Simulacro de Reading Examen SLP 2 Inglés. Test 3

Reading SLP 2.2.2.2. Ejercicio de Comprensión de textos de 20 preguntas

Hoy traemos otro Simulacro de Reading de SLP nivel 2 para que continuéis poniendo a prueba vuestros progresos. Este simulacro está compuesto por 20 textos cortos con una pregunta tipo test sobre cada uno de ellos. Este recurso totalmente gratuito ha sido diseñado con un objetivo claro: ayudarte a entrenar en escenarios reales, dominar el vocabulario clave del nivel SLP 2 y, sobre todo, perfeccionar tu técnica de descarte para evitar los temidos "distractores" del examen oficial. Si quieres simular las condiciones reales del día de la prueba coge tu reloj y pon la cuenta atrás en 40 minutos. Dos minutos por pregunta que es el tiempo del que vas a disponer el día del examen (30 textos en 60 minutos).

1. Características del simulacro de Reading SLP 2

Para afrontar con garantías una prueba de comprensión escrita, es importante conocer las condiciones del ejercicio que vamos a realizar:

• Número de textos: Este simulacro contiene 20 textos breves, cada uno acompañado de una pregunta de comprensión lectora.
• Tiempo recomendado: Si quieres entrenar bajo presión, puedes intentar completar el simulacro en aproximadamente 40 minutos.
• Estrategia: Lee primero la pregunta y después localiza en el texto la información necesaria para responder. Evita dedicar demasiado tiempo a una sola cuestión.
• Respuestas: Una vez finalizado el ejercicio, pulsa el botón para comprobar tus respuestas y conocer tu resultado y nivel obtenido.

2. Destrezas evaluadas en el nivel funcional

Los textos pueden abordar diferentes temáticas. El objetivo de este simulacro es trabajar dos técnicas fundamentales de comprensión lectora:

• Reading for gist (Skimming): identificar la idea general o el propósito principal de un texto.
• Reading for detail (Scanning): localizar información específica, datos concretos y argumentos que permitan diferenciar la respuesta correcta de los distractores.

Al final de cada pregunta encontrarás la solución detallada con el análisis de las opciones correctas e incorrectas para poder revisar tus errores y reforzar el vocabulario.

The first automated traffic light system was installed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1914. Before this innovation, police officers had to stand in the middle of busy intersections to direct vehicles manually, which led to frequent accidents. The new electric device used only red and green lights to regulate movement. The amber warning light was not introduced until six years later by a police officer in Detroit to improve safety.

The Traffic Light Revolution

1) According to the text, when was the amber traffic light created?

• a) In 1914, alongside the first automated electric system.
• b) Six years before police officers started using red and green lights.
• c) In 1920, by a law enforcement member in Detroit.
• d) When manual intersections became completely free of accidents.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 1

Correct Answer: c) In 1920, by a law enforcement member in Detroit.

• a) Incorrect: The first automated traffic light system was installed in 1914, but it initially used only red and green lights.
• b) Incorrect: The amber light was introduced six years after 1914, not before.
• c) Correct: The system was installed in 1914 and the amber light was introduced six years later, in 1920, by a police officer in Detroit.
• d) Incorrect: The text does not state that manual intersections became completely free of accidents.

Satellite data shows that Arctic glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate due to rising global temperatures. While this environmental crisis threatens coastal ecosystems worldwide, it has simultaneously opened new commercial opportunities for maritime logistics companies. Shipping vessels can now transit through the Northwest Passage during summer, reducing the travel time between Europe and Asia by approximately two weeks compared to traditional routes using the Panama Canal.

Glacier Melting and Ship Navigation

2) What is a direct consequence of the Arctic ice melting mentioned in the text?

• a) Maritime logistics companies have stopped operating during the summer.
• b) Ships can take a shorter maritime route between Europe and Asia.
• c) The Panama Canal has increased its transit capacity by two weeks.
• d) Coastal ecosystems have found new commercial opportunities.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 2

Correct Answer: b) Ships can take a shorter maritime route between Europe and Asia.

