Examen de Inglés PAU Galicia 2023 · Ordinaria (2ª lengua extranjera)

TEXT A

People who enjoy skiing dream of skiing in exotic places. These days they don’t have to limit themselves to just the Rocky Mountains or the Swiss Alps. Now they can ski in Dubai as well! That’s right. Dubai, the most populated city in the United Arab Emirates, has a ski resort. Ski Dubai opened for business in 2005. Other than being the world’s third largest indoor ski facility, Ski Dubai has a number of things to amaze visitors. First and foremost, this ski facility was built in a place where there are no natural hills and it never snows. While the desert outdoors can reach 45° C in the summer, the slopes of Ski Dubai are kept at a cool -2° C all year round.

Like any other ski resort, Ski Dubai has a chairlift and ski instructors. It also boasts a Swiss style café on the slopes where skiers can rest and warm up. However, that’s not all. Along with being able to enjoy the five indoor slopes, including a black diamond slope, visitors are welcome to build snowmen in a designated area. Children can also enjoy snowball fights in the snowball throwing gallery, or they can explore a snow cavern filled with amazing things for kids to see and do.

As if all of that were not enough, it is also possible for guests to experience falling snow from time to time. When it is time to make new snow inside the facility, the temperature drops to -8° C. Then snow guns shoot out chilled water to make a cloud near the ceiling. Tiny particles of ice are shot into the cloud to form snow crystals. This man-made snow falls from the ceiling on excited guests below. When Raed Al Yousofi, a guest at Ski Dubai, experienced his first snowfall, he said, “It’s very strange but wonderful.” That is certainly an apt description of Ski Dubai as well.

1.1. READ TEXT A AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW (2.5 points)

1.1.1. Indicate whether the following statements are true or false (T/F) according to the text. Copy that part (and ONLY that part) of the text which justifies your answer. (1.5 points)

a.

In Dubai ski enthusiasts cannot practise this sport in the open air.

b.

Ski Dubai has been built in a winter landscape area.

c.

Users have to bring their own drinks.

d.

Kids don’t often complain about being bored.

e.

Unusually low temperatures are not needed to produce snow.

f.

People love it when snowflakes fall on their heads.

TEXT A

People who enjoy skiing dream of skiing in exotic places. These days they don’t have to limit themselves to just the Rocky Mountains or the Swiss Alps. Now they can ski in Dubai as well! That’s right. Dubai, the most populated city in the United Arab Emirates, has a ski resort. Ski Dubai opened for business in 2005. Other than being the world’s third largest indoor ski facility, Ski Dubai has a number of things to amaze visitors. First and foremost, this ski facility was built in a place where there are no natural hills and it never snows. While the desert outdoors can reach 45° C in the summer, the slopes of Ski Dubai are kept at a cool -2° C all year round.

Like any other ski resort, Ski Dubai has a chairlift and ski instructors. It also boasts a Swiss style café on the slopes where skiers can rest and warm up. However, that’s not all. Along with being able to enjoy the five indoor slopes, including a black diamond slope, visitors are welcome to build snowmen in a designated area. Children can also enjoy snowball fights in the snowball throwing gallery, or they can explore a snow cavern filled with amazing things for kids to see and do.

As if all of that were not enough, it is also possible for guests to experience falling snow from time to time. When it is time to make new snow inside the facility, the temperature drops to -8° C. Then snow guns shoot out chilled water to make a cloud near the ceiling. Tiny particles of ice are shot into the cloud to form snow crystals. This man-made snow falls from the ceiling on excited guests below. When Raed Al Yousofi, a guest at Ski Dubai, experienced his first snowfall, he said, “It’s very strange but wonderful.” That is certainly an apt description of Ski Dubai as well.

1.1.2. Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given here. (1 point)

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

TEXT A

People who enjoy skiing dream of skiing in exotic places. These days they don’t have to limit themselves to just the Rocky Mountains or the Swiss Alps. Now they can ski in Dubai as well! That’s right. Dubai, the most populated city in the United Arab Emirates, has a ski resort. Ski Dubai opened for business in 2005. Other than being the world’s third largest indoor ski facility, Ski Dubai has a number of things to amaze visitors. First and foremost, this ski facility was built in a place where there are no natural hills and it never snows. While the desert outdoors can reach 45° C in the summer, the slopes of Ski Dubai are kept at a cool -2° C all year round.

Like any other ski resort, Ski Dubai has a chairlift and ski instructors. It also boasts a Swiss style café on the slopes where skiers can rest and warm up. However, that’s not all. Along with being able to enjoy the five indoor slopes, including a black diamond slope, visitors are welcome to build snowmen in a designated area. Children can also enjoy snowball fights in the snowball throwing gallery, or they can explore a snow cavern filled with amazing things for kids to see and do.

