) data from Southern Denmark.
b) 19th century data.
c) large amounts of hormones at infant ages.

2. Research from 1845 until 1882 took into account…


a) three different samples.
b) four different samples.
c) five different samples.

3. Males do not live longer than females…


a) but they did in the past.
b) but they outlived females in Iceland.
c) even if social conditions are better for males rather than for females.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points)

What would you do to live longer?

2
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: JULIOL 2018 CONVOCATORIA: JULIO 2018

Assignatura: ANGLÉS Asignatura: INGLÉS

Please answer on a separate sheet of paper

OPCIÓ B/OPCIÓN B

Part A. Reading Comprehension


Read the following text:

MAJOR BRANDS OF BOTTLED WATER CONTAIN TINY PARTICLES OF PLASTIC

In the largest investigation of its kind, 250 bottles bought in nine different countries were
examined. Research led by journalism organisation Orb Media discovered an average of 10
plastic particles per litre, each larger than the width of a human hair.

Companies whose brands were tested told the BBC that their bottling plants were operated to
the highest standards. The tests were conducted at the State University of New York in
Fredonia. Sherri Mason, a professor of chemistry at the university, conducted the analysis and
told BBC News: “We found plastic in bottle after bottle and brand after brand. It’s not about
pointing fingers at particular brands; it’s really showing that this is everywhere, that plastic
has become such a pervasive material in our society, and it’s pervading water -all of these
products that we consume at a very basic level”.

Currently, there is no evidence that ingesting very small pieces of plastic can cause harm, but
understanding the potential implications is an active area of science. Commenting on the
results, Prof Mason said: “It’s not catastrophic, the numbers that we're seeing, but it is
concerning”.

Experts have told the BBC that people in developing countries where tap water may be
polluted should continue to drink water from plastic bottles. Furthermore, the companies
behind the brands have insisted that their products meet the highest standards for safety and
quality. They also point to the absence of any regulations on microplastics and of the lack of
standardised methods of testing for them.

Adapted from an article by David Shukman, BBC News Science, March 15th 2018

3
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into
account the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. What did companies say when the BBC told them about the findings
from this study?
b. Have researchers shown that these plastic particles are bad for
people’s health?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the
text that supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the
answer sheet. (1.5 points: 0.5 each)

a. Researchers examined bottles of water from an average of 10 countries.


b. The presence of plastic particles in bottles is rare.
c. People in developing countries should only drink tap water.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six
options. (1 point: 0.25 each)

investigation pervasive concerning meet point testing

a. worrying
b. research
c. fulfill
d. omnipresent

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5
points: 0.5 each)

1. Research led by Orb Media found out that microplastics in bottles of water
were…
a. wider than a human hair.
b. as wide as a human hair.
c. also contained human hair.

2. The analysis of water bottles was conducted by…


a. a university professor working for BBC News.
b. a professor from a university in the state of New York.
c. a university professor of chemistry working for the BBC.

3. Water companies highlight…


a. the lack of standards in the plastic industry.
b. the lack of clear regulations on the presence of particles of plastic.
c. the lack of standardised tests for plastic industries.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points)


Plastic is polluting our world. What can we do to stop it?

4
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: JUNY 2017 CONVOCATORIA: JUNIO 2017

Assignatura: ANGLÈS Asignatura: INGLÉS

Please answer on a separate sheet of paper

OPCIÓ A / OPCIÓN A

Part A. Reading Comprehension


Read the following text:

‘READ RECEIPTS’ SUCH AS WHATSAPP’S ‘BLUE DOUBLE TICK’


CAN DESTROY YOUR LIFE

Most platforms tell you when your message has been opened. On WhatsApp, the double tick turns blue. It
sounds straightforward enough, but when a message lingers on “seen” without a reply for anything beyond a
few minutes, you think you’ve been ignored. It’s enough to make you feel depressed.

Was what you said so inappropriate? You thought not, but you were obviously wrong, because why else would
they have read it and not replied? It works both ways, too: if you’ve read a message and you’re either unable or
unwilling to respond to it immediately, the countdown has already started. The implicit message of your silence
is that you’re ignoring them -not the best starting point for a conversation.

The anxiety of not getting a reply is silly but it is real, and unique to this time, the web 2.0, when everyone is
assumed to be available at all times. And, if not, it’s personal. Combined with notifications for “last active”
(which tell you how long since someone was on the platform) and “is typing” (which tell you when they’ve
started typing their reply), well, is it any wonder that anxiety is so common among the young nowadays?

Communication has gone downhill, even though it’s ostensibly improved. When we’re used to good things
happening instantly, time taken to type a reply is considered a bad thing. Personally, I want “read receipts”
abolished. Ignorance (of the exact moment you read my message and decided not to reply to it) is wonderful.

Adapted from an article by Elle Hunt, The Guardian, March 17th 2017

1
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the
information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. Why does the double tick make people feel depressed?


b. Why is anxiety so typical among the young nowadays?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that
supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5 points: 0.5
each)

a. Only WhatsApp tells you when a message has been opened.


b. The fact that we are supposed to be connected all the time makes this anxiety of “no reply”
special.
c. Today, you are not expected to spend a long time writing a message.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options. (1 point: 0.25
each)

turns lingers wonder considered decided receipts

a. regarded
b. remains
c. chose
d. becomes

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points: 0.5 each)

1. You think you’ve been ignored...


a. when, after a few minutes, the double tick turns blue and you get no reply.
b. when the double tick turns blue and you expect an immediate reply.
c. when the double tick turns blue and you get no reply after a few minutes.

2. If you don’t reply to a message immediately...


a. the person who sent the message is right in thinking that you are ignoring him/her.
b. the person who sent the message may think that you are ignoring him/her.
c. the person who sent the message may also ignore you.

3. Notifications and “is typing” messages...


a. contribute to the anxiety of today’s youth.
b. increase the need to be available in today’s youth.
c. allow today’s youth to be more in control of their interactions.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points)

How do blue double ticks, notifications and “is typing” messages make you feel? Do you think they should be
eliminated? Give reasons.

2
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: JUNY 2017 CONVOCATORIA: JUNIO 2017

Assignatura: ANGLÈS Asignatura: INGLÉS

Please answer on a separate sheet of paper

OPCIÓ B / OPCIÓN B

Part A. Reading Comprehension


Read the following text:

THE VICTORIAN ORIGINS OF THE MANNEQUIN CHALLENGE

A group of Florida high schoolers made the first Mannequin Challenge video, and they started a
movement that went viral, with pop music groups, sports teams and politicians jumping in to
make videos of their own.

Like most internet fads, the Mannequin Challenge’s moment will likely be brief. However, in this
case, there’s some historical precedent. It was called tableau vivant (literally, “living picture”).
The technique has its roots in medieval drama, but it became a fashionable Victorian-era dinner
party game. People would select a famous scene from history or literature or art and position
themselves in that scene, frozen, for their guests and friends to observe.

One fashion writer said “In the production of tableaux, the greatest attention must be paid to the
grouping of figures and the harmony of colours. When they are animated and controlled by a fine
taste, their effect is charming.” The tableau’s combination of animation and control, its carefully
choreographed suspension of movement, illustrates the appeal of the Mannequin Challenge.

Queen Victoria loved this entertainment. In an 1852 pencil sketch, she drew her six children in a
tableau of John Milton’s “L'Allegro” that they performed for her husband’s 33rd birthday.
“Albert was delighted and could not imagine how it had been so well arranged,” she wrote in her
journal.

Part of the joy in producing a tableau vivant was watching the audience’s recognition and
reaction. I believe that if Queen Victoria had owned an iPhone, she would have filmed the
moment and shared it on Instagram for the world to see.

Adapted from an article by Ellen J. Stockstill, The Conversation, December 2016

3
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account
the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. What scenes did people imitate in a tableau vivant?


b. What makes a tableau vivant and a mannequin challenge video similar?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that
supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5 point:
0.5 each)

a. It is probable that the Mannequin Challenge will not last long.


b. A tableau vivant was a popular medieval game.
c. In the production of a tableau, colour was the only important feature.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options: (1 point:
0.25 each)

fads roots frozen guests taste joy

a. motionless
b. delight
c. origins
d. trends

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points: 0.5
each)

1. A group of Florida high schoolers…


a. made a video with pop music groups.
b. started a viral movement.
c. jumped in their own videos.

