TEXTOS DE SELECTIVIDAD ENERO 2009
1)
MOBILE PHONES IN CINEMAS
Increasingly New Yorkers are placing and receiving calls when they go to the movies. But now if a new law does become effective in December, the very act of talking into a mobile phone in a cinema or any other place of public performance could become illegal and result in a 50-euro fine. The proposed law has strong support from cinemagoers."It is annoying when people in a movie theatre use their mobiles. You end up missing parts of the film," said one New Yorker. The use of mobile phone in live theatres and concert halls would also be included in the prohibition. Many people in the show business support the proposed law. The problem is that the ban will be difficult to apply because it will be hard to catch transgressors.Mobile phone companies are not too happy. Telecommunications lawyer Martin Rothfelder said: "It is a government intrusion into an area of common sense and courtesy." But council members are determined; they want to modify anti-social behaviour and send a message. "You just need to turn the mobile off, put it in your pocket and enjoy the show," they said. Last year New York became the first state to outlaw use of mobile phones by drivers.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer)1. Who are for and against the new law? 2. What is the main objective of the law?b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer)3. New Yorkers seldom use their mobile phones in cinemas. 4. Offenders of the law will have to pay an amount of money. 5. Council members are still discussing the application of the law.6. The government's suggestion is to leave the mobile phone at home.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7. Find in the text a synonym for BAN (noun). . (0.25 points)8. Find in the text a word meaning "to be in favour of" (verb). (0.25 points)9. Give one synonym for "COURTESY" (noun) (line 10). (0.25 points)10. Give an adjective with the same root as "SENSE" (noun) (line 10). (0.25 points)11. Turn the following sentence into the passive voice: (0.5 points) New Yorkers are placing and receiving calls.12. Join the following sentences using a relative pronoun. Make changes if necessary: (0.5 points)Nikki sells cinema tickets. She is against the ban.13. Use the words in the boxes to make a meaningful sentence: (0.5 points)PUNISH ANTI-SOCIAL WILL CINEMAGOERS NEW YORK BEHAVIOUR FOR14. Complete the following conditional sentence:If people do not turn off their mobile phones in cinemas... (0.5 points)
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
15) WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.a) Advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones. b) Should the government control everything we do?
2
SHE FELL OUT OF MY HANDS
A girl of thirteen wept yesterday as she denied murdering a baby left in her care. The teenager is said to have changed her story several times, only later telling police that she dropped 16-month-old Molly Adams.She was 12 last December when she was left with Molly, whom she had looked after several times before. The baby was found lifeless in her cot at her home in Greater Manchester after the babysitter raised the alarm. A pathologist later concluded that Molly had been struck with extreme force against a wall or the floor.Yesterday the teenager told the Court that the baby had jerked backwards out of her grasp as she held her against her hip. She said Molly banged her head against the wall before falling on her landing: Dressed on her school uniform, the girl told the jury she had gone to pick up the child hearing her crying. The girl said she gave Molly her bottle and decided to take her downstairs when she fell. 'I picked her up, she was making a noise but not crying, her eyes were open. I cradled her and gave her a hug and put her back in her cot. I went downstairs and started watching this comedy thing for five minutes, but I got this gut feeling so I went back to check on her. I saw this dark thing on her face, I put the light on and went in-it was blood'.She explained how she run to Molly's aunt's. 'I told her there was something up with Molly'.She was asked why she hadn't told the aunt about the fall. 'I was scared of getting blamed', she said.Molly was taken to hospital but she never regained consciousness. She had suffered an 18-centimetre fracture to the skull and massive, irreversible brain damage.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer)1) How did Molly Adams die?2) What did the girl do when the baby cried?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YQUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer)3) The teenager put Molly in her cot and went to look for help immediately. 4) Molly was dressed in her school uniform.5) This was the first time the girl was left with Molly.6) The teenager was 19 when she was looking after Molly.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text the word which has the following definition: (0.25 points)" part of the human body which is at every side of the body" (noun)8) Find in the text an antonym for PUT DOWN (verb). (0.25 points)9) Give a noun with the same root as DARK (adjective). (0.25 points)10) Give one synonym for STRUCK (verb) (line 6) (0.25 points)11) Turn the following sentence into reported speech: (0.5 points)The article said: "Molly was taken to hospital but she never regained consciousness".12) Turn the following sentence into active voice: (0.5 points)The baby was found lifeless in her cot.13} Give a question for the underlined words. (0.5 points)The teenager is said to have changed her story.14) Complete the following sentence: (0.5 points)She wouldn't have been blamed if...
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
Write a COMPOSITION (80-100 words). Choose ONE of the following options:
a) Should children who are accused of crime be considered adults in court?b) Do you think everyone who treats badly someone should be punished? How?
