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Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

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qtryanU'a r :4 Tfl6 i',úi,l* The rise of cosmetic surgery - Once the exclusive domain of wealthy older women, recalls, she was painfully shy and constantly looked down cosmetic surgery has now become a fashionable option at the floor. NoW apparently, she's looking up, confident ¡for many young people. Today's teenagers live in a society and even singing in a school band. I which increasingly accepts surgery as a way of improving However, despite the claims of surgeons, young people L a person's appearance. lndeed the growing popularity ., fshould remember that cosmetic suigery ii no guarantee of cosmetic procedures,has opened up a new market in )- Lot happiness and things can go *roñg.- In 2005, there was tourism. Those seeking 'nip and tuck'pn a budget can an investigation into the death of the-Nigerian president,s travel to Poland, Tunisia or even South Africa, where wife, whJdied in a Spanish clinic after háving surgery. surgery is cheaper' There have also been several confirmed casei of deaths For many teenagers, however, the effect of cosmetic surgery is more than just skin-deep. According to some psychotherapists, teenagers now choose to change their look for both physical and psychological reasons. This is because, between the ages of 1 3 and 19, self-esteem is vitally important to healthy personal development. One fashionable cosmetic surgeon from New York tells the story of one of his teenage patients. Before the surgery, he resulting from liposuction and operations using stomach staples. The long-term health effects of these procedures should be the first concern of anyone considering cosmetic surgery. Perhaps the most important thing to bear in mind is that, for most people, what really counts is who you are not the way you look. Are the sentences true or false? Quote words from the text to support your view. a Cosmetic surgery has always been available to everybody. F b People still think that cosmetic surgery is unacceptable.p c Cosmetic surgery might help teenagers with low self-esteem.\ d Cosmetic surgery is now very safe. tr What is the text about? Choose the best answer according to the text. a Differences in fashion trends between teenagers today and the previous generation. b Cheap holidays abroad. c The dangers of cosmetic surgery. @ The chang¡ng perception of the benefits of cosmetic surgery for today's teenagers. 3 Describe in your own words the three most common reasons why people have plastic surgery. P€eiffi,, ' r"ne..^.,o^ri g "ü+^Sa.i \ ^Wffiw I q Vt,¡StC.oC- .g¡,-d $tt55f,.V€ \Cr^a ^o€-g)ñS, qsb¡ &\X--ea:tesqñ\. ü Find words in the text that mean ... a trendy (adjective, paragraph 1) ]nlron"I'la b superficial (adjectival phrase, pur"ugruph Z)$l-t¡ &{ c relating to the mind (adiective , paragraph 2XdF d definite (adjective, paragraph 3) c"tfi,r"aa,? e be aware of (phrase, paragraph 4) N¿ry-WI" €s¡i \n Niré €N*- Complete the sentences with the c6fféef' form of the verbs in brackets. a I )*,e be&eftnot believe) in using surgery as away of (¡upro,¡¡¿rJ (mprove) your appearance. b Many teenagers today 4lo L (get) tattoos and piercings in order to MIG- (make) a statement about themselves. -__5c Patricia would rather (do) aerobics - than t.LndcrrAffi.(undergo) plastic surgery. d Some adults " " tU (see) today's craze of ( (hr'¡¿n* (alter) one's body as something that is wróng. Would you ever consider having plastic surgery? Write an opinion essay in 80 to 100 words. 4 6 =\,'.+ü8, - *$rrr.,Rf!
Transcript
Page 1: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

qtryanU'a r :4 Tfl6

i',úi,l*

The rise of cosmetic surgery- Once the exclusive domain of wealthy older women, recalls, she was painfully shy and constantly looked down

cosmetic surgery has now become a fashionable option at the floor. NoW apparently, she's looking up, confident

¡for many young people. Today's teenagers live in a society and even singing in a school band.

I which increasingly accepts surgery as a way of improving However, despite the claims of surgeons, young peopleL a person's appearance. lndeed the growing popularity ., fshould remember that cosmetic suigery ii no guarantee

of cosmetic procedures,has opened up a new market in )- Lot happiness and things can go *roñg.- In 2005, there wastourism. Those seeking 'nip and tuck'pn a budget can an investigation into the death of the-Nigerian president,stravel to Poland, Tunisia or even South Africa, where wife, whJdied in a Spanish clinic after háving surgery.surgery is cheaper' There have also been several confirmed casei of deathsFor many teenagers, however, the effect of cosmeticsurgery is more than just skin-deep. According to somepsychotherapists, teenagers now choose to change theirlook for both physical and psychological reasons. This is

because, between the ages of 1 3 and 19, self-esteem is

vitally important to healthy personal development. Onefashionable cosmetic surgeon from New York tells thestory of one of his teenage patients. Before the surgery, he

resulting from liposuction and operations using stomachstaples.

The long-term health effects of these procedures should bethe first concern of anyone considering cosmetic surgery.Perhaps the most important thing to bear in mind is that,for most people, what really counts is who you are not theway you look.

Are the sentences true or false? Quote wordsfrom the text to support your view.a Cosmetic surgery has always been available

to everybody. Fb People still think that cosmetic surgery

is unacceptable.p

c Cosmetic surgery might help teenagers withlow self-esteem.\

d Cosmetic surgery is now very safe. tr

What is the text about? Choose the bestanswer according to the text.a Differences in fashion trends between teenagers

today and the previous generation.

b Cheap holidays abroad.

c The dangers of cosmetic surgery.

@ The chang¡ng perception of the benefits ofcosmetic surgery for today's teenagers.

3 Describe in your own words the three mostcommon reasons why people have plasticsurgery.

P€eiffi,,' r"ne..^.,o^ri g "ü+^Sa.i \ ^Wffiw Iq Vt,¡StC.oC- .g¡,-d $tt55f,.V€ \Cr^a

^o€-g)ñS,qsb¡ &\X--ea:tesqñ\.ü

Find words in the text that mean ...a trendy (adjective, paragraph 1) ]nlron"I'lab superficial (adjectival phrase, pur"ugruph Z)$l-t¡ &{c relating to the mind (adiective , paragraph 2XdFd definite (adjective, paragraph 3) c"tfi,r"aa,?

e be aware of (phrase, paragraph 4) N¿ry-WI"€s¡i \n Niré €N*-Complete the sentences with the c6fféef'form of the verbs in brackets.a I )*,e be&eftnot believe) in using surgery as

away of (¡upro,¡¡¿rJ (mprove) your appearance.

b Many teenagers today 4lo L (get) tattoos

and piercings in order to MIG- (make)a statement about themselves.

-__5c Patricia would rather (do) aerobics- than t.LndcrrAffi.(undergo) plastic surgery.

d Some adults " " tU (see) today's craze of( (hr'¡¿n* (alter) one's body as something

that is wróng.

Would you ever consider having plasticsurgery? Write an opinion essay in 80 to 100words.