2. A tableau vivant…
a. is a popular Victorian game.
b. is a popular Victorian party.
c. is a famous Victorian sport.

3. Queen Victoria’s children…


a. drew L’Allegro.
b. drew a pencil sketch of L’Allegro for her husband’s birthday.
c. performed a tableau of L’Allegro.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points)

In your opinion, why are viral videos such as the Mannequin Challenge so popular?

4
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: JULIOL 2017 CONVOCATORIA: JULIO 2017

Assignatura: ANGLÉS Asignatura: INGLÉS

Please answer on a separate sheet of paper

OPCIÓ A / OPCIÓN A

Part A. Reading Comprehension


Read the following text:

YOUNG, BRITISH AND LIVING IN EUROPE.


BREXIT HAS TURNED OUR LIVES UPSIDE DOWN

After Brexit, what will it be like for British millennials, most of which voted to remain in EU, and live abroad?
People aged 18 to 34 are looking beyond their homeland’s borders for a future career, almost twice as much as
the preceding generation. Cities such as Berlin have gained a reputation for their lively atmosphere and low cost
of living (appealing prospects in comparison to UK cities, where millennials are hit hardest by the recession).
Start-up companies are inherently international because of their need for funding and talent regardless of its
origin -so knowledge of the local language is generally not required. It’s extremely common for business to be
conducted in English.

Since the Brexit referendum, there has been a level of uncertainty, and a state of anxiety. And the young are
likely to be disproportionately affected, as their world is turned upside down right at the start of their careers.
They feel helpless about the escalating incidences of xenophobia and homophobia back home.

We were told that our twenties are for exploration and learning -and most pertinently, for not yet having to
make serious, long-term commitments. Yet this is exactly what Brexit is forcing on young Britons prematurely.
For British people living in Spain, for instance, Brexit is a cloud over the sun.

It is not just a practical difficulty, but an emotional one. Those who had planned for only a temporary residence
in a foreign country are now considering EU citizenship. However, in certain member states, such as Austria,
dual citizenship is either highly restricted or forbidden -causing the applicant some complicated distress.

Adapted from an article by Rosamund Mather, The Guardian, November 2nd 2016

1
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the
information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. Why do British millennials think of Europe for a future career?


b. Why is the world of millennials turned upside down?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that supports
your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5 point: 0.5 each)

a. Start-up companies do not consider important where the person comes from.
b. Only young people have been affected by Brexit referendum.
c. Britons living abroad want to get EU citizenship, but only temporarily.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options: (1 point: 0.25
each)

remain preceding gained appealing required common

a. attractive
b. acquired
c. necessary
d. previous

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points: 0.5 each)

1. Millennials are highly affected because...


a. the referendum has forced them to stay in Britain.
b. the referendum has altered their careers in Europe.
c. the referendum has made living in Berlin impossible.

2. Brexit is forcing Britons...


a. to make plans in the long term.
b. to learn more about exploration.
c. to make plans about living in Spain.

3. Some people are thinking about the possibility of becoming EU citizens...


a. even though they only wanted to be in a different country for a while.
b. even though this means not returning to UK.
c. even though they do not want to stop speaking English.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points)

What are the advantages and disadvantages of living abroad after you finish your studies?

2
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: JULIOL 2017 CONVOCATORIA: JULIO 2017

Assignatura: ANGLÉS Asignatura: INGLÉS

Please answer on a separate sheet of paper

OPCIÓ B / OPCIÓN B

Part A. Reading Comprehension


Read the following text:

JON BON JOVI EMPOWERS THOSE IN NEED

Behind the music, Grammy award-winning entertainer Jon Bon Jovi is on a mission to feed and
empower those in need. His strategy is simple: “One soul at a time.”

With his non-profit Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, based in Philadelphia, the artist is fighting
poverty with direct action. According to the nonprofit’s website, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation
has helped provide more than 500 affordable homes to those in need across 10 states. Bon Jovi also
founded the JBJ Soul Kitchen, a community restaurant that serves everyone regardless of their ability
to pay. At a glance, it looks like a trendy New Jersey restaurant. There are linen napkins, fresh
flowers at each place setting and a farm-to-table menu. But each meal offers one essential ingredient:
hope.
“The key to our success is empowering the individual,” Bon Jovi says. “We have created what we
now call a pay it forward model.” In-need customers volunteer their time assisting with day-to-day
restaurant tasks, which pays for their own meal as well as the bill for their family. Also, paying
customers are requested to buy a pay it forward card. You do not only pay for your meal, but also the
one next to you, Bon Jovi says. For restaurant volunteer Moe Keane, it is this principle that makes
the JBJ Soul Kitchen one of her preferred ways to give back. “You don’t know if someone is dining
here because they are in need, that’s what’s nice about it. Everyone is treated the same.”

Adapted from an article by Ashley N. Vaughan, CNN Entertainment, February 10th 2017

3
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account
the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. Where has the Bon Jovi Soul Foundation done?


b. What does the pay it forward model involve?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text
that supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5
points: 0.5 each)

a. JBJ Soul Kitchen used to be a trendy restaurant in New Jersey.


b. People in need can pay for their food by working in the restaurant.
c. Those in need and those who can pay for their food do not coincide in the
restaurant.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options. (1 point:
0.25 each)

feed trendy empowering assisting requested treated

a. fashionable
b. commissioning
c. provide meals
d. considered

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points:
0.5 each)

1. Jon Bon Jovi’s mission is…


a. to help people in need by feeding them.
b. to give power to people.
c. to play rock music to people in need.

2. All place settings in the restaurant…


a. are decorated with farm menus.
b. are decorated with fresh daffodils.
c. are decorated in a similar way.

3. In the restaurant…
a. there is an area for those in need and an area for those who pay for their food.
b. you cannot see any difference between those in need and those helping others.
c. it is nice to see people in need paying for their own food.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points)

If you were rich and famous, what would you do to help others?

4
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: JUNY 2016 CONVOCATORIA: JUNIO 2016

Assignatura: ANGLÈS Asignatura: INGLÉS

BAREM DE L’EXAMEN:

BAREMO DEL EXAMEN:

OPCIÓ A/OPCIÓN A

Part A. Reading Comprehension


Read the following text:

WHY ARE BRITISH KIDS SO UNHAPPY? TWO WORDS: SCREEN TIME

Peter Wanless has warned of a nation of deeply unhappy children, due to “the pressure to keep up with friends
and have the perfect life online... adding to the sadness that many young people feel every day”. New research
by Action For Children (AFC) finds that one in four parents struggles to control their children’s screen use,
10% of parents find it hard to get their kids to do homework, and 18% can’t get them to go to sleep at night.

AFC suggests limiting children’s screen time by planning fun activities for the whole family that don’t involve
technology and creating a balance between technology use and other activities, insisting that, for every hour of
screen, children should have to do an hour of something else.

Sorry, none of that’s ever going to work on any teen I know, for that matter; it’s too late for that now. No, it’s
time for some Victorian-style parenting. So last night we sat our son Fred down and laid down the law: from
this Sunday, he’s to hand in his phone to us by 10.30 pm on school nights -no discussion, no argument, just
good old-fashioned “because I said so”. His response? “No way. That is so unfair. I’ve done nothing wrong!”

Sure, you can blame the parents for this whole mess -if we hadn’t filled our homes with smartphones and tablets
and laptops and desktops, none of this would ever have happened. You can even blame society or the
government. Or it could be Tim Berners-Lee’s fault for inventing the web.

Bob Granleese, The Guardian, 7-1-2016

1
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the
information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. What does AFC suggest to reduce children’s hours in front of the screen?
b. Who is to blame for this situation that we are facing now about children and technology?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that supports
your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5 points: 0.5 each)

a. Other activities should be more frequent than the use of technology.


b. Fred and his parents reached an agreement on technology use.
c. Parents have some responsibility in what has happened.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options. (1 point: 0.25
each)

keep up with involve plan balance work fault

a. equilibrium
b. mistake
c. maintain
d. arrange

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points: 0.5 each)

1. The pressure to have a perfect life online...


a. is the main reason why British kids are unhappy nowadays.
b. is part of why British kids are unhappy nowadays.
c. is part of the reason why they use their smartphones all the time.

2. Asking children to do something else instead of using technology...


a. is a good way to keep the family together at weekends.
b. is a good way to stop the use of technology by children.
c. is useless because they are too addicted to technology.

3. The author...
a. has a clear picture that only parents are responsible for the current situation.
b. has a clear picture of who is to blame for the current situation.
c. does not have a clear picture of who is to blame for the current situation.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points)

Are you addicted to technology? Discuss.

