EVALUACIÓN DE BACHILLERATO PARA EL ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

CONVOCATORIA DE JUNIO - JULIO DE 2023

EJERCICIO DE: LENGUA EXTRANJERA II - INGLÉS
TIEMPO DISPONIBLE: 1 hora 30 minutos

PUNTUACIÓN QUE SE OTORGARÁ A ESTE EJERCICIO: (véanse las distintas partes del examen)

Please choose ONE of the options given, A or B, for each of the three blocks below (Reading Comprehension
— Use of English (Rephrasing) — Writing). The option chosen can change from block to block, but it must be the
same for all the exercises in BLOCK 1. The marks assigned to each block and exercise are given between
brackets.

BLOCK 1. READING COMPREHENSION (5 POINTS)

OPTION A
SOAP OPERA
Even if you were born after the year 2000, you will have heard of the existence of a reference book published annually
that lists world records both of human achievements and the extremes of the natural world. If Guinness World
Records is the name that comes to mind, that’s perfect! One of the examples of human achievements listed there is
Guiding Light, an American radio and television soap opera. It is listed in Guinness World Records as the third
longest-running drama in television in American history. Guiding Light began as an NBC Radio serial on January 25,
1937. On June 2, 1947, the series was transferred to CBS Radio, before starting on June 30, 1952, on CBS
Television. After a run of 72 years, on April 1, 2009, CBS announced that it would be cancelling Guiding Light due to
low ratings.
The term ‘soap opera’ refers to a broadcast dramatic serial programme like Guiding Light. Soap opera depicts the
lives and problems of a particular group of characters with programmes that continue over a long period and are
broadcast several times every week. For example, Guiding Light centred on Reverend John Ruthledge and those
people’s lives that revolved around him, with a story line that managed to draw a large audience to it for about seven
decades. This type of programme was called soap opera in the United States because most of its major sponsors for
many years were manufacturers of soap and detergents. Since most men were at work when soap operas began to
be broadcast, the audience was mainly female, and most of the drama revolved around female characters, too.
EXERCISE A.1: Add True or False, quoting the relevant information from the text to justify your answer. (2
points)
a) Guiding Light is the name of a book that describes the greatest human achievements.
False: The justification should be based on these sentences: “Even if you were born after the year 2000, you will have
heard of the existence of a reference book published annually that lists world records both of human achievements
and the extremes of the natural world. If Guinness World Records is the name that comes to mind, that’s perfect! One
of the examples of human achievements listed there is Guiding Light, an American radio and television soap opera. It
is listed in Guinness World Records as the third longest-running drama in television in American history.”

NOTE: If the justification is reduced to the bits underlined, 1 point, too. 0.5 points if it consists only of “Guiding Light,
an American radio and television soap opera”. The most relevant piece of information is the part that links “book that
lists world records of human achievements” and “Guinness World Records”, as it shows that Guiding Light is not the
title of the book, which is later confirmed by Guiding Light = “American radio and television soap opera”. Each Vocal
Corrector/a is free to decide how much is subtracted from the full mark if the above elements are missing from the
answer, but the result of the subtraction should take account of the aims and context of this process of correction.

b) Soap and detergents were the products manufactured by the first sponsors of soap operas.
True: The justification should be based on this sentence: “This type of programme was called soap opera in the
United States because most of its major sponsors for many years were manufacturers of soap and detergents”.

NOTES: (1) If the justification is reduced to the portion of text underlined, 1 point, too. No need to use [...] for “in the
United States” and “for many years” — irrelevant pieces of information. (2) On the other hand, starting off directly with
“because most...” should be awarded a lower mark, as the word “its”, which is anaphoric, would appear without its
referent, “This type of programme”, in the justification. Each Vocal Corrector/a is free to decide how much is

CONTINÚA AL DORSO
subtracted from the full mark, but the result of the subtraction should take account of the aims and context of this
process of correction.

EXERCISE A.2: Answer the following questions according to the information given in the text. Use your own
words. (2 points)
a) What are the defining characteristics of soap opera?

SAMPLE ANSWER (for the full mark, it should contain the three notions underlined): A soap opera is a television
series that follows a specific group of characters, portraying their lives and challenges. These programs air multiple
times each week and span over an extended period of time.

b) Why is Guiding Light said to be one of the longest-running broadcast dramas in American history?

SAMPLE ANSWER (for the full mark, it should refer to the seven decades of Guiding Light): Because the story line of
Guiding Light succeeded in drawing a huge audience to it for 72 years. Although Guiding Light began as a radio serial
on NBC in 1937, the series was transferred to CBS Radio ten years later. In five years’ time, the program was being
aired on CBS Television, where it stayed until April 1, 2009, when CBS decided to cancel it due to low ratings.

