textos de selectividad del 31 al 4 noviembre

Text 1

Compulsive shopping

A new illness, the Compulsive Buying Disorder, has been diagnosed. Its symptoms are frequent thoughts of shopping, experiencing senseless impulses to purchase unneeded items, and overspending to the extent that it harms relationships or job performance. A recent survey has found that one in twenty American adults buy things they may not even want or need. In today’s world of consumerism, where we are constantly bombarded by ads, this is perhaps not unusual. But more surprising is a further finding that runs counter to the conventional and rather stereotyped view that compulsive buying is very much a “woman's disease”: men are just as likely as women to suffer from compulsive buying. Gone seem to be the days when women dragged their bored men around shopping malls.

Researchers say that the number of men who indulge in unnecessary shopping has rocketed. Experts claim that past trends and figures may have been unfairly distorted as male obsessive shoppers used to be more reluctant than women to recognize that they have a problem, admit it, and seek help. While women buy more clothing and products that improve appearance, men tend to focus more on gadgets and technical items and can become compulsive collectors.

And help seems to be exactly what the doctor orders for any compulsive shopper who is usually not made any happier by his or her relentless buying. Doctors have concluded that this behaviour is a way for people to try to complete themselves. For some people, being complete is being impeccably dressed or having something new. Instead, medical practitioners encourage those seeking treatment to cultivate non-materialistic aspects of their lives.

QUESTIONS

1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. a. According to the survey, women are more compulsive shoppers than men. b. Experts believe that buying is a form of self-realization for compulsive shoppers.

(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. a. How does the text describe a compulsive consumer? b. What are the differences between male and female compulsive buyers?

(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

3. Find the words in the text that mean:

a. result (paragraph 1) b. increased (paragraph 2) c. tendencies (paragraph 2) d. looking for (paragraph 3) (Puntuación máxima 1 punto)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given. a. As a result of too much shopping, some anxiety or depression may ______ (experience) and this might interfere _____ work or school performance.

b. Contrary to the general idea that shopping is a ladies’ habit, men are now ______ (admit) that they also have this problem, and they even ask ____ some help. c. Doctors suggest that compulsive shoppers ______ cultivate more spiritual aspects of their lives, rather ______ buying material things to complete themselves.

Rewrite the following in reported speech. d. Yesterday the salesman said to me: “Don’t pay now”.

(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

5. Write about 100 to 150 words on one of the following topics.

a. Do you ever buy things that you don’t need? Why? b. The Compulsive Buying Disorder has become worse with the arrival of online shopping and television programmes devoted to buying goods 24 hours a day.

Discuss. (Puntuación máxima 3 puntos)mpulsive buying is very much a “woman's disease”: men are just as likely as women to suffer from compulsive buying. Gone seem to be the days when women dragged their bored men around shopping malls.

Researchers say that the number of men who indulge in unnecessary shopping has rocketed. Experts claim that past trends and figures may have been unfairly distorted as male obsessive shoppers used to be more reluctant than women to recognize that they have a problem, admit it, and seek help. While women buy more clothing and products that improve appearance, men tend to focus more on gadgets and technical items and can become compulsive collectors.

And help seems to be exactly what the doctor orders for any compulsive shopper who is usually not made any happier by his or her relentless buying. Doctors have concluded that this behaviour is a way for people to try to complete themselves. For some people, being complete is being impeccably dressed or having something new. Instead, medical practitioners encourage those seeking treatment to cultivate non-materialistic aspects of their lives.

QUESTIONS

1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. a. According to the survey, women are more compulsive shoppers than men. b. Experts believe that buying is a form of self-realization for compulsive shoppers.

(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. a. How does the text describe a compulsive consumer? b. What are the differences between male and female compulsive buyers?

(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

3. Find the words in the text that mean:

a. result (paragraph 1) b. increased (paragraph 2) c. tendencies (paragraph 2) d. looking for (paragraph 3) (Puntuación máxima 1 punto)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given. a. As a result of too much shopping, some anxiety or depression may ______ (experience) and this might interfere _____ work or school performance.

b. Contrary to the general idea that shopping is a ladies’ habit, men are now ______ (admit) that they also have this problem, and they even ask ____ some help. c. Doctors suggest that compulsive shoppers ______ cultivate more spiritual aspects of their lives, rather ______ buying material things to complete themselves.

Rewrite the following in reported speech. d. Yesterday the salesman said to me: “Don’t pay now”.

(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

5. Write about 100 to 150 words on one of the following topics.

a. Do you ever buy things that you don’t need? Why? b. The Compulsive Buying Disorder has become worse with the arrival of online shopping and television programmes devoted to buying goods 24 hours a da

text 2

Smart shoes

A clever invention by a British student may be the answer to parents’ concerns about their increasingly obese children. The invention is a shoe, nicknamed “Square-Eyes”, that contains a tiny computer chip to record how many steps the wearer has taken in a day. A wireless transmitter passes the information to a receiver connected to the television, and this decides how much viewing time the wearer deserves. The recommended average of 12,000 steps a day equates to a maximum of two hours of viewing time. Once the allocated time in front of the box has expired, the TV automatically switches off and the child must go out to play if he wants to earn more time.

The expression “square-eyes” has long been a term associated with sedentary children who are exposed to too much television. This new device reverses this association by promoting active lifestyles for kids. The designer of the device, Gillian Swan, hopes her invention will mean healthier children who include exercise in their daily routines from an early age. She said: “Today's children are exposed to a huge offer of television programmes and children's channels. Ten years ago, children were entertained by playing games with their friends, but now they’re in their bedrooms watching hours of television programmes.”

According to Swan, “While children may find that two hours of TV is not especially generous, it will hopefully raise awareness among family members of their sedentary lifestyle and bring about a change in behaviour.” Some researchers believe the invention is at the vanguard of computer-integrated clothing which will allow clothes to monitor our health.

QUESTIONS

1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. a. The term “square-eyes” refers only to a new invention. b. Some experts think that the smart shoes are the first of a new type of products that will help us control our physical condition.

(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. a. How does this new invention control children’s television viewing time? b. How may “Square-Eyes” benefit both children and their families, in Swan’s opinion? (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

3. Find the words in the text that mean:

a. worries (paragraph 1) b. ended (paragraph 1) c. mechanism (paragraph 2) d. cause (paragraph 3) (Puntuación máxima 1 punto)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given. a. The _____ (easy) way to prevent children _____ watching too much television is to keep them busy with other interesting activities. b. The television, _____ was invented many years ago, has both positive and negative aspects. c. Because _____ poor eating habits and too much television, the number of obese children _____ (increase) in the last few years d. Ann enjoys _____ (watch) her favourite TV programmes for hours. Afterwards she always _____ (try) to exercise more. Last year she _____ (spend) 200€ at a gym.

(Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

5. Write about 100 to 150 words on one of the following topics.

a. Discuss the negative and the positive aspects of television. b. Do you think parents should control the number of hours their children watch TV? Explain.