2
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: JUNY 2016 CONVOCATORIA: JUNIO 2016

Assignatura: ANGLÈS Asignatura: INGLÉS

BAREM DE L’EXAMEN:

BAREMO DEL EXAMEN: Please answer on a separate sheet of paper.

OPCIÓ B /OPCIÓN B

Part A. Reading Comprehension


Read the following text:

MIGRANT CRISIS: NORWAY WILL RETURN BACK TO RUSSIA REFUGEES WHO


EXPLOITED LEGAL BICYCLE GAP

Sylvi Listhaug, Norway’s immigration minister, has told refugees that exploited a legal gap to enter
the country on bikes through an Arctic Circle crossing will have to return to Russia. Around 5,500
asylum seekers used bikes to travel through the Storskog crossing last year and, although Russia does
not allow people to cross the border on foot and Norway does not let in motorists carrying people
without documents, people on bicycles are allowed in on both sides.

Listhaug also announced that immigrants without a transit visa would be sent back to Russia. The
two nations have been sending refugees back and forth since November 2015 when the new route
was identified by authorities. Once they reach Norway, refugees spend time at a centre that provides
shelter for around 600 people in barracks on a former military camp bordering the airport of
Kirkenes. New arrivals are given fleece jumpers, waterproof jackets and other clothes appropriate for
the Arctic climate, with most of them sleeping in bunk beds. On Thursday, Norwegian police
confirmed that the refugees would not be forced to return across the border on two wheels, and could
instead be taken by bus.

The number of people taking the Arctic route is tiny compared with the estimated 750,000 who
arrived via the Mediterranean in 2015, a perilous journey that has led to the loss of at least 3,400
lives.

William Watkison, International Business Times, 15-1-2016

3
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account
the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. What differences and similarities are there when crossing the border between Russia
and Norway?
b. What kind of objects are people given when arriving in Norway and why?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text
that supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5
point: 0.5 each)

a. Both Norway and Russia do not allow people to cross without documents.
b. Once in Norway, refugees sleep in king-size beds.
c. The number of people entering Norway is rather small in comparison with those
taking the Eastern Mediterranean route.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options: (1 point:
0.25 each)

seekers shelter barracks former bunk loss

a. quarters
b. aspirants
c. preceding
d. refuge

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points:
0.5 each)

1. Norway’s immigration minister declared that immigrants…


a. will no longer need a permit to enter the country.
b. will compulsorily need a permit to enter the country.
c. will have to choose whether entering without a visa or on a motorbike.

2. Once in Norway, immigrants are sent to a…


a. camp.
b. castle.
c. condominium.

3. Immigrants will not be mandatorily sent back to Russia on two wheels but…
a. on foot.
b. by public transport.
c. in big groups of 600 people.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points)

What problems do immigrants face when they get to a new country?

4
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: JUNY 2015 CONVOCATORIA: JUNIO 2015

ANGLÈS INGLÉS

BAREM DE L’EXAMEN:
Please answer on a separate sheet of paper
BAREMO DEL EXAMEN:

OPCIÓ B/OPCIÓN B

Part A. Reading Comprehension.


Read the following text:

BILINGUAL BRAINS: VARIETY MAKES YOU MENTALLY FIT

For years, researchers in bilingualism have reported findings about how bilingualism affects the
brain. Two of the most memorable involve “executive control” and delayed dementia. With the
first, bilinguals have shown that they are better able to focus on demanding mental tasks
despite distractions. In other studies, it has been estimated that bilinguals see the initial stages
of dementia, on average, about five years later than monolinguals do.

This week comes new evidence. Researchers led by Roberto Filippi of Anglia Ruskin
University have found that young bilingual pupils did a better job answering tricky questions
with a noisy voice in the background than a monolingual group. The researchers in this line of
inquiry tend to share a common hypothesis: that being bilingual is a kind of constant mental
exercise. With two languages in the mind, every time a thing is named, an alternative must be
suppressed. Every time a sentence is constructed, the other way of constructing it must be
suppressed.

Blocking out distracting information is exactly what researchers find that bilinguals do well.
And as for dementia, the effect seems to be a kind of analogue to physical activity over the
course of a lifetime keeping a body fit. Mental exercise keeps the brain fit, and bilingualism is
just that kind of exercise.

Why bilinguals seem to do better in quite a few differently designed studies does, however,
need more research. Besides, some parents still think that bilingualism might harm a child’s
development.

Adapted from The Economist, 17th October, 2014

3
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account
the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. What have bilinguals shown regarding “executive control”?


b. What did Filippi and other colleagues find?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text
that supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5
points: 0.5 each)

a. Bilingualism may delay mental illnesses.


b. Bilingualism keeps the brain fit.
c. Parents always think that bilingualism may influence their children’s development.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four definitions below from these six options. (1
point: 0.25 each)

dementia average evidence tricky inquiry hypothesis

a. investigation
b. proof
c. insanity
d. premise

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points:
0.5 each)

1. Researchers…
a) have studied the effects of bilingualism for years.
b) have just discovered the benefits of bilingualism.
c) have found a relationship between physical activity and bilingualism.

2. The effect of bilingualism on dementia is…


a) different from the effect of physical activity on keeping a body fit.
b) similar to the effect of physical activity on keeping a body fit.
c) exactly the same as the effect of physical activity on keeping a body fit.

3. More research is needed…


a) to examine design studies differently.
b) to examine why bilinguals do better than monolinguals.
c) to examine why bilingualism might damage children’s development.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points)

In your opinion, what are the advantages of multilingual education?

4
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: 2010 CONVOCATORIA: 2010

ANGLÉS INGLÉS

BAREM DE L’EXAMEN:

BAREMO DEL EXAMEN: Please answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Part A. Reading Comprehension.


Read the following text:

HOW FIVE YEARS OF YOUTUBE TURNS A NOBODY INTO A STAR

Five years after Karim and two fellow PayPal employees founded their video-sharing website YouTube, it
hosts more than 120 million videos. The site is a phenomenon that’s generated a whole culture of YouTube
celebrities. Never before had anyone with a video camera been able to reach a potential audience of
millions and for many they did so by accident. But when the site started including advertisements related to
the user’s search, some people were able to make money out of their hobbies.

The science behind what makes a video a hit remains vague. It’s easier to bathe cats than to predict whether
the public will like or dislike something. It’s an illuminating choice of elements: cats are, of course, a pretty
good bet. Also babies, though it’s still surprising that a merely moderately amusing family moment is the
most watched YouTube video of all time: “Charlie bit my finger”, a clip in which Charlie, aged one, bites
the finger of his big brother Harry.

With its ability to grant an audience of millions to any clip the site has extraordinary democratic potential.
Last year, a clip of Neda Agha-Soltan being shot in the chest in Iran was put on YouTube instantly and
became a powerful tool in the protest movement against the Iranian government.

The site’s democratic character had already taken on new, practical uses with the so-called “YouTube
election” of 2008, when what many had dismissed as simply a site for teenagers became a battleground for
one of the most interesting presidential fights in history.

S. Hoby and T. Lamont (The Guardian, 11-4-2010)

1
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the information
in the text (2 points: 1 point each)
a) Why can YouTube users get money from video sharing?
b) How can YouTube be used for democratic purposes?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that supports
your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet (1.5 point: 0.5 each)
a) YouTube videos reach an audience of one hundred and twenty million users.
b) Videos featuring cats are likely to draw the users’ attention.
c) YouTube only interests teenagers.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options: (1 point: 0.25 each)
generated accident hit choice amusing dismissed

a) ignored
b) selection
c) produced
d) chance

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct (1.5 points: 0.5 each)
1. We can...
a) predict whether a video on YouTube will be a hit or not.
b) never be sure whether a video on YouTube will be a hit or not.
c) predict that a video featuring cats with babies will be a hit.

2. Videos on YouTube can...


a) defeat a government.
b) turn a country into a democracy.
c) be used as a mass form of political protest.

3. YouTube...
a) has proved to be useful beyond teenage use.
b) has proved to be useful only for teenagers.
c) has proved to be useful for electing presidents.

Part B. Write a 130 to 150-word composition. (4 points)

Do you think that YouTube is a powerful tool in today’s society? Give reasons.

2
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: 2010 CONVOCATORIA: 2010

ANGLÉS INGLÉS

BAREM DE L’EXAMEN:

BAREMO DEL EXAMEN: Please answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Part A. Reading Comprehension.


