Continuamos con nuestra preparación para los exámenes oficiales SLP de las Fuerzas Armadas y la Guardia Civil. En esta ocasión, vamos a seguir trabajando para obtener el Nivel profesional con nuestro segundo simulacro de comprensión de textos (Reading), diseñado específicamente para los aspirantes al perfil SLP 3.3.3.3.
Este ejercicio de elaboración propia se compone de 3 textos extensos estructurados para superar los estándares del nivel profesional (SLP 3) y ofrecer un entrenamiento riguroso en la interpretación de datos complejos. Conviene recordar que el examen oficial de la convocatoria consta de 9 textos (más cortos que los presentados aquí) con 24 preguntas, 3 textos de dos preguntas y 6 textos de tres preguntas, que deben resolverse en un tiempo límite de 65 minutos sin penalización por respuestas incorrectas, lo que exige una gestión del tiempo sumamente estratégica.
Los contenidos seleccionados para este test se centran de lleno en la terminología técnico-militar y en el análisis de la terminología económica, dos de las áreas más recurrentes y críticas en las pruebas oficiales. Afrontar con éxito el examen del SLP 3 requiere ir más allá de la traducción literal. Es indispensable dominar la lectura analítica y la interpretación de ideas implícitas que exigen "leer entre líneas". Una vez compruebes el resultado obtenido detrás de cada pregunta te aparecerá la explicación detallada de todas las opciones sean correctas o incorrectas, una herramienta clave para la autoevaluación y el análisis de errores.
ATK TO MAKE ARTILLERY SHELL
The U.S. Army has awarded Alliant Techsystems (ATK), Edina, Minn., a $20 million development deal for its Precision Guidance Kit (PGK), an artillery shell out-fitted with precise, GPS-guided targeting capability. The award follows weeks of extensive testing at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., involving a shootoff between precision rounds offered by BAE systems and ATK.
‘ATK’s 18-projectile technology development demonstration test performance exceeded the Army’s objective requirement of less than or equal to 30 metres circular error probability,’ said Peter Rowland, a spokesman for the Army’s Picatinny Aresenal, N.J. ATK’s deal with the Army will lead toward a production phase for the $3,000-apiece rounds in 2009, and fielding with soldiers in combat by 2010, according to other army officials.
The PGK comprises a conventional artillery round fitted with GPS guidance kit with a fuze built on, giving the shell precise targeting capability at ranges up to 28 kilometers. ‘What amazes me most is that we take World War II vintage artillery capability and give it remarkable precision, transforming the artillery base from an area weapon into a precision weapon,’ said Jack Cronin, ATK mission system group president. Another interesting novelty is its small wing-like propellers called spinning canards. The artillery round turns one direction, while the propellers turn another to direct the munition in flight, Cronin said.
In the system development and demonstration phase, ATK and the Army will refine the shell’s jam-proof technologies to handle a variety of jamming scenarios.
Text 1: ATK TO MAKE ARTILLERY SHELL
1) $20 million has been allocated for …
Explicación detallada - Pregunta 1
Correct Answer: c) developing artillery technology
- a) Incorrect: The contract is specifically for developing the Precision Guidance Kit (PGK), not modifying a specific existing shell body itself.
- b) Incorrect: While the kit uses GPS, the overall contract is awarded to develop the full technology kit, not simply a purchase/fitting fee for standard GPS chips.
- c) Correct: The text explicitly states: "awarded Alliant Techsystems (ATK) ... a $20 million development deal for its Precision Guidance Kit (PGK)..." and later mentions the "system development and demonstration phase."
- d) Incorrect: BAE Systems lost the competition ("shootoff") to ATK; the contract went to ATK.
2) According to Peter Rowland, the new technology …
Explicación detallada - Pregunta 2
Correct Answer: d) performs better than required
- a) Incorrect: This understates the result—it didn't just satisfy expectations, it went beyond them.
- b) Incorrect: While fielding in combat is scheduled for 2010, this point comes from "other army officials," not Peter Rowland.
- c) Incorrect: Production is slated for 2009 after further development work.
