Museums are the new churches - PAU inglés 2016 Andalucía

>Exámenes selectividad inglés resueltos Andalucía 

Across the United States, arts institutions are in the middle of a building boom. About twelve museums have been built in the past year. That means twelve temples devoted to art in a single year. Near the end of the 1990s, Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao marked the beginning of a new era of museums designed by star architects. Churches and cathedrals once stood at the top of the architectural hierarchy, but today the museum is the building that every renowned architect dreams of designing. Besides, only a museum can attract the sort of budget that used to be reserved for cathedrals in the past.
Art museums are the new churches not because the role of the church has declined in recent centuries and something had to fill the gap. The new status of museum architecture is rather a reflection of how art has changed over the years. Before the 18th Century, non-religious art could only be found in palaces and lacked any public function. By the 19th Century, museums were meant to serve as places for ethical and social improvement. But, in the 20th Century, aesthetic contemplation became a virtue in itself, and museum architecture changed accordingly. That is why modern museums are marked by pure, white walls and by giant spaces that, like the nave of a basilica, make visitors seem small in comparison.
Art has imitated religion in other ways too. These days, we frequently use religious language when talking about art. We make “pilgrimages” to museums in far-off places. We experience “transcendence” before major paintings. And, of course, Sunday is the busiest day of the week for most art museums.

The Notting Hill Carnival - PAU 2016 inglés Andalucía

>Exámenes selectividad inglés resueltos Andalucía

The Notting Hill Carnival traces its origins back to the culture of the Caribbean. When African slaves were first brought to Trinidad, they were not permitted to dance or play their own music. However, as the slavery regime settled down, a strong local tradition of carnival emerged. Once a year, enslaved people symbolically escaped from the oppression of their daily routine by playing music, dancing, and dressing up in costumes which mimicked the European fashions of their masters. They even whitened their faces with flour or wore white masks.

The tradition came to London with the migration of workers and their families from the Caribbean to Britain after the Second World War. By the late 1950s, many Caribbeans were living in Notting Hill a poor area. There, they faced racism, bad housing conditions and, in 1958, violent attacks from white youths. The idea of a Caribbean carnival emerged as a way of reasserting community cohesion after the 1958 disturbance. 

Claudia Jones, the editor of the West Indian Gazette, was the moving spirit behind the idea. The first carnival celebration was held in the town hall building in St. Pancras in 1962. This was a great success and became an annual event. In 1965, local social worker Rhaune Laslett suggested holding some outdoor festivities in Notting Hill. The two celebrations were combined, and so the Notting Hill carnival began. The skills of costume-making, steel drumming and calypso music gradually came together to establish a festival of music, arts and culture.

The Notting Hill Carnival is the largest European street party and the second major street festival in the world after Rio's Carnival. It is truly a spectacle not to be missed.

Migrant crisis - PAU 2016 C.Valenciana

>Exámenes selectividad inglés Comunidad Valenciana resueltos

NORWAY WILL RETURN BACK TO RUSSIA REFUGEES WHO EXPLOITED LEGAL BICYCLE GAP

Sylvi Listhaug, Norway’s immigration minister, has told refugees that exploited a legal gap to enter the country  on bikes  through an  Arctic  Circle  crossing  will  have to  return  to  Russia.  Around 5,500 asylum seekers used bikes to travel through the Storskog crossing last year and, although Russia does not  allow people  to  cross  the  border  on foot  and  Norway  does  not  let  in  motorists carrying people without documents, people on bicycles are allowed in on both sides. 

Listhaug  also  announced  that  immigrants  without  a  transit  visa  would  be  sent  back  to  Russia. The two  nations  have  been  sending  refugees  back  and  forth  since  November  2015  when  the  new route was identified by authorities. Once they reach Norway, refugees spend time at a centre that provides shelter for  around  600  people  in  barracks  on  a  former  military  camp  bordering  the airport  of Kirkenes. New arrivals are given fleece jumpers, waterproof jackets and other clothes appropriate for the  Arctic climate,  with  most  of  them  sleeping  in  bunk  beds.  On  Thursday, Norwegian  police confirmed that the refugees would not be forced to return across the border on two wheels, and could instead be taken by bus. 

The number  of  people  taking  the  Arctic  route  is  tiny  compared  with  the  estimated  750,000  who arrived  via  the  Mediterranean  in  2015,  a  perilous  journey  that  has  led  to  the  loss  of  at  least 3,400 lives. 