Read the following text:

SHOPPERS GO GREEN ‘TO IMPRESS NEIGHBOURS,


NOT TO SAVE THE PLANET’

Shoppers are hypocritical about buying environmentally friendly goods, according to a report which has
found consumers are more concerned about impressing the neighbours than saving the planet.

While consumers are more likely to ‘go green’ on the high street where they can be seen making altruistic
choices, the privacy of online shopping brings out an entirely different behaviour.

When people are not being watched by their peers they are more willing to shun the ethical products in
favour of comfort and convenience, the report says.

The habit has been studied by Vladas Griskevicius, of the University of Minnesota, who found eco-
friendly shopping decisions are not always motivated by a social concern. He discovered that people were
more likely to buy energy efficient light bulbs from the shops, but tended to opt for the old-fashioned type
online. The same trend was also found when people purchased white goods, electronics and even
domestic cleaning products over the internet.

Mr Griskevicius picks out the Toyota Prius car as a prime example. Celebrities including Leonardo Di
Caprio and Cameron Diaz have been photographed behind the wheel of a Prius, despite being well able to
afford a more powerful and expensive car, sending the message that they are concerned for the
environment. ‘When you publicly display your environmentally friendly nature, you send the signal that
you care,’ said the report. The study also showed that people were often more willing to buy green
products when they were the most expensive option, because it showed they could afford to be caring.

The Daily Telegraph, March, 17, 2010, p. 13

1
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the information
in the text (2 points: 1 point each)

a) What are the real reasons why consumers buy eco-friendly goods?
b) Why do some film stars promote eco-friendly products?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that supports
your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet (1.5 point: 0.5 each)

a) People tend to buy more green products online.


b) The car that most film stars own is a Toyota Prius.
c) People don’t mind buying ‘green’ products when they are more expensive if other people
notice what they are buying.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options: (1 point: 0.25 each)
concerned privacy behaviour peers purchased prime

a) bought
b) representative, characteristic
c) intimacy
d) preoccupied

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct (1.5 points: 0.5 each)

1. According to the report, people who buy eco-friendly products...


a) are more interested in impressing their neighbours.
b) are more interested in saving the planet.
c) are more interested in comfort and convenience.

2. When buying goods on the Internet ...


a) consumers always ‘go green’.
b) consumers rarely ‘go green’.
c) consumers ‘go green’ if the bulbs are energy efficient.

3. Leonardo Di Caprio and Cameron Diaz have both …


a) photographed cars including the Toyota Prius.
b) promoted the Toyota Prius.
c) bought powerful and expensive cars such as the Toyota Prius.

Part B. Write a 130 to 150-word composition. (4 points)

What is your opinion about eco-friendly products? Do you think they are an urgent need or just a passing
fashion?

2
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: 2010 CONVOCATORIA: 2010

ANGLÉS INGLÉS

BAREM DE L’EXAMEN:

BAREMO DEL EXAMEN: Please answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Part A. Reading Comprehension.


Read the following text:

NOW TEACHERS ARE ORDERED TO SMILE AT THEIR PUPILS

A secondary school has ordered teachers to welcome children with a smile at the start of
every lesson as part of a drive to hand more power to pupils. Staff have also been told to
ensure they are not boring students by setting work that is too hard.

The move is the latest example of a Government initiative to give pupils a major say in
many aspects of their schooling, but some critics say this is putting children in charge.

Yesterday the Mail revealed that 20 students at a Kent secondary school were given
iPhones to provide instant feedback of teachers to senior staff. In another incident, a
teacher being interviewed for a job by a student panel was asked to sing the Michael
Jackson song ‘Bad’. She failed to get the job after refusing. Pupils on another interview
panel voted in favour of a female candidate because she was the ‘prettiest’, although she
was not hired.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls admitted the approach used by some schools was ‘completely
wrong’, ‘absurd’ and ‘ridiculous’. ‘The people who are in charge are the head teachers, the
governors and the teachers,’ he said. ‘The idea that you would give out iPhones to secretly
spy on teachers, that would be in my view, completely wrong’. ‘Any head teacher doing
that needs to look hard at themselves and consider the way in which they are doing
things’.

But far from dismissing the practice, he added: ‘Some schools do ask teachers to get a
report from the children about how lessons are going’.

Daily Mail, Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, p. 10

1
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the information
in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. What measures have teachers been forced to take in secondary schools?


b. Why have mobile phones been used in some schools?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that supports
your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5 point: 0.5 each)

a. Teachers have been told not to assign homework.


b. In Kent, iPhones were given to every student.
c. Some schools want their students to express their opinion about their classes.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options: (1 point: 0.25 each)
staff schooling feedback incident panel governors

a. jury, committee
b. event, episode
c. employees
d. response, opinion

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points: 0.5 each)

1. A teacher was asked to sing ‘Bad’...


a. and got the job.
b. and never got the job.
c. and was then asked to refuse the job.

2. Ed Balls stated that...


a. students should have more power.
b. teachers should be secretly observed.
c. iPhones are not a good tool to provide feedback.

3. Some schools want students to...


a. give their opinion on lessons.
b. describe teachers.
c. report about the use of iPhones.

Part B. Write a 130 to 150-word composition. (4 points)

What is your opinion about giving more power to students in schools?

2
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: 2010 CONVOCATORIA: 2010

ANGLÉS INGLÉS

BAREM DE L’EXAMEN:

BAREMO DEL EXAMEN: Please answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Part A. Reading Comprehension.


Read the following text:

STORE BRANDS LIFT GROCERS IN TROUBLED TIMES

As the economy plunges into a deep recession, grocery stores are one of the few sectors doing well. That
is because cash-short consumers are eating out less and stocking up at the supermarket. And store brand
products, which tend to be cheaper than national brands and more profitable for grocers, are doing
especially well.

Led by chains like Kroger, Wegmans and Safeway, grocers have expanded their store brands beyond
cheap generics and simple knockoffs of Cheerios, Oreos and Coca-Cola. Now, retailers are increasingly
adding premium store-brand items like organics, or creating products without direct competition.

In this economic climate, many shoppers are willing to try the newly developed store brands. They also
say it is hard to resist the low prices of store brands for staple goods like milk, sugar and cheese.

Jan-Benedict E. M. Steenkamp, marketing professor at the University of North Carolina, said past
recessions had given consumers a reason to trade down from national brands. This time, he said, the gains
may stick because the quality and consistency of store brands have improved.

Besides the weak economy, the growth of store brands reflects a historic shift in the balance of power
between packaged food manufacturers and grocery retailers. As these grocery retailers have consolidated
and grown bigger, they are increasingly able to stock their shelves with their own store brands, which
bring higher profits and drive customer loyalty — all to the detriment of major food brands.

Of course, major branded food companies dispute the idea that store brands are just as good as their
products and they argue that branded products offer better taste, consistency and innovation, justifying a
premium price.

Source: Andrew Martin, The New York Times

1
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the information
in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. According to the text, why are grocery stores, nowadays, successful in comparison to other
businesses?
b. On what basis do food companies justify the higher price of their brand-name products?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that supports
your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5 point: 0.5 each)

a. National brands are usually more profitable for grocers than store brands.
b. Shoppers find it difficult to resist buying store brand milk and sugar.
c. Major food manufacturers claim their products are as good as store brands.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options: (1 point: 0.25 each)
plunges retailers staple trade down stick products

a. merchants who sell goods directly to the consumers


b. stay, remain
c. drops steeply
d. basic, essential, necessary

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points: 0.5 each)

1. Nowadays, consumers are short of cash; as a result, they…

a. line up at supermarkets to get groceries.


b. go to restaurants less frequently.
c. eat less than before the recession.

2. Food chains like Wegmans…

a. are introducing more quality store-brand products.


b. are expanding by opening more stores.
c. have decreased the amount of generics.

3. According to the text, the growth of store brands reflects

a. the consolidation of grocery retailers in detriment of major food manufacturers.


b. customers’ loyalty to national brands.
c. the power of national manufacturers.

Part B. Write a 130 to 150-word composition. (4 points)


How has the financial crisis affected daily life in Spain?

2
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: MODEL EXAMEN PAU 2017 CONVOCATORIA: MODEL EXAMEN PAU 2017

Assignatura: ANGLÈS Asignatura: INGLÉS

BAREM DE L’EXAMEN:
Please answer on a separate sheet of paper
BAREMO DEL EXAMEN:

OPCIÓ A/OPCIÓN A

Part A. Reading Comprehension


Read the following text:

HEALTH WARNING ON CHILDREN’S FOOD

Children who eat a regular diet of food which is specifically marketed to appeal to them could be at
risk of future health problems such as obesity, diabetes and even cancer, consumer watchdogs have
warned. “Products targeted at youngsters, many of which use cartoon characters and colourful
labelling, can confuse and mislead parents about what they actually contain”, the Consumers’
Association said.

