Examen de Inglés PAU Cantabria 2021 · Ordinaria

TikTok: The Story of a Social Media Giant

TikTok's origins are very different to those of other popular apps. It was not created by some friends with a great idea in their mum's garage but started life as three different apps. The first was an app called Musically, launched in Shanghai in 2014 with strong business links and a healthy audience in the USA. In 2016, Chinese tech giant ByteDance launched a similar service in China called Douyin, attracting 100 million users in China and Thailand in the space of a year. Wishing to expand under a different brand, ByteDance bought Musically in 2018, incorporated it into their service and gave it a new name. Thus began TikTok's global expansion.

TikTok's secret lies in its use of music and a powerful algorithm which learns what content users like to see far faster than many other apps. Users can choose from a huge database of songs, filters and movie clips to lipsync to. Many people will spend most of the time on the “For You” Page, where the algorithm puts content in front of users, anticipating what they will enjoy based on content they have already seen. It's also where it shows content that could go viral. The idea is that if the content is good it will travel, whether the creator has many followers or not.

Many TikTok communities have emerged, brought together by the types of content they enjoy or their sense of identity. Specific communities often feature creators who aren't necessarily looking to earn a lot of money but who are simply on the platform to make funny or informative content. For them, it's all about finding like-minded people. The growth of TikTok and its sister app Douyin have been rapid. In July 2019 they already had one billion downloads worldwide, but one year later there were two billion. 500 million active users rose to 800 million over the same period.

However, governments have not been so keen on the app's influence. Although the accusations are vague, India and the US have concerns that TikTok is collecting sensitive data from users that could be used by the Chinese for spying. India initially tried to ban TikTok in April 2019, after a court ordered its removal from app stores amid claims it was used to spread illegal content. Furthermore, the Indian government said it had received complaints about apps “stealing and secretly transmitting users' data”.

5 August 2020, BBC News (Adapted)

Question 1: [2 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE and write down the sentence or the part of the text that justifies your answer. No points will be given if the evidence is not correct.

a)

Many people in the USA used the Musically app.

TRUE

FALSE

b)

Tik Tok users tend only to spend the first few minutes on the app on the For You page.

TRUE

FALSE

c)

Creators from communities are interested in people who have similar ideas to them.

TRUE

FALSE

d)

From July 2019 to 2020 the number of active users more than doubled.

TRUE

FALSE

TikTok: The Story of a Social Media Giant

TikTok's origins are very different to those of other popular apps. It was not created by some friends with a great idea in their mum's garage but started life as three different apps. The first was an app called Musically, launched in Shanghai in 2014 with strong business links and a healthy audience in the USA. In 2016, Chinese tech giant ByteDance launched a similar service in China called Douyin, attracting 100 million users in China and Thailand in the space of a year. Wishing to expand under a different brand, ByteDance bought Musically in 2018, incorporated it into their service and gave it a new name. Thus began TikTok's global expansion.

TikTok's secret lies in its use of music and a powerful algorithm which learns what content users like to see far faster than many other apps. Users can choose from a huge database of songs, filters and movie clips to lipsync to. Many people will spend most of the time on the “For You” Page, where the algorithm puts content in front of users, anticipating what they will enjoy based on content they have already seen. It's also where it shows content that could go viral. The idea is that if the content is good it will travel, whether the creator has many followers or not.

Many TikTok communities have emerged, brought together by the types of content they enjoy or their sense of identity. Specific communities often feature creators who aren't necessarily looking to earn a lot of money but who are simply on the platform to make funny or informative content. For them, it's all about finding like-minded people. The growth of TikTok and its sister app Douyin have been rapid. In July 2019 they already had one billion downloads worldwide, but one year later there were two billion. 500 million active users rose to 800 million over the same period.

However, governments have not been so keen on the app's influence. Although the accusations are vague, India and the US have concerns that TikTok is collecting sensitive data from users that could be used by the Chinese for spying. India initially tried to ban TikTok in April 2019, after a court ordered its removal from app stores amid claims it was used to spread illegal content. Furthermore, the Indian government said it had received complaints about apps “stealing and secretly transmitting users' data”.

5 August 2020, BBC News (Adapted)

Question 2: [2 POINTS] Choose and answer only TWO of the following questions in your own words according to the text.

a)

How is the Tik Tok app different from the other apps mentioned in the text?

b)

What motivates people to create content on Tik Tok according to the Text?

c)

What different reactions does the text say Tik Tok has caused?

