Animal Behavior, Environmental Issues, and Social Trends Analysis
MODELO 2004: A Relative Difference
Key Points:
- Chimpanzee rights are being considered.
- Chimpanzee populations have drastically declined.
Vocabulary: connection (link), part of the skeleton which encloses the brain (skull), jump ahead (leap), apparently (seemingly)
Grammar:
- If you don’t ask him a question, he won’t speak to you.
- She told me that I had to do it at once.
- The exercise is too difficult for us to do.
- The crime is being investigated by the police.
SEPTIEMBRE 2004: What’s it Like to Be a Dog?
Key Points:
- Common sense and science can differ.
- Scientists are accepting that animals experience emotions.
Vocabulary: truly (indeed), besides (in addition), growing (increasing), too (as well)
Grammar:
- studied; would understand
- that; have been explored
- working; the most intelligent
- Darwin said that his experiments would prove the existence of the emotional lives of animals.
JUNIO 2005: Too Much Television
Key Points:
- Over-stimulation of young brains may be linked to A.D.D.
- Television watching by young children may cause attention problems.
Vocabulary: quantity (amount), symptoms (signs), examined (tested), previous (earlier)
Grammar:
- began; between
- often; a
- on; are
- ‘He asked the girl what she would do when she finished her homework.’
MODELO 2005: I’m Working From Home
Key Points:
- Family interaction is a reason for homeworking in Spain.
- Fewer British work from home compared to the rest of Europe.
Vocabulary: selecting (choosing), study (survey), chance (opportunity), change (switch)
Grammar:
- worked; per
- for; to
- accepted; were taken
- ‘The minister remarked that for many firms and many workers homeworking would be a way to reduce costs.’
SEPTIEMBRE 2005: Amphibian Decline Serves As Global Warning
Key Points:
- Many amphibian species have disappeared since 1980.
- Amphibian decline is an early warning of environmental disaster.
Vocabulary: complete (comprehensive), because (since), extreme (drastic), excepcional (remarkable)
Grammar:
- continues; will rise
- has created; protecting
- has caused; most important
- polluting; to
JUNIO 2006: Skin Art
Key Points:
- Romans considered decorative tattooing barbaric.
- The word ‘tattoo’ comes from Tahitian.
Vocabulary: embalmed human bodies (mummies), almost (nearly), profound (deep), completely (fully)
Grammar:
- becoming; his
- what; a
- who; it
- were linked; is worn
MODELO 2006: Should the State Tell Us What to Eat and Drink?
Key Points:
- People eat on the street more than in other places.
- Many homes no longer have a dining table.
Vocabulary: research (enquiry), nearly (almost), whole (entire), unpleasant (nasty)
Grammar:
- eating; for
- ate; loaves
- buy
- I offered her something else to eat
SEPTIEMBRE 2006: South American Wild Cats Find Hope in a Test Tube
Key Points:
- Felines have been venerated in America.
- Assisted reproduction is being used to help wild cats.
Vocabulary: decreased (declined), possible danger (threat), agriculture (farming), until now (so far)
Grammar:
- to be reproduced; have to
- carelessly
- very; to make
- The journalist asked when he began his new wild cat project.