They asked the nutritionist Dr Helen Crawley to study two daily menus of food a child might
consume based on the claims and marketing messages made on the products. Dr Helen Crawley
concluded that to follow such a diet on a regular basis would be damaging to a child’s health. She
said it could increase the risk of becoming overweight, as well as the danger of diseases such as tooth
decay, diabetes, cancers and heart disease in later life.

The Consumers’ Association called on manufacturers to take action to make sure products aimed at
children did not contain higher levels of sugar, fat and salt than products aimed at adults. They also
said that cartoons and images aimed at children should not be used on these products. Their “honest
labelling shop” highlighted a number of concerns about labelling of child products. While packets of
drinks showed “an abundance” of fruit, only a tiny percentage of the product was actually made up
of that fruit. Many tinned products were higher in sugar and salt than the adult equivalents.

Daily Mail Online, 27-1-2016

1
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account
the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. What did Dr Crawley find in her study?


b. What did the Consumers’ Association ask manufacturers to do?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text
that supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5
points: 0.5 each)

a. Both children and parents are confused about what food products contain.
b. A nutritionist was asked to examine children’s menus every two days.
c. The Consumers’ Association claimed that cartoons and images targeted at children
ought not to be used on food products.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options. All
words are underlined in the text (1 point: 0.25 each)

diet study increase risk overweight percentage

a. fat
b. raise
c. danger
d. analyse

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points:
0.5 each)

1. Products aimed at youngsters…


a) always use cartoon characters and colourful labelling, and they confuse parents.
b) often use cartoon characters and colourful labelling, and they can confuse parents.
c) might use cartoon characters and colourful labelling, but do not confuse parents.

2. Dr Crawley reported that following a diet based on marketing messages is likely to


cause children to become…
a) overweight and to have diabetes in a month.
b) overweight and to have many other diseases.
c) overweight and to have other diseases in the long run.

3. The “honest labelling shop” claimed that packets of drinks have…


a) the same percentage of fruit as they show.
b) more percentage of fruit than they show.
c) less percentage of fruit than they show.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points)

Do you think that eating habits have an impact on health problems? Explain why.

2
COMISSIÓ GESTORA DE LES PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT
COMISIÓN GESTORA DE LAS PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PROVES D’ACCÉS A LA UNIVERSITAT PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD


CONVOCATÒRIA: MODEL EXAMEN PAU 2017 CONVOCATORIA: MODEL EXAMEN PAU 2017

Assignatura: ANGLÈS Asignatura: INGLÉS

BAREM DE L’EXAMEN:
Please answer on a separate sheet of paper
BAREMO DEL EXAMEN:

OPCIÓ B/OPCIÓN B

Part A. Reading Comprehension


Read the following text:

LIFE IN A REFUGEE CAMP: “THE COLD AND FEAR GET IN YOUR BONES”

“I was not born to live here like this”, says Ali. He is from Iran. We are in a refugee camp. But to
describe this as a camp is wrong. There are no basic facilities. None. It’s a field of mud and tents. I
am surrounded by people waiting to see a doctor holding little tickets, looking at each other with
suspicion.

Families are arriving all the time. The average refugee is a young man, but there are more and more
women and children. Women sit in tents frying potatoes. They smile and chat, but everyone is cold.
Everything is wet. Everyone has a story of how they got here. Some show me on their phones images
of them getting out of boats. As they have travelled from Syria or Eritrea, fleeing Islamic State,
torture, unimaginable darkness, the phones are their lifelines. They connect them back to where they
have come from and to a world they are now locked out of.

Ali considers getting to England as “an exam, a challenge. I have failed five times. But I will do it”.
Every night, people try different ways to get over the wire or into the trucks. And many of the
injuries the doctors treat are the direct result of attempts to reach the UK. But the way these people
are forced to live is also making them ill. Respiratory and stomach infections are everywhere, as are
rats, mice.

The conditions of these “camps” don’t meet any basic UN humanitarian standards. Everything here
is dangerous. Fires start as candles tip over. Trapped, desperate people do desperate things. The cold
and fear get inside your bones.

Suzanne Moore, The Guardian, 28-11-2015

3
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the
information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. Why shouldn’t this place be called a camp?


b. Why are refugees’ phones so important?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that
supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5 points:
0.5 each)

a. There are more women and children than men in the camp.
b. Ali thinks that he will never manage to get to England.
c. People in the camps do not have a minimum quality of life.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options. All these
words are underlined in the text (1 point: 0.25 each)

holding fleeing considers injuries result fear

a. outcome
b. regards
c. fright
d. escaping

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points:
0.5 each)

1. Refugees in the camp...


a. have no idea how they got to the camp.
b. have clear memories of how they got to the camp.
c. have a story about how they can cross over the wire.

2. Every night...
a. refugees are injured in the camps and treated by doctors.
b. refugees cross over the wire and climb onto a lorry.
c. refugees think of possible ways to get to UK.

3. The way refugees are living in the camps...


a. is making them ill due to desperation.
b. is making their clothes wet and dirty.
c. is making their health deteriorate.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points)

What problems do refugees face nowadays?

4
Part A. Reading Comprehension.
Read the following text:

Where have all the heroes gone?

What is a celebrity? A celebrity is basically a famous person. Young people nowadays


talk about celebrities like Tiger Woods, Jennifer Lopez and Julia Roberts as their heroes.
Yet, in the past, heroes were people we admired because of their noble achievements.
They were people who sacrificed themselves for a higher purpose, to save other people or
to support an ideal. Martin Luther King is an American hero because of his struggle for
civil rights. But what has Tiger Woods or Jennifer Lopez done for humanity?

Real heroes have inspired people to make sacrifices or to achieve something worthwhile.
Do celebrities inspire us in this way? In contrast to heroes, some people with no special
talent have achieved fame without any sacrifice at all. Ridiculously, some celebrities like
Ralf Schumacher or Paris Hilton are famous only because they are relatives of famous
people. And what contribution to society have models such as Cindy Crawford or Naomi
Campbell made to deserve the attention they receive? Perhaps we care more about fame
than noble achievement?

People appear to be extremely interested in the lives of celebrities. Are our lives so dull
and empty that we need glamorous celebrities to brighten them up? Do we envy these
people for their success? Do we admire the fame, wealth and status they possess? Are
these the qualities for which we should admire a person?

So, why do we really admire celebrities? Is it because there are no real traditional heroes
any more and celebrities are the next best thing?

Text 6: Where have all the heroes gone? 1/3


PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –
COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account
the information in the text. (2 points: one point each)
a. What type of people are celebrities nowadays?
b. Why are people interested in the lives of celebrities? Give two reasons.

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text
that supports your answer by copying the exact words on the answer sheet.
(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
a. The writer of the article admires Martin Luther King.
b. People nowadays admire noble achievement.
c. Today’s celebrities don’t encourage us to make sacrifices.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options:
(1 point: 0.25 each)
purpose sacrifice ideal brighten humanity dull
a. belief
b. boring
c. aim
d. people

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct.


(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
1. Traditional heroes …
a) cared about other people.
b) were always brave.
c) are more popular than ever.

2. According to the writer, Paris Hilton …


a) does not inspire respect.
b) has got a lot of talent.
c) makes sacrifices.

3. Celebrities often …
a) remind us that our lives are dull.
b) are not talented people.
c) are not real heroes.
PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –
Text 6: Where have all the heroes gone? 2/3

COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part B. Composition. (130 – 150 words approximately). Choose one of the following
topics (4 points).

1. Describe a person who is, in your opinion, a hero / heroine.


2. In your opinion, why do people admire celebrities?

Text 6: Where have all the heroes gone? 3/3


PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –
COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part A. Reading Comprehension.
Read the following text:

The uninvolved

Kitty Genovese was a young woman who was stabbed to death in New York City. This
was a tragic event, but not a particularly novel occurrence. In a big city, brutal murders
are not uncommon. What is interesting about this event is that no fewer than 38 of Kitty’s
neighbours came to their windows in response to her screams of terror, and stood there
watching in fascination for the 30 minutes it took for the murderer to complete his crime.
No one came to her assistance or even lifted the phone to call the police until it was too
late. Why?