- d) Correct: Peter Rowland stated that ATK's test performance "exceeded the Army's objective requirement..."
3) In Cronin’s opinion, what makes the PGK round most interesting is that …
Explicación detallada - Pregunta 3
Correct Answer: d) it modernizes old artillery with accuracy
- a) Incorrect: Too vague compared to his specific reference to modernizing old-style capability.
- b) Incorrect: Precision increases (error gets smaller), but this isn't his primary quote on what "amazes" him most.
- c) Incorrect: The presence of guidance devices is standard for precision weapons, not the specific point of amazement he calls out.
- d) Correct: Jack Cronin states: "What amazes me most is that we take World War II vintage artillery capability and give it remarkable precision..."
THINK AHEAD
Now that the White House is backing a larger U.S. Army, the question is whether the Americans really need 92,000 more troops. Since the end of the Cold War, ground forces advocates have argued against Pentagon transformation theorists who stress capital-intensive technological modernization at the expense of Army units. Their calls for additional forces have become more urgent with 150,000 troops garrisoned in Iraq and Kuwait, and another 20,000 in Afghanistan. But opponents of permanent troop increase fear that by the time these new soldiers are recruited, trained and deployed, they may no longer be needed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Adding 10,000 troops requires more than $ 1 billion per year, money that is likely to come at the expense of modernization.
Once DoD goes back to a real budget – a day many suspect will come immediately after the 2008 presidential election – it will be stuck with too many people, too much broken equipment and too much planned spending. Real defense spending will decline as government entitlement costs spike, starting in 2010 with the retirement of the baby boomers. So, when the cuts start, either procurement or people have to give. In the early 1990s, the army traded modernization spending to preserve force structure, and in the end it hurt itself by losing both people and programs. That’s why it’s going to take a great deal of forethought to make sure that when the inevitable cuts do come, the damage is eased.
Wartime creates challenges, but also opportunities to change. The U.S. Army wants to be bigger and is using its high profile in Iraq to get more of the Pentagon budget, but not thinking in the long term. Defense Secretary Robert Gates must resist that demand for the time being. He must think strategically and assess the likelihood that the nation will support a costly buildup, reset today’s degraded equipment and adequately modernize – simultaneously. The Army can’t fight, move, talk or see without the Air Force and Navy. Without the Army, all the naval and air power in the world are useless.
Text 2: THINK AHEAD
4) Pentagon theorists say that …
Explicación detallada - Pregunta 4
Correct Answer: c) the army modernization should be a priority
- a) Incorrect: Ground forces advocates (opponents of Pentagon transformation theorists) argue for more troops, not the transformation theorists themselves.
- b) Incorrect: Opponents of permanent troop increases raise cost and timing concerns, not Pentagon transformation theorists.
- c) Correct: The text states that Pentagon transformation theorists "stress capital-intensive technological modernization at the expense of Army units."
- d) Incorrect: Transformation theorists focus on technology over raw ground force numbers.
5) In the future, DoD will …
Explicación detallada - Pregunta 5
Correct Answer: b) have their financial means reduced
- a) Incorrect: The text mentions government entitlement costs spiking generally, but doesn't state DoD itself will get pension increases.
- b) Correct: The passage notes: "Real defense spending will decline as government entitlement costs spike... So, when the cuts start..."
- c) Incorrect: The text warns that spending will have to be cut, affecting procurement or personnel.
- d) Incorrect: Not mentioned in the text.
6) The author thinks that now the Defense Secretary has to …
Explicación detallada - Pregunta 6
Correct Answer: b) oppose making the Army forces larger
- a) Incorrect: The text states the Army wants a larger budget, but Gates must resist this short-term push.
- b) Correct: The text states: "The U.S. Army wants to be bigger... Defense Secretary Robert Gates must resist that demand for the time being."
- c) Incorrect: The text notes all branches need each other, but doesn't tell Gates to prioritize Navy/Air Force over the Army.
- d) Incorrect: Not suggested by the author.