• a) Incorrect: The text says that melting ice has opened new commercial opportunities for maritime logistics companies.
• b) Correct: The opening of the Northwest Passage during summer reduces travel time between Europe and Asia by approximately two weeks.
• c) Incorrect: The Panama Canal has not increased its transit capacity by two weeks.
• d) Incorrect: The text says that coastal ecosystems are threatened, not that they have found commercial opportunities.

Avocados have become incredibly popular globally, often labeled as a "superfood" by modern nutritionists. Unlike most fruits that are primarily composed of carbohydrates and natural sugars, avocados are exceptionally high in monounsaturated fats. These healthy dietary fats actively help lower bad cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. However, dietary experts warn that their high caloric density means they should be consumed in moderate portions.

The Nutritional Power of Avocado

3) What distinguishes avocados from most other fruits?

• a) They contain significantly higher levels of carbohydrates.
• b) Their natural sugars help eliminate bad cholesterol.
• c) They possess a unique composition rich in healthy fats.
• d) They can be eaten in unlimited portions due to low calories.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 3

Correct Answer: c) They possess a unique composition rich in healthy fats.

• a) Incorrect: The text says that most fruits are primarily composed of carbohydrates and natural sugars, whereas avocados are especially high in fats.
• b) Incorrect: The text attributes the cholesterol-lowering effect to healthy dietary fats, not natural sugars.
• c) Correct: Unlike most fruits, avocados are exceptionally high in monounsaturated fats.
• d) Incorrect: Their high caloric density means they should be consumed in moderate portions.

Built for the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris, the Eiffel Tower was originally intended to be a temporary structure. The municipal contract stated that the tower had to be completely dismantled after twenty years. However, the structure was saved from destruction because its creator, Gustave Eiffel, permitted the military to install a permanent telegraph antenna at the top, transforming the monument into a vital telecommunications station.

The Construction of the Eiffel Tower

4) Why was the Eiffel Tower saved from being dismantled?

• a) The municipal contract was extended for an extra twenty years.
• b) It became useful for military communication purposes.
• c) Gustave Eiffel bought the monument back from the city of Paris.
• d) It attracted too many tourists during the 1889 World’s Fair.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 4

Correct Answer: b) It became useful for military communication purposes.

• a) Incorrect: The text does not say that the municipal contract was extended.
• b) Correct: The tower was saved because a permanent telegraph antenna was installed for military communication, turning it into an important telecommunications station.
• c) Incorrect: There is no mention of Gustave Eiffel buying the monument back.
• d) Incorrect: Tourist popularity is not given as the reason why the tower was saved.

Electronic waste, or e-waste, is currently the fastest-growing waste stream on Earth. Consumers discard millions of smartphones, computers, and televisions every year to purchase newer models. When these broken devices are thrown into standard landfills instead of specialized recycling facilities, toxic chemicals like lead and mercury leak into the ground. This process poisons underground water reserves and damages local agricultural soil for decades.

E-Waste Environmental Hazards

5) According to the passage, what happens when e-waste is not recycled properly?

• a) Standard landfills refuse to accept any broken electronic devices.
• b) Companies stop manufacturing newer smartphone models.
• c) Dangerous substances contaminate soil and water supplies.
• d) Recycling facilities lose millions of dollars every year.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 5

Correct Answer: c) Dangerous substances contaminate soil and water supplies.

• a) Incorrect: The passage says that broken electronic devices are thrown into standard landfills.
• b) Incorrect: There is no indication that companies stop manufacturing smartphones.
• c) Correct: Toxic substances such as lead and mercury can leak into the ground, poisoning underground water and damaging agricultural soil.
• d) Incorrect: The passage does not discuss financial losses at recycling facilities.

Forest biologists have discovered that trees are not isolated organisms competing for sunlight. Instead, they interact via an intricate underground network composed of fungal threads. Known metaphorically as the "Wood Wide Web," this network allows older trees to share vital nutrients with younger seedlings. Furthermore, if a tree is attacked by insects, it transmits chemical warnings through the fungi so neighboring plants can prepare defenses.

Tree Communication Networks

6) How do neighboring trees prepare for an insect attack?

