PRUEBA DE COMPRENSIÓN ESCRITA

Marriage is one of the oldest human institutions and this is as true in Indian
culture as anywhere else. In India marriage, called “Kanyadana” or “donating a
virgin” is thought of as the greatest sacrifice that a father can make and for the
groom as an obligation to perpetuate his bloodline. Many people believe that a
marriage is still binding after death.
In early times girls were thought to be ready for marriage after puberty and later
even children could be married. Divorce and remarriage were not always
possible. By Medieval times Marriage was compulsory for girls, who very often
married between the ages of eight and nine. Among those able to afford it,
polygamy was common and rulers would often have one wife from their own
region and other minor wives from other areas. Now, divorce and remarriage is
possible and non-Muslim Indian men can only have one wife.
1.- In India weddings are …
a) a duty for the man to continue his family.
b) thought to end at death.
c) a duty for the father.
d) seen as a benefit for the father.
2.- Divorce and remarriage …
a) are only possible for non-Muslims.
b) were sometimes not possible in the past.
c) have always been possible.
d) have only become possible in modern times.

‘Heavier than air flying machines are impossible,’ said the well-known scientist
Lord Kelvin in 1895. Thomas Watson, the chairman of IBM in 1943, was wrong
too when he said that he thought there would be a world market for only five or
so computers.
Predictions can, of course, be wrong, and it is very difficult to predict what the
world will be like in 100, 50, or even 20 years from now. But this is something
that scientists and politicians often do. They do so because they invent things
and make decisions that shape the future of the world that we live in.
In the past they didn’t have to think too much about the impact that their
decisions had on the natural world. But that is now changing. An increasing
number of people believe that we should live within the rules set by nature. In
other words, they think that in a world of fixed and limited resources, what is
used today will not be there for our children. We must therefore look at each
human activity and try to change it or create alternatives if it is not sustainable.
The rules for this are set by nature, not by man.
3.- What did Lord Kelvin say?
a) It is difficult to make accurate predictions.
b) It would be possible for people to fly.
c) It would be impossible for people to fly.
d) There would only be a few computers.
4.- According to the text, which of the following statements is TRUE?
a) Lord Kelvin and Thomas Watson were good friends.
b) The world does not have unlimited natural resources.
c) Our children will not make predictions about the future.
d) It is easy to predict what the world will be like 20 years from now.
5.- The article suggests we should live in a _____ way.
a) selfish
b) sustainable
c) predictable
d) scientific

The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is awarded every year for a novel written by a
writer from the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland and it aims to represent
the very best in contemporary fiction. The prize was originally called the Booker-
McConnell Prize, which was the name of the company that sponsored it, though
it was better-known as simply the ‘Booker Prize’. In 2002, the Man Group became
the sponsor and they chose the new name, keeping ‘Booker’.
6.- The Republic of Ireland ...
a) is in the Commonwealth.
b) is not in the Commonwealth.
c) can't enter the Man Booker Prize.
d) joined the Booker prize in 2002.
7.- The Man group ...
a) was forced to keep the name 'Booker'.
b) decided to keep the name 'Booker'.
c) decided to keep the name 'Booker-McConnell'.
d) decided to use only the name ' McConnell '.

For the second year in a row, American competitive eater Joey Chestnut
defeated his Japanese rival Takeru Kobayashi at the annual Nathan's Hot Dog
Eating Contest in New York City, after a tie forced a five-hot-dog eat-off to be
held.
After ten minutes of hot dog eating, two shorter than in previous years, Chestnut
and Kobayashi were tied at 59 frankfurters. But after the rare tiebreaker, 24-year-
old Chestnut emerged as the winner, claiming a $10,000 prize and a mustard-
yellow belt. "It was crazy," he said. "I'm just a normal guy eating hot dogs on the
Fourth. You can't overcomplicate it."
8.- Who won the contest last year?
a) Takeru Kobayashi.
b) Joey Chestnut.
c) First there was a tie, and then Chestnut won.
d) The text does not say.
9.- How long was the competition this year?
a) 10 minutes.
b) 12 minutes.
c) More than 10 minutes.
d) The text does not say.
10.- How long was the competition last year?
a) 8 minutes.
b) 10 minutes.
c) 12 minutes.
d) The text does not say.
11.- How many hot dogs did Joey Chestnut eat in the whole of the final?
a) 59
b) 64
c) Between 59 and 64.
d) 5

