In the context of literature & arts, which word best completes the following sentence: 'The government's failure to address the issue has only served to __________ the social divide'?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: C)exacerbate
💡 Explicación
This question tests advanced vocabulary (verbs of change and impact) suitable for C1+ level.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: C)exacerbate
A)alleviateIncorrect. 'Alleviate' means to make something less severe, which is the opposite of what's needed.
B)mitigateIncorrect. 'Mitigate' means to make something less severe, which doesn't fit the negative consequence implied.
C)exacerbateCorrect. 'Exacerbate' means to make a problem or bad situation worse, which fits perfectly here.
D)facilitateIncorrect. 'Facilitate' means to make an action or process easy or easier, which is not appropriate for a social divide.
💡 Explicación
This question tests advanced vocabulary (verbs of change and impact) suitable for C1+ level.
Pregunta 2
Pregunta 2 · D4Bloom: Remember
Discussing literature & arts in Cartagena.
In the context of literature & arts, which word best completes the following sentence: 'An adaptation that strips a novel of everything difficult and leaves only the plot __________ the very readers the original was written for'?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: B)alienates
💡 Explicación
C1+ literary vocabulary depends on reading the audience the sentence names, not on the general moral of the passage. Here 'alienates' is the only option that captures the relationship between a simplified text and the readers it used to reach.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: B)alienates
A)enthuses'Enthuse' means to inspire enthusiasm, and the sentence describes the opposite result for a specific readership. Nothing in it suggests anyone was drawn in.
B)alienates'Alienates' means to make someone feel excluded or estranged, and the sentence describes losing precisely the audience the original addressed. The clause naming 'the very readers the original was written for' is what fixes the meaning.
C)accommodates'Accommodate' means to adapt something to fit needs, and the sentence says the adaptation removed difficulty rather than adjusting to anyone. The word names fitting others, not losing them.
D)confounds'Confound' means to confuse or bewilder, and the sentence is about an audience relationship rather than about anyone's confusion. No reaction of perplexity appears in the clause.
💡 Explicación
C1+ literary vocabulary depends on reading the audience the sentence names, not on the general moral of the passage. Here 'alienates' is the only option that captures the relationship between a simplified text and the readers it used to reach.
Pregunta 3
Pregunta 3 · D4Bloom: Remember
Discussing literature & arts in Cali.
In the context of literature & arts, which word best completes the following sentence: 'When a critic insists that a poem only works in its original dialect, the claim __________ the reading that made the poem famous outside its region'?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: D)forecloses
💡 Explicación
C1+ critical reading often hinges on distinguishing a claim's effect on interpretation from its effect on the person making it. The subject here is the claim, not the critic, and that determines which verb family fits the blank.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: D)forecloses
A)foresees'Foresee' means to predict what will happen, and nothing here concerns prediction. The clause is about the reach of a claim over what can be read, not about anticipating events.
B)flatters'Flatter' means to praise in order to please, and nothing in the sentence attributes any praise or strategic nicety to the critic. The objection offered is substantive, not a compliment.
C)forfeits'Forfeit' means to lose something one is entitled to, which would apply to the critic rather than to a claim. The grammatical subject is the claim itself, and what it does is limit interpretation.
D)forecloses'Forecloses' means to rule out in advance, and the sentence describes a critical position that excludes a reading rather than testing it. The word carries the sense of closing off an interpretation that already exists.
💡 Explicación
C1+ critical reading often hinges on distinguishing a claim's effect on interpretation from its effect on the person making it. The subject here is the claim, not the critic, and that determines which verb family fits the blank.
Pregunta 4
Pregunta 4 · D4Bloom: Remember
Discussing literature & arts in Medellín.
In the context of literature & arts, which word best completes the following sentence: 'Translating a poem literally and publishing it without a note of what has been lost tends to __________ the translator, whose name appears on the cover'?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: C)compromise
💡 Explicación
The deciding evidence in this item is the phrase 'whose name appears on the cover', which establishes who bears responsibility for what was lost. At C1+ locating who is exposed by an action is often the whole reasoning task in a vocabulary question.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: C)compromise
A)vindicate'Vindicate' means to clear someone of blame or prove a claim right, and the sentence describes the opposite: the translator's reputation is placed at risk by what was left out.
B)immortalise'Immortalise' means to make someone famous for ever, and nothing in the sentence suggests lasting fame. The described consequence is exposure to criticism, not commemoration.
