Examen de Inglés PAU Castilla y León 2024 · Extraordinaria (Fase Mejora de Nota)

OPTION A

THE BEAUTIFUL DESOLATION OF LIFE ON MARS —ON EARTH

In May 1996, an autonomous vehicle joined with Russia’s Mir space station. It carried the usual

items — food, clothes, scientific equipment — along with much more cherished ones. The American

astronaut Shannon Lucid received M&Ms. For the two cosmonauts, Yuri Usachev and Yuri Onufriyenko,

there were perfume-scented letters offering a break from the smells of the space station, which astronauts

5 have associated with body odor, trash and hot metal.

Space crews in the past have delighted in the scents of fresh tomatoes, lemons and apples. Its

psychological value is considered high enough to justify the extreme expense of delivery. (A single apple

costs around $300 to launch to orbit today aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.)

Many experts suggest that Mars settlers will need to live inside heavily engineered habitats,

10 protected from a world with high radiation, a thin atmosphere and toxic dust storm. Communication with

Earth will require at least three minutes each way, making live calls from home impossible even during

emergencies. There are nevertheless those who would try to make a new home on Mars, though even the

most ambitious proposals don’t put humans there until 2029 at the earliest. In the meantime, the Mars

Society offers a chance to rehearse extraterrestrial living in some of the most Mars-like locations on Earth.

15 At the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, crews of up to seven work and sleep in a small

cylindrical habitat connected to a dome, a greenhouse and an observatory by narrow enclosed pathways so

that participants can move between facilities without breaking the simulation.

MDRS is by no means a perfect analog for life on Mars. Crew members’ suits aren’t really

pressurized. The gravity is earthlike, and missions last for weeks instead of years. Problems can be solved

20 by a car ride to the hardware store. As space launch deadlines are perpetually postponed by NASA and

SpaceX alike, crews at MDRS continue to take care of this bit of Mars on Earth, carrying a dream and

keeping it tangible along with fellow believers. (Fragment adapted from The New York Times.)

1) BRIEFLY ANSWER ONLY 4 OUT OF THE FOLLOWING 6 QUESTIONS WITH ONLY THE DATA REQUIRED (NOT A WHOLE SENTENCE) (2 POINTS; 0.5 POINTS EACH).

1.

What kind of vehicle joined with Russia's Mir space station?

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2.

What is the function of the perfume-scented letters given to the cosmonauts?

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3.

According to the text, what is the cost of launching an apple to orbit?

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4.

Name three characteristics of life in Mars.

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5.

What does MDRS stand for?

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6.

How long do missions in the Research Station in Utah last for?

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OPTION A

THE BEAUTIFUL DESOLATION OF LIFE ON MARS —ON EARTH

In May 1996, an autonomous vehicle joined with Russia’s Mir space station. It carried the usual

items — food, clothes, scientific equipment — along with much more cherished ones. The American

astronaut Shannon Lucid received M&Ms. For the two cosmonauts, Yuri Usachev and Yuri Onufriyenko,

there were perfume-scented letters offering a break from the smells of the space station, which astronauts

5 have associated with body odor, trash and hot metal.

Space crews in the past have delighted in the scents of fresh tomatoes, lemons and apples. Its

psychological value is considered high enough to justify the extreme expense of delivery. (A single apple

costs around $300 to launch to orbit today aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.)

Many experts suggest that Mars settlers will need to live inside heavily engineered habitats,

10 protected from a world with high radiation, a thin atmosphere and toxic dust storm. Communication with

Earth will require at least three minutes each way, making live calls from home impossible even during

emergencies. There are nevertheless those who would try to make a new home on Mars, though even the

most ambitious proposals don’t put humans there until 2029 at the earliest. In the meantime, the Mars

Society offers a chance to rehearse extraterrestrial living in some of the most Mars-like locations on Earth.

15 At the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, crews of up to seven work and sleep in a small

cylindrical habitat connected to a dome, a greenhouse and an observatory by narrow enclosed pathways so

that participants can move between facilities without breaking the simulation.

MDRS is by no means a perfect analog for life on Mars. Crew members’ suits aren’t really

pressurized. The gravity is earthlike, and missions last for weeks instead of years. Problems can be solved

20 by a car ride to the hardware store. As space launch deadlines are perpetually postponed by NASA and

SpaceX alike, crews at MDRS continue to take care of this bit of Mars on Earth, carrying a dream and

keeping it tangible along with fellow believers. (Fragment adapted from The New York Times.)

