The Playmobil theme park that's a different kind of adventure. PAU 2013

>Exámenes selectividad inglés Cantabria resueltos

Yes, the rumours are true. Playmobil which makes ambulances, dragons, princesses and pirates for millions of children, is going to bring its theme park to Britain. The German toy company has announced that it is “a matter of when, not if”. For many parents going to theme parks, with their queues, expensive burgers and alarming rides, is awful. However this is not an ordinary theme park.

In fact, it is not a theme park at all as it does not have any traditional theme park rides. Hans Beck, the original designer of Playmobil believed that children’s greatest gift was their imagination. The moment a little plastic figure, with arms and legs, was in their hands, they would make up stories. Playmobil is what all toys were before video games, television or the cinema; a way for children to enter a world entirely of their own making.

Playmobil theme parks are the Playmobil universe but in human size. There is a pirates’ ship on a lake, whose rigging can be climbed, a knights’ castle, from whose walls children can shout and scale, located next door to the cowboy area, with Playmobil horses and wagons which can be ridden.

Herr Beck’s legacy was his strong belief that his toys must not encourage violence or horror. Horst Brandstatter, who owns the company has always refused to make Playmobil tanks or warplanes although he knows it would be a lucrative option.

Horst Brandstatter says, “I hope that there is enough fantasy in the Playmobil world that children can make up and play out their own story. That’s what we want. I hope we can perpetuate that.” .

Adapted from The Daily Telegraph 2011.

RESPUESTAS

READING COMPREHENSION

1. Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a) There will be a Playmobil theme park in Britain.

• True. Yes, the rumours are true. Playmobil which makes ambulances, dragons, princesses and pirates for millions of children, is going to bring its theme park to Britain. The German toy company has announced that it is “a matter of when, not if”.

b) For many parents going to theme parks is unpleasant.

• True. For many parents going to theme parks, with their queues, expensive burgers and alarming rides is awful.

c) Playmobil toys are not the same as video games, television or the cinema.

• True. Playmobil is what all toys were before video games, television or the cinema.

d) Tanks or warplanes are not made by Playmobil because the company would not make a lot of money.

• False. Horst Brandstatter, who owns the company has always refused to make Playmobil tanks or warplanes although he knows it would be a lucrative option.

2. Answer the following questions in your own words according to the text.

a) According to Horst Brandsttater and Hans Beck why are Playmobil toys different from video games, television or the cinema?

1. Playmobil toys encourage children to enter a world entirely of their own making.( Children can be more imaginative by inventing their own characters, stories and worlds.)

2. Playmobil toys do not encourage violence or horror

b) What can children do in Playmobil theme parks?

Children can invent their own characters and dramas.

Children can perform or invent their own adventures.

Children can use their imagination by pretending to….

1. Children can pretend to be sailors, pirates, knights or cowboys.

2. Children climb up the sails of ships or castle walls.

3. Children can mount/sit on/jump on/hop on Playmobil horses and wagons.

3. Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given.

a) Frightening (paragraph 1): Alarming

b) To scream (paragraph 3): To shout.shout

c) To reject (paragraph 4): To refuse, refuse, refused.

4. Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a) We couldn’t hear her because she was whispering.

• She couldn’t be heard because she was whispering.
• She was whispering so we couldn’t hear her. 
• She was whispering as a result we couldn’t hear her.

b) Scientists say that this vaccine will cure cancer in the future.

• This vaccine is said to cure cancer in the future.

c) Fred said he didn’t know what Sam was doing the following day.

• “I don’t know what Sam is doing tomorrow”, Fred said.

+EXÁMENES RESUELTOS