Examen de Inglés PAU Canarias 2021 · Junio (Ciencias)

Why do we think cats are unfriendly?

Cats are the only asocial animal we have successfully domesticated but we’re often disappointed that we

don’t bond with them as easily as with dogs. However, it might be possible that we just don’t understand

them.

Dogs seem almost biologically incapable of hiding their inner moods; they wag their tails to show

5 contentment, and bark if they feel threatened. We understand them easily. Cats, on the contrary, have

sophisticated body language – their moods are signalled through twitching tails, ruffled fur, and the position

of ears and whiskers. These are usually reliable methods of working out if the cat is in friendly mode or if

it’s better to leave it alone.

The independence that some people see as a bonus in cats is viewed by others as coldness or selfishness.

10 Their detractors claim they only really show affection when their food bowl is empty.

However, the image of the “independent” cat has done it little harm in terms of popularity as a pet. It’s

thought there are as many as 10 million domestic cats in the UK alone; according to a 2012 study, about

25% of households had at least one cat.

One clue to the cat’s image may come from how they were domesticated in the first place. The earliest

15 domesticated cats started appearing in Neolithic villages in the Middle East around 10,000 years ago. They

didn’t depend on humans for food – they found it themselves. By hunting for their own food, they helped to

keep crops and food stores safe from rats and other vermin. Our relationship with them was, from the outset,

more distant than with dogs, who helped us hunt and relied upon humans to feed them.

Our taming of cats has only partly removed them from the wild. The cat that may be currently curled up on

20 your sofa shares many of its instincts with that of its wild ancestors – the desire to hunt, and to patrol territory.

“Mostly, it’s just human misunderstanding of the species,” says Karen Hiestand, a vet and trustee

of International Cat Care. “Dogs and humans are very similar and have lived together for a long time. In a

way, it has been co-evolution. With cats, it is way more recent. They come from a solitary ancestor that isn’t

a social species.”

25 Research has also shown that cats’ sociability towards humans is highly variable and driven by genetics. It

is influenced by what they experience in the first six or eight weeks of their life. “If they have positive

experiences as kittens, they’re probably going to like humans and want to hang out with us”, stated Ms.

Hiestand.

Fragment adapted from BBC Future, May 2020

1. Say whether the following sentences are TRUE or FALSE according to the text. COPY the evidence from the text. No marks will be given without the evidence. (1.5 points)

a)

Dogs have a clear way of showing humans that they are happy or scared.

TRUE

FALSE

b)

People interpret cats’ autonomy in similar ways.

TRUE

FALSE

c)

Ten thousand years ago, cats were useful to humans because they helped to stop dogs from eating food that was meant for humans.

TRUE

FALSE

Why do we think cats are unfriendly?

Cats are the only asocial animal we have successfully domesticated but we’re often disappointed that we

don’t bond with them as easily as with dogs. However, it might be possible that we just don’t understand

them.

Dogs seem almost biologically incapable of hiding their inner moods; they wag their tails to show

5 contentment, and bark if they feel threatened. We understand them easily. Cats, on the contrary, have

sophisticated body language – their moods are signalled through twitching tails, ruffled fur, and the position

of ears and whiskers. These are usually reliable methods of working out if the cat is in friendly mode or if

it’s better to leave it alone.

The independence that some people see as a bonus in cats is viewed by others as coldness or selfishness.

10 Their detractors claim they only really show affection when their food bowl is empty.

However, the image of the “independent” cat has done it little harm in terms of popularity as a pet. It’s

thought there are as many as 10 million domestic cats in the UK alone; according to a 2012 study, about

25% of households had at least one cat.

One clue to the cat’s image may come from how they were domesticated in the first place. The earliest

15 domesticated cats started appearing in Neolithic villages in the Middle East around 10,000 years ago. They

didn’t depend on humans for food – they found it themselves. By hunting for their own food, they helped to

keep crops and food stores safe from rats and other vermin. Our relationship with them was, from the outset,

more distant than with dogs, who helped us hunt and relied upon humans to feed them.

Our taming of cats has only partly removed them from the wild. The cat that may be currently curled up on

20 your sofa shares many of its instincts with that of its wild ancestors – the desire to hunt, and to patrol territory.

