Universidad Nacional de La Pampa - Facultad de Ciencias Humanas
Servicio Externo de Lenguas Extranjeras
Evaluación de Competencias Comunicativas - Tercer Ciclo de EGB y Nivel Polimodal
Año 2011
NIVEL B - ACTIVIDADES DE LECTO-COMPRENSIÓN
B1
a. Read the article and put a tick (√) next to the correct statements:
1. Many football teams participated in the tournament. __√___
2. The streets were crowded with people celebrating the results. __√___
3. The Kings won in the last minutes. _____
4. Graham Stone was the biggest star. __√___
5. The Pacers scored the winning goal near the end of the game. ___√___
6. This was the first time in five years that the Pacers won a championship. _____
Pacers Champions Again
Yesterday was the last day of the National Basketball Championship. Lots of
teams took part in the tournament.
The streets of Linford were full of basketball fans after the Linford Pacers won
the National Championship. The Thornton Kings lost to the Pacers 98-97 in an
amazing game. Once again Graham Stone was Linford’s hero. He had an
incredible game scoring 32 points, two of which came in the last second to win the
game. The fans in the stadium sang and cheered when the team scored the last
goal. About two thousand spectators went to the sport court to look at the game,
the biggest crowd the championship has ever had.
The Pacers have won four championships in the last five years. Many people
say that coach Jim London is the man to thank for the Pacers’ success. He has
coached the Pacers for ten years now but unfortunately, last night was London’s
last game.
The question now is ‘Who is going to be coach next year?’ Well, after last night’s
performance many fans would like Graham Stone to take London’s place but
maybe he’s not ready yet. We will see.”
(Adapted from To the Top 3, Booklet)
Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………………………
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa - Facultad de Ciencias Humanas
Servicio Externo de Lenguas Extranjeras
Evaluación de Competencias Comunicativas - Tercer Ciclo de EGB y Nivel Polimodal
Año 2011
b. Read the article again and CIRCLE a, b or c:
1. Who were in the streets of Linford last night?
a. The Linford Pacers.
b. Linford Pacers’ fans.
c. The Thornton Kings.
2. How many points did the Thornton Kings score?
a. 98
b. 32
c. 97
3. Who is Graham Stone?
a. The Pacers’ coach.
b. A Pacers’ player.
c. A Thornton Kings’ player.
4. What was special about last night’s game?
a. Jim London has played for the Pacers for ten years.
b. The Thornton Kings won the championship.
c. It was Jim London’s last game.
5. Who is going to be the Pacers’ coach next year?
a. Graham Stone.
b. Jim London.
c. We don’t know.
Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………………………
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa - Facultad de Ciencias Humanas
Servicio Externo de Lenguas Extranjeras
Evaluación de Competencias Comunicativas - Tercer Ciclo de EGB y Nivel Polimodal
Año 2011
B2
Read the following passage and do exercises a) and b) below.
When Eric LeMarque left for a day of snowboarding in California's Sierra
Nevada mountains in early March 2003, he had no idea he would soon be lost.
While looking for fresh powder snow, the 34-year-old former Olympic hockey
player went disastrously off course along the 3,353-metre high Mammoth
Mountain. Because he went out for a bit of recreation, LeMarque had hardly
any supplies or equipment with him. He had no food, no extra clothing and the
battery on his mobile phone was only enough to last a few hours. But he did
have an MP3 player 1 and it was probably this little gadget that saved his life.
After realising he was lost, LeMarque's first reaction was 2 to collect wood and
build a fire. When he couldn't light it, he decided to keep moving.
Unfortunately, he went in the wrong direction. Over the next couple of days, he
travelled further and further away from safety. Along the way, he faced freezing
temperatures, hunger and other dangers. After falling into rushing water, 3
he almost went over a 24-metre waterfall.
During his seven days of horror, LeMarque suffered frostbite to his feet and
legs and lost 4 16 kilograms in weight. He also started going crazy and
imagining his situation was a video game. But LeMarque kept his strength and
he survived.