• a) They grow faster to escape the insects on the ground.
• b) They cut their fungal threads to isolate the infected organism.
• c) They receive warning signals through an underground system.
• d) They share sunlight with older trees to strengthen their leaves.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 6

Correct Answer: c) They receive warning signals through an underground system.

• a) Incorrect: The passage does not say that trees grow faster to escape insects.
• b) Incorrect: The fungal network is used for communication rather than isolation.
• c) Correct: An attacked tree transmits chemical warnings through the fungal network, allowing neighboring trees to prepare defenses.
• d) Incorrect: The text says that trees share nutrients, not sunlight.

Before the late nineteenth century, every city kept its own local time based on the position of the sun, causing massive confusion for emerging railroad networks. To solve this problem, railroad companies organized a conference in 1883 to divide North America into four standard time zones. This private corporate agreement replaced thousands of local solar times and worked so efficiently that governments eventually adopted the system worldwide.

The History of Standard Time Zones

7) Why were standard time zones originally created?

• a) To help governments control solar movements worldwide.
• b) To eliminate scheduling confusion for railroad transportation.
• c) To organize international corporate conferences in North America.
• d) Because cities requested to change their local clocks in 1883.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 7

Correct Answer: b) To eliminate scheduling confusion for railroad transportation.

• a) Incorrect: The purpose was not to control solar movements.
• b) Correct: Different local times caused major confusion for railroad networks, so standard time zones were introduced to solve this problem.
• c) Incorrect: The conference was organized to address railway scheduling problems, not to organize international corporate conferences.
• d) Incorrect: The text states that railroad companies organized the conference.

Locating historic shipwrecks at the bottom of the ocean requires sophisticated technology due to extreme deep-sea conditions. Traditional divers cannot operate below 60 meters without risking their lives. Therefore, marine archaeologists utilize autonomous underwater vehicles equipped with side-scan sonar. These robotic devices send sound waves to map the seafloor, allowing researchers to identify anomalies that could indicate the presence of ancient wooden vessels without entering the water.

Deep-Sea Archaeology Challenges

8) How do marine archaeologists map the seafloor at extreme depths?

• a) By sending traditional divers down to 60 meters with cameras.
• b) Using autonomous robots that emit acoustic waves.
• c) By searching for wooden vessels directly from the water surface.
• d) Through satellite photography that ignores deep-sea conditions.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 8

Correct Answer: b) Using autonomous robots that emit acoustic waves.

• a) Incorrect: Traditional divers cannot safely operate below 60 metres.
• b) Correct: Marine archaeologists use autonomous underwater vehicles equipped with sonar that send sound waves to map the seafloor.
• c) Incorrect: Researchers use underwater vehicles rather than searching directly from the surface.
• d) Incorrect: Satellite photography is not the technology described in the passage.

Flamingos are famous for their vibrant pink feathers, but they are actually born with grey plumage. Their distinctive coloration is a direct result of their specialized diet. They consume massive quantities of brine shrimp and blue-green algae, which contain natural chemical pigments called carotenoids. The flamingo’s liver breaks down these compounds, distributing the pink pigment into its growing feathers, a process that takes up to three years.

The Purpose of Flamingos' Pink Color

9) Why do adult flamingos have pink feathers?

• a) Because their liver changes color when they turn three years old.
• b) Due to chemical substances present in the food they eat.
• c) To hide efficiently from predators inside blue-green algae.
• d) It is a genetic trait present from the moment they are born.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 9

Correct Answer: b) Due to chemical substances present in the food they eat.

• a) Incorrect: The liver processes the pigments, but it does not change color when the flamingo reaches three years old.
• b) Correct: The pink coloration comes from carotenoids present in the brine shrimp and algae that flamingos eat.
• c) Incorrect: The text does not mention camouflage as the reason for the pink coloration.
• d) Incorrect: Flamingos are born with grey plumage, so the color is not present from birth.

