Modelos de Exámenes de Inglés Resueltos: Comprensión Lectora y Gramática

Texto 1: Fashion and Modelling

1. Reading Comprehension & Main Idea

A good title would be “My Life in the World of Fashion”, because Claire talks about her experience in the business of fashion, specifically in modelling clothes and doing castings.

2. Vocabulary and Synonyms

• a) I made up my mind / made a decision to begin to work in it full-time.
• b) They are quite fond of / enthusiastic about / excited about show business / They like show business quite a lot.

3. Grammar and Sentence Transformation

• a) She asked: “Have you ever thought of modelling?”
• b) I have always wished / wanted to be rich and famous.

4. Open Questions

• a) Claire’s parents would have been happier if she had chosen to stay at school and go to university so that she could become a clothes designer when she finished, instead of becoming a model.
• b) She likes most things about modelling, but she explains that she has to work very hard, get up early, do a lot of exercise, and be very careful about her diet. She also believes that some of the male models are extremely vain.

Texto 2: Marriage and Family Life in Britain

1. Reading Comprehension & Summary

In Britain, there are more divorces than before and fewer marriages. These days, people live together instead of getting married, and modern families are different from traditional ones. Usually, the woman asks for a divorce rather than the man, often because her husband’s behaviour is cruel or unreasonable.

2. Lexical Exercises

• a) There are fewer and fewer marriages these days.
• b) More women than men apply for / demand a divorce.

3. Rephrasing and Grammar

• a) There are so many divorces in Britain that many young people simply prefer to live together.
• b) He advised her to get a divorce if she was unhappy with her husband.
• c) Women will not tolerate as much as they used to.
• d) Women often ask for a divorce because their husbands are unreasonable or cruel.

4. Development Questions

• a) The traditional family is in crisis in Britain because not as many people get married as before, and also because people do not keep their vows when they marry. They increasingly prefer cohabitation.
• b) Women file for divorce more frequently than men because they refuse to tolerate their husbands’ cruel and unreasonable behaviour as much as previous generations did.

Texto 3: Overcoming the Fear of Flying

1. General Comprehension

Many people are afraid of flying, and some are even terrified. However, this phobia can be managed by attending specialized seminars, such as Mr Yaffe’s course, where participants learn to relax and reduce their stress and anxiety. They watch educational videos, participate in group discussions, use flight simulators, and learn how aviation actually works.

2. Vocabulary

• a) When people are afraid of flying in aeroplanes.
• b) To stop being / feeling anxious.

3. Sentence Rephrasing

• a) A fear of flying can be controlled.
• b) Mr Yaffe stated that when people signed up for the course, they were sent a comprehensive book about flying.
• c) For some people, the prospect of flying is so terrifying that they cannot set foot on a plane.
• d) Special “air anxiety” seminars are organized regularly.

4. Open Answers

• a) People can control their fear of flying by attending a specialized training course where they read literature and listen to audio recordings on relaxation techniques and flight stress management. They discuss their fears in support groups, attend lectures on aviation safety, watch instructional videos, and practice in a realistic flight simulator. In addition, they visit a real airport and an air traffic control tower to observe planes taking off and landing.
• b) People attend these seminars because they genuinely wish to travel by plane. Instead of staying at home or enduring severe distress, they choose to actively overcome their phobia.

Texto 4: The World's Funniest Joke Experiment

1. Summary

The text discusses a global research project that searched for the world's funniest joke. One of the top-rated entries featured Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. While certain jokes enjoy global appeal, preferences vary widely between genders and across geographical regions such as Britain, continental Europe, and North America.

2. Key Terms

• a) Experiment
• b) Variations
• c) Tent
• d) Universal

3. Grammar & Reported Speech

• a) “I have found the funniest joke in the world,” said Wiseman.
• b) People particularly enjoyed jokes regarding the relationship between men and women.
• c) Americans’ and Canadians’ favourite jokes typically involve making somebody look foolish.
• d) In order to identify the world’s most popular joke, Chris Wiseman conducted a scientific experiment.

4. Personal Opinion & Facts

• a) Humour is highly subjective: British and Australian audiences often favour wordplay and puns. In Spain, regional humour frequently revolves around stereotypes from Catalonia, Andalusia, or Galicia. Personal tastes also differ; some people dislike crude or bathroom humour and prefer witty performances found in comedy programmes such as “El club del chiste”, where the delivery and clever writing stand out.
• b) The experiment was an undeniable success: thousands of participants submitted jokes, nearly two million votes were cast, and the televised broadcast revealing the winning joke attracted an audience of millions.