His desire to live, some clever thinking and a little help from the entertainment
industry kept Eric LeMarque alive. After remembering a scene in a movie, he
made himself a working compass. Using that and an increasingly strong radio
signal from his MP3 player, he successfully changed direction and
5 started to move back towards safety and, finally, rescue.
a. Complete 1−5 in the text with letters a-e below:
a- to collect wood and build a fire.
b- and it was probably this little gadget that saved his life.
c- started to move back towards safety and, finally, rescue.
d- he almost went over a 24-metre waterfall.
e- 16 kilograms in weight.
b. Say if the following statements are True or False:
1. Eric decided to spend a week at Sierra Nevada mountains. __F__
2. The Mammoth Mountain is over 3,000 metres high. __T__
3. Eric had a lot of equipment with him. __F__
4. Eric used a compass to get to safety. __F__
Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………………………
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa - Facultad de Ciencias Humanas
Servicio Externo de Lenguas Extranjeras
Evaluación de Competencias Comunicativas - Tercer Ciclo de EGB y Nivel Polimodal
Año 2011
5. Eric suffered some physical problems while he stayed in the mountain. __T__
B3
a. Read the text below and circle the correct summary sentence a or b
for each paragraph.
Child Prodigies
1.
a. There are more musical prodigies than you might expect.
b. All prodigies are talented musicians.
Some children are extraordinarily talented in activities such as sports or the arts
although there seems to be no particular explanation for this. These children, known as
prodigies, are quite common in the music world. The great composer, Mozart, is
probably the most famous, but he is just one of many musical prodigies. Other wellknown musicians include Yehudi Menuhin, the famous violinist, or Yo-Yo Ma, the cellist.
Such prodigies show great confidence in themselves as well as an amazing musical
talent.
2.
a. A good diet is important if you want to become a child prodigy.
b. Even though parents want to help, sometimes they try too hard.
The road to fame is not easy, even if you are a child prodigy. Pressure from parents on
young children to become great musicians can often be too much. One example is
Janos Starker, whose mother used to make small sandwiches and leave them on his
music stand, so that he wouldn't have to get up to eat. Also, she bought him a parrot
which she had trained to say: "Practise, Janos, practise!" This original idea brought
good results. However, this was not the situation with other children, such as Ruth
Slezynska who, because of extreme pressure from her parents, decided to give up at
the age of 15.
3.
a. It is common for a child prodigy to become a successful adult musician.
b. A prodigy needs to learn how to create music to become a successful, adult
musician.
Furthermore, few prodigies go from child musicians to adult performers. This may
happen because, as they become more mature, they try to understand the process of
musical creation but do not manage it. Research has shown that, in fact, only one in a
hundred prodigies actually becomes a successful adult artist. What is also interesting is
that less talented musicians often catch up with, or even overtake, child prodigies when
they reach adulthood.
4.
a. A good teacher should encourage child prodigies to do what normal teenagers do.
b. A prodigy’s talent develops more quickly during adolescence.
Teachers are very important while a prodigy's talent is developing. They give them
useful advice and try to help them deal with the huge amount of work. The teachers'
help is essential especially during the children's adolescence, which is always a difficult
period when growing up. Turovsky, a very experienced music teacher, says: "These
children also need to be encouraged to do things other people of their age do, as too
much practice leads them to miss out on all sorts of other experiences."
(Adapted from Inspiration 4, Tests (2005)
Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………………………
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa - Facultad de Ciencias Humanas
Servicio Externo de Lenguas Extranjeras
Evaluación de Competencias Comunicativas - Tercer Ciclo de EGB y Nivel Polimodal
Año 2011
b. Read the text again and answer the following questions IN A
COMPLETE WAY:
1. How can you define a child prodigy?
As a child who is extraordinarily talented in activities such as sports or the arts.
