Educational Resources and Historical Insights
Curso 2019-2020
OPCIÓN A —> Lost and Found
OPCIÓN B —> The Real History behind Game of Thrones
OPCIÓN A —> A New BBC Period Drama
OPCIÓN B —> The Carbon Footprint of your Inbox
OPCIÓN A —> Emojis and Food Allergies
OPCIÓN B —> The Worst Hotel in the World
Curso 2020-2021
OPCIÓN A —> Is the Full Stop no Longer Necessary?
OPCIÓN B —> Women Spies during World War II
OPCIÓN A —> The Special Olympics
OPCIÓN B —> Students Vote and Work the Polls, Despite the Pandemic
OPCIÓN A —> In Praise of Loud Women
OPCIÓN B —> Dogs are Humans’ Oldest Companions
Curso 2021-2022
OPCIÓN A —> Firms Hire for “Cultural Fit”
OPCIÓN B —> Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry
OPCIÓN A —> Today’s”Fake New” Used to Be Called Yellow Journalism
OPCIÓN B —> Breakfast Radio
OPCIÓN A —> Knocker Uppers
OPCIÓN B —> The Secret History of ‘Monopoly’
Curso 2022-2023
OPCIÓN A —> Who Invented Music?
OPCIÓN B —>How Global Warming is Cutting Sleep Across the World
OPCIÓN A —> Theatre Audience Etiquette
OPCIÓN B —> The Risks of Ultra-processed Foods
Curso 2023-2024
OPCIÓN A —> How a Child Lives the Present
OPCIÓN B —> Is Artificial Intelligence Transforming Education?
OPCIÓN A —> Women Engineers
OPCIÓN B —> Does Chicken Soup Really Help when You’re Sick?
Curso 2019-2020 LUNES
(OPCIÓN A) Lost and Found
1) a) In his wallet… TRUE: “Someone had found his wallet, but since there wasn’t enough identifying information to track down the owner, he had come up with a way to send his name and phone number through the bank deposit notes.”
b) Cameron… FALSE: “Cameron called the number, got Simon’s address, and soon enough was reunited with his wallet, handing over a bottle of red wine as a thank-you gift.”
2) a) People act in desperation, worried that someone may be using their credit card. They call to cancel the credit card and there are people who feel sorry for the money they had in their wallet.
b) Each bank transfer allows a short message to be sent with it, and through these messages Simon was able to send Cameron his contact details.
3) a) spoil (1) ruin b) noticed (2) realized c) thought of (2) came up with
d) only (3) just
4) a) Losing —– the worst b) whose —– on c) complaining —– will find
d) She told me that I wouldn’t believe what had happened to her.
(OPCIÓN B) The Real History behind Game of Thrones
a) Viewers… TRUE: “Other historical parallels have been drawn by fans of the books and the HBO series.”
b) There… FALSE: “Many suspect they were put to death by their uncle Richard III, who became king.”
2) a) Because a male relative inherited the throne instead of her.
b) They were killed by their guests because they were not loyal to the monarchs, as they had promised.
3) a) admitted (1) acknowledged b) jailed (2) imprisoned
c) finally (2) eventually d) excessive (paragraph 3) outsized
4) a) was —– written b) to watch —– enough c) Despite —– who
d) to return —— expires
Curso 2019-2020 MARTES
(OPCIÓN A) A New BBC Period Drama
1) a) This… FALSE: “It will be directed by Mira Nair, the Indian-American film-maker behind Monsoon Wedding.”
b) There… FALSE: “All the main roles will be played by Asians – many from India – while a handful of white characters in Seth’s book will only appear as bit parts.”
2) a) He thinks it will be very different from other series, but he thinks the public will like it. The plot is similar to that of Jane Austen’s novels.
b) The plot tells about an Indian mother, Rupa Mehra, who is trying to find a husband for her youngest daughter, Lata.
3) a) screened (3) broadcast b) present (3) current
c) change (4) departure d) wish (5) desire
4) a) was born ——- spent b) rather ——- read c) the ——- would visit
d) watching ——- for
(OPCIÓN B) The Carbon Footprint of your Inbox
1) a) The carbon… TRUE: “Email has a carbon footprint because of the power demands to create and run the computers, servers and routers that transmit each message.”
b) The numbe… TRUE: “In addition, due to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, the total number of unwanted emails have been reduced by 1.2 billion messages a day, which is the equivalent of 360 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions cut every single day.”
