Examen de Inglés PAU Madrid 2022 · Extraordinaria

TEXTO A

Can our Bodies Withstand Global Heating?

“Every human being is at risk from extreme heat – it’s a fact of life, your body needs to function in a certain environment,” says Mike McGeehin, environmental health epidemiologist. “And when that environment becomes extreme then you are at risk.” The impact of extreme heat on the human body is not unlike what happens when a car overheats. Failure starts in one or two systems, and eventually it takes over the whole engine until the car stops.

The hypothalamus, located in the brain, regulates body temperature using information passed to it by temperature sensors in our skin, muscles, and other organs. When high temperatures are detected, the brain initiates a cascade of responses to help us cool down, such as sweating, increased respiration and the impulse to seek water and cooler environments. But when the system overheats, these responses start to fail, and miscommunication can occur in the brain, contributing to confusion, dizziness and altered behaviour. Each organ responds differently to extreme heat exposure, with symptoms that quickly become fatal or cause permanent damage from which the body may never fully recover. For instance, to sweat and cool off, blood flow shifts to the periphery of the body, causing a fall in blood pressure in vital organs. The heart starts to beat faster to compensate, but, if the person does not replenish their water reserves, blood pressure can drop dangerously and cause fainting.

Between 1998 and 2017, more than 166,000 people died due to heat, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and countries around the world are experiencing a year on year rise in record-breaking high temperatures. For many people, unendurable heat is becoming the new normal. It is most likely to disproportionately affect the poor, the sick – those with chronic conditions, or heart and kidney disease in particular – and older people.

Adapted from “Too Hot to Handle: Can our Bodies Withstand Global Heating?” The Guardian, October 20, 2021. <https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/20/too-hot-to-handle-can-our-bodies-withstand-global-heating>

A.1.- Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. Use a complete sentence. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

a)

Extremely high temperatures affect both cars and human bodies in similar ways.

TRUE

FALSE

b)

The hypothalamus is the only human organ that senses body temperature.

TRUE

FALSE

A.2.- In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

a)

Name two responses of the human brain to overheating.

b)

According to the text, who will most probably suffer the consequences of high temperatures?

TEXTO A

Can our Bodies Withstand Global Heating?

“Every human being is at risk from extreme heat – it’s a fact of life, your body needs to function in a certain environment,” says Mike McGeehin, environmental health epidemiologist. “And when that environment becomes extreme then you are at risk.” The impact of extreme heat on the human body is not unlike what happens when a car overheats. Failure starts in one or two systems, and eventually it takes over the whole engine until the car stops.

The hypothalamus, located in the brain, regulates body temperature using information passed to it by temperature sensors in our skin, muscles, and other organs. When high temperatures are detected, the brain initiates a cascade of responses to help us cool down, such as sweating, increased respiration and the impulse to seek water and cooler environments. But when the system overheats, these responses start to fail, and miscommunication can occur in the brain, contributing to confusion, dizziness and altered behaviour. Each organ responds differently to extreme heat exposure, with symptoms that quickly become fatal or cause permanent damage from which the body may never fully recover. For instance, to sweat and cool off, blood flow shifts to the periphery of the body, causing a fall in blood pressure in vital organs. The heart starts to beat faster to compensate, but, if the person does not replenish their water reserves, blood pressure can drop dangerously and cause fainting.

Between 1998 and 2017, more than 166,000 people died due to heat, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and countries around the world are experiencing a year on year rise in record-breaking high temperatures. For many people, unendurable heat is becoming the new normal. It is most likely to disproportionately affect the poor, the sick – those with chronic conditions, or heart and kidney disease in particular – and older people.

Adapted from “Too Hot to Handle: Can our Bodies Withstand Global Heating?” The Guardian, October 20, 2021. <https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/20/too-hot-to-handle-can-our-bodies-withstand-global-heating>

A.3.- Find the words in the text that mean:

(Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)

a)

b)

c)

d)

A.4.- Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

a)

If she

(not / exercise) in such hot weather yesterday, she

(not / get) sunstroke.

b)

Kidneys,

are responsible

regulating the concentrations of water and salts in blood, may be damaged by extremely high temperatures.

c)

Nearly 300,000 people

(diagnose) with skin cancer every year.

,

sunbathing is still a very popular activity.

d)

Complete the following sentence to report what was said.

"Which steps do we have to take to stop global warming?"

