March, 27th 2017 - B2

Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Jaén

English B2
2017

Este examen de nivel está acreditado por la Dirección de Evaluación y Acreditación de la

Agencia Andaluza del Conocimiento de la Junta de Andalucía.

This exam has been accredited by the Quality Agency of the Government of Andalusia.

DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

This exam contains three parts:

1. Listening: 40 minutes
Exercise A (6 questions)
Exercise B (9 questions)
Exercise C (6 questions)

2. Reading: 70 minutes
Exercise A (4 questions)
Exercise B (7 questions)
Exercise B (9 questions)

3. Writing: 90 minutes
Exercise A (125-135 words)
Exercise B (175-185 words)

Remember:

◎ You must write all your answers on the answer sheet.

◎ Use a pencil for parts 1 and 2 and a pen for part 3.
◎ Mark only one answer per question.
◎ There will be a 15-minute break between parts 2 and 3.
 March, 27th 2017 - B2

Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Jaén

English B2
2017

Este examen de nivel está acreditado por la Dirección de Evaluación y Acreditación de la

Agencia Andaluza del Conocimiento de la Junta de Andalucía.

This exam has been accredited by the Quality Agency of the Government of Andalusia.

SURNAME, NAME: ID/PASSPORT:

LISTENING

You have approximately 40 minutes to complete the following part of the exam. This part of the
exam contains THREE exercises. You will listen to each passage two times and you will be
allowed enough time between each repetition to read and answer the questions. No transfer
time is given.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THIS TEST
Listening Exercise A

You are studying the third year of English Philology at Northumbria University, in Newcastle.
Today you are attending your first lesson of the subject Language and Culture. Listen to your
lecturer, Carol Sanders, and answer the questions below.

Read questions 1-6 and choose the correct answer (A, B or C) for each one of them. We have
prepared one example (0) to help you.

0. At the beginning, Carol Sanders says that she would like to speak about
A. cultural differences between Britain and Spain.
B. foreign languages in Britain and Spain.
C. her teaching years in Britain and Spain.

TURN TO PAGE 2 TO READ QUESTIONS 1-6.

page 1 of 4
1. According to the speaker, many institutions have concluded that
A. funds for universities are insufficient.
B. learning a language is not necessary for all students.
C. there are too many students in higher education centers.

2. Mrs. Sanders says that thirty years ago

A. she began to work at language teaching.
B. she belonged to a group that witnessed the creation of language centers.
C. there were no language centers set up in Britain.

3. England has lost

A. masters in biochemistry.
B. specialists in foreign languages.
C. students from German and French universities.

4. Translation and Interpreting degrees are

A. more popular among undergraduate than among postgraduates
B. not very popular any more.
C. still attractive to students.

5. The expansion of education has

A. created quite an elitist university system.
B. made access to universities less expensive.
C. often increased the average number of students per class.

6. Changes have influenced the school system in Britain negatively because

A. languages have to fight against other subjects.
B. most language programs last longer than five years.
C. subjects like Geography and History have become very difficult.

page 2 of 4
 Listening Exercise B

After finishing your degree in Environmental Sciences, you have decided to prepare to become
a technician for the Environment Ministry of Spain. For one of these exams you have to answer
some questions about a lecture on climate change.

Listen to the recording and match the consequences of climate change below (1-9) to the
problems that they are connected to (A-D). We have prepared one example (0) to help you.

0. Are a problem principally in southern Europe and the Mediterranean

1. Are known to cause stress

2. Can have an impact on allergies
3. Can have a positive impact
4. Damaged medical tools
5. Make soil useless for agriculture
6. May cost up to €150 billion
7. May force some species to migrate
8. Present problems for electricity supplies
9. Were suffered by +2.5 million people in 2014

A. Heatwaves C. Forest Fires

0. Are a problem principally in southern

Europe and the Mediterranean

B. Floods D. Season Change

page 3 of 4
 Listening Exercise C

After finishing your degree in Journalism, you obtain a job in the radio program Fallo de Sistema
in RTVE. Since you have a B2 degree in English, one of your first tasks as a journalist in this
radio program is to interview Mr. Shahid Ahmad, former Chief Executive Officer of Sony and
PlayStation. In this interview, Mr. Shahid Ahmad speaks about his new job as a mentor to
independent video game developers in Spain.

Listen to the interview with Mr. Shahid Ahmad and fill in the blanks of the summary below
(1-6) with ONE NOUN OR ADJECTIVE FROM THE RECORDING. We have prepared one
example to help you (0).

