Reading Comprehension – Instructions and Marking:

There are two tasks which include 10 multiple-choice questions each. For each question there
are three options and the student has to select “a”, “b” or “c”. Answer the multiple-choice
questions on the answer sheet. Each correct answer receives 0.4 points and 0.13 points are
subtracted for wrong answers. Time allowed: 60 minutes.

The minimum pass mark is 50%.

MODELO A

READING COMPREHENSION.

TEXT 1: What to Say When Calling for an Interview

Before you call for an interview, research the company to determine who organizes hiring
for the kind of position you're seeking. Search the company's website or call the
receptionist in the department you want to work in and ask for the name and title of the
hiring manager. Do not let anyone send you to the human resources department unless
that is where you want to work. At many companies, it's not human resources but the hiring
manager or the department supervisor who makes the final hiring decisions and that
person should always be your first contact.

As soon as you have the contact on the phone, tell her who you are and why you're
calling. Open with a short sentence such as "My name is Kim Smith. I'm a graphic designer
and I'm inquiring about job opportunities at your agency." Before beginning your speech,
however, show respect for her time by asking her if she has a few minutes to talk. She may
be more agreeable about continuing the conversation if she knows you only intend to take
up a few minutes of her time. You can also ask "Did I catch you at a good time?" or if she's
too busy to talk, ask her when would be a good time to call her again.

Before you call, prepare a short script emphasizing your relevant skills, work
experience and other qualifications. Once the employer agrees to talk to you, give her a
concise summary of your qualifications and what you can contribute to the company. For
example, tell her "I have over 10 years of experience in the advertising industry, the last
four of which I spent as an account supervisor."

Be clear about your intentions for calling. If you aren't, employers may think you're
just looking for information and not a job. After you've illustrated how you're qualified to
work at the company, ask if you can arrange a time to meet for an interview. Or, ask how
the company's hiring process works and what you need to do to be considered for a
position.
 If the employer doesn't have any openings, ask about meeting for an informational
interview. During an informational interview, instead of asking for a specific job, you gather
information about what it's like to work at the company. You can also ask for referrals* to
other companies or other departments within the company that are hiring. If you've
persuaded the employer you're qualified, she may happily recommend you to other
employers or may remember you when a job opens up later.
Adapted from http://work.chron.com/say-calling-interview-8655.html

*Referrals: The act of directing someone to a different person or place.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS. For questions 1-10, choose the answer (a, b or c)
which best fits according to the text. There is an example at the beginning (0):
0. According to the text, ____________________.
a) the receptionist plays a fundamental role in hiring new employees.
b) contacting the receptionist should be one of your first objectives.
c) the receptionist might direct you to the human resources department.

1. Your first contact ________________________.

a) usually does not make the final hiring decision.
b) can be found in the company's website.
c) will send you to the human resources department.

2. According to the text, your contact on the phone _______________.

a) may be caught in a bad time.
b) will only give you a few minutes.
c) has to be called a second time.

3. According to the text, if a person has the feeling that she will be forced to spend a long
time speaking to you on the phone, she may _______________.
a) not tell you about job opportunities in her agency.
b) not talk to you again.
c) try to stop the conversation.

4. According to the text, in case the employer accepts to talk to you, you should
___________.
a) have written a description of your qualifications, which should be used during the call.
b) go and give him / her a paper explaining your qualifications after the call.
c) be asked to provide your personal information, a resume and a paper describing your
qualifications.

5. During your conversation with the employer, _______________.

a) provide as much information as you can about your experience.
b) say what you can do for the company.
c) do not ask what the company can do for you.
6. Which of the following statements is not true, according to the text?
a) When you call for a job interview, you should go straight to the point.
b) Employers do not provide information about the company to candidates with poor
qualifications.
c) Ask your contact on the phone what to do to get into the hiring process.

7. Which of the following statements is true? When you call for a job interview, ask for the
interview _______________.
a) and then express how you can contribute to the company.
b) and before you hang up do not forget to say how you can contribute to the company.
c) once you have made clear how you can contribute to the company.

