Simulacro examen inglés Ingreso en la Escala de Oficiales. Modalidad Acceso con Titulación. Comprensión Lectora y Gramática. Nivel B2
Parte 1: Comprensión Escrita (Reading Comprehension)
In recent years, many cities have changed the way people move around them. Electric buses, cycling lanes and pedestrian areas are becoming more common as local authorities try to reduce traffic and air pollution. Some residents support these measures because they make streets quieter and safer, while others worry that restrictions on private cars may make daily journeys more difficult. Experts argue that successful transport policies usually need to offer practical alternatives before limiting car use.
1. What can be inferred about the transport measures described?
A growing number of companies are allowing employees to work from home for part of the week. Supporters say that hybrid working can reduce commuting time and give workers greater flexibility. However, managers have also noticed that communication can sometimes be harder when colleagues rarely meet in person. For this reason, many businesses are experimenting with different combinations of office and remote work instead of adopting one fixed model for everyone.
2. Why are companies experimenting with different working arrangements?
Scientists studying the oceans have recently paid increasing attention to the sounds produced by marine animals. Whales and dolphins use complex signals to communicate, but human activities such as shipping can interfere with these sounds. Researchers are using underwater microphones to monitor changes in marine environments and understand how animals react. The information may help governments design measures that reduce the impact of noisy human activity on ocean life.
3. What does the research suggest about the ocean?
A major international sports event can transform a city for several weeks, attracting visitors and generating income for local businesses. Nevertheless, hosting such an event can also require expensive infrastructure and long-term planning. Supporters often point to improved transport systems and new sports facilities, while critics question whether these investments are always useful after the competition ends. The final impact therefore depends on how carefully the city plans for the years that follow.
4. Why can major sporting events affect a host city beyond the competition itself?
A young tennis player has attracted attention after reaching the final stages of several international tournaments. Rather than relying only on powerful shots, the player is known for changing tactics during matches and adapting to different opponents. Coaches say that this ability has developed through years of training, although the athlete still has limited experience at the highest level. The next season will show whether the promising results can be maintained consistently.
5. What seems to distinguish the most successful young tennis players mentioned in the text?
Museums are increasingly using digital technology to change the way visitors experience exhibitions. Some now offer virtual tours, interactive screens and applications that provide additional information about individual works. These tools can make exhibitions more accessible, particularly for people who cannot travel. However, museum professionals stress that technology should support the original artwork rather than become the main attraction, since visitors still need opportunities to observe the objects themselves.
6. What is one likely consequence of museums making greater use of digital technology?
Researchers have developed a new method for producing certain materials with less energy than traditional industrial processes require. The technique uses a different combination of temperature, pressure and chemical reactions, potentially reducing both costs and emissions. Scientists caution that the method is still being tested and may not be suitable for every factory. Further experiments will be necessary before companies can determine whether it can be introduced on a large commercial scale.
7. What is the main difficulty faced by the researchers described?
A recent survey has examined how people get information about major events. Although television and newspapers remain important for many adults, social media platforms are now a significant source of news, especially among younger users. The survey also found that people often receive information from several sources before deciding whether they trust it. Researchers say this habit can be useful, but it also makes it important to check where online information originally came from.
8. Why can a large amount of information make it harder to understand the news?
An art exhibition focusing on urban life has opened in a renovated industrial building. The collection includes paintings, photographs and installations created by artists from different countries. Instead of presenting a single view of city life, the exhibition explores subjects such as migration, architecture, loneliness and public space. Visitors can also attend talks with several of the artists, who explain how their personal experiences influenced the works included in the exhibition.
9. What is the exhibition trying to achieve through its combination of different artworks?
Astronomers have identified a planet outside our solar system that has attracted interest because of its unusual atmosphere. Observations suggest that the planet contains gases that behave differently from those found around similar objects. Scientists emphasise that this does not mean the planet can support life, since many other conditions would have to be present. More powerful telescopes may provide additional information and help researchers understand how the atmosphere developed.
10. What does the astronomical observation allow scientists to do?
Professional football clubs are increasingly using data to analyse players' performances. Coaches can study information about distance covered, passing accuracy, changes of speed and many other aspects of a match. These figures can reveal patterns that are difficult to notice during a live game. Nevertheless, experienced coaches argue that statistics cannot completely replace human judgement, because factors such as confidence, communication and tactical awareness are harder to measure.
11. What can data analysis add to the way football teams prepare?
A small coastal town has become an unexpected destination for visitors interested in sustainable tourism. Local businesses have introduced guided walks, bicycle routes and activities that focus on the natural environment rather than large entertainment facilities. Residents hope this approach will create jobs without damaging the landscape. They are also working with visitors to encourage responsible behaviour, particularly during the summer months when the number of tourists increases considerably.