William Watkison, International Business Times, 15-1-2016

Ces cerveaux européens qui émigrent en France . PAU francés 2015

Exámenes selectividad francés resueltos Andalucía

À l´heure où la fuite des cerveaux français inquiète, Ana, Inge et José, tous trois diplômés de l´enseignement supérieur, ont posé leur valise à Paris. Ils mettent aujourd´hui leur intelligence et leur créativité au service de leur pays d´adoption. Grâce aux accords de Schengen, tous trois ont pu s´installer en toute liberté. Si les Européens représentent la moitié des immigrés arrivés en France en 2012, l´ Europe du Sud est la plus grosse contributrice. Mais ce ne sont plus les mêmes qui font leurs valises. Aujourd´hui, des jeunes bien formés la quittent, quand les vagues précédentes d´immigrés du sud touchaient des travailleurs manuels. Ainsi, plus de la moitié des Italiens et des Espagnols qui s´installent en France ont un diplôme du supérieur. Nombre sont ceux qui commencent par des petits boulots et saisissent le tremplin de la restauration ou de l´hôtellerie. C´est le cas de José Antonio Bautista, diplômé en Économie qui a quitté l´Espagne en 2008 : il a commencé comme réceptionniste de nuit dans un hôtel. Parti à cause de la crise, il n´a pas connu que des jours faciles en France : « Mais c´est quand même nettement moins dur ici qu´en Espagne. Le contrat de travail français est plus protecteur et si on n´est pas trop gourmand, on peut s´en sortir avec un salaire minimum. Ce qui n´est pas le cas en Espagne ».

lemonde.fr 26.12. 2014 (texte adapté)

Nous collaborons à la disparition du français . PAU francés 2015

Exámenes selectividad francés resueltos Andalucía

Les Anglo-saxons ont un projet explicitement hégémonique. On l'a vu lors des Jeux olympiques de Londres. À l'exception du prologue, le français en était totalement absent. Même constat dans les aéroports (control passport), ou dans les colloques internationaux, etc. : ils font perdre à la langue française sa visibilité. Le drame, c'est que nous collaborons à cette disparition -dans tous les domaines, « l’anglobal » est une forme de parasite. À la Renaissance, des milliers de mots italiens sont entrés dans la langue française, mais ils ont été rapidement absorbés, transformés, francisés. Aujourd'hui, et c'est nouveau, les mots anglais qui s'implantent chaque jour dans notre vocabulaire ne sont plus de l'ordre de l'échange, mais de la substitution ("checker" à la place de "vérifier"). En France colonisée, c'est Halloween tous les jours. Mais, plus que de colonisation, nous devons parler d'auto-colonisation. Tous les domaines sont victimes : la mode avec la "fashion week", la cuisine et ses "fast-foods", les conseils d'administration, la diplomatie, la défense, la chanson, l'aviation, la médecine, le sport... Tout le monde désormais fait des fautes massivement, et des fautes sur le logiciel, comme la confusion des sons et des temps, le futur et le conditionnel, etc. La langue et la culture françaises sont désirées partout dans le monde comme une alternative au modèle anglo-saxon. Mais nous les Français, nous y avons renoncé. Que nous propose-t-on à la télévision ? Des séries américaines. La France a renoncé à la francophonie pour prendre part à l'Europe anglophone.

L’Express 21.10. 2014 (texte adapté)

