Part 1: Listening comprehension — WE'LL BE ON MARS AGAIN!

In the following conversation you are going to hear some new words. Read and listen to them. Make sure you know what they mean.

• spacecraft, craft: nau espacial, nau / nave espacial, nave
• layer: capa
• gust of wind: cop de vent / golpe de viento
• shield: escut / escudo
• quake: terratrèmol / terremoto
• seismometer: sismòmetre / sismómetro

Choose the best answer according to the recording. Only ONE answer is correct. [3 points: 0.375 points for each correct answer. Wrong answers will be penalized by deducting 0.125 points. There is no penalty for unanswered questions.]

1. The InSight mission is unique in that it will investigate

• the geology of the interior of Mars.
• Mars' surface and atmosphere.
• whether Mars can support human life.
• the early history of Mars' atmosphere.

2. According to Dr. Halliday, this mission will help scientists understand how

• the activity of volcanoes developed on Earth millions of years ago.
• layers of different types of rocks were formed on Earth.
• rocks separate into different layers.
• long ago planets like Mars and the Earth were formed.

3. Why does the InSight spacecraft need to stay in one place?

• To detect quakes.
• To detect wind.
• To avoid making noise.
• To avoid breaking instruments.

4. The seismometer of the Viking spacecraft

• could not detect Mars quakes well.
• could not measure wind gusts well.
• was better than the one on the InSight lander.
• was handled by astronauts.

5. The InSight makes use of a shield

• to help put the InSight instruments underground.
• to protect the seismometer from wind gusts.
• to protect astronauts while they drill holes.
• to protect the spacecraft from seismic waves.

6. The choice of the InSight's landing location was partially determined by

• the orbit of Mars.
• the amount of fuel left in the rocket.
• the type of surface of the landing spot.
• the speed of the spacecraft when reaching Mars.

7. A gentle touchdown of the spacecraft is achieved by

• removing all rockets.
• removing the heat shield.
• separating the craft into 2 parts to make each part lighter in weight.
• using a parachute to slow it down.

8. When will Dr. Halliday and her team start receiving data from Mars?

• One year after InSight lands.
• Two years after InSight lands.
• Almost immediately after InSight lands.
• After the instruments have been placed underground.

Part 2: Reading comprehension — IS THERE SUCH A THING AS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT? (text adapted from William Park, BBC News, April 3, 2.019).

Choose the best answer according to the text. Only ONE answer is correct. [3 points: 0.375 points for each correct answer. Wrong answers will be penalized by deducting 0.125 points. There is no penalty for unanswered questions.]

1. According to professor Todorov

• we only make first impressions about people we don't know.
• we make first impressions only if they are misleading.
• our first impressions about someone are usually wrong.
• we usually share our first impression with many other people.

2. Once people have made their first impressions

• they may change them quite quickly if their opinions are not accurate.
• they will change their opinion if they are not sure of the person they have just met.
• they will hardly ever change their first opinion about a person they have just met.
• they always change their mind soon afterwards if given more time to judge a person.

3. Which one of these sentences is TRUE?

• In first impressions women and men make similar judgments.
• In first impressions women and men are judged similarly.
• In first impressions feminine-looking men are badly considered.
• In first impressions masculine-looking men are badly judged.

4. According to the text, the photos people publish on their dating profiles are

• their best ones in order to reflect their personalities only.
• a mixture of fake and real ones; people don't want to show how they really are.
• very superficial in order not to show one's real personality and generosity.
• chosen to show physical and personality traits.

5. Prof. Todorov affirms that

• first impressions are always reliable even when our date starts speaking.
• people can change their first impressions when they start talking to their date.
• talking to our date reinforces our first impressions, making them more certain.
• people in general make good predictions from their first impressions.

6. According to professor Todorov, the conversational strategies used in online dating show

• that women talk more about themselves than men do.
• that men talk more about their profession than women do.
• that men and women use quite different approaches to dating.
• that men and women take similar approaches to dating.

7. If you want to find your perfect date, Prof. Todorov recommends that you be

• talkative when you meet your date.
• honest when you talk to your date.
• a little vague when talking about your interests.
• responsible when you talk about your wealth.

8. At the end of the article we can come to the conclusion that speed-dating meetings

• are the only way to get married successfully.
• are successful only if you want to have children.
• sometimes fulfil people's expectations.
• are a very flawed system of meeting people.

Part 3: Writing — Choose ONE topic. Your answer should be 125-150 words in length. There is no specific penalty for exceeding 150 words. [4 points: Grammar + Vocabulary + Text + Maturity.]

1. Some people believe that making a lot of money and being famous are the true signs of happiness. Do you agree? Write an opinion essay.

2. Animal activists all over Europe have organized campaigns against displaying live animals in zoos because they say that animals in captivity suffer from boredom and stress, and that keeping animals in cages is cruel. As a result, many European cities are considering closing their zoos. What do you think? Is it cruel to keep animals in a zoo? Write a for-and-against essay for zoos.

3. Most young people today use some form of social media, and many actively use several forms. Write an essay describing the role of social media in your life.