"selectividad texts", March, 2009
SAYING GOODBYE AFTER 30 MONTHS?
Forget the traditional Valentine card message; love is not forever. In fact, for most people, it lasts no more than 30 months. After that, according to research on the nature of romance, couples have to choose between breaking up and deciding that they are easy enough with each other to stay together.
The conclusions of Professor Cindy Hazan, Cornell University, based on 5,000 interviews across 37 cultures and medical tests on couples challenge the romantic ideal, suggesting instead that men and women are biojogically and mentally predisposed to be "in love" for only 18-30 months. That is just long enough for a couple to meet, mate, and produce a child. There is evidence that what we call love is created by a chemical cocktail in the brain. Some chemicals are registered together only during the initial stages of a relationship. But even the most ardent lovers develop a tolerance to the effects of these chemicals, as a drunk person becomes immune to a single glass of alcohol. Love becomes a habit, especially if there are children. The study also indicates that most men fall in love more quickly and easily than women and most relationships are terminated by women. This suggests that women are less addicted to the cocktail of love.
Read the complete text from the Sunday Times
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1 -2 ACCORDING TO THE I NFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USEYOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer)
1) How was the evidence for this study obtained?
2) Why does love only last between 18 and 30 months?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS ORPHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer
3) All couples break up after 30 months.
4) Men and women always decide when to fall in love.
5) The cocktail of love is more effective if there are children.
6) Women fall in love more slowly than men.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text the word which has the following definition: (0.25 points)"that cannot be affected by a particular illness" (adjective)
8) Find in the text one opposite for COLD (adjective). (0.25 points)
9) Which word is not an ADVERB? (0.25 points) QUICKL y FAST -LONEL y EASILY
10) Give an adjective with the same root as FORGET (verb) (line 1). (025 points)
11) Turn the following sentence into reported speech: (0.5 points) The film star said: "I fell in love last summer."
12) Turn the following sentence into the passive voice: (0.5 points) Many adults are reading Harry Potter's books
13) Complete the following conditional sentence. (0.5 points) If I had studied psychology ...
14) Join the following sentences using a relative pronoun. Make changes if necessary. (0.5 points) Van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime. His works are worth millions.
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
14) WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.
a) Different attitudes of men and women towards love.
b) Do you think your love will last longer than 30 months? Why?
2)THE TOWER OF LONDON
Ghosts are said to appear in James's home repeatedly, but he hasn't seen one yet. "People have died here," says the 15-year-old boy from London. James's father is a guard at the Tower of London, a former castle, prison, and execution place that was built in 1066 by William the Conqueror. And his family lives there!Today the Tower serves as a tourist attraction as well as a home to the guards and their families. The Tower is most famous for the prisoners who lost their lives there-and who supposedly still appear on the Tower grounds. At just 16, Lady Jane Grey was dethroned in 1553 after only a nine-day reign, and then her head was cut off by the new queen. In 1483 two young princes named Edward and Richard mysteriously disappeared. Almost 200 years later bones of two children were found near the White Tower.The Tower of London is not just home to ghost stories and bloody legends. There are large birds called ravens living there. Despite looking a bit frightening, the ravens are an important part of the Tower's legends. "If the ravens leave the Tower," says James, "then the White Tower-and the monarchy-will disintegrate."But while the ravens are real, James still isn't convinced ghosts live in the Tower.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS.
1) Why does the Tower of London have a reputation for being home to ghosts? (1 point per answer)
2) What is the connection between the bones found near the White Tower and the two young princes?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.
3) Most of the Tower fame is due to its old age. (0.5 points per answer)
4) Nowadays the Tower is only used as a tourist attraction.
5) According to a legend, ravens living in the Tower are related to the monarchy.
6) James is not certain that ghosts really inhabit the Tower.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Give one synonym for REPEATEDLY (adverb) (line 1) (0.25 points)
8) Find in the text one opposite for EARLIER (adverb) (0.25 points)
9) Give a noun with the same root as APPEAR (verb) (line 5) (0.25 points)
10) Find in the text the word which has the following definition: (0.25 points)"remove a king/queen from their position of power" (verb)
11) Turn the following sentence into reported speech: (0.5 points)James said: "People have died here."
12) Turn the following sentence into the active voice: (0.5 points)Two children were found near the White Tower.
13) Join the following sentences using an appropriate linker (do not use AND or BUT). Make changes if necessary.Lots of tourists visit that old building every year. It is one of the major attractions in London. (0.5 points)
14) Give a question for the underlined words: (0.5 points)The Tower of London was built in 1066.
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
15) Write a composition (80-100 WORDS) Choose ONE of the following options. Specify your option.a) Should criminals go to prison? Why?b) Do you like horror stories? Explain why.