ECONOMY
The German economy shrank unexpectedly in the first three months of this year, marking the second quarter of contraction that is one definition of recession. Data released Thursday by the Federal Statistical Office shows Germany's gross domestic product, or GDP, declined by 0.3% in the period from January to March. This follows a drop of 0.5% in Europe's biggest economy during the last quarter of 2022. Two consecutive quarters of contraction is a common definition of recession, though economists on the euro area business cycle dating committee use a broader set of data, including employment figures. Germany is one of the 20 countries that use the euro currency. Employment in the country rose in the first quarter and inflation has eased, but higher interest rates will keep weighing on spending and investment, said Franziska Palmas, senior Europe economist for Capital Economics.
"Germany has experienced a technical recession and has been by far the worst performer among major eurozone economies over the past two quarters," Palmas said, predicting further weakness ahead. The figures are a blow to the German government, which last month boldly doubled its growth forecast for this year after a feared winter energy crunch failed to materialize. It said the economy would grow by 0.4% — up from a 0.2% expansion predicted in late January — a forecast that may now need to be revised downward.
Economists said high inflation hit consumer spending, with prices in April 7.2% higher than a year ago. GDP — the broadest gauge of economic output — reflects the total value of goods and services produced in a country. Some experts question whether the figure alone is a useful indicator of economic prosperity given that it doesn't distinguish between types of spending. As a whole, the eurozone economy scraped out meager growth of 0.1% in the first quarter, according to initial estimates, with inflation eroding people's willingness to spend as their pay fails to keep pace. The U.S. also reported disappointing growth estimates Thursday that kept alive fears of a recession in the world's largest economy.
Text 3: ECONOMY
7) What is the common definition of a recession mentioned in the text?
Explicación detallada - Pregunta 7
Correct Answer: b) Two consecutive quarters of GDP contraction
- a) Incorrect: Growth indicates expansion, not recession.
- b) Correct: The text clearly states: "Two consecutive quarters of contraction is a common definition of recession..."
- c) Incorrect: Inflation rates are discussed separately from the formal definition of recession.
- d) Incorrect: Employment is noted as part of a broader set of data used by euro area committees, but not the "common definition."
8) What was the predicted growth rate for the German economy in late January?
Explicación detallada - Pregunta 8
Correct Answer: a) 0.2%
- a) Correct: The text states: "up from a 0.2% expansion predicted in late January..."
- b) Incorrect: 0.3% was the actual GDP decline in Q1.
- c) Incorrect: 0.4% was the revised doubled forecast made in the previous month.
- d) Incorrect: 0.5% was the GDP drop in Q4 2022.
9) How did inflation in April impact consumer spending in Germany according to economists?
Explicación detallada - Pregunta 9
Correct Answer: c) It decreased consumer spending
- a) Incorrect: High inflation lowers purchasing power.
- b) Incorrect: An impact is explicitly noted.
- c) Correct: The text states: "Economists said high inflation hit consumer spending..." and "inflation eroding people's willingness to spend..."
- d) Incorrect: It is explicitly addressed in paragraph 3.
10) What is the concern some experts have with GDP as an indicator of economic prosperity?
Explicación detallada - Pregunta 10
Correct Answer: b) It doesn't distinguish between types of spending
- a) Incorrect: Not the reason cited by the text.
- b) Correct: The text states that some experts question whether GDP alone is a useful indicator of economic prosperity because it "doesn't distinguish between types of spending."
- c) Incorrect: Employment figures are mentioned separately as part of a broader set of data, not as the specific criticism of GDP.
- d) Incorrect: Interest rates are mentioned as affecting spending and investment, but this is not the concern cited about GDP as an indicator.
11) How did the U.S. economy perform according to the estimates mentioned in the text?
Explicación detallada - Pregunta 11
Correct Answer: b) It had disappointing growth estimates
- a) Incorrect: The text does not describe rapid growth in the United States.
- b) Correct: The final sentence states that: "The U.S. also reported disappointing growth estimates Thursday that kept alive fears of a recession in the world's largest economy."
- c) Incorrect: The text specifically describes the estimates as disappointing.
- d) Incorrect: A significant contraction of the U.S. economy is not stated in the text.
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