“Mostly, it’s just human misunderstanding of the species,” says Karen Hiestand, a vet and trustee

of International Cat Care. “Dogs and humans are very similar and have lived together for a long time. In a

way, it has been co-evolution. With cats, it is way more recent. They come from a solitary ancestor that isn’t

a social species.”

25 Research has also shown that cats’ sociability towards humans is highly variable and driven by genetics. It

is influenced by what they experience in the first six or eight weeks of their life. “If they have positive

experiences as kittens, they’re probably going to like humans and want to hang out with us”, stated Ms.

Hiestand.

Fragment adapted from BBC Future, May 2020

2. ANSWER the questions below. COPY no more than 10 words and/or a number from the text to answer each question. (1.5 points)

a)

What is the reason why humans generally don’t bond with cats in the same way as they do with dogs?

b)

What do domestic and wild cats have in common?

c)

Which part of a kitten’s life determines whether it will get on well with humans?

Why do we think cats are unfriendly?

Cats are the only asocial animal we have successfully domesticated but we’re often disappointed that we

don’t bond with them as easily as with dogs. However, it might be possible that we just don’t understand

them.

Dogs seem almost biologically incapable of hiding their inner moods; they wag their tails to show

5 contentment, and bark if they feel threatened. We understand them easily. Cats, on the contrary, have

sophisticated body language – their moods are signalled through twitching tails, ruffled fur, and the position

of ears and whiskers. These are usually reliable methods of working out if the cat is in friendly mode or if

it’s better to leave it alone.

The independence that some people see as a bonus in cats is viewed by others as coldness or selfishness.

10 Their detractors claim they only really show affection when their food bowl is empty.

However, the image of the “independent” cat has done it little harm in terms of popularity as a pet. It’s

thought there are as many as 10 million domestic cats in the UK alone; according to a 2012 study, about

25% of households had at least one cat.

One clue to the cat’s image may come from how they were domesticated in the first place. The earliest

15 domesticated cats started appearing in Neolithic villages in the Middle East around 10,000 years ago. They

didn’t depend on humans for food – they found it themselves. By hunting for their own food, they helped to

keep crops and food stores safe from rats and other vermin. Our relationship with them was, from the outset,

more distant than with dogs, who helped us hunt and relied upon humans to feed them.

Our taming of cats has only partly removed them from the wild. The cat that may be currently curled up on

20 your sofa shares many of its instincts with that of its wild ancestors – the desire to hunt, and to patrol territory.

“Mostly, it’s just human misunderstanding of the species,” says Karen Hiestand, a vet and trustee

of International Cat Care. “Dogs and humans are very similar and have lived together for a long time. In a

way, it has been co-evolution. With cats, it is way more recent. They come from a solitary ancestor that isn’t

a social species.”

25 Research has also shown that cats’ sociability towards humans is highly variable and driven by genetics. It

is influenced by what they experience in the first six or eight weeks of their life. “If they have positive

experiences as kittens, they’re probably going to like humans and want to hang out with us”, stated Ms.

Hiestand.

Fragment adapted from BBC Future, May 2020

3. WRITE a synonym (=), an opposite (≠), a definition or a sentence for each of the following words to show that you understand their meaning in the text. Use your own words. (1 point)

a)

b)

c)

d)

4. READ this conversation and COMPLETE your part. Write the numbers (1-6) and complete each sentence on your exam paper. (1.5 points)

You have been for a picnic in the countryside with your friends

Your friend:

Oh, just leave that bag of rubbish there.

You:

No! (1)

Your friend:

But it’s too heavy to carry it back!

You:

Well, (2)

Your friend:

But it really doesn’t matter. No-one will see it if we put it behind that rock.

You:

(3)

Your friend:

All rubbish breaks down eventually.

You:

(4)

Your friend:

So how about if we just take the plastic and leave the rest then?

You:

(5)

Your friend:

Oh, alright then. Let’s carry it between us.

You:

Great! (6)

5. Read the following situations and WRITE what you would say in each one to show that you understand the context of the situation. Write between 10 and 25 words. (1.5 points)

a)

There is a new student in your class who doesn’t know anyone. Invite him to join your study group.

b)

You borrowed your brother’s PlayStation and now it doesn’t work. Explain what happened.

c)

You took ages choosing what to wear and now your whole family is late for dinner at your aunt’s house. Apologise to your aunt.

