Examen de Inglés PAU Andalucía 2013 · Ordinaria Titular

OPTION A: “Are mobile phones dangerous?”

1 Are mobile phones dangerous to your health? It is difficult to know for sure. Some researchers suggest that heavy

2 users of mobile phones are at a greater risk of developing brain tumours. Nevertheless, many other studies suggest there

3 are no links between cancer and mobile phone use. Over three billion people use mobile phones on a daily basis, and many

4 talk for more than an hour a day. Mobile phone antennas are similar to microwave ovens. While both rely on electromagnetic

5 radiation, the radio waves in mobile phones are lower in radio frequency (RF). Microwave ovens have enough RF to cook

6 food and are known to be dangerous to human tissues. However, the concern is that the lower frequency radio waves that

7 mobile phones rely on may also be dangerous.

8 Some researchers believe that other types of wireless technology may also be dangerous to human health, including

9 laptops, cordless phones, and gaming consoles. They say that many cordless phones emit dangerous levels of

10 Electromagnetic Radiation (ER) even when they are not in use. They even suggest keeping electronic devices, such as

11 computers and alarm clocks, out of bedrooms, or at least 1.8 metres from your pillow. Besides, a growing number of health

12 professionals recommend that children and teens, whose brains are still developing, use mobile phones only for

13 emergencies. Concerned medical experts use the example of tobacco to illustrate the potential risks. Many years ago,

14 people smoked freely and were not aware of the effects of cigarettes on their health. Today, people know that cigarettes

15 cause lung cancer, though it is still unknown exactly how or why. Some doctors fear that the same thing will happen with

16 devices such as mobiles.

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.

According to the article, do mobile phones lead to brain tumours? Explain.

2.

Are mobile phones the only devices that can damage our health? Explain.

3.

Why do some experts think that mobile phones can be harmful to the development of children's brains?

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

4.

Microwave ovens and mobile phones emit similar levels of RF.

TRUE

FALSE

5.

In the past the negative effects of tobacco were unknown.

TRUE

FALSE

OPTION A: “Are mobile phones dangerous?”

1 Are mobile phones dangerous to your health? It is difficult to know for sure. Some researchers suggest that heavy

2 users of mobile phones are at a greater risk of developing brain tumours. Nevertheless, many other studies suggest there

3 are no links between cancer and mobile phone use. Over three billion people use mobile phones on a daily basis, and many

4 talk for more than an hour a day. Mobile phone antennas are similar to microwave ovens. While both rely on electromagnetic

5 radiation, the radio waves in mobile phones are lower in radio frequency (RF). Microwave ovens have enough RF to cook

6 food and are known to be dangerous to human tissues. However, the concern is that the lower frequency radio waves that

7 mobile phones rely on may also be dangerous.

8 Some researchers believe that other types of wireless technology may also be dangerous to human health, including

9 laptops, cordless phones, and gaming consoles. They say that many cordless phones emit dangerous levels of

10 Electromagnetic Radiation (ER) even when they are not in use. They even suggest keeping electronic devices, such as

11 computers and alarm clocks, out of bedrooms, or at least 1.8 metres from your pillow. Besides, a growing number of health

12 professionals recommend that children and teens, whose brains are still developing, use mobile phones only for

13 emergencies. Concerned medical experts use the example of tobacco to illustrate the potential risks. Many years ago,

14 people smoked freely and were not aware of the effects of cigarettes on their health. Today, people know that cigarettes

15 cause lung cancer, though it is still unknown exactly how or why. Some doctors fear that the same thing will happen with

16 devices such as mobiles.

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

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

GIVE A QUESTION FOR THE UNDERLINED WORDS: "Some health professionals point out that many cancers take at least ten years to develop ".

11.

REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE WITHOUT CHANGING ITS MEANING. BEGIN AS INDICATED: "Even though the car was very expensive, she bought it". In spite of...

12.

