Examen de Inglés PAU Madrid 2023 · Modelo

TEXTO A

Why is Bangkok the Most Visited City in the World?

In my more than decade of global wanderings, Bangkok is the one place that always comes to mind first when I decide I need a culturally interesting place to work remotely for a few months. Apart from digital nomads and low cost of living, it's a city with great food markets and thousands of temples.

Bangkok is a city with an estimated population of 10 million as of 2020. It is one of the most popular cities in the world - it's even been officially named the most-visited city, beating out Paris, NYC, London, and others. But it begs the question: Why is Bangkok so perennially popular? And what makes the city so interesting? Let’s dive right into a few of the things that make this city top the charts for travelers and visitors from all over the world.

Sure, Bangkok doesn’t come close to the cleanliness of sparkling new cities like Dubai or Singapore, but you’ll be hard pressed to find much litter in the city. Locals sweep the streets by hand every day, and in many cases vendors and business owners wash their portion of the sidewalks with buckets of water. Street vendors in particular have an incentive to keep their place of business clean.

Thailand might not have the lowest cost of living in the world, but compared to North America, Europe, Australia or Japan, Thailand is downright cheap. Thailand has issues with corruption, but it’s far from the worst place in the region. As a traveler, Bangkok is safe: outside of the pickpockets and scams that you can find in any major city, Bangkok boasts a very low crime rate which means that travellers of all ages and backgrounds feel good about starting their Southeast Asia travels in this regional hub.

Adapted from “Why is Bangkok the Most Visited City in the World?” Everything Everywhere, December 12, 2019. <https://everything-everywhere.com/why-bangkok/>

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. [2 puntos]

a)

Bangkok is the writer's favourite destination to go on vacation.

TRUE

FALSE

b)

Thailand is the cheapest country in the world.

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. [2 puntos]

a)

How do locals contribute to Bangkok's cleanliness?

b)

Why do tourists decide to start their trips in South East Asia from Bangkok?

TEXTO A

Why is Bangkok the Most Visited City in the World?

In my more than decade of global wanderings, Bangkok is the one place that always comes to mind first when I decide I need a culturally interesting place to work remotely for a few months. Apart from digital nomads and low cost of living, it's a city with great food markets and thousands of temples.

Bangkok is a city with an estimated population of 10 million as of 2020. It is one of the most popular cities in the world - it's even been officially named the most-visited city, beating out Paris, NYC, London, and others. But it begs the question: Why is Bangkok so perennially popular? And what makes the city so interesting? Let’s dive right into a few of the things that make this city top the charts for travelers and visitors from all over the world.

Sure, Bangkok doesn’t come close to the cleanliness of sparkling new cities like Dubai or Singapore, but you’ll be hard pressed to find much litter in the city. Locals sweep the streets by hand every day, and in many cases vendors and business owners wash their portion of the sidewalks with buckets of water. Street vendors in particular have an incentive to keep their place of business clean.

Thailand might not have the lowest cost of living in the world, but compared to North America, Europe, Australia or Japan, Thailand is downright cheap. Thailand has issues with corruption, but it’s far from the worst place in the region. As a traveler, Bangkok is safe: outside of the pickpockets and scams that you can find in any major city, Bangkok boasts a very low crime rate which means that travellers of all ages and backgrounds feel good about starting their Southeast Asia travels in this regional hub.

Adapted from “Why is Bangkok the Most Visited City in the World?” Everything Everywhere, December 12, 2019. <https://everything-everywhere.com/why-bangkok/>

A.3.- Find the words in the text that mean: [1 punto]

a)

approximate (paragraph 2)

b)

around (paragraph 2)

c)

waste (paragraph 3)

d)

problems (paragraph 4)

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

(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

a)

Finding

(accommodate) in a big city requires

(book) months in advance.

b)

Your Thailand costs will vary

(great) depending

the kind of traveler you want to be.

c)

If you

(choose) a different airline last year, your trip

(not / be) so expensive.

d)

You probably already know how

(say) "hello" in Japanese, but in case you don't, this is one of

(easy) words you can learn.

