Examen de Inglés PAU Andalucía 2013 · Extraordinaria Reserva A

OPTION A: “The Ig Nobel awards, honouring improbable research”

1 The Ig Nobel awards, organised by the humour magazine Annals of Improbable Research, are a parody of the Nobel

2 Prizes. They honour achievements that “first make people laugh, and then make them think”. However, despite the

3 strangeness factor, these awards are handed out by genuine Nobel laureates, and one scientist, Andre Geim, has been

4 awarded a Nobel Prize after having been given an Ig Nobel Prize.

5 The 2012 laureates for the Ig Nobel Prize in physics are a team of scientists who studied the shape and movement of

6 ponytails. Raymond Goldstein, a physicist at the University of Cambridge, was set the challenge of considering the

7 movement of ponytails by the company Unilever. “This might be interesting,” said Goldstein, “for people who want more

8 energy-efficient homes which minimise heat loss through walls and roofs.”

9 He was honoured alongside Rouslan Krechetnikov’s team, who carried out research into why you usually drop coffee

10 when walking around with a cup. Krechetnikov was inspired at a scientific conference while watching delegates walking

11 carefully with mugs full of hot drinks. He noted that “the sizes of common coffee cups, together with the natural irregularity of

12 the biomechanics of walking, are responsible for coffee spilling.”

13 He had no idea, of course, of the attention his work would get. “Personally, this goes along with my view of science –

14 there should be a fun side to it. The project was certainly fun,” he said. “There are many people who are curious not only

15 about black holes, but also about everyday ordinary phenomena.”

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.

Are there any connections between the Ig Nobel and the real Nobel awards, apart from the parody element? Explain. [1 point]

2.

What can the study of the ponytail be used for? [1 point]

3.

How did Krechetnikov get the idea for his unusual research project? [1 point]

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

4.

Goldstein’s ponytail project wasn’t actually his own idea. [0.5 points]

TRUE

FALSE

5.

The wide impact of Krechetnikov’s research took him by surprise. [0.5 points]

TRUE

FALSE

OPTION A: “The Ig Nobel awards, honouring improbable research”

1 The Ig Nobel awards, organised by the humour magazine Annals of Improbable Research, are a parody of the Nobel

2 Prizes. They honour achievements that “first make people laugh, and then make them think”. However, despite the

3 strangeness factor, these awards are handed out by genuine Nobel laureates, and one scientist, Andre Geim, has been

4 awarded a Nobel Prize after having been given an Ig Nobel Prize.

5 The 2012 laureates for the Ig Nobel Prize in physics are a team of scientists who studied the shape and movement of

6 ponytails. Raymond Goldstein, a physicist at the University of Cambridge, was set the challenge of considering the

7 movement of ponytails by the company Unilever. “This might be interesting,” said Goldstein, “for people who want more

8 energy-efficient homes which minimise heat loss through walls and roofs.”

9 He was honoured alongside Rouslan Krechetnikov’s team, who carried out research into why you usually drop coffee

10 when walking around with a cup. Krechetnikov was inspired at a scientific conference while watching delegates walking

11 carefully with mugs full of hot drinks. He noted that “the sizes of common coffee cups, together with the natural irregularity of

12 the biomechanics of walking, are responsible for coffee spilling.”

13 He had no idea, of course, of the attention his work would get. “Personally, this goes along with my view of science –

14 there should be a fun side to it. The project was certainly fun,” he said. “There are many people who are curious not only

15 about black holes, but also about everyday ordinary phenomena.”

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

6.

FIND IN THE TEXT THE WORD WHICH HAS THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION: “something that is difficult and that tests someone’s ability or determination”. [0.25 points]

7.

GIVE AN ADJECTIVE WITH THE SAME ROOT AS “loss” (noun). [0.25 points]

8.

FILL IN THE GAP WITH THE CORRECT OPTION: How rude! He didn’t even...... at me when he answered. (see / view / look / watch) [0.25 points]

9.

FIND IN THE TEXT ONE SYNONYM FOR “real” (adjective). [0.25 points]

10.

FILL IN THE GAP WITH THE CORRECT FORM OF THE VERB IN BRACKETS: If I.......... (be) you, I wouldn’t put up with that. [0.5 points]

11.