2) ARE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? INDICATE THE LINES THAT SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER (1 POINT).

1.

Communications with Earth will require only one minute, so live calls from home are very fast.

TRUE

FALSE

2.

Space launch deadlines are always on time and never delayed by NASA.

TRUE

FALSE

OPTION A

THE BEAUTIFUL DESOLATION OF LIFE ON MARS —ON EARTH

In May 1996, an autonomous vehicle joined with Russia’s Mir space station. It carried the usual

items — food, clothes, scientific equipment — along with much more cherished ones. The American

astronaut Shannon Lucid received M&Ms. For the two cosmonauts, Yuri Usachev and Yuri Onufriyenko,

there were perfume-scented letters offering a break from the smells of the space station, which astronauts

5 have associated with body odor, trash and hot metal.

Space crews in the past have delighted in the scents of fresh tomatoes, lemons and apples. Its

psychological value is considered high enough to justify the extreme expense of delivery. (A single apple

costs around $300 to launch to orbit today aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.)

Many experts suggest that Mars settlers will need to live inside heavily engineered habitats,

10 protected from a world with high radiation, a thin atmosphere and toxic dust storm. Communication with

Earth will require at least three minutes each way, making live calls from home impossible even during

emergencies. There are nevertheless those who would try to make a new home on Mars, though even the

most ambitious proposals don’t put humans there until 2029 at the earliest. In the meantime, the Mars

Society offers a chance to rehearse extraterrestrial living in some of the most Mars-like locations on Earth.

15 At the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, crews of up to seven work and sleep in a small

cylindrical habitat connected to a dome, a greenhouse and an observatory by narrow enclosed pathways so

that participants can move between facilities without breaking the simulation.

MDRS is by no means a perfect analog for life on Mars. Crew members’ suits aren’t really

pressurized. The gravity is earthlike, and missions last for weeks instead of years. Problems can be solved

20 by a car ride to the hardware store. As space launch deadlines are perpetually postponed by NASA and

SpaceX alike, crews at MDRS continue to take care of this bit of Mars on Earth, carrying a dream and

keeping it tangible along with fellow believers. (Fragment adapted from The New York Times.)

3) CHOOSE a OR b, ONLY ONE CHOICE IS CORRECT ACCORDING TO THE TEXT (1 POINT).

OPTION A

THE BEAUTIFUL DESOLATION OF LIFE ON MARS —ON EARTH

In May 1996, an autonomous vehicle joined with Russia’s Mir space station. It carried the usual

items — food, clothes, scientific equipment — along with much more cherished ones. The American

astronaut Shannon Lucid received M&Ms. For the two cosmonauts, Yuri Usachev and Yuri Onufriyenko,

there were perfume-scented letters offering a break from the smells of the space station, which astronauts

5 have associated with body odor, trash and hot metal.

Space crews in the past have delighted in the scents of fresh tomatoes, lemons and apples. Its

psychological value is considered high enough to justify the extreme expense of delivery. (A single apple

costs around $300 to launch to orbit today aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.)

Many experts suggest that Mars settlers will need to live inside heavily engineered habitats,

10 protected from a world with high radiation, a thin atmosphere and toxic dust storm. Communication with

Earth will require at least three minutes each way, making live calls from home impossible even during

emergencies. There are nevertheless those who would try to make a new home on Mars, though even the

most ambitious proposals don’t put humans there until 2029 at the earliest. In the meantime, the Mars

Society offers a chance to rehearse extraterrestrial living in some of the most Mars-like locations on Earth.

15 At the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, crews of up to seven work and sleep in a small

cylindrical habitat connected to a dome, a greenhouse and an observatory by narrow enclosed pathways so

that participants can move between facilities without breaking the simulation.

MDRS is by no means a perfect analog for life on Mars. Crew members’ suits aren’t really

pressurized. The gravity is earthlike, and missions last for weeks instead of years. Problems can be solved

20 by a car ride to the hardware store. As space launch deadlines are perpetually postponed by NASA and

SpaceX alike, crews at MDRS continue to take care of this bit of Mars on Earth, carrying a dream and

keeping it tangible along with fellow believers. (Fragment adapted from The New York Times.)

4) VOCABULARY (2 POINTS).

4.1

Choose one of the options below and find one word in the text for its definition (0.6 POINTS):

4.2

Find a synonym in the text for one of the two words below (0.6 POINTS):

4.3

For one of the following words from the text, give a synonym that fits the meaning of the text (0.8 POINTS):

5) WRITE ABOUT THE FOLLOWING TOPIC USING BETWEEN 120-150 WORDS (4 POINTS).