2) a) The larger the attachment, the more power is needed. This leads to greater carbon emissions.
b) Avoid attachments and use website links instead; think about the number of people we really need to email.
3) a) yearly (1) annual b) additional (2) extra c) quantity (2) amount
d) consume (3) use up
4) a) than —– the most important b) To avoid —– which
c) wouldn’t have become ——- hadn’t cut
d) Natural resources are being consumed so fast that the Earth does not have time to renew them.
Curso 2019-2020 COINCIDENCIAS
(OPCIÓN A) Emojis and Food Allergies
1) a) The most… FALSE: “But as Komatsu’s proposal argues, many of the most common food allergens – such as peanuts, soy and milk – are missing or poorly represented by the current emoji library.”
b) Everybody… FALSE: “However, some might complain about the continuing death of the written word if Komatsu’s proposal is accepted.”
2) a) They can help people understand what they are eating anywhere in the world and choose what they eat safely.
b) The Unicode Consortium guarantees that we can all see the same image no matter the company, the type of device, or the software being used.
3) a) main (1) major b) choose (1) select c) supervises (2) oversees
d) pieces (2) slices
4) a) was working ——- saw b) since ——- on c) than ——- like
d) was sent ——- which
(OPCIÓN B) The Worst Hotel in the World
1) a) The proprietors… FALSE: “From grotty rooms without a view to dirty bathrooms with no hot water, the owners are happy to admit it is probably the worst hotel around.”
b) Apparently… FALSE: “But this hilariously honest approach seems to be a hit with travelers from all over the world, who are rushing to book one of the 127 rooms at the hotel.”
2) a) First, inform about what customers will find if they decide to stay at your hotel. If they stay they are not responsible for any damage.
b) The employees are very pleasant; the hotel is very well located, and it is a very entertaining place.
3) a) beforehand (1) in advance b) mortal (1) fatal c) humble (3) modest
d) employees (4) staff
4) a) which —- is considered b) sending out —- to c) just returned —– so
d) The manager told me that they wanted to thank me and my family for being such loyal guests.
Curso 2020-2021 LUNES
(OPCIÓN A) Is the Full Stop no Longer Necessary?
1) a) According… TRUE: “Linguists from across the world have been investigating the purposefulness of the full stop as communication habits have evolved, and some of them think people simply do not put full stops in unless they want to make a point.”
b) Youngsters… TRUE: “The full stop is “intimidating” to young people who interpret it as a sign of anger.”
2) a) The difference is that ending messages with a full stop is considered or lack of sincerity and ending messages with an exclamation point is supposed to be more genuine and sincere.
b) People use emojis because they are necessary to convey emotions without the use of body language or tone of voice.
3) a) behaviours (1) habits b) clear (2) obvious
c) include (2) add d) indicated (3) suggested
4) a) communicating ——- rather b) from ——- was introduced
c) The slightest ——- matters d) would show ——- of
(OPCIÓN B) Women Spies during World War II
1) a) Women… FALSE: “Intelligence agencies realized fairly early on during the war the important role women could play in spying, in what had traditionally been considered the domain of men.”
b) Historical… FALSE: “As historian Juliette Pattinson notes, ‘several wartime accounts indicate that male agents were less talented and inventive than their female colleagues.’
2) a) Because major British cities were being bombed by the Nazis and the Nazi army had conquered most of Europe, leaving Britain exposed.
b) It was important to go unnoticed when they carried out their missions in Occupied France.
3) a) challenging (1) difficult b) quite (2) fairly c) seldom (2) rarely
d) every (4) each
4) a) Considered ——- at b) Although ——- than c) to ——- that
d) My friend asked me who my preferred woman spy was
Curso 2020-2021 MARTES
(OPCIÓN A) The Special Olympics
1) a) Athletes… FALSE: “In 1968, 1,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from the USA and Canada competed in the first Special Olympics International Summer Games in Chicago.”
b) When… TRUE: “Initially, the organisers didn’t expect it, but nearly every country wanted to host the competing nations and their athletes.”
2) a) She wanted to do something against society treating disabled people unfairly, and disabled children not having a place to play.
b) Many Irish accepted and encouraged the athletes and thanks to this many social barriers were broken.
