Rewriting

Rewrite the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first. Use no more than 5 words.

Principio del formulario

1 - You must never take your helmet off while you are riding a motorcycle.

all

Helmets must be worn   _________________________ when riding a motorcycle.

2 - They wanted to apologize for their behaviour: that's why they paid for dinner.

order

They paid for dinner      _________________________ for their behaviour.

3 - It isn't necessary to bring skis as they are included in the package.

have

You      _________________________ bring skis as they are included in the package.

4 - I thought parking was allowed here.

under the impression

I      _________________________ that parking was allowed here.

5 - Simon said, "I will be playing tennis when you arrive."

he

Simon said      _________________________ tennis when I arrived.

6 - When I was a child, we would go to the local park every Saturday afternoon.

used

When I was a child,      _________________________ the park every Saturday.

7 - His daughter continued to cry until he could not be seen any longer.

sight

She continued to cry until he      _________________________

8 - I'm afraid that car is just too expensive.

means

That car is      _________________________

9 - They moved to this village in 1999.

lived

They      _________________________  in this village since 1999.

10 - One other thing before I forget - Mia is coming to visit next weekend.

by

     _By the way,________________________  Mia is coming to visit next weekendFinal del formulario

Principio del formulario

11.They managed to finish the project in time for the presentation.

succeeded

They       _________________________ the project in time for the presentation.

12. Mark didn't come to the meeting yesterday. Perhaps he was ill.

might

Mark        _________________________ yesterday.

 13.Barbara allows her children to stay up to midnight on Saturday evenings.

let

Barbara         _________________________ late on Saturdays.

 Luckily, Peter wasn't charged with an offence when the police caught him stealing the first time.

off

Peter was very lucky because he        _________________________

 Can I accompany you to the party?

mind

Do you        _________________________ to the party?

 I wish you didn't drive so fast.

only

If        _________________________ so fast.

 I think Roman needs to see a doctor. His cough is terrible.

ought

With that terrible cough, Roman        _________________________ a doctor.

You should feel horrible! Why did you say that to Jake?

shame

       _________________________ ! Why did you say that to Jake?

 The authorities said she wasn't responsible for the accident.

fault

The accident        _________________________

 "Why don't you take a holiday?", said Simon.

suggested

Simon        _________________________ a holiday.Final del formularioPrincipio del formulario

1. I haven't seen Joanna for ages.

since

It's been a long time        _________________________ Joanna.

 They were still playing cricket after two hours.

been

They        _________________________ for two hours.

 He didn't want to join in the celebrations.

take

He didn't want        _________________________ the celebrations.

 What a shame he wasn't able to come.

wish

I wish        _________________________ come.

 I took a jumper but it wasn't necessary.

taken

I        _________________________ a jumper.

 If you don't know how to spell the word, why don't you check in the dictionary?

up

Why don't you        _________________________ in the dictionary 

Somebody should tell him.

told

He needs        _________________________ by someone.

 The concert was horrible.

time

The concert was a complete        _________________________

 He couldn't find me at the exhibition.

find

He wasn't able        _________________________ me at the exhibition.

 She let her son go to France for the weekend.

allowed

She        _________________________ to France.

Final del formulario

Principio del formulario            I haven't seen her for ages.

time

The        _________________________ was 15 years ago. 

I didn't understand what he was saying because I hadn't read his book.

would

If I had read his book I        _________________________ what he was saying.

 As the class representative I would like to welcome you.

behalf

I'd like to welcome you        _________________________ the class.

 They believe the students were educated in England.

believed

The students        _________________________ educated in England.

 He escaped using a disguise.

means

He escaped        _________________________ a disguise.

 Remind me to call Anne.

forget

Don't let        _________________________ Anne.

 This pasta is a new experience for me.

time

It is        _________________________ I have tried this pasta.

 She has probably found a new job.

likely

It        _________________________ a new job.

 I don't agree with prohibiting smoking in bars.

favour

I'm not        _________________________ prohibiting smoking in bars.

