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Pau Inglés

The document outlines the structure and instructions for a practice examination in English, focusing on the topic of Esperanto as a constructed language. It includes a text discussing the advantages of learning Esperanto, such as its simplicity and the potential for easier acquisition of additional languages. The exam consists of various types of questions, including true/false statements, open-ended responses, vocabulary identification, sentence rephrasing, and a writing task.

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208 views

Pau Inglés

The document outlines the structure and instructions for a practice examination in English, focusing on the topic of Esperanto as a constructed language. It includes a text discussing the advantages of learning Esperanto, such as its simplicity and the potential for easier acquisition of additional languages. The exam consists of various types of questions, including true/false statements, open-ended responses, vocabulary identification, sentence rephrasing, and a writing task.

Uploaded by

teodorovakrastevayoana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PAU Practice Examination (Comunidad de Madrid)

INSTRUCCIONES GENERALES Y VALORACIÓN

Después de leer atentamente el texto y las cuestiones, responda EN INGLÉS a las cinco preguntas.
Las preguntas 1, 4 y 5 ofrecen optatividad: la pregunta 1 presenta 3 cuestiones para elegir 2, la pregunta 4
presenta 6 oraciones para elegir 4 y la pregunta 5 ofrece 2 opciones para elegir solo 1. En aquellos casos en
los que se conteste a más opciones de las pedidas, se corregirán solo aquellas que estén en primer lugar,
descartando el resto.
TIEMPO Y CALIFICACIÓN: 90 minutos. Las preguntas 1, 2 y 4 se calificarán sobre 2 puntos cada una,
la pregunta 3 sobre 1 punto y la pregunta 5 sobre 3 puntos.

A Language for All


The European Union has over 20 official languages, which results in an enormous amount of money being spent
every day on translations and interpreting. The Swiss economist François Grin was asked to look into this issue and
make suggestions. In 2005, he published a report which suggested the use of a “constructed language” – that is, an
artificial language which has been specially invented for the purpose of making communication easier. By far the
best-known constructed language is Esperanto.
Esperanto was invented in 1877 by L. L. Zamenhof, a Polish eye doctor. He was fascinated by the idea of a world
without war, and believed that this could happen with the help of an international language. Hoping to promote
harmony and peace between countries, Zamenhof’s aim was to make learning Esperanto as easy as possible, so its
vocabulary and grammar are straightforward.
Linguists estimate that Esperanto can be learned in 5%-25% of the time required to learn other languages. For
example, one study suggested that French school students would need to study English for 1,500 hours, but
Esperanto for only 150 hours, to attain the same level of proficiency. It has also been shown that learning Esperanto
makes it easier to learn a third language. In one study, a group of students learned Esperanto for one year and then
French for three years. At the end of the four years, they were significantly better at French than a control group
which had studied French for four years.
Despite all these good reasons for learning Esperanto, there are probably only between one to two thousand native
speakers of Esperanto – that is, people who have learned the language as small children from their Esperanto-
speaking parents. In contrast, there are about 400 million native English speakers and perhaps 1.1 billion people
speak it as a secondary language. The problem for Esperanto is one of co-ordination – it is an idea which can only
really work if a lot of people take it on simultaneously. It is pointless to learn Esperanto unless many other people
do as well. Zamenhof himself said that it might take “many centuries” for Esperanto to become a universal
language.

QUESTIONS

1. Indicate whether TWO of the following statements are True, False or the information is Not
Given in the text (T/F/NG). In true and false cases, copy the complete sentence that contains the
evidence which justifies your answer. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE.
a) François Grin spoke Esperanto in his free time.
b) Esperanto is the only known constructed language.
c) It doesn’t take a long time to learn Esperanto.
(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

IH-019-014 1/2
2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions.
Do not copy from the text.
a) What motivated Zamenhof in developing Esperanto?
b) What are the benefits of learning Esperanto?
(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

3. Find the words in the text that mean:


a) investigate or examine an issue (paragraph 1)
b) simple, easy to learn or follow (paragraph 2)
c) reach or succeed in achieving (paragraph 3)
d) having no purpose (paragraph 4)
(Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)

4. Answer FOUR questions (from a to f) of your choice.


Write a new sentence that has the same meaning as the one given. Use the word or expression in brackets.
Do not change the word(s) given.
a) Esperanto was invented in 1877 by a Polish eye doctor, Dr Zamenhof. (who)
b) It has also been shown that learning Esperanto makes it easier to learn a third language. (will be)
c) Francois Grin looked into this issue and in 2005, he published a report. (after)
d) “I won’t learn Esperanto at school,” said Annette. (refused)
Complete the following sentence to report what was said.
e) “How many languages did you speak at home?” he asked me.
He asked me … .
Rephrase the sentence beginning with the words given.
f) By far, the most universal constructed language is Esperanto.
No other … .
(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

5. Write between 150 to 200 words on ONE of the following questions.


a) Should foreign language studies be compulsory in school? Give reasons to explain your answer.
b) Write an informal e-mail to an English friend about an Esperanto course you have been attending.
Include reasons why you are doing it.
(Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)

PAU Madrid_A Language For All 2/2

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