Many hotel chains and tour operators say that they take their environmental
commitments seriously, but often they do not respect their social and economic
responsibilities to the local community. So is it possible for travellers to help
improve the lives of locals and still have a good holiday?
The charity, Tourism Concern, thinks so. It has pioneered the concept of the fair-
trade holiday. The philosophy behind fair-trade travel is to make sure that local
people get a fair share of the income from tourism. The objectives are simple:
employing local people wherever possible; offering fair wages and treatment;
showing cultural respect; involving communities in deciding how tourism is
developed; and making sure that visitors have minimal environmental impact.
Although there is currently no official fair-trade accreditation for holidays, the
Association of Independent Tour Operators has worked hard to produce
responsible tourism guidelines for its members. Some new companies, operated
as much by principles as profits, offer a fantastic range of holidays for
responsible and adventurous travellers.
12.- Tourism Concern…
a) is a tour operator.
b) is a hotel.
c) is a charity.
d) is a chain of hotels.
13.- Which of the following is NOT one of Tourism Concern’s objectives?
a) Good pay for local people.
b) Showing respect for local cultures.
c) Saving tourists money.
d) Protecting the local environment.
14.- According to the text, fair-trade travel is all about…
a) making money for charity.
b) money from tourism going to local people.
c) travellers getting a good deal.
d) a great cultural experience.
15.- According to the text, there are _____ companies that are operated on principles
as well as profits.
a) a few
b) no
c) some old
d) many
16.- Choose the most appropriate title for the article.
a) Holidays from heaven.
b) Cheap adventure holidays.
c) Fair-trade holidays.
d) Great holiday deals.
Dear Editor
I am writing with regards to the article 'Is the TV Dead?' that appeared in your
newspaper on the 4th March. The author claimed that with the rise of the
Internet, the TV was becoming less and less significant in our lives.
I find it very difficult to agree with this view. The TV is still the main way most of
us get our entertainment at home. It offers us the chance to see top musical
artists, great films and documentaries and occasionally, thanks to important
televised events, it has the power to bring the whole nation and all ages together
in a way the Internet never could.
Your article was particularly critical of the TV for the poor quality of programmes
available on the many channels we now have. It is certainly true that many of the
channels offer nothing more than repeats or low budget programmes. However, I
would argue that the majority of content on the Internet is also of questionable
quality. I agree with the writer that it is easy to keep up-to-date with the latest
news on the Internet, but I'm sure most of us still enjoy sitting down to the News
on TV in the evening just as much.
The writer is correct in stating that the Internet has become our major source for
research and I think this is its main strength. However, criticising the TV for not
being as good is totally unfair. Information programmes like documentaries are
made for their potential as entertainment not as research tools and as such will
continue to be popular with viewers.
So in conclusion I don't think the writer should be so quick to write the TV off.
On the contrary, I think it has many more years left in it!
Yours sincerely
Samantha Johnson

17.- Why is the person writing this letter to the newspaper?

a) To make a complaint.
b) To offer a different point of view.
c) To encourage people to watch more TV.
d) To persuade people to not use the Internet.
18.- What do we learn about the writer of the article opinion of TV?
a) It is useful as a reference tool.
b) It is excellent entertainment.
c) It is suffering because of the Internet.
d) The quality of programmes is a problem.
19.- Which of the following is seen as a problem with TV?
a) The quality of some of the programmes.
b) The lack of entertainment programmes.
c) Its poor use as a reference tool.
d) Its unpopularity with younger people.
20.- What does the writer think is the best use of the Internet?
a) To buy products.
b) To be entertained.
c) To get the latest news.
d) To find things out.
21.- Which of the following words describes how the writer of the article feels about
TV?
a) Pleased.
b) Excited.
c) Confused.
d) Worried.

One thing that always surprises visitors to Germany is that there are no barriers
at tube stations. “It could never work back home,” say tourists from countries
such as Britain. “No one would pay.” About 3.5% of journeys on German public
transport are not paid for, according to the Association of German Transport
Operators (VDV). In Berlin, it is 6%. The VDV is now demanding an increase in
fines from $50 to $80, with $160 for repeat offenders.
22.- According to the paragraph,
a) Tourists are surprised because they can’t see any inspectors at stations.
b) In Berlin 6% of journeys are made without a ticket.
c) Only visitors with no ticket now pay a fine of $160.
d) British tourists never pay for public transport.