Perhaps the neighbours were sleepy. After all, it was three o’clock in the morning. But it
was in broad daylight that Eleanor Bradley, who was shopping on Fifth Avenue in New
York, fell and broke her leg. She lay for 40 minutes in a state of shock while hundreds of
passers-by paused momentarily to look at her and then kept on walking.

Why did these bystanders fail to help? Have people become indifferent to the distress of
others? Have they become so accustomed to disaster that they can be nonchalant in the
face of pain and violence? Were, perhaps, the bystanders in these situations different
from you or me in some way?

The answers to these questions appears to be “no”. Interviews conducted with the
neighbours in the Genovese murder revealed that they really were horrified. Why, then,
didn’t they intervene? This question remains unanswered.

Text 10: Uninvolved 1/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account
the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)
a. What was particularly shocking about the murder of Kitty Genovese?
b. What are the two situations described in the text examples of?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text
that supports your answer by copying the exact words on the answer sheet.
(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
a. The police didn’t respond quickly enough to the neighbours’ telephone calls when
Kitty was stabbed.
b. The neighbours were too busy watching the murder to stop and call the police.
c. Passers-by didn’t stop to help Eleanor because they didn’t notice her lying there.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options.
(1 point: 0.25 each)
distress reveal novel brutal accustomed nonchalant
a. new
b. show
c. suffering
d. cruel

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct.


(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
1. Most murders in New York…
a) are not stabbings.
b) take place during the night.
c) don’t have so many witnesses.

2. People on Fifth Avenue…


a) didn’t notice Eleanor.
b) reacted selfishly.
c) didn’t realise Eleanor was hurt.

3. In the writer’s opinion, …


a) the passers by on Fifth Avenue were no better than Kitty’s neighbours.
b) the passers by on Fifth Avenue were worse than Kitty’s neighbours.
c) the murder of Kitty proves that people are becoming used to violent situations.
Text 10: Uninvolved 2/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –
COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part B. Composition (130 –150 words approximately). Choose one of the following
topics. (4 points)

1. What do you think of the behaviour of Kitty’s neighbours?


2. A passer-by at the scene of Eleanor’s accident was interviewed by a reporter
later that day. Write an interview between the reporter and the passer-by.

Text 10: Uninvolved 3/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part A. Reading Comprehension.
Read the following text:

Tunisia

After driving through kilometres of magnificent vineyards, we turned towards the sea.
Just before sunset, we entered the resort of Hammamet. This part of the Tunisian
coast is wonderful garden country, where the heavy scent of jasmine fills the air in
summer. From the veranda of the villa that we had rented, the dark green cypress trees
framed the olive orchards against the turquoise of the Mediterranean. There was an
atmosphere of great peace and tranquillity. The cry of the muezzin, calling the faithful
to prayer, echoed in the distance across the orange groves as we sat there drinking the
refreshing crème de menthe always served to guests on arrival.

The following morning, we started driving south, making only one break in the
journey to stop and see El Djem, one of the world’s best preserved Roman
amphitheatres. From there, we continued south to the Matmata mountain range – a
veritable lunar landscape, full of craters in which the Berber people make their homes.

Our guide led us into one of these craters to the cave dwellings of the local people.
These caves were surprisingly cool despite the heat outside. Expecting to see ordinary
caves, we were amazed to find them divided into separate rooms, the walls of which
were beautifully decorated. These subterranean homes were actually living works of
art. We climbed some stone steps to an upper level of storerooms full of the spices,
figs, dried fruit, honey and olives for which Matmata is famous.

Text 8: Tunisia 1/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into
account the information in the text. (2 points:1 point each)
a) Why is Hammamet a good place for a quiet holiday?
b) How do the Berber people deal with the climate?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the
text that supports your answer by copying the exact words on the answer sheet.
(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
a) The writer lives in Hammamet.
b) The writer had a morning drink on the veranda.
c) The Berber homes have got two storeys in them.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options:
(1 point: 0.25 each)
scent veritable groves amazed subterranean dwelling
a) home
b) underground
c) smell
d) surprised

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct.


(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
1. The first part of the journey was …
a) along the sea coast.
b) in the south of the country.
c) in daytime.

2. On the way to Matmata, the travellers …


a) stopped for a cool drink.
b) passed Berber homes.
c) visited an archeological site.

3. The Berbers …
a) live in the mountains.
b) make money by selling art.
c) buy spices, dried fruit, honey and olives.

Text 8: Tunisia 2/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part B. Composition (130 –150 words approximately). Choose one of the
following topics. (4 points)

1. Write a description of Hammamet as an advertisement for tourists.


2. Write an account of a trip you went on to an interesting place.

Text 8: Tunisia 3/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part A. Reading Comprehension.
Read the following text:

The Mona Lisa

“La Gioconda”, better known as “the Mona Lisa”, has fascinated people for hundreds
of years. The picture was painted around 1503 by Leonardo da Vinci and currently
hangs in the Louvre in Paris. For years, historians have wondered who Mona Lisa
was. Some have seen her as a figure from Greek mythology while others have
considered her to be a religious figure because of her simple dress and angelic face.

Much has been written about this wonderful work. It has been praised by critics and
viewers alike, and for many it is a holy object, a symbol of perfection. But even in
the days of Leonardo there were those who criticised it. It was something for young
rebels to despise, a taboo for them to break.

In 1919, Marcelle Duchamp, a French painter, took a reproduction of the Mona Lisa
and added a moustache and an obscene title. Other artists have made her cross-eyed,
put braces on her teeth, added glasses, made her very fat and replaced her face with
that of Stalin or Salvador Dali.

Advertisers soon realised the value of her mysterious smile and since then she has
been drawn on items from towels and shirts to ashtrays, plates and watches. Books,
films, records, restaurants, shops, petrol stations, dogs, horses and even nightclubs
have been named after her. She has advertised champagne, chocolate, cars and cotton
wool.

But no matter how people regard the Mona Lisa, the fact remains that it is the most
famous painting in the world.

Text 3: The Mona Lisa 1/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into
account the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)
a. In what way is the Mona Lisa unique?
b. What inspires people to make commercial use of the Mona Lisa?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the
text that supports your answer by copying the exact words on the answer sheet.
(1.5 points: 0.5 each )
a. No one knows who the original Mona Lisa was.
b. Not everyone regards the painting as a holy object.
c. The picture was damaged in 1919.

III. Find a synonym for each of the words below from these six options:
(1 point: 0.25 each)
obscene figure view terrible despise work
a. hate
b. artistic creation
c. rude
d. look at

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct.


(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
1. The name Mona Lisa…
a) replaced the painting’s original name.
b) comes from Greek mythology.
c) is one of the picture’s names.

2. In Leonardo da Vinci’s time …


a) it was forbidden to criticise religious objects.
b) many people thought the picture was perfect.
c) the Mona Lisa wasn’t well-known.

3. There are artists who have …


a) changed the picture to make it suitable for advertising.
b) not shown respect for da Vinci’s work.
c) written articles criticising the picture.

Text 3: The Mona Lisa 2/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part B. Composition (130 – 150 words approximately). Choose one of the
following topics. (4 points)

1. What do you think of using great art in advertising?


2. Why do you think artists made changes in the Mona Lisa?

Text 3: The Mona Lisa 3/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part A. Reading Comprehension.
Read the following text:

How I became an athlete: Jesse Owens’ story

One of the most wonderful moments of my life was standing and waiting to be
awarded my fourth gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1936. As I stood there, my
thoughts raced back to a time it had seemed impossible that I would ever run like
other boys and girls, let alone win an Olympic gold medal. The story began one night
when I was six.

“What’s that bump on your leg, Jesse?” my mother asked

“I don’t know,” I answered.

At first, we didn’t pay any attention to it, but gradually the lump became larger and
more painful until I was unable to walk. Unable to afford medical care, my mother
massaged my leg and forced me to walk on it, despite the pain. Slowly, the bump
disappeared until, by the time I turned nine, it was gone.

I suppose I began running because I was so grateful to have the use of my leg again
and to be like my classmates. Our simple one-room schoolhouse had no gym or sports
equipment, so I ran across fields and on country roads. When we moved to Cleveland,
it was easy for me to run on city streets and in the gym of my new school. I was faster
than the others and eagerly awaited the chance to join a real team. That day finally
came, and I’ll never forget when I met Coach Charles Riley, who taught me how my
spirit could make my legs move even faster than blood and muscle could.

Text 5: How I became an athlete 1/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
I. Answer the following questions in your own words but taking into account
the information in the text. (2 points: one point each)
a. What similar thing did Jesse learn from his mother and from Coach Riley?
b. How did Jesse’s early sports experience prepare him for his future?