TikTok: The Story of a Social Media Giant

TikTok's origins are very different to those of other popular apps. It was not created by some friends with a great idea in their mum's garage but started life as three different apps. The first was an app called Musically, launched in Shanghai in 2014 with strong business links and a healthy audience in the USA. In 2016, Chinese tech giant ByteDance launched a similar service in China called Douyin, attracting 100 million users in China and Thailand in the space of a year. Wishing to expand under a different brand, ByteDance bought Musically in 2018, incorporated it into their service and gave it a new name. Thus began TikTok's global expansion.

TikTok's secret lies in its use of music and a powerful algorithm which learns what content users like to see far faster than many other apps. Users can choose from a huge database of songs, filters and movie clips to lipsync to. Many people will spend most of the time on the “For You” Page, where the algorithm puts content in front of users, anticipating what they will enjoy based on content they have already seen. It's also where it shows content that could go viral. The idea is that if the content is good it will travel, whether the creator has many followers or not.

Many TikTok communities have emerged, brought together by the types of content they enjoy or their sense of identity. Specific communities often feature creators who aren't necessarily looking to earn a lot of money but who are simply on the platform to make funny or informative content. For them, it's all about finding like-minded people. The growth of TikTok and its sister app Douyin have been rapid. In July 2019 they already had one billion downloads worldwide, but one year later there were two billion. 500 million active users rose to 800 million over the same period.

However, governments have not been so keen on the app's influence. Although the accusations are vague, India and the US have concerns that TikTok is collecting sensitive data from users that could be used by the Chinese for spying. India initially tried to ban TikTok in April 2019, after a court ordered its removal from app stores amid claims it was used to spread illegal content. Furthermore, the Indian government said it had received complaints about apps “stealing and secretly transmitting users' data”.

5 August 2020, BBC News (Adapted)

Question 3: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words given. You only need to have five correct answers to get 1.5 points.

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

TikTok: The Story of a Social Media Giant

TikTok's origins are very different to those of other popular apps. It was not created by some friends with a great idea in their mum's garage but started life as three different apps. The first was an app called Musically, launched in Shanghai in 2014 with strong business links and a healthy audience in the USA. In 2016, Chinese tech giant ByteDance launched a similar service in China called Douyin, attracting 100 million users in China and Thailand in the space of a year. Wishing to expand under a different brand, ByteDance bought Musically in 2018, incorporated it into their service and gave it a new name. Thus began TikTok's global expansion.

TikTok's secret lies in its use of music and a powerful algorithm which learns what content users like to see far faster than many other apps. Users can choose from a huge database of songs, filters and movie clips to lipsync to. Many people will spend most of the time on the “For You” Page, where the algorithm puts content in front of users, anticipating what they will enjoy based on content they have already seen. It's also where it shows content that could go viral. The idea is that if the content is good it will travel, whether the creator has many followers or not.

Many TikTok communities have emerged, brought together by the types of content they enjoy or their sense of identity. Specific communities often feature creators who aren't necessarily looking to earn a lot of money but who are simply on the platform to make funny or informative content. For them, it's all about finding like-minded people. The growth of TikTok and its sister app Douyin have been rapid. In July 2019 they already had one billion downloads worldwide, but one year later there were two billion. 500 million active users rose to 800 million over the same period.

However, governments have not been so keen on the app's influence. Although the accusations are vague, India and the US have concerns that TikTok is collecting sensitive data from users that could be used by the Chinese for spying. India initially tried to ban TikTok in April 2019, after a court ordered its removal from app stores amid claims it was used to spread illegal content. Furthermore, the Indian government said it had received complaints about apps “stealing and secretly transmitting users' data”.

5 August 2020, BBC News (Adapted)

Question 4: [1,5 POINTS] Choose the correct option –a, b, c or d– for each question and COPY both the letter and the sentence that follows onto your answer sheet.

1.

The text says that Tik Tok's algorithm works...

2.

Tik Tok believes that good content will become popular...

3.

The text says that certain governments...

The Lynx Iberian Cat Comes Back from the Brink of Extinction

A 20-year project to reintroduce the lynx, the indigenous species of wild cat, across the Iberian Peninsula has already seen their numbers increase from 94 in 2002 to 855 this year. Experts say that if the current conservation and reintroduction efforts continue, the species could be out of danger by 2040. The 2019 census revealed that more than 80 % of the lynx population is in Spain, that 311 kittens were born on the peninsula last year and that there were 188 females of reproductive age.

Government efforts to get rid of creatures considered to be pests, which lasted until the mid-1970s, took a terrible toll, as did a catastrophic drop in rabbit numbers due to various diseases. This affected the lynx as the rabbit makes up an important part of its diet. Those factors were compounded by the destruction of habitats that came with motorways and a greater human presence.