As if all of that were not enough, it is also possible for guests to experience falling snow from time to time. When it is time to make new snow inside the facility, the temperature drops to -8° C. Then snow guns shoot out chilled water to make a cloud near the ceiling. Tiny particles of ice are shot into the cloud to form snow crystals. This man-made snow falls from the ceiling on excited guests below. When Raed Al Yousofi, a guest at Ski Dubai, experienced his first snowfall, he said, “It’s very strange but wonderful.” That is certainly an apt description of Ski Dubai as well.

1.2.1 Complete the second sentence of each pair so that it has the same meaning as the first one. You must use the word or expression in italics. (2 points)

a.

It's a pity I can't ski.

b.

We last went on holiday last August.

c.

Although she didn't speak Arabic, she decided to go to Dubai.

d.

You'd better save if you want to spend your holiday there, said her mother.

e.

When it gets colder, it is much more enjoyable.

TEXT A

People who enjoy skiing dream of skiing in exotic places. These days they don’t have to limit themselves to just the Rocky Mountains or the Swiss Alps. Now they can ski in Dubai as well! That’s right. Dubai, the most populated city in the United Arab Emirates, has a ski resort. Ski Dubai opened for business in 2005. Other than being the world’s third largest indoor ski facility, Ski Dubai has a number of things to amaze visitors. First and foremost, this ski facility was built in a place where there are no natural hills and it never snows. While the desert outdoors can reach 45° C in the summer, the slopes of Ski Dubai are kept at a cool -2° C all year round.

Like any other ski resort, Ski Dubai has a chairlift and ski instructors. It also boasts a Swiss style café on the slopes where skiers can rest and warm up. However, that’s not all. Along with being able to enjoy the five indoor slopes, including a black diamond slope, visitors are welcome to build snowmen in a designated area. Children can also enjoy snowball fights in the snowball throwing gallery, or they can explore a snow cavern filled with amazing things for kids to see and do.

As if all of that were not enough, it is also possible for guests to experience falling snow from time to time. When it is time to make new snow inside the facility, the temperature drops to -8° C. Then snow guns shoot out chilled water to make a cloud near the ceiling. Tiny particles of ice are shot into the cloud to form snow crystals. This man-made snow falls from the ceiling on excited guests below. When Raed Al Yousofi, a guest at Ski Dubai, experienced his first snowfall, he said, “It’s very strange but wonderful.” That is certainly an apt description of Ski Dubai as well.

1.2.2. Pronunciation (0.50 points)

a.

In which word does the letter "i" sound differently?

b.

In which two words is the ending "ed" pronounced /t/ as in "attached"?

c.

Which pair of words does not rhyme?

d.

In which word are the vowel sounds pronounced differently?

TEXT B

What do Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Julius Caesar, and Napoleon have in common? They were all left-handed!

Beginning early in history, southpaws were feared, neglected, and punished because use of the left hand was considered evil. In fact, the Latin word for “left” is “sinister.” Due to this prejudice against the left, left-handed people were forced to switch hands. This change caused many problems for lefties in school, which resulted in frustration, bad behaviour, and high dropout rates. Maybe that is why lefties were stereotyped as unintelligent, an idea that could not be further from the truth.

Researchers studying the brain have found differences in the left side and right side of the brain. Researchers believe that people who use more of the left side of their brain tend to be more intelligent. They also tend to use language better and solve problems faster. However, one study also showed that left-brain people tend to have worse memories.

So, which side of the brain do lefties use? Actually, both. Right-handed people use the left side of the brain more, whereas left-handed people use both sides of the brain almost equally. The part connecting the two halves of the brain is usually larger in left-handed people. Therefore, information can pass more efficiently from one side of the brain to the other. The left hemisphere of the brain controls speech, language, writing, logic, mathematics, and science. The right hemisphere controls music, art, creativity, perception, and emotion. Since lefties use both sides, they are often both creative and scientific.

Approximately ten percent of the world is left-handed, and the ratio of left-handed males to left-handed females is two to one. Thankfully, parents and teachers no longer treat left-handedness as a problem to be cured. It may actually contribute to a child's excellence! If allowed to learn and develop in their own way, lefties will excel in school. Perhaps one of these lefties might turn out to be the next Einstein or da Vinci.

QUESTION 2. (5 points)

2.1. READ TEXT B AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW (2.5 points)

2.1.1. Indicate whether the following statements are true or false (T/F) according to the text. Copy that part (and ONLY that part) of the text which justifies your answer. (1.5 points)

a.

In the past nobody thought well of left-handed people.

b.

The word left-handed has a positive meaning.

c.

Left-handed people were obliged to change some habits.

d.

