TEXT 1: The problems with TikTok's controversial 'beauty filters'

As beauty filters become more sophisticated, concerns over their potential effect on self-esteem and their power in popularizing particular beauty standards are increasing. The release of TikTok's "Bold Glamour" filter, which can turn anyone into a photoshopped top model, has prompted users to question if the technology has gone too far.

Our society idealizes beauty, and conventionally good-looking people are seen as more intelligent or earning a higher income. Our choices in clothing, makeup, and haircuts are often influenced by current beauty standards, which are constantly changing. We all represent ourselves in a way that conforms to current beauty standards, but beauty filters take it further than cosmetics ever could. Adolescent girls who use filters are more likely to consider cosmetic surgery, and plastic surgeons have noted a rise in clients requesting surgery that makes them look more like their filters. This is particularly concerning given that these filters tend to be racially biased, based on stereotypically "white" characteristics.

Beauty filters are just another step in our cultural obsession with perfecting our appearance, and while they are making industry tricks more accessible, they are too new for us to know exactly how they affect self-perception and mental health long-term. Research indicates that they could make users feel worse about themselves, particularly adolescent girls who are vulnerable to internalizing images they see in the media. Previous versions of these filters were often a bit problematic, so passing a hand in front of your face would interrupt the "magic". But the latest generation, such as TikTok's Bold Glamour filter, is incredibly life-like. Users can move and gesticulate on-screen without breaking the illusion.

While TikTok's "Bold Glamour" is getting most of the press, the "Teen" filter is also problematic. It can be used by adults in sexually enticing poses or clothing, leading viewers to think the person posing is a teen, highlighting a dangerous aspect of society: the normalization of the sexualization of children.

It is important to recognize that these filters reflect and perpetuate existing biases and issues within our society, and their impact on self-perception and mental health must be further studied. As technology continues to advance, it is crucial to consider the potential consequences and ensure that it does not contribute to harmful societal norms.

Adapted from BBC, 1 March 2.023

TEXT 1. QUESTIONS — 1. READING COMPREHENSION. (2 POINTS) (0.5 points for each correct answer). Add TRUE or FALSE and copy the evidence from the text to support your answer. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE. No marks are given for T or F.

1. The use of beauty filters has led to an increase in requests for plastic surgery.
2. Beauty filters have been found to have a positive impact on self-esteem and mental health.
3. Tik-Tok's Bold Glamour looks very realistic.
4. The use of the Teen filter by older people can be misleading.

PART II. LEXICON / PHONETICS (2 POINTS) — A. LEXICON. (1 POINT) (0.25 points for each correct answer).

Find words or phrases in the text that mean the same as these given.

1. Salary:
2. Customers:
3. Investigation:
4. Emphasizing:

B. PHONETICS. (1 POINT) (0.25 points for each correct answer). Answer these four questions. Write the number of the line in which the word is found when requested.

1. How is the O pronounced in BECOME: /ɒ/, /ʌ/ or /ɔː/?
2. How is the S pronounced in FILTERS: /s/, /z/ or /ɪz/?
3. How is the I pronounced in WHILE: /ɪə/, /aɪ/ or /eɪ/?
4. How is the TH pronounced in HEALTH: /ð/ or /θ/?

TEXT 2: Mobile phones to be banned in schools

Nowadays, smartphones are something most people can't live without, young or old. We use them to text friends, watch videos, surf websites, play games, take pictures, etc. Yet, the question remains as to what role they play in education. Should schools ban smartphones, or should they be allowed?

In a recent radio interview, the Catalan Minister of Education, Anna Simó, announced that primary education in Catalonia will be "free of smartphones" from the next school year. The ban on mobile phones in primary education, which covers students between the ages of six and 12, is expected to take effect at the beginning of the 2.024-2.025 school year to give schools time to adapt. Meanwhile, Simó announced that mobile phones will not be banned in high schools, which include students between the ages of 12 and 16. The minister said that each school will decide on its own policy.

The secretary of the Secondary School Teachers' Union, Xavier Massó, criticized the decision not to ban mobile phones in high schools and demanded that they be prohibited at least in classrooms. He argues that leaving the decision up to the schools "will create more problems than there already are," since one school might ban it while the one next door might not.

Some parents have also united against early cell phone use. In November, a group of families from Barcelona's Poblenou neighbourhood met together to ensure that their children would not have smartphones until the age of 16. Soon, the organization spread to other neighbourhoods in Barcelona and different cities in Catalonia through WhatsApp and Telegram groups, under the initiative 'Mobile phone-free youth'.

In a few days, thousands of other families joined the groups, and the main Telegram group now has more than 10,000 members. Parents say they are not against the use of new technologies, but they are concerned about its use at an early age. They point out that there is a lot of peer pressure to buy a phone for their children, because if they don't, their children will be the only ones in the class without one, which in turn complicates the parent-child relationship.

Adapted from catalannews.com

TEXT 2. QUESTIONS — 1. READING COMPREHENSION. (2 POINTS)

1. Mobile phones won´t be allowed in primary education in Catalonia next academic year.
2. Xavier Massó agrees with the idea of not banning mobile phones in high schools.
3. The organization against early cell phone use spread through many cities in Spain.
4. Parents agree they may feel forced to buy a phone for their children.

PART II. A. LEXICON. (1 POINT) (0.25 points for each correct answer).

Find words or phrases in the text that mean the same as these given.

1. Forbid:
2. Plan, procedure:
3. Ordered, requested:
4. Worried:

B. PHONETICS. (1 POINT) (0.25 points for each correct answer).

1. How is the "T" pronounced in PICTURES: /tʃ/, /t/ or /dʒ/?
2. How is the "E" pronounced in REMAINS: /ɪ/, /iː/ or /ə/?
3. How is the "S" pronounced in NEIGHBOURHOODS: /s/, /z/ or /ɪz/?
4. How is the "TH" pronounced in THROUGH: /ð/ or /θ/?

PART III. USE OF ENGLISH. (3 POINTS) (0.5 points for each correct answer). Choose SIX of these sentences and rewrite them starting with the words given. Only the first six will be corrected. No points will be given for the extra ones. Clearly identify the sentences you choose using the numbers here.

1. John was so dirty because he had fallen in the mud. — If
2. I can´t drink this tea. It is very hot. — This tea
3. All the students are interested in the lecture. — All the students find
4. Someone will iron Mary´s dress. — Mary´s dress
5. "Where are my keys?", my mum asked. — My mum wondered
6. I am sorry I can´t play the guitar. — I wish
7. Your father became a teacher fifteen years ago. — Your father
8. This yellow bus goes to the airport. It runs every half hour. — This yellow bus,
9. They have sent a bunch of beautiful flowers to the secretary. — The secretary
10. It was wrong of you to be so rude to her. — You
11. Give me your papers! The policeman told me. — The policeman told me
12. The customers complained about the room service. (Make a question for the underlined part of the answer)

PART IV. WRITING — Write ONE of these two compositions (3 POINTS). If you write two, no points will be given to the second one. Your composition must have at least 125 words.

• OPTION 1: "Does society place too much importance on body image?". Discuss.
• OPTION 2: Advantages and disadvantages of early smart phone use.