SUMMARY OF YOUR INTERVIEW WITH MR. SHAHID AHMAD

Mr. Shahid Ahmad started his professional career in 1992. After working in the
decades
business of video games for some (0) ______________ , he thought that it would be
a good idea to share some of his knowledge and experiences.

He considers that his experience is relevant because his age makes him a much
more rounded person with a real focus on the way in which (1) ______________
behave and interact with each other.

He goes on to say that it is possible to find (2) ______________ professionals all

around the world who share certain characteristics. In his opinion, it is the specific
(3) ______________ of the places where they work that can shape and nurture
differences among such professionals.

In this respect, he says that Spanish people have (4) ______________ lives. Mr. Sha-
hid thinks that work-life balance should allow people to enjoy their work and their
life, and that this balance is clear among the developers he has worked with in
Spain over the years. In his opinion, this aspect is linked with the interpretation that
different developers make of (5) ______________ . In the UK —he complains—
there is a one-dimensional view of such aspects, which he dislikes. From his point
of view, a (6) ______________ which considers happiness and satisfaction is more
important.

page 4 of 4
 March, 27th 2017 - B2

Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Jaén

English B2
2017

Este examen de nivel está acreditado por la Dirección de Evaluación y Acreditación de la

Agencia Andaluza del Conocimiento de la Junta de Andalucía.

This exam has been accredited by the Quality Agency of the Government of Andalusia.

SURNAME, NAME: ID/PASSPORT:

READING

You have 70 minutes to complete this part of the exam. It contains THREE exercises. No transfer
time is given. Use a pencil, not a pen. If you mark more than one answer per question, your
answer will be considered incorrect.

Reading Exercise A

You are studying in Italy because you obtained an Erasmus+ grant. You rented a students’
apartment whose air conditioning machine has just broken down. It is very hot in this part of
Italy and you have asked the owner of the flat to replace the machine. He has bought a new
machine but you were not in your apartment when the technician tried to install it and you have
decided to set it up yourself.

Read the extract from the Users’ Guide on page 2 and choose the correct letter (A, B, C or D)
for the different parts of the diagram (1-4) on page 3.

TURN TO PAGE 2 TO READ THE USERS’ GUIDE AND QUESTIONS 1-4.

page 1 of 11
 USERS’ GUIDE
CEALM©

PREPARE THE SET UP

Before you begin the installation, make sure that you read the instructions and that you have all
the necessary accessories. These are three separate pieces that should be found in a plastic bag
inside the Whirl J908-a box. If you lack any of them, contact your retailer.

The first important aspect is to choose the installation site of Whirl J908-a. For this, position the
air conditioning unit on a flat surface where the air outlet grilles cannot be obstructed. Position
the appliance at least 50 cm (19.7”) away from walls or obstacles.

AIR ExHAUST INSTALLATION

All Whirl J908-a units are equipped with an exhaust hose. One of the ends of the hose must be
screwed to the air exhaust outlet of the appliance and the other must be directed to the nearest
window. Do not connect the second end of the hose to other exhaust ducts (to a chimney, for
example) as this could lead to malfunction of the internal engine. If the hose must be curved on
its way to the window, you should follow the measurements given in the diagram.

All Whirl J908-a units (and some J90-b models) are also provided with an adjustable bracket
and an adapter, which can be found in the same plastic bag containing the exhaust hose. If you
have a sliding window, position the adjustable bracket in the window frame, extend it comple-
tely and then close the window onto it. Now fit the second end of the hose onto the hole of the
bracket through the adapter as shown in the picture.

CONDENSATION DRAINAGE
When the air conditioning unit is operating in air conditioning or dehumidifying mode, the con-
densation is collected in the drainage tank placed at the bottom part of the appliance. When
the tank is full, the “tank full” indicator light on the control panel flashes. Remove the drainage
tank, empty and replace on the unit as shown in the figures.

All Whirl J908-a units also offer the possibility of continuous condensation drainage. To prepare
the appliance for continuous drainage remove the cap from the plastic drainage tube before
connecting it to an external pipe. Allow enough space between the tube and the wheels to avoid
drainage obstruction.

0. A. accessories B. box C. instructions D. retailer

1. A. chimney B. flat surface C. outlet grilles D. wall

2. A. appliance B. exhaust hose C. internal engine D. window frame
3. A. appliance B. dehumidifying mode C. drainage tank D. indicator light
4. A. cap B. drainage tube C. external pipe D. wheels

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 0
3.
Pagina 11

❶
➪ n

212

➪
❷

❸
➪

plastic tube

cap
❹

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 Reading Exercise B

You are studying a Master’s Degree on Criminal Law at Lancaster University, England. One of
your professors has asked you to analyze and discuss in class the content of www.parentifo.org,
a website maintained by the British Police providing high-quality information to parents and
carers about how their children can stay safe online.

