Ejercicio 1 - Opción B (Questions 1-4) · Inglés PAU Asturias Ordinaria (2ª lengua extranjera) 2026

Opción B - Text B

Texting or calling

Texting and calling are two of the main channels used for personal and business communication. Which one is better for convenience and effectiveness? The answer is not black or white, as several factors come into play, such as who you are trying to contact and why, whether your message is urgent, how much time you and the recipient have, and your budget.

Text messaging is ideal when you do not have time for a chat over the phone. Text messages are quick and unintrusive: the recipient does not have to stop what they are doing that instant, they can receive messages and check them when they have a few minutes to spare. Texting is best when you do not necessarily need a response. It is good for general announcements or appointment reminders. If your texts do need a response, 95% of people reply within three minutes. Another advantage of texting is that you can reach a large number of people at the same time.

Voice calls are great for having detailed conversations and getting recipients to respond immediately. As you will be hearing someone’s voice, you can be 100% sure that the other person is present and paying attention to what you have to say. Talking to the recipient is much more personal; you can easily transmit emotion to make sure your message is delivered appropriately. Phone calls can create stronger bonds compared to text messaging, so they are great for communicating with friends and family or when building relationships with clients or business networking associates.

Both texting and calling have disadvantages. Text-based communication is not the best option if your message is urgent and requires an instant response. The same applies if you need to have a detailed conversation or when you communicate private or sensitive information. Voice calls are also problematic: you cannot reach large numbers of people simultaneously; calling is often more expensive than texting; voice calls can disturb people, causing them to be upset or annoyed and even ignore your call entirely; if recipients do not recognize your number, they may be inclined to reject your call anyway.

Questions of text B. (5 puntos)

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

1.

What are some factors that determine whether texting or calling is more suitable for communication?

2.

Why is texting considered ideal when there is no time for a phone conversation?

3.

When is texting the best option, even if a response is not required?

4.

What advantages do voice calls have over texting?