EXERCISE A.3: Find words or phrases in the text which mean the same as the following: (1 point)
a) scores: ratings c) promoters, supporters: sponsors
b) public: audience d) accomplishments, attainments: achievements
OPTION B
THEME PARKS
Do you like jungle wildlife, fairy tales, or the Old West? All of those things can be found at a theme park, an
amusement park in which landscaping, buildings, and attractions are based on one or more specific themes. The USA
is home to the major examples of theme parks, as all of the Disney and Universal ‘destination’ parks are located there.
These are parks that are open year-round, generally offer on-property overnight accommodations and other resort
amenities, and attract vacationers from afar as well as those within driving distance. However, there are also theme
parks that cater to more specific customers such as the SeaWorld parks, Sesame Place, or Legoland Florida, among
many others; for example, although Legoland Florida is a multi-day destination, it was originally designed only for kids
2 to 12. Nowadays, the scope of the park has changed a lot, with two hotels and a beach resort, the Legoland Water
Park, the brand-new Peppa Pig Theme Park, as well as the actual Legoland Florida Theme Park, which has more
than 50 shows and attractions inspired by LEGO® brands and characters.
Although a ‘theme’ park and an ‘amusement’ park may appear to be the same, there is a subtle difference between
them. In an amusement park, visitors are passive passengers on mechanical rides, even if there is a wide range of
them—roller coasters, flat rides, carousels, dark rides, and the like. In theme parks, however, the common rides found
at an amusement park are used to tell stories, since in theme parks the use of a whimsical architecture, colour,
landscaping, and characters makes visitors become an active part of the illusion.
EXERCISE B.1: Add True or False, quoting the relevant information from the text to justify your answer. (2
points)
a) In a theme park the combination of special colours, striking structures and dedicated actors facilitates the
willing involvement of visitors in the magic of the park.

True: The justification should quote this clause: “in theme parks the use of a whimsical architecture, colour,
landscaping, and characters makes visitors become an active part of the illusion”.

NOTE: Colours is paralled by “colour”; striking structures, by “a whimsical architecture”; and dedicated actors, by
“characters”. Magic and “illusion” go hand in hand, as do willing and “active”, or facilitates and “makes visitors
become”. Therefore, if several of these six elements are missing from the answer, the mark should not be 1 point, but
lower, unless the student replaces them with [...]. Each Vocal Corrector/a is free to decide how much is subtracted
from the full mark, but the result of the subtraction should take account of the aims and context of this process of
correction.

b) Disney and Universal ‘destination’ parks are only visited by holidaymakers from nearby towns.
False: The justification should quote this clause: “These are parks that are open year-round, generally offer on-
property overnight accommodations and other resort amenities, and attract vacationers from afar as well as those
within driving distance”.

NOTE: If the justification is “These are parks that [...] attract vacationers from afar as well as those within driving
distance”, the mark should also be 1 point. The key element is “from afar as well as those within driving distance” =
nearby. Colours is paralled by “colour”; striking structures, by “a whimsical architecture”; and dedicated actors, by
“characters”. Magic and “illusion” go hand in hand, as do willing and “active”, or facilitates and “makes visitors
become”. Therefore, if several of these six elements are missing from the answer, the mark should not be 1 point, but
lower, unless the student replaces them with [...]. As regards the absence of [...], each Vocal Corrector/a is free to
decide how much is subtracted from the full mark, but the result of the subtraction should take account of the aims and
context of this process of correction.

EXERCISE B.2: Answer the following questions according to the information given in the text. Use your own
words. (2 points)
a) Why is the scope of Legoland Florida said to have changed over time?

SAMPLE ANSWER (for the full mark, it should contain the two notions underlined): "Because Legoland Florida was
initially created exclusively for children aged 2 to 12, but then evolved into a multi-day destination with significant
expansions. Presently, the park encompasses two hotels, a beach resort, the Legoland Water Park, the newly
introduced Peppa Pig Theme Park, and the original Legoland Florida Theme Park, featuring over 50 shows and
attractions inspired by LEGO® brands and characters."

b) What can a visitor do at a Disney ‘destination’ park?

SAMPLE ANSWER (for the full mark, it should contain at least the information underlined): “As destination parks are
oriented towards the general public, visitors can stay there for more than one day at any time of the year as there are
hotels inside the park with services suitable for long holidays.”

