Reading Aptis General: ejemplos y ejercicios de examen

Esta vez os explicamos el Reading Aptis General. Éste consta de 4 partes y dispones de 30 minutos para poder realizar el reading completo. A lo largo del artículo, te iremos explicando una a una de las partes y te dejamos ejercicios de readings Aptis para practicar. Las respuestas las tienes al final de cada ejercicio. Enjoy!

¿Conoces nuestro canal de Youtube? ¡Suscríbete! Cada semana subimos algo nuevo 😉

Reading Aptis General part 1

Y bien, sabéis que ésta es la primera parte del Reading y, por regla general, no suele dar quebraderos de cabeza pero tampoco está exenta de dificultad. Es por eso que cada ejercicios que ponemos aquí irá subiendo de nivel. Os dejamos la fuente de cada ejercicio por si queréis investigar más. El que no tiene la fuente, está realizado por nosotros (los más difíciles, ya verás). Como truco fundamental os recomendamos es que leas bien el contexto, es decir, lo que viene antes y después del hueco.

Ejercicios part 1 Reading Aptis

Bulgaria’s Population is Shrinking

Bulgaria, a southeastern country in the European Union, is one of the 1.______ fastest shrinking countries. In the last forty years, the population of Bulgaria has fallen from 9 to 7 million. Young people often leave the country for postsecondary studies and do not return for 2.______years. Approximately 1 million Bulgarians currently live abroad. Bulgarians are also having 3._____ children. Despite the shrinking population, some Bulgarians do return after realizing that they miss some aspects of home, including the 4._____ and relaxed pace of living.

1. A) spot          B) place          C) world’s
2. A) a lot          B) many         C) several
3. A) few            B) fewer         C) more few
4. A) culture     B) tradition    C) habit

Respuestas correctas: 1. world’s; 2. several; 3. fewer; 4. culture

Fuente: Englishclub 

«If it’s important to you, you’ll find a way. If it’s not, you’ll find excuses.»

Jane Austen

Jane Austen was a great woman novelist of the early 19th century. Jane was born 1.____ 16 December 1775 in Steventon Rectory. She was the second daughter of The Reverend George Austen and his wife Cassandra. Apart from her older sister, also called Cassandra Jane also had 6 brothers.

In 1783 Jane and 2._____ sister were sent to boarding school. While at school they both caught a fever (possibly typhus) and Jane 3.______ died. Jane Austen left school in 1786.

Even as a child Jane Austen loved writing and she wrote a lot of short stories called the Juvenilia. 4.____ 1795 she wrote a novel she called Elinor and Marianne. In the years 1796-97 Jane Austen wrote another novel she called First Impressions. It was later 5.______ as Pride and Prejudice. 6._____ in 1798-99 Jane wrote a novel named Susan. It was published posthumously as Northanger Abbey in 1817.

In 1801 Jane Austen moved with her sister and parents to Bath. Jane Austen was a tall, slim woman. In 1802 she received a 7._____ of marriage from a man named Harris Bigg-Wither. At first Jane accepted but she quickly changed her mind. Jane Austen never 8._____. Her father George Austen died in 1805.

In 1807 Jane Austen moved to Southampton. She lived there until 1809. At that time Southampton was a flourishing port and town with a population of over 8,000. However in 1809 Jane Austen moved to the little village of Chawton in north Hampshire.

Then in 1811 Sense and Sensibility was published. Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813. Mansfield Park was published in 1814. Another book called Emma followed in 1816. Meanwhile Jane Austen 9.______ Persuasion but she died before it could be published. It was published posthumously in 1817. Jane Austen died on 18 July 1817. Jane was only 41 years old. She 10._____ in Winchester Cathedral.

1. A) on                B) in                   C) at
2. A) his                B) its                 C) her
3. A) nearly          B) practically   C) near
4. A) about           B) with regard C) around
5. A) established B) published    C) showed
6. A) then              B) however      C) although
7. A) proposal      B) offer             C) gift
8. A) married        B) marries       C) marry
9. A) wrote            B) has written C) writes
10. A) was buried   B) buried         C) burial

Respuestas correctas: 1. on; 2. her; 3. nearly; 4. about; 5. published; 6. then; 7. proposal; 8. married; 9. wrote; 10. was buried

Fuente: localhistories.org

“You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.” – George Lorimer

The Amazons were more than a myth

Legends of formidable 1._____ warriors known as the Amazons permeate ancient lore – and, with the Wonder Woman franchise, modern-day movie screens. In particular, Ancient Greek writers loved spinning 2.______ of how the Amazon women matched men in their traditional domain of war-making.

Mythographer Apollodorus, writing in the first or second century A.D., dubbed the Amazons “a people 3.______ in war,” who were so committed to martial endeavors that they “pinched off the right breasts that they might not be trammelled 4.______ them in throwing the javelin, but they kept the left breasts, that might suckle.”

They were even said to 5.______ the likes of such mythological warriors as Heracles, Theseus, and Achilles. But were the Amazons just a myth — or were they real?

Historian Adrienne Mayor delves into their complicated history. She  noted in her seminal book, The Amazons, 6.______, they believed that the Amazons were very much real historical figures. They may have very well been real-life horse-riding women hailing from Western Asia — places 7._____ Iran and the Caucasus — who fought valiantly against their enemies.

