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Junio 2004

Part A. Reading Comprehension

. Read the following text:

First born, middle or last-born?

Where do you come in your family? According to Frank Sulloway, a US sociologist, the

order in which we came into this world first-born, middle or last-born can not only help

shape our personality, it could affect the success of our relationships, too. Sulloway has

interviewed more than 6000 people over the past 26 years in an attempt to prove this

theory: Children compete for a place in the family, he says, and if one role has already

been taken, later-born children have to choose from whats left. Because first-borns

begin life with exclusive parental attention, they are often more open to accepting their

parents values, while later-born children, forced to compete for a place in the family, may

grow into rebellious adults.

So if birth order has such a significant impact on our behaviour, does it affect our

interaction with other people? Can we, for example, judge the suitability of our partners

by their birth order? Absolutely, says Sulloway, Birth order is an excellent way of telling

whether a relationship will survive. For example, a marriage betbween a typical first-born

husband, whos dominating and assertive, and a later-born wife who likes being lookedafter, is very likely to work out.

I. Answer the following questions using your own words: (2 points: 1 point each)

a. What do children have to do when a place in the family has already been taken?

b. Why does Sulloway believe that a marriage between a typical first born husband and a

later- born wife will probably be successful?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? (1 point: 05 point each)

a. Later-born children usually agree with their family values.

b. Birth order is a good way of knowing whether a relatioship will be successful or not.

III. Find a word or phrase in the text which, in context, is similar in meaning to:

(1 point: 05 point each)

a. Favourable result or achievementb. Companions

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IV. Choose a, b, c or d, in each question below. Only one choice is correct:

(2 points: 05 each)

1. The order in which we are born affects

a. both our personality and our relationships.

b. only our personality.

c. neither our personality nor our relationships.

2. Sulloway interviewed

a. more than 6000 people 26 years ago.

b. over 6000 people in 26 years.

c. more than 6000 people for over 26 years.

3. We know whether a partner is adequate for us

a. by his or her birth order.

b. by his star sign.

c. by being dominating and assertive.

4. A marriage between a first-born and a middle or last-born is

a. always successful.

b. never successful.

c. often successful.

Part B. Composition (100-150 words approximately). Choose one of the following

topics:

(4 points)

1. Do you think birth order has an influence on our behaviour?

2. Would you prefer to be an only child or to have brothers and sisters? Explain why.

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Septiembre 2004

Part A. Reading Comprehension.

Read the following text:

McDonalds boss dies suddenly

The Chief executive of McDonalds, the world largest fast-food chain, has died from a

suspected heart attack. Jim Cantalupo, 60, was taken ill during a meeting of franchise

owners in Orlando, Florida, the company said. His death is a severe blow to McDonalds at a

time when the chain is trying to shed its image as a supplier of high-fat, high-salt and

high-sugar food.

In his 16 months at the helm, MR Cantalupo turned the companys fortune round. As well

as slowing its breakneck expansion programme and closing hundreds of under-performing

outlets, he tried to to address criticism that McDonalds was contributing to the obesity

epidemic in the US and Europe. When Mr Cantalupo became chairman and chief executive

in January last year after a management shake-up, McDonalds was in the doldrums.

Changing tastes, the mad cow disease scare and the perception that its menu was tired

had hit sales, particularly in Europe and Asia. In December 2002, MacDonalds went into

the red for the first time in its 48-year history. Mr Cantalupo, a former vice-chairman andpresident, who had retired a year earlier, was brought back as the new boss.

The weekly Telegraph, Issue no. 666, p. 20.

I. Answer the following questions using your own words: (2 points: 1 point each)

a. What impression do people have about MacDonalds food?

b. What did Mr Cantalupo achieve in the 16 months he was in charge of McDonalds?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? (1 point: 05 point each)

a. Mr Cantalupo felt ill while meeting with French clients in Orlando.

b. Mr Cantalupo was already retired when he became McDonalds boss again.

III. Find a word or phrase in the text which, in context, is similar in meaning to:

(1 point: 05 point each)a. A group of shops or restaurants owned by the same company.

b. Provider.

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IV. Choose a, b, c or d, in each question below. Only one choice is correct:

(2 points: 05 each)

1. In order to save the company Mr Cantalupo tried to

a. promote the companys fast expansion.

b. defend the company from accusations of contributing to obesity.

c. change peoples tastes.

2. Mr Cantalupo

a. broke his neck in Orlando.

b. worked for the company for 48 years.

c. had been McDonalds president before.

3. McDonalds sales had declined specially in Europe and Asia due to

a. scare mad cows.

b. a change in peoples food preferences.

c. a change in Mcdonalds menu.

4. In December 2002 McDonalds

a. was in debt for the first time in its history.

b. was furious with Mr Cantalupo.

c. forced Mr Cantalupo to retire.

Part B. Composition (100-150 words approximately). Choose one of the following

topics:

(4 points)

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of fast food. Give reasons.

2. Do you think our eating habits affect our health? Explain why.