Apprendre une langue étrangère c'est bon pour le cerveau . PAU 2015

Exámenes selectividad francés resueltos Andalucía

Qui aurait cru qu'apprendre les langues était bon pour la santé ? Pourtant, le phénomène est étudié depuis plusieurs années au Canada. En étudiant un groupe de 184 patients atteints de la maladie d'Alzheimer dans une clinique de Toronto entre 2002 et 2005, le docteur Ellen Bialystok avait mis en évidence que ceux qui avaient parlé deux langues durant toute leur vie pouvaient retarder l'apparition de la maladie de quatre années par rapport à ceux qui ne parlaient qu'une seule langue. Un effet constaté même après avoir pris en considération la possible influence des différences culturelles, de l'immigration, de l'éducation, de la profession et même du genre... Les effets ainsi constatés du bilinguisme sont les plus forts en matière d'intelligence générale et de capacités à la lecture. De plus, l'étude suggère un effet positif de ce bilinguisme en fin de vie, y compris chez ceux qui ont acquis leur seconde langue à l'âge adulte : dans le groupe test, en effet, 195 ont appris une seconde langue avant l'âge de 18 ans, mais 65 l'ont apprise plus tard car des millions de personnes dans le monde acquièrent leur seconde langue tard dans la vie. Selon le Dr. Thomas Bak, l’étude montre que le bilinguisme, même acquis à l'âge adulte, peut bénéficier le cerveau prenant de l'âge. Reste à savoir si apprendre plus d'une langue supplémentaire aurait des effets encore plus bénéfiques, et si la pratique active de la seconde langue est également un facteur à prendre en compte... Mais dans tous les cas, apprendre une autre langue, c'est bon pour le cerveau ! 

L’Obs 04.06.2014 (texte adapté)

Qu'est-ce que le droit à la liberté d'expression? . PAU francés 2015

Exámenes selectividad francés resueltos Andalucía

La Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme et le Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques protègent le droit à la liberté d’expression dans leurs Articles 19 respectifs. La liberté d’expression est non seulement importante en soi mais aussi essentielle à l’exercice d’autres droits humains.

Au niveau individuel, la liberté d’expression est essentielle au développement, à la dignité et à l’épanouissement de chaque individu. Les individus parviennent à comprendre leur environnement et le monde en échangeant librement des idées et des informations entre eux. La liberté d’expression renforce leur capacité à planifier leur vie et à exercer une activité professionnelle. Les individus se sentent plus en sécurité et respectés par l’État s’ils sont capables d’exprimer ce qu’ils pensent.

Au niveau national, la liberté d’expression est essentielle à la bonne gouvernance et, de ce fait, au progrès économique et social. La liberté d’expression et la liberté d’information contribuent à améliorer la qualité de la gouvernance de diverses manières : en garantissant que des personnes honnêtes et compétentes administrent l’État […], en favorisant la bonne gouvernance en permettant aux citoyens d’exposer leurs préoccupations devant les autorités […], en favorisant la mise en oeuvre d’autres droits humains […].

Pour toutes ces raisons, la liberté d’expression et la liberté d’information sont reconnues par la communauté internationale comme des droits humains primordiaux. 

Articles 19 DUDH et PIDCP

Opération: Tous au restaurant - PAU francés 2016

>Exámenes selectividad francés Madrid resueltos

Un repas acheté pour un repas offert, telle est la consigne de l ́opération Tous au restaurant pendant le mois de septembre. Sur plus de 1000 tables dans toute la France, 80 sont étoilées*.

Il y a des dates clés qu ́il ne faut pas oublier: le premier jour des soldes, la Saint-Valentin pour certains, le début de la saison de la chasse pour d ́autres, mais aussi depuis cinq ans, l ́ouverture, à dix heures précises, des réservations en ligne de l’évènement gastronomique Tous au restaurant.

L ́opération lancée en 2010 par Alain Ducasse**, mobilise plus d ́un millier de restaurants, dont 80 étoilés, à travers toute la France, sur un principe simple: un repas acheté, un repas offert. Elle se déroule en septembre et la période n ́a pas été choisie au hasard. Traditionnellement, le mois de septembre est mauvais pour la restauration. Les vacances et les impôts passés ont laissé les finances en mauvais état. Une addition pour deux couverts au prix d ́un seul est effectivement l’occasion de faire que l ́exceptionnel devienne accessible.

Conçu sur le modèle de la «Restaurant week» de New York, lancée en 1992 et désormais organisée deux fois par an, Tous au restaurant rencontre un succès grandissant. La manifestation, faite à l ́origine pour soutenir les tables françaises, s ́exporte pour la première fois dans cinq métropoles européennes: Berlin, Genève, Milan, Bruxelles et Luxembourg.

