Why do young readers prefer print to e-books? - PAU inglés 2014

>Exámenes selectividad inglés País Vasco resueltos

A recent survey by Voxburner, a British marketing strategy agency, has suggested that 62% of 16- to 24-year-olds prefer reading printed books to e-books. The research is especially interesting, as it reflects the opinions of people that are as dependent on mobile phones and laptops as they are on oxygen and water.

The two main reasons for preferring print are value for money and an attachment to physical books. In fact, more than 25% of the participants in the study think that ebooks are priced too high. They explained that, if you buy a book, you can share it with as many friends as you like. On the other hand, if you get it in an electronic format, you would have to lend your e-reading device out in order for anyone else to read it.

The top-rated emotional comments for preferring physical to digital products are "I like to hold the product", "I like the smell" and "I like the packaging". However, if traditional books and e-books contain the same content, aren't they basically the same thing?

The 20th century philosopher Jacques Derrida thought so. In his book Paper Machine, he described the transition his generation had seen from the pen to the introduction of the electronic typewriter and the computer. According to him, the ebook is just a phase in the evolution of reading technologies. Following his argument, e-books are not less natural than the printed ones, but people may feel that way because paper books have always been around.

Considering that millions of people read and generate billions of words per day on computers across the world, why can't young people come to terms with e-books?

They read the news, their mail, advertisements and text messages in a digital format on a daily basis. In fact, they belong to a generation umbilically linked to their mobiles and laptops so, why are they so resistant to e-books?

RESPUESTAS

 

READING COMPREHENSION

I.- Answer questions 1-4 according to the information given in the text. WRITE COMPLETE SENTENCES USING YOUR OWN WORDS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. DO NOT COPY FROM THE TEXT (4 marks)

1. What is the age range of the participants in the study?

• The participants are from 16 to 24 years old. (p.1)

2. Why is the study so remarkable?

• The study is so remarkable because it shows the opinions of people that are addicted to electronic devices. (p.1)

3. According to some of the participants, what is the way to share an e-book?

• According to some of the participants, if you want to share an e-book with somebody, you have to let them borrow your e-reader device. (p.2)

4. How often do young people read digital texts?

• They read digital texts every day. (p.5)

II.- Are these statements True or False? Justify your answers based on information from the text, rewriting the original sentences in your own words or quoting properly (2 marks)

1. Derrida’s generation witnessed the changes from handwriting to typing and word processing.

• This sentence is true. The text states that Derrida “described the transition his generation had seen from the pen to the introduction of the electronic typewriter and the computer” in a book called Paper Machine (p.4).

2. According to Derrida, paper books are as artificial as e-books.

• This is a true sentence. The text states, “following his [Derrida’s] argument, e-books are not less natural than the printed ones” (p.4).’

III.- Find the words or expressions in the text that mean (1 mark)

• 1. small computers designed to be easily carried: laptops (p.1, l.4) / (p.5, l.5)
• 2. the box or wrapping in which a product is offered for sale: packaging (p.3, l.2)
• 3. stage, time, step: phase (p.4, l.4)
• 4. connected, tied, attached: linked (p.5, l.5)
   

WRITING

IV.- Write a composition of about 130 words on one of these topics. Specify your option (3 marks)

1. “For leisure reading, I find print to be an archaic way to move stories and information. For research and school, however, sometimes print is still superior because it is easier to annotate using ink or pencil”. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your opinion about it.

 2. “Last Friday I lost my mobile phone.” Write a story starting with this sentence.

+EXÁMENES RESUELTOS