4

6

=\,'.+ü8, - *$rrr.,Rf!

Page 2: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

&ñakñmg a differenceWe live in a world in which the gap between rich and poorbecomes wider every year. The consequences of povertyin developing countries have a big effect on developedcountries. lmmigration ánd terrorism, which are twoproblems facing Europe and the USA today, are linked topoverty in the developing world. However many peoplein developed countries and especially those working forcharities now realize the importance of reducing the effectsof this disparity.

Lily Foster is one of those people. This 25-year-old clinicianenjoys swimming, playing the guitar and working as avolunteer for Oxfam in her spare time. As a volunteer,she dedicates part of her free time to helping people incountries as far away as Indonesia. In fact when the 2004tsunami left thousands of people hungry and homeless,Lily didn't have to move away from her home city of

Manchester to make an impact - her help, organizingdonations of clothes and money, made a big difference tothe lives of many of the people affected by the disaster.

Apart from donating money and time, there are otherways that people can help. Organizations like AmnestyInternational and Oxfam, to mention some of the mostwell-known, organize a variety of campaigns to raiseawareness of problems around the world. Anyone can takepart in the marathons and other fundraising events theyorganize in the UK or more exotic places such as Egypt orChina. You can also make a difference by buying food andgifts at the fair trade shops set up by charities, as Lily does.The money you exchange for your purchase goes directlyto farmers and producers, which allows them to developtheir business and work their way out of poverty.

1 Are the sentences true or false? Quote wordsfrom the text to support your v¡ew.a lf you work as a volunteer, you have to live abroad.

b The way you shop can affect people indeveloping countries.

2 Choose the best answer accord¡ng tothe text.a Charities can help ...

1 the governments of developing countries.

2 citizens from poor countries.

3 the governments of developed countries.

4 immigrants and terrorists.

b Lily Foster is a good example of a ...

1 clinicalworker.

2 charítyvolunteer.

3 marathon runner.

4 charity leader.

In which other ways does Lily contributeto charities?

1 by working in a clinic

2 by donating half of her salary

3 by shopping at fair trade shops

4 by participating in running events

How can people contribute to charities'work?1 by participating in the events organized by

charities

2 by organizing their own campaigns to raiseawareness

3 by doing their shopping in department stores

4 by going on expensive trips to China

3 Find words in the text that meanthe poorest countries in the world (noun phrase,paragraph 1)

inequality (noun, paragraph 1)

c devotes (verb, paragraph 2)

d have an effect (phrase, paragraph 2)

e to start a business (phrasal verb, paragraph 3)

4 Complete the sentences w¡th the correctform of the words in brackets.a George was (amaze) when he

discovered what people (donate).

b Sheila (buy) all her presents ather local Fair Trade shop until she(move) to a smaller town.

c My brother travels to (excite)places like China and lndia to(raise) money for charity.

d My friend doesn't believe in (help)others and I am (worry) about her.

Using the information about Lily, write abouther life or about the life of a volunteer youknow. Write 80 to 100 words.

Page 3: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

Crirne fictionSuspense and mystery stories have been popular literarygenres for a long time. Detective novels, which exploit ourfascination with the subtleties of the human brain, are clearfavourites within this genre.

Why do people enjoy reading about terrible crimes? Onereason could be our curiosity about what makes ordinarypeople, like the next-door neighbour, turn into monsterscapable of the most horrific crimes. Another possibility is

that reading a thriller, and getting absorbed in i! makesyou forget whatever real worries you may have. We alsoidentify with the characters very easily since they areusually portrayed as ordinary people living in familiarsurroundings.

Crime fiction as we know it today, began in themid-nineteenth century with the creation of the firstfictional detective, C. Auguste Dupin by Edgar Allan Poe.The Murders in the Rue Morgue, written in 'l 841, shifted thefocus of mystery stories from the description of shockingevents and eerie settings to the study of the psychological

reasons for people committing evil crimes. Following poe,s

style, Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes became thearchetypal scientific detective who always solves his casesthrough common sense, careful observation and logic.

The best-known mystery writer in history is Agatha Christiewho wrote more than 80 detective novels. Herfictionaldetectives, the Belgian Hercules Poirot and the elderly MissMarple, became classics of the genre. In stories such asMurder on the Orient Express and The Body in the Librory, thedetectives solve intriguing crimes and generally bloodlessmurders that occur in English country houses and exoticlocations. These crimes take plaee among the members ofa group who all become suspects in the crime.

American author Patricia Highsmith and the British writerRuth Rendell, are two examples of writers who explore thecriminal mind and develop complex plots that challengethe reader's concepts of morality and justice. Theircriminals are presented in such a sympathetic way that youcan't help feeling closer to them than to their victims.

Answer the questions below in your ownwords and based on the ideas in the text.a Why do people generally identify with the

characters in detective novels?

b How did mystery stories change in the 19thcentury?

c What type of crimes do Agatha Christie'sdetectives investigate?

Are the sentences true or false? Quote wordsfrom the text to support your v¡ew.a We use detective stories as a way of evading

reality.

b Sherlock Holmes was the first fictional detective.

Choose the best answer accord¡ng to thetext.The scientific detective ...

a always solves crimes.

b solves crimes by listening carefully.

c empathizes with the criminal.

d uses a process of logical deduction to solve crimes.

Find words in the text that mean ...a take advantage (verb, paragraph 1)

b normal(adjective, paragraph 2)

c upsetting (adjective, paragraph 3)

d most famous (adjective, paragraph 4)e old (adjective, paragraph 4)

Match the words to the definitions.a a book or film with an

exciting story, usuallyinvolving crime

b changed from one thing toanother

c details that are notimmediately obvious

d very bad

e strange, mysterious andfrightening

Write a story about someth¡ng frighteningthat happened to you or describe a detectivestory you have read. Write 80 to 100 words.

4

2 1 shifted

2 evil

3 thriller

4 eerie

5 subtleties

6

Page 4: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

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Slomr fCIo'dEverybody can identify fast food products like hamburgers,hot dogs and pizza, but what about slow food? Well, theSlow Food movement started as a reaction against theoverwhelming influence of American fast food outletsthat have replaced local food restaurants worldwide. SlowFood was founded by ltalian writer Carlo Petrini during the1980s as a protest against the opening of a McDonald'sfranchise near the Spanish Steps in Rome. He decided itwas t¡me to end the dominance of fast food and promotethe idea that people should take time to enioy real, tastymeals with friends and family.

Slow Food has become a large organization with morethan 83,000 members from countries like ltaly, Germany,Switzerland, the USA France, Japan and Creat Britain.They promote the need for consumer information,the preservation of gastronomic traditions and thesafeguarding of traditional cultivat¡on and processingtechniques. Among their many national and internationalprolects is the Ark of Taste, which has created a catalogue

of those foods that are in danger of extinction at the hands

of global standardization. They also develop educationalprogrammes for children. For example they are nowcampaigning in the USA to include dietary education in theschool curriculum, iust like maths or languages.

