UNIVERSIDADES PÚBLICAS DE LA COMUNIDAD DE MADRID

JUNIO 2008 INSTRUCCIONES GENERALES 1. Lea todo el texto cuidadosamente 2. Lea atentamente todas las preguntas de la prueba. 3. Proceda a responder en lengua inglesa a las preguntas en el papel de examen TIEMPO: 1 hora y 30 minutos CALIFICACIÓN: La puntuación máxima de la prueba es de 10 puntos.

Compulsive shopping A new illness, the Compulsive Buying Disorder, has been diagnosed. Its symptoms are frequent thoughts of shopping, experiencing senseless impulses to purchase unneeded items, and overspending to the extent that it harms relationships or job performance. A recent survey has found that one in twenty American adults buy things they may not even want -or. need. In today's world of consumerism, where we are constantly bombarded by ads, this is perhaps not unusual. But more surprising is a further finding that runs counter to the conventional and rather stereotyped view that compulsive buying is very much a '_woman's disease": men are just as likely as women to suffer from compulsive buying. Gone seem to be the days when women dragged their bored men around shopping malls Researchers say that the number of men who indulge in unnecessary shopping has rocketed. Experts claim that past trends and figures may have been unfairly distorted as mate obsessive shoppers used to be more reluctant than women to recognize that they have a problem, admit it, and seek help. While women buy more clothing and products that improve appearance, men tend to focus more on gadgets and technical items and can become compulsive collectors. And help seems to be exactly what the doctor orders for any compulsive shopper who is usually not made any happier by his or her relentless buying. Doctors have concluded that this behaviour is a way for people to try to complete themselves. For some people, being complete is being impeccably dressed at having something new. Instead, medical practitioners encourage those seeking treatment to cultivate non-materialistic aspects of their Jives.

Autora: Patricia Herrero Pinilla

QUESTIONS 1.

Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE.

a. According to the survey, women are more compulsive shoppers than men.

Solución. FALSE: […] men are just as likely as women to suffer from compulsive buying. b. Experts believe that buying is a form of self-realization for compulsive shoppers.

Solución. TRUE: […] Doctos have concluded that this behaviour is a way for people to complete themselves. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos) 2.

In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text

a. How does the text describe a compulsive consumer?

Solución. A compulsive consumer, according to the text, is a person either a woman or a man, who buys things (clothes, technical items, etc.) which he/she doesn't need at all, in order to be better dressed or made-up (women) or to collect and have more technical items (men). b. What are the differences between male and female compulsive buyers?

Solución. Men usually buy electronic and technical gadgets, such as laptops, music players, PDA‟s, mobile phones… While women mostly buy things to improve their physical appearance, as clothing or make up. (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos) 3. Find the words in the text that mean:

a. result (paragraph 1) b. increased (paragraph 2) c. tendencies (paragraph 2) d. looking for (paragraph 3) (Puntuación máxima 1 punto)

extent rocketed trends seeking

Autora: Patricia Herrero Pinilla

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.

a. As a result of too much shopping, some anxiety or depression may 1 (experience) and this might interfere 2 work or school performance. b. Contrary to the general idea that shopping is a ladies' habit, men are now 3 (admit) that they also have this problem, and they even ask 4 some he1p. c. Doctors suggest that compulsive shoppers 5 cultivate more spiritual aspects of their lives, rather 6 buying material things to complete themselves. Complete the following sentence in reported speech. d. Yesterday the salesman said to me: “Don‟t pay now”. 7 (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

Solución. 1. be experienced. En este caso se utiliza la pasiva (la ansiedad o la depresión solamente pueden recibir la acción de ser experimentados, no pueden realizarla), además, utilizando el infinitivo sin to (be) dado que viene precedido de un modal verb. 2. in. 3. admitting. Present continuous with the temporary clause "now". 4. for. Ask for es un phrasal verb con el significado de pedir o solicitar 5. should. Verb "suggest" + verb in the conditional time "should". 6. than. Segunda parte del comparativo, en este caso, de superioridad. 7. Yesterday the salesman said to me not to pay in that moment. Observa que no cambia el adverbio de tiempo yesterday (ayer) porque se encuentra fuera de lo que cita textualmente el tendero

5. Write about 100 to 150 words on one of the following topics. Do you ever buy things that you don‟t need? Why? The Compulsive Buying Disorder has become worse with the arrival of online shopping and television programmes devoted to buying goods 24 hours a day. Discuss. (Puntuación máxima 3 puntos) a. b.