D’après Alice Bosio, Lefigaro.fr,9 septembre 2014

The birth of Rock and Roll - PAU 2016 Andalucía inglés

>Exámenes selectividad inglés resueltos Andalucía

The  origins  of  rock  and  roll  have  been  fiercely  debated  by  commentators  and  historians  of  music.  There  is  general  agreement  that  it  began in  the  Southern  United  States  –  a  region  which  would  produce  most  of  the  major  early rock and roll acts – through the meeting of various influences that embodied a merging of the African musical tradition with European instrumentation.  The migration of many former slaves and their descendants to major urban centers  such  as Memphis,  New  York  City,  Detroit  and  Chicago meant  that  black  and  white  residents  were  living  in  close  proximity  in  larger  numbers  than  ever  before,  and  as  a  result  heard  each  other's  music  and  even  began  to  emulate each other's fashions.

Radio stations that made white and black forms of music available to both groups, the development  and  spread  of  the gramophone  record,  and  African  American  musical  styles  such as  jazz  and  swing  which were taken up by white musicians, aided this process of "cultural collision".

The immediate roots of rock and roll lay in the rhythm and blues, then called " race music", and country music of 10 the  1940s  and  1950s.  

Particularly  significant  influences  were  jazz, blues, gospel,  country,  and folk. Commentators differ in their views of which of these forms were most important and the degree to which the new music was a re-branding of African American rhythm and blues for a white market, or a new hybrid of black and white forms.

In the 1930s jazz, and particularly swing, both in urban based dance bands and blues-influenced country swing, was among the first music to present African American sounds for a predominantly white audience.

PAU Galicia 2015 inglés - The Polite Society

>Exámenes selectividad inglés Galicia resueltos

When  was  the  last  time  you  stopped  to  have  a  friendly  chat  with  your  neighbour,  or  paused  to open  the door for someone, or gave up your seat on the bus to an elderly person? If you have to stop to think, then it was too long ago.

Ian Gregory, the founder of the Polite Society, is the sort of person who does it every day and thinks that the world would be a better place if we all did the same. What we need, he says, is a touch more courtesy. Our society is full of rude, inconsiderate and selfish people who wouldn’t give you the time of day even if your life depended on it. He’s absolutely right, of course, but isn’t that “a sign of the times”? Well,  he  thinks there is  something  that  is  going  wrong  with  the  way  we  live  our  lives  and  interact  with one another, especially  on  the  roads,  where  an  estimated  47  per  cent  of  accidents  can  be  traced  back  to some act of discourtesy.
There is nothing that legislation can do about this; there’s nothing that money can do about it either. You can’t impose a personality on a nation and say: “Well, let’s all be nicer to one another”. But the only way you  are going  to  get  anything  effective  done  about  it  is  if  you  persuade  enough  people  that  they  can  be happier, more successful individuals if they are more considerate to one another in their business, in their love lives, in their family lives, in everything.
You  see,  we  are  brilliant  at  discovering  things,  learning  how  to  use  computers,  etc.,  but  in  terms  of behaviour towards one another we are no better than cavemen.

PAU Galicia 2015 - Kirkland, the most desirable place to live in the USA

>Exámenes selectividad inglés Galicia resueltos

Kirkland,  in  Western  Seattle,  has  been  voted  the  most  desirable  place  to  live  in  the  United  States. Seattle’s  eastside  suburbs  are  a  pleasant  mass  of good  schools,  great  jobs  and  family-friendly neighborhoods. Kirkland has  all  that, while also offering  a unique, lively downtown on  the shores of Lake Washington.

From Kirkland’s beaches on the lake you can see the Seattle skyline, but there’s no need to go to the big city to have fun. Even on a weeknight, the downtown restaurants and sidewalks are full. “Kirkland is definitely a hotspot right now,” says Kristi Caggiano, 42, who moved to town 14 years ago. She lives near downtown with her husband, daughter and 10-year-old son, and says the family can walk to the market, local shops, pool and library. “The school system is fantastic,” Kristi says, “and we are going to send our daughter to a high school which is going to open right next to our house.” This is just one of several schools that will open in the near future. Her son’s elementary school has a well-attended  choir  program,  and  every  child  has  a  chance  to  take  swimming  lessons.  Also,  25%  of Kirkland’s total area is made up of parks. Some of these have sandy beaches and attractions for kids. 

“There’s always something to do,” says Caggiano. Residents report that Kirkland’s proximity to Google and Microsoft offices is attracting a lot more young  people  and  families.  Google  now  employs  about  800  people,  and  has  announced  plans  to double the size of its Kirkland offices by 2016. The town is seeing many other new business start-ups.