According to Smithsonian Magazine, Homer’s Iliad was the first to 8._____ them in the eighth century B.C. He described them as “antianeirai,” which many scholars have translated as “the opposite of men,” “antagonistic to men,” and “the equal of men.”

Centuries later, the so-called “Father of History,” Herodotus, wrote that the Amazons hailed from Scythia, a large steppe region in Central Eurasia.

Dubbed “man-killers” in the Greek 9._____, the Amazons lived an idyllic, isolated existence, only mingling with men from neighboring tribes once a year in a ceremonious procreation ritual. The mothers would keep their female 10.______ and train them as warriors, and send off their male infants.

1. A) female        B) women      C) woman
2. A) fairytales   B) tales           C) stories
3. A) amazing     B) wonderful C) great
4. A) for               B) to                C) by
5. A) fight            B) challenge  C) stay
6. A) apparently B) certainly   C) surely
7. A) such as       B) like             C) as
8. A) mention     B) say              C) tell
9. A) say               B) tongue       C) language
10. A) kids             B) offspring   C) cubs

Respuestas correctas: 1. female; 2. tales; 3. great; 4. by; 5. challenge; 6. apparently; 7. such as; 8. mention; 9. tongue; 10. offspring

Fuente: edition.cnn.com

«Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.»

Star Wars

The plain, brown cloak that Sir Alec Guinness 1) __________ when he played the character Obi-Wan Kenobi 2) __________ the Star Wars films is part 3) __________ a collection of film and television costumes that will be sold. Alec Guiness died 4) __________ 2000.

5) __________ cloak disappeared thirty years ago and was then used in 6) __________ films. It was even used by people going 7) __________ fancy dress parties. Experts think it will 8) __________ for £40,000.

1. A) wear           B) wore           C) wearing
2. A) in                B) on                C) at
3. A) off               B) for               C) of
4. A) on               B) in                 C) for
5. A) A                 B) The              C) Those
6. A) other          B) others          C) other’s
7. A) to                B)  at                 C) from
8. A) sell              B) sold              C) sale

Respuestas correctas: 1. wore; 2. in; 3. of; 4. in; 5. The; 6. other; 7. to; 8. sell

Fuente: usingenglish.com 

“If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.”

The fastest dinosaurs

According 1) __________ computer models that were used to estimate the running speeds of dinosaurs, the Tyrannosaurus Rex would have been able to outrun a footballer. The study shows that the dinosaur could reach a top 2) __________ of 8 metres a second, which is 3) __________ faster than the average professional footballer. There has been a lot of controversy 4) __________ whether the Tyrannosaurus Rex was a predator or a scavenger; some believe that its highly developed sense of smell indicates that it was a scavenger, 5) __________ others say that its keen eyesight shows that it was a hunter. The 6) __________ group will appreciate the recent study, as a hunter is more 7) __________ to require such speed

The University of Manchester study used a powerful supercomputer to calculate the running speeds of five meat-eating dinosaurs and used data taken 8) __________ from dinosaur fossils, 9) __________ than referring to previous work on modern animals.  The Tyrannosaurus Rex, 10) __________, was not the fastest dinosaur. A small dinosaur 11) __________ Compsognathus, which was about the 12) __________ of a chicken, could run at 18 metres a second, 13) __________ is faster than the ostrich, the fastest two-legged animal today. It could run 100 metres in a little over six seconds, which would 14) __________ modern Olympic 15) __________ more than a third of the track behind.

1. A) with           B) as                C) to                    D) —-
2. A) fast             B) speed         C) swift               D) rate
3. A) fraction     B) fractional  C) fractionally   D) fractionals
4. A) about         B)  as               C) at                    D) to
5. A) since          B) while           C)  however      D)  as
6. A) former       B) later            C) latter             D)  first
7. A) likely          B) probable     C) probably     D) possible
8. A) directs        B) direction    C) directed       D) directly
9. A) instead       B) rather         C) other            D)  better
10. A) therefore    B) hence         C) since             D)  however
11. A) called          B) named as   C) known         D) name
12. A) shape          B) size              C) form            D)  same
13. A) who             B) that             C) when            D)  which
14. A) leave           B) chase           C) run               D) beat
15. A) athlete        B) athletic       C) athletics       D) athletes

Respuestas correctas: 1. to; 2. speed; 3. fractionally; 4. about; 5. while; 6. former; 7. likely; 8. directly; 9. rather; 10. however; 11. called; 12. size; 13. which; 14. run; 15. athlete

Fuente: usingenglish.com

«Believe you can and you’re halfway there.»

Wole Soyinka

Wole Soyinka, who was born in 1934, is a Nigerian writer, poet and playwright. Many 1) __________ him as Africa’s most 2) __________ playwright.  He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986, the first African writer to win this honour.

Soyinka has played an active role in Nigeria’s 3) __________ history. In 1967, during the Civil War in Nigeria,  he was arrested by the Federal Government and put in solitary 4) __________ for attempting to broker a peace between the warring parties. While in prison he wrote 5) __________ which was published in a collection. He was released two years later after international attention was drawn to his 6) __________. His experiences in prison are recounted in a book. He is an outspoken 7) __________ of many Nigerian administrations, and of political tyrannies worldwide, including the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe. Much of his 8) __________ has been concerned with «the 9) __________ boot and the irrelevance of the colour of the foot that wears it».

