Ejercicio Texto 1 - Cuestiones 1 a 4 · Inglés PAU Asturias Ordinaria (2ª lengua extranjera) 2023

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?