Opción B - 5 · Inglés PAU Navarra Ordinaria 2024

5. Write a composition of around 150-200 words on ONE of the following topics (4 points)

Solución: Topic a: Opinion Essay (Model answer) The debate over firearms ownership is one of the most polarizing issues today, particularly in nations like the United States. In my view, unrestricted access to guns represents a severe danger to public safety rather than a guarantee of individual freedom. First and foremost, statistical evidence consistently demonstrates that easier access to firearms leads directly to higher rates of homicide, accidental deaths, and suicides. When citizens carry lethal weapons in public spaces, everyday arguments can easily escalate into fatal encounters. Furthermore, schools and public venues should be safe environments, yet mass shootings have made them places of constant anxiety. On the other hand, defenders of gun ownership argue that weapons are necessary for self-defense against criminal threats. However, law enforcement should be exclusively responsible for protecting the population, as allowing armed civilians often creates a vicious cycle of violence. In conclusion, I firmly believe that governments should introduce stricter gun control laws and ban assault weapons. Reducing firearms in society is an essential step towards fostering a peaceful and secure community. *(173 words)* --- Topic b: Email to the Authorities (Model answer) Dear City Council Members, I am writing to express my deepest concern regarding the recent surge in violence in our town. Over the past few months, frequent clashes between local gangs have severely threatened the peace and safety of our community. These confrontations, which increasingly involve knives and illegal firearms, typically occur near parks and schools during the evening. Consequently, residents, especially families with young children, now feel afraid to leave their homes after dark. The situation has become unsustainable, and urgent intervention is required before innocent lives are lost. Therefore, I would like to propose several measures to address this crisis. Firstly, increasing police presence through regular nighttime patrols in high-risk areas would serve as an immediate deterrent. Secondly, the council could organize youth community programs and sports activities to keep vulnerable teenagers away from criminal gangs. I trust that you will take this matter seriously and act promptly to restore order to our neighborhood. Yours faithfully, [Your Name] *(166 words)*