3) a) radical (1) revolutionary b) encourage (3) cheer on
c) rarely (4) seldom d) happiness (4) joy
4) a) for — to celebrate b) had had — would have won c) on — implying
d) Organisers said that they didn’t expect many people in the country would volunteer.
(OPCIÓN B) Students Vote and Work the Polls, Despite the Pandemic
1) a) Few… TRUE: “Historically, most young Americans don’t vote.”
b) Students… TRUE “Students were disproportionately vulnerable.”
2) a) Because they wanted to beat youth voting records despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Some university activists were interested in politics and encouraged young people to vote.
b) Social networks were used to attract and encourage the participation of young people and their votes in the elections.
3) a) eagerness (1) enthusiasm b) urging (2) encouraging
c) truly (2) really d) hold (3) host
4) a) at — with b) How — for c) who — rarely d) larger——- than
Curso 2020-2021 COINCIDENCIAS
(OPCIÓN A) In Praise of Loud Women
1) a) Loud…. FALSE: “The label “loud woman” has never been a compliment, even though some women may wear it as a badge of honour.”
b) No significant…. FALSE: “Thanks to digital platforms and social media, there has been a huge shift in the past twenty years in how women communicate and build a platform.”
2) a) No. Making noise has been unacceptable behavior for women since childhood, because it implies that you don’t care about people or their opinions of you.
b) Michelle Obama is popular because she is not afraid to express her own opinion. She is also a passionate and charming speaker.
3) a) inference (1) implication b) mind (1) care c) obvious (2) clear
d) outstanding (3) extraordinary
4) a) being — to b) did — that c) on — has sparked d) likely — are asked
(OPCIÓN B) Dogs are Humans’ Oldest Companions
1) a) Dogs… FALSE: “The analysis reveals that dog domestication can be traced back 11,000 years, to the
end of the last Ice Age, and that they were domesticated before any other known species.”
b) The investigation… TRUE: “The research fills in some of the gaps in the natural history of our close animal companions.”
2) a) Because they accompanied people when they migrated.
b) The text says that it is supposed that dogs were wolves that dared to approach the places where humans lived, attracted by food.
3) a) signs (2) traces b) scary (3) frightening c) domesticated (4) tamed
d) cultivate (5) farm
4) a) have distinguished —— on b) like —— gives c) Using —— how
d) longer ——– that
Curso 2021-2022 LUNES
(OPCIÓN A) Firms Hire for “Cultural Fit”
1) a) Not… FALSE: “It’s vague, confusing and almost always means there was something about you personally they didn’t like, but didn’t want to say out loud.”
b) Sandra… TRUE: “Then I got an email saying I wasn’t a good fit, so they went with somebody else,” she says.”
2) a) The two consequences are that they may end up discouraged and wondering what they didn’t do right. Furthermore, they cannot obtain jobs or access specific areas.
b) Companies that do not apply the ‘cultural fit’ policy make improved, heterogeneous/mixed teams that are more beneficial.
3) a) seeking (1) looking for b) soon (1) shortly
c) tests (2) assessments d) make up (3) build
4) a) which —– if b) application —– including c) at —– as
d) are thought —– worse
(OPCIÓN B) Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry
1) a) EU… FALSE: “This impact is often felt in third countries, as most production takes place out of the EU.”
b) New… TRUE: “In 2018, the EU adopted a circular economy package that will for the first time ensure that textiles are collected separately in all Member States by 2025 at the latest.”
2) a) The reasons are that clothes have become cheaper and that they are available to buyers in a very fast way.
b) It can be improved by changing the clothing business from sale to rental and create products that can be used several times easily.
3) a) purchased (1) bought b) because of (2) due to
c) deal with (3) address d) encouraged (4) promoted
4) a) the most efficient ——- to rent b) have become ——- of
c) that ——- were drawn up
d) The French minister asked if only 2% of used clothes were recycled in the country last year.
Curso 2021-2022 MARTES
(OPCIÓN A) Today’s “Fake News” Used to Be Called Yellow Journalism
1) a) The term… FALSE: “The reasons are not totally clear and some sources point to the yellow ink the publications would sometimes use, though others say it was named after a popular cartoon called The Yellow Kid.”
b) Joseph… TRUE: “Although today his name is somewhat synonymous with journalism of the highest standards, through association with the Pulitzer Prize, Joseph Pulitzer had a very different reputation while alive.”