Para este ejercicio es muy importante la organización del texto. Siempre respetando las tres partes fundamentales de introducción, cuerpo y conclusión final. Es importante buscar estructuras que nos sean conocidas para evitar cometer errores, sin caer en el simplismo.

Autora: Patricia Herrero Pinilla

a.

Do you ever buy things that you don‟t need? Why?

Solución. First of all I would like to say that it‟s often difficult overspending in superfluous things when you have not enough money. In my case, I try to avoid overspending money. After having said this, it‟s a very hard problem for people who are not able to control themselves when they earn some money, but, if we are realistic, we are all more or less suffering of this condition, I have a friend who usually goes shopping (clothes) with another friend, and she buys without measure, to an extent in which she has a lot of T-shirts in her wardrobe which haven't been used yet. Of course she has a big amount of money, but in my opinion she is in serious problems because of this compulsive buying, although I think, she is not guilty but victim. We are living in a society which awards a heavy consumerism. A very good clear instance could be watching TV on Christmas, looking at the amount of ads you can watch about any kind of items. All of us should take care about it, because nowadays the economic situation is delicate, we have serious problems concerning prices (oil, building, food…) and I think that it is not time to be a compulsive buyer. To sum up, if we want to improve our lives, we should avoid overspending in superfluous things, and spend money in things which are really necessary, or even help poor people if you have enough money. We would probably feel better doing it than having a new shirt inside a bag in our wardrobe.

b) The Compulsive Buying Disorder has become worse with the arrival of online shopping and television programmes devoted to buying goods 24 hours a day. Discuss.

Solución As an introduction, I would like to say that since advertising has become one of the main powers of television (either public or private television), this kind of problems have increased in a spectacular ratio. Advertising in traditional television consists on short spots to show the wonderful qualities of the product. But advertising is a special world, a mobile world, and it has to adapt itself to the new times in which we are living nowadays. A good instance could be that television channels in which you can purchase goods during 24 hours a day, by only dealing a telephone number. This kind of shopping became very popular in last 80‟s and, overall during 90‟s, and helped people to buy every kind of items. Today, we are in the XXI century, which is called the „internet age‟, and of course, advertising has to update itself once again to the online shopping, in which you can buy whatever you want, only by clicking a button in a internet website. Of course, this new facilities help all of us to improve our lives, but there‟s a relative problem about it. If videogames affect people who have gaming problem, of course online shopping or T.V. shopping, affect people who have saving problems, or compulsive buying disorders. In conclusion, technical advances are good to improve our lives, but we must have our minds opened to realize that this fact carries with some problems, such as these disorders.

Autora: Patricia Herrero Pinilla

Expresiones más frecuentes para realizar el texto: INTRODUCCIÓN -

The purpose of this report The aim of this report This report looks at First of all As an introduction I would like to say Firstly To begin with

CUERPO -

One of the main advantages/disadvantages of… Secondly From my point of view In my opinion I think/feel that On the one hand……on the other hand

CONCLUSIÓN -

In conclusion To sum up On balance Last but not least

PARA UNIR FRASES -

Although However In spite of (this) Some people…..while/whereas others…

VOCABULARIO RELACIONADO To overspend: Malgastar Superfluous: Innecesario Consumerism: Consumismo Ads: Anuncios Improve: Mejorar Advertising: Publicidad Acquire: Adquirir Purchase: Comprar Saving problems: Problemas financieros

Autora: Patricia Herrero Pinilla