6. WRITE a composition of about 120-150 words on the following topic (3 points):

What are the advantages and disadvantages of keeping pets?

Is Binge Watching TV Good Or Bad For You?

The word ‘binge’ entered our vocabulary to describe anything being consumed or performed in ongoing excess. So, ‘binge-watching’ entered our lexicon to refer to the practice of watching several episodes of a television series or movie programme, one after another.

While people spend more time than ever binge-watching, with streaming services bringing endless content to the tips of our fingers, I can’t help wondering if this way of consuming television does us any good.

Binge-watching, like gambling or other addictions, produces a continuous flow of dopamine —a chemical (known as the “happy” hormone) responsible for making us feel pleasure — in our brains. The problem is that, over time, our brains produce less dopamine from the same level of activity. So it takes more and more of the same activity to give us pleasure.

We are advised to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Obviously, staying up to watch an entire season of “Game of Thrones” in one sitting will not result in 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. The quantity of sleep we get is important, but quality matters too and heavy binge watchers are found to have poorer sleep quality. Consequently, those who binge TV do not get adequate sleep.

Research has concluded that too much TV might put both children and adults at risk of obesity. The more time we spend in front of the TV, the less we are exercising, walking, or just moving our muscles. The weight risk worsens when we consider that most people’s lives are already quite sedentary.

Although there is growing evidence that bingeing is not good for us, binge-watching occasionally might have some benefits. According to a study, cortisol levels (our body’s main stress hormone) decrease during bingeing. A few hours of “Friends” —still one of the most popular series on any streaming platform— can help people relax or de-stress. Bingeing is also a social activity for many people as it gives them something to talk about, online or offline.

With bingeing, there is not an objective “good” or “bad” answer. Like many things, the key is moderation. Though it is easy to slip into cycles of chronic watching, there are plenty of ways to come out of it. We can set an alarm or simply turn off the auto-play feature. Researchers have even asked streaming platforms to display a warning to users after a certain number of episodes have been binged.

All things considered, the outcry over binge-watching seems less important when compared to many of the other problems in the world at the moment. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to watching the latest season of “ Bojack Horseman ”.

Fragment adapted from Science ABC, October 2020

1. Say whether the following sentences are TRUE or FALSE according to the text. COPY the evidence from the text. No marks will be given without the evidence. (1.5 points)

a)

Bingeing TV causes an effect on the brain similar to other addictions.

TRUE

FALSE

b)

There is no scientific evidence that connects binge-watching to weight gain.

TRUE

FALSE

c)

Streaming services have been urged to alert viewers about the amount of binge-watching they are doing.

TRUE

FALSE

Is Binge Watching TV Good Or Bad For You?

The word ‘binge’ entered our vocabulary to describe anything being consumed or performed in ongoing excess. So, ‘binge-watching’ entered our lexicon to refer to the practice of watching several episodes of a television series or movie programme, one after another.

While people spend more time than ever binge-watching, with streaming services bringing endless content to the tips of our fingers, I can’t help wondering if this way of consuming television does us any good.

Binge-watching, like gambling or other addictions, produces a continuous flow of dopamine —a chemical (known as the “happy” hormone) responsible for making us feel pleasure — in our brains. The problem is that, over time, our brains produce less dopamine from the same level of activity. So it takes more and more of the same activity to give us pleasure.

We are advised to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Obviously, staying up to watch an entire season of “Game of Thrones” in one sitting will not result in 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. The quantity of sleep we get is important, but quality matters too and heavy binge watchers are found to have poorer sleep quality. Consequently, those who binge TV do not get adequate sleep.

Research has concluded that too much TV might put both children and adults at risk of obesity. The more time we spend in front of the TV, the less we are exercising, walking, or just moving our muscles. The weight risk worsens when we consider that most people’s lives are already quite sedentary.

Although there is growing evidence that bingeing is not good for us, binge-watching occasionally might have some benefits. According to a study, cortisol levels (our body’s main stress hormone) decrease during bingeing. A few hours of “Friends” —still one of the most popular series on any streaming platform— can help people relax or de-stress. Bingeing is also a social activity for many people as it gives them something to talk about, online or offline.