II. Are the following questions true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text
that supports your answer by copying the exact words on the answer sheet.
(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
a. Jesse didn’t need a doctor because his mother was a nurse.
b. Jesse ran in the fields to be with his friends.
c. Coach Riley understood the power of the mind.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options:
(1 point: 0.25 each)
raced grateful spirit gradually forced eagerly
a. determination
b. slowly
c. thankful
d. went quickly

IV. Choose a, b, or c in each question below. Only one choice is correct.


(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
1. As a child, Jesse …
a) dreamed of winning an Olympic medal.
b) didn’t expect to ever run again.
c) preferred to be alone.

2. Jesse’s mother …
a) had very little money.
b) did everything to stop her son from suffering pain.
c) didn’t notice the lump till Jesse told her about it.

3. Running in the gym …


a) was only for team members.
b) made Jesse more ambitious.
c) was harder than running in fields.

Text 5: How I became an athlete 2/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part B. Composition (130 –150 words approximately). Choose one of the
following topics. (4 points)

1. What do you think of Jesse’s mother?


2. What do you think athletes need in order to become Olympic winners,
besides being excellent in their sport?

Text 5: How I became an athlete 3/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part A. Reading Comprehension.
Read the following text:

Have a good laugh

Experts often say that exercise, a balanced diet and plenty of rest are three essential
factors for good health in the stressful society in which we live. According to these
experts, another important factor is laughter. When we laugh, energy is pumped
through our bodies and our stress levels are reduced, which means laughter has a
calming effect on us.

Most importantly, perhaps, is the fact that laughter releases chemicals into the body.
These chemicals are natural pain suppressants and they affect the immune system,
helping to speed up healing processes and activating hormones which kill disease
cells. In fact, in 1991, the first free Laughter Clinic was set up in Britain, so that
patients could have fun, helping them to get better more quickly.

According to one doctor, laughter is a whole body experience in which all the major
systems of the body, such as muscles, nerves, heart, brain and digestion, participate
fully; this laughter is almost equivalent to a form of exercise. However, it is important
to bear in mind that we are talking about real laughter - “ a belly laugh” according to
Howard Kent of the Yoga for Health Association – and not just a smile.

So how are we to fill our days with merriment? Every happy home should have a
library of joke books, classic cartoon books, a collection of humorous quotations and
recordings of your favourite comedians, comedy films, fun games, toys, novels and
amusing biographies.

Text 1: Have a good laugh 1/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into
account the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)
a. How does laughter help us cope with the stresses of modern life?
b. Why is laughter almost like a form of exercise?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the
text that supports your answer by copying the exact words on the answer sheet.
(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
a. Laughter sometimes helps people to recover more quickly.
b. A very big smile has the same effect as a laugh.
c. The writer of the article recommends reading funny books.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options:
(1 point: 0.25 each)
stressful participate merriment library humorous bear in mind
a. private collection
b. tense
c. remember
d. amusement

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct.


(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
1. Chemicals in the body…
a) fight pain when we laugh.
b) are created by the immune system.
c) attack unhealthy cells directly.

2. Patients go to the free Laughter Clinic…


a) to help them forget their illnesses for a while.
b) as part of their treatment.
c) to watch funny films.

3. One expert…
a) compares laughter to yoga.
b) claims that laughter is good for the heart.
c) warns us not to laugh too hard.

Text 1: Have a good laugh 2/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part B. Composition (130–150 words approximately). Choose one of the
following topics. (4 points)
1. Can you describe yourself as a healthy person? Relate to the four factors in
the text and explain your conclusion.
2. Do you agree laughter is important? Describe a personal experience you had
which supports your opinion.

Text 1: Have a good laugh 3/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part A. Reading Comprehension.
Read the following text:

Getting a tan

As the amount of leisure time we have increases, so does the amount of time we
spend outside. However, health experts advise strongly against overexposure to the
sun. People have long associated a tan with beauty, attractiveness and desirability; yet
sitting long hours in the sun causes irreparable damage to the skin. In fact, about 90%
of all cases of skin cancer are linked to overexposure to the sun.

Health authorities have organised public information campaigns advising people to


avoid tanning between 10 am and 4 pm, the hours during which the sun’s rays are
most harmful. In Mediterranean countries, where it is almost impossible to stay out of
the sun altogether, people are advised to use sunscreen from April to October
whenever they are outdoors.

Sunscreens are readily available and are labelled with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor)
number. The higher the SPF is, the greater the protection from the sun will be.
Dermatologists recommend a factor of 15 or more. Fair-skinned people, who are at a
higher risk than people with dark skin, should use an even higher SPF. After a while
some people may develop allergies to the chemicals used in these sunscreens, so one
must choose carefully.

It is important to remember that no sunscreen provides complete protection. Although


a sunscreen may be advertised as water-resistant, it must be reapplied after bathing.
And contrary to what some people think, water is no protection from the sun; the
reflection in the water burns your skin as easily as if you were sitting on the beach.

Text 4: Getting a tan 1/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into
account the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)
a. Why do experts warn us not to sit in the sun?
b. Why are sunscreens not a perfect solution to the problem of getting a tan?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the
text that supports your answer by copying the exact words on the answer sheet.
(1.5 point: 0.5 each)
a. People have more free time today than they did in the past.
b. The sun’s rays are stronger in Spain than in Britain.
c. Problems with sunscreens do not always start right away.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options:
(1 point: 0.25 each)
linked reapplied public recommend risk irreparable
a. advise
b. serious
c. connected
d. danger

IV. Choose a, b or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct.


(1.5 points: 0.5 each)

1. The sun’s rays …


a) often cause skin conditions that can’t be cured.
b) cause more problems on the beach than beside a pool.
c) are stronger between October and April.

2. People with dark skin …


a) have natural protection against the sun.
b) do not need sunscreens with high SPF.
c) get more allergies than fair-skinned people.

3. Sunscreens …
a) all contain the same basic chemicals.
b) must be put on as soon as you come out of the water.
c) are never completely water resistant.
Text 4: Getting a tan 2/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –
COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part B. Composition (130 –150 words approximately). Choose one of the
following topics. (4 points)

1. Write a letter to a sunscreen company complaining about an unsatisfactory


sunscreen.
2. What do you think of people who devote a lot of time to getting a tan?

Text 4: Getting a tan 3/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part A. Reading Comprehension.
Read the following text:

Gandhi

Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi will always be remembered as one of the great leaders of
the 20th century. Physically, he was not impressive. He was small and thin, plainly
dressed, with spectacles and a shaved head. Yet he was a strong man, a man whose
great moral integrity kept him going throughout his life.

Born in 1869 in India, Gandhi was the youngest of six children. By the age of 13, he
was married. He was the first person in his family to finish high school and at the age
of 18 he went to study Law in Britain.

After finishing his studies, Gandhi returned to India for a short time and then moved
to South Africa, where he lived for 20 years. It was there that he started developing
his philosophy of passive resistance. Gandhi returned to India in 1914 and became a
leader in the independence movement against Britain. He used simple language in his
speeches so ordinary people could understand his message. Even as a leader, Gandhi
continued his simple way of life, living off the land and serving others. He was
admired by millions because of his idealism and integrity in a violent and cynical
world.

Gandhi’s life was devoted to a search for truth and justice for all. His philosophy of
passive resistance won India independence from the British in 1947. But Ghandi also
had political enemies, and one of them, a Hindu fanatic, shot and killed him in 1948.

Text 7: Gandhi 1/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into
account the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)
a. What did Gandhi believe in throughout his life?
b. How did Gandhi bring his message to many millions of people?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the
text that supports your answer by copying the exact words on the answer sheet.
(1.5 point: 0.5 each)
a. Gandhi’s father was a well-educated man.
b. Gandhi was a political leader.
c. Many people respected Gandhi for his beliefs.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options:
(1 point: 0.25 each).
devoted shaved spectacles idealism passive resistance integrity
a. nonviolence
b. given
c. glasses
d. honesty

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct.


(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
1. What people remember most about Gandhi is his…
a) physical bravery.
b) unusual values.
c) violent death.

2. Gandhi…
a) lived like a simple farmer.
b) was not an impressive speaker.
c) worked for the British government.

3. Gandhi wanted everyone to…


a) live simply, like himself.
b) get fair treatment.
c) care about the truth.

Text 7: Gandhi 2/3


PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –
COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part B. Composition (130 -150 words approximately). Choose one of the
following topics. (4 points).

