Examen Resuelto Selectividad EVAU UCLM Inglés 2023/2024

TEXT 1: How to learn to live without a face mask

PART I. READING COMPREHENSION (2 POINTS)

1. According to some authors, a habit can be created in 21 days.

• TRUE. "A habit can become established after three weeks of daily practice, as some authors claim".
• Reasoning: The text explicitly states the claim made by some authors that a habit can be formed in 21 days, which directly supports the statement.

2. Distress has nothing to do with our alarm system.

• FALSE. "This case of negative stress causes the constant activation of our alarm system".
• Reasoning: The text defines negative stress as a factor that constantly activates our alarm system, indicating a direct relationship between distress and the alarm system.

3. Taking off the masks in closed spaces will be the same for everybody.

• FALSE. "Those with phobias will have more problems taking off their masks, especially in closed spaces".
• Reasoning: The text indicates that individuals with phobias will face more difficulties when removing masks in closed spaces, implying that the experience will not be uniform for everyone.

4. If we continue trapped by fear, we won’t enjoy life.

• TRUE. "If we continue trapped by fear, we won’t enjoy life".
• Reasoning: The text directly states that being trapped by fear prevents the enjoyment of life, validating the statement.

A. LEXICON (1 POINT)

1. Saying hello:

• Greeting.
• Reasoning: "Greeting each other with our elbows" is mentioned as a way people have adapted to social interactions during the pandemic. "Greeting" is the action of saying hello or welcoming someone.

2. Anxiety, agony:

• Distress.
• Reasoning: "Permanent state of distress" is described as a consequence of the pandemic. "Distress" refers to a state of extreme sorrow, suffering, or pain, similar to anxiety or agony.

3. Afflictions, dysfunctions:

• Disorders.
• Reasoning: The text discusses the necessity of paying attention to "disorders" such as insomnia, general anxiety, and hypochondria. "Disorders" are disturbances to the normal or healthy functioning of the body or mind, aligning with afflictions or dysfunctions.

4. Continue:

• Remain.
• Reasoning: "That alarm will remain active" indicates that the alarm system will continue to be active. "Remain" means to continue to exist or to stay in the same state.

B. PHONETICS (1 POINT)

1. Write a word from the text that includes the sound /i:/

• "Three"
• Reasoning: The word "three" contains the long vowel sound /i:/, as in "see" or "meet".

2. How is the "u" pronounced in "hug"? /u:/, /ʌ/, or /ʊ/?

• /ʌ/
• Reasoning: In the word "hug", the "u" is pronounced as /ʌ/, the short vowel sound found in words like "cup" or "but".

3. How is the "s" pronounced in "lips"? /s/, /z/, or /ɪz/?

• /s/
• Reasoning: The final "s" in "lips" is pronounced as /s/, the voiceless alveolar fricative, because it follows the voiceless consonant /p/.

4. How is the "ed" pronounced in "complicated"? /t/, /d/, or /ɪd/?

• /ɪd/
• Reasoning: The "ed" in "complicated" is pronounced as /ɪd/ because the base word "complicate" ends in a /t/ sound. When the final sound of the base word is /t/ or /d/, the "ed" is pronounced as a separate syllable /ɪd/.

PART II. USE OF ENGLISH (3 POINTS)

1. It’s a pity I don’t go home more often.

• I wish I went home more often.
• Reasoning: The original sentence expresses regret about not going home frequently. Using "I wish" introduces a hypothetical situation that is contrary to the present reality, indicating a desire for a different situation.

2. “When did Susan finish her degree?” he asked.

• He asked when Susan had finished her degree.
• Reasoning: This transformation changes a direct question into reported speech. In reported speech, the tense of the verb usually shifts back in time, so "did finish" becomes "had finished".

3. I regret not telling the truth.

• I wish I had told the truth.
• Reasoning: Similar to the first sentence, "I wish" is used to express regret about a past action. The past perfect tense "had told" is used to refer to an action that should have happened before another action in the past.

4. Despite working in a Spanish company, John doesn’t speak Spanish.

• Although John works in a Spanish company, he doesn't speak Spanish.
• Reasoning: "Despite" and "although" are both used to show contrast. The sentence is restructured to use "although" while maintaining the original meaning.

5. The town council has rebuilt a park. I used to play there.

• The town council has rebuilt a park where I used to play.
• Reasoning: The two sentences are combined using the relative pronoun "where" to connect the park with the action of playing there.

6. As you didn’t pay attention, you made a lot of mistakes.

• If you had paid attention, you wouldn't have made a lot of mistakes.
• Reasoning: This transforms the original sentence into a conditional sentence. It expresses a hypothetical situation in the past using the third conditional structure.

7. A lot of people watched the film.

• The film was watched by a lot of people.
• Reasoning: This changes the sentence from active voice to passive voice. In passive voice, the object of the action becomes the subject.