C)compromise'Compromise' means to weaken something by exposing it to damaging forces, and the sentence describes a translation whose omissions are publicly attributable. The clause about the name on the cover is what makes the damage fall on the translator.
D)consecrate'Consecrate' means to set apart for a sacred purpose or to establish formally, and no such sanction appears in the clause. The sentence is about risk, not elevation.
💡 Explicación
The deciding evidence in this item is the phrase 'whose name appears on the cover', which establishes who bears responsibility for what was lost. At C1+ locating who is exposed by an action is often the whole reasoning task in a vocabulary question.
Pregunta 5
Pregunta 5 · D6Bloom: Apply
Gabriel García Márquez and his hometown, Aracataca.
Read the text and answer the question.
"Gabriel García Márquez was born in 1927 in Aracataca, a small town in the department of Magdalena, and lived there with his grandparents until he was eight. Years later, the town's hot streets, banana plantations and the stories his grandmother told him became the inspiration for Macondo, the imaginary town of his novel One Hundred Years of Solitude, published in 1967. The book was translated into dozens of languages, and in 1982 he received the Nobel Prize in Literature. Today visitors to Aracataca can see his reconstructed childhood house, which is now a museum."
What is the main idea of the text?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: B)García Márquez's childhood in Aracataca inspired one of his most famous creations.
💡 Explicación
The main idea is the relationship the whole text builds: real childhood memories became fiction. Details about the Nobel Prize and the museum support it, while the distractors misread "small town", the dates or the difference between Macondo and Aracataca.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: B)García Márquez's childhood in Aracataca inspired one of his most famous creations.
A)Aracataca is the largest city in the department of Magdalena.Incorrect. The text calls Aracataca "a small town", so this option contradicts the passage.
B)García Márquez's childhood in Aracataca inspired one of his most famous creations.Correct. The text connects his early years in Aracataca (streets, plantations, his grandmother's stories) with the creation of Macondo, and the other facts (the novel, the prize, the museum) develop that link.
C)García Márquez wrote One Hundred Years of Solitude when he was eight.Incorrect. He lived in Aracataca until he was eight; the novel was published in 1967, many years later.
D)Macondo is a real town that tourists can visit in Magdalena.Incorrect. The text says Macondo is "the imaginary town" of the novel; tourists visit Aracataca and the writer's house.
💡 Explicación
The main idea is the relationship the whole text builds: real childhood memories became fiction. Details about the Nobel Prize and the museum support it, while the distractors misread "small town", the dates or the difference between Macondo and Aracataca.
Pregunta 6
Pregunta 6 · D6Bloom: Apply
Vallenato music and its protection in Valledupar.
Read the text and answer the question.
"Vallenato, the music of accordion, caja and guacharaca from the Caribbean region of Colombia, is famous all over the country. Its traditional songs tell stories of daily life, love and journeys through the region. However, in 2015 UNESCO included traditional vallenato on its list of cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding. Experts explained that young musicians were abandoning the old styles in favour of commercial versions, and that the traditional ways of teaching, from old masters to children, were disappearing. Since then, schools in Valledupar have offered free classes so that children can learn the traditional styles from experienced players."
What can be inferred from the text?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: D)Traditional vallenato was at risk of being lost despite the popularity of the genre.
💡 Explicación
The word "However" signals a contrast between the genre's popularity and the danger to its traditional form. Combining this contrast with the experts' explanation leads to the inference, while the distractors contradict facts such as "free classes".
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: D)Traditional vallenato was at risk of being lost despite the popularity of the genre.
A)Vallenato is not known outside the city of Valledupar.Incorrect. The text says vallenato "is famous all over the country", so it is not limited to Valledupar.
B)UNESCO banned commercial versions of vallenato in 2015.Incorrect. UNESCO included vallenato on a heritage list; the text says nothing about banning any version of the music.
C)Children in Valledupar must pay to learn the old styles.Incorrect. The text says schools offer "free classes", so children do not have to pay.
D)Traditional vallenato was at risk of being lost despite the popularity of the genre.Correct. The text says vallenato is famous, but traditional vallenato needed "urgent safeguarding" because young musicians preferred commercial versions; the reader can infer that the traditional form was in danger.
💡 Explicación
The word "However" signals a contrast between the genre's popularity and the danger to its traditional form. Combining this contrast with the experts' explanation leads to the inference, while the distractors contradict facts such as "free classes".