2. Does pressure from parents on young children always have good results? Why /
Why not?
No, it doesn’t. Because sometimes extreme pressure from her parents makes the
children decide to give up.
3. Why don’t all child prodigies become successful adult artists?
Because when they become more mature, they try to understand the process of
musical creation but do not manage it.
4. How can teachers be influential on child prodigies?
They can give them useful advice and try to help them deal with the huge amount of
work. Their help is essential especially during the children's adolescence, which is
always a difficult period when growing up.
c. Find words / phrases in the text with a similar meaning to the words /
phrases below:
1. a person who writes music (paragraph 1): ___composer____
2. a special natural ability or aptitude (paragraph 1): ___talent___
3. disciplined (paragraph 2): ___trained__
4. to abandon (paragraph 2): __to give up__
5. investigation (paragraph 3): __Research___
6. to catch up with and pass (paragraph 3): ___overtake__
7. extraordinarily large in quantity (paragraph 4): ___huge__
8. stimulated (paragraph 4): ___ encouraged __
Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………………………
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa - Facultad de Ciencias Humanas
Servicio Externo de Lenguas Extranjeras
Evaluación de Competencias Comunicativas - Tercer Ciclo de EGB y Nivel Polimodal
Año 2011
NIVEL B - ACTIVIDADES DE PRODUCCIÓN ESCRITA
B1
Part 1
a. Read the following e-mail and CIRCLE the correct option:
Hi Andrew,
I’ve YET / ALREADY escaped to my room. Mum says I’m getting on her
nerves!
We are not getting very BADLY / WELL at the moment. Every morning
it’s the same. “Jonathan, you MUST / HAS TO take the dog for a walk AFTER
/ BEFORE you leave for school. Jonathan, if you
ARE / WILL BE late for school your teacher WILL BE / IS angry.
Then, there are always jobs around the house to do, and WHILE/
WHEN I say “DO I HAVE / MUST I to do it now?” the answer is always “Yes,
you DO / CAN.”
She says my room is always MESSY / TIDY, but I think she
SHOULDN’T / OUGHT TO come into my room. It’s private.
Oh, no, she WILL CALL / IS CALLING me now. I AM GOING TO /
WILL go the supermarket with her as every Friday evening - BORING /
EXCITING!
What NEED / SHOULD I do? Can I come and live at your
house?
Jonathan
(Adapted from New Snapshot Pre-Intermediate. Workbook (2003)
b. Read the following sentences and CHOOSE one word from the box to
complete each blank. There are two extra words you do not need to use:
been – noisy – irresponsible – will - don’t have to
energetic - visited – sensible - was - scuba
1-Sam loves playing sports. He’s so … energetic ….
2- I think … scuba … diving is more interesting than trekking.
3- You … don’t have to … buy a camera, you can use mine.
4- We haven’t … been … to the cinema for two months.
5- If there is time we … will … go to the new restaurant.
6- You shouldn’t drink and drive. It’s … irresponsible ….
7- My mum … was … cooking when I arrived from the hockey match.
8- The street where you live is very … noisy … How can you sleep?
Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………………………
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa - Facultad de Ciencias Humanas
Servicio Externo de Lenguas Extranjeras
Evaluación de Competencias Comunicativas - Tercer Ciclo de EGB y Nivel Polimodal
Año 2011
Part 2
Last summer you went on holidays to the beach and you made a new friend
there. Here’s her photo.
Write a postcard to your best friend, Cecil, describing your new friend’s
personality and physical appearance. (80 to 100 words)
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Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………………………
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa - Facultad de Ciencias Humanas
Servicio Externo de Lenguas Extranjeras
Evaluación de Competencias Comunicativas - Tercer Ciclo de EGB y Nivel Polimodal
Año 2011
B2
Part 1
a. Read the text and CIRCLE the correct option: (A, B or C)
On January 13th, 1928, the first television programme 1) ......... in the USA. The
people saw a picture of a man 2) .......... was working. The image was not very clear
and moved from side to side. But television was here and life 3) .......... the same
again. On May 10th, 1928, the first regular television programme 4) .......... . This
programme was a news report 5) ......... was shown twice a day, three times a week.
