PAU
SAD
If you’ve been feeling depressed recently, this could be due to (1) the weather. Every
winter, a number of people (between 1 to 9 percent of the US population) suffer from a
condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or
the winter blues.
As days become shorter, many people experience mild “winter blues”, with symptoms
such as fatigue, a desire to eat more, and an increased vulnerability to infection. With
the coming (2) of spring, these symptoms disappear. But some people, 70 to 80% of
them women, are so affected by the lack of sunlight that they become unable to
function. They experience severe *disruptions in eating and sleeping patterns, mood
changes, extreme loss (3) of energy and depression.
SAD is not a new phenomenon. In the 6th century AD, symptoms of winter depression
among Scandinavians were noted (4) by a scholar called Jordanes. Even today, SAD is
most commonly found in locations further away from the equator and nearer to the
poles – up to 20% of Swedes may be affected. However, SAD was not diagnosed as a
medical condition until the mid-1980s.
No one is certain what causes the condition, but some researchers believe that SAD is
related to a disruption of our internal body clock. This “clock” controls the secretion of
hormones that affect our daily functioning. Without sufficient sunlight, the clock does
not reset itself. As a result, we may feel sleepy or hungry at inappropriate times, or
suffer from mood changes. Luckily, most sufferers respond to light therapy, which
involves exposure to super-bright light bulbs as a supplement (5) to weak winter sun.
These may be fitted inside a light-box, which is placed in front of the user, or in the
visor of a cap, which is worn by sufferers for half an hour a day.
*disruption: the interruption of normal activity
1. 1 punto/ 0.20 each
due to (1) and because of
coming (2) and arrival
loss (3) and reduction
noted (4) and identified
supplement (5) and addition
2. 1.5 puntos / 0.75 each
2.1 Symptoms of SAD can range from very mild to completely
incapacitating.
2.2 Our internal body clock needs a certain amount of sunlight
to reset itself
3. 2 puntos / 0.50 each
Se descuenta 0.25x errores graves o reproducción total
a) Mild “winter blues” are experienced by many people when winter
begins.
b) For some people, the lack of sunlight affects them so much that they
are unable to function.
c)Our daily functioning is affected by hormones controlled by our
internal body clock.
d) It is fortunate that light therapy can help most SAD sufferers
4. 1.5 puntos / 0.25 each
For many years, my mother .................(a) suffer ………… (b) winter blues.
Every year, she became very …………. (c) and ……………(d) not eat or
sleep well. But luckily, her doctor recognised that these were
symptoms of SAD and arranged for appropriate treatment. Now,
when winter begins, she receives light therapy for half an hour each
day and …………………………….(e), she can now function normally
throughout the winter ………………… (f).
(a) used to
(b) from
(c) depressed
(d)did / could
(e) consequently / as a result
(f) months
5. 2 puntos
28 words
People with SAD cannot eat or sleep as they normally do. They have mood
swings and feel very tired and depressed. They can be cured with light
therapy.
Esta pregunta evalúa el nivel de comprensión del texto.
La respuesta está en el texto. Debes utilizar de 25 a 50 palabras y no reproducir
palabras ni expresiones. La dificultad no está en localizar la pregunta, sino en
responderla adecuadamente. Hay que parafrasear.
Recomendaciones:
No respondas directamente Yes/No question
Nunca respondas específicamente al principio de tu respuesta en caso de ser
una Wh- question.
Where did Paul go when he finished his lunch?
To the pub
Para cualquier tipo de pregunta debes comenzar parafraseando la pregunta y
contestando a ella. A continuación puedes dar explicaciones o detalles de
la misma.
Does Jane enjoy exotic places?
According to the text, Jane does not like exotic places. (+ explicacion o
detalles)
Recuerda que NO DEBES REPRODUCIR PALABRAS O EXPRESIONES
DEL TEXTO, al menos aquellas que tengan un significado muy específico.
Apoya tu explicación en las siguientes expresiones.
•According to the text/author/writer/
•First/ly ,
•Secondly,
•Furthermore,
•In addition,
•Finally,
•In line three, paragraph two, the writer/author/text/says / remarks /
mentions..
•An example of this is….
•For example, / For instance
•As the writer remarks/points out in
THE WRITING PROCESS
Reason
Process
Why?
Reader?
Type of text?
Think of ideas
Make a plan
Write a draft
check
Content
Logical
Coherent
Relevant
The WRITING
PROCESS
Structure
•Opening
•Paragraphs
•Conclusion
Accuracy
Vocabulary
Idioms
Expressions
Formality
Grammar
Spelling
Punctuation
TEXTO DE OPINIÓN Opinion essay
Estructura
 1er párrafo: Introducción
Establece el tema y la opinión
de manera clara, sin ningún
tipo de razonamiento, eso
resérvalo para el desarrollo.