You have chosen to analyze the article below, which describes a popular video game. Read the
text on pages 4 and 5 and answer questions 1-7 on page 7 by choosing the corrept option (A,
B or C). We have prepared one example (0) to help you.

www.parentinfo.org ©

Minecraft is often described as a ‘sandbox game’. This means that it’s a virtual land where users
can create their own worlds and experiences, using building blocks, resources discovered on
the site and their own creativity.

The game is available on multiple platforms. You can play on a computer, smartphone, tablet,
xbox or PlayStation. It is growing in popularity day by day, especially among primary-aged
children.

WHY IS IT SO POPULAR?
Since its release in 2009, Minecraft has quickly become one of the most popular games in the
world. As an independent game built by a very small team, Minecraft’s success isn’t down to
massive resources or a carefully planned advertising strategy. So what explains its popularity
with children?

Minecraft has been described as a game with no rules. It doesn’t come with a set of instructions,
or a stated objective – players can build and explore however they want. It’s often compared to
virtual Lego.

This means that Minecraft fans have a lot of flexibility in terms of how they play. Users can
recreate an existing fantasy world or build a new one from scratch, they can fight villains and
seek adventure, and they can play alone or with friends. It can also be played at any level. In a
lot of popular games, you need a certain amount of skill to move on to the next challenge. This
can be frustrating for young kids who don’t always have the abilities or unrestricted time required
to make real progress in a game. In Minecraft, children can create their own adventures at any
level of play.

page 4 of 11
WHAT ARE THE AGE RESTRICTIONS?
Minecraft guidelines say that you need to be 13 to play. This minimum age is down to American
privacy legislation, which states that websites collecting information from children must get
permission from their parents. Many popular websites set over-13 age limits so that they don't
have to comply with this legislation.

If you have a child under the age of 13, you may have decided to allow them to play Minecraft.
If this is the case, it is a term and condition of the site which is being broken, not UK law.

IS MINECRAFT HELPING MY CHILD LEARN ANYTHING?

Minecraft’s focus on creatively building and exploring could help children build their
problem-solving, planning and organisation skills. And kids who play with their friends might
find it improves their ability to work as a team. Some parents of children with autism have
credited the game with improving their children’s social skills and communication abilities
–there is even a Minecraft server specifically for young people with autism and ADHD
(Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

Minecraft is catching on in schools as well. Students at Stackpole VC School, in Pembrokeshire,

for instance, used Minecraft to build an accurate scale model of their school. It’s also been used
to teach kids about programming, ICT and maths. And minecraftedu.com exists to provide tea-
chers with a version of the game for use in lessons.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE?

If your child is already playing Minecraft, they are your best teacher. They love teaching their
parents something new. Take an interest, sit and play with them. If you have concerns about
risks on Minecraft, see our article, Staying safe on Minecraft.

TURN TO PAGE 7 TO READ QUESTIONS 1-7.

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BLANK PAGE

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0. According to the text, Minecraft is a video game
A. especially recommended for primary-aged children who need to improve their creativity.
B. in which users create virtual worlds through building blocks on different platforms.
C. of the “sandbox” type, originally developed for xbox and PlayStation.

1. Minecraft became famous

A. thanks to the massive resources used in its production.
B. through a carefully planned advertising strategy.
C. very rapidly after its release.

2. Minecraft
A. comes with a virtual user guide.
B. is based on pre-established goals.
C. lacks explicit rules to be followed.

3. In Minecraft you
A. can create fantasy worlds even if you are an unskilled player.
B. need a certain amount of skill to proceed to the next challenge.
C. must have a lot of time to make any advance.

4. According to what the text describes, children under 13 can play Minecraft
A. in the UK.
B. only in America.
C. worldwide.

5. This video game

A. can help children in their own personal development.
B. has been funded by the parents of children with social problems.
C. was designed for children with autism and ADHD.

6. According to the text,

A. some students of Stackpole VC School study Minecraft as a subject.
B. there is an educational platform for teachers who use Minecraft.
C. Minecraft is replacing the teaching of programming, ICT and maths in some schools.

7. The last paragraph of the text recommends parents to

A. be concerned about risks on Minecraft.
B. play the game.
C. teach their children how to play something new.

page 7 of 11
 Reading Exercise C

You are studying the second year of Biology at the University of Jaén. You have to prepare a
class presentation for the subject Zoology. You have chosen to describe ornithology (i.e. the
study of birds) in Andalucía to your partners. You have found one interesting article about this
topic in a local magazine and you want to use it for your presentation.

