Texto EBAU Canarias 2018 Opción B

Why Bob Dylan Shouldn’t Have Gotten a Nobel

Bob Dylan does not deserve the Nobel Prize in Literature. He does deserve the many Grammys he has received, including a lifetime achievement award, which he won in 1991. He unquestionably belongs in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, into which he was inducted in 1988. He is a wonderful musician, a world-class songwriter and an enormously influential figure in American culture. But by awarding the prize to him, the Nobel committee is choosing not to award it to a writer, and that is a disappointing choice.
Yes, Mr. Dylan is a brilliant lyricist. Yes, he has written a book of prose poetry and an autobiography. Yes, it is possible to analyze his lyrics as poetry. But Mr. Dylan’s writing is inseparable from his music. He is great because he is a great musician, and when the Nobel committee gives the literature prize to a musician, it misses the opportunity to honor a writer. As reading declines around the world, literary prizes are more important than ever. A big prize means a jump in sales and readership even for a well-known writer. But more than that, awarding the Nobel to a novelist or a poet is a way of affirming that fiction and poetry still matter, that they are crucial human endeavors worthy of international recognition.
The committee probably did not mean to discredit fiction or poetry with its choice. By honoring a musical icon, the committee members may have wanted to bring new cultural recognition to the prize and make it feel relevant to a younger generation. They could have chosen a writer who has made significant innovations in the form. They could have selected a writer from the developing world, which remains sadly underrepresented among Nobel laureates. Instead, the committee gave the prize to a man who is internationally famous in another field, one with plenty of honors of its own. Bob Dylan does not need a Nobel Prize in Literature, but literature needs a Nobel Prize. This year, it won’t get one.   
                                                                               (334 words)
www.nytimes.com, October 2016

1.- Say whether the following sentences are TRUE or FALSE according to the text. Copy the evidence from the text. No marks will be given without the evidence. (1.5 points)
a) Bob Dylan’s lyrics are not considered a literary work on their own.
b) The Nobel committee’s decision to award Bob Dylan might have been taken to make the prize gain more significance among younger people.
c) The author’s reason to criticise the decision of the committee is that it deprives writers of getting it.


2.- Choose ONLY THREE of the following words and write a synonym (=), an opposite (≠), a definition or a sentence (  only one of these four)   to show that you understand their meaning in the text. Use your own words. (1.5 points)
a) – to deserve (line 1)
d) – to discredit (line 15)
b) – lifetime (line 2)
e) – instead (line 19)
c) –worthy (line 14)
f) – field (line 20)


3.- Read this conversation and complete your part. Write the numbers (1-8) and complete each sentence on your exam paper. (2 points)
You are talking to your English teacher about your final mark
You: Teacher, (1)______________________________ please?
Teacher: I only have a moment because I have a class in five minutes.
You: It’s just for  a minute.(2) ______________________________ ?
Teacher: Of course, but not now. I have the exams in the English office. What’s the matter?
You: I have been thinking and (3) ______________________________
Teacher: Your mark is correct.
You: I disagree! (4) ______________________________
Teacher: In reading comprehension? Higher? Why?
You: Yes,(5) ______________________________
Teacher: The final mark is not only the mark of one exam.
You: Then,(6) ______________________________?
Teacher: Everything you do for the English class counts in the final mark.
You: Sorry teacher, but (7) ______________________________
Teacher: The marks you have in every skill (listening, speaking, reading and  writing) and grammar affect  your  final mark. You made some mistakes because you didn’t understand the questions or the instructions given.
You: Sorry teacher, but I disagree! (8)__________________________
Teacher: Ok, You have the right to do it. No problem. Do it if you want to. I’ll have to write a report to the headmaster then.


4.- Choose only 4 of the following situations. Write what you would say in or about each one to show that you understand the context of the situation. Write between 6 and 20 words. (2 points)
1. -You and some of your classmates want to organize a summer trip. Make a suggestion and give a reason to support it.
2. - Your cousin is texting while driving. Give her some advice.
3. -You lent a friend your mobile to phone his/her mother but he/she is looking at your photos. Complain and express your dissatisfaction.
4.-  Your biology teacher says, “Animals shouldn’t be in zoos or a circus.” Express your agreement or disagreement.
5.- A friend of yours says, “Lyrics should be a very important part of a song. That’s why I don’t like reggaeton music”. Make a comment.
6.- You borrowed a friend’s mobile to phone your mother but he/she sees you are looking at his/her photos. Apologize and try to give an explanation.


5.- Write a composition of about 100 – 120 words on ONE of the following topics. (3 points)
a) Most awards are given on the basis of marketing rather than on the basis of talent. Give your opinion.
b) Reading is much more than just entertainment. Give your opinion.