2º párrafo : Desarrollo.
apoya tu opinión con hechos,
ejemplos, y dando razones.
( Si el texto es largo, cada
una de estas ideas debería
ir en párrafos diferentes)
3er párrafo: Conclusión
Vuelve a expresar tu opinión.
Puedes ofrecer una solución
al problema planteado.
Estrategias
Escribe un borrador con las ideas u
opiniones que tengas sobre el tema.
Diseña tu propia frase de introducción,
que te puede servir para casi todas tus
composiciones de opinión.
Divide tu texto en párrafos, según la
estructura requerida.
Introduce tus opiniones con expresiones
adecuadas, sin caer en la repetición
( I think, I believe, etc)
 Usa conectores de causa,
de consecuencia, contraposición,
de añadir información, de orden,
de ejemplificación y de conclusión.
Let´s see some examples
Do you believe in the theory that aliens built Stonehenge?
Many people believe that aliens have influenced our civilization in the
past, and they claim that they may have helped us build places like
Stonehenge. However, I feel that nobody has proved that, and that´s
why I don´t agree with this theory.
Con esta frase
se establece
el tema
Introduzco mi opinión
con un conector, y
de manera clara
Conector de contraste,
ya que mi opinión es
diferente a la que refleja
la presentación.
Too much importance is given to taking exams at school. Do you agree?
Nowadays most teachers use exams to evaluate students´ progress. In my
opinion, this is the most effective way to know their pupils´ abilities.
Estoy de acuerdo con la frase de presentación y no uso conector de contraposición.
También puedo parafrasear la pregunta para establecer el tema:
Nowadays too much importance is given to taking exams at school.
In my opinion…….
O quizás no esté de acuerdo:
Nowadays most teachers use exams to evaluate students´ progress.
However , I believe this is not the most suitable way to know their
pupils´ abilities.
CONECTORES Y OTRAS EXPRESIONES ÚTILES
EXPRESIONES PARA PRESENTAR TEMAS
Nowadays many people hold strong views on this question. However,
there are good arguments for and against it (título del tema)
- Argumentativo
Nowadays many people hold strong views on this question. However,
there are many advantages and disadvantages about it (título del tema)
- Argumentativo
At present many countries are banning smoking in public places. However
ther are both advantages and disadvantages about it. - Argumentative
It is a well known fact that in some countries people are not allowed to
smoke in public places. I think that all goverments should adopt this law.
- Opinión
It is often said / claimed / asserted that people should not smoke
in public places.However I believe that everybody should be allowed to
smoke everywhere. - Opinión
For the great majority of people people should not smoke in public places.
I strongly agree with this because we must respect non-smokers.
- Opinion.
A problem that is often debated nowadays is that of people smoking in
public places. From my point of view, people should not smoke in those
places. - Opinion.
Todas las presentaciones de opinión pueden ser adaptadas para textos
argumentativos, cambiando la opinión personal por la coletilla:
However, there are both advantages and disadvantages about it (tema)
CONECTORES PARA INTRODUCIR OPINIONES
I (personally) think / I do not think that…
I (strongly) believe that…..
I feel / I don´t feel that…….
It seems to me that………
I agree / I do not agree that……..(+ oración)
with ….. (+ pronombre/nombre)
In my opinion / view
From my point of view
As I see it
As far as I am concerned
It is clear to me that
In conclusion,…
 To sum up…
In short,..
TEXTO ARGUMENTATIVO
Estructura
 1er párrafo: Introducción
Establece el tema general
de manera impersonal, sin dar
tu opinión, y dejando claro que
es un tema que tiene ventajas y
desventajas; o argumentos a
favor y en contra.
2º párrafo : Desarrollo.
Sin dar tu opinión, comenta las
ventajas y desventajas. Puedes
utilizar ejemplos, opiniones de
otros, pero siempre de una
manera razonada.(Podemos hacer
2 párrafos uno para las ventajas,
otro para desventajas)
3er párrafo: Conclusión
Comentario concluyente con
opinión personal.
FOR AND AGAINST ESSAY
Estrategia
s
Escribe un borrador
con las ventajas
y desventajas q encuentres. Busca el
equilibrio. Traza también lo que será tu
opinión personal.
Diseña tu propia frase de
introducción, que te puede servir para
casi todas tus composiciones argument.
Divide tu texto en párrafos, según la
estructura requerida.
