SEPTIEMBRE 2005 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.

Amphibian Decline Serves As Global Warning Nearly one in three species of frogs and toads in the world is under threat of extinction, according to the most comprehensive global study of amphibians ever conducted. The report shows that 122 amphibian species have disappeared since 1980. The discovery, reported in the journal Science, is seen by researchers as an early warning of imminent environmental disaster. Amphibians act like "natural barometers" since their highly permeable skin makes them very sensitive to the effects of climate change and pollution. Any drastic change in the natural world is likely to affect them first. Over the past three years, scientists analysed the distribution and conservation status of all 5,743 known amphibian species. Of these, 1,856 - 32 per cent- were threatened with extinction. In comparison, only 12 per cent of bird species and 23 per cent of all mammal species are considered to be endangered. The president of Conservation International, who co-led the research, said: "Amphibians are one of nature's best indicators of overall environmental health. Their catastrophic decline serves as a warning that we are in a period of significant environmental degradation." Amphibians were the first terrestrial vertebrates to colonise the land successfully about 350 million years ago. They have developed a remarkable diversity by adapting to many different aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Amphibians are present today in every continent except Antarctica, and can be found in almost all habitat types from dry, inhospitable deserts to lush tropical rainforests and temperate climates such as Britain's. 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. Researchers consider that the disappearance of amphibians is a sign of ecological catastrophe in the near future.

Solución. TRUE: The report shows that 122 amphibian species have disappeared since 1980. The discovery, reported in the journal Science, is seen by researchers as an early warning of imminent environmental disaster. b. The number of endangered birds is greater than that of amphibians. Solución. FALSE: (…) of all 5,743 known amphibian species. Of these, 1,856 - 32 per centwere threatened with extinction. In comparison, only 12 per cent of bird species and 23 per cent of all mammal species are considered to be endangered. (puntuación máxima 2 puntos) 2.

In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. a. Why does any climate change affect amphibians before birds or mammals?

Solución. Amphibians have a sort of skin much more delicated than other types of animals, that’s why they will be the first to suffer from environmental disaster.

Autora: Eva Gomez Lda. Filología Inglesa por la U.C.M.

b. Where do amphibians live and why do they live there?

Solución. They are able to live throughout the world but the Antarctica since they have improved a great variety of species due to their adjustment to several types of aquatic and terrestrial habitats. * En este ejercicio tenemos que estar muy atentos de las construcciones de las frases. Normalmente contestaremos con una frase afirmativa, con lo cual: Suj + VBO (TIEMPO VERBAL CORRESPONDIENTE + COMPLEMENTO) (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos) 3.

Find the words in the text that mean. a. complete (paragraph 1) comprehensive b. because (paragraph 2) since c. extreme (paragraph 2) drastic d. excepcional (paragraph 3) remarkable

(Puntuación máxima 1 punto)

4.

Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given. a. If human interference_______1______(continue) to alter the composition of the atmosphere, average temperatures_____2________(rise) more than 3°C in the next 100 years. b. Greenpeace______3_______ (create) 10 fight environmental disaster. This organization is especially interested in (protect) 4 our environment. c. Air pollution_____5_________ (cause) more than one hundred thousand deaths last year. Some experts believe that it is the_______6_______ (important) health problem in the industrial world. d. We should avoid _________7_____ (pollute) our planet in order _____8_______ protect it for our children.

Solución. 1: continues. 2: will rise: Primer condicional: Se utiliza para predecir probables resultados en un futuro, avisar de algo o expresar una futura amenaza. If + presente simple + will (futuro simple) 3: has created. Presente perfecto porque expresa una situación pasada que tiene cierta conexión con el presente. Es decir, hasta ahora greenpeace “ha llevado” el caso de diez desastres naturales. 4: protecting. Interested in + Vbo + ING 5: has caused 6: most important. Comparativo superlativo 7: polluting: Avoid + Vbo + ING 8: to: En este caso debemos observar dos puntos: 1. In order to (es una expresión que significa con la finalidad de…. 2. que ira seguida de un verbo en infinitivo que requiere la preposición to detrás de dicho verbo (Puntuación máxima 2 puntos)

Autora: Eva Gomez Lda. Filología Inglesa por la U.C.M.

