Examen de Inglés PAU Asturias 2023 · Ordinaria (2ª lengua extranjera)

Texto 1

British houses

British houses have a reputation for being the coldest in Europe. Moreover, to many people from other countries, British people seem to be ridiculously keen on ‘fresh air’. This reputation is exaggerated. It is partly the result of the fact that houses in Britain are, on average, older than they are in other countries and are not so well insulated. In fact, almost all houses now have central heating. However, there is some truth in it. Windows are designed so that they can be conveniently opened to a great variety of degrees. This way, air can be let into the house in winter without freezing its inhabitants.

Just as the British idea of home is as much psychological as physical, so is their idea of domestic comfort. The important thing is to feel cosy – that is, to create an atmosphere which seems warm. This desire usually has priority over elegance concerns, which is why the British also have a reputation for bad taste. Most people would rather buy several items of cheap, mass-produced furniture, with chairs and sofas covered in synthetic material, than one more beautiful and more physically comfortable item.

The same is true for ornaments – if you want to be cosy, you have to fill the room up. In any case, not everybody in Britain sees the comforts of modernity as automatically good. To many, part of cosiness is the feeling of tradition, which can be suggested by being surrounded by old, but not necessarily comfortable or beautiful, items of furniture. And if you cannot have items which are actually old, you can always have things that suggest age. The open fire is an example: many houses have an imitation open fire, complete with plastic coal which glows red when it is switched on. Bad taste? So what!

Privacy is an element of comfort and warmth. Most older houses have not one but two general living rooms, the front room to be kept for formal visits, while family members and close friends can spend their time in the back room, safely hidden from public view.

Cuestiones del Texto 1. (5 puntos)

Do not copy literally from the text. (1 punto por respuesta = 4 puntos)

1.

What does the expression 'British people seem to be ridiculously keen on "fresh air"' mean in the context of the text dealing with British houses? Why is that?

2.

What is the British idea of domestic comfort? Is it related to elegance?

3.

Give examples of bad taste, as mentioned in the text.

4.

How many living rooms can you find in most older houses? For what reason?

Texto 1

British houses

British houses have a reputation for being the coldest in Europe. Moreover, to many people from other countries, British people seem to be ridiculously keen on ‘fresh air’. This reputation is exaggerated. It is partly the result of the fact that houses in Britain are, on average, older than they are in other countries and are not so well insulated. In fact, almost all houses now have central heating. However, there is some truth in it. Windows are designed so that they can be conveniently opened to a great variety of degrees. This way, air can be let into the house in winter without freezing its inhabitants.

Just as the British idea of home is as much psychological as physical, so is their idea of domestic comfort. The important thing is to feel cosy – that is, to create an atmosphere which seems warm. This desire usually has priority over elegance concerns, which is why the British also have a reputation for bad taste. Most people would rather buy several items of cheap, mass-produced furniture, with chairs and sofas covered in synthetic material, than one more beautiful and more physically comfortable item.

The same is true for ornaments – if you want to be cosy, you have to fill the room up. In any case, not everybody in Britain sees the comforts of modernity as automatically good. To many, part of cosiness is the feeling of tradition, which can be suggested by being surrounded by old, but not necessarily comfortable or beautiful, items of furniture. And if you cannot have items which are actually old, you can always have things that suggest age. The open fire is an example: many houses have an imitation open fire, complete with plastic coal which glows red when it is switched on. Bad taste? So what!

Privacy is an element of comfort and warmth. Most older houses have not one but two general living rooms, the front room to be kept for formal visits, while family members and close friends can spend their time in the back room, safely hidden from public view.

Cuestión 5 del Texto 1 (1 punto)

Fill the gaps with the correct, most appropriate word in each case. (0,25 por acierto = 1 punto)

In a house with two floors, the rooms upstairs are the (A)

used as bedrooms. The bathroom and toilet are (B)

usually upstairs. The living room(s) and kitchen are downstairs. The latter is usually small, but those (C)

can afford the space often like to have a 'farmhouse kitchen', big (D)

for the family to eat in.

Texto 2

Everyday life in times of COVID-19

Working, shopping, paying or getting around – the COVID-19 crisis has fundamentally changed many things. Firstly, as the coronavirus pandemic hit, companies turned to remote working as an experiment, unplanned but generally successful. Even when many employees had, at first, little experience of working from home and digital meetings before COVID-19, now a majority of them want to stay in their home office at least part of their working time. Figures indicate that one in four would prefer to work only from home, and around one in eight would like to return to the pre-pandemic model and work solely in the office. Home office is clearly here to stay.