1986 was his most glorious year and occurred during the reigns of several violent and repressive African regimes. The Swedish Academy 10) __________ him the Nobel Prize for Literature as a writer “who in a wide 11) __________ perspective and with poetic overtones fashions the drama of 12) __________”. The foremost Nigerian 13) __________ became the first African Nobel laureate, enshrined forever in the history of world literature. His Nobel Lecture was devoted to South African freedom-fighter Nelson Mandela. Soyinka’s 14) __________ speech criticised apartheid and the politics of racial segregation imposed on the population by the Nationalist South African government. That year brought him another 15) __________ award – the Agip Prize for Literature – and he was awarded a Nigerian national decoration: Commander of the Federal Republic.

Respuestas correctas: 1. consider; 2. distinguished; 3. political ; 4. confinement; 5. poems; 6. jailer; 7. critic; 8. writings; 9. oppressive; 10. awarded; 11. culture; 12. existence; 13. dramatist; 14. acceptance; 15. literary

1. A) consider         B) regard                  C) think                 D) believe
2. A) distinguish     B) distinguishable  C) distinguished D) distinguishing
3. A) politic              B) politician             C) politically       D) political
4. A) confinement  B) confine                 C) confining        D) configuration
5. A) poet                 B) poem                     C) poems             D) poetry
6. A) in prison         B) imprisonment     C) jailer               D) prisoner
7. A) criticise           B) critisism               C) critic                D) criticising
8. A) writings          B) writer                    C) wright              D) writing
9. A) oppress           B) oppressive           C) oppression      D) oppresser
10. A) granted           B) awards                  C) awarded          D) grants
11. A) culture            B) cultural                 C) cultured           D) cultures
12. A) exist                 B) existance              C) existence          D) existential
13. A) dramatic         B) drama                   C) dramatically    D) dramatist
14. A) acceptance     B) accept                    C) accepted           D) accepting
15. A) literate            B) literary                  C) literally             D) literal

Fuente: usingenglish.com

«The expert in everything was once a beginner.»

Teaching

Attitudes towards the teaching profession have (1)…………………….considerably and it’s sad that the number of students considering a career in teaching has (2) ……………………..off a lot. Consequently, the teacher training faculty has (3) ………………………… by 25%. However, in other departments, the options have (4) ………………………… greatly, though competition with other colleges has, it must be admitted, (5) ……………………………… . Meanwhile, departments have expanded into new areas such as media studies, and computer studies in particular has (6) ……………… beyond all expectations.

Respuestas correctas: 1. D) 2. B), 3. A). 4. C), 5. D), 6. B)

«Push yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you.»

The ways we have changed

It is hard for almost everyone, but especially the young to imagine a world (0) without television. We have (1) __________to expect that all the important news of the day, worldwide, will be there (2)_________ the touch of a button. In times (3)__________ by, only the literate knew what was going on in the world, and (4)____________ only after a long delay. But now, it is possible for any of us to watch world events as they occur. (5)_________ has shortened the distance that divides our private lives (6)__________ the outside world to (7)__________ an extent as television.

Time and (8)__________, television transports us to the habitats of rare animals, and we may identify (9)___________ them. Concern for damage to the environment extends far and (10)__________.We worry about the influence of technology not just in our cities but on us (11)__________ people. Increasingly we see (12)__________ as part of the planet (13)_________ than in isolation.

«Respuestas correctas: 1. B), 2. C), 3. A), 4. C), 5. D), 6. C), 7. B), 8. B), 9. A), 10. D), 11. A), 12. C), 13. A)

«Life has two rules: 1) Never quit. 2) Always remember Rule #1.

Dyspraxia

Teaching a child with dyspraxia can be a 1) ………………….  experience due to the wide range of symptoms a student may present. 2) ……………….., while dyspraxia is a neurological condition that causes movement and co-ordination 3)………………. , it has no impact on intelligence. Children with dyspraxia are perfectly 4)………………… of learning alongside their peers; they may just need some extra attention and support from time to time. 5)………………….. is the first step and can make all of the difference in helping a child to reach his or her full potential at school.

While not as well known as other learning difficulties, dyspraxia in children is relatively common, with 6-10% of the population affected, to some 6) ………………. A child with dyspraxia may experience problems at school, including difficulty in handwriting his or her work, 7) …………………. other tasks that require fine motor skills and planning and organisation aspects.

1. A) frustrating  B) overwhelming    C) frustrated
2. A) Meanwhile B) However              C) Albeit
3. A) problems    B) matters                C) issues
4. A) capable        B) able                      C) willing
5. A) Awareness  B) Insight                 C) Conscious
6. A) scale             B) degree                  C) term
7. A) doing            B) performing         C) acting

Respuestas correctas: 1.A, 2.B, 3.C, 4.A, 5. A, 6. B, 7. B

«Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently. – Henry Ford»

Salmon crisis

A new study that suggests sockeye salmon returns have 1.____ by three-quarters in the Skeena River over the last century should 2. _____ as a «wake-up call», the lead researcher says. His research indicates annual salmon returns to the river Skeena have fallen from about 1.8 million to 469,000 in the last 100 years, an 3. _____ decline of about 74 per cent. «We’ve been seeing these warning signs that salmon are diminishing and 4.___ … we continue to make decisions that are not in the 5.____ interests of salmon.»

6._____ following genetic markers in the DNA extracted from those scales, the scientists were able to trace patterns of abundance in 7._____ of the 13 sockeye populations in the Skeena. The Skeena River, which runs from B.C.’s northern Interior to the Pacific Ocean south of Prince Rupert, is Canada’s second largest watershed for salmon.

