Examen de Inglés PAU Murcia 2023 · Extraordinaria

Text A

Research shows over 90% of children already have a smartphone by the age of 11. But is this wise? Although many parents worry that smartphones are a Pandora’s box, the jury is still out as to how this really impacts the lives of children and teens.

According to a recent poll, 37% of 9 to 11-year-olds in the United States already have a smartphone. In the United Kingdom, 44% of children own a smartphone at the age of nine, and this figure goes up to 91% by age 11. And 39% of 5 to 16-year-olds surveyed said they could not live without their phone. But it was teenagers aged 15 and 16 who couldn’t handle it the most.

So what impact does this have? In an analysis of data from over 17,000 participants aged between 10 and 21, a group of researchers found that higher use of social media at ages 11 to 13 for girls, and 14 to 15 for boys, predicted lower life satisfaction a year later, and the other way around, lower social media use at this age predicted higher life satisfaction the following year. The researchers say this is related to the fact that girls tend to go through puberty earlier than boys.

On the other hand, one expert says, assuming that smartphone use is entirely bad is not supported by scientific evidence. A professor of psychology at the University of California analysed a large body of studies looking at the link between digital technology use and child and adolescent mental health and found no consistent link. “The biggest finding really was a disconnect between what people believe, including adolescents themselves, and what the evidence actually says,” she explained.

Whatever the research says, some children and teens do struggle as the result of using smartphones, and parents must pay attention to this and decide what’s right for their child’s level of maturity and needs. And, as part of that, parents must also take an honest look at their own smartphone use. Children hate hypocrisy: they hate being told off for something that their parents do too, like using the phone at mealtimes or going to bed with a phone.

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 marks = 2 marks]

E.g.: It is not yet very well known how smartphone use impacts the lives of children and teens. TRUE.

Evidence:..., the jury is still out as to how this really impacts the lives of children and teens.

1.1.

Between 9 and 11 years of age, more British than American kids have a smartphone.

1.2.

Girls who use social media very frequently experience life dissatisfaction at a younger age than boys who also make a frequent use of social media.

1.3.

There is a clear relationship between high use of digital devices and poor mental health in children and adolescents.

1.4.

To be honest, parents who use their phones at mealtimes or when they go to bed should not punish their children for doing so too.

Text A

Research shows over 90% of children already have a smartphone by the age of 11. But is this wise? Although many parents worry that smartphones are a Pandora’s box, the jury is still out as to how this really impacts the lives of children and teens.

According to a recent poll, 37% of 9 to 11-year-olds in the United States already have a smartphone. In the United Kingdom, 44% of children own a smartphone at the age of nine, and this figure goes up to 91% by age 11. And 39% of 5 to 16-year-olds surveyed said they could not live without their phone. But it was teenagers aged 15 and 16 who couldn’t handle it the most.

So what impact does this have? In an analysis of data from over 17,000 participants aged between 10 and 21, a group of researchers found that higher use of social media at ages 11 to 13 for girls, and 14 to 15 for boys, predicted lower life satisfaction a year later, and the other way around, lower social media use at this age predicted higher life satisfaction the following year. The researchers say this is related to the fact that girls tend to go through puberty earlier than boys.

On the other hand, one expert says, assuming that smartphone use is entirely bad is not supported by scientific evidence. A professor of psychology at the University of California analysed a large body of studies looking at the link between digital technology use and child and adolescent mental health and found no consistent link. “The biggest finding really was a disconnect between what people believe, including adolescents themselves, and what the evidence actually says,” she explained.

Whatever the research says, some children and teens do struggle as the result of using smartphones, and parents must pay attention to this and decide what’s right for their child’s level of maturity and needs. And, as part of that, parents must also take an honest look at their own smartphone use. Children hate hypocrisy: they hate being told off for something that their parents do too, like using the phone at mealtimes or going to bed with a phone.

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 marks = 1 mark]

2.1.

2.2.

Text B

Although Andrew Tate was a kickboxing world champion four times, he didn't start to be famous until he started on social media. He became popular because he describes himself as a misogynist and advocate for men's rights: 'I'm a realist and when you're a realist, you're sexist.' He was forced to leave Twitter after saying women 'bear responsibility for being sexually assaulted,' but he has been readmitted since Elon Musk took over the platform. He has a large following of men who are attracted by his attitudes and wealthy lifestyle. He shows off his collection of expensive cars and claims to have made his money from running a webcam business. He would date women and encourage them to perform on camera, saying it earned him $600,000 per month at the point where he had 75 women working for him from four different locations.

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg began a movement against climate change by going on strike from school on Fridays at age 15. She spent those days outside the Swedish parliament calling for stronger actions to preserve the environment. She started off alone, but her actions quickly developed into a following of thousands of children with similar concerns across several countries. She addressed the 2018 United Nations Climate Change conference and gained a lot of support due to the direct manner in which she spoke to world leaders, whom she accused of not doing enough. She has been nominated for the Nobel Peace prize every year since 2018. Her rise to fame was rapid and she has received many awards and was included in Time magazine's list of Most Influential People.

In December 2022, Tate made fun of Greta with a tweet boasting of his collection of 33 cars and asking for her email address so he could send her a list of all the emissions they were responsible for. She replied with a fake email address which made fun of the size of his manhood, immediately setting social media on fire. In response, Tate posted a video from his base in Romania, where he had moved to make it more difficult for him to be charged with rape. However, a pizza box shown in the video alerted the authorities to his location and he was arrested, along with his brother, shortly afterwards under accusations of human trafficking.