 It doesn't need to be finished this afternoon.

finish

It        _________________________ this afternoon.

Final del formulario

 Principio del formulario           Spain  is less exciting than Argentina.

as

Spain        _________________________ Argentina.

 He couldn't read the cup because it was too high.

low

He cup wasn't        _________________________ for him to reach.

 She didn't accept his marriage proposal.

down

She        ________________________ We were told to wait here by the director.

who

It was the director        _________________________ to wait here.

 Can you look after the kids this afternoon?

of

Can you        _________________________ the kids this afternoon?

 "Why don't you take a day off?" asked Magda.

should

Magda suggested        _________________________ a day off.

 He acts like a poor man even if he has a lot of money.

fact

Even though he acts like a poor man, he        _________________________ has a lot of money.

 I didn't mean to break that vase.

on

I didn't break that vase        _________________________

 William says Harold is responsible.

according

It's Harold's        _________________________ William.

 I was so bored by her lecture I left.

boring

Her lecture was        _________________________ I left.

Final del formulario

Reading Comprehension: Potluck

POTLUCK

Potluck parties are an ideal form of entertaining for the contemporary host or hostess who would like to gather with friends but is too busy running between the office and the soccer fields to host a formal party. Whenever the impulse to host a casual get-together strikes, you can call up your friends, neighbors or family, tell them you're organizing a potluck, and ask them to bring along one dish to share with the rest of the group.

Although the term "potluck" suggests a random assortment of dishes, it's likely to turn out better when the host does a little bit of organizing. If you don't want to risk the chance that all of your guests will bring only desserts, begin by assigning your guests a specific course to bring along. Next, ask each guest to commit to a general category of food even if they're not prepared to tell you the exact recipe. After all, as much as I love brownies, five plates of brownies wouldn't give much variety to your potluck and there would be a lot of leftovers!

When you're the host, remember to dig out extra serving platters, baskets, and utensils before your guests arrive. Not everyone brings food ready to be served. You don't want to be distracted from your guests because you're pulling things out of your attic or cabinets.

Don't forget that someone needs to be responsible for beverages. The host can supply them, or ask everyone to bring something they would like to drink with their dish.

As host you can choose what your contribution will be. If enough people are coming, providing the location for the party can be enough. Sometimes the host will stock the bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks including juices, water and soft drinks. Often the host will provide the main course such as a turkey, hamburgers on the grill, or an egg casserole (depending on the time of the party) and ask guests to bring side dishes and desserts. It's really up to you based on the size of your guest list.

1. Decide whether the following sentences are True or False and copy the evidence from the text. 2 points

1. The host must prepare everything.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. The guest should assign the dishes to the guests.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.  Answer the following questions according to the information in the text using your own words. 2 points

1. What is a potluck?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. When do people celebrate a potluck?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Find synonyms in the text. 2 points

1. Modern__________________p.1       5.Tools___________________ p.3

2. Get together _______________p.1     6. Cupboards_________________p.3

3. Courses __________________p. 2   7.Drinks ____________________ p.4

4. Remains __________________p.2     8. Sodas____________________ p.5

 

Reading Comprehension: Who reached the south pole first?

WHO REACHED THE SOUTH POLE FIRST?

                In 1900 there were two places in the world that were not explored. These were lands of snow and ice- The North Pole and the South Pole.

                As a young man in Norway, Roald Amundsen read about explorers who tried to reach the North Pole, and he wanted to reach it, too. It became his dream. The first step was to learn how to sail, so Amundsen went to sea as a worker on a ship when he was 22. Later, he worked on a ship that went to Antarctica. Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth. The South Pole is in the center of Antarctica. It was an exciting trip, but they did not reach the South Pole.

                He sailed on many ships and worked his way up to the top jobs. In 1903, he was the captain of a ship on its way to the Arctic. This ship was the first to sail the Northwest Passage. The Northwest Passage was important because it helped people to travel from Europe to Asia.