Chess has been a game traditionally dominated by men, but that is changing.
Judith Polgar comes from a chess-playing family. Her father, Laszlo, decided
that chess was an excellent discipline for the mind. Judith and her two sisters
began studying chess at the age of four. Laszlo quit his job and stayed home to
teach his daughters. The girls played chess most of the day, in addition to
learning some school subjects.
23.- According to the paragraph,
a) Nobody else in Judith’s family played chess.
b) Only men play chess.
c) Judith started playing chess when she was a child.
d) Judith didn’t study.
24.- Laszlo ____
a) was a teacher.
b) was a chess champion.
c) taught his daughters chess after he got home from work.
d) thought that chess would be a good discipline.

As a student, I earned $95 a week serving drinks in a beach bar. At the time, it
was my dream job! Later I became a chef. It was hard work. I was often in a hot
kitchen for twelve hours a day, six days a week. But you have to know the
meaning of hard work if you want to achieve your goals. I now own five
restaurants around the U.S. People like doing things that come naturally to them,
so work and enjoy!
25.- What do we know about the writer?
a) When he was a student his dream job was to become a chef.
b) As a chef, he didn’t get much time off.
c) He worked from Monday to Sunday.
d) He owns five restaurants by the beach.
On 25th March this year, film director James Cameron visited a place no human
being had been to in more than fifty years. In fact, he became only the third
person ever to go there. The place he went to is the Mariana Trench: the deepest
place in any of the world’s oceans. It is almost 11,000 metres below the surface
of the western Pacific Ocean. Cameron made the journey in a one-man
submarine, the Deepsea Challenger. It took him two and a half hours to reach the
ocean floor. Cameron could film the ocean floor and any animals he saw. He
plans to make a documentary about his journey.
26.- James Cameron _____
a) released a documentary on March 25th.
b) filmed the ocean floor.
c) works in a submarine.
d) made the journey with another man.
27.- Choose the correct sentence.
a) It was the first time a person visited the Mariana Trench.
b) It took James Cameron less than two hours to reach the ocean floor.
c) Three people went to the Mariana Trench 50 years ago.
d) There’s no other place as deep as the Mariana Trench.

The American army is developing its latest weapon in the war on terror - a new
generation of robotic soldiers. The Pentagon predicts that robots will be a major
element of the US armed forces in less than a decade, hunting and killing
enemies in combat. Several hundred robots are already digging up roadside
bombs in Iraq, scouring caves in Afghanistan and serving as armed sentries at
weapons depots.
28.- Nowadays robotic soldiers ____
a) are clearing bombs in Afghanistan.
b) are killing enemies in combat.
c) are being used as sentries.
d) are a very important element in the Pentagon.

When networking and joining online communities it's better to be cautious about
the amount of personal information you share. For example, it isn't always
necessary to use your real name as a username when registering for a service.
You could instead use a name that doesn't give away your real identity to other
users. And is it really important to give details about your school, college or any
other information? Sometimes it pays to be a little vague and simply say
something like 'I'm studying in Madrid at the moment'. If you have problems with
other users be prepared to report them for misusing the service. You'll be doing
other users a favour too. And if all else fails, delete your account and all your
details.
29.- What tip does the writer give for joining an online community?
a) Always use a false name.
b) Make sure you are properly registered.
c) Limit the information you give to others.
d) Tell other users where you're studying.
30.- The writer says that you should report troublesome users_______
a) because other people will benefit.
b) so you can stop using the service.
c) only if nothing else works.
d) if you want to delete your details.

PRUEBA DE GRAMÁTICA Y VOCABULARIO

31.- There aren't ___________ people here.

a) much
b) many
c) a lot
d) some
32.- ___ hour ago we met ___ history teacher.
a) A / an
b) A/a
c) An / a
d) An / an
33.- Sorry, she can't come to the phone. She ______ a bath!
a) is having
b) having
c) have
d) has
34.- I'd like ___________ information, please.
a) an
b) some
c) piece
d) a piece
35.- Let ____ introduce ____ to____.
a) my / your / his
b) me / you / him
c) myself / yourself / himself
d) mine / yours / he
36.- Millions of tons of coal ____ every day to produce energy.
a) are burning
b) are burnt
c) burnt
d) will burn
37.- _____ do you water your plants? Every three days.
a) How
b) How many
c) How long
d) How often
38.- Look, it is starting ____.
a) rain
b) to rain
c) rained
d) to raining
39.- We have _____ flour, but we don't have _____ butter.
a) some /some
b) any / some
c) some / any
d) a / no
40.- I used ____ to the cinema a lot.
a) go
b) to go
c) going
d) to going