1. Read the text and choose the best option (A, B, or C) for items 1.1 to 1.4. On your answer sheet, draw a table like the one below and, for each item, copy only the letter that corresponds to your answer (A, B, or C). Use CAPITAL LETTERS. [Score: 4 items x 0.5 marks = 2 marks]

.

Text B

Although Andrew Tate was a kickboxing world champion four times, he didn't start to be famous until he started on social media. He became popular because he describes himself as a misogynist and advocate for men's rights: 'I'm a realist and when you're a realist, you're sexist.' He was forced to leave Twitter after saying women 'bear responsibility for being sexually assaulted,' but he has been readmitted since Elon Musk took over the platform. He has a large following of men who are attracted by his attitudes and wealthy lifestyle. He shows off his collection of expensive cars and claims to have made his money from running a webcam business. He would date women and encourage them to perform on camera, saying it earned him $600,000 per month at the point where he had 75 women working for him from four different locations.

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg began a movement against climate change by going on strike from school on Fridays at age 15. She spent those days outside the Swedish parliament calling for stronger actions to preserve the environment. She started off alone, but her actions quickly developed into a following of thousands of children with similar concerns across several countries. She addressed the 2018 United Nations Climate Change conference and gained a lot of support due to the direct manner in which she spoke to world leaders, whom she accused of not doing enough. She has been nominated for the Nobel Peace prize every year since 2018. Her rise to fame was rapid and she has received many awards and was included in Time magazine's list of Most Influential People.

In December 2022, Tate made fun of Greta with a tweet boasting of his collection of 33 cars and asking for her email address so he could send her a list of all the emissions they were responsible for. She replied with a fake email address which made fun of the size of his manhood, immediately setting social media on fire. In response, Tate posted a video from his base in Romania, where he had moved to make it more difficult for him to be charged with rape. However, a pizza box shown in the video alerted the authorities to his location and he was arrested, along with his brother, shortly afterwards under accusations of human trafficking.

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 marks = 1 mark]

2.1.

2.2.

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 marks = 1.5 marks]

Historians believe the Maya people of Central America first learned to farm cacao plants around two thousand years (1). The Maya took the cacao leaves from the rainforests and grew (2) in their gardens. They cooked the cacao seeds, then crushed them into a soft paste. They mixed (3) paste with water and spices to make an unsweetened chocolate drink. The Maya poured the chocolate drink back and forth (4) two containers so that the liquid had a layer of bubles, or foam.

Cacao and chocolate were an important part of Maya culture. (5) are often images of cacao plants on Maya buildings and art objects. Ruling families (6) chocolate at special ceremonies. (7) even poorer members of society could enjoy the drink once in a (8). Historians believe that cacao seeds were (9) used in marriage ceremonies as a sign of the union (10) husband and wife.

The cacao plant could not grow in the area (11) the Aztecs lived, so they traded to get cacao. Only the very wealthy people in Aztec societies (12) afford to drink chocolate because cacao was so valuable. The Aztec ruler Montezuma (13) to drink fifty cups of chocolate every day.

Some experts believe the word for chocolate came from the Aztec word "xocolatl," (14) in the Nahuatl language means "bitter water". (15) believe the word "chocolate" was created by combining Mayan and Nahuatl words.

.

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.

The company director said, “It’s not true, we won’t sell the business!”

The company director denied the business.

4.2.

I didn’t say hello because I didn’t see you.

If I hello.

4.3.

I’m sure you’ve seen her because she was standing right in front of you.

You her, surely, because she was standing right in front of you.

4.4.

Travelling by train is not as fast as travelling by plane but it is less expensive.

Travelling by plane than travelling by train.

4.5.

All the hotel staff are treating us really well.

We all the hotel staff.

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 x 4 marks = 4 marks]

a) Argumentative writing. Loving your job is more important than making a lot of money with it. Discuss.

WRITE AN ARGUMENTATIVE TEXT including arguments in favor of and against this statement. Make sure you provide a balanced discussion of the topic.

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 x 4 marks = 4 marks]

b) Descriptive writing. Last year you worked as a summer camp instructor in the United States. Describe the job to a Norwegian friend who is thinking of applying for it but wants to know about everything it involves (i.e., necessary skills, daily schedule, types of activities, responsibilities, camp facilities for instructors, or salary, among other things) before applying.

WRITE A PARAGRAPH describing the job (i.e., focus only on the job description).

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 x 4 marks = 4 marks]

c) Opinion writing. Parents should be able to choose their babies’ traits (i.e., physical and personality-related characteristics) before they are born. Do you agree?

WRITE AN OPINION PARAGRAPH/TEXT. Make sure you adopt a position and then provide the necessary arguments to convince your reader of it.

Important note for item 5.c): You are required to provide one opinion/position, but this does not necessarily have to be your own personal opinion/position.

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 x 4 marks = 4 marks]

d) Email writing. You and your dad are crazy about surf. The two of you go to Hawaii for a surf competition. On your second day, you two went surfing and saved another surfer's life.

WRITE AN EMAIL to your mom telling her a) what happened to this surfer, b) how you and your dad saved her, c) how she and her family have thanked you for that, and d) what you and your dad plan to do for the rest of your stay in Hawaii.