Slowing down to eat is one way of improving your qualityof life thinks Carlo Petrini. But he doesn't stop there. The

Slow Cities movement began in 1999 as a group of iust30 ltalian cities but has rapidly expanded to include over100 cities worldwide. Member cities aim to provide good,local food and hospitality while also using energy moreefficiently and trying to cut down on waste. They believethat rather than using technology as a way of doing thingsmore quickly, we should use it to enable us to enjoy a

slower pace of life. The message from Slow Food and SlowCities is that the way we eat makes a difference not onlyto our health and well-being but can also have a positiveimpact on our environment.

1 Choose the best answer accord¡ng tothe text.1 Slow Food is an international movement that

promotes...a eating healthy and nutritious international

food.

b eating hamburgers and hot dogs.

c taking time to eat'real'food.d eating American fast food all over the world.

2 The Ark of Taste is a Slow Food project whichaims at...

guaranteeing consumers' health.

preserving our world's diversity of foods.

making cities environmentally friendly.

distributing industrial standard productsworldwide.

Answer the following questions ¡n your ownwords and based on the ideas in the text.1 Why did Carlo Petrini create Slow Food?

2 What are the beliefs of the Slow Cities movement?

Find words in the text that mean ...a objection (noun, paragraph 1)

b appetizing (adjective, paragraph 1)

c protection (noun, paragraPh 2)

d quickly (adverb, paragraph 3)

Complete the sentences w¡th the correctform of the words in brackets.1 The Slow Cities movement

(change) the way our townsin the future.

(look)

Slow Food members (want) tochange teenagers' (healthy) eatinghabits.

(eat) a meal with our family shouldbe something we allto.

(look forward)

4 My friend Monicawillneverforget(eat) at that French restaurant. They had such an

(amaze) meal.

Write an emailto a friend describing a typicalday in your life. Write 80 to 100 words.

3

4

a

b

c

d

2

5

Page 5: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

Unií,

BollywosdEverybody thinks that the world's largest cinema industryis Hollywood, in Los Angeles. However, the global filmcapital is not, in fact, Hollywood but Bollywood; the centreof Indian film-making. Bollywood is located in Mumbai(formerly known as Bombay) where over 800 films aremade each year, more than double the number of featurefilms produced in the United States.

Indian film making, which began in the early 20th centurywith the shooting of the first silent Indian film, takes placein Bollywood's film production centre known as 'Film City,.The industry has boomed since then and today there is alarge number of cinemas in Mumbai.Indian films have a characteristic style. They are colourfulmusical productions which last three to four hours withan interval. The plots include dozens of songs and dancesfeaturing over 100 choreographed dancers, with lots ofaction (though no bloodshed), romance and a happyending. Audiences enjoy watching their favourite stars, likethe gorgeous Aishwarya Rai, who are extremely popular

and highly paid. The lead star can receive as much as 40o/oof the typical $2 million budget for the film. Indeed, starsmay be in such high demand that they can be working onten films at once!

Indian films are becoming more and more popular aroundthe world, especially in American and British cities wnerethere are large South Asian communities. Bollywoodfilms help these people stay in touch with their culture aswell as exposing western audiences, who are starting toappreciate these Bollywood films, to Indian influence. TheOscar-nominated director Mira Nair, whose film MonsoonWeddingwon the Colden Lion at the Venice Film Festivalin 2001, has done much to offer a contemporary view oflndian culture in herfilms. Bride and prejudlce, the Indianversion of Jane Austen's Pride ond prejudice, is anotherexample of an Indian film that has won over westernaudiences with its vibrant colour, group choreography andjolulmusic.

Read the quest¡ons and answer us¡ng yourown words.a What is Bollywood?

b What are the differences between Indianproductions and western cinema?

Are the sentences true or false? Quote wordsfrom the text to support your v¡ew.a Bollywood stars find it hard to get good roles

in films.

b Bollywood films are only popular in Asian countries.

c Hollywood makes more films everyyear thanBollywood.

Choose the best answer accord¡ng to the text.The popularity of Indian films is based on ...a complicated plots with a surprising turn at

the end.

the use of music, songs and dance to criticisef ndia's social and political situation. 6telling romantic stories through joyful songsand dances.

hiring unknown stars in the leading roles so thatcommon people can identify with them.

Find words in the text that mean ...a long films (noun phrase, paragraph 1)

b filming (gerund, paragraph 2)c become very popular (verb, paragraph 2)

d beautiful (adjective, paragraph 3)

e very well (adverb, paragraph 3)

f remain familiar with (phrase, paragraph 4)

Complete the sentences w¡th the correctrelat¡ve pronoun.a We didn't know the street

c¡nema was, so we didn't make it on time.b My favourite actor is Ceorge Clooney,

remains single.

I haven't seen the movietalking about. Have you?

March is the month

they are

4

2

5

the

3

the OscarAwards Ceremony is held.

Write a rev¡ew of the last film you saw, or thelast concert or match you attended. Write100 to 120 words.

Page 6: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

XThe art of movementParkour has appeared in various television advertisements,news reports and documentaries. lt was even in Madonna'sHung Upvideo. This new sport - which some think ofas a kind of dance - is about moving through the urbanlandscape with fluidity, while dodging its obstacles.

Sébastien Foucan and David Belle created parkour byrunning, climbing and jumping across Paris. They wantedto cross the city in a straight line, despite any obstacleswhich lay in their way. The aim of parkour is to becomepart of the environment in order to develop both mindand body. Parkour really tests your capacity to interact withurban features like rails or steps using movements suchas vaulting, jumping and other acrobatics with the aim ofmoving smoothly through your town or city. You have totrain yourself, physically and mentally, for the possibility offacing bigger and bigger challenges.

Parkour has just started to catch on in cities like New York,

Montreal and London. In the UK there are around 600parkour followers who keep in touch through the websitelJrbqn Freeflow. They use colourful nicknames, write blogsand recommend attending events where you can watchparkourists in action to really appreciate how exciting thissoort can be.

The main point of parkour is that anybody can do it andthere are no fixed rules about what you should do. You

don't have to follow a format and neither do you need

special equipment, except for good trainers and clothesthat let your body breathe. You should start out at a lowlevel of difficulty and work your way up slowly. Joiningmore experienced people as a beginner is also advisable.

However, you should remember that there is a huge risk ofinjury in this sport and you should avoid trying to emulateexpert David Belle's nine metre leaps between the roofs ofbuildings without a wire or safety net!

Are the sentences true or false? Quote wordsfrom the text to support your v¡ew.1 Parkour is a new sport that originated in the streets.

2 Parkourists are in conflict with the urbanlandscape.

Read the quest¡ons and answer us¡ng yourown words.1 What is the philosophy of parkour?