On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail from Spain to find a new route
to India, China and Japan. At that time most people thought you would fall off the
edge of the world if you sailed too far. Yet sailors such as Columbus had seen
how a ship appeared to get lower and lower on the horizon as it sailed away. For
Columbus this (41) _____ that the world was round.
He (42) _____ to his men about the distance travelled each day. He did not want
them to think that he did not (43) _____ exactly where they were going. (44)
_____, on October 12, 1492, Columbus and his men landed on a small island he
named San Salvador. Columbus believed he was in Asia, (45) _____ he was
actually in the Caribbean.

41.-
a) made
b) pointed
c) was
d) proved
42.-
a) lied
b) told
c) cheated
d) asked
43.-
a) find
b) know
c) think
d) expect
44.-
a) Next
b) Secondly
c) Finally
d) Once
45.-
a) as
b) but
c) because
d) if
46.- ‘Would you like to come swimming with us?’ ________.
a) ‘I‘ll love to.’
b) ‘I like it.’
c) ‘I’d love to.’
d) ‘I’d like it.’
47.- ‘Flight number 340 from London to New York is _____ now. Please go to
Gate number 2.’
a) taking off
b) bordering
c) boarding
d) departing
48.- Chose the correct sentence.
a) I’ve got a car since 5 years ago.
b) I’ve had a car for 5 years.
c) I have a car for 5 years now.
d) I’ve had a car since I’ve finished high school.
49.- They enjoy travelling, ______
a) don't they?
b) does they?
c) aren't they?
d) don’t them?
50.- They arrived _____ we were having dinner.
a) during
b) while
c) why
d) for
51.- We ________ work tomorrow. It’s a holiday!
a) haven’t to
b) don’t have to
c) must to
d) mustn’t
52.- She never tells the truth. I don't believe _____ any longer.
a) hers
b) her
c) she
d) him
53.- "What are your plans for the summer?"
"We _______ to Jamaica."
a) will go
b) will going to
c) are going
d) go
54.- He’s been sent to _____ prison.
a) the
b) a
c) ---
d) an
55.- Look at the clouds. I think it ______.
a) will rain
b) is going to rain
c) rains
d) rain
56.- I feel sick, I _____ too much cake earlier.
a) eat
b) am eating
c) ate
d) eated
57.- _____ bag is that?
a) What
b) Who’s
c) Whose
d) Which
58.- Their grades are _____ than ours.
a) more good
b) most good
c) better
d) gooder
59.- She _____ for fifteen years and still likes the job.
a) works
b) is working
c) has been working
d) worked
60.- Did you remember _____ the letter?
a) post
b) to post
c) posting
d) to posting
61.- She _________ working in the office.
a) stands for
b) can’t stand
c) stands a chance
d) cannot
62.- When Gregory arrived at the disco, Hania _____.
a) already left.
b) has already left.
c) had already left.
d) already had left.
63.- If I were you, I ______ harder for the exams.
a) will study
b) would study
c) study
d) studied
64.- Karla was offered the job ______ having poor qualifications.
a) despite
b) although
c) even though
d) in spite
65.- If I _____ him, I would have spoken to him, wouldn’t I?
a) saw
b) had seen
c) have seen
d) would have seen
66.- The taste of the coffee _____ by how and where the coffee bean is grown.
a) should have affected
b) has to be affected
c) can be affected
d) could affect
67.- He ______ go to work yesterday night. It was urgent.
a) must
b) had to
c) ought to
d) should have
68.- I wanted to stop _____some presents, but we didn’t have _______ time.
a) to / good
b) to buy / enough
c) buying / ------
d) to buying / too much
69.- Tom said, 'I want to visit my friends this weekend.'
a) Tom said he wants to visit his friends that weekend
b) Tom said he wanted to visit his friends that weekend.
c) Tom said he wanted to visit his friends this weekend.
d) Tom said I want to visit his friends this weekend.
70.- _____ be famous one day?
a) Would you like
b) Would you like to
c) Do you like
d) Do you like to

______________________________