(A) COMPREHENSION (4 points)

BULLFIGHTS TO DISAPPEAR?
Spanish matadors may soon have to change their names. The matador, which in Spanish means
“killer”, may soon be banned from dispatching bulls in “las corridas”. Spain’s Environment Minister,
Cristina Narbona, said that the law should be changed to spare the bulls from their traditionally
bloody end. Instead, Spain should follow Portugal’s example, and hold bullfights without killing the
animals.
Ms. Narbona told the Spanish daily El Mundo: “We have to try, perhaps in the next legislature, to
finish with this bloody moment at the end of the bullfight. There is a growing movement in the
European Parliament against bullfights and each time it is harder to defend them.”
Ms. Narbona said recent legislation introduced by Madrid which involved jail terms and though
fines for animal cruelty and holding “unauthorised shows” such as cockfighting or illegal
greyhound races, should also include bullfights. Although the level of support the minister has in
Spain’s ruling Socialist party for her proposal was unclear, El Mundo speculated that politicians,
including the Industry Minister Joan Clos, would support a ban on killing in bullfights. Mr Clos was
the major of Barcelona when the city officially declared itself opposed to bullfighting in 2004.
Ms. Narbona’s comments met with immediate opposition from those keen to preserve Spain’s
controversial national “sport”, some from the most unlikely quarters. Gaspar Llamazares, leader of
the United Left Party, said that he opposed a measure which would “incorporate the prejudices of
the Anglo-Saxons.” Enrique Garza, president of the Association of Organisers of Bullfights, said: “This
spurious attitude of the minister goes against the interests of a section of Spaniards.” And a
bullfighter, Miguel Abellán, said: “They want to end bullfighting little by little.”
But animal rights activists and ecologists supported the suggestion, which came after Barcelona’s
city council announced that the city’s only working bullring might have to close soon because of
lack of business. Consuelo Polo, spokeswoman for Ecologists in Action, applauded the minister’s
suggestion. This is an open window to hope. What we have lacked is a brave and dignified
government who can finish with this macabre fiesta for once and for all,” she said.
On the other hand, bullfight promoters at the Monumental Plaza de los Toros in Madrid said they
were losing €28,000 each time they held a bullfight, owing to falling attendance.
(Adapted from The Independent)

a) ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-2 ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE TEXT. USE YOUR OWN
WORDS. (1 point per answer)
1. What changes in the law regarding bullfights would Ms. Narbona like to introduce? Why?

2. What does Miguel Abellán considers?

3. Are Animal rights activists pessimistic about the eventual ban on bullfights?

b) ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH WORDS OR PHRASES FROM
THE TEXT OR WITH YOUR OWN WORDS. (0.5 points per answer)
4. The Industry Minister has promised Ms. Narbona unconditional support for her proposal.

5. Barcelona’s city council has always shown its opposition to bullfight shows.
 (B) USE OF ENGLISH (3 points)
1. Find words or expressions in the text that mean: “opposed to, contrary to” (0,25 points)
2. Find in the text a synonym to “because of” (0,25 points)
3. Give a noun with the same root as “DECLARE”. (0,25 points)
4. Complete the series with another word of the same semantic group. (0,25 points) COCK,
GREYHOUND, BULL…
5. Turn the following sentence into reported speech. Ms. Narbona said, “We have to try,
perhaps in the next legislature.” (0,5 points)
6. Rewrite the following sentence without changing the meaning. Begin as indicated:
There is a growing movement against bullfightings. (0,25 points)
There is a movement against…
7. Join the following sentences with a relative pronoun. (0,25 points)
Bullfighting is considered an art by many people. Bullfighting is hated by ecologists.
8. Turn the following sentence into the passive voice.
Animal rights activists and ecologists supported the suggestion. (0,5 points)
9. Join the following sentences using an appropriate linker (do not use AND or BUT). Make
changes if necessary. (0,5 points) I can’t stand animal suffering. I like bullfighting.

(C) PRODUCTION (3 points)

15) Write a composition (120 WORDS) Choose ONE of the following options. Specify
your option.
a. Killing animals for pleasure is ethically wrong. Do you agree?
b. For or against bullfighting?
bull toro controversy controversia
bullring plaza de toros identity identidad
bullfighter torero fox hunting caza del zorro
bullfighting toreo greyhound galgo
supporters defensores major sport deporte muy importante
detractors detractors debate debate
bravery valentía legislation legislación
bloody sangriento pain dolor
shocking impactante suffering sufrimiento
sword espada cruelty crueldad
abbatoir matadero protection protección
roots raíces employment empleo
sacrifice sacrificio pleasure placer
combat combate preserve conserver
fight lucha right correcto
ban prohibición wrong erróneo
crowd multitude demonstration manifestación
sword servant mozo de espadas banners pancartas
team of bullfighters cuadrilla ecologists ecologistas
sun/shade sol / sombra opposition oposición
show espectáculo business negocio

1. Write down your ideas.

2. Write down words related to the topic you would like to use.
3. Organize your ideas into paragraphs. Don’t forget: introduction, body, conclusion.
4. Use linkers.
5. Use the grammar you have studied: passive voice, reported speech,
comparatives…