EXERCISE B.3: Find words or phrases in the text which mean the same as the following: (1 point)
a) recreation, entertainment: amusement c) clients, consumers: customers
b) automated, machine-driven: mechanical d) lodgings: accommodations

BLOCK 2. USE OF ENGLISH (REPHRASING) (2 POINTS)

OPTION A
EXERCISE A.4: Complete the second sentence in each pair. The meaning should be the same as that of the
first sentence. (2 points)
a) Guiding Light was broadcast for more than 70 years and so became one of the longest-running television
dramas. If Guiding Light had been broadcast for less/fewer than 70 years, it wouldn’t( not) have become one of the
longest-running television dramas.
not been broadcast for more than 70 years, it wouldn’t( not) have become one of the
longest-running television dramas.
b) “What did Reverend John Ruthledge do to help his neighbours during the fire?”, Alice asked. Alice wanted to
know what Revered John Ruthledge had done to help his neighbours during the fire. [did --> 0,25]
c) I miss not having met Emma’s famous grandmother, the soap opera actress. If only I had met / been able to
meet Emma’s famous grandmother, the soap opera actress.
d) Men used to be at work at the time of day when the first soap operas were broadcast. There were lots of
commercials about beauty products. There were lots of commercials about beauty products because/as/since men
used to be at work at the time of day when the first soap operas were broadcast.
OPTION B
EXERCISE B.4: Complete the second sentence in each pair. The meaning should be the same as that of the
first sentence. (2 points)
a) More than 10,000 whale lovers visited SeaWorld parks in 2022. SeaWorld parks were visited by more than
10,000 whale lovers in 2022. NOTE: Without “in 2022”, 0.4 points.
b) Do not forget to buy the tickets well in advance or you will not be able to participate in the Peppa Pig show. If
you do not buy the tickets well in advance, you will not/won’t be able to participate in the Peppa Pig show.
forget to buy the tickets well in advance, you will not/won’t be able to participate in the Peppa Pig show.
.......do not remember to buy the tickets well in advance, you will not/won’t be able to participate in the Peppa Pig
show.
c) Sophie’s brother hates roller coasters. We ruled out the possibility of going to an amusement park. The
possibility of going to an amusement park was ruled out/discarded because/since/as Sophie’s brother hates roller
coasters.
d) “In 2007, Sesame Place became the first theme park in Pennsylvania to become completely smoke-free”, the
guide said. The guide explained that in 2007 Sesame Place had become the first theme park in Pennsylvania to
become completely smoke-free. [became --> 0,25]

BLOCK 3. WRITING (3 POINTS)

OPTION A
EXERCISE A.5: Write a blog post about a soap opera you liked watching, or the type of soap opera you like
watching. Make sure you explain clearly why you enjoyed it, or would enjoy it, so much (100-140 words). (3
points).
Title: A Captivating Escape: My Love for Soap Operas
[Introduction:] Soap operas have always held a special place in my heart when it comes to television dramas. One
particular soap opera that has left an indelible mark on me is "Sunset Bay," a show that flawlessly combines intense
drama, intricate relationships, and unexpected plot twists.
[Body:] What sets "Sunset Bay" apart from other soap operas is its ability to keep viewers hooked through its well-
crafted storytelling. The writers skillfully weave intricate plotlines, laced with suspense and emotional depth, leaving us
eagerly anticipating each episode. The diverse cast of characters brings a rich tapestry of personalities, each with
their own unique struggles and dreams. I have grown attached to the characters, witnessing their triumphs and
tribulations, and feeling a part of their lives. The ongoing nature of the show, with episodes airing several times a
week, creates a sense of familiarity and investment that keeps me eagerly tuning in.
[Conclusion:] For those seeking an engrossing and addictive television experience, soap operas like "Sunset Bay" are
the perfect choice. So, if you're in search of a captivating escape that will leave you longing for more, I wholeheartedly
recommend diving into the world of soap operas.
OPTION B
EXERCISE B.5: Write a letter to a friend persuading him or her to visit a (real or imaginary) theme park. Make
sure you mention a specific theme and give specific reasons why he or she should undoubtedly visit it (100-
140 words). (3 points)
Dear [Friend's Name],
[Introduction:] I hope this letter finds you in great spirits! I wanted to share an exhilarating experience that I recently
had and encourage you to join me on an unforgettable adventure. Imagine stepping into a realm where fantasy
becomes reality, where dreams come true – [Name of Theme Park], the ultimate [Theme] paradise.
[Body, divided into various sections:] At [Name of Theme Park], you'll be transported to a world of enchantment, where
every corner tells a magical story. The [Theme] theme is truly awe-inspiring, with meticulously crafted attractions and
immersive environments that will leave you breathless.
But that's not all! [Name of Theme Park] also boasts a host of unique features that set it apart from any other theme
park. With state-of-the-art technology, you'll find yourself face-to-face with your favorite [Theme] characters, making
cherished memories that will last a lifetime. The attention to detail in every aspect of the park will leave you marveling
at the craftsmanship and dedication that went into its creation.
Furthermore, [Name of Theme Park] offers a variety of dining options, ranging from delectable [Theme]-themed treats
to gourmet international cuisine.
[Conclusion:] So, my dear friend, let's embark on this extraordinary journey together. Let's delve into the magical
realm of [Name of Theme Park]. Trust me, this is an experience you wouldn't want to miss.
Looking forward to sharing this incredible adventure with you!
Warmest regards,
Harry Potter