2) a) Both were the pioneers in adopting a publication style called Yellow Journalism. They were owners and editors of newspapers and rivals.
b) Yes, because both Hearst and Pulitzer devoted more and more attention to the war, sometimes writing stories that turned out to be false, which encouraged negative ideas towards Spain.
3) a) possibly (1) perhaps b) questionable (3) dubious
c) intense (3) fierce d) key (4) major
4) a) has given — hardly b) the most colorful — involved c) who — determining d) She wondered if I could check it out ten minutes later
(OPCIÓN B) Breakfast Radio
1) a) Radio… FALSE: “The duo searched for hundreds of radio stations worldwide to narrow down the current list of 250.”
b) GBR… TRUE: “Even licensed photos of sunrises from those places are shown as music and news are broadcast.”
2) a) The main goal is to stream radio stations from all over the world and be able to listen to them as the sun rises in those countries.
b) The URLs of the radio stations in their database tend to stop working very soon, so GBR needs to pay attention and change them all the time.
3) a) corresponding (1) respective b) observe (2) notice
c) solved (3) worked out d) huge (3) tremendous
4) a) proved ——- which b) on ——- experimenting
c) to transmit ——- known d) had been used ——- at
Curso 2021-2022 COINCIDENCIAS
(OPCIÓN A) Knocker Uppers
1) a) Knocker… FALSE: “While the standard implement was a long fishing rod-like stick, other methods were employed, such as soft hammers, rattles and even pea shooters.”
b) Knocker… FALSE: “The knocker upper wouldn’t hang around either, just three or four taps and then he’d be off.”
2) a) Some people that complained about the noise. Besides, knocker uppers realised they were waking up people who had not paid them.
b) They were workers without much money in industrial areas working at unusual hours.
3) a) familiar (1) common b) on an upper floor (2) upstairs
c) went on (3) continued d) annoy (3) disturb
4) a) usually ——- to scare b) bigger ——- on
c) had set ——- would not have overslept d) was asked ——– for
(OPCIÓN B) The Secret History of ‘Monopoly’
1) a) Todd… FALSE: “Todd was slightly perplexed, as he had never written them up, nor did it appear that written rules existed elsewhere.”
b) Magie… FALSE: “The truth is that the rules to the game had been invented in Washington DC in 1903 by a bold, progressive woman named Elizabeth Magie”
2) a) The players had to roll the dice, buy land or properties and move the pieces. They also needed a playing board.
b) He made a profit by creating and selling a version of the game to Parker Brothers. He was very successful, so he became very rich.
3) a) happy (1) pleased b) actually (1) in fact
c) provide for (2) support d) surprising (3) unexpected
4) a) successful — one b) on — had been registered c) for — lost
d) I asked my sister who the best Trivial Pursuit player had been in 2021.
Curso 2022-2023 LUNES
(OPCIÓN A) Who Invented Music?
1) a) Historians… FALSE: “No historical evidence exists to tell us exactly who sang the first song, or whistled the first tune, or made the first rhythmic sounds that resembled what we know today as music.”
b) Excavations… TRUE: “Archaeologists have helped musicologists to learn about ancient musical instruments from the artifacts they’ve uncovered.”
2) a) The two reasons, for example, are the desire to reproduce beautiful sounds like those of birds, or as a mechanism to attract and hunt animals.
b) People working in the countryside used little instruments that were easy to carry, while poet-musicians played aulos, more complex and requiring special abilities.
3) a) took place (1) happened b) across (1) throughout
c) complete (2) full d) put together (2) combined
4) a) has loved ——- on b) had known ——- would not have bought
c) noisy ——- playing
d) He asked me what songs I used to listen to when I was a child.
(OPCIÓN B) How Global Warming is Cutting Sleep Across the World
1) a) A lack… TRUE: “When adults do not receive the recommended amount of sleep, they may have issues with concentration.”
b) By… FALSE: “People worldwide are likely to lose 50 to 58 hours of sleep a year by 2099 due to the climate crises, a new study revealed.”
2) a) According to the study, older people to lose more sleep than younger ones and females suffer more than men from the rise of temperatures.
b) Air conditioning is not an adequate solution since not everybody has the same economic resources to buy and use air conditioning.