3)Madrid Shanties
A recent study compiled by the University of Navarre reveals an alarming state of poverty in Madrid and paints a disturbing picture of some 27,000 families residing in extreme poverty today.Representing 1.5 percent of families in the capital, this social group face painful situations, 40 percent of whom are living on less than €360 a month to feed a family of three or more. "We have reached an abhorrent social situation which is unacceptable for the capital of the country," said Miguel Laparra, sociologist and director of the study. On the wider national level, 3 percent of all families are scraping the bottom of the barrel across Spain. There are a number of obstacles against these families, of which one is the rising price of property in Madrid. While housing accounted for 42.3 percent of family income in 1998, last year it had risen to just under 50 percent, and continues to climb. Subsequently, a large number of families are dependent on inherited homes, rented accommodation with long leases or social housing. And 5,411 families are confined to chabolas, or shantytowns, on the outskirts of the city where social problems abound.The study also reveals that 85,000 families, or 5.5 percent, suffer labour exclusion where no member of the family is in employment, or few with temporary work. And that situation is underlined by the state of education. Approximately 75,400 of those over the age of 16 are illiterate. Of the school-going age (six to 16 years), 1,617 do not attend school. And of the over-16 age bracket, 7,900 have given up on an education for the future. Of the 80,000 of our poorest citizens, 25,000 are children who face a dark future with little chance of escaping the cycle of poverty.For this group living on the other side of the social border today, 11,000 receive a government subsidy of €258. But the remaining 16,000 are not eligible for public aid , despite their obvious needs.While current legislation only grants subsidies in accordance with its social integration programmes, where suitable recipients undergo are given training and are sent back to work plans, the new guidelines, due to take effect next January, will directly reach out to those in economic need in attempt to eradicate the situation of poverty that is affecting so many at present.
1. Look for a word in the text similar in meaning to the following words.
Worrying without basic education
Increasing have abandoned
Therefore official financial help
Marginal suburbs of big cities eliminate
2. Answer the following sentences about the passage using your own words.
1. Does Madrid have a normal number of poor people, according to the author? Why?
2. What is the situation of these families, in general terms? Housing, employment, education.
3. How do government subsidies work? What is going to change in the future ?
3. Explain in your own words:
1. Scraping the bottom of the barrel
2. Cycle of poverty
4. Are the following sentences true or false, according to the passage.
1. Little more than €360 is needed to raise a family of three or more.
2. Poverty outside big cities is a worrying issue.
3. Paying for their homes takes most of the families' income.
4. Most children finish their studies.
5. A great majority of poor people manage to overcome their situation.
5. Write about 100 words about the following subject:
"Big cities are the main focus of poverty for some obvious reasons."
Forget the traditional Valentine card message; love is not forever. In fact, for most people, it lasts no more than 30 months. After that, according to research on the nature of romance, couples have to choose between breaking up and deciding that they are easy enough with each other to stay together.
The conclusions of Professor Cindy Hazan, Cornell University, based on 5,000 interviews across 37 cultures and medical tests on couples challenge the romantic ideal, suggesting instead that men and women are biojogically and mentally predisposed to be "in love" for only 18-30 months. That is just long enough for a couple to meet, mate, and produce a child. There is evidence that what we call love is created by a chemical cocktail in the brain. Some chemicals are registered together only during the initial stages of a relationship. But even the most ardent lovers develop a tolerance to the effects of these chemicals, as a drunk person becomes immune to a single glass of alcohol. Love becomes a habit, especially if there are children. The study also indicates that most men fall in love more quickly and easily than women and most relationships are terminated by women. This suggests that women are less addicted to the cocktail of love.
Read the complete text from the Sunday Times
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1 -2 ACCORDING TO THE I NFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USEYOUR OWN WORDS. (1 point per answer)
1) How was the evidence for this study obtained?
2) Why does love only last between 18 and 30 months?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS ORPHRASES FROM THE TEXT. (0.5 points per answer
3) All couples break up after 30 months.
4) Men and women always decide when to fall in love.
5) The cocktail of love is more effective if there are children.
6) Women fall in love more slowly than men.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Find in the text the word which has the following definition: (0.25 points)"that cannot be affected by a particular illness" (adjective)
8) Find in the text one opposite for COLD (adjective). (0.25 points)
9) Which word is not an ADVERB? (0.25 points) QUICKL y FAST -LONEL y EASILY
10) Give an adjective with the same root as FORGET (verb) (line 1). (025 points)
11) Turn the following sentence into reported speech: (0.5 points) The film star said: "I fell in love last summer."
12) Turn the following sentence into the passive voice: (0.5 points) Many adults are reading Harry Potter's books
13) Complete the following conditional sentence. (0.5 points) If I had studied psychology ...
14) Join the following sentences using a relative pronoun. Make changes if necessary. (0.5 points) Van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime. His works are worth millions.
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
14) WRITE A COMPOSITION (80-100 WORDS). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.
a) Different attitudes of men and women towards love.
b) Do you think your love will last longer than 30 months? Why?