Read the text below and say if sentences 1-9 are true (V in your answer sheet) or false (F in your
answer sheet), and copy the FOUR FIRST WORDS OF THE SENTENCE that justify your answer.
Remember that sentences start after stops (.) and that words like “he’s” or numbers count as one
single word. We have prepared one example (0) to help you.

Andalucía, a paradise for birders

www.surinenglish.com ©

As Andalucía is giving an impulse to tourism sectors different from the traditional sun, sea and
sand offer that its name inspires, town halls and organisations across the region are also changing
their traditional approach to it. The Andalusian Bird Society (ABS) is no exception. They describe
it as “the caminito effect,” suggesting that alternative tourism has taken off since the reopening
of the Caminito del Rey and believe it will be good for business.

Among their 2,400 members there are people from all across Europe and even the world.
‘Birders’ come to visit the area from distant countries like Canada at particular times of year and
specifically to attend the ABS field trips. “It’s good for birders because in one day you can get
to see up to 100 different species,” says Derek Etherton, editor of ABS’s quarterly members’
magazine, Birds of Andalucía.

ORIGINS
The ABS was founded in 2008 by Peter Jones and his Dutch colleague, Pieter Vierheij. They
were members of the Spanish Ornithological Society and found that many would-be birders
living in the area were not going to meetings as they didn’t speak Spanish. And so, in 2008 they
set up an English-speaking version: the ABS. Since then it has grown into possibly one of the
region’s biggest foreign-language groups, with an excellent website, the aforementioned
magazine and monthly field trips.

Around 75 per cent of ABS’s members are originally from the UK, with an even balance of
permanent residents in Andalucía and those who spend part of the year here. The remaining 25
per cent are from other parts of Europe, including Spain, with a few people from outside the
continent. In fact, the current president, Alfredo Carrasco, is Spanish, as is Luis Alberto
Rodríguez, a full-time bird guide accredited by the Junta de Andalucía. In its mission statement,
ABS is clear to point out that while its primary aim is to attract foreign residents and visitors
who don’t speak the language, it also welcomes Spanish birders and cooperation with Spanish
organisations and projects.
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LOCAL PROJECTS
In fact, the ABS has recently officially adopted the La Covacha conservation project. The project
aims to recover and conserve the biodiversity of this old salt pan in the Bahía de Cádiz natural
park.

ABS holds at least one field meeting per month, although recently it has gone up to two due to
the increasing popularity of meetings. Between 30 and 40 members attend each one and, as
well as the bird-watching, committee members Derek Etherton and Jerry Laycock say that there
is an important social side too.

“Everyone is welcome,” they say, adding that expert knowledge is less important than enthusiasm
and a decent pair of binoculars. “There are always between two and five top birders to help,”
says Derek.

INDIGENOUS SPECIES
The field trips cover all corners of Andalucía. Consequently, the meetings provide the
opportunity to see parts of the region that may not otherwise be included on the tourist trail.
On a good day, it is possible to spot up to 100 species, ranging from the 200 or more indigenous
birds of Andalucía to the vast numbers of migratory birds that can be seen on their way over
Andalucía, particularly in spring and autumn.

The society says that Cabo de Gata, in Almería, is the only place on mainland Europe where
the trumpeter, a small brown songbird, can also be seen. Along with this, many other birds can
be spotted during the migratory seasons, and Tarifa is the best place to see them due to the short
distance that they have to fly between Europe and Africa at this particular geographical point.

This year in April, Tarifa should provide spectacular sights, say Jerry and Derek. However, 2017
apparently doesn’t look promising for flamingos at Fuente de Piedra due to the lack of rain this
winter. They say that visitors may still be able to see common cranes, which are normally in
Fuente de Piedra until mid-March. They are best spotted during daylight hours at the opposite
end of the lake from the visitors’ centre.

ABS suggests the Montes de Málaga as the best place to find owls and short-tailed eagles, while
the Guadalhorce estuary boasts wintering fish eagles. Other popular spots for ABS members are
the Río Vélez, to the west of Vélez-Málaga, and Zafarraya. Although as Derek and Jerry say, “all
you need is water and bushes and you’ll find birds.”

To attend field trips you must be a member of ABS. Membership costs 25 euros per person per
year or joint membership is 30 euros, and this fee grants you the possibility of joining ABS’s
field trips as well as participating in the yearly photography contests organized by the
association.