Urban agriculture is transforming empty city rooftops and abandoned industrial lots into productive green spaces. By growing vegetables directly inside metropolitan areas, communities can drastically reduce the environmental impact of food transportation. Traditional grocery store produce travels an average of 2,000 kilometers before reaching consumers. In contrast, urban farm goods are distributed locally, guaranteeing fresh food and lowering carbon emissions from cargo trucks.

Urban Farming Benefits

10) What is the main environmental advantage of urban farming?

• a) It allows abandoned industrial lots to produce cargo trucks.
• b) It lowers the pollution caused by long-distance food delivery.
• c) It forces grocery stores to lower the price of fresh vegetables.
• d) It expands the space available for rooftop corporate offices.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 10

Correct Answer: b) It lowers the pollution caused by long-distance food delivery.

• a) Incorrect: Urban farming uses abandoned lots for food production; it does not produce cargo trucks.
• b) Correct: Producing food locally reduces the distance it needs to travel and therefore lowers carbon emissions from transport.
• c) Incorrect: The text does not mention lower grocery prices.
• d) Incorrect: Rooftops are used for urban agriculture rather than corporate offices.

The famous sandstone caves in Nottingham were not created by natural geological erosion. Instead, they were entirely carved by human hands starting in the early Middle Ages. Because the local sandstone rock is remarkably soft yet structurally stable, citizens dug underground to create cellars, workshops, and even houses. Today, over 800 individual caves remain hidden beneath the modern city streets, serving as historical tourist attractions.

The Origin of the Sandstone Caves

11) According to the text, how were the Nottingham caves formed?

• a) Through natural geological movements over millions of years.
• b) By medieval workers who excavated the soft rock manually.
• c) Due to water erosion affecting modern city streets.
• d) As a result of structural accidents during building construction.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 11

Correct Answer: b) By medieval workers who excavated the soft rock manually.

• a) Incorrect: The passage explicitly says that the caves were not created by natural geological erosion.
• b) Correct: The caves were entirely carved by human hands beginning in the early Middle Ages, using the area's soft sandstone.
• c) Incorrect: Water erosion is not given as the cause.
• d) Incorrect: The caves were deliberately excavated rather than created by construction accidents.

Despite their popular name, commercial airplane flight recorders—commonly known as black boxes—are actually painted a vibrant shade of bright orange. This striking color is chosen to help search teams locate the device easily among metallic debris after an aviation accident. Additionally, the recorders are wrapped in heavy titanium shields, allowing them to survive extreme impacts and temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius.

Airplane Black Box Engineering

12) Why are airplane flight recorders painted orange?

• a) To protect the inner titanium components from overheating.
• b) Because orange paint is mandatory under maritime laws.
• c) To increase their visibility during recovery operations.
• d) To indicate that the device has suffered an extreme impact.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 12

Correct Answer: c) To increase their visibility during recovery operations.

• a) Incorrect: Titanium shields protect the recorders from impacts and extreme temperatures; the orange color is for visibility.
• b) Incorrect: The passage does not mention maritime laws.
• c) Correct: The bright orange color helps search teams locate the recorders among metallic debris after an accident.
• d) Incorrect: The color does not indicate that the device has suffered an impact.

Medical researchers utilize clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of new pharmaceutical drugs. During these tests, one group of patients receives the actual medication, while another group is given a placebo—a harmless sugar pill with no medical properties. Surprisingly, many placebo patients experience significant health improvements simply because their brains firmly believe they are receiving real treatment, a psychological phenomenon known as the placebo effect.

The Placebo Effect in Medicine

13) What does the text reveal about the placebo effect?

• a) It is a dangerous allergic reaction caused by sugar pills.
• b) It proves that new pharmaceutical drugs are entirely ineffective.
• c) It causes physical improvements driven by the patient's expectations.
• d) It is evaluated exclusively outside of corporate clinical trials.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 13

Correct Answer: c) It causes physical improvements driven by the patient's expectations.

• a) Incorrect: The placebo is described as harmless and the effect is psychological rather than an allergic reaction.
• b) Incorrect: The placebo effect does not prove that pharmaceutical drugs are ineffective.
• c) Correct: Some patients experience improvements because they believe they are receiving real treatment.
• d) Incorrect: Placebos are specifically used in clinical trials.