It has been proved that left-handed people use the right side of their brain while right-handed individuals use the left part.

e.

If someone is right-handed, she or he is probably creative and artistic.

f.

There are more left-handed women than men.

TEXT B

What do Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Julius Caesar, and Napoleon have in common? They were all left-handed!

Beginning early in history, southpaws were feared, neglected, and punished because use of the left hand was considered evil. In fact, the Latin word for “left” is “sinister.” Due to this prejudice against the left, left-handed people were forced to switch hands. This change caused many problems for lefties in school, which resulted in frustration, bad behaviour, and high dropout rates. Maybe that is why lefties were stereotyped as unintelligent, an idea that could not be further from the truth.

Researchers studying the brain have found differences in the left side and right side of the brain. Researchers believe that people who use more of the left side of their brain tend to be more intelligent. They also tend to use language better and solve problems faster. However, one study also showed that left-brain people tend to have worse memories.

So, which side of the brain do lefties use? Actually, both. Right-handed people use the left side of the brain more, whereas left-handed people use both sides of the brain almost equally. The part connecting the two halves of the brain is usually larger in left-handed people. Therefore, information can pass more efficiently from one side of the brain to the other. The left hemisphere of the brain controls speech, language, writing, logic, mathematics, and science. The right hemisphere controls music, art, creativity, perception, and emotion. Since lefties use both sides, they are often both creative and scientific.

Approximately ten percent of the world is left-handed, and the ratio of left-handed males to left-handed females is two to one. Thankfully, parents and teachers no longer treat left-handedness as a problem to be cured. It may actually contribute to a child's excellence! If allowed to learn and develop in their own way, lefties will excel in school. Perhaps one of these lefties might turn out to be the next Einstein or da Vinci.

QUESTION 2. (5 points)

2.1. READ TEXT B AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW (2.5 points)

2.1.2. Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given here. (1 point)

a.

b.

c.

e.

f.

TEXT B

What do Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Julius Caesar, and Napoleon have in common? They were all left-handed!

Beginning early in history, southpaws were feared, neglected, and punished because use of the left hand was considered evil. In fact, the Latin word for “left” is “sinister.” Due to this prejudice against the left, left-handed people were forced to switch hands. This change caused many problems for lefties in school, which resulted in frustration, bad behaviour, and high dropout rates. Maybe that is why lefties were stereotyped as unintelligent, an idea that could not be further from the truth.

Researchers studying the brain have found differences in the left side and right side of the brain. Researchers believe that people who use more of the left side of their brain tend to be more intelligent. They also tend to use language better and solve problems faster. However, one study also showed that left-brain people tend to have worse memories.

So, which side of the brain do lefties use? Actually, both. Right-handed people use the left side of the brain more, whereas left-handed people use both sides of the brain almost equally. The part connecting the two halves of the brain is usually larger in left-handed people. Therefore, information can pass more efficiently from one side of the brain to the other. The left hemisphere of the brain controls speech, language, writing, logic, mathematics, and science. The right hemisphere controls music, art, creativity, perception, and emotion. Since lefties use both sides, they are often both creative and scientific.

Approximately ten percent of the world is left-handed, and the ratio of left-handed males to left-handed females is two to one. Thankfully, parents and teachers no longer treat left-handedness as a problem to be cured. It may actually contribute to a child's excellence! If allowed to learn and develop in their own way, lefties will excel in school. Perhaps one of these lefties might turn out to be the next Einstein or da Vinci.

QUESTION 2. (5 points)

2.2. WRITE A COMPOSITION ANSWERING THIS QUESTION (2.5 points)

Does being different mean being unpopular? (Approximately 120 words)

QUESTION 3. (5 points)

QUESTION 3. (5 points)

3.1. ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW (2.5 points)

3.1.1. Complete the second sentence of each pair so that it has the same meaning as the first one. You must use the word or expression in italics. (2 points)

a.

Although she took a taxi, Anne still arrived late for the concert

Despite

b.

The weather was so bad that we couldn’t go out.

such

c.

I don’t visit you very often because you live very far away.

If

d.

People never use this classroom for exams.

This

e.

Christine to us: “Please, don’t be late!”

asked

QUESTION 3. (5 points)

3.1.2. Pronunciation (0.50 points)

a.

In which word is the letter “l” not pronounced?

b.

In which two words is the stress on the first syllable as in “benefit”?

c.

In which word is the vowel sound not pronounced as in “fun”?

d.

In which word is the ending “-ed” pronounced /d/ as in “answered”?

QUESTION 3. (5 points)

3.2. WRITE A COMPOSITION ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS (2.5 points)

How do you imagine your perfect winter holidays? Why? (Approximately 120 words)