Do you think it is worth spending huge amounts of money in space exploration? Justify your answer.

EVEN SHORT RUNS HAVE MAJOR HEALTH BENEFITS

Numerous long-term studies have shown that running benefits people physically and mentally, and

that runners tend to live longer and have a lower risk for cardiovascular disease than nonrunners.

One might assume that you need to run long distances, but there’s strong evidence linking even very

short, occasional runs to significant health benefits. “We’ve found that going for something like a two-mile

5 run a few times a week gets you pretty much the full benefit of running in terms of lower mortality,” said

Dr. O’Keefe.

During the past decade, he has published multiple studies on running for health and longevity. In

one of them, he and his colleagues analyzed long-term health and exercise data collected from around 5,000

adults ranging in age from 20 to 92. Compared to nonrunners, people who ran between one and 2.4 hours

10 per week at a slow or moderate pace enjoyed the greatest reductions in mortality.

The physiological benefits of running may be attributable to a group of molecules known as

exerkines. While research on exerkines is relatively new, studies have linked them to reductions in harmful

inflammation and the generation of new blood vessels, said Dr. Lisa Chow. Much about these molecules

requires more study. But she said research has already found that vigorous exercise — such as short runs

15 — are enough to trigger some of these exerkine-related benefits.

A recent research review on exercise and depression found that adults who got the widely

recommended 2.4 hours of moderate physical activity per week had a 25 percent lower risk of depression

compared to people who didn’t exercise at all. “If someone were to start running even once or twice a week,

instead of not exercising at all, that’s where we should see the most benefits,” said Karmel Choi.

20 While some people love the challenge of lengthy runs, they’re not for everyone. But there is plenty

to be gained by putting one foot in front of the other, even if it’s just around the block.

“The key message here,” he added, “is that any physical activity is much better than none.”

(Fragment adapted from The New York Times.)

1) BRIEFLY ANSWER ONLY 4 OUT OF THE FOLLOWING 6 QUESTIONS WITH ONLY THE DATA REQUIRED (NOT A WHOLE SENTENCE) (2 POINTS; 0.5 POINTS EACH).

1.

According to the text, what are two benefits of running?

2.

Who has published multiple studies on running for health and longevity?

3.

What was the average time that people had to run to enjoy the greatest reduction in mortality?

4.

What triggers some of the exerkine-related benefits, according to Dr. Lisa Chow?

5.

Does exercise also help reduce the risk of depression?

6.

According to Karmel Choi, what is much better than doing nothing?

EVEN SHORT RUNS HAVE MAJOR HEALTH BENEFITS

Numerous long-term studies have shown that running benefits people physically and mentally, and

that runners tend to live longer and have a lower risk for cardiovascular disease than nonrunners.

One might assume that you need to run long distances, but there’s strong evidence linking even very

short, occasional runs to significant health benefits. “We’ve found that going for something like a two-mile

5 run a few times a week gets you pretty much the full benefit of running in terms of lower mortality,” said

Dr. O’Keefe.

During the past decade, he has published multiple studies on running for health and longevity. In

one of them, he and his colleagues analyzed long-term health and exercise data collected from around 5,000

adults ranging in age from 20 to 92. Compared to nonrunners, people who ran between one and 2.4 hours

10 per week at a slow or moderate pace enjoyed the greatest reductions in mortality.

The physiological benefits of running may be attributable to a group of molecules known as

exerkines. While research on exerkines is relatively new, studies have linked them to reductions in harmful

inflammation and the generation of new blood vessels, said Dr. Lisa Chow. Much about these molecules

requires more study. But she said research has already found that vigorous exercise — such as short runs

15 — are enough to trigger some of these exerkine-related benefits.

A recent research review on exercise and depression found that adults who got the widely

recommended 2.4 hours of moderate physical activity per week had a 25 percent lower risk of depression

compared to people who didn’t exercise at all. “If someone were to start running even once or twice a week,

instead of not exercising at all, that’s where we should see the most benefits,” said Karmel Choi.

20 While some people love the challenge of lengthy runs, they’re not for everyone. But there is plenty

to be gained by putting one foot in front of the other, even if it’s just around the block.

“The key message here,” he added, “is that any physical activity is much better than none.”

(Fragment adapted from The New York Times.)