Pregunta 7
Pregunta 7 · D6Bloom: Apply
Fernando Botero's donation to Medellín and Bogotá.
Read the text and answer the question.
"Fernando Botero, born in Medellín in 1932, became famous around the world for his paintings and sculptures of people and animals with exaggerated, rounded volumes. Although he lived for many years in Paris and Italy, he never forgot his country. In 2000, he donated more than a hundred of his own works and dozens of pieces from his private collection, including paintings by European masters, to museums in Bogotá and Medellín. In Medellín, twenty-three of his bronze sculptures were placed in a public square in front of the Museum of Antioquia, where anyone can see them for free."
According to the text, what did Botero's donation include besides his own works?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: B)Works by other artists from his private collection.
💡 Explicación
Detail questions often hinge on small words such as "and" and "including". The donation had two parts: Botero's own works and pieces from his collection, among them paintings by European masters; the other options mention places from the text that were not part of the donation.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: B)Works by other artists from his private collection.
A)A new building for the Museum of Antioquia.Incorrect. The museum is mentioned as the place in front of which the sculptures stand; the text does not say that Botero donated a building.
B)Works by other artists from his private collection.Correct. The text says he donated his own works "and dozens of pieces from his private collection, including paintings by European masters", so the donation also included other artists' works.
C)His houses in Paris and Italy.Incorrect. The text mentions that he lived in Paris and Italy, but it does not say he donated any houses.
D)Money to pay for free entry to the square.Incorrect. The square is free because it is a public space; the text does not mention any money donated for entry.
💡 Explicación
Detail questions often hinge on small words such as "and" and "including". The donation had two parts: Botero's own works and pieces from his collection, among them paintings by European masters; the other options mention places from the text that were not part of the donation.
Pregunta 8
Pregunta 8 · D6Bloom: Apply
Costumes and satire in the Barranquilla Carnival.
Read the text and answer the question.
"The Barranquilla Carnival, recognised by UNESCO in 2003 as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity, is much more than a party. Many of its costumes have a satirical purpose. The marimonda, for example, is a character with a long nose, big ears and a colourful suit. It was created, according to tradition, by working-class people who wanted to mock the powerful men of the city without getting into trouble. Behind the mask, anyone could laugh at politicians and rich businessmen. Today, groups still use the carnival to criticise current events with humour."
In the text, the word "mock" is closest in meaning to...
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: D)make fun of someone.
💡 Explicación
Vocabulary in context can be checked with nearby sentences and with the topic. The text speaks of a "satirical purpose" and of laughing at politicians behind a mask, so "mock" means to ridicule, which explains why the costume protected its wearer.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: D)make fun of someone.
A)protect someone.Incorrect. The working-class creators wanted to criticise the powerful, not protect them, and the text links the costume with laughing at them.
B)copy someone's clothes exactly.Incorrect. The marimonda has a long nose and big ears, an exaggeration, not an exact copy; "mock" here refers to ridicule.
C)obey someone without question.Incorrect. Obeying is the opposite of what the text describes: people used the costume to criticise the powerful "without getting into trouble".
D)make fun of someone.Correct. The next sentence explains it: "Behind the mask, anyone could laugh at politicians and rich businessmen"; to mock is to laugh at someone to criticise them.
💡 Explicación
Vocabulary in context can be checked with nearby sentences and with the topic. The text speaks of a "satirical purpose" and of laughing at politicians behind a mask, so "mock" means to ridicule, which explains why the costume protected its wearer.
Pregunta 9
Pregunta 9 · D6Bloom: Apply
Discussing literature & arts in Cartagena.
A reviewer wants to emphasize that the lighting, rather than the costumes, impressed her. Which sentence uses an it-cleft to express that contrast?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: A)It was the lighting that impressed me, not the costumes.
💡 Explicación
An it-cleft uses it was plus a focused element followed by a relative clause. Here, it highlights the lighting as the source of the reviewer's reaction.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: A)It was the lighting that impressed me, not the costumes.
A)It was the lighting that impressed me, not the costumes.The it-cleft places the lighting in the focus position and explicitly contrasts it with the costumes.
B)It was the costumes that impressed me, not the lighting.This is an it-cleft, but it emphasizes costumes and therefore reverses the reviewer's intended contrast.
C)The lighting and the costumes impressed me equally.This sentence gives both features equal importance and does not use an it-cleft to highlight the lighting.
D)The costumes impressed the lighting during the performance.This changes the participants and meaning: the lighting becomes the thing impressed rather than the feature that impressed the reviewer.