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

(Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of travelling to exotic destinations.

TEXTO B

Sports in America

Youth is synonymous with energy — mental and physical. Organized and informal sports offer teens the opportunity to expend some of that energy and, more importantly, to learn the value of fair practice, to accomplish objectives, and to just have fun.

In 2003, 58% of boys and 51% of girls in American high schools played on a sports team. The most commonly chosen sports by boys are American football, basketball, track and field, baseball, and soccer (international football). But for girls, the most prevalent are basketball, track and field athletics, volleyball, softball, and soccer. As a result of a U.S. law that encourages women to take part in athletics, girls' participation in high school athletics has risen by 800% over the past 30 years. Other organized high school sports often include gymnastics, wrestling, swimming, tennis, and golf.

Away from school, teenagers participate year-round in community-sponsored sports leagues. Besides, particularly in the summer, young people participate informally in one sport or another in the streets and parks of their neighborhoods. A high percentage of high school seniors reported taking part in music and performing arts activities, academic clubs, student council, and the school newspaper.

Sports also play a crucial role in the everyday social scene at American colleges and universities. There are university sports programs at the intercollegiate (organized competition) and internal (club-like, less competitive) levels. Grants are offered at the intercollegiate level to students who are both academically qualified and skilled in a sport. Athletic scholarships are awarded for everything from archery to wrestling, with an eye on gender equality to achieve a balance between men's and women's scholarships. These scholarships are administered directly by each academic institution on a percentage basis and universities have strict limits on the total amount they can award each year.

Adapted from “Sports in America>School & College Sports,” U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Germany, November 23, 2021. <https://usa.usembassy.de/sports-youth.htm>

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)

Female participation in school sports is now higher than three decades ago.

TRUE

FALSE

b)

Being good at a sport is the only requirement to get a grant.

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 benefits do teenagers get from playing sports? Mention two.

b)

According to the text, is the number of scholarships different for boys and girls? Why?

TEXTO B

Sports in America

Youth is synonymous with energy — mental and physical. Organized and informal sports offer teens the opportunity to expend some of that energy and, more importantly, to learn the value of fair practice, to accomplish objectives, and to just have fun.

In 2003, 58% of boys and 51% of girls in American high schools played on a sports team. The most commonly chosen sports by boys are American football, basketball, track and field, baseball, and soccer (international football). But for girls, the most prevalent are basketball, track and field athletics, volleyball, softball, and soccer. As a result of a U.S. law that encourages women to take part in athletics, girls' participation in high school athletics has risen by 800% over the past 30 years. Other organized high school sports often include gymnastics, wrestling, swimming, tennis, and golf.

Away from school, teenagers participate year-round in community-sponsored sports leagues. Besides, particularly in the summer, young people participate informally in one sport or another in the streets and parks of their neighborhoods. A high percentage of high school seniors reported taking part in music and performing arts activities, academic clubs, student council, and the school newspaper.

Sports also play a crucial role in the everyday social scene at American colleges and universities. There are university sports programs at the intercollegiate (organized competition) and internal (club-like, less competitive) levels. Grants are offered at the intercollegiate level to students who are both academically qualified and skilled in a sport. Athletic scholarships are awarded for everything from archery to wrestling, with an eye on gender equality to achieve a balance between men's and women's scholarships. These scholarships are administered directly by each academic institution on a percentage basis and universities have strict limits on the total amount they can award each year.

Adapted from “Sports in America>School & College Sports,” U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Germany, November 23, 2021. <https://usa.usembassy.de/sports-youth.htm>

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

a)

chance (paragraph 1)

b)

significant (paragraph 2)

c)

comprise (paragraph 2)

d)

key (paragraph 4)

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

a)

Young players, frequently play school sports, acquire values by (compete) while in school.

b)

Every year, outdoor sports (play) all through the academic course (regard) of the weather conditions.

c)

Failing (meet) the graduation requirements may prevent you getting into university.

d)

Complete the following sentence to report what was said.

“Who won the Australia Open tournament three years ago?”

My son asked me.

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

Do you consider that practicing sports is absolutely necessary for a healthy life? Explain.