Spyphones - PAU Andalucía 2005

>Exámenes selectividad inglés resueltos Andalucía

A device first used by German tank drivers in 1942 can prove to be helpful in everyday life: people will no longer have to run out of pubs when their mobile rings showing the number of their boss or their partner. They will talk freely knowing that the person on the other end cannot hear a thing going around them: the roar of the crowd, loud music, or a friend’s laughter.

The device, which is worn around the neck, does not transmit outside noise as it does not use a microphone; instead, a microchip translates voice vibrations in the skin into electrical impulses that are then turned into words. It can be worn under the collar of a shirt, and you can only see an earpiece, although a wireless version is also being developed.

The apparatus has been brought to Britain by Andrew Darby, who saw it in a spy shop in Hong Kong. He thinks that it can be especially beneficial to emergency services, construction industry and sports people, who could communicate with each other in very noisy situations. However, it doesn’t work if you are unable to hear someone speaking to you over the phone. So do not try to go to a rock concert and ring your boss telling them you are at the doctor’s.

SOLUCIONES

I. READING COMPREHENSION

ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN WORDS.

What is the main contribution of the new device to mobile phones?

• It cuts out background noise and enables you to speak in very noisy situations.

How will mobile users know that the device is operative?

• If you can hear the person on the other end, you’ll know the noise will be cut out in the conversation.

ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT.

Thanks to the device people will be able to get out of public places when they see the number of their boss.

• FALSE: people will no longer have to run out of pubs when their mobile rings showing the number of their boss (lines 1-2)

A microphone prevents outside noise from interrupting the conversation.

• FALSE: [the device] does not use a microphone (lines 5-6)

The device can’t be seen because it is worn under the user’s clothes.

• FALSE: you can only see an earpiece (line 7)

The first model of the device has a wire connecting the earpiece.

• TRUE: a wireless version is also being developed (lines 7-8)

II. USE OF ENGLISH

7) Give one opposite for helpful (adjective) (line 1)

• useless

8) Find in the text a synonym for building (noun)

• construction (line 10)

 9) Find in the text the word which has the following definition: “person who controls or gives orders to workers”

• boss (line 2)

10) Give a noun with the same root as loud (noun).

• loudness

11) Turn the following sentences into the passive voice.

You can’t hear anything on a helicopter.

• Nothing can be heard on a helicopter. (Not acceptable “by you”)

12) Turn the following sentence into reported speech:

Michael wondered: “Why do I do this every day?”

• Michael wondered why he did that every day.

13) Complete the following sentence:

• If i had known the truth about Larry I would have left him right away.

14) Use the words in the boxes to make a meaningful sentence. Use all and only the words in the boxes without changing their form.

40 DOLLARS    ME    WINE    CHARGED    THEY    THE    FOR

• They charged me 40 dollars for the wine.

+EXÁMENES RESUELTOS