Comprehensions

2025 Mock, Q1 (b)

1.     (a)    to earn money and to learn and improve a foreign language in high demand in the job market. X

        (b)     The country is full of Spanish people and it is likely that they meet together and don’t practice English. ✓

        ( c)    The climate is terrible. The first year he defended it because he was in love with Ireland but in his second year he has realised that yes, the climate has affected him some days. ✓

        (d)    All of his jobs have required no qualifications but have allowed him to save, live comfortably, travel and send money to his family. ✓

        (e)    It is not a country that he will stay many more years in, but he sees a lot of good in staying for one or two years and doing all that he has done. ✓

2.     (a)    se decantó por Irlanda ✓

        (b)    también cuentan con una lengua propia ✓

        ( c)    estaba muy enamorado de Irlanda ✓

3.     (a)     the high rate of unemployment of young people ✓

        (b)    because it is likely that they meet together and don’t practice the language. ✓

        ( c)    he confirms that it is worth it to live in Ireland. X 

4.     ofrecer ayuda (asesoría) y compartir sus experiencias en un otro país. 

2025 Q1 (b)

1.     (a)     to promote Spain as a new and exotic tourist destination. ✓

        (b)    Camila says it’s normal to greet people with two kisses on the cheek in Spain, even if you don’t know them. ✓

        ( c)    Kaspar says the nightclubs in Madrid don’t open until one or two in the morning but in Norway’s at those times they would already be closed. ✓

        (d)    What annoys him about Spain is that it is not frowned upon to arrive late to the party of a with long known long term friends or a work meeting or even a date. ✓

        (e)    we should enjoy these cultural differences in Spain because they make the country welcoming and unique and a country that continues to attract so many people from abroad. ✓

2.     (a)    aún se escucha - todavía existe ✓

        (b)    causa asombro - sorprende ✓

        ( c)    destacan - llaman la atención ✓

3.     (a)    In Germany this that would never happen

        (b)    now he’s thinking to stay in Spain forever ✓

        ( c)    however besides, the high speed trains are the most punctual ✓

4.     (a)    piensa que es una bella tradición 

        (b)    ha tomado mucho tiempo 

2020 Q1 (b)

1. (a)     It allows you to order whatever you like and you will receive it at your house or office in minutes.  ✓

    (b)    Sasha was delivery man for newspapers and milk and a jockey.  ✓

    (c )    cities are big, innovative and cosmopolitan  ✓

    (d)    The company does not only deliver food but a lot of other things too.  ✓

    (e)    Because it is so varied and she only works the hours she wants to.  ✓

2. (a)    mitad  ✓

    (b)    aún quedan  ✓

    ( c)    estadísticas  ✓

3. (a)    in order to create to set up his own company

    (b)    a typical user very used to this type of service  ✓

    ( c)    wearing the characteristic yellow bag  ✓

4.    haces falta algo

        una populación grande

2020 Q2

(a)    (i)    People of all ages, including children and elderly people  ✓

        (ii)    more than 200 participants took part  ✓

                from the amateur to the elite level in paddle surfing  ✓

(b)    (i)    in the park, the library and the sports centre  ✓

        (ii)    runners, rackets and bicycles  ✓

        (iii)    the objects will be offered to less fortunate families  ✓

2021 Q1 (b)

1. (a) Dr. Rodríguez says that physical exercise has many benefits for everyone and is something we must all start from an early age. ✓

    (b) The study revealed that in Spain only 3% of school time is dedicated to the subject of PE compared to 20% in Finland. ✓

    ( c) Bad habits such as eating fast food, addiction to video games and most of all the lack of movement. ✓

    (d)    it prevents illnesses ✓

            it helps the thinking process X

            it improves health ✓

(e)    PE teachers want students to include sport in their lifestyle, creating healthy citizens in society. ✓

2.     a) ocio - tiempo libre ✓

        b) los jovenes sufren - los adolescentes padecen ✓

        c) bajada - descenso ✓

3.     a) to prepare young Spanish people for high competition ✓

        b) favours academic progress

        c) it improves self-esteem and empathy for others ✓

4.     las cifras muestran

2021 Q2

(a)

(i)    the bee is completely unique because it does not any type of virus or bacteria ✓

(ii)    because the pollination by the bees allows plants to reproduce ✓

(iii)    the lack of flowers ✓

        the uncontrolled use of pesticides ✓

        (mass deforestation) ✓

(b)

(i)    the Irish government will give around €5 million ✓

        the national lottery will give half a million euros. ✓

(ii)    hotels ✓

        bicycle shops ✓

        cafés ✓

        (hostels) ✓

2021 Section B ‘Los Voluntarios’

1. a) el mundo donde vivimos ✓

    b) se estima ✓

    c) se despidió ✓

    d) mayor descubrimiento ✓

    e) muchos motivos ✓

2.     a)    doing small things is capable of changing the world ✓

        b)    help with the construction of homes in poor neighbourhoods areas

        c)    people who have too much free time available

3. a) una ocasión (2) - una oportunidad ✓

    b) dejar (3) - abandonar ✓

    c) comenzó (4) - empezó ✓

    d) elegir (5) - escoger ✓

    e) sucede (6) - ocurre ✓

4. (a) What is International Volunteer Day an opportunity to do?  Give two details.   