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BLANK PAGE

page 10 of 11
0. Andalucía is encouraging alternative forms of tourism.

V F
0
As Andalucía is giving

Sentence 0 is true (V) and we have copied THE FOUR FIRST WORDS OF THE
SENTENCE that contains the justification, NOT THE EXACT WORDS THAT JUSTIFY IT.

1. Tourist organizations believe the Caminito del Rey is attracting more travellers.
2. Birders are attracted by the variety of wildlife that may be seen in Andalucía.
3. The ABS has become one of the largest Spanish-speaking ornithological
communities with plenty of resources.
4. Half of ABS UK members live permanently in Spain, while the other half only lives
in Spain temporarily.
5. The frequency of field trips has recently been reduced.
6. On average, birders spot 200 or more indigenous birds on a single trip.
7. ABS members get to see birds on their long intercontinental journeys.
8. Dry seasons may reduce the presence of certain birds in particular locations.
9. The annual fee for field trips is €25 and you have to pay €30 to participate in other activities.

page 11 of 11
 March, 27th 2017 - B2

Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Jaén

English B2
2017

Este examen de nivel está acreditado por la Dirección de Evaluación y Acreditación de la

Agencia Andaluza del Conocimiento de la Junta de Andalucía.

This exam has been accredited by the Quality Agency of the Government of Andalusia.

SURNAME, NAME: ID/PASSPORT:

WRITING

You have 90 minutes to complete this part of the exam. You must complete BOTH exercises. Do
not write on this paper sheet. Write on the separate answer sheet. Use a pen, not a pencil.

Writing Exercise A

You are planning to buy a pair of used sunglasses through eBay and you have seen some
interesting offers. The best offer is from an eBay user called nylania. You want to contact the user
and:

➡ ask about the type of defects of the glasses.

➡ make sure that the glasses are authentic.
➡ negotiate shipping costs.
➡ propose the payment method that you prefer.

With you own words, write a message in the right form developing all the previous points. Use
125-135 words.

page 1 of 2
 Writing Exercise B

In your English class, you have recently discussed the effects of new technologies in education.
Write a formal essay explaining the positve and negative impact of new technologies applied to
education. You must write between 175-185 words

➡ describing the good and bad aspects of technology in education.

➡ giving reasons and examples to support your point of view.
➡ suggesting how the negative aspects could be dealt with.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE

MARKING CRITERIA FOR THIS PART OF THE TEST

page 1 of 2
 March, 27th 2017 - B2

SPEAKING
English B2
2017
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
THE MARKING CRITERIA FOR
THIS PART OF THE TEST
PART 1 (2 minutes per candidate)

In this part of the speaking test, each candidate is asked different personal questions regarding their name,
occupation, hobbies, personal experiences, etc.) Candidates interact individually with the interviewer. Some
sample questions are:
Do you work or do you study? What do you like the best about your work/studies?
Have you ever been abroad? How was your experience?
Do you think English is important nowadays? Why?

PART 2 and 3 (2 minutes per candidate + question)

In this part of the speaking test, each candidate is asked to describe and compare two different pictures. See
the examples below. After each candidate has finished, the candidate that has remained silent is asked a
question about his partner’s intervention.

Sample images for candidate A - Why do you think the music is important for these groups of people?

Sample question for candidate B - Which type of music would you prefer to listen to?

PART 4 (maximum 5 minutes between the two candidates)

In this part of the speaking test, both candidates are presented with a problem or a situation which needs a
solution. Different alternatives are presented and candidates take it in turns to discuss as many alternatives as
possible to reach a final conclusion which may or may not entail agreement of candidates.

Images for candidates A and B - A local pub is trying to attract more customers. Which of these activities would attract more people?
 March, 27th 2017 - B2

Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Jaén

KEY TO LISTENING EXERCISES

EXERCISE A EXERCISE B EXERCISE B
1. B 1. B 1. people
2. B 2. D 2. creative
3. B 3. C 3. culture
4. C 4. B 4. vibrant
5. C 5. C 5. success
6. A 6. A 6. metric
7. D
8. A
9. B

KEY TO READING EXERCISES

EXERCISE A EXERCISE B EXERCISE C

1. C 1. C 1. True — They describe it as
2. B 2. C 2. True — It’s good for birders
3. C 3. A 3. False — Since then it has
4. A 4. A 4. True — Around 75 per cent
5. A 5. False — ABS holds at least
6. B 6. False — On a good day
7. B 7. True — On a good day OR Along with this, many
8. True — However, 2017 apparently doesn’t
9. False — Membership costs 25 euros

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