The  good  job  market  means  reasonably-priced housing is in short supply. “It’s a problem we are hoping to solve soon, but we’re not there yet,” says real estate agent Brenda Nunes. A three-bedroom home averages $440,000. 

Better ways to learn- PAU 2016 inglés Madrid resuelto

>Exámenes selectividad inglés resueltos C. Madrid

New studies challenge the notion that a high test score equals true learning. Although a good grade may be achieved in the short term by cramming for an exam, chances are that most of the information will be quickly lost. Indeed, these surveys show that over 70 % of students probably don’t need to study more – just more effectively.

Based on decades of brain science, experts offer students a new method for learning. “Students tend to sit there and push themselves for hours, when there are other ways to make the learning more efficient, fun and interesting, which will maximize their learning potential,” researchers say. For instance, rather than sitting at the same desk studying for hours, changing the scenery will create new associations in your brain and make it easier to recall information later. Another way to signal to your brain that information is important is to talk about it. Self-testing and writing down information on flashcards also reinforces learning.

Another technique is called “distributed learning” or “spacing”. Long study sessions may seem productive, but chances are that learners are spending most of their brainpower on maintaining their concentration for a long time. That does not leave a lot of brain energy for learning. “The brain wants variation. It wants to move, it wants to take periodic breaks.” Scientists also confirm that repeating the information over a longer interval – say a few days or a week later, rather than in rapid succession – sends a stronger signal to the brain to retain the information, and this enhances learning.

Safe swimming - PAU 2015 Andalucía

>Exámenes selectividad inglés resueltos Andalucía

When the summer holidays arrive, what could be nicer than a day at the seaside? Or perhaps you plan to lie by the pool, or try a bit of river or canal boating. The water looks so sparkling and inviting that it is easy to forget it can also be a deadly hazard.

According to the Swimming Teachers Association (STA), the tragic fact is that 400 people drown every year in the UK. Lives could be saved if more people knew the basics of safe swimming. According to the STA, everyone needs to know five basic skills. 

First of all, we should all be able to float for one minute without a rubber ring or other support. In terms of distance, for safety you need to be able to swim a minimum of 25 metres without stopping. This is the length of a standard swimming pool. You need the ability to turn over from your front on to your back in case you get tired in the water and have to wait for help. For safety, you should also be able to exit the pool without a ladder. And it is important to learn how to enter the water safely, make a turn, and get out of the water again. 

It is never too late to learn, and age is no barrier. For most of us, swimming is excellent for the heart, lungs, muscles and joints. Even if you have a disability, you can learn to swim. A properly trained swimming teacher can work with your abilities, and find ways to help you stay safe while you enjoy all the health benefits of swimming –and all the fun!

Tattoos - PAU 2015 inglés Andalucía resuelto

>Exámenes selectividad inglés resueltos Andalucía

The discovery of mummies with very simple decorative tattoos has proved the existence of tattooing since prehistoric times. Scientists have not been able to explain the symbolism of these designs made up of lines and dots, but it is thought they were part of a medical healing process.

However, for nearly as long as there has been tattooing, there has been condemnation. The Romans used tattoos to mark slaves and criminals and the Japanese also considered them punishment. If you were a convicted criminal, you would get a mark on your forehead, convicted twice get another, and if you were convicted a third time, you would receive a third and final mark making the Japanese symbol for “dog”.

In some other societies, tattoos gained respect and assured the owners status for life. The Polynesians developed them to mark rank, and there is evidence that the Incas tattooed their warriors to remind them and others of their success and bravery in battle.

In the late 1700s, Captain Cook and his men reintroduced tattooing in Europe. Returning from one of his trips, he brought a heavily tattooed Polynesian man who was a sensation among London upper-class. They were so fascinated that they began adorning themselves with body marks in discreet places and, for a short time, tattooing became a trend.

After World War II, tattoos had a terrible reputation because newspapers reported stories of blood poisoning and other diseases and the people who wore them were associated with delinquents. Today they are becoming so popular that it is getting harder and harder to find individuals without a tattoo. This rise in popularity has placed tattooists in the category of “fine artists”.

Une alternative au plastique . PAU francés 2015

Exámenes selectividad francés resueltos Andalucía

Une société bretonne a développé un matériau mi-algue mi-plastique sans composés toxiques. De quoi fabriquer des objets variés, parmi lesquels des jouets de plage plus respectueux de l’environnement.

