PAGS: Social Media and the Youth: A Double-Edged Sword. Test para practicar.

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Os dejo un modelo de examen de PAGS muy parecido al que veréis el día de vuestro examen.

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Respuestas (Answer Key)

PART 1: READING

1. b) It offers a sense of community and belonging.
2. b) Increased rates of anxiety and depression.
3. b) Because they compare themselves to unrealistic standards.
4. c) Finding a healthy balance.

PART 2: USE OF ENGLISH

5. c) were (Second Conditional)
6. b) was (Past Simple Passive)
7. c) who (Relative pronoun for people)
8. c) Why don't (Suggestion structure "Why don't we...")
9. b) is playing (Present Continuous for action happening now)
10. a) have been (Present Perfect for life experience/unfinished time)
11. c) was playing (Past Continuous for action in progress)
12. c) will have finished (Future Perfect)
13. a) find out (Discover)
14. b) take off (Remove clothing)
15. a) tech-savvy
16. b) upload

PART 3: LISTENING

17. b) The negative impact of social media.
18. c) Everyone's life looked perfect compared to hers.
19. b) They are often edited and filtered.
20. b) To take a break and go for a walk.

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Dialogue between Sarah and Emma regarding social media

Sarah: (Sighs) I honestly don't know why I keep doing this to myself, Emma.

Emma: Doing what? What's wrong?

Sarah: Scrolling through Instagram. I just spent an hour looking at photos, and now I feel terrible. Look at this girl, she's our age, she's travelling to Dubai, she looks perfect, and she has like five thousand likes.

Emma: Sarah, put the phone down. You know that's not real life, right?

Sarah: I know, logically. But it feels real. Everyone seems to be having an amazing time except me. I'm just here studying for exams and stressing out.

Emma: That's exactly what they want you to think. People only post their highlight reels, the best moments. Nobody posts a photo of themselves crying over math homework or having a bad hair day.

Sarah: True. But the photos look so perfect.

Emma: Filters, lighting, and angles! Half of those photos are heavily edited. It's creating this unrealistic standard that nobody can actually achieve. It's toxic.

Sarah: Yeah, you're right. It just makes me feel... not good enough.

Emma: That's why I turned off my notifications last week. It was distracting me from school, and honestly, I was tired of the FOMO.

Sarah: The fear of missing out? Yeah, I get that a lot.

Emma: Since I stopped checking it every five minutes, I sleep better, and I actually feel happier. You should try it.

Sarah: Maybe I should. It's just hard to disconnect.

Emma: Tell you what. Let's make a pact. Let's put our phones away for the rest of the afternoon. Let's go for a walk in the park and get some ice cream. Real life, no filters.

Sarah: (Laughs) That sounds like a great suggestion. Let's go.

Saludos.

English Entrance Exam

Higher Vocational Training Cycles - Andalusia

Level: B1 / 4º ESO

PART 1: READING COMPREHENSION

Social Media and the Youth: A Double-Edged Sword

In the last decade, social media has completely transformed the way teenagers communicate and perceive the world. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat allow young people to stay connected with friends, share their creativity, and access information instantly. For many, these digital spaces offer a sense of community and belonging that they might struggle to find in their physical environments. It can be a powerful tool for self-expression and learning.

However, this constant connectivity comes at a price. Studies suggest a strong link between heavy social media use and increased rates of anxiety and depression among adolescents. The pressure to present a perfect life often leads to unrealistic comparisons. Teenagers frequently measure their self-worth by the number of likes or followers they have, which can be damaging to their self-esteem. Furthermore, the "fear of missing out" (FOMO) keeps many glued to their screens late into the night, affecting their sleep patterns and academic performance. While social media is not inherently bad, finding a healthy balance is crucial for the well-being of the younger generation.

1. According to the text, what is one positive aspect of social media?

a) It helps teenagers sleep better at night. b) It offers a sense of community and belonging. c) It guarantees academic success. d) It reduces the need for physical communication.

2. What negative effect is mentioned in relation to heavy social media use?

a) Improved physical health. b) Increased rates of anxiety and depression. c) A decrease in creativity. d) Better time management skills.

3. Why do teenagers often feel pressure on social media?

a) Because they have to pay to use the platforms. b) Because they compare themselves to unrealistic standards. c) Because parents monitor their every move. d) Because the internet connection is often slow.

4. What does the text suggest is the solution to the problems of social media?

a) Banning social media completely. b) Using it only for school work. c) Finding a healthy balance. d) Ignoring the negative effects.

PART 2: USE OF ENGLISH

5. Conditional: If I ______ you, I would spend less time on my phone.

a) am b) was c) were d) have been

6. Passive Voice: The first smartphone ______ invented in the 1990s.

a) is b) was c) has been d) had

7. Relative Clauses: That is the girl ______ posted the viral video.

a) which b) whose c) who d) where

8. Suggestions: ______ we go to the cinema tonight instead of chatting online?

a) How about b) Let's c) Why don't d) What about

9. Verb Tenses: Listen! Somebody ______ the guitar.

a) plays b) is playing c) played d) has played

10. Verb Tenses: I ______ to London three times this year.

a) have been b) go c) was going d) am going

11. Verb Tenses: While I was studying, my brother ______ video games.

a) plays b) played c) was playing d) has played

12. Verb Tenses: By this time next year, I ______ my exams.

a) finish b) will finish c) will have finished d) finished

13. Phrasal Verbs: I need to ______ how to solve this math problem.

a) find out b) look after c) give up d) turn on

14. Phrasal Verbs: Please, ______ your shoes before entering the house.

a) take after b) take off c) put on d) get up

15. Vocabulary: A person who is very good at using computers is often called ______.

a) tech-savvy b) old-fashioned c) illiterate d) manual

16. Vocabulary: We need to ______ our files to the cloud to save space.

a) download b) upload c) browse d) type

👇 Click below to listen to the dialogue 👇

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PART 3: LISTENING COMPREHENSION

17. What is the main topic of Emma and Sarah's conversation?

a) Their homework for tomorrow. b) The negative impact of social media. c) A new fashion trend. d) Weekend plans.

18. Why did Sarah feel bad after looking at Instagram?

a) She saw rude comments. b) Her internet stopped working. c) Everyone's life looked perfect compared to hers. d) She didn't get any likes.

19. What do they agree about regarding photos online?

a) They are always 100% real. b) They are often edited and filtered. c) They are not important. d) Only celebrities use filters.

20. What suggestion does Emma make at the end?

a) To delete their accounts forever. b) To take a break and go for a walk. c) To post more photos. d) To buy a new phone.