Examen de Inglés PAU Murcia 2022 · Ordinaria

Text A

Cheating

Students know cheating is wrong. They simply see themselves as moral in spite of it. They cheat just enough to maintain a self-concept as honest people, considering their behavior an exception to a general rule. Some cheat when they don’t see the value of the work they are assigned, such as drill-and-kill assignments 1, or when they perceive an overemphasis on teaching content linked to exams. But students also rationalize cheating on assignments they see as having value. High-achieving students who feel pressured to attain perfection may turn to cheating to get an advantage over other students or to prevent a bad test score from ruining months of hard work. Research has also found that students who receive praise for being smart—as opposed to praise for effort and progress—are more inclined to exaggerate their performance and to cheat on assignments, likely because high expectations are placed on their academic performance.

Strategies for reducing cheating. First, turn down the pressure cooker. Students are less likely to cheat on work in which they feel invested 2. A multiple-choice task may tempt likely cheaters, while a unique, multi-phase writing project can make cheating much harder and less attractive. Repetitive homework assignments may also encourage cheating, so teachers should look at creating take-home assignments that encourage students to think critically and expand on class discussions. Teachers could also give students one free pass 3 on a homework assignment each quarter, for example, or let them drop their lowest score on an assignment (i.e., not including it when calculating the final mark in a given subject). Additionally, metacognition, or “thinking about thinking,” can help students understand their motivations, goals, and actions. Students need to be pushed to reflect on the steps they take to get the outcomes they desire. They must be made to consider why they act in the ways they do, what they will do to get what they want, and how doing those things will change who they are.

1 drill-and-kill: Require lots of repetition and little creativity from the students.

2 feel invested: To think it is worth putting (“investing”) your time and effort on it.

3 a free pass: Freedom to choose.

1. Read the text and decide whether statements 1.1 to 1.4 are true or false. Then, find a text fragment which confirms your answer in either case. Write “TRUE” or “FALSE” plus the fragment (one or two lines maximum) on your answer sheet. [Score: 4 items x 0.5 = 2 marks]

E.g.: Students who cheat do not consider themselves immoral people. TRUE

Evidence: They simply see themselves as moral in spite of it.

Text A

Cheating

Students know cheating is wrong. They simply see themselves as moral in spite of it. They cheat just enough to maintain a self-concept as honest people, considering their behavior an exception to a general rule. Some cheat when they don’t see the value of the work they are assigned, such as drill-and-kill assignments 1, or when they perceive an overemphasis on teaching content linked to exams. But students also rationalize cheating on assignments they see as having value. High-achieving students who feel pressured to attain perfection may turn to cheating to get an advantage over other students or to prevent a bad test score from ruining months of hard work. Research has also found that students who receive praise for being smart—as opposed to praise for effort and progress—are more inclined to exaggerate their performance and to cheat on assignments, likely because high expectations are placed on their academic performance.

Strategies for reducing cheating. First, turn down the pressure cooker. Students are less likely to cheat on work in which they feel invested 2. A multiple-choice task may tempt likely cheaters, while a unique, multi-phase writing project can make cheating much harder and less attractive. Repetitive homework assignments may also encourage cheating, so teachers should look at creating take-home assignments that encourage students to think critically and expand on class discussions. Teachers could also give students one free pass 3 on a homework assignment each quarter, for example, or let them drop their lowest score on an assignment (i.e., not including it when calculating the final mark in a given subject). Additionally, metacognition, or “thinking about thinking,” can help students understand their motivations, goals, and actions. Students need to be pushed to reflect on the steps they take to get the outcomes they desire. They must be made to consider why they act in the ways they do, what they will do to get what they want, and how doing those things will change who they are.

1 drill-and-kill: Require lots of repetition and little creativity from the students.

2 feel invested: To think it is worth putting (“investing”) your time and effort on it.

3 a free pass: Freedom to choose.

2. Complete each sentence with information from the text but using your own words (about 10-15 words of your own per sentence). DO NOT COPY LITERALLY from the text nor from statements 1.1 to 1.4. Write the two sentences on your answer sheet. [Score: 2 items x 0.5 = 1 mark]

2.1.