Huye de conclusiones irrelevantes o
vacías de contenido.
Introduce tu opinión con expresiones
adecuadas, sin caer en la repetición
( I think, I believe, etc)
 Usa conectores de causa,
de consecuencia, contraposición,
de añadir información, de orden,
de ejemplificación y de conclusión.
Recuerda que para marcar el paso de
las ventajas a las desventajas debemos
utilizar un conector de contraposición.
oWhat are the advantages and disadvantages of free public transport?
oShould we legalize drugs? Arguments for and against it
oWhat are the arguments for and against banning smoking in public places?
Introducción/ Opening
Nowadays many people hold strong views about banning smoking in public places.
However, there are good arguments for and against.
Although many people think smoking in public places should not be allowed, there
Are both arguments for and against it.
In some countries, people are not allowed to smoke in public places. However,
Some people think that goverments should not ban it. There are arguments both
Against and in favour of banning smoking in public places.
Como podéis observar, en ninguna de ellas se da una opinión personal.
Desarrollo/ Body
There are several arguments in favour of banning smoking in public places.
Firstly, some people claim that they feel more comfortable and healthier if there
are not people smoking around them because they do not inhale the smoke of
other people´s cigarettes. In addition, children can not see people smoke, which
is really positive to prevent children from smoking in the future. On the other
hand, some smokers argue that goverments should let people smoke in public
areas because they think they are not damaging anybody but themselves. What´s
more, they feel that it would be an act of limiting freedom.
No se dan opiniones personales, sino argumentos razonados de otras personas que se oyen en
nuestra sociedad. Fijaos en los conectores que se usan para introducir argumentos de la misma
naturaleza (Firstly, In addition, What´s more) y aquellos
Para introducir argumentos contrarios (On the other hand)
Conclusión / Closing
In conclusion, banning smoking cigarettes in public places has advantages and
disadvantages . However, I believe that goverments should prohibit smoking
in public areas although that means a restriction of our freedom
El autor da una opinión clara y coherente sobre el tema. Aquí es donde debes dar tu
opinión sin olvidar el conector de conclusión y el de opinión.
PETS
Question nº 3
Phrases from the text
My phrases
a) People can lead a healthier, longer life by having a pet.
have a healthier life and live longer by having a pet
have health benefits
by owning a pet
reduce stress if they have a pet
improve their health by keeping a pet
b) Loyalty and attractive appearance are some characteristics of pets
c) In most western countries the two most popular pets have been cats
and dogs
the most popular pets are cats and dogs
the most common/usual pets are cats and dogs
d) A high percentage of pet owners with severe heart problems hadn´t died
who had critical heart problems, hadn´t
died.
with critical heart problems, hadn´t died
PETS
Question nº 5
5. According to the text, pets have been proved to be a source of health
for their owners. Can you summarize the main facts that support
this idea?
Step 0
Phrases from the text
“ There appears to be strong evidence that having a pet can help
a person lead a longer, healthier life. In a study of 92 people
with severe heart problems, within a year, 11 of the 29 without
pets had died, but only 3 of the 52 who had pets. A recent study
concluded that owning a pet can reduce the risk of a heart attack
by 2% and that pets are better than medication in reducing blood
pressure.
Step 1
•Linkers
•Parafrasear la pregunta
•Eliminar información repetida
•Las mismas estructuras con otras palabras
According to the information in the text, there are several facts that
support the idea that pets have been proved to be a source of health
for their owners. Firstly, in a research of 92 subjects with critical health
problems,
in a year, 11 of the 29 who had not a pet had died. However,
only 3 of the 59 who owned pets had died. (a low percentage of pet
ownners had died in a year ) Secondly, another review claimed that keeping
a pet could decrease the danger of a heart attack by 2%. Finally, the same
study also concluded that pets are more efficient than medication in order
to reduce blood pressure
Step 2 (Advanced)
Parafrasear
Síntesis/resumen
Explicación
According to the information in the text, there are several facts that
defend the notion that pets have been proved to be a source of health for
their owners. Two important studies demonstrate this. Firstly, 56 per cent
of pet owners reduce his danger of dying of a heart attack. Secondly,
other survey also claimed that keeping a pet could decrease that risk by 2%.
Finally, the same research also showed that pets are more efficient than
medication in order to reduce blood pressure. Therefore, it has been
demonstrated that if you keep a pet, you can improve your health
Question nº 6
See “For and against essay”
Nowadays many people strongly agree or disagree on this question.
However, there are good arguments for having a pet /
against having a pet
A problem that is often debated nowadays is that of having a pet