Previous research had suggested declines in seven of those 13 populations over the last 50 years. New research found that when they doubled that time 8._____, every population saw drops of between 56 and 99 per cent.

The researchers also developed a theory for why some populations have declined more 9._____ than others.

«What we found was those populations with historically the largest body size have declined the most, which suggests that fisheries selectivity is the most probable driver,» the 10.____ researcher said.

The results suggest there’s an urgent need for recovery plans for sockeye in the Skeena, as well as all salmon species across the province, he argues. «I’m hopeful this historical perspective provides us the information that can make more informed decisions in the future,» he said.

Respuestas correctas: 1.C, 2. A, 3. A, 4. B, 5. B, 6. A, 7. A, 8. B, 9. C, 10. D

Otro ejercicio de Reading Aptis General part 1

Debes elegir una palabra de la lista para rellenar cada hueco. Aquí tienes un ejemplo de texto a practicar:

Indian drummers

Shillong 1) __________ north east India 2) __________ the world record yesterday for the largest number of people 3) __________ the drums together. People travelled 4) __________ long way, many 5) __________ foot, from villages in the state in order 6) __________ in.

A total of 7,951 people played the drums at 7) __________ same time, over seven hundred more than the old record.

The state now 8) __________ two world records – it is the wettest place in the world as well.

¿Quieres saber más sobre el curso de Aptis? ¡Haz clic en el botón de abajo!👇🏽

Reading Aptis General Aptis part 2

Esta vez os traemos varios ejercicios de Reading, de los que más quebraderos de cabeza dan: Reading Aptis General Part 2 (Reorder sentences exercise Aptis) donde tenéis que poner frases desordenadas en inglés en el orden correcto y lógico para formar una historia coherente. Como veréis algunos de los ejercicios están sacados de otras webs; es por ello que dejamos la fuente debajo de cada uno si queréis investigar más. ¿Listos para practicar reading Aptis exercises con nosotros?  ¡A por ello!

Reading Aptis General Part 2: Trucos

Antes de empezar con los 10 ejercicios para ordenar las frases de Aptis General consideramos necesario daros unos cuantos truco útiles:

• Primero: leed cada párrafo/frase en inglés para tener una idea de que va el tema
• Segundo: intentad identificar la frase de comienzo o final de la idea principal.
• Buscar los conectores de cohesión (por ejemplo, «but», «thus», «then», etc.) e identifica qué iría antes y después de la información que estos elementos de cohesión ofrecen.
• Identifica palabras como los pronombres personales (I, she, it, we) para descifrar un vinculo con lo que haya antes o después de lo que sucede en el texto. Básicamente es facer lo mismo que con los elementos de cohesión.
• Busca aquellas frases que contienen palabras de orden como once, firstly, finally, in the end, eventually, etc. que te pueden ofrecer pistas de la secuencia de la historia.
• Finalmente y una vez decidida una estructura, asegúrate que las frases tengan una coherencia y lógica de modo que se entienda bien.

Dicho esto, a continuación podéis encontrar 10 textos con frases desordenadas listas para ser ordenadas tal como indica el task 2 del ejercicio reading Aptis General. A parte, como siempre (y aquí hacemos un guiño a los profesores que utilizan el material de ésta web en sus clases) os dejamos las respuestas debajo de cada ejercicio de ordenar frases para que comprobéis si lo habéis hecho bien o no. Good luck and go for it!

Reading Aptis General part 2: Ejemplos

 

Los ejercicios de la parte 2 del Reading Aptis de ordenar frases van por nivel: del nivel más fácil al más retador.

1. Vincent Van Gogh

A. However, due to continuous failures and misfortunes such as mental illness and improper bonding in the relationships forced him to commit suicide at an early age of merely 37 years.

B. This famous personality has been known as one of the greatest painter and artist along with a world-renowned icon in world history.

C. During the entire lifespan, this person sold only a single painting which revolutionized him in the world of arts and paintings which is alive to date.

Respuestas: 1. B; 2. A ; 3. C

Fuente: yourstory.com

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

A Even now, I wonder how much of my life is convinced.

B Usually we walk around constantly believing ourselves.“I’m okay” we say.“I’m alright”.

C That’s when you realize that sometimes it isn’t even an answer–it’s a question.

D But sometimes the truth arrives on you and you can’t get it off.

Respuestas: 1. B; 2. D; 3.C 4.A

Fuente: thoughtcatalogue.com

Identifica los elementos cohesivos que contienen palabras de orden como once, firstly, finally, in the end, eventually, etc. que te pueden ofrecer pistas de la secuencia de la historia.

3. Superstition

A And airlines make much less money than other Fridays, because fewer people are travelling.

B Also, some elevators in the USA even skip the 13th floor, moving from the 12th floor to the 14th floor.

C Similarly in Japan and China, people are superstitious about the number 4, and buildings sometimes lack a 4th floor. Thus list of these kind of stories goes on and on.

D Are you superstitious? Most people would say no, but in fact, many of us do make choices in our live that are completely irrational. Now consider following the examples.

E In the USA, Friday, the 13th is thought to be so unlucky that 10,000 fewer people fly on this day.