2.2.

TEXT B

Simple lives

When people hear “simplify your life“, they may think it means moving into a home in the woods and living off the land. But that is not necessarily a simpler life—and it may not be for everyone. Instead, choose things that can keep you in the modern world, but still make life easier.

Get a basic cell phone. It would be nice to say that a cell phone is not necessary at all but pay phones have disappeared and, if you need to call someone in an emergency, you will need a cell phone. Instead of getting a smartphone with data and texting, opt for a basic cell phone that only makes and receives calls.

Get rid of credit cards. Credit cards allow people to buy things they otherwise could not afford and pay for them over time. But they may also become a burden that drags many people down each month. Instead of using credit cards, buy only what you can afford. Stick to that plan and the fear of not being able to pay the bills will quickly disappear.

Declutter the home. A search around the home will find many things that are not needed or no longer used, so get rid of them! It is even possible to make some money selling these things that can be used to help in other areas, such as paying off credit card debt!

Eliminate unnecessary monthly expenses. Many people pay for gym memberships, mobile internet service, and many other monthly services they barely use. They often put the monthly payments on their credit card, so they do not even realize how much they are spending and not using. There are ways to get these same things without paying for them. For example, gym memberships can be replaced with exercising at a local park or walking around the neighborhood. If you need internet service away from home, look for Wi-Fi hot spots. They are found at many restaurants, hotels, and coffee shops.

Track your time. Pay attention to how much time you are spending doing things. Look for ways to cut down on time you think is being wasted on unnecessary things. Time and money are two of the most valuable resources people have. When life gets simpler, the amount of these two things that a person has available will rise. That is the benefit of a simpler life in today’s world.

1. Read the text and choose the best option (A, B, or C) for items 1.1 to 1.4. [Score: 4 items x 0.5 = 2]

1.1.

In the first paragraph, the author suggests that …

1.2.

According to the text, credit cards …

1.3.

The author says that one way of cutting down on your monthly expenses is …

1.4.

In the final paragraph, the author …

TEXT B

Simple lives

When people hear “simplify your life“, they may think it means moving into a home in the woods and living off the land. But that is not necessarily a simpler life—and it may not be for everyone. Instead, choose things that can keep you in the modern world, but still make life easier.

Get a basic cell phone. It would be nice to say that a cell phone is not necessary at all but pay phones have disappeared and, if you need to call someone in an emergency, you will need a cell phone. Instead of getting a smartphone with data and texting, opt for a basic cell phone that only makes and receives calls.

Get rid of credit cards. Credit cards allow people to buy things they otherwise could not afford and pay for them over time. But they may also become a burden that drags many people down each month. Instead of using credit cards, buy only what you can afford. Stick to that plan and the fear of not being able to pay the bills will quickly disappear.

Declutter the home. A search around the home will find many things that are not needed or no longer used, so get rid of them! It is even possible to make some money selling these things that can be used to help in other areas, such as paying off credit card debt!

Eliminate unnecessary monthly expenses. Many people pay for gym memberships, mobile internet service, and many other monthly services they barely use. They often put the monthly payments on their credit card, so they do not even realize how much they are spending and not using. There are ways to get these same things without paying for them. For example, gym memberships can be replaced with exercising at a local park or walking around the neighborhood. If you need internet service away from home, look for Wi-Fi hot spots. They are found at many restaurants, hotels, and coffee shops.

Track your time. Pay attention to how much time you are spending doing things. Look for ways to cut down on time you think is being wasted on unnecessary things. Time and money are two of the most valuable resources people have. When life gets simpler, the amount of these two things that a person has available will rise. That is the benefit of a simpler life in today’s world.

2. Complete each sentence with information from the text but using your own words ( about 10-15 words of your own per sentence). DO NOT COPY LITERALLY from the text nor from items 1.1 to 1.4. Write the two sentences on your answer sheet. [Score: 2 items x 0.5 = 1 mark]

2.1.

Smartphones are not

2.2.

