EVALUACIÓN DE BACHILLERATO PARA EL ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

203 INGLÉS. July 2020-New format Covid 19

SECTION I: READING COMPREHENSION (3 marks)

Choose text A or B

TEXT A

1. Read the text and decide whether statements 1.1 to 1.4 are true or false. Then, find the 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]

Bill and Melinda Gates have been storing food in their basement for years in anticipation of a pandemic (From
Business Insider)
Melinda Gates said in an interview with BBC Radio on Thursday that she and her husband, Bill, had been storing
food in their basements for years in anticipation of a pandemic or other disaster.
"A number of years ago, we had talked about, you know, what if there wasn't clean water? What if there wasn't
enough food? Where might we go? What might we do as a family?" she said on the radio show. "So I think we should
leave those preparations to ourselves. But absolutely we had prepared and had, you know, some food in the basement in
case."
The only thing they did not prepare, however, was the vaccine or a treatment for the virus that would cause a
pandemic, though she acknowledged her and her family's privilege when it comes to dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak.
"What we mostly talk about now in our home every night is how lucky we are," she continued. "We understand
our privilege. And when we say our grace at night, what we're thankful for, around the table, is that we aren't struggling
to put a meal on the table as so many families around the world are."
Business Insider's Debanjali Bose previously reported that Bill Gates has been warning about a pandemic for
years, saying in a 2015 TED Talk that the world wasn't "ready for the next epidemic" and repeating the sentiment in a
2017 op-ed article for Business Insider, where he wrote that the next epidemic could be "a super contagious and deadly
strain of the flu."
The Microsoft cofounder has been outspoken during the coronavirus pandemic, telling the Financial Times in
early April that it would be the "biggest event" of most people's lifetimes. He has been suggesting actions countries could
take to help keep track of the virus, including creating an international database to share information with one another.
On Wednesday, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced it would provide $150 million in funding to
help deploy additional medical supplies and to help scientists discover treatments and a vaccine for the virus. The
foundation has donated a total of $250 million to aid global coronavirus response efforts.

op-ed article: opposite the editorial page. An opinión article which is different from the usual newspaper editorial.

E.g. Melinda Gates went to a TV interview. FALSE ... Melinda Gates said in an interview with BBC Radio ...

1.1. Bill and Melinda Gates decided to store food because they have gone through an epidemic before.

1.2. In order to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak Bill and Melinda Gates give food to families.

1.3. Bill Gates has warned about a pandemic several times.

1.4. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated $250 million to develop a vaccine.

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 marks]
2.1. In the year 2015 ...

2.2. Keeping track of the virus ...

TEXT B

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]

1 2 3 4

The Rise Of Online Learning

Online learning has shown significant growth over the last decade, as the internet and education combine to
provide people with the opportunity to gain new skills. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, online learning has become more
centric in people's lives. The pandemic has forced schools, universities, and companies to remote working and this booms
the usage of online learning. Even before the pandemic, Research and Markets forecasts the online education market as
$350 Billion by 2025, so the numbers might be updated after analyzing the growth impacts of COVID-19 on the online
learning market.

There are numerous online learning platform in the market such as Udemy, Coursera, Lynda, Skillshare, Udacity
that serve millions of people. The platforms are getting shaped by different users as well. While Skillshare is mostly for
creatives such as giving courses on animation, photography, lifestyle, Coursera is mostly academic with giving access to
university courses.

Top-tier universities are also democratizing the learning by making courses accessible via online. Stanford
University and Harvard University give access to online courses under categories of computer science, engineering,
mathematics, business, art, and personal development.

These all show one thing, there’s a huge demand from people to learn online. The reason for this demand and rapid
growth of the market with a wide variety of platform options for different groups of people may be the rapid change of
the world. At the recent $50 Million round of Udemy, president Darren Shimkus says, “The biggest challenge for learners
is to figure out what skills are emerging, what they can do to compete best in the global market. We’re in a world that’s
changing so quickly that skills that were valued just three or four years ago are no longer relevant. People are confused
and don’t know what they should be learning.” At this moment, online learning is becoming a huge catalyzer for people
and companies to help the adoption of this rapid change in the world.