2 How has parkour caught on outside France?

3 Do you think this is an easy sport to do? Cive atleast two reasons to support your answer.

Match the words to the definitions.

Rewrite the sentences follow¡ng theinstructions.'l Write a question for which the underlined words

are the answer:

You havetowear@todo parkour.

2 )oin the following two sentences with a relativepronoun.

Parkour followers are very fit people. They mustmove smoothly across a city.

Write about a sport or other past¡me thatyou enioy. Write 120 to 150 words.

4

'l dodging

2 vaulting

a something that is difficult to do

b physicalharm

3 challenge c avoid something by movingquickly

4 catch on d something that is a good idea

5 advisable e jumping over something using

6 injuries

your hands

f to become fashíonable

Page 7: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

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A wCIrd of wermñxrg eb&uü relat8oms$rñpsRelationships are an important part of life and are supposedto be fun and special. Most of the time, relationships make

us feel good about ourselves. Being with someone whovalues and respects us increases our levels of self-esteemand confidence and generally makes us happier. In

a healthy relationship people negotiate issues withoutgiving each other a hard time.

Unfortunately, finding the right partner is not always easy

and you may end up in an unhealthy relationship. So, whatare the warning signs? Jealousy is one. lf your partner getsupset whenever you talk to a member of the opposite sexit could be the beginning of something more serious. lfyour partner tries to control your life, the relationship is nolonger a healthy one.

It is fairly easy to recognize the symptoms of a stressfulrelationship. lf you can't sleep because of feelings ofdepression, anxiety or sadness about your relationship,then it isn't working. When people start blamingthemselves for things that are not their fault, feeling guiltyor miserable for no reason or have trouble trusting others,it is time for them to say goodbye to their partner.

lf a relationship ever turns violent, it has to end. Thereis never a good reason to stay with a person that harmsyou. Despite the difficulties involved in walking outof an abusive relationship, especially if you are deeplyemotionally involved, you must do it. Your partner mayapologize and promise never to hurt you again, but itwill be just a matter of time before the abusive behaviourreturns. So, if you are in an unhealthy relationship, get helpright away.

1 Read the questions and answer us¡ng yourown words.a What are the benefits of relationships?

b How do we know when we have an unhealthyrelationship with another person?

c What are the symptoms of emotional stress?

d Why do you think many people have problemsleaving abusive partners?

2 Find words in the text that mean ...a problems (noun, paragraph 1)

b sad or angry (adjective, paragraph 2)

c signs (noun, paragraph 3)

d extremely unhappy (adjective, paragraph 3)

e hurts (verb, paragraph 4)

3 Rewrite the sentences us¡ng the words g¡ven.

a Sandra and Bill will continue going out if youdon't warn her.

Unless ...

b Peter didn't ask Ann out because he didn't qether phone number.

lf Peter...

c I am sure my boyfriend has forgotten ouranniversary.

My boyfriend must ...

d My boyfriend is always jealous when I talk toother boys. I don't know what to do.

You...e You are very tired because you don't get enough

sleep at night.

lf you...

4 Complete the sentences w¡th the correctform of the words in brackets.a Robert and Sheila (date) each other

for three years, but he (not seem)very happy about their relationship.

b People who (have) low self-esteemare potential victims ofrelationships.

(danger)

c Never (stay) in an(abuse) relationship.

Write a dialogue between you and yourboyfriend or girlfriend explaining why youwant to break up. Write 120 tol50 words.

Page 8: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

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XWmss extinctioxrMore than a quarter of the Earth's animals and plants coulddisappear forever over the next 50 years; victims of globalwarming and of man's destruction of the world's wildlifehabitats. A recent study carried out in Europe, Centraland South America, South Africa and Australia shows howglobal warming is dangerously affecting the world's plantand animal species. In the Artic, for instance, forests arereplacing tundra, which is home to millions of birds, likegeese. The study suggests that if temperatures continueto rise, many species will disappear because they can onlysurvive under specific climatic conditions.

Another effect related to the rise in temperatures, is thereduction in size of some species. Doctor Simon Hamilton,a biologist from Marston University, Oxford, says that thewarming of the oceans is preventing some invertebratesfrom reaching their maximum size. This has a knock-oneffect for carnivorous animals that need to hunt for theirfood: if their prey gets increasingly smaller, these predatorswon't have enough food to survive. Consequently, thewhole food chain is put at risk, increasing the possibility ofextinction.

While sceptics point to the fact that the Earth is enteringa natural phase of warming, environmentalists argue thathumanity's contribution to the warming of our planetcould push us over the edge. The Earth has faced five massextinctions in its 4.5 billion year history and we may beresponsible for the next one. Conservationists warn thatthe consequences of this sixth extinction could threatenour own survival. We rely on the planet's biodiversity -which includes the oceans, the forests, animals and plants

- for medicine, shelter, clean air and water. However ourpopulation is increasing, our industry and agriculture areconsuming natural habitats and pollution is poisoning thefood chain.

So, there still hope? There are signs that governments arebeginning to take environmental matters more seriously.Protected areas have doubled in size since 1993 and nowcover about 12o/o of the Earth's surface. More and morecountries are implementing the policies drawn up byconventions such as the Kyoto Protocol in order to reducegreenhouse emissions. However difficult it may be to geta world consensus about this, we must respond to thischallenge or we could end up facing our own extinction.

Read the text and answer us¡ng your ownwords.a What are the possible causes of animal and plant

extinction?

b Why could the 'sixth extinction' have suchdramatic consequences for humankind?

Choose the best answer accord¡ng tothe text.1 Clobal warming threatens biodiversity because ...

a many species can only surv¡ve in protectedareas.

b it is poisoning the food chain.

c each species needs specific climatic conditionsto survive.

d it is destroying the natural habitat of manyplants and animals.

Some countries are starting to address speciesextinction by ...

promoting the setting up of new industries inprotected areas.

following measures to limit global warmíng.promoting populat¡on growth and expansion.

cutting down plants and trees in favourof agriculture.

Find words in the text that mean ...a changing (verb, paragraph 1)

b connected (adjective, paragraph 2)

c depend (verb, paragraph 3)

d putting in place (verb, paragraph 4)

Match the words to the definitions.42 1 rise

2 facing

a home environment

b endanger

b

c

d

3 threaten c written4 habitat d increase

5 drawn up e having to dealwíth

5 Complete the sentences w¡th the correctform of the words in brackets.a Experts suggest

into(do) more research

(develop) renewable energy.

bBy (contribute) to global warming,man is putt¡ng his own (exist) at risk.

There are manythat

(danger) species(live) on Planet Earth.

d Environmentalists are (threaten)the government with huge demonstrationsif they do nothing to (prevent)globalwarming.

What do you think people can do to protectthe environment? Write 120 to 150 words.

6

Page 9: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

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Los verbos modalesI Verbos modales

Can, could, must, need, moy, might, should, oughtto, willy shall son verbos auxiliares modales. Estosverbos son especiales y tienen rasgos característicosque los diferencian de otros verbos.

