OPCIÓN A
Teenage drinkinghabits in the UK
UKteenagers might have a reputation for drinking; but in reality the number ofyoung people consuming alcohol has declined. Why? “There is nothing that saysyou can’t go out and have fun without a drink” says Liam Brooks, 18. SinceNovember he’s been old enough to buy alcohol legally in pubs, but he’s nevertouched a drop.
“It’sbelieved that every 18-year-old goes out and gets drunk. Maybe people in the previousgeneration did. But nowadays, most people would go out to hang out”. Oneoccasion when he had to put his parents ‘drunk friends to bed convinced himthat “there is no pretty drunk”.
But whilehis abstinence may be atypical, all the figures suggest that young people inthe UK are becoming more like him. Just 12% of 11 to 15-year olds said they haddrunk alcohol in the previous week in 2011- down from 26% a decade earlier,according to National Health Service statistics. One factor may be that alcoholis becoming more difficult for young people to buy, says Jonathan Birdwell,author of two reports on UK alcohol habits. Difficult economic circumstancesmay have played a part, Birdwell suggests. “With the rise of university fees,young people want to make the most of their experience to make sure they are competitivein the labor markets”.
Questions:
1.- Howhave teenage drinking habits changed over the past decade?
2.- Whatpersonal explanations does the text provide for this change?
3.-According to the text, how has the present state of the economy contributed tohis change?
Exercises:
4.- Fillwith the correct word:
Alcoholabuse and alcohol dependence are problems (A)……affect both adults and asignificant number of adolescents and young adults (B)……the ages of 12 and 20.The average age at which Americans begin drinking regularly is 15,9 years (C)…….According to research by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse andAlcoholism, adolescents who begin drinking before age 15 are four times morelikely to develop alcohol dependence (D)….those who begin drinking at age 21.Sometimes parents who have (E)……..unkind towards their children are likely tohave problems with them. Those children take revenge on their `parents bystarting drinking.
5.- Writedown five words from the text including the vocalic sound in “sun”.
6.-Rephrase the following sentences so that their meaning is as similar to theoriginal as possible:
“Would youlike to have dinner with me?” Tom said to Ann. Tom invited….
“Shut thedoor but don’t lock it” she said to us. She told…..
I haven’thad to make such a difficult decision for year. This is…..
I don’tthink that a new road is necessary. Idon’t think there….
7. – Write acomposition about the following topic (100-120 words):
Why isalcohol a bad habit?
OPCIÓN B
Greenspaces
Living inan urban area with green spaces has a long-lasting positive impact on people’smental well-being, a study has suggested. UK researchers found a moving togreen space had a sustained positive effect, unlike pay rises and promotions,which only provided a short-term boost.
The authorssaid the results indicated that access to good quality urban parks was beneficialto public health. They claimed that people living in greener areas were displayingfewer signs of depression. There could have been a number of reasons to be lessdepressed, for example people do all sorts of things to be happier, they strivefor promotion at work, pay rises, and they even get married. “But the troublewith all those things is they within six months or a year; they are back ontheir original baseline levels of well-being. So these things are not sustainable,they do not make us happy in the long-term” they said.
“I am notgoing to say it is the magic pill that cures all marriage problems”, theyadded, “of course it is not, but it may be the background factor that helps tipthe balance towards making more sensible decisions and having more adultconversations”.
Questions:
1.- Whatkind of things do people do in order to become more pleased with their lives?
2.- To whatextend are they successful?
3.-According to the text, what can effectively contribute to make people happier?
Exercises:
4.- Fill inwith the correct word:
Boston Commonis the oldest park in the US. The park is almost 50 acres in size. Today,Boston Common is a system of connected parks (A)…..goes though many of Bostonneighborhoods. The “Common” has (B)…..used for many different purposesthroughout (C)…..long history. Until 1817, public hangings took (D)……there.British troops camped on Boston Common (E)…… the Revolution and the left fromhere to face colonial resistance in April 1775. Celebrities, including MartinLuther King Jr., Pope John Paul II, have (F)….. speeches at the Common.
5.- Writedown five words from the text where “u” is pronounced as in “sun”.
6.-Rephrase the following sentences so that their meaning is as similar as theoriginal as possible:
A. Don’t forgetto post the letter” Jack said to me. Jack reminded….
B. Shewouldn’t allow me to read the letter. She wouldn’t let…..
C. I’venever had such a big meal. It’s……..
D. He wasangry with me because I was late. He was angry with me for…
7.- Write acomposition about the following topic (100-120 words):
Theadvantages and disadvantages of living in the country