FILL IN THE GAP WITH THE CORRECT FORM OF THE VERB IN BRACKETS: "George stopped _______ (smoke) two years ago."

13.

TURN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE INTO THE PASSIVE VOICE: "Scientists believe that mobile phones are dangerous to our health."

III * PRODUCTION (3 points)

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

Computers, mobile phones, game consoles..., what is your favourite technological device? Why?

OPTION B: “The day we met.”

1 After I had finished my studies in 1950, I went to England to improve my English. In those years it was very difficult to

2 get a visa to Britain because of the great unemployment after the Second World War. However, one could get a visa to work

3 as a volunteer in agricultural camps, which were excellently organised by the Ministry of Farming in various parts of Britain.

4 It was very pleasant to work in the fields of Britain because that summer was beautiful and the rain hardly appeared.

5 Besides, I met many young people from different nationalities and, apart from having fun, we were a great help to the

6 farmers.

7 I served in five different camps and in my last one I met two sisters, Alice and Sylvia. The farmer placed Sylvia, Alice

8 and me beside one another in a line on a potato field. I was highly attracted to Alice’s shy personality and extremely

9 captivating looks. Sadly, she was engaged! Then, autumn came and we had to part. The sisters travelled to their hometown

10 and I decided to stay in Britain.

11 After a year I received a letter from Alice in which she told me that she and her fiancé had split up. I was thankful in my

12 heart for her bravery to dare to write to me. We started writing to each other and after a time I went to her hometown and

13 proposed to her. She accepted.

14 When Alice and I look back, we think that we have been very fortunate. Alice is now seventy-eight and I am eighty-

15 three, and I must say that I have loved her ever since the day we met in that field.

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.

How did the narrator manage to get a visa to work in England?

2.

What was the narrator attracted to when he met Alice?

3.

How did they get in touch again?

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

4.

The narrator says that the summer of 1950 was splendid and rather dry.

TRUE

FALSE

5.

The narrator's marriage has been full of happiness.

TRUE

FALSE

OPTION B: “The day we met.”

1 After I had finished my studies in 1950, I went to England to improve my English. In those years it was very difficult to

2 get a visa to Britain because of the great unemployment after the Second World War. However, one could get a visa to work

3 as a volunteer in agricultural camps, which were excellently organised by the Ministry of Farming in various parts of Britain.

4 It was very pleasant to work in the fields of Britain because that summer was beautiful and the rain hardly appeared.

5 Besides, I met many young people from different nationalities and, apart from having fun, we were a great help to the

6 farmers.

7 I served in five different camps and in my last one I met two sisters, Alice and Sylvia. The farmer placed Sylvia, Alice

8 and me beside one another in a line on a potato field. I was highly attracted to Alice’s shy personality and extremely

9 captivating looks. Sadly, she was engaged! Then, autumn came and we had to part. The sisters travelled to their hometown

10 and I decided to stay in Britain.

11 After a year I received a letter from Alice in which she told me that she and her fiancé had split up. I was thankful in my

12 heart for her bravery to dare to write to me. We started writing to each other and after a time I went to her hometown and

13 proposed to her. She accepted.

14 When Alice and I look back, we think that we have been very fortunate. Alice is now seventy-eight and I am eighty-

15 three, and I must say that I have loved her ever since the day we met in that field.

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

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE WITHOUT CHANGING ITS MEANING. BEGIN AS INDICATED: "I've been playing chess for thirty years."

I started

11.

TURN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE INTO THE ACTIVE VOICE: The agricultural camps were excellently organised by the Ministry of Farming.

12.

USE THE WORDS IN THE BOXES TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL SENTENCE. USE ALL AND ONLY THE WORDS IN THE BOXES WITHOUT CHANGING THEIR FORM.

seeing

I

looking

to

am

forward

you

13.

COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING (CONDITIONAL) SENTENCE: If she hadn't written to me,...

If she hadn't written to me,

III * PRODUCTION (3 points)

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

Describe your ideal husband, wife, or partner.