Miguel Ángel Simón, a biologist who has worked on the project since its commencement remembers the difficulties he and his colleagues faced. “When we started back in 2000, we didn’t even know how many lynxes were left,” he says. “We found out from the first census that there were 94 and we thought that they were going to disappear. Back then, they were the most endangered felines in the world. Our first aim was just to stop them becoming extinct,” Simón insists.

Their strategy of seeking money and help from politicians, landowners and the public, gradually paid off. A series of projects, coordinated by the Spanish regional governments, the Portuguese authorities and conservation NGOs, has arrested the decline, expanded populations and seen lynxes reintroduced to other areas. “Today, the situation is pretty good and I think we can be optimistic because we haven’t just recovered the population in Spain, we’ve also built populations in Portugal – where the lynx was extinct”.

Ramón Pérez de Ayala from the WWF Spain explains that protecting the lynx is a moral and ecological imperative. “Every species has an intrinsic value that can’t be lost. And you’re talking about an animal that does a really good job of balancing out the food chain of the Mediterranean ecosystem.” But, he adds a further reason: “On a more emotional level, the lynx is a jewel and a thing of beauty to behold.”

WWF - World Wildlife Fund

NGOs - Non-Governmental organizations.

25 Oct 2020, The Guardian (Adapted)

Question 1: [2 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE and write down the sentence or the part of the text that justifies your answer. No points will be given if the evidence is not correct.

a)

The Iberian Lynx cat is no longer an endangered species.

TRUE

FALSE

b)

Rabbits are an important source of food for lynxes.

TRUE

FALSE

c)

The original objective of the project was to stop the lynx from dying out.

TRUE

FALSE

d)

Miguel Ángel Simón has a negative feeling about the current situation of the lynx population.

TRUE

FALSE

The Lynx Iberian Cat Comes Back from the Brink of Extinction

A 20-year project to reintroduce the lynx, the indigenous species of wild cat, across the Iberian Peninsula has already seen their numbers increase from 94 in 2002 to 855 this year. Experts say that if the current conservation and reintroduction efforts continue, the species could be out of danger by 2040. The 2019 census revealed that more than 80 % of the lynx population is in Spain, that 311 kittens were born on the peninsula last year and that there were 188 females of reproductive age.

Government efforts to get rid of creatures considered to be pests, which lasted until the mid-1970s, took a terrible toll, as did a catastrophic drop in rabbit numbers due to various diseases. This affected the lynx as the rabbit makes up an important part of its diet. Those factors were compounded by the destruction of habitats that came with motorways and a greater human presence.

Miguel Ángel Simón, a biologist who has worked on the project since its commencement remembers the difficulties he and his colleagues faced. “When we started back in 2000, we didn’t even know how many lynxes were left,” he says. “We found out from the first census that there were 94 and we thought that they were going to disappear. Back then, they were the most endangered felines in the world. Our first aim was just to stop them becoming extinct,” Simón insists.

Their strategy of seeking money and help from politicians, landowners and the public, gradually paid off. A series of projects, coordinated by the Spanish regional governments, the Portuguese authorities and conservation NGOs, has arrested the decline, expanded populations and seen lynxes reintroduced to other areas. “Today, the situation is pretty good and I think we can be optimistic because we haven’t just recovered the population in Spain, we’ve also built populations in Portugal – where the lynx was extinct”.

Ramón Pérez de Ayala from the WWF Spain explains that protecting the lynx is a moral and ecological imperative. “Every species has an intrinsic value that can’t be lost. And you’re talking about an animal that does a really good job of balancing out the food chain of the Mediterranean ecosystem.” But, he adds a further reason: “On a more emotional level, the lynx is a jewel and a thing of beauty to behold.”

WWF - World Wildlife Fund

NGOs - Non-Governmental organizations.

25 Oct 2020, The Guardian (Adapted)

Question 2: [2 POINTS] Choose and answer only TWO of the following questions in your own words according to the text.

a)

How has the Iberian Lynx population changed over the last 20 years?

b)

Apart from their number, what other specific things does the text tell us about the Lynx?

c)

What different factors brought the Iberian Lynx close to extinction 20 years ago?

The Lynx Iberian Cat Comes Back from the Brink of Extinction

A 20-year project to reintroduce the lynx, the indigenous species of wild cat, across the Iberian Peninsula has already seen their numbers increase from 94 in 2002 to 855 this year. Experts say that if the current conservation and reintroduction efforts continue, the species could be out of danger by 2040. The 2019 census revealed that more than 80 % of the lynx population is in Spain, that 311 kittens were born on the peninsula last year and that there were 188 females of reproductive age.