With bingeing, there is not an objective “good” or “bad” answer. Like many things, the key is moderation. Though it is easy to slip into cycles of chronic watching, there are plenty of ways to come out of it. We can set an alarm or simply turn off the auto-play feature. Researchers have even asked streaming platforms to display a warning to users after a certain number of episodes have been binged.

All things considered, the outcry over binge-watching seems less important when compared to many of the other problems in the world at the moment. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to watching the latest season of “ Bojack Horseman ”.

Fragment adapted from Science ABC, October 2020

2. ANSWER the questions below. COPY no more than 10 words and/or a number from the text to answer each question. (1.5 points)

a)

What does the writer ask herself about binge-watching?

b)

How does binge-watching affect our sleep?

c)

What is one of the health benefits of binge-watching?

Is Binge Watching TV Good Or Bad For You?

The word ‘binge’ entered our vocabulary to describe anything being consumed or performed in ongoing excess. So, ‘binge-watching’ entered our lexicon to refer to the practice of watching several episodes of a television series or movie programme, one after another.

While people spend more time than ever binge-watching, with streaming services bringing endless content to the tips of our fingers, I can’t help wondering if this way of consuming television does us any good.

Binge-watching, like gambling or other addictions, produces a continuous flow of dopamine —a chemical (known as the “happy” hormone) responsible for making us feel pleasure — in our brains. The problem is that, over time, our brains produce less dopamine from the same level of activity. So it takes more and more of the same activity to give us pleasure.

We are advised to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Obviously, staying up to watch an entire season of “Game of Thrones” in one sitting will not result in 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. The quantity of sleep we get is important, but quality matters too and heavy binge watchers are found to have poorer sleep quality. Consequently, those who binge TV do not get adequate sleep.

Research has concluded that too much TV might put both children and adults at risk of obesity. The more time we spend in front of the TV, the less we are exercising, walking, or just moving our muscles. The weight risk worsens when we consider that most people’s lives are already quite sedentary.

Although there is growing evidence that bingeing is not good for us, binge-watching occasionally might have some benefits. According to a study, cortisol levels (our body’s main stress hormone) decrease during bingeing. A few hours of “Friends” —still one of the most popular series on any streaming platform— can help people relax or de-stress. Bingeing is also a social activity for many people as it gives them something to talk about, online or offline.

With bingeing, there is not an objective “good” or “bad” answer. Like many things, the key is moderation. Though it is easy to slip into cycles of chronic watching, there are plenty of ways to come out of it. We can set an alarm or simply turn off the auto-play feature. Researchers have even asked streaming platforms to display a warning to users after a certain number of episodes have been binged.

All things considered, the outcry over binge-watching seems less important when compared to many of the other problems in the world at the moment. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to watching the latest season of “ Bojack Horseman ”.

Fragment adapted from Science ABC, October 2020

3. WRITE a synonym (=), an opposite (≠), a definition or a sentence for each of the following words to show that you understand their meaning in the text. Use your own words. (1 point)

a)

b)

c)

d)

4. READ this conversation and COMPLETE your part. Write the numbers (1-6) and complete each sentence on your exam paper. (1.5 points)

Chatting in the street with a schoolmate after class

You:

I love those trainers you're wearing today.

Classmate:

Thank you. They are brand new.

You:

(1) ?

Classmate:

I bought them online.

You:

Really? (2)

Classmate:

Why? Shopping online is cool.

You:

I hate waiting for something I've ordered to arrive. It usually takes longer than it should.

(3) ?

Classmate:

Just a couple of weeks.

You:

(4)

Classmate:

You're really impatient.

You:

I know. And (5) ?

Classmate:

I got them for thirty.

You:

Ooh, that's really cheap! They are far more expensive in the shops. (6)

Classmate:

But not in the same colour as mine, please.

5. Read the following situations and WRITE what you would say in each one to show that you understand the context of the situation. Write between 10 and 25 words. (1.5 points)

a)

"How did you celebrate your birthday?" your classmate asks you. Reply.

b)

You see a classmate dropping rubbish on the floor during break. Complain to her about it.

c)

Your father comments that the last energy bill is too high. Suggest how to save money and energy.

6. WRITE a composition of about 120-150 words on the following topic (3 points):

Is it better to watch films at home or at the cinema? Give your opinion.

Word count: words