5.

Write about 100 to 150 words on one of the following topics. a. Do you think our planet is experiencing a climate change? Why? b. What could we do to reduce pollution in large cities?

(Puntuación máxima 3 puntos)

En este ejercicio lo más importante es la organización que demos al texto. Comenzaremos con una introducción. Una vez finalizada la introducción, daremos cuerpo al texto, es decir, expresaremos nuestro punto de vista con argumentos y Como ultima parte aportaremos una conclusión. a) Do you think our planet is experiencing a climate change? Why?

Solución. First of all, I would like to say that we are destroying our planet and this is a matter that concerns to everybody but overall to occidental people. Since many and many years experts have warned the most powerful governments that our world is in danger. Giving reasons why we are destroying our environment it would take me so much time however I would like to list some of the reasons why we are going ahead with this problem. Firstly, we are living in a capitalistic system which means that the main aim is to increase more and more corporations incomes, peoples need’s, and so on, without taking care of what they are doing with our world. Secondly, I think that we have received a very bad environmental education and from my point of view this fact is the most important thing in order to start to do things right. Last but no least, governments don’t take this problem seriously; they think that there are other issues more important than for example the fact of being endangered animals. To them is more important wasting money and time on arms. To sum up all these ideas, I think we all should take more care of our world. It is easy, simply, and futures generations will be grateful to us. b) What could we do to reduce in large cities?

Solución. As an introduction, I would like to say that the fact of reducing pollution is much easier than what we think. From my point of view, I think it is a matter of habits, it is a matter of starting to get use to doing things right. In order to reduce pollution it is necessary to use public’s transports such as the underground, bus or just using a cycle. It would bring down pollution so much…. There are so many possibilities to avoid pollution by throwing away the rubbish in the right place, doing a clear division of what sort of junk we make every single day with the aim to recycle. In my opinion, we should be more aware of these sort of problems and see them as a fact that concerns to everybody. On the whole I think we shouldn’t have a negative vision of the problem, I’m sure we manage to turn our world into a better place to live.

Autora: Eva Gomez Lda. Filología Inglesa por la U.C.M.

Expresiones más frecuentes para realizar el texto: INTRODUCCION • • • • • • •

The porpouse 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……is that….. Secondly….. In my view….. From my point of view….. In my opinion….. I think/feel that…. On the one hand……on the other hand CONCLUSION

• • • •

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 PARA PODER HACER ESTE TEXTO: DESASTRES NATURALES Drought: Sequia Earthquake: Terremoto Flood: Inundaciones TEMAS RELACIONADOS CON EL MEDIOAMBIENTE: Animal welfare: Bienestar de los animales Climate: Clima, ambiente Conservation: Conservación Autora: Eva Gomez Lda. Filología Inglesa por la U.C.M.

Endagered species: Animales en peligro de extinción Energy: Energía Forest fires: Incendios forestales Global warming: Calentamiento de la tierra Greenhouse effect: Efecto invernadero Pollution: Contaminación Protected animals: Animales protegidos Rain forest: Lluvias forestales Wildlife: Vida salvaje POLITICA RELACIONADA CON TEMAS MEDIAMBIENTALES: Enviromental Group: Grupo medioambiental Green issues Temas relacionados con el medioambiente Presure grupe: Grupo que hace fuerza, que presiona al gobierno VERBOS: Cut down: Talar Destroy: Destrozar Dump: Verter, descargar Protect: Proteger Pollute: Contaminar Recycle: Reciclar Save: Salvar Throw away: Tirar, deshacerse de.... Use up: Agotar

Autora: Eva Gomez Lda. Filología Inglesa por la U.C.M.