4. Walt Disney:

A He’s been quoted saying that “a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”

B As just about everyone knows, the Disney corporation is one of the most lucrative companies in existence, with high standards of quality and a never-ending stream of innovations.

C Once his first movie Snow White premiered of course, the rest became history.

D Walt himself was fired from a newspaper job early in life because he “lacked imagination.”

E After a few failed businesses, Disney’s upbeat attitude was clearly what kept him going forward.

Respuestas: 1. B; 2. D; 3. E; 4. A; 5. C.

Fuente: coburgbanks.co.uk 

5. The good posture

A It can even limit the ability to turn your head.

B In contrast, when we sit tall and erect, our head jutting forward towards the screen is a posture so common we almost don’t notice it any more.

C Researchers tell us that when we sit with the head in that forward poistion, our neck is supporting the equivalent of 45 pounds.

D But this seemingly harmless position compresses the neck and can lead to fatigue, headaches, poor concentration, increased muscle tension and even injury to the vertebrae over time.

E Being slouched over a computer with your head jutting forward towards the screen is a posture so common we almost don’t notice it anymore.

Respuestas: 1. E; 2. D; 3. A; 4. C; 5. B

Fuente: blog.e2language.com

6. A clockwork orange – By Anthony Burgess

A However, after coming to suspect that Alex was involved in the brutal assault, he tries to make Alex commit suicide, which he plans to blame on the government.

B Among those that exact retribution are former gang members who have become policemen.

C Locked in a room and forced to listen to Beethoven music, Alex jumps out off a window but survives.

D While he is hospitalized, the doctors undo his conditioning, and Alex ultimately reverts to his former behaviour.

E Alex is released from prison, but his behavioral conditioning has left him harmless and defenseless.

F Instead, he is sympathetic when he learns of the teenager’s aversion therapy and wants to publicize his story in order to turn public opinion against the government.

G Badly beaten, Alex ends up at the cottage of the droogs’ earlier attack, but the writer,

F. Alexander, does not recognize him.

Respuestas: 1. E; 2. B; 3. G ; 4. F. 5; A.; 6. C; 7. D

Fuente: britannica.com

7. Robinson Crusoe  by Daniel Defoe

A One day, he realized that the island is periodically visited by cannibals, who come to kill and eat their prisoners.

B He dreamed of obtaining one or two servants by releasing prisoners and, in fact, when one of them managed to escape, they became friends.

C After several adventures, including a pirate assault, rescue by a Portuguese ship and becoming a plantation owner in Brazil, he joined an expedition in search of African slaves in 1659.

D Crusoe named his companion “Friday”, the day of the week when he appeared.

E In 1651, Robinson Crusoe left York, England, against the wishes of his parents who wanted him to become a lawyer, to sail.

F He discovered a cave, build a house and made a calendar by making notches in a piece of wood.

G He taught him English and converted him to Christianity.

H He hunted and grew wheat.

I He read the Bible and he lacked nothing but the company of men.

J He learned how to make pottery and raised goats.

K But after a storm he was shipwrecked on an island at the mouth of the Orinoco River in South America.

L All his companions being dead, he managed to recover weapons and tools in the wreck.

M Crusoe, who considered their behavior abominable, thought of exterminating them, but he realized that he had no right, since the cannibals did not attack him and did not know that their act was criminal.

Respuestas: 1E; 2C; 3K; 4L; 5F; 6H; 7J; 8I; 9A; 10M; 11B; 12D; 13G

Fuente: scihi.org

8. The story behind pottery

A The walls of the pot are then smoothed and thinned (by simultaneous pressure on the inner and outer surfaces) before being fired in a bread oven or in the most elementary of kilns – a hole in the ground, above which a bonfire is lit.

B Early neolithic pottery is usually undecorated. Where there is decoration, it takes the form of patterns cut or pressed into the damp clay.

C One of the most useful of all human discoveries is pottery.

D Indeed a standard distinction made by archaeologists, when describing successive cultures in an area, is between groups which are ‘aceramic’ (without pottery) and others which have mastered the technology of clay and kiln.

E Rings or coils of clay are built up from a circular base.

F The earliest wares at Catal Huyuk are made by one of the standard methods of primitive potters.

Respuestas: 1C; 2D; 3F; 5E; 4A; 5B

Fuente: historyworld.net

9. The coral reefs of Agatti Islands

A Reef resources are also used for medicinal purposes. For example, the money cowrie, a shell known locally as Vallakavadi, is commonly made into a paste and used as a home remedy to treat cysts in the eye.

B Coral reefs, which are formed from the skeletons of minute sea creatures, give shelter to a variety of plants and animals, and therefore have the potential to provide a stream of diverse benefits to the inhabitants of Agatti Island.

C Agatti is one of the Lakshadweep Islands off the southwest coast of India.

D Foods include different types of fish, octopus and molluscs, and in the case of poorer families these constitute as much as 90% of the protein they consume.

E In the first place, the reefs provide food and other products for consumption by the islanders themselves.

F These islands are surrounded by lagoons and coral reefs which are in turn surrounded by the open ocean.

Respuestas: 1C; 2F; 3B; 4E; 5D; 6A

Fuente: pteprepacademic.blogspot.com

10. Henri Ford

A Much later in life, Henri Ford brought into ford a person who could concentrate on all other areas except for manufacturing which was Henri’s forte.

B Ford’s father was a farmer who wanted his son to follow him in his own footsteps. 3However young Hernri’s heart was with the motor engine and similar things with which he tinkered.