Rasgos de los verbos modalesNo exigen el auxiliar do en las formas negativas einterrogativas.

He shouldn't drink so much.

Con you help me, pleose?

Willyou morry me?

I couldn't finish on time.

No se les añade -s en la tercera persona del singular.He might get tickets for the event.

She con do judo.

Les sigue el infinitivo sin fo.

You mustn't drink alcohot the night before thecompetition.

No van precedidos niseguidos de tq excepto oughtto.

You ought to go to the gym more often.

No tienen forma para el infinitivo, -ing ni el postporticiple. Cuando los verbos con y must tienenque usar una de estas formas, se sustituyen por lasformas correctas de be oble toy hove to, que no sonverbos modales, pero son equivalentes a'con y must.l'll be able to speok ttalion one doy.l'll hove to finish my homework tomorrow.After having to work lote, I wos reolly tired.Being able to speok English is o useful skiil.I hove had to wait for the bus becouse my dod hos notbeen oble to pick me up todoy.

2 Verbos modales de obligación, consejoy prohibición

Page 10: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

3 Verbos modales de capacidad y permiso

Grammar reference

5 Los modales perfectos

cou[d,' , a,,a'.,.,,1

lcan swim.

My friends con't speokSponish.

He could ski when he wasonly four.

I couldn't ride a bike whenlwos a child.

Dod, con I go to theconcert?

:,;11,,;@p!Q1|:hauettbme,'money,:,:l:apfr¡dlá?ltt..::riri..t,l',:t.. "'

,',.io,éiipress,árb'iiiú..r,

]..,in.üé::pr.eieñi:],,:,]:,:'

i t::: t:::i: tl: ti:i::::t:: il I I l :il I ii i I l

,.., io,éipress abil ity

:l,,in,the past

To ask permissionand make politereques$

Toexpress I ,ii,perm issio¡,1in¡¡!hé,,,

Present .'t ,,,ttt, ,,.,:,'.

She might hqve beenswimming. Her hoir is

wet.

They moy not hoveknown we were waitingfor them.

You should hove restedofter such a long roce.

You shouldn't have eotenso much chocolate.

: 5-l1g:,,ls,o k: S ve ry.' f i t. S b g,

must have been to thegym a lot lately.

fó eiprei!,,,,,,, ¡¡,,,,l,,,,,1

criticismr'or1$!Ve,,,, .

advice iñthé::pas!

lo express

,,,,ce!:tfi!S, o¡'9

,.r,.!egiaalggnllu.!io n

1,:,¡i:l¡tlié1,pá*,,,:', .1,¡¡ ¡ ¡,.

,l& .yl{l(0nrettn?',';Yolu,li bo,rrow this CD ifyou ilKe.

,'Same'students con't,':weuL,their own clothes toschool.

I could stay out untilmídniqht when Iwos 16.

We couldn't wearjewellery at school.

may Imight have+ pasrparticiple

Should /shouldn'thave + pastparticiple

must have+ part

Pl:il,kl.P1..,,,,

::canl!,:hg,|'er,.,,

'¡*¡¡pá5t,¡;;;,¡,,, 1,, 1;,1

,::Paffii¡Pte.:,..:a.

,,¿óu]diñ; 6...

¡ rpast r''

:Part¡ciPle

He can't hove stolen themoney. He was ot homewith me oll moming.

They could have wonthe motch but their bestplayer got ¡nlured.

,tt¡:[,o,exp¡e!¡i.i,,,1,];¡1r¡¡:',rr1'

,.,,,i mPgs9!bill$r,]n

'thq,oast l

,¡:.To¡!¡i.ió¡.,*dig:...:i,ilpermitted / able

l

to do a past t,

1¡,¡¡oiU$;,by!tyqui¡r:::..i:'

¡1tdidttl!1oo.&i.¡¡rt¡it¡;1¡11.i;.¡¡¡:¡

4 Verbos modales especulat¡vosy de deducción

I might go shopping later.

tt could roin todoy,

She con't be a To expressprofessional. She's not negativegood enough. deduction

They must be the ployers. To expressThey're oll weoring the affirmativesome T-shirts. deduction

Page 11: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

\&,fx'$&&xNg em e>pXmXmrx *$seldWhen you write an opinion essay, you want to convince the reader that your point ofview is correct. You must give reasons and examples to prove your point.

unitl

What to writeSay what;"c"lhink ¡boui :,.¿lhen:*. Cive a c'::'*pi*i*n agree n: :'elisaEr*eing r,vith,,.Use phrases like: . '

o¡rfrrsn ... &s !st¿ -

Wlrat ts writeüive cxen:plesrü :upp*fr y*ur*pini*n. Llse phrases

lik*: i ik*f ikci ':'

¿id¡t;*r .. al*t

What to writeSu*r*larise ihe c: -

yüu *re n-:aK ::¡ :*:f*siai€ youi a. - : -

Llse expre ss -,-,like: l¿ ;: ' ,

¿¡¡i¿li,t: | '

;ho;

Fanagrapln 1

Introdur*s lh*th*¡"ne:

Fanagnaplr 2ü.xplains lhs re*sonsf*r y*ur *pi*i*n

lsaragraplr 3{*ncludes the*553y

Usefu! express¡onslt se*ms l* n:* iie¡ ... As

I {il*ir'l} b*li*r¡ iiat .." l

I i**n'f) ngr** llal ... in

u:Y:_i::::: .,o

Do you think that appearance is rnoreirnportant than personality?Some people think that beaury is onJy skin-deep.Theyonly notice the external appearance ofta person. but in my

opinion. personaliry is very important too. People who are

hrppy with themselves are normally atrractive to others.sowhen I meet someone I look at their appearalc,e.:and theirpersonality. , ,

Ia ,..-, to me that it is harmful to worr)a toá,rn r"tabout your looks.'Ioo many people try,to corrform tothe images of beaury we see in the media and some

stop eating or they exercise too rnuch to improve theirappearance. I think that eating a healt\ diet and plaf ing:r

a sport because you enjoy it will help you to feel good

about yourself. In addition, you learn to accept yourselfthe way you are.

In short, people who are only interested in their looks

sometimes forget to feel hrppy about themselves,TheyForget rhat your personaliry affects the way you look.As I see it, when you feel géod, youlook good too.

I se* it ... lt i: cl*e;'

{dr:n't} lhi*k lhnt ..rcnrix:l**...

ril}r¡].|.11¡rw*¡: :r:'r:iiil

¡

Common errorsWord order

X

... they only notice the appeoronce superticial ... | ;

... they only notice the superficial appearonce ... r' ' $*

Easily confused words ¡ILook is used instead of seem:

¡

... when you feel good, you seem good too.l l

... when you feel good, you took good too. y' ¡

Page 12: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

unit/

Writing m b*wgx"ephyWhen you write a person's biography, include relevant and interesting facts about theperson's life and organize them chronologically.