Les algues sont bien présentes dans l’alimentation moderne, mais elles sont également au coeur d’autres recherches. Outre les cosmétiques et les biocarburants aux algues, on étudie toutes leurs propriétés. Passionné par le potentiel de l’algue, un ingénieur breton, Rémy Lucas, imagine des solutions pour proposer une alternative plus écologique et naturelle aux plastiques. C’est ainsi que la société française, basée à Saint-Malo, en Bretagne du Nord, a développé Algoblend, un plastique dérivé des algues. La matière ainsi créée se présente en granules et peut être colorée. Les feuilles peuvent également être utilisées pour fabriquer de nombreux objets y compris pour des emballages alimentaires (barquettes par exemple). Les usages sont multiples: montures de lunettes, étuis, supports, cagettes de légumes, emballages, etc. Pour réduire la pollution des plastiques dans la mer, le « plastique » ainsi créé est 100% issu de déchets industriels d’algues brunes. La matière est compostable et biodégradable : une fois l’objet inutile, l’algue peut donc fertiliser la terre. Parmi les usages, on peut ainsi créer des objets destinés à la plage, comme les pelles et seaux pour les enfants.

www.consoglobe.com 14.07.2014

Malala Yousafzai . PAU francés 2015

Exámenes selectividad francés resueltos Andalucía

Le 11 octobre, c'est la Journée Internationale des filles. Car dans de nombreux pays, les filles sont moins bien traitées que les garçons. Eux, ils ont des droits qui sont refusés aux filles. Elles, elles sont moins nourries, mariées de force, victimes de violences, privées de soins... et d'école. On estime à 65 millions le nombre de filles qui n'ont pas le droit d'aller en classe sur la planète. Au Pakistan (Asie), une adolescente lutte depuis ses 11 ans pour défendre l'éducation des filles : Malala Yousafzai. Le 9 octobre 2012, elle a failli mourir après une attaque des talibans. Pour eux, les filles n'ont pas besoin d'être éduquées. Grièvement blessée à la tête, elle est restée dans le coma plusieurs jours. Malala a été soignée en Angleterre, où elle vit désormais. Depuis, elle est devenue le symbole mondial de la lutte pour les droits et l'éducation des filles. Elle vient de recevoir le Prix Nobel de la Paix, une récompense très importante, qui va porter sa voix et son combat encore plus haut. Rien d'autre n'est important pour elle que l'accès à l'éducation des femmes et à leurs droits élémentaires. Son père et sa mère voulaient qu’elle devienne médecin, mais elle a commencé à se battre pour ses droits et les droits des autres filles. Et depuis, elle a abandonné le rêve de devenir docteur. Elle a décidé d'entrer en politique et de travailler pour les gens de sa région et de son pays. C'est son rêve maintenant de devenir une femme politique, pour mieux les servir.

JDE 10.10.2014 (texte adapté)

Use or abuse of technology - PAU inglés 2015 Madrid resuelto

>Exámenes selectividad inglés resueltos C. Madrid

People in Britain now spend more time watching TV, gaming, and using their mobile phones and computers than they do sleeping. Research by a British communications agency found that the average UK adult uses technology for eight hours and 41 minutes a day, 20 minutes longer than they spend sleeping. One of the biggest reasons for this is Wi-Fi. People can get online almost anywhere, so they spend more time online. Nowadays, it is very common that people make telephone calls or surf the web while watching television.

The study, which examined the use of technology by different age groups, also found that six-year-olds understand how to use gadgets such as tablets and mobile phones at the same level as 45-year-olds. Another finding was that people understand digital technology better when they are 14 or 15.

According to Dr. Arthur Cassidy, a social media psychologist, technology is changing the way people communicate with each other. He warned that we are becoming more and more anti-social and we are moving away from face-to-face conversations because of technology. He added that people are now saturated with digital technology and are becoming psychologically dependent on their smart phones.

Dr. Cassidy linked the increasing cases of Internet and social media addiction among youngsters with problems in mental and physical development. Perhaps we should think of recreational screen time as a form of consumption in the same way that we think of sugar, hours of sun, ... – measured in units of hours per day.