In a simpler life, people

SECTION II: OVERALL LANGUAGE ABILITY (USE OF ENGLISH) (3 marks)

3. Complete the text choosing the best option (A, B, or C) for each gap (1-15). On your answer sheet, draw a table like the one below and, for each gap (1-15), copy the letter that corresponds to your answer (A, B, or C). Use CAPITAL LETTERS. [Score: 15 items x 0.1 = 1.5]

Inspired by Tony Stark and determined to follow in his heroic footsteps, fifteen-year-old super genius Riri Williams built her own suit of advanced armor and now (1)... a life of adventure, crime-fighting, and humanitarianism (2)... the superhero known as Ironheart.

Born after the death of her father, and after (3)... she was named, Riri Williams was (4)... by her mother and stepfather in Chicago, Illinois. (5)... the age of five, a series of tests showed that she possessed an intelligence of super genius level. As Riri grew, she pursued her passion (6)... technology obsessively, choosing to spend time (7)... inventing new and advanced machines rather (8)... making friends, playing with toys, (9)... TV, or even eating regular meals.

By the time she was eleven, Riri was already studying at the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Fascinated by the billionaire scientist, businessman, and superhero Tony Stark, Riri built herself a suit of armor like the ones worn by Iron Man. Riri used materials that she (10)... from around campus, including the robotics lab —and when a security team arrived at her dorm room (11)... confront her about it, Riri (12)... the armor and flew off, deciding to (13)... school.

While testing her armor in a flight across the United States, Riri captured a pair of inmates escaping from the New Mexico State Penitentiary, but her armor was damaged in the process. (14)... home to repair the suit and to explain to her mother that she left MIT, Riri found herself being paid a visit by none other than Tony Stark himself, who had (15)... of her activities. Stark expressed his support for Riri's decision to become a superhero, and this is how she became Ironheart.

.

4. Complete THREE of the following sentences so that each sentence keeps the meaning of the sentence printed before it and includes a clear change of linguistic structure. COPY THE COMPLETE SENTENCES (including the beginnings already given to you) onto your answer sheet. [Score: 3 items x 0.5 marks = 1.5 marks]

4.1.

She is the most beautiful baby I have ever set my eyes on.

I have beautiful baby.

4.2.

If your purse isn’t in your pocket, it will be in your bag.

If your purse isn’t in your pocket, in your bag.

4.3.

Sheila told Arthur: “You should not quit studying, or you will regret it in the future.”

Sheila told regret it in the future.

4.4.

Please, be patient. The flight attendant will bring your drink shortly.

Please, be patient. the flight attendant shortly.

4.5.

She promised that if she didn’t receive a formal invitation, she would not attend the wedding.

She promised she a formal invitation.

SECTION III: WRITING (4 marks)

5. a) Argumentative writing. The “Morning After Pill” should not need medical prescription. Discuss.

WRITE AN ARGUMENTATIVE TEXT (150-175 words) including arguments in favor of and against this statement. Make sure you provide a balanced discussion of the topic. [Score: 1 item x 4 = 4]

SECTION III: WRITING (4 marks)

5. b) Descriptive writing. Your favorite summer party outfit.

WRITE A PARAGRAPH (150-175 words) describing your favorite outfit for summer parties. (Don’t narrate a story about a summer party. Don’t describe a summer party.) [Score: 1 item x 4 = 4]

SECTION III: WRITING (4 marks)

5. c) Opinion writing. We should all be totally free to decide if we want to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Do you agree?

WRITE AN OPINION PARAGRAPH/TEXT (150-175 words). Make sure you adopt a position and then provide the necessary arguments to convince your reader of it. [Score: 1 item x 4 = 4]

SECTION III: WRITING (4 marks)

5. Choose ONE of the four options below (a, b, c, or d) and write the corresponding text (150-175 words). Write your PARAGRAPH or TEXT on your answer sheet. [Score: 1 item × 4 = 4]

d)

Email writing. "I need extra time!"

WRITE AN EMAIL to your History teacher to ask her to give you extra time to submit your homework, a project about Al-Andalus. Give her reasons why you have not been able to finish the project on time and why a project like yours deserves extra time.