The earliest ancestor of the modern bicycle was invented by Baron Karl von Drais in Germany in 1817. Known as the "dandy horse," this wooden vehicle had two wheels but completely lacked pedals or chains. Riders had to push their feet against the ground to move forward. Despite its primitive design, it allowed people to travel twice as fast as walking, revolutionizing personal transportation.

The History of the Bicycle

14) How did individuals operate the bicycle invented in 1817?

• a) By rotating a wooden chain attached to the front wheel.
• b) By utilizing their feet to propel the vehicle along the surface.
• c) By waiting for horses to pull the mechanism forward.
• d) By balancing their bodies without touching the ground.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 14

Correct Answer: b) By utilizing their feet to propel the vehicle along the surface.

• a) Incorrect: The dandy horse did not have pedals or chains.
• b) Correct: Riders had to push their feet against the ground to move the vehicle forward.
• c) Incorrect: The vehicle was powered by its rider, not by horses.
• d) Incorrect: Riders had to use their feet against the ground to propel the bicycle.

Marine biologists have documented an unusual biological trend called deep-sea giantism. For reasons that are still debated, invertebrate species living near the ocean floor grow significantly larger than their shallow-water relatives. For instance, the giant squid can reach lengths of 13 meters. Scientists hypothesize that superior body size is an evolutionary adaptation designed to survive extreme water pressure and scarce food supplies.

Deep-Sea Giantism

15) What is true about deep-sea giantism according to the passage?

• a) It affects shallow-water creatures when they migrate south.
• b) It causes ocean invertebrates to shrink due to extreme pressure.
• c) It results in massive body sizes for creatures at great depths.
• d) It has been completely resolved by marine scientists recently.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 15

Correct Answer: c) It results in massive body sizes for creatures at great depths.

• a) Incorrect: The phenomenon concerns species living near the ocean floor, not shallow-water creatures migrating south.
• b) Incorrect: The text says that deep-sea invertebrates grow significantly larger.
• c) Correct: Deep-sea giantism refers to the unusually large body size of invertebrates living at great depths.
• d) Incorrect: The reasons for the phenomenon are still debated.

The microwave oven was accidentally invented in 1945 by Percy Spencer, an engineer working on military radar equipment. While standing near an active radar vacuum tube, Spencer noticed that a candy bar in his pocket had completely melted. Intrigued, he placed corn kernels near the device, creating the world’s first microwave popcorn and discovering a revolutionary new method for cooking food rapidly.

The Invention of Microwave Ovens

16) What led Percy Spencer to invent the microwave oven?

• a) A request from the military to develop better cooking tools.
• b) Observing an unexpected change in a snack he was carrying.
• c) A planned experiment using commercial corn kernels.
• d) Industrial accidents involving vacuum tubes in a kitchen.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 16

Correct Answer: b) Observing an unexpected change in a snack he was carrying.

• a) Incorrect: The text does not say that the military requested a cooking device.
• b) Correct: Spencer noticed that a candy bar in his pocket had melted while he was near an active radar tube.
• c) Incorrect: The corn experiment came after he noticed the melted candy bar.
• d) Incorrect: The event took place near radar equipment, not in a kitchen.

Emperor penguins breed during the brutal Antarctic winter, where temperatures frequently drop to minus 60 degrees Celsius. To survive these lethal conditions, hundreds of penguins form a tight circular huddle to trap body heat. The birds continuously rotate positions; those on the freezing outer edge slowly move toward the warm center, while penguins from the middle take their turn facing the wind.

Emperor Penguins' Survival Strategy

17) How do Emperor penguins protect themselves from freezing?

• a) By migrating to warmer northern regions during the winter.
• b) By digging underground shelters inside the Antarctic ice.
• c) By taking turns sharing the warmest spots within a dense group.
• d) By increasing their food consumption to generate internal energy.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 17

Correct Answer: c) By taking turns sharing the warmest spots within a dense group.