2) ARE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? INDICATE THE LINES THAT SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER (1 POINT).

1.

There is weak evidence linking even very short, occasional runs to health benefits.

TRUE

FALSE

2.

Lengthy runs are for everyone.

TRUE

FALSE

EVEN SHORT RUNS HAVE MAJOR HEALTH BENEFITS

Numerous long-term studies have shown that running benefits people physically and mentally, and

that runners tend to live longer and have a lower risk for cardiovascular disease than nonrunners.

One might assume that you need to run long distances, but there’s strong evidence linking even very

short, occasional runs to significant health benefits. “We’ve found that going for something like a two-mile

5 run a few times a week gets you pretty much the full benefit of running in terms of lower mortality,” said

Dr. O’Keefe.

During the past decade, he has published multiple studies on running for health and longevity. In

one of them, he and his colleagues analyzed long-term health and exercise data collected from around 5,000

adults ranging in age from 20 to 92. Compared to nonrunners, people who ran between one and 2.4 hours

10 per week at a slow or moderate pace enjoyed the greatest reductions in mortality.

The physiological benefits of running may be attributable to a group of molecules known as

exerkines. While research on exerkines is relatively new, studies have linked them to reductions in harmful

inflammation and the generation of new blood vessels, said Dr. Lisa Chow. Much about these molecules

requires more study. But she said research has already found that vigorous exercise — such as short runs

15 — are enough to trigger some of these exerkine-related benefits.

A recent research review on exercise and depression found that adults who got the widely

recommended 2.4 hours of moderate physical activity per week had a 25 percent lower risk of depression

compared to people who didn’t exercise at all. “If someone were to start running even once or twice a week,

instead of not exercising at all, that’s where we should see the most benefits,” said Karmel Choi.

20 While some people love the challenge of lengthy runs, they’re not for everyone. But there is plenty

to be gained by putting one foot in front of the other, even if it’s just around the block.

“The key message here,” he added, “is that any physical activity is much better than none.”

(Fragment adapted from The New York Times.)

3) CHOOSE a OR b, ONLY ONE CHOICE IS CORRECT ACCORDING TO THE TEXT (1 POINT).

)

EVEN SHORT RUNS HAVE MAJOR HEALTH BENEFITS

Numerous long-term studies have shown that running benefits people physically and mentally, and

that runners tend to live longer and have a lower risk for cardiovascular disease than nonrunners.

One might assume that you need to run long distances, but there’s strong evidence linking even very

short, occasional runs to significant health benefits. “We’ve found that going for something like a two-mile

5 run a few times a week gets you pretty much the full benefit of running in terms of lower mortality,” said

Dr. O’Keefe.

During the past decade, he has published multiple studies on running for health and longevity. In

one of them, he and his colleagues analyzed long-term health and exercise data collected from around 5,000

adults ranging in age from 20 to 92. Compared to nonrunners, people who ran between one and 2.4 hours

10 per week at a slow or moderate pace enjoyed the greatest reductions in mortality.

The physiological benefits of running may be attributable to a group of molecules known as

exerkines. While research on exerkines is relatively new, studies have linked them to reductions in harmful

inflammation and the generation of new blood vessels, said Dr. Lisa Chow. Much about these molecules

requires more study. But she said research has already found that vigorous exercise — such as short runs

15 — are enough to trigger some of these exerkine-related benefits.

A recent research review on exercise and depression found that adults who got the widely

recommended 2.4 hours of moderate physical activity per week had a 25 percent lower risk of depression

compared to people who didn’t exercise at all. “If someone were to start running even once or twice a week,

instead of not exercising at all, that’s where we should see the most benefits,” said Karmel Choi.

20 While some people love the challenge of lengthy runs, they’re not for everyone. But there is plenty

to be gained by putting one foot in front of the other, even if it’s just around the block.

“The key message here,” he added, “is that any physical activity is much better than none.”

(Fragment adapted from The New York Times.)

4) VOCABULARY (2 POINTS).

4.1 Choose one of the options below and find one word in the text for its definition (0.6 POINTS):

a)

b)

4.2 Find a synonym in the text for one of the two words below (0.6 POINTS):

a)

b)

4.3 For one of the following words from the text, give a synonym that fits the meaning of the text (0.8 POINTS):

a)

b)

5) WRITE ABOUT THE FOLLOWING TOPIC USING BETWEEN 120-150 WORDS (4 POINTS).

What's your opinion about the health benefits of physical activity?