12. Why is tourism sometimes described as a challenge for the places that attract visitors?
A group of archaeologists has discovered evidence of an ancient settlement beneath farmland in southern Europe. The remains include fragments of buildings, tools and pottery that appear to belong to different periods. Researchers believe the site may have been occupied for several centuries, although they have not yet determined exactly why the community disappeared. Further excavation is planned, and scientists expect that laboratory analysis will provide more precise information about the objects found.
13. What can archaeological discoveries reveal about the past?
Many people assume that creativity is mainly an individual activity, but recent research suggests that collaboration can also produce original ideas. When people with different skills work together, they may identify possibilities that one person would overlook. However, group work is not automatically creative: participants need to listen to one another and feel comfortable proposing unusual solutions. Researchers therefore distinguish between simply working together and creating an environment where ideas can develop freely.
14. According to the text, what can help creative teams produce better results?
The popularity of plant-based food has increased in many countries, and supermarkets now offer a wider variety of alternatives to traditional animal products. Some consumers choose these foods for environmental reasons, while others are interested in health or simply want to try something different. Nutrition experts point out that plant-based diets can vary considerably, so the benefits depend on the overall quality and balance of what a person eats rather than on one product alone.
15. Why are some consumers becoming more interested in plant-based food?
A new public library has been designed to serve more than one purpose. Besides traditional shelves and reading rooms, the building contains study areas, meeting spaces and equipment for digital projects. Local officials hope that these facilities will attract people of different ages and backgrounds. The library has also organised workshops on subjects such as photography, computer skills and creative writing, turning the building into a community centre as well as a place for books.
16. What role can modern public libraries play according to the text?
Climate researchers are paying closer attention to the way extreme weather affects cities. Heavy rainfall, prolonged heat and strong storms can put pressure on transport networks, buildings and emergency services. Some cities are responding by planting more trees, improving drainage systems and redesigning public spaces. Such measures cannot prevent every problem, but planners believe they can reduce the damage and help communities recover more quickly when unusual weather occurs.
17. What makes extreme weather especially difficult for cities to manage?
A film director has released a new production that combines historical events with fictional characters. The story is set during a period of major social change and follows several people from different backgrounds. Critics have discussed how accurately the film represents the historical context, while the director explains that the aim was not to create a documentary. Instead, the production uses fictional stories to encourage audiences to think about how ordinary people experienced wider historical events.
18. Why can films based on historical events be useful even when they are not completely accurate?
Researchers investigating sleep have found that the quality of rest may depend on more than simply spending enough hours in bed. Light exposure, noise, temperature and regular daily routines can all influence sleep patterns. Specialists therefore recommend paying attention to habits before bedtime as well as the number of hours slept. They also emphasise that individual needs differ, so a routine that works well for one person may not have the same effect on another.
19. What does the discussion of sleep suggest?
A national team has introduced several young players before an important international competition. The coach explained that the decision was part of a longer-term plan rather than a response to a single poor result. The new players have impressed during training, but adapting to international matches can take time because the pace and pressure are different. Supporters are now waiting to see how the younger athletes perform alongside more experienced members of the squad.
20. What is one reason a national team may struggle to maintain success?
An architect has designed a cultural centre using materials that were already available in the local area. Recycled wood, reused stone and energy-efficient windows form part of the building, which was designed to reduce its environmental impact. The project also aims to connect the centre with the surrounding neighbourhood through public gardens and open spaces. Its designers hope the building will demonstrate that sustainability and attractive architecture do not necessarily have to be separate goals.
21. What does sustainable architecture attempt to balance?
Scientists working in Antarctica are studying changes in ice-covered regions that can affect sea levels around the world. They use satellites, aircraft and instruments placed directly on the ice to collect measurements over long periods. Because conditions in the region are extremely difficult, researchers often have to work with incomplete information. By comparing observations from different sources, however, they can build a clearer picture of how the Antarctic environment is changing.
22. Why is Antarctica important to scientists beyond its geographical remoteness?
A photography project has documented everyday life in a rapidly changing neighbourhood. Instead of concentrating on famous buildings, the photographer chose ordinary streets, shops and residents as subjects. The images show how new developments exist alongside older businesses and traditional homes. According to the artist, the project is intended to record a particular moment in the area's history before further changes alter its appearance and the way people use its public spaces.
23. What has changed the way some photographers work?
A university has launched a programme designed to encourage students to spend less time sitting during the day. The initiative includes walking meetings, redesigned study areas and short activity breaks between classes. Researchers involved in the project are not asking students to become athletes; their aim is to make movement a normal part of everyday routines. The programme will be evaluated over several months to determine which measures students actually find practical and useful.
24. What can university activities outside formal classes contribute to?
A technology company has developed a small device that can translate conversations between several languages. The system uses artificial intelligence to recognise speech and produce an immediate translation. Although early demonstrations have been successful, developers admit that accents, background noise and specialised vocabulary can still cause mistakes. They expect the technology to improve as more data becomes available, but they say human translators will continue to be important for complex or sensitive communication.