Top-tier: de excelencia

1. Online learning …
3. Some traditional universities …
a. has barely grown in the past.
a. have more democratic online courses.
b. has been growing over the past.
b. have more interesting courses.
c. has undergone a rapid burst in the past decade.
c. have an array of courses.
2. Online learning platforms…
4. Learners ...
a. give more or less the same courses.
a. need to identify what to focus on.
b. are not too demanded yet.
b. need to compete.
c. make learning reacheable.
c. need to change courses.

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 marks]
2.1. Coursera …

2.2. President Darren Shimkus …

SECTION II: OVERALL LANGUAGE ABILITY (USE OF ENGLISH) (30 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]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Exploring Venice virtually

It’s been a turbulent time for Venice in recent times. This charming holiday hotspot 1 ___ loved for its romantic
gondolas, compelling culture and historical architecture attracted tourists in droves for2 ___.
Overtourism took its toll stealing some of the local allure and the city was looking3 ___ways to trim the tourist
numbers. This included4 ___the opening of new “kebab” shops, making it harder for cruise ships to dock and even
implemented a tourist tax.
Then nature made it happen. 5 ___ mid-November 2019, the city saw its highest water levels since 1966, causing
devastation. On December 23, Venice was6 ___ by another water surge7 ___ damaged landmarks and shops in the heart
of the city.
Just as Venice began to recover her8 ___ and beauty COVID-199 ___ sure there was no one to enjoy the subdued
allure of Marks Square, the sparkling, pristine but still canal waters, or the gorgeous architecture emerging from the
water in stillness.
The good10 ___ is that you can see it – virtually – and in all its glory with this sensational “I love you Venice” rolling
cam. Seen like this you can get a11 ___ of why the city has for centuries been known as “La Serenissima”, The Most
Serene.
If you have around 20 minutes to12 ___ , you can join the sensational 360-degree tour of Venice courtesy of
Technology entrepreneurs Geneeo.
There are whispers that the authorities in Venice are asking13 ___ or not it wants tourists to return. Who can
blame them?
Simone Venturni. Mayor of Venice said, “This will be an opportunity to move towards intelligent tourism”. It’s a
difficult decision to14 ___ when so many rely15 ___ tourism for their livelihood. But for now, Venice belongs to the
Venetians.

(From The Travel Magazine)

1. A) a lot B) much C) many 9. A) did B) was C) made

2. A) periods B) times C) years 10. A) new B) news C) both
3. A) to B) at C) for 11. A) idea B) sense C) feel
4. A) banning B) to ban C) ban 12. A) let B) waste C) spare
5. A) On B) At C) In 13. A) whether B) weather C) whither
6. A) struck B) hurt C) shot 14. A) take B) do C) make
7. A) that B) which C) both 15. A) in B) on C) of
8. A) hideousness B) charm C) plainness

4. Finish 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. Why don’t we go on a picnic on Saturday?

What about ...

4.2. I usually buy my clothes from that store.

That…

4.3. They haven’t visited their grandparents for a long time.

It’s been a long time …
4.4. They make this computer in China.
This computer …

4.5. She asked: “How can I get to the airport?”

She asked …

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).

a) Argumentative writing. Is homework harmful or helpfu?l. Discuss.

WRITE AN ARGUMENTATIVE TEXT including arguments for and against to provide a balanced discussion of the topic.
Write your text on your answer sheet. [Score: 4 marks x 1 item = 4 marks]

b) Opinion writing. Do you think animals should be used for research?

WRITE AN OPINION TEXT of about 150-175 words. Make sure you provide the necessary arguments to convince the
reader of your opinion. Write your text on your answer sheet. [Score: 4 marks x 1 item = 4 marks]

c) Descriptive writing. Describe a museum you have visited recently.

WRITE A PARAGRAPH describing your favorite restaurant. (Tips: Name, appearance, reasons why you like it, type of
food it offers, your favorite dish(es), your feelings when you eat there, people you visit this place with...). Write your
paragraph on your answer sheet. [Score: 4 marks x 1 item = 4 marks]

d) Email writing. Inviting a friend.

WRITE AN EMAIL You are studying English at a private language school attended by many international students. You
are planning a surprise birthday party for a friend who has been feeling particularly sad and homesick. Write to
another classmate and invite him / her to the party. In your letter:
• explain the reason for the party
• give the date and time of the party
• suggest what the classmate could bring to the party [Score: 4 marks x 1 item = 4marks]