JOIN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES USING A RELATIVE. MAKE CHANGES IF NECESSARY: This is the place. Shakespeare was born here. [0.5 points]

12.

GIVE A QUESTION FOR THE UNDERLINED WORDS: She criticized Nabokov’s novel. [0.5 points]

13.

USE THE WORDS IN THE BOXES TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL SENTENCE. USE ALL AND ONLY THE WORDS IN THE BOXES WITHOUT CHANGING THEIR FORM: [0.5 points]

him

not

to

I

promised

offend

III * PRODUCTION (3 points)

14.

WRITE A COMPOSITION OF APPROXIMATELY 120 WORDS ABOUT THE TOPIC PROPOSED AND FOCUS STRICTLY ON IT:

What kind of prize would you like to win? Explain.

OPTION B: “Time Is Worth More Than Money.”

1 “Today for you, tomorrow for me”, six words that sum up the spirit of an initiative that has appeared in many

2 cities around the world: time banking. There is no money in these peculiar banks. Instead, they offer a variety of services

3 based on the abilities of the members, and they pay with hours, not money. Each client offers their own abilities to the rest of

4 the members and can earn the help of others who want to share what they know. The hours system offers a variety of

5 possibilities, such as advice about investing in the stock exchange, teaching how to cut hair, technology or language classes,

6 and even plumbing.

7 Time banking is different from other community or volunteering projects because everyone’s time is valued equally.

8 The system recognises that everyone has needs and something to offer. When joining a time bank, people agree to both

9 give to and benefit from the project, increasing self-esteem, integration and personal relationships. People are able to access

10 help or services that they may not otherwise be able to afford. It also reduces isolation and loneliness. Everyone benefits

11 from being part of something bigger than themselves.

12 Time banks help build a sense of community where people know neighbours and can rely on each other for support.

13 They bring together people of different ages, cultures, backgrounds and abilities, who interact with each other with mutual

14 respect and understanding.

15 The only objection some people make is that they sometimes have doubts and may feel uncertain of other members’

16 offerings of service. However, in order to overcome this emotion and for security reasons, everyone who wants to become a

17 member is interviewed and must provide references. Those wishing to work with children or vulnerable adults are checked by

18 the police.

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 do members get from these banks instead of money?

2.

In which two ways does time banking differ from other volunteering projects?

3.

Why does time banking make communities better?

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

4.

Time banks can help people with economic difficulties.

TRUE

FALSE

5.

You don't need any special requirements to join a time bank.

TRUE

FALSE

OPTION B: “Time Is Worth More Than Money.”

1 “Today for you, tomorrow for me”, six words that sum up the spirit of an initiative that has appeared in many

2 cities around the world: time banking. There is no money in these peculiar banks. Instead, they offer a variety of services

3 based on the abilities of the members, and they pay with hours, not money. Each client offers their own abilities to the rest of

4 the members and can earn the help of others who want to share what they know. The hours system offers a variety of

5 possibilities, such as advice about investing in the stock exchange, teaching how to cut hair, technology or language classes,

6 and even plumbing.

7 Time banking is different from other community or volunteering projects because everyone’s time is valued equally.

8 The system recognises that everyone has needs and something to offer. When joining a time bank, people agree to both

9 give to and benefit from the project, increasing self-esteem, integration and personal relationships. People are able to access

10 help or services that they may not otherwise be able to afford. It also reduces isolation and loneliness. Everyone benefits

11 from being part of something bigger than themselves.

12 Time banks help build a sense of community where people know neighbours and can rely on each other for support.

13 They bring together people of different ages, cultures, backgrounds and abilities, who interact with each other with mutual

14 respect and understanding.

15 The only objection some people make is that they sometimes have doubts and may feel uncertain of other members’

16 offerings of service. However, in order to overcome this emotion and for security reasons, everyone who wants to become a

17 member is interviewed and must provide references. Those wishing to work with children or vulnerable adults are checked by

18 the police.

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

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

III * PRODUCTION (3 points)

14. WRITE A COMPOSITION OF APPROXIMATELY 120 WORDS ABOUT THE TOPIC PROPOSED AND FOCUS STRICTLY ON IT:

How could you contribute to a time bank or any other volunteering project?