Prueba de Acceso a la Universidad de Extremadura
Asignatura: Inglés Tiempo máximo de la prueba: Una hora
El alumno deberá escoger una de las dos opciones, A o B, y responder en inglés a todas las preguntas que se formulan en
la opción elegida, sin mezclar preguntas de una y otra. En el caso de la primera pregunta (la redacción), deberá escribir
tan sólo sobre uno de los dos temas propuestos. (Puntuación máxima del ejercicio: 10 puntos. Puntuación máxima de
cada pregunta: 1ª pregunta = 3 puntos; 2ª = 2 puntos; 3ª = 1’5 puntos; 4ª = 1 punto; 5ª = 2’5 puntos).
Opción A English or Chinese?
For decades, China isolated itself from the rest of the world. However, as China has opened up and modernized, Western culture and the English
language have expanded throughout the country. Western brands are now widely available, and there are large numbers of students wanting to study
English. However, not everyone is so enthusiastic about these changes. Some Chinese feel that the craze for English and Western culture in China could
be detrimental to their country in the long run.
In particular, some people are concerned that the increasing flow of English words and phrases into Chinese conversation could endanger the future
of the language. This concern has resulted in a demand for linguistic purity. For example, Chinese media were told by the government to start using a list
of official Chinese translations for English abbreviations.
Some people believe that in order to strengthen young people’s connection to their language and culture, it’s necessary to shift the emphasis away
from English and towards Chinese. As a result, the demand for private Chinese-language tutoring schools is growing. In addition to the normal
curriculum, these schools introduce children to classic Chinese literature and traditional culture.
What’s more, there’s a move to lessen the importance of English in the education system. At the moment, English has equal weight with maths and
Chinese in the annual university exams. Recently, the Ministry of Education has announced plans to reduce the points allotted to English in the exams,
while raising the points for Chinese.
While this attempt to contain the spread of Western values in China may be understandable, there’s a danger that it may backfire. A reduced
emphasis on English education in school may well result in lower English proficiency among secondary-school students, which may have a negative
effect on international business and the Chinese economy further down the line.
What’s more, the Chinese government may have to accept the fact that “cultural purity” is a thing of the past. As China continues to develop as an
economic superpower, people from all over the world are flocking to study Chinese. Cultural exchange, it appears, goes both ways.
1. Write a composition about one of the following topics (maximum 3 points):
a. S
hould the Chinese government continue to protect the purity of the Chinese language at the expense of
English? Give your opinion in at least 80 words.
b. Write a story of at least 80 words ending with this sentence: "That’s why Chen didn’t want to return to China
again". Remember that the 24 words in this sentence cannot be counted in the 80 words you must write.
2. Answer the following two questions:
a. Do the Chinese use abbreviations? Explain your answer, providing evidence from the text (maximum 1 point).
b. According to the text, what is the connection between the level of English in China and the Chinese economy?
Explain your answer, providing evidence from the text (maximum 1 point).
3. Find in the text words having a similar meaning to the following words. Give only one synonym for each
word (maximum 0.5 points each word):
a. worry, issue b. reduce keen on
c.
4. Read the following short dialogue:
Chen: Guess what? I feel awful! In July we are going back to China. My parents have just sold their shop here.
Paul: Really? So sorry to hear that. So will you take the English test in June in order to have a B2 certificate?
Chen: No indeed! There is no point in wasting my time studying English to work in a store in China.
Now imagine that you are Paul and Chen is your friend. Use just two or three sentences t o advice him not to do that
and give him a good reason for it (maximum 1 points).
5. Grammatical transformation.
a. Rewrite the following sentence in the passive voice (maximum 1.5 points). DO NOT OMIT ANYTHING:
The Ministry of Education has announced plans to reduce the points allotted to English in the exams
b. Rewrite the following sentence in the past simple interrogative negative (maximum 1 point):
This concern has resulted in a demand for linguistic purity
concerned lessen what's more