1. Describe Gandhi’s adult life.


2. What do you think of Gandhi’s philosophy of passive resistance?

Text 7: Gandhi 3/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Gandhi
I Possible answers:
a. Throughout his life he believed in truth, justice for all, and passive resistance.
b. He spoke in simple language so ordinary people could understand his message.
II
a. F. He was the first person in his family to finish high school ... (line 6)
b. T. Gandhi became a leader in the independence movement against Britain.
(lines 10 – 11) / But Gandhi also had political enemies ... (lines 17 – 18)
c. T. He was admired by millions because of his idealism and integrity ... (lines 13 – 14)
III
a. passive resistance
b. devoted
c. spectacles
d. integrity
IV
1. b
2. a
3. b

Text 7 Answers: Gandhi


PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –
COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part A. Reading Comprehension.
Read the following text:

Death by advertising

Young people spend a lot of time in pubs, bars, discotheques and clubs. Because of
this, they are natural targets for advertisers working for liquor companies. Advertising
campaigns often include offers of cheaper drinks, free T-shirts, caps and posters. The
aim is to introduce young people to new tastes and brands of liquor and to create a
future generation of drinkers. One vodka company actually held a competition at a
university. The prize was free vodka for a whole term.

Health experts strongly criticise this advertising. They argue that young people are
unaware of the dangers of alcohol, particularly the serious risk involved in drinking
large amounts of liquor and then trying to drive home. Young people, they say, do not
realise how drinking affects their judgement and reactions.

In many European countries, drinking is becoming increasingly popular with


teenagers, and drunk teenage drivers are often involved in accidents leading to injury
or death. In one case, a young girl collapsed in her home after drinking 17 tequilas at
a liquor promotion. Later, while she was leaning out of the window to get some fresh
air, she fell to her death.

Experts on alcoholism believe that the only way to prevent this trend is to make
teenagers more aware of the effects of alcohol and of the risks they take when they
drink and drive. Perhaps they should also show teenagers how they are manipulated
by advertisers who are only concerned with their profits and are not worried about the
consequences.

Text 9: Death by advertising 1/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into
account the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)
a. Why is advertising drinks to teenagers an investment for liquor companies?
b. Why do teenagers drive when they are drunk?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the
text that supports your answer by copying the exact words on the answer sheet.
(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
a. Liquor companies try to encourage teenagers to try new drinks.
b. Teenagers are aware of the effects of alcohol on the body.
c. Liquor companies only care about making a profit.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from six options
(1 point: 0.25 each)
held realise prevent consequence campaign concerned with
a. understand
b. interested in
c. organised
d. result

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct.


(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
1. It’s not unusual for liquor companies to advertise by…
a) giving away free samples of vodka.
b) inviting university students to pubs.
c) selling alcoholic drinks at lower prices.

2. In the example in the text, the young girl died…


a) because being drunk made her careless.
b) from drinking too much alcohol.
c) in a drunk driving car accident.

3. Many young people…


a) are aware of the danger of drinking and driving.
b) need some fresh air after they drink.
c) are victims of liquor advertisers’ greed.

Text 9: Death by advertising 2/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part B. Composition (130 –150 words approximately). Choose one of the
following topics. (4 points)

1. What do you think about advertising alcohol for teenagers?


2. Write a short account of an accident involving a drunk teenager. It can be a
true story or a fictitious one.

Text 9: Death by advertising 3/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part A. Reading Comprehension.
Read the following text:

Breakfast

If you leave the house in the morning without having breakfast, you’re not alone.
Many people rush through their morning routine with no time to spare for a meal.
Others skip breakfast because they think it helps them to lose weight. For whatever
reason you leave home on an empty stomach, you’re not doing yourself a favour.

Breakfast – a break from the fast of the night - provides the nutrients your body needs
for good health, the calories it needs for energy and helps to maintain your blood
sugar level. Studies have shown that people who don’t have breakfast have a low
blood sugar level and are often slow, tired, hungry and unable to concentrate.

Surprisingly, breakfast actually plays a part in weight control. It’s easier to lose
weight if you eat in the morning rather than later in the day. Dividing the day’s
calories into three meals helps take off weight more efficiently than skipping
breakfast and having two larger meals a day does.

If you don’t have time to sit down and eat, take breakfast with you. Even a small
breakfast “on the go” will help you to function better throughout the morning.

For a quick breakfast at home, cereal with low fat milk are a good choice because
they contain many essential nutrients. If you find cereal boring, take a look at what
the world has for breakfast. Many Americans have pancakes or eggs. In Greece,
people eat plain yogurt with a little honey, and in Japan – rice, soup and raw
vegetables are a popular choice.

Text 2: Breakfast 1/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into
account the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)
a. What are the main reasons for not having breakfast?
b. How does having breakfast help people who want to control their weight?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the
text that supports your answer by copying the exact words on the answer sheet.
(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
a. It’s called breakfast because many people eat it fast.
b. It’s unhealthy to eat when you are travelling.
c. Yogurt and honey are a healthy alternative to cereal.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options:
(1 point: 0.25 each)
play a part in skipping routine maintain spare break
a. is important for
b. pause
c. missing out
d. keep up

IV. Choose a, b or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct.


(1.5 points: 0.5 each)
1. People who skip breakfast …
a) often feel sleepy.
b) lose weight too quickly.
c) function better in the afternoon.

2. Americans …
a) think cereals are boring.
b) often eat on their way to work.
c) often eat a cooked breakfast.

3. If you don’t eat breakfast at home, …


a) you should make up the calories at lunchtime.
b) you should take it with you.
c) your body will lack nutrients.

Text 2: Breakfast 2/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
Part B. Composition (130 –150 words approximately). Choose one of the
following topics. (4 points)

1. Imagine you’re a dietician. Give advice to a teenager about his / her eating
habits throughout the day.
2. Describe a day which shows how skipping breakfast when you usually eat it,
or eating breakfast when you usually skip it, affected you.

Text 2: Breakfast 3/3 PAU PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS –


COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
©
Burlington Books
     
Part A . Reading Comprehension
Read the following text

Cheaper Robots, Fewer Workers (from The New York Times April 24, 2015 ­
adapted)

Faced with an acute and worsening shortage of blue­collar workers, China is rushing to 
develop and deploy a wide variety of robots for use in thousands of factories.

Waves of migrant workers from the countryside filled China’s factories for the last three 
decades and helped make the nation the world’s largest manufacturer. But many 
companies now find themselves struggling to hire enough workers. And for the scarce 
workers they do find, pay has more than quintupled in the last decade, to more than 
$500 a month in coastal provinces.

Chinese businesses and the government are responding by designing and starting to 
install large numbers of robots, with the goal of keeping factories running and expanding 
without necessarily causing a drop in overall employment.

Workers are scarce partly because of the government’s “one child” policy and the rapid 
expansion of the university system. So China has lots of workers in their late 20s, but an 
ever­shrinking supply of workers now entering the workforce each year.

Adding to the labor shortage for China’s economy is that workers are staying in school 
longer — much longer. And following a Confucian tradition that the educated do not soil 
their hands with manual labour, graduates overwhelmingly refuse to accept factory 
work, except in supervisory, design or engineering positions. Roughly a quarter of 
China’s young people now attend at least some university, and the proportion is rising 
steadily.

Although building robots to replace workers is seldom cheap, a growing number of 
companies are finding it less costly than either paying ever­higher wages in China or 
moving to another country. — Keith Bradsher
I. Answer the following questions using your own words (2 points: 1 point each)

a. Name and explain the two reasons why China is installing more and more robots
b. What's the role of Confucian philosophy in the whole problem?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text


that supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet (1 
point: 0.5 each)

a. Most Chinese factory workers came from nearby countries
b. Nowhere in the country are salaries lower than $500
c. Installing robots is an affordable alternative to expensive salaries

III. Find a synonym for each of the four definitions below from these six options: 
(1 point: 0.25 each)

drop, soil, roughly, rising, steadily, seldom

1. fall
2. serious
3. approximately
4. spoil

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct (1.5 
points: = 0.5 each)
1.China's labour problems

a. are gradually disappearing
b. are the worst in decades
c. mainly factory workers

2. Unemployment in China

a. won't necessarily rise with the new policies
b. will increase with robots in factories
c. will disappear with robots

3. Most Chinese graduates

a. take engineering jobs in factories
b. are selective with their jobs
c. read Confucian philosophy

Part B. Write a 130 to 150­word composition (4 points)
Robots are the main cause of unemployment in European countries

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