C Henri ford was regarded as a business genius in his time.

D One of the most interesting vocation stories are with respect to Henri Ford.

E The lesson to learn here is that one has to see where one’s spontaneous inclination lies and then have the courage and conviction to back is up.

F After furious arguments with his father, he left to chart his own course to create history by becoming one of the world’s richest entrepreneurs.

G This shows that even geniuses have to indulge in complimentary synergies- supplement their own strength and complement their weaknesses.

Respuestas: 1D; 2B; 3F; 4E; 5A; 6C; 7G

Fuente: immstories.wordpress y el buowl.boun.edu.tr 

¿Sabías que somos preparadores de los títulos oficiales de inglés más prestigiosos del mercado? 

No dudes en ponerte en contacto con nosotros. Estaremos encantados de asesorarte.

Reading Aptis General Part 3

En primer lugar, queridos, ¿como lleváis los readings Aptis general que os hemos dejado hasta ahora (si no los habéis hecho aún os dejamos los enlaces más abajo

 )? Are they easy or difficult? We are just curious :), anyway hoy seguimos con el Reading Aptis part 3, el reading task 3 o gap filling. Si ya habéis practicado ésta parte, veréis que la parte 3 del reading Aptis General se parece un poco al task 1 del examen, pero es un poco más complicado. Esperemos que los nuestros os sea fáciles, y esperemos que os ayuden a aprobar el examen.

Reading Aptis General Part 1

Aptis General Reading Part 2

Primero, como ya sabréis para hacer bien este ejercicio de reading aptis es necesario conocer vocabulario en inglés, los conectores y sobre todo saber como van algunos verbos en inglés sí en infinitivo o gerundio etc. Es importante saber estas cosas para no caer en los errores más comunes Aptis

Aptis General Reading Part 3 ejercicios

A continuación, preparáos, porque aquí os dejamos 10 ejercicios de Reading Aptis General parte 3, las opciones al comienzo del reading y sus soluciones al final de cada texto. Recuerda que hay 3 opciones que sobran.

1º Reading Aptis part 3

Canada- It’s not the USA

Para elegir: survival; in spite of; identity; being; welfare; such; because of: shopping; tune in to; insistence; dozens; no matter, so

Primer Reading: Imagine yourself sitting in a café one day in your home town, when on the next table you hear some people speaking English with a strong North American accent. 1. ________ a friendly person, you lean over and say, «Hi! Are you American?» «No,» comes the immediate answer. «Canadian!»
Calling a English-speaking Canadian an American can be as bad as telling a Scotsman that he’s English or a Swiss person he’s German. 2. ___________ a common language, there are differences in culture and national feeling. «No,» many Canadians will tell you with 3. __________, «We’re not Americans! We’re Canadians»

In the same way as Quebecers are determined to keep their 4. __________, Canadians from the other provinces are determined to keep Canada’s identity. Although the Canadian way of life is more and more like the American way of life, lots of details are different, and many Canadians, particularly Quebecers, are worried about the 5. _________ of their own differences.

Canadians use metres and kilometres and measure temperatures in Celsius; Americans use feet and miles, and measure temperature in Fahrenheit. The USA has states, Canada has provinces.

Part 2

Yet about 80% of Canadians live within 150 km. of the U.S. border, and this has had a bad effect on the Canadian economy. Like most European countries, Canada has a national health service, and a good social security system; but good 6. __________ services have to be paid for by high taxes, so the cost of living in Canada is high. 7. ____________  this, hundreds of thousands of Canadians often get in their cars and drive over to the USA to go 8. _________. This is one cause of economic problems in Canada. Over half of Canada’s imports come from the United States, and Canada has a trade deficit with the USA.

But the American influence is not just a question of shopping. Lots of Canadians drive American cars, and cars are almost as important in Canada as they are in the USA. There is television too. While Quebecers tend to watch their own French-language TV stations, English-speaking Canadians have a choice between local English-speaking channels, national programmes from CBC, and 9. ________  of American channels brought to them by cable or satellite. Unless they specifically want to watch local stations, they’re just as likely to 10. ___________ one of the big American channels as they are to a Canadian channel.

Perhaps it is not surprising if some Canadians are afraid that their country will soon be just like another part of the USA. If, one day, Quebec becomes independent, many Canadians fear that the rest of Canada could break up.

Respuestas correctas: 1.being; 2. in spite of; 3. insistence; 4. identity; 5. survival; 6. welfare; 7. because of; 8. shopping; 9. dozens; 10. tune in to

2º Reading Aptis General parte 3

The story of the BBC

Part 2

Respuestas correctas: 1. remained; 2. rigidly; 3. have complained; 4. broadcast; 5. flickering; 6. sets; 7. since; 8. stories; 9. as far as; 10. remain

4º Aptis General Reading parte 3

Travel – Iceland’s newly extinct glacier

Para elegir: dirt, mighty, pledging, dropped, harsh, though, thick, acnowledge, emissions, offsetting, gleaming, inscription, cold, fumes

At the very heart of Iceland is the country’s 1. ____________ , glinting namesake: ice. Glaciers make up roughly 10% of Iceland, and they bring close to 2 million tourists from all over the world to the country each year. But these 2. __________ masses of ice are more fragile than they may seem. In the wake of climate change, glaciologists predict that in 200 years all of Iceland’s glaciers will have disappeared. One already has.