3) a) but (1) yet b) calculate (2) measure
c) quantity (3) amount d) seem (3) appear
4) a) about ——- to solve b) that ——- correctly
c) had cared ——- would not need
d) He asked Mary if she was going to the museum the following Friday.
Curso 2022-2023 MARTES
(OPCIÓN A) Theatre Audience Etiquette
1) a) In Shakespeare’s… FALSE: “Sixteenth-century England was renowned for its noisy audiences who, in public outdoor theatres, could sleep, eat and drink heartily all while taking in Shakespeare’s newest work.”
b) Theatre… TRUE: “Audience etiquette guides, which cover everything from dress code and late arrivals to coughing and unwrapping candies, are widely available today.”
2) a) He renewed the theatre so as not to let people sit on the stage and come in through the back door.
b) She interrupted a show in New York City to actually take away the cellular device from a spectator as it was buzzing.
3) a) linked (1) connected b) often (1) frequently
c) supervise (1) oversee d) irritated (2) angry
4) a) incredibly —- for b) had taken —- would be c) of —- which
d) He asked him what his favourite show was
(OPCIÓN B) The Risks of Ultra-processed Foods
1) a) Sweetened… FALSE: “In many households, ultra-processed foods are popular options at the kitchen table, including unhealthy products that you may not even think of as junk food such as snack bars and sweetened yogurts.”
b) People… FALSE: “Ultra-processed foods represent a larger share of the world’s diet in relation to earlier decades.”
2) a) Eating ultra-processed foods causes a greater likelihood of suffering from deadly diseases, such as cancer and heart disease.
b) When we eat homemade food we lose weight and have lower cholesterol levels.
3) a) range (2) variety b) attractive (2) appealing
c) respond (4) react d) opposite (4) reverse
4) a) to ——- suffering b) rarely ——- better
c) had known ——- would not have bought d) whose ——- at
Curso 2023-2024 LUNES
(OPCIÓN A) How a Child Lives the Present
1) a) Geese… FALSE. “Swans settled in the pond some time ago.
b) Jason… FALSE. “He tried to start conversations with more enthusiasm than success.”
2) a) His objective was to take Jason outdoors so he could learn about ducks.
b) He did not worry about people’s appearance, age, or if they greeted him.
3) a) amazement (2) wonder b) continuous (3) constant
c) soil (3) ground d) grass (4) lawn
4) a) going — in b) do not feed — to c) have lived — However
d) Maggie said that she had never wanted to live in that big city
(OPCIÓN B) Is Artificial Intelligence Transforming Education?
1) a) Not… FALSE: “Last year, Stanford University published the report “Artificial Intelligence and Life in 2030,” exploring the role of AI in various aspects of society”
b) Data… TRUE: “Also, statistics about learning will accelerate the development of new tools for personalised education.”
2) a) Good students will be offered more challenging tasks.
b) Teachers will not be replaced by Artificial Intelligence because students require human interaction that machines cannot give.
3) a) future (1) forthcoming b) key (1) fundamental
c) vanish (2) disappear d) path (2) itinerary
4) a) was rebooted ——- of b) use ——- than
c) had had ——- would have become d) who ——- on
Curso 2023-2024 MARTES
(OPCIÓN A) Women Engineers
1) a) Ms West… FALSE: “Her excellent performance at high school granted her a scholarship for university.”
b) The computer… TRUE: “Larissa has autism and hyperactivity disorder.”
2) a) Marian Croak defens racial equality and supports women pursuing engineering careers.
b) They have had many different difficulties due to their personal challenges and have had a significant influence.
3) a) precise (1) accurate b) foundation (1) basis
c) kit (2) set d) motionless (3) static
4) a) visiting ——- which b) of ——- have changed
c) working ——- was offered d) would be ——- technological
(OPCIÓN B) Does Chicken Soup Really Help when You’re Sick?
1) a) Chicken… FALSE: “For centuries, people all around the world have been making chicken soup when someone is sick and it’s a tradition that has been passed down through generations.”
b) When… TRUE: “In particular, its been proved that its taste stimulates our appetite when we are sick.”
2) a) People enjoy eating soup because it is warm and it is tasty.
b) People stop eating due to their swollen throat, which makes them feel pain.
3) a) really (1) actually b) meaningful (3) significant
c) treatment (4) remedy d) possible (4) potential
4) a) Speaking — grow up b) went — better c) neither — under
d) She asked me if I liked chicken soup when I was a child.