It’s an opportunity for volunteers and organisations to promote their work and communicate their values. ✓

(b)   How do some people decide to become volunteers?  Give two details. 

For some, the idea to become a volunteer has always been a dream. For others, the idea comes from a conversation with friends who want to improve the world. ✓

(c)   What does Javi say is the voluntary work he does?  Give three details. 

He does a bit of everything, from building houses, health centres to schools. As well as this, because he has technical training, he often does a lot of carpentry and electrical work. From his work he feels free and that he can choose is own path, which is very rewarding. ✓

2024 Comprehensions

1. During the last decade music in Spanish has seen a growth and unprecedented visibility outside of Central and South America. ✓

2. As Bad Bunny went on stage at Coachella he asked the crowd if they would prefer he speak in English or Spanish and the immediate answer was: in Spanish! ✓

3. If a song is made popular in the United States it immediately goes viral and as a consequence the song’s fame extends to a global scale. ✓

4. In the past, the music industry did not value Latin American audiences, due to them not spending a lot of as much money on traditional music formats like vinyls and CDs.

5. It is not necessary that you understand the lyrics of the song in Spanish because the music is happy, you can dance to it and gives a feeling of freedom. ✓

(a)    alucinante ✓

(b)    origen / orgullo

( c)    disfrutar

3. He made history by being the first Hispanic musician headliner

4. One must recognise The power of the enormous market must be recognised

5. It is clearly seen to see that Latin music is expanding all over throughout the world

Hoy en día

Q2

(a)    (i) He parked his car in a parking space reserved for people with disabilities using a fake card. ✓

        (ii) When a police officer looked at checked the permit and discovered its number did not correspond to the parked car but to a totally different vehicle. ✓

        (iii) Juan accepted the blame guilt and payed the fine.

(b)    (i) The news was made public through the social media of its mayor, Darío Dolz. ✓

        (ii) The key to its success is Cuenca’s mix of fresh ingredients and traditional cooking methods. ✓

        (iii) Few people know that Cuenca is an enchanting charming city, full of palaces and wide narrow streets.

2023 Comprehensions

Journalistic Text

1.     (a) they have changed the way they enjoy the summer and time spent outside.✓ Spanish people often spend the days inside their houses with the blinds down and the air conditioning on high.

        (b)    “the heatwaves start earlier in the summer, last longer and affect the majority of the country” ✓

        ( c)    People can escape from the heatwaves, as well as reducing the deaths and limiting the illnesses in the population. ✓

        (d)    In the school in Seville, students were sent home to escape the temperatures of more than 40C.✓

        (e)    People most vulnerable such as elderly people, pregnant women and people with respiratory problems. ✓

2.     (a)    ciudadanos - los españoles X habitantes

        (b)    es posible relejarse - se puede descansar ✓

       ( c)    altera la conducta - modifica el comportamiento ✓

3.     (a)    with the air conditioning flat out ✓

        (b)    various ways to alleviate the dangerous consequences ✓

       ( c)    the human race has always adapted to its environment ✓

4.     una cifra muy preocupante ✓

        muchos edificios educativos ✓

Q2.

(a)    (i)    he won nearly 1 million pesos in the lotto after playing the same numbers for 15 years. ✓

        (ii)    he declared to the police: ‘Gentlemen, I do not rob anymore’ and he offered money as compensation to his victims. ✓

        (iii)    watches and bracelets

(b)    (i)    During the pandemic a lot of people decided to buy or adopt pets, especially dogs.✓

        (ii)    they describe them as light, colourful and appropriate for winter or the spring. ✓

        (iii)    sunglasses and toys ✓

Section B

1. (a)     a la mitad ✓

    (b)    las tareas del hogar ✓

     c)     comenta reconoce

    (d)    suficiente ✓

    (e)    tiempos adversos ✓

2. (a)    the high cost of renting is often another big obstacle ✓

    (b)    the strong family connection that characterises Spanish people ✓

     c)    they educate children to be self-sufficient and establish their own house ✓

3. (a)    sin embargo ✓

    (b)    falleció ✓

     c)    mudarme ✓

    (d)    natural ✓

    (e)    señala ✓

4. (a)    The precarious labour situation of young Spaniards is a factor for their advanced age of leaving home. The unemployment rate among young people is 30%. Those who have jobs often have only temporary contracts and very low salaries. ✓

    (b)    He says that by living with his mother, he does not have to worry about the cost that comes with having his own flat, which includes light and water bills. ✓

     c)    Parents take on financing their children’s university journey, where in other countries it is assumed by the government. ✓