3
Where the Third World is first
There are plenty of statistics about childhood in the Third World, showing that the struggle for survival is long and hard. But in the rich world, children can suffer from a different kind of poverty –of the spirit. For instance, one Western country alone now sees 14,000 attempted suicides every year by children under 15, and one child in five needs professional psychiatric attention.
There are many good things about childhood in the Third World. Take the close and constant interaction between children and their parents, relatives and neighbours. In the West, the very nature of work puts distance between adults and children. But in most Third World villages mother and father do not go miles away each day to do abstract work in offices, shuffling paper to make money mysteriously appear in banks. Instead, the child sees mother and father, relations and neighbours working nearby, and often shares in that work.
A child growing up in this way learns his or her role through participation in the community’s work: helping to dig or build, plant or water, attend to animals or look after babies –rather than through playing with water and sand in kindergarten, building with construction toys, keeping pets or playing with dolls.
Third World children are not usually shut up indoors, still less in highrise apartments. Instead of dangerous roads, "keep-off-the-grass" signs and "don’t speak to strangers", there is often a sense of freedom to wander and play. Parents can see their children outside rather than observe them anxiously from ten floors up.
Of course twelve million children under five still die every year through malnutrition and disease. But childhood in the Third World is not all bad.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 point per answer)
How does a Third World child learn his or her role in the community?
What causes the death of more than ten million children in the Third World every year?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0,5 points per answer)
3. We can hardly find any statistics about childhood in the Third World4. In Europe less than the sixth part of the children needs to visit a psychiatrist. 5. A child in the West has a more oppressive sense of space and time than a child in the Third World.6. Several million children under five die of bad feeding and illness in the Third World every year.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
(7) Find in the text the word or group of words with the following definition: (0.25 points) "take care of"
(8) Find one synonym in the text for FIGHT. (0.25 points)
(9) Fill in the gap with a correct preposition: (0.5 points)"The industrialized countries are responsible ................ the poverty of the Third World".
(10) Put the following sentence into Reported Speech: (0.5 points)The old man said to the boy, "Don't speak to strangers."
(11) Put the following sentence into the active voice: (0.5 points)Third World children are not usually shut up indoors
(12) Give a question for the underlined words: (0.5 points)Western countries see 14,000 attempted suicides every year.
(13) Use the following words to make a meaningful sentence: (0.5 points)POOR HELP SUFFER RICH NOT WHO POOR THE DO THE
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
Write a COMPOSITION (80-100 words). Choose ONE of the following options:
How can the rich countries help the Third World?
Are our children happy?
MOBILE PHONES IN CINEMAS
Increasingly New Yorkers are placing and receiving calls when they go to the movies. But now if a new law does become effective in December, the very act of talking into a mobile phone in a cinema or any other place of public performance could become illegal and result in a 50-euro fine. The proposed law has strong support from cinemagoers."It is annoying when people in a movie theatre use their mobiles. You end up missing parts of the film," said one New Yorker. The use of mobile phone in live theatres and concert halls would also be included in the prohibition. Many people in the show business support the proposed law. The problem is that the ban will be difficult to apply because it will be hard to catch transgressors.Mobile phone companies are not too happy. Telecommunications lawyer Martin Rothfelder said: "It is a government intrusion into an area of common sense and courtesy." But council members are determined; they want to modify anti-social behaviour and send a message. "You just need to turn the mobile off, put it in your pocket and enjoy the show," they said. Last year New York became the first state to outlaw use of mobile phones by drivers.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer)1. Who are for and against the new law? 2. What is the main objective of the law?b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer)3. New Yorkers seldom use their mobile phones in cinemas. 4. Offenders of the law will have to pay an amount of money. 5. Council members are still discussing the application of the law.6. The government's suggestion is to leave the mobile phone at home.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7. Find in the text a synonym for BAN (noun). . (0.25 points)8. Find in the text a word meaning "to be in favour of" (verb). (0.25 points)9. Give one synonym for "COURTESY" (noun) (line 10). (0.25 points)10. Give an adjective with the same root as "SENSE" (noun) (line 10). (0.25 points)11. Turn the following sentence into the passive voice: (0.5 points) New Yorkers are placing and receiving calls.12. Join the following sentences using a relative pronoun. Make changes if necessary: (0.5 points)Nikki sells cinema tickets. She is against the ban.13. Use the words in the boxes to make a meaningful sentence: (0.5 points)PUNISH ANTI-SOCIAL WILL CINEMAGOERS NEW YORK BEHAVIOUR FOR14. Complete the following conditional sentence:If people do not turn off their mobile phones in cinemas... (0.5 points)
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
15) WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.a) Advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones. b) Should the government control everything we do?
