Examen Resuelto Prueba de Acceso UCM Inglés 2024

1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos.)

a)  **FALSE.**
    **Evidence:** "But lately there has been **growing** scientific evidence attesting to the fact that music can be positive for our health, too."
    **Reasoning:** The statement claims that scientific evidence has *diminished*, but the text explicitly states that this evidence has been *growing* lately. The word "growing" directly contradicts "diminished".

b)  **TRUE.**
    **Evidence:** "Helen Smith was a **harpist** who decided to leave her long-time job to become a music therapist."
    **Reasoning:** The text identifies Helen Smith as a "harpist" before she became a music therapist. A harpist is a type of musician, therefore the statement that she worked as a musician before her career change is true, as supported by the evidence provided.

2. Find a synonym in the text for the following words or phrases. (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto.)

a)  **heartache**
    **Reasoning:** In the first paragraph, the text describes weeping along with a singer expressing "heartache". In this context, "heartache" refers to deep emotional pain or sorrow, which is synonymous with "suffering".

b)  **easy-going**
    **Reasoning:** The third paragraph describes Helen Smith's interaction with patients, stating "She’s easy-going with patients." This term implies she is relaxed, adaptable, and not strict, which aligns with the meaning of "flexible" in the context of her approach to therapy sessions.

3. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer this question. (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto.)

**What was the conclusion of the 2018 Spanish study about music therapy?**

**Answer:** The 2018 Spanish study concluded that patients who participated in a music therapy program experienced an improvement in their overall sense of well-being.
**Reasoning:** The text states that this study "found that patients taking part in a music-therapy programme experienced an increase in feelings of wellbeing." My answer accurately reflects this finding using different wording ("improvement in their overall sense of well-being" instead of "increase in feelings of wellbeing") as required by the instruction to use my own words, demonstrating comprehension of the study's outcome.

4. Follow the instructions for each part of this question. (Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos.)

a)  **Rewrite this sentence using reported speech:**
    “When will your article appear in the newspaper?” Ellen asked Michael.
    **Answer:** Ellen asked Michael when his article would appear in the newspaper.
    **Reasoning:** To convert this direct question into reported speech:
    1.  The reporting verb "asked" remains.
    2.  The question word "When" serves as the conjunction.
    3.  The subject ("your article") changes perspective ("his article", referring to Michael's).
    4.  The verb tense shifts back ("will appear" becomes "would appear").
    5.  The word order changes from interrogative to affirmative (subject + verb: "his article would appear").

b)  **Fill in the blanks with the correct word:**
    If you cannot make sense _______ the text, the first thing you should do is to look _______ in a dictionary the words you aren’t familiar with.
    **Answer:** If you cannot make sense **of** the text, the first thing you should do is to look **up** in a dictionary the words you aren’t familiar with.
    **Reasoning:**
    1.  The idiom "make sense **of** something" means to understand something. Therefore, "of" is the correct preposition after "sense".
    2.  The phrasal verb "look **up** something (in a dictionary/book)" means to search for information. Therefore, "up" is the correct particle to use with "look" in this context.

c)  **Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets:**
    Helen regrets _______ (not study) harder at Law School. She could be _______ (work) now at one of top law firms in the country.
    **Answer:** Helen regrets **not studying** harder at Law School. She could be **working** now at one of top law firms in the country.
    **Reasoning:**
    1.  The verb "regret" when followed by an action in the past uses the gerund (-ing form). To express regret about *not* doing something, the structure is "regret + not + gerund". Therefore, "not study" becomes "not studying".
    2.  The modal verb "could" followed by "be" indicates a possibility. To express a possible ongoing action *now*, the structure is "could be + present participle (-ing form)". Therefore, "work" becomes "working".

5. Write about 80 to 100 words on the following topic. (Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos).

**Should students get more hours of music education at schools? Discuss.**

**Answer:** Increasing the hours dedicated to music education in schools warrants serious consideration due to its numerous benefits. As suggested by studies showing music's positive impact on well-being and stress reduction, incorporating more music could improve students' emotional health. Furthermore, learning music often enhances cognitive skills like memory and concentration, potentially boosting academic performance in other areas. It also fosters creativity and discipline. However, schools face challenges like packed curricula and limited resources. A balanced approach might involve integrating music more creatively across subjects or offering enhanced extracurricular options, rather than simply adding mandatory hours, ensuring its benefits are accessible without overburdening the standard schedule. Ultimately, acknowledging music's value suggests that exploring ways to increase its presence is worthwhile for holistic student development.
**Reasoning:** The response addresses the question by discussing both the advantages of more music education (emotional health, cognitive skills, creativity, discipline, linking implicitly to the text's theme) and the potential challenges (curriculum constraints, resources). It proposes a balanced perspective and offers potential solutions (integration, extracurriculars), fulfilling the "Discuss" requirement. The language used is appropriate for the expected level, and the length is within the specified range (99 words). The structure includes an introduction, discussion of pros and cons, and a concluding thought, demonstrating coherence and organization.