textos selectividad 10-14 octubre

OPTION A: “Bullying at school”

For some time, Johnny, a quiet 13-year-old, was a human toy for some of his classmates. He was constantly forced to give them his money, and beaten up in the toilets. When Johnny’s torturers were interrogated about the bullying, they said they abused him because “it was fun”.

Unfortunately, bullying among schoolchildren is certainly an old phenomenon, and most adults have experienced some form of mild abuse in their schooldays; but this was not considered such a big problem, and therefore authorities did not think that measures had to be taken. It was only in the early 1970s that it began to be made the object of systematic research.

A broad definition of bullying is when a student is repeatedly exposed to negative actions on the part of one or more other students. These negative actions can take the form of physical contact, verbal abuse, or making faces and rude gestures. Spreading rumours and excluding the victim from a group are also common forms.

A recent survey shows that around 15% of pupils in primary and secondary schools are involved in bully/victim problems with some regularity, and there are indications that the level of bullying is rising every year.

Several studies about the characteristics and family backgrounds of victims and bullies suggest that bullying has to be seen as a component of more generally antisocial behaviour; former school bullies are more likely than other pupils to engage in serious crime later in their lives.

These studies have identified certain personality characteristics and typical reaction patterns, which usually vary according to the level of physical strength or weakness, especially in the case of boys. An aggressive social environment also influences the extent to which these problems will manifest themselves in schools.

Governments and school authorities have an important role to play, and bully/victim problems have gradually been placed on formal school agendas in many countries.

Can bullying be stopped? Bullying is a big problem in schools, but most studies suggest that, with a suitable intervention programme, it is possible to reduce it considerably; it is primarily a question of changing attitudes, knowledge, behaviour and habits in school life, rather than using disciplinary measures.

I * COMPREHENSION (4 points: questions 1-3, 1 point each; 4-5, 0.5 points each) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-3 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS.

Is bullying restricted to physical abuse? Explain.

According to studies, what factors may contribute to the existence of bullying?

Are disciplinary measures the most recommended way of dealing with bullies?

1 2 3 ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH THE PRECISE WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT, OR USE YOUR OWN WORDS.

“Bullying started in 1970”.

“School bullies can become criminals as adults”.

II 6 7 8 9 10 TURN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE INTO THE PASSIVE VOICE:

“They have just told me the truth.”

11 COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONAL SENTENCE:“If I had been bullied at school I ..... “.

12 GIVE A QUESTION FOR THE UNDERLINED WORDS: “Most employees earn ␣250 a week”.

* USE OF ENGLISH (3 points; questions 6-9, 0.25 points each; 10-13, 0.5 points each)

FIND IN THE TEXT ONE OPPOSITE FOR “narrow” “(ADJECTIVE).

WHICH WORD IS NOT AN ADVERB?: Fast / likely / friendly / slowly.

FIND IN THE TEXT THE WORD WHICH HAS THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION: “correct or appropriate”.

FILL IN THE GAP WITH THE CORRECT OPTION: “I travel to London ...... often.” Much / quiet / quite / many.

13 FILL IN THE GAP WITH THE CORRECT OPTION: “He was annoyed because he ...... by his classmates.” Was laughing at / Was being laughed at / Was being laughed of.

III * PRODUCTION (3 points) 14 WRITE A COMPOSITION OF APPROXIMATELY 120 WORDS. CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS, AND FOCUS STRICTLY ON IT. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.

A) “I spent some of the best days of my life at school”. Is that true for you?

B) “School violence is a serious problem in schools”. Discuss.

.

OPTION B: “Aðordable, accessible coverage options for all”

1. Barack Obama will guarantee aðordable, accessible health care coverage for all Americans. Currently, there are 2. over 45 million Americans who lack health insurance, and millions more are at risk of losing their coverage due to 3. rising costs. Rising costs are also a problem for employers, particularly small businesses, which are increasingly 4. unable to provide health insurance coverage for their employees and be competitive at the same time. 5. Nowadays, fewer Americans receive health insurance coverage through their employers compared to eight 6. years ago, and this trend shows no sign of slowing down. Buying insurance directly on the open market is simply 7. too expensive for individuals and families and it is certainly impossible for many people already suðering from 8. some disease. 9. The Obama plan is based on, and an improvement of, the current insurance system, which most Americans 10. continue to rely on, and leaves Medicare intact for older and disabled Americans. Under the Obama plan, 11. Americans will be able to maintain their current coverage, have access to new aðordable options, and see the 12. quality of their health care improve and their costs go down. 13. The Obama plan intends to provide new, aðordable health insurance options by taking a series of steps. For 14. instance, it will require insurance companies to cover any present diseases which the individual may have so that 15. all Americans, no matter their health status or medical history, can get full benefits at fair costs. It will also require 16. all large employers to contribute towards health coverage for their own employees or towards the public plan. 17. Another requirement which this plan will involve concerns children: they all must have health care coverage. 18. However, the American government must revise and prioritize the rest of its policies (including agricultural, 19. educational and environmental policies), to improve their eðect on public health in the United States, to ensure a 20. 21st century public health system and a healthy America.

I * COMPREHENSION (4 points: questions 1-3, 1 point each; 4-5, 0.5 points each) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-3 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS.

1 What are the eðects of more and more expensive health insurance in America today?

2 What will the Obama plan force health insurance companies to do?

3. Can Obama’s plan be carried out without taking other policies into account? Explain.

ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH THE PRECISE WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT, OR USE YOUR OWN WORDS

4. More and more Americans are receiving medical insurance coverage through their employers.

5. The Obama plan will mean cancelling the medical coverage which people have now.

II 6 7 8 9 10 FILL IN THE GAP WITH A CORRECT FORM OF THE VERB IN BRACKETS: “When he called me on the phone I ...... (drive).” 11 TURN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE INTO REPORTED SPEECH: “The doctor said: ‘Don’t take another pill until tomorrow’”.

12 JOIN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES USING AN APPROPRIATE LINKER (DO NOT USE AND, BUT, OR BECAUSE). MAKE CHANGES IF NECESSARY: “She has

* USE OF ENGLISH (3 points; questions 6-9, 0.25 points each; 10-13, 0.5 points each)

FIND IN THE TEXT ONE SYNONYM FOR “choice” (NOUN).

WHICH WORD DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME MEANING?: Give / improve / supply / provide.

FIND IN THE TEXT THE WORD WHICH HAS THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION: “not to have; to be deficient or in need of” (VERB). FILL IN THE GAP WITH A CORRECT ADVERB: “Never give ......; you can do it!”

been working really hard for years. Now she owns her own business”.

13 GIVE A QUESTION FOR THE UNDERLINED WORDS: “I have very little money in my wallet”.

III * PRODUCTION (3 points) 14 WRITE A COMPOSITION OF APPROXIMATELY 120 WORDS. CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS, AND FOCUS STRICTLY ON IT. SPECIFY YOUR OPTION.

A) ”Everybody should have the right to enjoy medical insurance no matter their financial status.” Discuss. B) What do you think you could do in your daily routine to have a healthy lifestyle?