In those days, there were only a 6) ......... homes with television sets, but soon they
became 7) ......... as the radio.
(Adapted from Upstream Pre-Intermediate)
1234567-
A- was shown
A- which
A- would never be
A- is broadcast
A- which
A- little
A- more popular
B- showed
B- where
B- would never is
B- was broadcast
B- who
B- enough
B- as popular
C- shown
C- who
C- would never been
C- broadcasted
C- where
C- few
C- less popular
b. TICK (√ ) the correct sentence:
1- A- Ann is my best friend. We have known each other for years. √
B- Ann is my best friend. We knew each other for years.
2- A- What would you do on Saturday evening?
B- What are you doing on Saturday evening? √
3- A- I would go out tonight but I’ve got too much to do. √
B- I will go out tonight but I’ve got too much to do.
4- A- If the team won more matches, more people would come to watch them. √
B- If the team wins more matches, more people would come to watch them.
5- A- Because she went to bed early, she felt sick.
B- She went to bed early because she felt sick. √
6- A- She can’t reach that shelf. She’s not tall enough. √
B- She can’t reach that shelf. She’s too tall.
Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………………………
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa - Facultad de Ciencias Humanas
Servicio Externo de Lenguas Extranjeras
Evaluación de Competencias Comunicativas - Tercer Ciclo de EGB y Nivel Polimodal
Año 2011
Part 2
You are part of a team working for your school’s magazine and this week you
are writing about “Exercise and Good Habits”. Write an informal letter to
the readers (about 100-130 words) giving information about: food and drink,
types of exercise and lifestyles that are good for or help improve people’s
health.
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Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………………………
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa - Facultad de Ciencias Humanas
Servicio Externo de Lenguas Extranjeras
Evaluación de Competencias Comunicativas - Tercer Ciclo de EGB y Nivel Polimodal
Año 2011
B3
Part 1
a. CIRCLE the correct option:
1. “Tod was a very talented child”. “I know. He ...... play the piano well when he was
seven”.
A) couldn’t
B) could
C) must
D) may
2. “I ......clean the house today. It’s dirty”. “I’ll help you”
A) couldn’t
B) might
C) may
D) must
3. “Where’s aunt Julia?” “She ...... still be at work”
A) might
B) must to
C) doesn’t have to
D) need
4. He’s wet. He ........ in the water all afternoon.
A) had played
B) has been playing C) is playing
D) will play
5. When he ..... a lot of money, he bought a car.
A) has been saving B) hasn’t been saving C) had saved
D) hadn’t saved
6. If he had sold some of his paintings, Van Gogh .....some recognition during his
lifetime.
A) would have got B) will have got
C) would got
D) had got
7. Ice hockey is an exciting sport. ........, it can be very dangerous.
A) on the one hand B) on the other hand C) despite
D) since
8. She phoned her friend ........ tell her the news.
A) despite
B) although
C) in order to
D) however
9. Pandas are difficult ..... in captivity.
A) to breed
B) breeding
D) breed
C) for breeding
10. We tried to help to move the car, but we weren’t strong enough ..... it.
A) doing
B) to doing
C) to have done
D) to do
b. Rewrite the sentences using the word/s provided:
1- Someone is repairing the garden fence. (BEING)
..........................................................................................................................