💡 Explicación
An it-cleft uses it was plus a focused element followed by a relative clause. Here, it highlights the lighting as the source of the reviewer's reaction.
Pregunta 10
Pregunta 10 · D6Bloom: Apply
Discussing literature & arts in Cali.
Choose the grammatically correct completion: 'Only after reading the final chapter _____ the narrator's deception.'
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: A)did the readers recognize
💡 Explicación
When only after introduces a fronted restrictive phrase, the main clause uses subject-auxiliary inversion. In the simple past, did precedes the subject and the main verb stays in its base form.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: A)did the readers recognize
A)did the readers recognizeFronted only after requires subject-auxiliary inversion in the main clause; did is followed by the base form recognize.
B)the readers did recognizeThis keeps the subject before the auxiliary, but the fronted restrictive phrase only after requires inversion.
C)did the readers recognizedAfter the auxiliary did, the main verb must be the base form recognize, not the past form recognized.
D)the readers recognizingRecognizing provides no finite main-clause verb and does not supply the inversion required after fronted only after.
💡 Explicación
When only after introduces a fronted restrictive phrase, the main clause uses subject-auxiliary inversion. In the simple past, did precedes the subject and the main verb stays in its base form.
Pregunta 11
Pregunta 11 · D8Bloom: Analyze
Discussing literature & arts in Manizales.
Compare 'The critics rejected the first draft' with 'What the critics rejected was the first draft.' What does the second sentence add?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: C)It places what was rejected, rather than the act of rejecting, in focus.
💡 Explicación
The defining property of the cleft is that it shifts information structure without extending the proposition. At C1+ each option should be tested against the pair of sentences, and only the claim about focus survives that check.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: C)It places what was rejected, rather than the act of rejecting, in focus.
A)It shows the critics rejected the draft by mistake.The cleft reorganises information structure and attributes nothing about intention. Reading a mistake into the focus shift would mean inventing a fact neither sentence states.
B)It changes the tense from past to present.Both sentences keep the rejection in the past. A cleft never alters tense, and the comparison concerns what is focused rather than when the verb is situated.
C)It places what was rejected, rather than the act of rejecting, in focus.The cleft moves 'the first draft' into the slot after 'what', so the rejected object becomes the new information. The rejection itself is unchanged; only which element is asserted as given differs.
D)It proves a later draft was accepted instead.No later draft appears in either sentence. The cleft operates within one proposition and cannot supply a consequence that the pair does not contain.
💡 Explicación
The defining property of the cleft is that it shifts information structure without extending the proposition. At C1+ each option should be tested against the pair of sentences, and only the claim about focus survives that check.
Pregunta 12
Pregunta 12 · D8Bloom: Analyze
Discussing literature & arts in Bucaramanga.
Compare 'The festival cancelled the outdoor performance' with 'It was the outdoor performance that the festival cancelled.' What does the second sentence add?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: C)It foregrounds what was cancelled, rather than the act of cancelling.
💡 Explicación
The usual error in cleft items is treating the device as though it carried new information. At C1+ the test is simple: a cleft reweights what is assumed against what is asserted, and any option claiming an added event or reaction fails that test.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: C)It foregrounds what was cancelled, rather than the act of cancelling.
A)It shows the festival cancelled the performance reluctantly.The cleft conveys no attitude, and neither sentence contains a word indicating reluctance. Reading an emotion into the structure would attribute something neither version states.
B)It proves the performance had already been cancelled twice.The festival is the agent of a single past action, and no repetition appears anywhere. A cleft cannot introduce a second cancellation into the proposition.
C)It foregrounds what was cancelled, rather than the act of cancelling.The cleft shifts the object into the slot after 'It was', so what was cancelled becomes the new information. The cancellation and its agent are unchanged, and only the weighting of the sentence differs.
D)It explains why the ticket refunds were delayed.No refunds are mentioned in either sentence. The cleft stays inside one proposition, and it cannot supply a consequence absent from the comparison.
💡 Explicación
The usual error in cleft items is treating the device as though it carried new information. At C1+ the test is simple: a cleft reweights what is assumed against what is asserted, and any option claiming an added event or reaction fails that test.
Pregunta 13
Pregunta 13 · D8Bloom: Analyze
Discussing literature & arts in Cali.