A.5.- Write about 150 to 200 words on the following topic. (Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)

Some people prefer to live in hot climates whereas others prefer the cold ones. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Word count: words (target: 150–200 words)

TEXTO B

The Rise of the ‘Granfluencer’

Over the past decade, social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube have rapidly grown in importance. According to a recent report, more than 45% of the world's population is tapped into social media. Within this large number, there's a common misconception that most people posting, liking, and commenting on social feeds are twenty-somethings and younger. The truth is, many seniors have broadened their horizons when it comes to technology. According to a research study, the percentage of adults aged 65 and older who used social media grew from 3% in 2005 to 45% in 2021.

Some seniors have even become ‘granfluencers’, and people of all ages can't get enough of their content. Granfluencers are senior influencers who know their way around social media and use their popularity to make money (snapping pics, recording videos, and learning the art of selfies). This group also engages in leisure tasks that do not generate income, such as tech and travel, working out and dining out, all while sharing on social media.

The added bonus with granfluencers is that there's immense value in their wisdom and life experiences, filling the need of audiences that seek out content that encourages diverse voices and makes them feel good. After all, what's more heart-warming than a grandma enjoying a product she loves or having fun with the latest TikTok challenge? There are quite a few seniors sharing their authentic voices in the social space these days — some of the best-known granfluencers include 92-year-old performance artist Helen Ruth Elam and and 75-year-old Joan MacDonald, who is a health and fitness influencer. Women aren't the only ones boosting ratings and capturing hearts, though: Nicky Elliott is a lively and entertaining man who helps people enjoy and learn sign language through music.

Adapted from “How Granfluencers Are a Growing & Positive Influence for Us All,” Resort Lifestyle Communities, September 9, 2021. <https://rlcommunities.com/blog/how-granfluencers-are-a-growing-positive-influence-for-us-all/>

QUESTIONS

B.1.- Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. Use a complete sentence. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

a)

Statistics show that the number of over 65s who use social media has decreased in the last years.

TRUE

FALSE

b)

Granfluencers are only popular among the elderly.

TRUE

FALSE

B.2.- In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text. (Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

a)

What kind of non-profit activities are granfluencers interested in?

b)

What is the extra plus of a granfluencer if compared to a "regular" influencer?

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TEXTO B

The Rise of the ‘Granfluencer’

Over the past decade, social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube have rapidly grown in importance. According to a recent report, more than 45% of the world's population is tapped into social media. Within this large number, there's a common misconception that most people posting, liking, and commenting on social feeds are twenty-somethings and younger. The truth is, many seniors have broadened their horizons when it comes to technology. According to a research study, the percentage of adults aged 65 and older who used social media grew from 3% in 2005 to 45% in 2021.

Some seniors have even become ‘granfluencers’, and people of all ages can't get enough of their content. Granfluencers are senior influencers who know their way around social media and use their popularity to make money (snapping pics, recording videos, and learning the art of selfies). This group also engages in leisure tasks that do not generate income, such as tech and travel, working out and dining out, all while sharing on social media.

The added bonus with granfluencers is that there's immense value in their wisdom and life experiences, filling the need of audiences that seek out content that encourages diverse voices and makes them feel good. After all, what's more heart-warming than a grandma enjoying a product she loves or having fun with the latest TikTok challenge? There are quite a few seniors sharing their authentic voices in the social space these days — some of the best-known granfluencers include 92-year-old performance artist Helen Ruth Elam and and 75-year-old Joan MacDonald, who is a health and fitness influencer. Women aren't the only ones boosting ratings and capturing hearts, though: Nicky Elliott is a lively and entertaining man who helps people enjoy and learn sign language through music.

Adapted from “How Granfluencers Are a Growing & Positive Influence for Us All,” Resort Lifestyle Communities, September 9, 2021. <https://rlcommunities.com/blog/how-granfluencers-are-a-growing-positive-influence-for-us-all/>

B.3.- Find the words in the text that mean: (Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)

a)

b)

c)

d)

B.4.- Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.

a)

A study that

(publish) last month found that our level of self-esteem depends on how

(social) accepted we feel.

b)

People who

(be) interested in beauty and fashion use social media to keep up

the latest news.

c)

I wish the Internet

(have) more educational content, but this is something hard

(find) these days.

d)

If I

(become) a social media influencer years ago, I

(be) a wealthy person now.

B.5.- Write about 150 to 200 words on the following topic.

Does technology make older people's lives better? Justify your answer.