Password pressure - PAU inglés 2015

>Exámenes selectividad inglés País Vasco resueltos

Nothing is more annoying than sitting at a computer screen, looking at a message saying “Password incorrect”. Modern technology is a wonderful thing, but when it crosses the line that divides helpful from annoying it can become a problem. Whether we like it or not, much of our daily life is now conducted online. As a result, we have many internet accounts and we need to remember a large number of passwords and usernames to gain access to them.

The password pressure of modern life means that 61% of us use the same password wherever we can. In fact, one in 10 people have 50 or more online accounts and many are not only using the same password for everything, but also writing down all their passwords in one place, such as a Post-it note stuck to their computer.

Some personal data, such as your mother’s name, might seem hard to decipher but if someone has any information about you, it may be easy to guess. However, this doesn’t mean you have to remember 50 completely nonsensical things.

The same password can be used for low-security accounts, such as discussion groups, but if the account is more important your password should be more complex.Never use standard dictionary words. Criminals use software that can go through every word in the dictionary and try them out as passwords in seconds. For more security, try mixing letters with numbers and punctuation. And the longer the password, the better it is in terms of security. Many sites ask for a “minimum six characters”, but you don’t need to stop there. Think of a memorable phrase, take the spaces out, or use the first letter of each word.

According to the Microsoft website, it’s not necessarily bad to write your password down —a piece of paper is harder for a criminal to hack than something on your computer, as long as it is carefully protected. So hide your password or disguise it. And never write "My internet password" at the top of the page.

Words on trial - PAU Murcia 2015

>Exámenes selectividad Murcia inglés resueltos

January 2009. Chris Coleman began telling friends and associates that he was worried about the safety (1) of his family. He had been receiving death threats (2) by email, which also mentioned his wife and his sons. Coleman asked his neighbor across the street, a police officer, to set a security camera on the front of his house.

May 2009. Coleman left his home early to work out (3) at the gym. Later on, when he called his wife and got no answer, he asked his neighbor the policeman to check on her. The officer found a horrifying scene. Red graffiti —“Fuck you” and “U have paid!”— was scrawled1 on the walls and on the sheets of the beds in which Coleman’s wife and kids lay strangled to death. Although a back window was open —suggesting that someone had entered the house out of view of the camera—, the police quickly came to suspect Coleman himself, as they found out that he was having an affair (4) with a cocktail waitress.

However, his DNA2 was not found anywhere that would connect him directly to the crime. At the trial, experts showed that some of the threatening e-mails had been sent from Coleman’s computer, but they couldn’t prove it hadn’t been hacked. They could demonstrate Coleman had bought a can of red spray paint months before, but they couldn’t link him to the can used in the crime. Toward the end of the trial, prosecutors3 asked for the testimony of Dr. Robert Leonard, a forensic linguist who, relying on (5) word choice and spelling largely, suggested that the same person had written the threatening e-mails and sprayed the graffiti, and that those specimens4 were similar to Coleman’s prose style.

• 1 Scrawl: Garabatear 
• 2 DNA: ADN 
• 3 Prosecutor: Fiscal 
• 4 Specimens: Muestras

Student raises over £21,000 for homeless man who offered her money - PAU inglés 2015

>Exámenes selectividad inglés País Vasco resueltos

Dominique Harrison-Bentzen, a 22-year-old student of art at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, had lost her purse and needed to get home after a night out when a homeless man known only as Robbie approached her. He insisted that she should take his last £3 so that she could get a taxi home safely. She declined the offer, but was so grateful for his gesture that she started a campaign to raise enough money to help him get a flat. She set up a donation page and asked people to donate £3 each for her fundraiser.
“I was touched by such a kind gesture from a man who faces prejudice every day. He has been homeless for 7 months through no fault of his own and needs to get back on his feet but cannot get work due to having no permanent place to live. So that’s when I decided to change Robbie’s life and help him,” Dominique explains on her donation page.
The campaign has received global attention and has become very popular by spreading rapidly on social media. Since the fundraising page was set up, it has frequently reported technical difficulties due to an unusually high number of visitors. Many have tweeted their support, including Ian Brown of the Stone Roses.
Dominique says the money will be used to find a home for Robbie and help other homeless people in the city. In fact, with Robbie’s agreement, she wants to help as many people without shelter as she can. Robbie has already suggested some local charities within Preston who have helped not only him but others throughout their adversity.
“The next few days will be spent carefully deciding where to donate the money and how it can be used in the most efficient way to benefit the homeless community within Preston,” she says on her Facebook page.