8. Which of the following statements is not true?

a) Ask about the hiring process and then tell them why they must hire you.
b) Try to find out who makes the hiring decisions.
c) You should not improvise during your call.

9. Which of the following statements is true, according to the text?

a) Employers are not open to provide information in a meeting.
b) An informational interview might be the first step to get a job.
c) The purpose of an informational meeting is to get a specific job.

10. According to the text, _______________.

a) you should never ask for a job in a company if you do not know a lot about them.
b) going to an informational interview can help you get a job in another company.
c) if the hiring manager can see you are truly qualified, she will do anything to keep you in
her company.

TEXT 2: Read this text about the benefits of having a pet. Then for each paragraph
(11 – 20), choose the option that best summarizes its content (a, b, c). The first one
has been done for you as an example (0):

0. a) A dog is the perfect motivation for people who are lazy for sports.
b) Dogs need regular, daily walks in order to stay happy and healthy.
c) Having a dog helps people lose weight.
People who walk dogs are more consistent about regular exercise and express more
improvements in fitness than those who just walk with the human companion. It is
surprising that the dog-walkers tend to eager for fitness or physical activities while the
human walkers make excuses to avoid the workout. Moreover, the speed of walking
among those who walk with dogs is much faster compared with those people walking with
the human.
11. a) Pets only benefit the health of children’s respiratory organs.
b) Among other health benefits, pets may prevent respiratory problems in kids.
c) Allergies in the breathing system can be healed immediately by getting a pet.

The first one in health benefits of having a pet at home that you discover is easy
breathing benefit. Why? Many studies demonstrate that having a pet in your home will
really decrease the child’s likelihood of suffering breathing related allergies. Those
children who expose early on to any animals might develop stronger immune system in
general. The more pets you have earlier in life, the fewer allergies you will develop.

12. a) All pets reduce their owners' stress levels.

b) Dogs and cats are the best friends to help with depression or stress.
c) Pets can help improve their owners’ mood.

Most pet owners nearly realize the instant joys coming with sharing their lives with a pet.
However, they might know the mental health benefits that could also accompany with the
comfortableness of snuggling up* to an animal friend. Those people who own a pet are
less likely to get depression or stress than those people without any pet. Also, playing
with your dog or cat can improve the levels of dopamine and serotonin, which help people
calm and relax. Even, the companionship of an animal could ease your loneliness.

13. a) Patients with a dog or a cat who have already experienced a heart attack have
better recovery rates.
b) Dogs can help decrease blood pressure and get a healthier heart.
c) Pet owners, particularly dog owners, have a lower risk of heart disease.

Having a pet has the potential to reduce blood pressure, especially in hypertensive as
well as high-risk patients. The simple act of petting* an animal can drop blood pressure
during moments of stress, as well as improve the cardiovascular system, too. Especially,
your dog can make you less likely to get heart disease because dog owners walk more
than those who do not have dogs. Heart attack survivors and people with abnormal heart
rhythms who own dogs are proven to live longer than those with the same problems who
do not own a pet.
14. a) Pets are great companions and promote their owners’ emotional and physical
health.
b) Pets help owners who have a difficult time at meeting people make friends.
c) Pets satisfy the social needs of their owners and reduce their physical and
psychological stress.

People with pets have more self-esteem as well as feel less loneliness than those without
pets. In other words, pet-owners are also, generally, more extroverted and less fearful
than non-pet-owning people. That is because pets could serve as critical sources of
social support, providing a lot of positive psychological and physical benefits for their
owners.

15. a) Dogs can be taught to see allergens hidden in food products.

b) Dogs are able to get away from allergic foods.
c) A properly trained dog can be a great help to the allergy sufferer.