25. Why is AI-assisted translation not necessarily a complete replacement for human translators?
A historic theatre has reopened after a major restoration project. Specialists repaired parts of the original structure while updating the building's electrical and safety systems. The work took longer than expected because restorers discovered unexpected damage inside the walls. The theatre's managers are now planning a programme that combines classical performances with contemporary productions, hoping to attract both regular audiences and younger people who may never have visited the building before.
26. Why can restoring a historic theatre be complicated?
A group of marine biologists is studying the recovery of a coral reef after several years of environmental damage. The researchers have recorded new growth in some areas, although other sections remain severely affected. They are monitoring water temperature, pollution levels and the presence of different species to understand which conditions support recovery. The scientists warn that improvement can be slow and that protecting the reef will require continued action rather than a single intervention.
27. What makes coral reefs particularly vulnerable to environmental change?
A city has introduced a programme to make its streets more suitable for pedestrians. Several roads have been redesigned with wider pavements, additional trees and safer crossings. Shop owners have expressed different opinions: some believe the changes will encourage people to spend more time in the area, while others are concerned about deliveries and parking. The authorities plan to collect data during the first year before deciding whether similar changes should be made elsewhere.
28. Why are some cities redesigning streets to give pedestrians more space?
A composer has created a new piece of music inspired by sounds recorded in forests, rivers and urban parks. Instead of copying these sounds directly, the composer transformed them into rhythms and musical patterns. The work will be performed by a traditional orchestra together with electronic instruments. The composer says the project explores the relationship between technology and the natural world, while also inviting listeners to pay closer attention to sounds they normally ignore.
29. What can make composing music easier for musicians working together?
A team of engineers has tested a lightweight battery designed for electric vehicles. The new design uses fewer heavy components and could allow vehicles to travel further between charges. The researchers say that the prototype has performed well in laboratory conditions, but they still need to test how it behaves in very hot and cold temperatures. If the results remain positive, manufacturers may consider adapting the technology for future models.
30. What is the main potential advantage of the lighter battery described?
Parte 2: Gramática y Vocabulario (Gap Fill Texts)
Making mistakes is often considered part of the learning process, but the way people respond to them (31) ______ an important difference. Students who simply move on without analysing what went wrong may (32) ______ repeat the same error. By contrast, those who identify the cause are more likely (33) ______ develop effective strategies. A useful technique is to keep a record of difficult questions and review them (34) ______ a few days later. This approach helps learners notice patterns that they might not (35) ______ noticed immediately. Teachers can also encourage students (36) ______ explain their reasoning rather than simply giving the correct answer. If learners (37) ______ given constructive feedback, they tend to become more aware of their weaknesses. In the long term, this can result (38) ______ greater confidence. It is therefore worth remembering that an incorrect answer is not necessarily (39) ______ sign of failure; it can be an opportunity to understand a concept (40) ______ depth.
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Cycling in cities has become considerably more common in recent years, partly because local authorities (41) ______ invested in safer infrastructure. Dedicated lanes can reduce the risk of accidents, although they need to be designed carefully so that cyclists (42) ______ forced to compete for space with pedestrians. In some areas, bike-sharing schemes (43) ______ introduced to make short journeys more convenient. Users can normally unlock a bicycle with an app, after which it must (44) ______ returned to an approved station or parking area. If bicycles are left in inappropriate places, they may (45) ______ removed by the operator. Some critics argue that cycling policies benefit only certain neighbourhoods, but supporters point (46) ______ evidence that well-designed networks can improve access to public transport. As cities become more crowded, planners are likely (47) ______ give greater attention to alternative forms of transport. The challenge is to ensure that these measures are accessible (48) ______ people with different levels of mobility. If this is achieved, urban travel could become both cleaner (49) ______ more efficient, without making public transport (50) ______ dependent on private cars.
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When Elena was offered a promotion abroad, she initially assumed that she (51) ______ accept it immediately. The position was attractive, and the company was willing to cover most relocation costs. However, the more she thought about it, the more she realised that moving (52) ______ involve leaving behind family members who depended on her. She asked her manager whether the company (53) ______ allow her to work partly from home, but no agreement was reached. Had the company offered greater flexibility, Elena (54) ______ probably have accepted the position. Instead, she decided to remain in her current role, even though it meant giving (55) ______ a significant career opportunity. Looking back, she says that the decision was not as simple as it might (56) ______ have seemed at first. She believes that career choices should be considered in the context (57) ______ a person's wider responsibilities. Although she sometimes wonders what (58) ______ happened if she had moved abroad, she is confident that she made the choice that was most appropriate (59) ______ her circumstances. In the end, she has no regrets about having put her family (60) ______.
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