2
SHE FELL OUT OF MY HANDS
A girl of thirteen wept yesterday as she denied murdering a baby left in her care. The teenager is said to have changed her story several times, only later telling police that she dropped 16-month-old Molly Adams.She was 12 last December when she was left with Molly, whom she had looked after several times before. The baby was found lifeless in her cot at her home in Greater Manchester after the babysitter raised the alarm. A pathologist later concluded that Molly had been struck with extreme force against a wall or the floor.Yesterday the teenager told the Court that the baby had jerked backwards out of her grasp as she held her against her hip. She said Molly banged her head against the wall before falling on her landing: Dressed on her school uniform, the girl told the jury she had gone to pick up the child hearing her crying. The girl said she gave Molly her bottle and decided to take her downstairs when she fell. 'I picked her up, she was making a noise but not crying, her eyes were open. I cradled her and gave her a hug and put her back in her cot. I went downstairs and started watching this comedy thing for five minutes, but I got this gut feeling so I went back to check on her. I saw this dark thing on her face, I put the light on and went in-it was blood'.She explained how she run to Molly's aunt's. 'I told her there was something up with Molly'.She was asked why she hadn't told the aunt about the fall. 'I was scared of getting blamed', she said.Molly was taken to hospital but she never regained consciousness. She had suffered an 18-centimetre fracture to the skull and massive, irreversible brain damage.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer)1) How did Molly Adams die?2) What did the girl do when the baby cried?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YQUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer)3) The teenager put Molly in her cot and went to look for help immediately. 4) Molly was dressed in her school uniform.5) This was the first time the girl was left with Molly.6) The teenager was 19 when she was looking after Molly.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text the word which has the following definition: (0.25 points)" part of the human body which is at every side of the body" (noun)8) Find in the text an antonym for PUT DOWN (verb). (0.25 points)9) Give a noun with the same root as DARK (adjective). (0.25 points)10) Give one synonym for STRUCK (verb) (line 6) (0.25 points)11) Turn the following sentence into reported speech: (0.5 points)The article said: "Molly was taken to hospital but she never regained consciousness".12) Turn the following sentence into active voice: (0.5 points)The baby was found lifeless in her cot.13} Give a question for the underlined words. (0.5 points)The teenager is said to have changed her story.14) Complete the following sentence: (0.5 points)She wouldn't have been blamed if...
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
Write a COMPOSITION (80-100 words). Choose ONE of the following options:
a) Should children who are accused of crime be considered adults in court?b) Do you think everyone who treats badly someone should be punished? How?
3
Where the Third World is first
There are plenty of statistics about childhood in the Third World, showing that the struggle for survival is long and hard. But in the rich world, children can suffer from a different kind of poverty –of the spirit. For instance, one Western country alone now sees 14,000 attempted suicides every year by children under 15, and one child in five needs professional psychiatric attention.
There are many good things about childhood in the Third World. Take the close and constant interaction between children and their parents, relatives and neighbours. In the West, the very nature of work puts distance between adults and children. But in most Third World villages mother and father do not go miles away each day to do abstract work in offices, shuffling paper to make money mysteriously appear in banks. Instead, the child sees mother and father, relations and neighbours working nearby, and often shares in that work.
A child growing up in this way learns his or her role through participation in the community’s work: helping to dig or build, plant or water, attend to animals or look after babies –rather than through playing with water and sand in kindergarten, building with construction toys, keeping pets or playing with dolls.
Third World children are not usually shut up indoors, still less in highrise apartments. Instead of dangerous roads, "keep-off-the-grass" signs and "don’t speak to strangers", there is often a sense of freedom to wander and play. Parents can see their children outside rather than observe them anxiously from ten floors up.
Of course twelve million children under five still die every year through malnutrition and disease. But childhood in the Third World is not all bad.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT USE YOUR OWN WORDS (1 point per answer)
How does a Third World child learn his or her role in the community?
What causes the death of more than ten million children in the Third World every year?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0,5 points per answer)
3. We can hardly find any statistics about childhood in the Third World4. In Europe less than the sixth part of the children needs to visit a psychiatrist. 5. A child in the West has a more oppressive sense of space and time than a child in the Third World.6. Several million children under five die of bad feeding and illness in the Third World every year.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
(7) Find in the text the word or group of words with the following definition: (0.25 points) "take care of"
(8) Find one synonym in the text for FIGHT. (0.25 points)
(9) Fill in the gap with a correct preposition: (0.5 points)"The industrialized countries are responsible ................ the poverty of the Third World".
(10) Put the following sentence into Reported Speech: (0.5 points)The old man said to the boy, "Don't speak to strangers."
(11) Put the following sentence into the active voice: (0.5 points)Third World children are not usually shut up indoors
(12) Give a question for the underlined words: (0.5 points)Western countries see 14,000 attempted suicides every year.
(13) Use the following words to make a meaningful sentence: (0.5 points)POOR HELP SUFFER RICH NOT WHO POOR THE DO THE
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
Write a COMPOSITION (80-100 words). Choose ONE of the following options:
How can the rich countries help the Third World?
Are our children happy?
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