In 2014, when its ice was no longer 3. _________ enough to move, Okjokull glacier was pronounced dead. A lake of melted ice and barren stretch of stone and dirt now dominates the landscape where the glacier once lived. The site was renamed Ok, and “jokull,” meaning “glacier” in Icelandic, was 4. __________.

Part 2

In August, local geologists and climate advocates installed a plaque at the site of the former glacier, which reads: “In the next 200 years, all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is to 5. ____________ that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it.”

Written by Icelandic author Andri Snaer Magnason, the 6. ___________ is meant to serve as a warning that unless something changes, experiencing Iceland’s awe-inspiring glaciers will be a privilege of past generations.

Some locals, 7. __________, are hopeful that Icelandic companies offering “sustainable tours” by 8. ___________ their emissions with reforestation, capping the sizes of their groups and adhering to strict recycling rules will be able to help preserve the country’s glaciers. The Icelandic government is also making it a top priority to save these melting giants, 9. __________ to cut 40% of Iceland’s 10. ___________ by 2030.

Fuente: BBC 

Respuestas correctas: 1. gleaming; 2. mighty; 3. thick; 4. dirt; 5. dropped; 6. acknowledge; 7. though; 8. offetting; 9. pledging; 10. emissions

5º Reading Aptis General part 3

Child marriage in Nepal

Palabras para elegir: cooperation; dowry; consent; decrease, but, decrease; delayed; equality; burden; however; commitment; imprisonment, isolated

Nepal has made important progress over the past few years to promote 1. ____________, but the country still has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world. 41% of Nepalese girls are married before the age of 18.

Poverty is both a cause and consequence of child marriage in Nepal. Girls from the wealthiest families marry 2 years later than those from the poorest, who are seen as an economic 2. ___________, and who drop out of school and earn little money.

Food insecurity plays an important role too. Nepalese families that do not have enough food to eat are more likely to marry their daughters at a young age to 3. ___________ the financial burden. One study shows that 91% of people who had secure access to food married over the age of 19.

4. __________ is also common practice in many communities. Parents marry their daughters as soon as possible because the money they have to pay to the groom’s family is higher if their daughter is older.

Part 2

Since 2010, the legal age of marriage is 20 for both men and women, or 18 with parental 5. _________ , according to the Nepalese Country Code.

The law states that punishment for child marriage is 6. ____________ for up to three years and a fine of up to 10,000 rupees (£102). But reports suggest that this law is rarely applied.

There has been quite a lot of progress in Nepal over the past 3 years with a clear government 7. ______________ to ending child marriage and civil society 8. ___________ .

The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare is currently developing Nepal’s first national strategy on child marriage in collaboration with UNICEF Nepal and Girls Not Brides Nepal.

9. ___________However, the post-earthquake and post-fuel crisis environment has meant progress is slow and the national strategy has been 10. ____________.

Respuestas correctas: 1. equality; 2. burden; 3. decrease; 4. dowry; 5. consent; 6. imprisonment; 7. commitment; 8. cooperation; 9. however; 10. delayed

6º Aptis General Reading part 3

Is veganism as good for you as they say?

Para elegir: based on; program; fourfold; boom; training; benefits; soar; bottom; fit; midst; performance; trends; wellness;

Cuarta parte Reading Aptis General

En la última parte y la más retadora del reading Aptis tendrás que asignar los títulos dados a los párrafos correspondientes de manera que tengan lógica.

Gondwanaland This test is in two parts, one of eight questions, the other of five. For the first part you have to read the text, and then match the paragraph headings A – H with the paragraphs 1-8. Write the letter in front of each heading into the box next to the number of the paragraph it belongs to. When you have finished the whole test press ‘Answers’ to see if you were right. This part of the test should take 17 -20 minutes.

1. Finding the evidence
2. The living continent
3. Small but significant
4. Making modern Antartica
5. Putting it all together
6. Joining another continent
7. An impossible idea
8. What’s in a name?

Fuente: http://www.bbc.co.uk/

Respuestas:
1. C
2. G
3. H
4. A
5. E
6. B
7. F
8. D

https://www.ielts-mentor.com/reading-sample/academic-reading/791-ielts-academic-reading-sample-121-gondwanaland

¿Quieres asesoramiento sobre los títulos oficiales de inglés? 

No dudes en ponerte en contacto con nosotros. Estaremos encantados de aclarar tus dudas.

Bonus ejercicio examen Reading Aptis General:

Aquí te dejamos un modelo de examen completo de las cuatro partes de Reading Aptis General de temática navideña, para que sigas poniendo a prueba tu inglés.

Aptis Trinity LanguageCert o Linguaskill para la habilitación lingüística 

Pues eso, que ahora es un buen momento para seguir entrenando un poquito más Aptis General y para ello este Reading Aptis general basado en un clásico: A Christmas Carol de Charles Dickens, are you ready? 

Para poder visualizar las respuestas, éstas estarán en un color clarito. Al pasar el cursor sobre las respuestas podrás leerlas perfectamente y comprobar si tus opciones coinciden con las respuestas correctas. Good luck!

Reading Aptis General Part 1

Task 1

Choose one word (A,B or C) for each space and write the letter on the answer paper. The first one (0) is done for you as an example for you.

A Christmas Carol

Aptis General Reading Part 2

Task 2

Order the sentence (B-H) below to make a story. Write the answer on the answer paper sheet. The first sentence of the story (A) is given for you on the answer paper as an example.

A. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge makes his clerk, Bob Cratchit, work in the cold.

B. The Ghost of Christmas Present takes him to the Cratchit’s home, where he is saddened by the ill, but kind, Tiny Tim. He is also shown how Fred celebrates Christmas with friends and how others celebrate Christmas together.

C.  The Ghost of Christmas Past wakes Scrooge and shows him moments from his childhood, his apprenticeship and his failed engagement.

D. Scrooge becomes like a second father to Tiny Tim and gains a reputation for knowing how to celebrate Christmas.

E. He refuses an invitation to his nephew Fred’s Christmas party and will not give money to the charity collectors.

F. The final ghost is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come who terrifies Scrooge with visions of his death.

G. At home he is visited by the ghost of his old business partner, Marley.

H. Scrooge awakes on Christmas Day and is delighted to find he has the chance to repent of his miserly ways. He buys a turkey for the Cratchits and attends his nephew’s party.

0. A; 1. _____ ; 2. _____ ; 3. ____ ; 4. _____  ; 5. _____ ; 6. _____ ; 7. _____

Respuestas: 0. A; 1. E ; 2. G ; 3. C ; 4. B ; 5. F ; 6. H ; 7. D

Habilitación lingüística C1 modelo de examen

Task 3

To complete the task, you need to match four people’s opinions (Person A-D) to seven options. Four people were asked about A Christmas Carol (2019) FX film and their opinion.  Read the text and then decide which of the people expresses the opinion below.

A. Francesca

I watched it last night and thought it was an amazing take on a Dickens’s classic. The visuals were astonishing and every actor was at the top of his or her game. While many of the changes were a jolt to the system, I appreciated the fact that while Scrooge was too damaged by his past for transformation and complete redemption, he finally realized it. I missed Fezziwig and his reconnection with his estranged nephew, the re-imagining was powerful enough without those elements.

B. Marc

While this is an excellent production. Well written and visually stunning, I think calling it an adaptation is a stretch. Dickens wrote of class struggles and social obligations. The only similarities to the original are the character names and the setting. I feel they glommed onto the seasonal popularity of A Christmas Carol to tell a tale of personal strife and individual reconciliation.

D. Shelby

The most heart-breaking scene in this version was Nephew Fred. His smile betrayed his intense pain. I will ignore his religious impairment, he was there for his mother, now deceased, trying to honor her wishes. Of course, Scrooge cruelly rebuffed his attempts at friendship. I guess this scene was a limiting factor as to why there was not a subsequent, and traditional scene at Fred’s Christmas Day dinner. This is a very logical conclusion and a response to those who have complained about such omission.

E. Joe

I just finished my second complete viewing (plus a partial third on youtube catching my favorite parts). I thought I would absolutely hate this adaptation because I look for those that are faithful to their source material. However, I understood right away that this was a deconstruction of the tale and its characters with its aim to make the characters breathe fresh with new dialogue. And on that point, the dialogue is brilliant, having its own poetic and articulate weight. I would have preferred the final shot being Ebenezer at his nephew’s home (and kudos to the writing and acting that put such pain in Fred’s words and realization) but that meeting would have happened given Scrooge’s awakening.

Who …

1. believes the film’s adaptation is somehow a trouble?
2. thinks that the absence of one of the characters is due to Scrooge’s rejection?
3. found the film appealing first?
4. found well the suffering of the main character of the film?
5. was amazed by the great talks performed in the film?
6. was really moved by a painful scene of a characater?
7. finds just a few resemblances with the book?

Respuestas: 1. Marc, 2. Shelby, 3. Joe, 4. Francesca, 5. Joe, 6. Shelby, 7. Marc.

Fuente: ruthlessreviews

Aptis General Reading Part 4

Task 4

Paragraph Headings. Choose a heading from below for each paragraph. There is one more heading that you need. The first one (0) is done for you. 

0. Scrooge makes his clerk work in the cold

The novella begins on Christmas Eve with Scrooge, a mean and miserly man working in his counting-house. His clerk, Bob Cratchit, is working hard and trying to warm himself over a candle as Scrooge refuses to give him more coal.

1. ________________

Headings Aptis General Reading

A. Scrooge awakes on Christmas Day

B. Scrooge dismisses the charity collectors

C. The Ghost of Christmas Present

D. Scrooge knows how to celebrate Christmas

E. The final spirit

F. Scrooge is visited by Marley

G. The Ghost of Christmas Past

H. Scrooge makes his clerk work in the cold (example)

Respuestas: 1. He refuses Fred’s invitation; 2. Scrooge dismisses the charity collectors; 3. Scrooge is visited by Marley; 4. The Ghost of Christmas Past; 5. The Ghost of Christmas Present; 6. The final spirit; 7. Scrooge awakes on Christmas Day; 8. Scrooge knows how to celebrate Christmas

Para más información o clases de preparación Aptis General o Advanced presenciales o online, llama al 910 32 82 62 o envías Whatsapp al 670741484 y te atenderemos en seguida.

Si deseas practicar más readings del aptis, puedes hacer este Reading Aptis Advanced que se parece al último ejercicio del Aptis General de asignar títulos (matching headings). También tienes estos otros que consisten en rellenar huecos (multiple choice reading). Te pueden resultar un poco más difíciles, pero the more you practice, the better.