                Amundsen was now a famous explorer, and he started to plan his voyage to the North Pole. Then he learned that an American named Robert Peary was already there. Amundsen wanted to be first, so he changed his plans and went to the South Pole instead. He heard that an English explorer named Robert Scott was on his way to the South Pole, so Amundsen sent him a message. He said that this was now a race.

                When Amundsen reached Antarctica, he and four of his men started toward the South Pole. There was only ice and snow, and the wind was freezing. He had teams of dogs to pull sleds full with food and tents. They climbed mountains of snow and fell through holes in the ice. Finally, they were near the South Pole. They didn’t know whether Scott was already there. They reached the South Pole on December 14^th, 1911, and there was no sign of Scott.  Amundsen won the race. 

                Scott and his group were on their way, but they were not prepared for the extreme weather. They did not have the right clothes, and Scott had horses instead of dogs. The horses were not used to the freezing weather of Antarctica, and the men had to shot them. The men then had to carry everything. Scott and his men finally arrived at the South Pole, but 33 days after Amundsen’s group. Scott saw the Norwegian flag and was sad. He and his men returned to their camp. On the way, one man died. At the camp the four men didn’t have fuel for heat.

1. Decide whether the following sentences are True or False and copy the evidence from the text. 2 points

1. Amundsen never wanted to reach the North Pole.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Scott used horses to pull his sleds.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.  Answer the following questions according to the information in the text using your own words. 2 points

1. Where did Amundsen’s  ship go in 1903?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What happened with the horses?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Find synonyms in the text. 2 points

1. Get to_____________________p.2         5. Competition__________________ p.4

2. Journey ____________________p.2        6. Sledge ______________________p.5

3. Prepare ____________________p. 4        7. If _________________________ p.5

4. Alternatively_________________p.4      8. Combustible _________________ p. 6

Reading Comprehension: Travelling

TRAVELLING

 The government has recently presented its plans for air travel. It wants to make the two London airports bigger. Some people have already started complaining. They say that planes already make too much noise and cause too much pollution. They also say that the air travel is very cheap and easy. They think that the government should make air travel more expensive and stop people travelling by plane.

Of course there are problems with air travel but there are also so many good things about it.

My grandparents never went abroad and they didn’t know much about the rest of the world. They thought that the north of England was a foreign country. My life is very, very different. I work for a German company, so I often need to travel to Germany, I live with my Argentinean wife, and we go to Japanese, Italian, Spanish restaurants. We watch films from all over the world. We speak three different languages.

 Long ago it took days to travel from Europe to America and only rich people could travel, but now things have changed a lot. You can find very cheap tickets in the Internet. We sometimes go to Holland to spend the weekend –or France or Spain.

1. Give full answers to the following questions:

a) What are the plans the English government has?

 b) Do people agree with those plans? Say why/why not?

 c) What do they say about airplanes?

d) How different is the writer’s life from his grandparents?

e) Where does the writer sometimes spend the weekends?

2. Say if these statements are true or false. Provide some evidence from the text.

1. My grandparents thought that the south of England was a foreign country.

2. People can find cheap tickets in the Internet.

3. Find words or phrases that mean:

1. Contamination

2. In a foreign country

3. Business

4. 1 Change into the passive voice: “ The government has recently presented plans for air travel”

4.2 Write the question for the underlines part of this answer: “Some people have already started complaining”

4.3 Write the following sentence into the reported speech: “ My grandparents never went abroad and they didn’t know much about the rest of the world”

Practicar Writing: Escribir sobre un blog

Esta practica pauta los pasos para poder escribir un Writing sobre "My Blog". Espero que os ayude!

Reading Comprehension: SPAIN’S WATER WARS

Este es otro examen propuesto por la Universidad de Salamanca. En este caso nos dan una palabra de glossary para que nos resulta más fácil el texto. Pero la estructura general sigue siendo la misma.
Suerte!

Reading Comprehension: A UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE TO RACISM

Este texo es una propuesta de la Universidad de Salamanca para la selectividad del 2004. El formato con la actual EVAU no ha cambiado tanto, así que esta propuesta es una práctica útil para repasar vocabulario y practicar las respuestas a las preguntas.