2- Sam took these photographs. (TAKEN)
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3- I have a very good relationship with my new neighbours. (GET ON WELL)
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4- I don’t smoke any more. (GAVE UP)
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5- “How old will you be on your next birthday?” (ASKED)
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Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………………………
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa - Facultad de Ciencias Humanas
Servicio Externo de Lenguas Extranjeras
Evaluación de Competencias Comunicativas - Tercer Ciclo de EGB y Nivel Polimodal
Año 2011
6- “All the products you sent me arrived damaged.” (COMPLAINED)
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7- “Have you visited Buckingham Palace”, Susan asked. (IF)
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8- “Where’s the police station?” (KNOW)
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9- “It is possible that it rains tonight.” (MIGHT)
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10- Susan went to the beach. It was very cold. (ALTHOUGH)
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Part 2
Write a text on ONE (1) of the following topics (140-180 words)
*Write a composition giving arguments for and against eating fast food.
* Every year hundreds of animal and plant species disappear because of
the harm done to the environment. What can be done to protect these
species? Write a composition giving your opinion.
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Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………………………
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa - Facultad de Ciencias Humanas
Servicio Externo de Lenguas Extranjeras
Evaluación de Competencias Comunicativas - Tercer Ciclo de EGB y Nivel Polimodal
Año 2011
NIVEL B - ACTIVIDADES DE COMPRENSIÓN AUDITIVA
B1
Travel Arrangements
(taken from http://www.esl-lab.com)
Listen to the conversation and choose the correct option (A – B – C – D) to
answer the questions below:
1. What is the man’s destination?
A. Salt Lake City, USA
B. New York City, USA
C. Helsinki, Finland
2. When is the man’s return date?
A. The twenty-first
B. The twenty-third
C. The twenty-ninth
3. How much is the flight?
A. 980 dollars
B. 890 dollars
C. A thousand dollars
4. What is the flight number for the second half of his journey?
A. 555
B. 90
C. 830
5. What request did the man make?
A. He asked for a specially-prepared dinner.
B. He wanted an aisle seat.
C. He asked for a seat near the front of the plane.
Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………………………
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa - Facultad de Ciencias Humanas
Servicio Externo de Lenguas Extranjeras
Evaluación de Competencias Comunicativas - Tercer Ciclo de EGB y Nivel Polimodal
Año 2011
B2
Is TV good or bad for people?
(taken from http://www.elllo.org)
You are going to listen to six people answering the question “Is TV good or bad for people?”
Speaker 1: Eucharia, from Ireland
Speaker 2: Mark, from the United States
Speaker 3: Kate, from New Zealand
Speaker 4: Jeannie, from the United States
Speaker 5: Rina, from Canada
Speaker 6: Todd, from the United States
Number the following utterances according to what speaker mentions them.
The first one is an example.
A. This speaker says violent programs on TV are on after 8 p.m. in her country.
Speaker:
3
B. This speaker thinks TV is a good source for work.
Speaker:
6
C. This speaker has a niece who learnt from TV programs.
Speaker:
4
D. This speaker believes TV is an addiction.
Speaker:
2
E. This speaker went to university and her teacher said that media doesn’t influence society.
Speaker:
1
F. This speaker thinks violence and fighting are bad for children.
Speaker:
3
G. This speaker finds entertainment in TV and thinks
it is wonderful.
Speaker:
5
Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………………………
Universidad Nacional de La Pampa - Facultad de Ciencias Humanas
Servicio Externo de Lenguas Extranjeras
Evaluación de Competencias Comunicativas - Tercer Ciclo de EGB y Nivel Polimodal
Año 2011
B3
Tobacco
(from http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org)
True or False
Read the following statements and decide if they
are true
T
or false. F
1. There are about 4,000 deadly chemicals in cigarette smoke. F
2. Tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide are all harmful chemicals T
3. Carbon monoxide makes it difficult to stop smoking.
F
4. The USA is the largest producer of tobacco. F
5. Tobacco is a good crop for farmers. T
6. Tobacco seeds are planted directly in the field. F
7.
Most farmers use machines to harvest their tobacco crop. F
8. After the crop is harvested, it is ready to be processed. F
9. All tobacco is cured over a fire. F
10. When the tobacco has been processed, it is rolled into cigarettes by machines. T
Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………………………