OPTION A — WHY PEOPLE GET TATTOOS

Tattooing –or as supporters call it, "inking"- is an ancient practice. In Pharaonic Egypt tattoos indicated status or served as talismans for protection. In many cultures such as the Maori of New Zealand, tattooing was linked to ancient rituals or traditional beauty standards.

Until the late 20th century, many people associated inked bodies with bikers, punks and other groups that were thought to operate outside society's norms. However, nowadays tattoos are increasingly popular, particularly amongst the young. According to one estimate, 38 percent of young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 have at least one tattoo.

Explanations vary as to why so many people are getting their bodies inked. The media has had an enormous influence in spreading the tattoo trend. Since the 1990s, tattoos have appeared in magazines, films, TV, and the entertainment industry in general. This exposure has helped tattoos achieve a wider social acceptance.

Celebrities displaying tattoos have also had an important role in changing stereotypes and giving tattooing a higher status and making it fashionable. Nowadays, it is hard to find a famous footballer or a pop-star who hasn't had their body inked.

The long-term fear of being "marked for life" is being moderated by advances in ink removal technology. Although nowadays young women are more likely than men to get tattoos, women are also twice as likely to have them removed.

Despite being quite fashionable, researchers have found that negative perceptions of inked people are still common, including considering them less competent or responsible. On the other hand, they may be seen as stronger and more independent than those without tattoos.

Tattooed individuals are particularly vulnerable to workplace discrimination. Research shows that visible body ink (on the face, neck, hands, lower arms and legs) makes it more difficult to get a job in some professions such as healthcare, teaching or banking. In those jobs, employees are not allowed to show their tattoos, regardless of whether they are offensive or not. In some sectors, you may not even get hired if you have tattoos. Employers often claim that they affect their company's image.

The popularity of tattoos has its down side. Now that middle-aged professionals and even your parents are getting inked, maybe it doesn't make you look cool any more.

I.- Answer 4 out of the following 6 questions according to the information given in the text. WRITE COMPLETE SENTENCES USING YOUR OWN WORDS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. DO NOT COPY FROM THE TEXT. (Choose 4 out of the 6 questions) (4 marks)

1. Why did ancient Egyptians use tattoos?
2. What was the image tattooed people had before the late 20th century in our society?
3. How has the media helped make tattoos more acceptable?
4. How have celebrities changed the stereotype that tattoos used to have?
5. Why can we say that nowadays getting a tattoo does not mean that you are marked for life?
6. How can visible tattoos affect the chances of getting a job?

II.- Are these statements True or False? Justify your answers based on information from the text, rewriting the original sentences in your own words or quoting properly. (Choose 2 out of the 3 statements) (2 marks).

1. Women have their tattoos removed more frequently than men.
2. People with tattoos are often believed to be less skilled or reliable.
3. In jobs such as healthcare or banking, employees are only allowed to show their tattoos if they are not offensive.

III.- Find the words or expressions in the text that mean: (Choose 4 out of the 6 questions) (1 mark)

1. connected, associated
2. more and more, progressively
3. periodical publications that have colourful pages with articles and pictures
4. gain, acquire
5. people who are paid to work for a person or company
6. trendy, stylish, fashionable

IV.- Write a composition of about 130 words on one of these topics. Specify your option. (3 marks)

1. Do you think tattoos reveal things about who you are or do they distract people from getting to know the real you? Write an opinion essay on this topic.
2. Would you get a tattoo or a body piercing? Give reasons for your choice.

OPTION B — STORM CHASERS

While most of us watch storms from our windows at a safe distance, some individuals only want to get closer. These people are called "storm chasers" and they actually head toward some of the most dangerous storms there are in nature: tornadoes and hurricanes.

Storm chasers are usually scientists who study weather and seek to predict when storms will appear and how they will behave. This information will hopefully allow weather forecasters to provide people with earlier, more accurate warnings, so that areas where bad storms are expected can be evacuated.

The first storm chasers were American pilots who flew into storms in the late 1940s, collecting data for weather scientists. By the 1950s, amateurs were chasing storms on the ground, too. Then, in 1.972, the US government started the Tornado Intercept Programme, which consisted of chasing tornadoes on the ground to get data on them.

The 1.996 Hollywood movie Twister, which follows a group of scientists trying to get under a tornado, led to more people studying weather science and to an increase in interest in storm chasing, too. In recent years, "chase vacations" have even become popular, with tourists watching strong storms and tornadoes with the help of tour operators. These companies particularly operate in the American Midwest area known as "Tornado Alley", where strong storms are more likely to happen.

Storm chasing is not always as exciting as it sounds. It can involve hours and hours of driving, just looking and waiting for storms to develop. Many different circumstances have to occur to allow storm chasers to find a developing storm and get into its path. Then, they place their scientific equipment and retreat as quickly as possible to a safe place.

Some storm chasers use special huge heavy vehicles that they believe can resist the strength of a tornado. For example, the Tornado Intercept Vehicle 2 (TIV2) weighs about 8 tons and has other special features that would make it hard for a tornado to lift it off the ground.

From time to time, storm chasers are not able to get to a safe place quickly enough. Some storm chasers have been injured and even killed in this risky line of work. That's why only professional weather experts should ever attempt to chase storms.

I.- Answer 4 out of the following 6 questions according to the information given in the text. WRITE COMPLETE SENTENCES USING YOUR OWN WORDS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. DO NOT COPY FROM THE TEXT. (Choose 4 out of the 6 questions) (4 marks)

1. What do scientists chase storms for?
2. What did the first storm chasers do?
3. What effect did the film Twister have on people?
4. Why do tour companies choose the American Midwest area to operate?
5. Why isn't storm chasing always very exciting?
6. Why shouldn't amateurs try chasing storms?

II.- Are these statements True or False? Justify your answers based on information from the text, rewriting the original sentences in your own words or quoting properly. (Choose 2 out of the 3 statements) (2 marks).

1. The Tornado Intercept Programme was developed to observe tornadoes from satellites.
2. Nowadays there are people so interested in amateur storm chasing that they spend their holidays observing storms.
3. The only characteristic that makes TIV2 difficult to be raised from the ground by a tornado is its weight.

III.- Find the words or expressions in the text that mean: (Choose 4 out of the 6 questions) (1 mark)

1. likely or able to cause injury or harm
2. tell about in advance
3. precise, exact
4. especially, mainly
5. raise, elevate
6. hurt, wounded

IV.- Write a composition of about 130 words on one of these topics. Specify your option. (3 marks)

1. "Being a scientist helps you understand some of the fundamentals of life and the universe." Do you think this statement is true? Write an opinion essay about this topic.
2. Do you like films about natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, or tornadoes? Why? Explain.