Dogs appear to be useful for detecting allergens. For those whose peanut allergies are
extremely severe, if they own dogs trained vigorously, their dogs can help detect the
trace presence of peanuts in a certain room, like a candy bar hidden in the lunch bag or
cookie left on the table. Having a peanut-recognizing dog can ease the mind of peanut-
allergic people. Nevertheless, they still need to carry an epinephrine pen in case of
emergencies.

16. a) Dogs can help old people increase their self-esteem.

b) Pets can bring great satisfactions and advantages to an older person's life.
c) Pets can improve the health of old people.

The loss of family members and the physical changes of aging might lead to some major
changes in older adults’ lives. Therefore, having a pet plays an important role in a healthy
aging lifestyle by assisting people in finding meaning as well as joy in life. Caring for an
animal will boost the moral and optimism and bring pleasure for the older. This also
promotes the sense of self-worth.

17. a) Humans who own pets and dogs in particular live longer than those who don’t.
b) There exists a solid link between all pets and humans’ health.
c) Dogs in particular do relevant things to improve the quality of life of their owners.

When it comes to health benefits of having a pet at home, owning a dog is considered as
a kind of booster* that encourages interpersonal contact, mobility, and socialization
among patients. Dogs can help to increase the interaction between those who are
suffering from loneliness or physical disabilities.
 18. a) A pet can be a wonderful comforter and companion for children.
b) Pets can help children obey their parents’ commands.
c) Pets can keep children safe and increase their sense of independence.

Many kids learn compassion, responsibility, and empathy from owning a pet. The fact is,
unlike parents or adults; pets do not set any orders, and are never critical. The simple
presence of a pet at home can provide a sense of security in children. For instance,
having an animal in the home will help children ease their anxiety when their mom and
dad are not around.

19. a) Pets keep children socially active.

b) Children who interact with a pet will improve physically and psychologically.
c) The presence of a dog can have physical and psychological benefits for children.

Playing with pets can be good for the brain and body. This is a way to learn for a kid.
While playing with pets, children will improve their imagination as well as curiosity.
Moreover, when a child is attached to a pet like a dog, they can learn to express their
feelings in more ways and also relate better.

20. a) Dog and cat owners are happier, more extrovert and more satisfied with their
world.
b) People who have pets, especially dogs or cats, can benefit from socializing with other
dog or cat owners.
c) Dog and cat owners are amazing companions for other people also having a dog or a
cat.

Pets can help ease shyness and isolation, especially dogs. They can create love
connections among people of different ages. For people who love a certain kind of pet
like a dog or a cat, they will be happy to join a dog or cat club, meet other dog lovers and
create more relations and have more fun in pet raising. In other words, this activity helps
you develop deeper and larger socialization, especially in interacting and meeting with
other pet owners.

Adapted from: http://vkool.com/benefits-of-having-a-pet/

* Snuggle up: to move yourself into a comfortable and warm position against your pet.
* Petting: touching gently.
* Booster: something that improves something.
 Use of English - Instructions and Marking:

The task includes 5 multiple-choice questions. For each question there are three options and the student
has to select “a”, “b” or “c”. Answer the multiple-choice questions on the answer sheet. Each correct
answer receives 0.4 points and 0.13 points are subtracted for wrong answers. Time allowed: 30 minutes.

The minimum pass mark is 50%.

USE OF ENGLISH. Choose the correct answer. There is an example at the

beginning (0):

0. If I __________ more, I __________ make more money.

a) work / will b) worked / will c) will work / would

21. John and Peter wouldn’t _____________ to that music unless they _________ very
bored.
a) listen / had been b) have listened / would be c) listen / were

22. Once at home, he felt safe again, ___________ tired.

a) in spite of b) however c) although

23. After the party, John had to admit that it ________ a mistake to invite Hellen.
a) had been b) was c) would be

24. It is your responsibility to teach your children that an oven _________ be touched to
avoid burns.
a) shouldn’t b) oughtn’t c) can’t

25. “Could you, please, bring me a cup of tea?” Aunt Susan asked me _________.
a) that I bring her a cup of tea.
b) bring her a cup of tea, please.
c) to bring her a cup of tea.