• a) Incorrect: Emperor penguins remain in Antarctica during the breeding season.
• b) Incorrect: The passage describes a huddle rather than underground shelters.
• c) Correct: Hundreds of penguins form a tight group and continuously rotate positions so that they take turns in the warm center and on the colder outer edge.
• d) Incorrect: Increased food consumption is not mentioned as their main strategy for surviving the cold.

Unlike older European metropolises that grew organically over centuries, cities like Washington D.C., Canberra, and Brasília were completely planned from scratch. Governments deliberately designed these capitals in neutral geographic areas to reduce political rivalries between existing major economic hubs. The architectural layouts feature wide avenues and grand public squares, specifically engineered to project national strength and facilitate large political demonstrations.

The Purpose of Capital City Designs

18) Why did governments decide to plan these capital cities from scratch?

• a) To copy the organic architectural layout of older European cities.
• b) To minimize political competition between pre-existing major cities.
• c) Because neutral geographic areas lacked any economic hubs.
• d) To prevent citizens from organizing large political demonstrations.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 18

Correct Answer: b) To minimize political competition between pre-existing major cities.

• a) Incorrect: The text contrasts these planned capitals with older European cities that grew organically.
• b) Correct: Governments selected neutral geographic areas to reduce political rivalries between existing economic centres.
• c) Incorrect: The text does not say that neutral areas lacked economic hubs.
• d) Incorrect: The layouts were designed to facilitate, rather than prevent, large political demonstrations.

Psychologists specializing in cognitive research emphasize that sleep is essential for memory consolidation. Throughout the day, the human brain accumulates temporary information inside the hippocampus. During deep sleep, the brain transfers these memories into the neocortex for long-term storage. Consequently, students who stay up all night studying often perform worse on exams because their brains lacked the time required to store data permanently.

The Importance of Sleep for Memory

19) According to the text, what happens to memories during deep sleep?

• a) They are permanently deleted from the neocortex to save space.
• b) They undergo a relocation process into long-term storage areas.
• c) They accumulate inside the hippocampus for twenty-four hours.
• d) They cause students to perform worse during early morning exams.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 19

Correct Answer: b) They undergo a relocation process into long-term storage areas.

• a) Incorrect: The text says memories are transferred to the neocortex, not deleted.
• b) Correct: During deep sleep, the brain transfers memories from the hippocampus to the neocortex for long-term storage.
• c) Incorrect: The hippocampus temporarily stores information during the day; the passage does not say memories remain there for twenty-four hours.
• d) Incorrect: The text links poor exam performance to insufficient sleep and memory consolidation, not specifically to early morning exams.

Solar storms pose a massive technological threat to modern civilization. When the sun experiences a massive coronal mass ejection, it releases billions of tons of charged particles into space. If these particles hit Earth’s magnetic field, they induce powerful electrical currents that can physically destroy high-voltage transformers. A severe solar storm could disable international power grids, causing widespread blackouts lasting for months.

Electric Grid Challenges from Solar Eruptions

20) How do solar eruptions threaten terrestrial power networks?

• a) By completely draining the fuel reserves of electricity companies.
• b) They block satellite signals required to operate transformers.
• c) They generate electrical surges that can ruin critical grid infrastructure.
• d) They increase global temperatures, melting power cables.

Explicación detallada - Pregunta 20

Correct Answer: c) They generate electrical surges that can ruin critical grid infrastructure.

• a) Incorrect: The text does not mention fuel reserves.
• b) Incorrect: The passage explains that charged particles induce powerful electrical currents; it does not say that satellite signals are blocked.
• c) Correct: Charged particles from solar eruptions can induce powerful electrical currents capable of destroying high-voltage transformers and disabling power grids.
• d) Incorrect: The threat described is caused by induced electrical currents, not by increased global temperatures.

MÁS TESTS DE READING

¿Has terminado de responder todas las preguntas? Si has llegado a este simulacro directamente y quieres seguir mejorando tu nivel de comprensión escrita, te recomiendo que pases a hacer el anterior simulacro publicado (simulacro de reading de SLP 2 (1) con soluciones explicadas). Igual que en este, podrás verificar tus aciertos y el nivel obtenido, revisar el vocabulario clave y entender el porqué de cada respuesta correcta.