"SELECTIVITAT" EXAM

HERE YOU HAVE AN SAMPLE OF "SELECTIVITAT EXAM". You can do it in order to practise.

Read the text carefully and then answer the questions.

THE FUTURE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

English seems to be everywhere. But what is its future? I invite readers to reflect on three political and cultural developments that will shape the use of English at the end of our century.

The first is the remarkable rise in multilingualism. More people than ever before now use two or more languages. As Peter Strevens, a famous linguist, often pointed out, those who command only one language are at a distinct disadvantage, especially those monolinguals who need agreements and commerce from language.

A second factor will have even greaten impact: far from approaching the status of a universla language, English is diminishing proportionately as explosive birthrates are changing the balance of the wrold's population toward other language communities. No doubt English is the most grequently chosen additional language, and will, most probalby, continue to enjoy that popularity. But even the major center of the anglophone world are becoming more and more diverese in languages and language varieties. These demographic facts have implications for the future of English and for the kind of languages we will use in the future.

A third question that merits our present consideration derives from research in second language instruction. For those acquiring a new language, attitude is the most influential of the variables that predict the success of learning. It is more important than age or teaching mtehods. Consequently, attitudes toward English are strong predictors of uses of English that will, in the future, shape its form and purposes.

Answer the questions

1.- Which one of the three developments cited in the text will affect the future of English more clearly?

2.- Who, in particular, is going to suffer more from the consequences of being monolingual?

3.- According to the writer, "English is diminishing proportionately" Why?

4.- What does the writer predict about the use of English as an "additional" language?

5.- What is happening to English in the majore English-speaking countries?

6.-. What is the most important factor in learning a second language?

WRITING : Choose ONE and write about either 1 or 2. Write a minimum of 65 words.

1.- You have a friend in the United States who only speaks English and thinks there is no nedd to learn a foreign language. Write a leeter to him or her explaining the advantatges of being bilingua or multilingual.

2.- This passage begins by saying that the English language "seems to be everywhere". Is this true of our country? How common is hte knowledge and use of English here? Write a short essay answering these questions.

 

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