Government efforts to get rid of creatures considered to be pests, which lasted until the mid-1970s, took a terrible toll, as did a catastrophic drop in rabbit numbers due to various diseases. This affected the lynx as the rabbit makes up an important part of its diet. Those factors were compounded by the destruction of habitats that came with motorways and a greater human presence.

Miguel Ángel Simón, a biologist who has worked on the project since its commencement remembers the difficulties he and his colleagues faced. “When we started back in 2000, we didn’t even know how many lynxes were left,” he says. “We found out from the first census that there were 94 and we thought that they were going to disappear. Back then, they were the most endangered felines in the world. Our first aim was just to stop them becoming extinct,” Simón insists.

Their strategy of seeking money and help from politicians, landowners and the public, gradually paid off. A series of projects, coordinated by the Spanish regional governments, the Portuguese authorities and conservation NGOs, has arrested the decline, expanded populations and seen lynxes reintroduced to other areas. “Today, the situation is pretty good and I think we can be optimistic because we haven’t just recovered the population in Spain, we’ve also built populations in Portugal – where the lynx was extinct”.

Ramón Pérez de Ayala from the WWF Spain explains that protecting the lynx is a moral and ecological imperative. “Every species has an intrinsic value that can’t be lost. And you’re talking about an animal that does a really good job of balancing out the food chain of the Mediterranean ecosystem.” But, he adds a further reason: “On a more emotional level, the lynx is a jewel and a thing of beauty to behold.”

WWF - World Wildlife Fund

NGOs - Non-Governmental organizations.

25 Oct 2020, The Guardian (Adapted)

Question 3 [1,5 POINTS]

Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words given. You only need to have five correct answers to get 1.5 points.

a)

Native (paragraph 1):

b)

To show (paragraph 1):

c)

Fall (paragraph 2):

d)

Objective (paragraph 3):

e)

To stop (paragraph 4):

f)

Fundamental (paragraph 5):

The Lynx Iberian Cat Comes Back from the Brink of Extinction

A 20-year project to reintroduce the lynx, the indigenous species of wild cat, across the Iberian Peninsula has already seen their numbers increase from 94 in 2002 to 855 this year. Experts say that if the current conservation and reintroduction efforts continue, the species could be out of danger by 2040. The 2019 census revealed that more than 80 % of the lynx population is in Spain, that 311 kittens were born on the peninsula last year and that there were 188 females of reproductive age.

Government efforts to get rid of creatures considered to be pests, which lasted until the mid-1970s, took a terrible toll, as did a catastrophic drop in rabbit numbers due to various diseases. This affected the lynx as the rabbit makes up an important part of its diet. Those factors were compounded by the destruction of habitats that came with motorways and a greater human presence.

Miguel Ángel Simón, a biologist who has worked on the project since its commencement remembers the difficulties he and his colleagues faced. “When we started back in 2000, we didn’t even know how many lynxes were left,” he says. “We found out from the first census that there were 94 and we thought that they were going to disappear. Back then, they were the most endangered felines in the world. Our first aim was just to stop them becoming extinct,” Simón insists.

Their strategy of seeking money and help from politicians, landowners and the public, gradually paid off. A series of projects, coordinated by the Spanish regional governments, the Portuguese authorities and conservation NGOs, has arrested the decline, expanded populations and seen lynxes reintroduced to other areas. “Today, the situation is pretty good and I think we can be optimistic because we haven’t just recovered the population in Spain, we’ve also built populations in Portugal – where the lynx was extinct”.

Ramón Pérez de Ayala from the WWF Spain explains that protecting the lynx is a moral and ecological imperative. “Every species has an intrinsic value that can’t be lost. And you’re talking about an animal that does a really good job of balancing out the food chain of the Mediterranean ecosystem.” But, he adds a further reason: “On a more emotional level, the lynx is a jewel and a thing of beauty to behold.”

WWF - World Wildlife Fund

NGOs - Non-Governmental organizations.

25 Oct 2020, The Guardian (Adapted)

Question 4 [1,5 POINTS]

Choose the correct option –a, b, c or d– for each question and COPY both the letter and the sentence that follows onto your answer sheet.

1.

If the project hadn't been successful,...

2.

The text says that 20 years ago, the lynx...

3.

The project was financed...

PART 2. [3 POINTS] Written production.

Choose ONE of the two options below and write a short essay (120-150 words). Essays up to 200 words won't be penalized.

Option 1

"Apps like TikTok are potentially dangerous and should not be permitted." Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons to justify your opinion.

PART 2. [3 POINTS] Written production.

Choose ONE of the two options below and write a short essay (120-150 words). Essays up to 200 words won't be penalized.

Option 2

What are the advantages and disadvantages of keeping pets at home?