Y-til" a biography of a person youthink makes a difference.

Paragraph 1

üives b*ckgrnunddst*ils ab*¡,¡t t|:epersünr their *arlyiife and inl*resls

Panagnaph 2üesrr!brs thern*in e,¡*nl: !n ih*pers*n': lil*

Panagnaph 3C*nelxeies th*bi*graphy, s{*tinE¡chiev*n:**ts endfle¡"s{}nei i*ü3r},

I *hy I think she's a person who makes a difGrence.i,

What to writeVdrii* ai:ort wf¡erelhe p*rs*n lvñs i]*rn,anylhing :ignificantah*ut th*ir fa*:ily,and a!::*ut lheirrna¡n inlsr*sls anci

¡:r*{es:i*n. Usephr*ses iii<e: ... 1".,e*

fom ¡*.". ,4i il* cgr.rJ.

What tc wniteWrilr **r:utir:rpn*ant *venls inlh* p*rs*n's lile inclrr***!*gic*l cnjer.Inc!ud* i:*th p*sitiv*an* negative asp*ets.tl-rt phr*s*s lil<*: in;ffl ... $y ¡,fff ... I.¡*¡r*r'* ir;irr ...

What to wn*te[rpl;ir: {h* ihingslh¿t *:*!E* ih* pers**sp*r¡ñl ütyü*ff*as*ns fol rhc*:inEl* rvrile *i:n*l th*x"Llse *xpre:.ri*r:s I ilc*:{rr il¡¡ i"rdrll...ft*il *,1y...

AngelinaJolie was born in Los Angeles in 1975. Shesrudied at rhe Actors Studio for fwo years. but dropped outof her acring classes to become a model.Ar the age oF 16.she went back to acting, following in the footsteis of herfather. the famous a ctor JonVoight.Jolie's first leading role was rn Cyborg 2 in 1 993. By 19gg,

the !d won rh¡ee Golden Globes as well as an Oscar forBest SupportingActress {or Gírl, Interrupted.Two years larer,she became an international superstar when she playedthe role o{ Laya Croft in the film version of the video gameTomb Rdider. She continued to develop her image as asensual bur strong heroine in rhe film Sky Captiin and theWoild ofTomorrow in2004, and then again in-Mr and MrsSmith in2005.

Jolie's exciring career parallels her private liG. She has beenmarried twice, but at present she lives with the actor BraclPitt.They have fbur children: Ma ddox,Zahara and pax,who are adopted; and their biological daughter, Shiloh.loliebecame aware of the humanitarian problems in the woddwhile she was filming Tówb Raider ÁCambodia, a poorand exploired country. AFrer rhis experience. she dlcidedto supporr the United Narions work in refugee camps andthen became a goodwill ambassador for the ÜN', n.fun..Agency in 200l.AngelinaJoJre is a srar wirh a heart, thal's

sK|i\$:.]j:]i:i:¡lll,,ü:.W

. Useful expressions i-a

. Cj :l¡ {¡,1.¡¡{i¡ ,t¿t?.,},J}::. t,'; .tai.,r::.,lln,

i :eas']$j i

I At I S ... ¡' At the *g* *l I $ ... Th*n ... I! Surinq hls I h*r lifcii:::* ... l

Common errorsWord orderVerbs in English sentences always need a subject:By 1999 had won on Oscar. X By 1999 she had won an Oscar. y'Jolie's career exciting parallels her life private. XJotie's exciting career parallets her privote life. /Easily confused wordsAt present is used instead of actually (which means ,in fact,):Actuolly she lives with ... tC At present she lives with ... t/For actors, role is used instead of paperlolie's first leoding paper ... I lolie,s first leadinq role

¡ *u; !:ry ¡::) t tr*t :l¡c¡_

| [ve ntu*!ly .. " At pr*:*nt ... tin*liy .. "

i ilir:t ... Lat*r... Aiisr ih*t "..

./

Page 13: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

WrñtñnS e nex"x"ativeWhen you write a narrative, you tell a story in which the description of past eventsis given in chronological order.

What to writeSet the scene withdetails of the time,ine place and thechaiacters in yoursion- o!' anecdote.' ,- ^ ^a ---^. l;l-^.U)C Plird)tr) llñc.

What to writeWrite abou: l^.'raih¡nncnori :n¡i

how the charactersreacted. Use pnrases

¿l:lt(e; l, Deg't' ,', 'Nken ... At titcrn''|úffisnt ... 6u¿c,'t',',

What to writeSonrething aboutihe con:equences ofthe events and whatreievance the storyhas fci- yoü or othersiir lhe present. Use

expressions like: i

have / haven': -.t- '!'2súfie Since :i'..t'

Paragraph 'l

O¡:ens the story

Paragraph 2Describes the mainev€nts in the story

Paragraplr 3

Coneiudes the s!:ryanei reveals anyunexpected events

Useful express¡0r"tsLasl sumnre r ... .A week late r".. 5*delenly ...

At that mürnent ... Finally ... That evening

,4. few days l*ie r ... Afterwards ".. ,{t last ...

Common errorsSequence of tensesThe past perfect is used to refer to actions that happened

,earlfer,in the,past:

'The'londlsdy asked if we sow a ghost. IThe landlady asked if we had seen a ghost- t/Gerunds and infinitivesI don't enjoy to watch scory films- ÍI don't enjoy wotching scory fims. (My friend ond I decided visiting ... IMy friend ond I decided to visit ... y'

Translation errors ',:',,¡,:¡.,,

ln thot moment ... I ,,:,::::,:,,

At that moment ... y' 'r' "":r"

Page 14: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

fll unit{

Writing am &mfwrmaX *e&&*rWhen you write an informal letter you should use a friendly style, an appropriate layoutand state a clear reason for writinq.

Top right handcornerAddr*:s anC date

GreetingBegi:: y**r lellerwiih Sr*r ...

Paragraph '!

! *lr**j*ces ihc lcttcrend giv*: r*as*n f*rwritins

Faragraph 2üir'*: illi*ln:a l!*¡':;i:**i y**rs*ll *¡r*r*rcnl *v**is

Paragra¡ll'l 3i*nlludrs y*lri{tt{i

Signing ciff

!*rry i h*ve*'i wrili*n f*r s* **9.i'v* g*t:* n:*lh t* {ell y*u.

I w*: h;ppy ,l :*rry t* ir*e ¡" *i:*¡,¡l ...

ilcw h;¡vsr y** i:***? il*l,l'i: slhi:*i g*ing?

l-h*t's al! i*; ¡:ll'r'. I *an'l l'v*!l t* he¿r'fr*n:,v*u.

i-**king f*rw¡r* i* s**ing y*u. fi*ns* lvril* s**nT*ke e*re, ltr*l lvis*as, $y* l*r n*r,v l-üv*,

r. . .':,). I :l t.,. ri,, .. . i . l4ElmAveBirmrngham

: , , l6th Mer¿h 2002.......:.'.1.']'

