QUESTION 1. READ THE TEXT 1 AND ANSWER THE THREE QUESTIONS BELOW: (2.5 points)

1.1. Write a summary of the text in English, including the most important points, using your own words. (Approximately 50 words; 0.75 points).

1.2. Indicate whether the following statements are true or false (T/F) according to the text. Copy that part (and ONLY that part) of the text which justifies your answer. (1 point; 0.25 each)

a. Girls are supposed to play a very traditional feminine role to be successful in society.
b. Very young girls are very worried about their physical appearance.
c. Girls and boys have totally different viewpoints on girls' roles.
d. Girls must learn that women can have many types of careers.

1.3. Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given here: (0.75 points; 0.25 each) a. school year b. equally c. employment/work

TEXT 1

According to a new study commissioned by an American nonprofit organization that helps young women reach their full potential, girls are facing increasing pressure to please. "Society still sees girls through a gender lens that requires them to be pretty and passive, while increasingly expecting girls to be smart and successful," says the president of this organization.

The study, conducted online, surveyed over 2,000 girls and boys in grades 3-12, plus 1,005 adults. It reported that girls have high goals for themselves – 71% want to go to college, but a good many say they don't know how to make their dreams a reality. One-fifth say they don't know three adults they can turn to with a problem. And 76% of girls in grades 9 to 12 "worry about their appearance." Even for girls in elementary school, looking "skinny" and "dressing right" is an issue. Over one-half of 3rd to 5th graders worry about it.

The study also found that gender discrimination is still alive and well, even at the youngest grades. 84% of girls and 87% of boys, for example, believe that girls are "supposed to be kind and caring," and 88% of girls and 94% of boys believe boys are "supposed to be able to protect themselves and others."

This organization has a few recommendations for parents:

• Provide access to a wide variety of toys (trucks and dolls, chemistry sets and dress-up clothes) and make it clear that it's okay to play with all of them.
• Alleviate the pressure of high-stakes education. High school grades may matter, but elementary school should be fun – full of exploration, not stress.
• Distribute household tasks evenly. Boys and girls should be given responsibilities in cleaning up and taking care of siblings.
Provide role models. Men and women serve a multitude of roles in society. Introduce your children to men and women across the career spectrum.

QUESTION 2. READ THE TEXT 2 AND ANSWER THE THREE QUESTIONS BELOW: (2.5 points)

2.1. Write a summary of the text in English, including the most important points, using your own words. (approximately 50 words; 0.75 points).

2.2. Indicate whether the following statements are true or false (T/F) according to the text. Copy that part (and ONLY that part) of the text which justifies your answer. (1 point; 0.25 each)

a. Mari Kondo has taught many people worldwide how to throw away unnecessary things.
b. She says that one way of getting rid of unwanted objects is giving them to other people.
c. Marie wants people to be aware of the reason why they buy so many things.
d. She suggests keeping our plastic objects even though we don't use them.

2.3. Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given here: (0.75 points; 0.25 each). a. produces b. a price to pay c. problem

TEXT 2

The world-renowned "tidying" coach, Marie Kondo, has helped people around the world clear out the excess stuff from their homes and lives. Her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, sold over 1.5 million copies, and her Netflix TV show immediately sent viewers down binge-watching spirals. Kondo's method of tidying, in which objects are gently cleared out of people's houses and lives, leaves behind empty closets and neatly organized spaces. However, it also generates piles of trash. Some of it gets passed along to friends or family, or finds new homes via donation. But much of it ends up thrown away—out of sight and mind of the "tidy-er", but far from gone in the larger planetary sense. Earth, unfortunately, does not have its own trash collector or tidier. Many economists say consumption is a good thing, but we really have to recognize that there's a cost to that—and that cost falls onto the environment. Marie Kondo claims that people should examine their own relationship with stuff and get to the heart of it- "Why did you buy these things in the first place?"- Eventually, people will find themselves decreasing the number of things they buy and discard, and ultimately, breaking free from the buy-toss cycle. She also encourages people to deplasticize their lives. "If they're already in your life and working, don't get rid of them—that would just contribute to the waste issue—but think carefully about bringing new plastic items into your life". In the end, she says, it's the planet that needs tidying—and that can start with the smallest step.

QUESTION 3. ANSWER THE TWO BLOCKS OF QUESTIONS:

3.1. Block 1. Pronunciation: (1 point; 0.25 each)

a. In which word is the ending "-s / -es" pronounced /ɪz/ as in "finishes"? generates, encourages, falls, leaves.
b. In which word are the underlined letters ("ch") pronounced differently? church, character, choice, chair.
c. In which word do the consonants "th" sound /θ/ as in "thing"? thrown, though, these, weather.
d. In which word do the vowels "oo" sound the same way as in "blood"? food, flood, book, good.

3.2. Block 2. Complete the second sentence of each pair so that it has the same meaning as the first one. You must use the word or expression in italics. (1.5 points; 0.5 points each)

a. We hired someone to declutter our house last summer holidays.
We … our house …
b. William didn't remember to bring reusable bags so he bought plastic bags.
If William ...
c. My mother loves watching Marie Kondo's TV series. However, she doesn't use her tidying method.
Although …

QUESTION 4. ANSWER THE TWO BLOCKS OF QUESTIONS:

4.1. Block 1. Pronunciation: (1 point; 0.25 each)

a. Which of the following words has the same sound as the letter underlined in the word "caring": here, where, mere, clear.
b. In which word is/are the underlined letter(s) pronounced differently? exploration, passion, division, fashion.
c. In which of the following verbs is the past ending pronounced /id/? commissioned, conducted, surveyed, supposed.
d. In which word is the underlined letter pronounced like the vowel in "still"? girls, skinny, right, alive

4.2. Block 2: Complete the second sentence of each pair so that it has the same meaning as the first one. You must use the word or expression in italics. (1.5 points; 0.5 points each)

a. "Society still sees girls through a gender lens that requires them to be pretty and passive".
He said that…
b. Parents should let their children play with trucks and dolls and distribute household tasks evenly.
Not only …
c. We asked a few people what they would change about women's situation nowadays.
A few people…

QUESTION 5. WRITE A COMPOSITION ANSWERING THIS QUESTION: Is the future promising for women in our western society? (Approximately 120 words) (2.5 points)

QUESTION 6. WRITE A COMPOSITION ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS: Why is advertising necessary? Do you think there are too many ads on TV, Internet, etc.? (Approximately 120 words) (2.5 points)