Secondly, COVID-19 has also changed our behaviour with regard to shopping, including when paying for purchases. Although some people were already online shoppers, many ‘traditional shoppers’ turned, at least momentarily, to online shopping because of COVID-19. People still want to go ‘street-shopping’, but only if it is an easy, pleasant and safe experience; otherwise, consumers prefer to stay at home – and online. In in-store shopping operations, cash is no longer king: the pandemic has seen consumers doing without cash in favour of contactless and digital payments. Major payment providers such as Mastercard and Visa temporarily increased the limit for contactless card transactions without having to enter in PIN details and touching the payment terminal. Shop managers also started to request customers to pay with digital or contactless alternatives and to avoid using cash. Some researchers say that a cashless society is slowly but firmly taking root.

Thirdly, the coronavirus crisis has changed how the general population moves around. The measures governments have taken to contain the spread of COVID-19 have changed and restricted the way people move around in an unprecedented way. The use of individual private transport has increased; the use of public transport, taxis and ride-sharing services has declined. Trains and buses are almost empty despite reducing their timetables. There is fear of infection because on public transport you are in close proximity to a large number of people in a relatively small place. Accordingly, private transport is now favoured.

Cuestiones del Texto 2. (5 puntos)

Do not copy literally from the text. (1 punto por respuesta = 4 puntos)

1.

According to the text, how well accepted is teleworking among employees?

2.

In terms of shopping, consumption habits have changed. In which direction?

3.

What has COVID-19 meant for payment methods when it comes to shopping?

4.

What changes has COVID-19 introduced in the way people move around?

Texto 2

Everyday life in times of COVID-19

Working, shopping, paying or getting around – the COVID-19 crisis has fundamentally changed many things. Firstly, as the coronavirus pandemic hit, companies turned to remote working as an experiment, unplanned but generally successful. Even when many employees had, at first, little experience of working from home and digital meetings before COVID-19, now a majority of them want to stay in their home office at least part of their working time. Figures indicate that one in four would prefer to work only from home, and around one in eight would like to return to the pre-pandemic model and work solely in the office. Home office is clearly here to stay.

Secondly, COVID-19 has also changed our behaviour with regard to shopping, including when paying for purchases. Although some people were already online shoppers, many ‘traditional shoppers’ turned, at least momentarily, to online shopping because of COVID-19. People still want to go ‘street-shopping’, but only if it is an easy, pleasant and safe experience; otherwise, consumers prefer to stay at home – and online. In in-store shopping operations, cash is no longer king: the pandemic has seen consumers doing without cash in favour of contactless and digital payments. Major payment providers such as Mastercard and Visa temporarily increased the limit for contactless card transactions without having to enter in PIN details and touching the payment terminal. Shop managers also started to request customers to pay with digital or contactless alternatives and to avoid using cash. Some researchers say that a cashless society is slowly but firmly taking root.

Thirdly, the coronavirus crisis has changed how the general population moves around. The measures governments have taken to contain the spread of COVID-19 have changed and restricted the way people move around in an unprecedented way. The use of individual private transport has increased; the use of public transport, taxis and ride-sharing services has declined. Trains and buses are almost empty despite reducing their timetables. There is fear of infection because on public transport you are in close proximity to a large number of people in a relatively small place. Accordingly, private transport is now favoured.

Fill the gaps with the correct, most appropriate word in each case. (0,25 por acierto = 1 punto)

5. When the pandemic struck, many countries (A)

quick to close (B)

borders. However, some effects of COVID-19 may unite us, giving us a rare opportunity to pause and consider (C)

we live. News of a truly effective vaccine for everybody makes the prospect of a return (D)

normality more hopeful.

Pregunta 1. Rephrase the following sentences so that their meaning is as similar to the original as possible. (0,25 puntos por acierto = 1 punto)

a)

We allow anyone to enter if they are ready. // We let...

We let

b)

It was a mistake to go to work; you've got COVID. // You shouldn't...

You shouldn't

c)

People say that John Wilson lives in New York. // John Wilson...

John Wilson

d)

'How tall are you?' Peter asked me. // Peter asked what...

Peter asked what

Pregunta 2. Rephrase the following sentences so that their meaning is as similar to the original as possible. (0,25 puntos por acierto = 1 punto)

a)

‘Would you like to come to the cinema, Jean?’ asked Chris.

Chris invited

b)

‘So, Peter, where will you go tomorrow?’ she asked.

She wanted to know where

c)

I last saw Jim in 2018.

I haven't

d)

People have elected a new regional government after three rounds of voting.

A new regional government

Pregunta 3. Write a composition about the following topic (100-120 words). (4 puntos)

Describe the place (house, flat, studio, etc.) you live in.

Pregunta 4. Write a composition about the following topic (100-120 words). (4 puntos)

Describe how COVID-19 made you change your daily routine at the pandemic's hardest moments.