DearJavi,..']''....''.'....']....Thanks for your lener:,,Sorry I havent beenin iouchfor so

long but I've been really busyl¡evising for my end of termexams.The good thing is that we'll soon have our Easter

holidays so I;11 rhave sorrre tir,ne to chill out.

Anyway, apart florn studfng I've been out with my friends

a lot - on Friday nights we go to that that music club

I discovered with you last surirrrier. Do you remember

Marcia? She is playing for the school football team nowand she's getting so good that they wanr to make her

captainl Can you believe it? Also, Marcia, David and I are

thinking about going hiking in the mountains during the

Easter holidays--We are going to drive ro the I,ake District.Why don'r you come over? It'li be good fun.

I have to go now, but write soon and tell me if you feel likecoming so ¡hat I can tell the orhers.

Bye ltor now.

Tirn

What to writeWriie where ycu!iv* aricl lh* eiat*"

{Se ear"*{xl r¡¡ith ih*ehhr*vl*tc¡i f*¡"nr1sl 2nd 3rC)

Wl'¡at ts write[xpl*in why y*u'r"*wnting. ih*nk y*xrl¡"lcnd lcr thc!r lertleit*r *r *p*l*g!;* l*rn*i hav!ng wriit*nr*l*nli3'. Llsc phras*slike: ?N*Í;}r;*l;rl*f*r frrry I i:¡y¿r'lfe¡r ¡r t*r;ri;ir'* xliJ¡.

lffhat to rn¿nite

Tcll ¡r¡¡¡ frit*d w'**ti: new in yci:r lii*.

What to w¡"iteUs* phras*s like:ll::ii ,ilijir **.,"li¿*r¿ *rii¿ *trr.$fr.icr'*lq

I Common errorsSequence of tenses

i f uture forms are used to refer to plans:

\ We drive to the Lake District ... l(I We are going to drive ... ({ Word order for direct questions

\ You remember Marcia? I Do you remember Marcio? y'

! Translation errors

i Use of the preposition on instead of the article before dates:

the Fridoy nights X

", on Fridoy nights r'

Page 15: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

Wr&timg e reviewWhen you write a review, you give your opinion about a book, play, film or concert.Film and book reviews often summarize the main events in the plot.

Paragraph 1

States tl'¡e pürfroseof the ;"eview

Paragnaph 2Describes the filnr,series, [:ook cr plot

Paragraplr 3

ecneiuC*s lh*review

Usefu! express¡CInsüne *f n:y favcurite iilnrs I lY se ries / bocks i: .

The story is :el in I rluring ...The liinr is irritating I boring / ciuii.

It is a greal I rvonejerfui / fantastlc i:*ch.

Therc are three rea:ons why I w¡:xld I w*r¡idn'ireecnrn:end this TV scries tc anybody"

.;¡Write a rel"TV series.

What to writeldentify the fil¡'n,series or book, givethe name of thedirectol and lheleading actors.

What to writeState where andwhen the actiontakes place . Ci'.,e

a summary of the:toryline: the n-:ain

cvents and brieíreasons for-themhappeni ng.

What to write[x¡:lain yourreas*ns forreecrnrnending ci¡":cl reeorrmenorngthe se rie:, film orb*ok that you'rereviewing.

Whe n a re lative pro n oun,'is,the-'subject, persona I

pronouns are omitted

... six friends who theylivéínNew',York City in the 90s

Page 16: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

Wn*t8rxg a desen$p&iorx sf e p€x.semWhen you describe a person, it is important to include lots of personal details aboutthem. This will make your description more interestinq for the reader.

'Write a description of a person

you adrnire.

Paragnaph 1

Presents the subjectof ihe deseripti*n

Faragnaph 2Cive: e physiraldescription *f ti:*su 3 jeci

Paragraph 3

üsnls rvlth Nh*pcrsr:n's cheraeter

admiration

gc*c*-l**kinE I slunning / b**r¡tiiui

{}"¡*n"aet*r

Qxict I p*licnt I shy I nr*cjest /fascinating I r:utg*i:rg j intr*v*rt*C ISene r*ils l fxnny I plea:ant I bacl-le n:p*rec*

Retired French footballer Zinedine Zidane,who wasborn on 23rdJune 1972.is consiclered to be one of thefootballing icons of his generarion.As rhe son ofAlgerianimmigrants, he endured an incredibly tough childhood inMarseille, where he was brought up, but he later becamea symbol for racial inregration in France and around theworld.

Zizou.as he is called by Friends. is tall, dark-skirLned andwell-built.With the ball at his feet. audiences always roaredwith delight. He could change the flow oFa game in anins¡ant and his passing and dribbling skills were exceprional.During his career. he played lor cop reams likeJuvenrusand Reai Madrid although his greatest success was whenhe scored the two goals thar led France to victory in thel998World Cup final. He is now a rich and famous man.who enjoys wearing well-cut suirs. No wonder he becameChristian Dior\ 6rst maie modell

Zizou ís a modest. quiet and rather shy person who prefersspending time wirh his tamily than in front of the camera.FIowever, his'discipline and control famously desertedhim when he was shown the red card fb¡ head-burting

What to writeüive inf*rrnation¿b*ut the pe rson'strigins andb*ckgr'*und"

What to write*escribe the rncstirnp*l"i*nt Cetaii:*f the perscn;l:eigh{, physique,c*nrplexicn etc.Use adi*rtiveslike : icli t*orf, tk¡n,*entrighf t.lslJ*frilt

What to writeüive i¡:ic¡"n*tl*¡:*i:*ui lhe pcrs*n'sehar*riel, nn*menll*n *nylncide nls whie hillustrat* ihis.lncl**j* a silr*mary*i iheir lik*s*nd dislik*¡. Use*djeei!ve: like :

{¡;i¿l p*i¡sÍi ;l},:qred*irs:¡rr . i;.tC"i*r;¡;rerl

an Italian player in the 2006\Xrorld Cup final. Despitethis incident, most people will sri1l remenrber him for hisfootballing talent. Now reri¡ed, Zidane lives happily withhis wifeVéronique arld their children but is also involvedin several charicy project s. Zídarre is a man thar deserves

l'ry '''"''""''"i

{ tJseful €xpress¡ens a

$ $}hys*eal e$>ps*rane*

$

{ Tall I shos I lhin I *v*rw*ight / rv*lt-}:rilr I $

$ f*ng I sh*rt heired I p;rle I dark-skir:n*cl I $

Common errorsWord ofder for degree adverbs and adjectives

1.roug! incredíbty chitdhood ... X on incredibty tough chitdhood ... t/

The adjective in English doesnlt change form for plural nounstops teoms ... I top teoms ... y'

Translation errorsposs time with his fomily ... X spend time with his famity ... (

Page 17: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

Wr&tXmS e'dñaXmguxeWhen you write a dialogue, you should use informal language to make it sound natural.

