Coca-Cola's secret formula - 2009

>Exámenes selectividad inglés Galicia resueltos

In the SunTrust Bank in Atlanta lies one of the most sacred secrets in the business world: the 120-year old formula for Coca-Cola. That is the only certainty about the mysterious formula. Everything else may be a myth. Myth or not, at least three people recently risked going to prison for revealing the company’s mystery. They tried to sell Coca-Cola’s secrets to Pepsi for $1.5 million. This incident makes us wonder whether the formula is a real secret or just mystical marketing.
History suggests it’s a mixture of both. In 1886, a pharmacist called John Pemberton created the formula in his laboratory. Years later he sold it to a businessman, Asa Candler, who made the drink a success, which made everyone curious about what exactly went into it. Some said the main ingredient was cocaine, which Coca-Cola denies. Others were fascinated by the rumours about “7X”, the code name for the mixture of flavours. By 1919, when the Candlers sold Coca-Cola to a group of investors, the secret had become a marketing tool. The new owners gave it a place in American pop culture when they placed the formula in the Atlanta bank.
Experts say it’s not impossible to decipher the formula for Coca-Cola, but not 100 percent. And, anyway, copying it would be useless because it is not the secret formula that matters … it is the marketing that has made Coke such a success.

RESPUESTAS

READING COMPREHENSION

 

1. Write a summary of the text in English, including the most important points, using your own words whenever it is possible (maximum 50 words)

The secret mystery formula for Coca Cola has been put in a bank. It was created by John Pemberton. Some people said the secret ingredient was cocaine, but others said it was a mixture called 7X. It doesn’t really matter because the important thing is the marketing, not the formula.

2. Explain in English the meaning of the following expressions as used in the text.

a) Everything else may be a myth. Everything else / All the other things / The rest… may have been invented / may be an invention /may be false / may not be true.

b) it is the marketing that has made Coke such a success. What has made Coca Cola such a success is the marketing OR Coke is / has become successful / a success because of the marketing.

3. Complete the second sentence of each pair so that it has the same meaning as the first one.

a) Copying it would be useless.
It would be useless to copy it.

b) The new owners gave it a place in American pop culture.
It was given a place in American pop culture (by the new owners).

c) It’s not impossible to decipher the formula.
Deciphering the formula is not impossible / is possible.

d) A pharmacist called John Pemberton created the formula in his laboratory.
John Pemberton, who was a pharmacist, created the formula in his laboratory.

 

4. Answer the following questions in your own words.

a) Why did three people risk going to prison?

They risked going to prison because they wanted to get $1.5 million / because they were going to reveal the formula.

b) How do we know Coca Cola want the formula to remain a mystery, and why do they want it to
remain a mystery?

We know that Coca Cola want the formula to be a mystery because they put it in a bank. They wanted to put 3 people in prison for revealing the secret to Pepsi. They want it to remain a secret because it is good for business to have a mysterious formula.

WRITING 

5. Do you (and your friends) buy a product because of the name or because of the quality? Give
examples. (Approximately 100 words)

I and most of my friends buy shoes and clothes because of the name. In some shops there are cheaper shoes that are as good as Nike, such as Adidas, but we always buy Nike. We shouldn’t do this, although perhaps we should look at the country where things are made. On the other hand, sometimes the famous names have better products. For example, I drink Coke instead of other cheaper drinks, because it tastes better, not because of the advertisements or the name. The same happens with food from McDonalds and Burger King. They are famous because their meat has a very good quality.

+EXÁMENES RESUELTOS