OPTION A — ANIMAL FEELINGS

For many years, the idea that animals had feelings or emotions was dismissed. For instance, Descartes considered animals as mindless mechanisms, so that signs of apparent pain or distress are not indications that they feel anything.

However, thousands of scientific studies have contradicted this view and helped us understand that many animal species are "sentient" beings. Animal "sentience" is the capacity of an animal to experience different feelings such as stress, fear, pleasure and joy. Recognising animal sentience is important to help identify the needs of animals and pay attention to their welfare, including their mental well-being.

The most common way to assess the emotional state of an animal is by observing its behaviour. Animals experiencing a positive mental state are likely to play, explore and have social contact with other animals. Conversely, when animals are frightened, they will either attack, escape or stay completely still (known as a freeze response).

Experiments have shown that, if kept in poor conditions or without mental stimulation, many animals show signs of being depressed, such as losing interest in pleasant activities like eating. Some animals worry about certain events that happen in their lives. For instance, pets can suffer from separation anxiety, which is like a panic attack in humans, when left on their own for a long period of time.

The concept of animal sentience dates back millennia. In particular, the Buddhist and Hindu religions were some of the first to promote non-violence toward all animals, believing they have a soul like humans. However, legal recognition of animal rights in developed countries didn't start until the 19th century.

In 2.008, the Treaty of Lisbon officially recognised animals as sentient beings whose welfare has to be protected in the European Union. The Spanish 2.022 Animal Rights Law also states that animals are not things, but sentient creatures and aims to put an end to animal mistreatment. Animal owners now have to provide proper care and ensure their animals' well-being, except for hunting dogs, which unfortunately are not protected by this law. Shops will no longer be able to sell pets, while zoos will be converted into centres for the recovery of vulnerable native species.

There is still a lot to be done in order to reduce the fear, pain and stress experienced by animals in our society. The official acknowledgment of animals as sentient beings is a step in the right direction.

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 does animal sentience mean?
2. How do animals react when they are frightened?
3. What can make animals feel depressed?
4. What is separation anxiety in pets?
5. What are animal owners required to do under the Spanish Animal Rights Law?
6. What does the Spanish Animal Rights Law say about zoos?

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 usual way to evaluate animal emotions is to do brain imaging tests.
2. The European Union has already recognised that animals are sentient.
3. The Spanish Animal Rights Law makes sure hunting dogs are well-treated by their owners.

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

1. something that seems to be real or true but may not be
2. to evaluate, estimate, calculate
3. extreme fear, terror
4. spiritual part of a person, believed by some to exist after death
5. suitable, correct, appropriate
6. to decrease, lessen, make smaller

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

1. "If human beings have rights, then animals should also have their own set of rights that have to be respected by everyone." Do you agree? Write an opinion essay about this.
2. Have you ever seen animals showing emotions or feelings? Explain with examples how the animals showed their emotions and what might have caused those emotions.

OPTION B — WHY YOUR PARENTS HATE YOUR MUSIC

When I was a teenager, my parents thought that the music I liked sounded like "a lot of noise." This happens in every generation. Your grandparents hated your parents' music, too.

When your parents were teenagers, the music they liked was written by people their own age with similar experiences. Now you have music you love, written by people your age who really understand you.

In fact, music is often written with the clear purpose of annoying older listeners. Rap, heavy metal and many other music genres began as a youthful rebellion against authority figures and the old-fashioned manner of running things, and this is more attractive to younger audiences.

A different issue is that your parents may fear certain music. Some music can actually be damaging because it is racist, sexist or it makes dangerous behaviour sound attractive. Even if we disagree when we listen to it, a good song can work subconsciously, making us accept its message.

Musical tastes begin to form as early as age 13 or 14 and they get nearly fixed in our early 20s. Studies indicate that most people stop looking for new music by their mid-30s. That does not mean that we are condemned to listen to the songs of the past. Exploring new music will keep our brains active and even help us connect to other generations.

The emotions that we experience as teens are more intense than what comes later, and strong emotions make for strong memories and strong likes and dislikes — including the music we listen to. Additionally, the "mere exposure" effect means that the more we are exposed to a situation, the more familiar it is to us and the more we like it. Teenagers spend a lot of time listening to music and discussing it with friends. Therefore, all that exposure means that they will enjoy that kind of music and find it comforting throughout their lives.

When your parents reject your music or find it unpleasant, it can be frustrating and feel like a rejection of you. If you want to change this, play some music that is important to you and talk to your parents about it. Tell them why that song means so much to you. You might get them to like your music after all.

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 do we like music made by musicians of our own generation?
2. How did music like rap or heavy metal start?
3. What kind of music do parents sometimes fear?
4. Why are likes and dislikes so strong in adolescence?
5. How does the "mere exposure" effect explain that we find music from our adolescence comforting?
6. How can teenagers make their parents take an interest in their music?

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. A good song can make us agree with things subconsciously.
2. Most people continue exploring new music all their lives.
3. Teenagers can feel rejected by their parents if they don't like their music.

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

1. a sound which is unpleasant and lacks harmony
2. irritating, upsetting, exasperating
3. harmful, having the ability to hurt
4. to have a different opinion from someone else about something
5. things or events from the past that you remember
6. to refuse to accept someone or something

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

1. "Many people find music helps them concentrate while studying and doing homework." Write a for and against essay about this topic.
2. "Some teenagers lock themselves in their bedroom after a rough day and spend their time listening to music." Do you think this is the right thing to do? Write an opinion essay on this topic.