A dialoguei)¡"ese ¡:ls accnversati¡:nbelwe*nlw$ ür mü¡"e

peoBl*.

'Write a dialogue about asking sorneone out.Sam: ' Hi, Claiqe How's it going?

,

Claire: Hiya. Sam. I'm great. rhanks.

Sam: Umm ... Are you doing anything this evening?

Claire: Well. I'm going ro Phoebe's.We've got a chemistry test

tomorrow and we want to revise for it together.

Sam: What about tomorrow. then?

Claire: Di¿ot Matt tell you? It's Sophie's birthday and,we'r. goingto take her out for a pizza.Why don't you come? : :

Sam; Nobody told me,arrythin$ abouf lt, ' , ,

Claire: Sorry about that. Matt wat supposed to tell 1.,ou.An1'way,I'm free on Fqiday nighL How about then? :

Sam: Yeah! PerGct. Do you fancy going ou¡ for dinner?

Claire: That sounds nice.Therei a new Italian restáurant thaCs justopened not far from here.Do you fancy golng ihere?

Sam: 'Well ... isnt it a bit expensive?

Claire: I could ask nry sister. She went there last weekend and she

said that rhe food and the atmosphere were fantasric.

Sam: OK, then.Actually, Phil owe! n1e some money andI think it's about time he paid me back so don't worry ifit's expensive.What time shall I pick you up?

Claire: Around eight? l

Sam: Ok. see you tolnorrow at eight.

Claire: Yeah, see you!

What tow¡"¡teTry tc in:itatenatural speech.NJs* shartse¡tl*nces anai

quesli*ns.Lar:gu*gesh*uld i:*iniornal"llse phr*ses like:iirl llow rc yr;;Crr*92 le y¡¡r

Jc*ey grrr:d rt;i,lcr:. .f *ct scLtt'i.:

ii*i: / t:irt. Yr,c,

árxti

Usefu! express¡onsilcw': ii goi*g? l'nr g:-eat, t*anksl)* y*u larry gcing oul? *K.

V*¡"*: f*rrr¡s for making;¡rrense¡"ner"!ts

Are you dli*g arything thrs e.''eningl*rnür¡"ü*¡ j 5¡tu rcla),?

i'm E*ing tr Ph**be's¡0 tak* her t* .".\Afhy de n't y*u l*n*?

Common errorsModalverbs are used as auxiliary verbs to make quesüons-

Do I pick you up? X Sholl I pick you up? t/Spe|ling errorsIts (possessive) and it,s (pronoun - verb):

... its time he poid me back * it's time ke paid me back y'

' Translation errors: Use be late instead of arrive late:

I'm sorry I orrive íate! I l'm sorry I'm lote! r''s instead of the ... of:

It's the birthdoy of Sophie. X lt's Sophie's birthday. /lVhat tin:e :heXl I pitk y*u up?

Page 18: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

\Nr*t&r"xg e Cesan*pt*mr"x mf m pXaceWhen you write a description of a place, it is important to use a variety of adiectives.

This will make your description more interesting for the reader.

Faragraph 'l

lntr*rluees theplaee

FaraEraph 2ilescrib*: the pl;:c*in n:*¡"e detail

Paragraph 3

Ccnclude: lhed*scr!pti*n

Doñana is probably the only home left in the

What to writeüive detai!s cf theplace and ioe*li¡rn

What to w¡'iteCive sp*cific delai!sabc¡:l the plare;whal makes lN

:peciel, differenland intcresting?

Wlrat to wniteD*srribe a*ypr*!:!e msthr*at*n!ng th*piac*. Cive ycu:"pers*nal *plnicnab*i:t t!:* plaec.

One of my favourite places is the Doñana national park,

one oFthe biggest wetlands in Europe.This picturesque

area of lancl Ñ *rr.r, located in Huelva' in the south-west

of Spain. is a perfect refuge l'or wildliFe.

The park is home to many beautiful and exotic species

including red deer. boar, wild horses and flamingoes.

overdeveloped south ofEurope for endangered species

such as the lberian lyrx and the imperial eagle.This scenic

park also offers an opportuniry for visitors to learn about

rhe unspoilt flora of the region and irs unique biodiversiry.

Visitors are taken in groups, with ipecially t¡ained guides,

to tour the park and learn about the different animals thatlive there and their habitats.

Despite the problems posed b-v drought and human

activiw-from agricultrrre and tourism to the nerv towns

being built around the edge of the park-Doñana has

managed to survive and is frequently visited today. Ifyoulove wildlife, a visit to this wonderful park will be an

unforgettable experience.

,Comm,oR errors'rThe,ár'ticle ' "

un has been Previously mentioned.Use the when the nor

... a pork olso ollows visitors ... X

... the park also allows visitors ... y'" _ -r

Comparative structures-¡tt is the most big wetlond Pork ... X'lt is the bíggest wetlond pork ... y'

Usefu¡l express¡onsf* ih* n*rlh i s*::lh I v-*est j *es{.

L*c¿l** i:r...w*tlend: j r¡:*¡'sh*s I l*lct Ic*n:l / i:eeelr

,&*$]*et{v*s

fx*tir J n*gniiit*nt ,i i:c*l*tuisr*n!c I quiel I ;r¡rei*nt I h*g*

I n*uiriain j

I lv*n**$¡":! j

Page 19: Selectividad Exam Practice and Writing Reference

l

Wrttñnxg a fon sr¡d ogcínsf essayWhen you write a for and against essay, you must state the advantages anddisadvantages and give your personal opinion. What to write

Restate, in your ownworels, the title of theessay. State lhat the¡"e

are both advantagesand disadvantages tothe activity referredto in lhe tille.

What to writeCive exarnples ofpositive aspects ofthe theme. Incli"¡Ce

reasOns t0 supp{].tthese. Use phraseslike: tn tha ont haná

... ln adá¡t¡on ...

What to writeCive the argurnentsagainst the thenre.lnelude exaniplesand reasons loexplain why theseare relevant. Use

expressions llke:ün the athe.r tnnd ...

fur"therncrs ...

What to writeGive a balaneedsumrnary *f all

the advantagesen{l disadvantagesassocia|ed with thethenne. ACe* yourpersonal opinion. Use

phrases like: ll sssnsla n*'thal ... {ron nypoint af vi*vr ...

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Intrcduces iheloprc

Paragraph 2Stales theadvaniages

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States lhedisadvantages

Faragraph 4ConeluCes yc*r'argum€nt

t"f sefulexp!'ess¡ons¡n Nhe tirsl place "".Morec¡ver...l--lowever...

l\rverthe less "..Further¡-::cre ...Yet ... ln aCdilicn ...ün lhe cne hanei ...ün Nhe clherhancl.".

What


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