8. “I have met many interesting people in this course”, Mary said.

• Mary said that she had met many interesting people in that course.
• Reasoning: This is another example of reported speech. The tense shifts back ("have met" to "had met"), and "this" changes to "that" to reflect the change in perspective.

9. Mark won’t get the job if he doesn’t speak politely to customers.

• Unless Mark speaks politely to customers, he won't get the job.
• Reasoning: "Unless" is used to express a condition and is equivalent to "if...not". The sentence is restructured to use "unless" while preserving the original meaning.

10. George hasn’t eaten meat for five years.

• George stopped eating meat five years ago.
• Reasoning: The sentence is rewritten to express the same idea using a different verb and time expression. "Stopped eating" indicates the beginning of the period during which George hasn't eaten meat.

11. It’s a pity I don’t go home more often.

• I wish I went home more often.
• Reasoning: I reused the sentence 1 because they are the same. The original sentence expresses regret about not going home frequently. Using "I wish" introduces a hypothetical situation that is contrary to the present reality, indicating a desire for a different situation.

12. That boy is Tom Smith. He plays basketball in the local team.

• That boy is Tom Smith, who plays basketball in the local team.
• Reasoning: The two sentences are combined using the relative pronoun "who" to connect Tom Smith with the action of playing basketball.

TEXT 2: Music tastes and personality

PART I. READING COMPREHENSION (2 POINTS)

1. Extrovert people in the UK may like Ed Sheeran’s songs as much as those in Argentina.

• TRUE. "An international study has suggested that people with similar personality traits are likely to enjoy the same genre of music. The research by Cambridge University, which covered 350,000 participants from more than 50 countries across six continents, found that those with a similar personality tended to enjoy the same type of music. Ed Sheeran’s songs are as likely to appeal to outgoing people living in the UK as those in Argentina and India".
• Reasoning: The text directly supports this statement by indicating that Ed Sheeran's songs are equally likely to appeal to outgoing people in the UK, Argentina, and India due to similar personality traits across these regions.

2. In the study, they discovered that the links between music and personality were repeated around the world.

• TRUE. "We found that these patterns between music and personality replicated across the globe".
• Reasoning: The text explicitly states that the patterns linking music and personality were found to be consistent across the globe, which confirms the statement.

3. People who live in countries with hot weather are more likely to enjoy danceable music.

• TRUE. "The link between being an outgoing person and preferring upbeat music was also found to be especially strong around the equator, particularly in Central and South America. Researchers believe this could be down to climatic factors that influence musical preferences, and that people in warmer climates tend to enjoy more rhythmic music you can dance to".
• Reasoning: The text specifies that the connection between being outgoing and preferring upbeat, danceable music is particularly strong near the equator, especially in Central and South America, due to climatic factors.

4. Neurotic listeners preferred intense music as it reflects their good mood.

• FALSE. "Contrary, neurotic participants tended to prefer more intense music, which Dr Greenberg suspects reflects 'their inner frustration'".
• Reasoning: The text contradicts this statement. It indicates that neurotic individuals prefer intense music because it reflects their inner frustration, not a good mood.

A. LEXICON (1 POINT)

1. Attract:

• Appeal.
• Reasoning: "Ed Sheeran’s songs are as likely to appeal to outgoing people". "Appeal" in this context means to attract or interest someone.

2. Optimistic:

• Upbeat.
• Reasoning: "A preference for contemporary, optimistic music". "Upbeat" is used to describe music that is positive and cheerful, similar to optimistic.

3. Confusing:

• Puzzling.
• Reasoning: "One finding proved to be somewhat puzzling". "Puzzling" means causing confusion or being difficult to understand.

4. Characteristics:

• Traits.
• Reasoning: "People with similar personality traits". "Traits" are distinguishing qualities or characteristics, typically belonging to a person.

B. PHONETICS (1 POINT)

1. What vowel sound can you find in “world”? /ɜː/, /ɔː/, or /ʊ/?

• /ɜː/
• Reasoning: The word "world" contains the vowel sound /ɜː/, which is a long vowel sound found in words like "bird" or "fur".

2. How is the "ed" pronounced in "covered"? /t/, /d/, or /ɪd/?

• /d/
• Reasoning: In "covered", the "ed" is pronounced as /d/ because the base word "cover" ends in a voiced sound (/ə/).

3. How is the "i" pronounced in "likely"? /aɪ/, /i:/, or /ɪ/?

• /aɪ/
• Reasoning: The "i" in "likely" is pronounced as the diphthong /aɪ/, the same sound found in words like "like" or "time".

4. How is the final "s" pronounced in "participants"? /s/, /z/, or /ɪz/?

• /s/
• Reasoning: The final "s" in "participants" is pronounced as /s/ because it follows the voiceless consonant /t/.