2)THE TOWER OF LONDON
Ghosts are said to appear in James's home repeatedly, but he hasn't seen one yet. "People have died here," says the 15-year-old boy from London. James's father is a guard at the Tower of London, a former castle, prison, and execution place that was built in 1066 by William the Conqueror. And his family lives there!Today the Tower serves as a tourist attraction as well as a home to the guards and their families. The Tower is most famous for the prisoners who lost their lives there-and who supposedly still appear on the Tower grounds. At just 16, Lady Jane Grey was dethroned in 1553 after only a nine-day reign, and then her head was cut off by the new queen. In 1483 two young princes named Edward and Richard mysteriously disappeared. Almost 200 years later bones of two children were found near the White Tower.The Tower of London is not just home to ghost stories and bloody legends. There are large birds called ravens living there. Despite looking a bit frightening, the ravens are an important part of the Tower's legends. "If the ravens leave the Tower," says James, "then the White Tower-and the monarchy-will disintegrate."But while the ravens are real, James still isn't convinced ghosts live in the Tower.
(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)
a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS.
1) Why does the Tower of London have a reputation for being home to ghosts? (1 point per answer)
2) What is the connection between the bones found near the White Tower and the two young princes?
b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.
3) Most of the Tower fame is due to its old age. (0.5 points per answer)
4) Nowadays the Tower is only used as a tourist attraction.
5) According to a legend, ravens living in the Tower are related to the monarchy.
6) James is not certain that ghosts really inhabit the Tower.
(B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
7) Give one synonym for REPEATEDLY (adverb) (line 1) (0.25 points)
8) Find in the text one opposite for EARLIER (adverb) (0.25 points)
9) Give a noun with the same root as APPEAR (verb) (line 5) (0.25 points)
10) Find in the text the word which has the following definition: (0.25 points)"remove a king/queen from their position of power" (verb)
11) Turn the following sentence into reported speech: (0.5 points)James said: "People have died here."
12) Turn the following sentence into the active voice: (0.5 points)Two children were found near the White Tower.
13) Join the following sentences using an appropriate linker (do not use AND or BUT). Make changes if necessary.Lots of tourists visit that old building every year. It is one of the major attractions in London. (0.5 points)
14) Give a question for the underlined words: (0.5 points)The Tower of London was built in 1066.
(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)
15) Write a composition (80-100 WORDS) Choose ONE of the following options. Specify your option.a) Should criminals go to prison? Why?b) Do you like horror stories? Explain why.
3)Madrid Shanties
A recent study compiled by the University of Navarre reveals an alarming state of poverty in Madrid and paints a disturbing picture of some 27,000 families residing in extreme poverty today.Representing 1.5 percent of families in the capital, this social group face painful situations, 40 percent of whom are living on less than €360 a month to feed a family of three or more. "We have reached an abhorrent social situation which is unacceptable for the capital of the country," said Miguel Laparra, sociologist and director of the study. On the wider national level, 3 percent of all families are scraping the bottom of the barrel across Spain. There are a number of obstacles against these families, of which one is the rising price of property in Madrid. While housing accounted for 42.3 percent of family income in 1998, last year it had risen to just under 50 percent, and continues to climb. Subsequently, a large number of families are dependent on inherited homes, rented accommodation with long leases or social housing. And 5,411 families are confined to chabolas, or shantytowns, on the outskirts of the city where social problems abound.The study also reveals that 85,000 families, or 5.5 percent, suffer labour exclusion where no member of the family is in employment, or few with temporary work. And that situation is underlined by the state of education. Approximately 75,400 of those over the age of 16 are illiterate. Of the school-going age (six to 16 years), 1,617 do not attend school. And of the over-16 age bracket, 7,900 have given up on an education for the future. Of the 80,000 of our poorest citizens, 25,000 are children who face a dark future with little chance of escaping the cycle of poverty.For this group living on the other side of the social border today, 11,000 receive a government subsidy of €258. But the remaining 16,000 are not eligible for public aid , despite their obvious needs.While current legislation only grants subsidies in accordance with its social integration programmes, where suitable recipients undergo are given training and are sent back to work plans, the new guidelines, due to take effect next January, will directly reach out to those in economic need in attempt to eradicate the situation of poverty that is affecting so many at present.
1. Look for a word in the text similar in meaning to the following words.
Worrying without basic education
Increasing have abandoned
Therefore official financial help
Marginal suburbs of big cities eliminate
2. Answer the following sentences about the passage using your own words.
1. Does Madrid have a normal number of poor people, according to the author? Why?
2. What is the situation of these families, in general terms? Housing, employment, education.
3. How do government subsidies work? What is going to change in the future ?
3. Explain in your own words:
1. Scraping the bottom of the barrel
2. Cycle of poverty
4. Are the following sentences true or false, according to the passage.
1. Little more than €360 is needed to raise a family of three or more.
2. Poverty outside big cities is a worrying issue.
3. Paying for their homes takes most of the families' income.
4. Most children finish their studies.
5. A great majority of poor people manage to overcome their situation.
5. Write about 100 words about the following subject:
"Big cities are the main focus of poverty for some obvious reasons."
Comentarios