Compare 'Only the second reading satisfied the panel' with 'It was only the second reading that satisfied the panel.' What does the second sentence add?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: A)It makes the restriction explicit while keeping the same single reading as the one in question.
💡 Explicación
Cleft sentences frequently carry a focusing adverb such as 'only', and the item checks whether the student can see that the adverb restricts the content rather than adding to it. Testing each option against both sentences separates the correct reading from the three invented ones.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: A)It makes the restriction explicit while keeping the same single reading as the one in question.
A)It makes the restriction explicit while keeping the same single reading as the one in question.'Only' already restricts the subject in the first sentence, and the cleft keeps that restriction while moving the reading into focus. No other reading is admitted in either version, so the content is unchanged.
B)It implies the first reading nearly satisfied the panel.'Only' excludes the first reading without saying it came close. Reading a near miss into it would add a comparison the pair of sentences never makes.
C)It changes the tense of the verb to the present perfect.Both sentences keep 'satisfied' in the past simple. The cleft has no effect on tense, and the comparison is about focus rather than aspect.
D)It proves the panel was unhappy with the first reading.No reaction from the panel is stated in either sentence. A word order cannot supply evidence about how the panel felt, and nothing in the pair supports that claim.
💡 Explicación
Cleft sentences frequently carry a focusing adverb such as 'only', and the item checks whether the student can see that the adverb restricts the content rather than adding to it. Testing each option against both sentences separates the correct reading from the three invented ones.
Pregunta 14
Pregunta 14 · D8Bloom: Analyze
Discussing literature & arts in Medellín.
Compare 'Not even one reviewer mentioned the epilogue' with 'Not even the epilogue was mentioned by one reviewer.' What does the second sentence add?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: C)It fronts the negated element so that the omission itself, rather than the act of reviewing, receives the emphasis.
💡 Explicación
Fronting with a negative adverbial is the mechanism this item isolates: the emphasised element moves to first position and the negation lands on it. At C1+ the student must hold the propositional content fixed while tracking which part the sentence now stresses.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: C)It fronts the negated element so that the omission itself, rather than the act of reviewing, receives the emphasis.
A)It shows at least one reviewer mentioned the epilogue in passing.'Not even' denies any mention in both versions, so reading a passing reference into it reverses the negation entirely.
B)It proves the epilogue was the weakest part of the book.No judgement of the epilogue appears in either sentence. The pair is about what reviewers said, not about the quality of the writing.
C)It fronts the negated element so that the omission itself, rather than the act of reviewing, receives the emphasis.'Not even the epilogue' is moved to the front, which is what the fronting construction does: it puts the strongest element in first position. The claim is unchanged, since both versions deny that any reviewer mentioned it.
D)It changes 'reviewer' from singular to plural.The head noun after 'one' is singular in both versions. Fronting an element does not alter the number of another noun in the clause.
💡 Explicación
Fronting with a negative adverbial is the mechanism this item isolates: the emphasised element moves to first position and the negation lands on it. At C1+ the student must hold the propositional content fixed while tracking which part the sentence now stresses.
Pregunta 15
Pregunta 15 · D8Bloom: Analyze
Discussing literature & arts in Pereira.
Complete the following sentence about literature & arts: 'Hardly __________ the new policy been implemented when the first results started to show.' (Topic: Emphasis & Fronting)
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: D)had
💡 Explicación
This evaluates mastery of advanced inversion structures, a key component of C1+ proficiency.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: D)had
A)hasIncorrect. The sentence refers to a past sequence, requiring the past perfect in inversion.
B)wasIncorrect. 'Was' does not fit the past perfect structure required by 'Hardly'.
C)didIncorrect. 'Did' would require the base form of the verb, not the past participle 'been'.
D)hadCorrect. 'Hardly had...' is a classic C1 inversion structure used for sequential events.
💡 Explicación
This evaluates mastery of advanced inversion structures, a key component of C1+ proficiency.
Pregunta 16
Pregunta 16 · D8Bloom: Analyze
Discussing literature & arts in Bucaramanga.
Compare these sentences: 'The portrait hung above the fireplace' and 'Above the fireplace hung the portrait.' What does the second sentence do?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: A)It presents the location first and places the subject after the verb without changing the basic spatial relationship.
💡 Explicación
Locative inversion places a location phrase first and can put the subject after the verb. It changes how the scene is presented while preserving the underlying spatial meaning.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: A)It presents the location first and places the subject after the verb without changing the basic spatial relationship.
A)It presents the location first and places the subject after the verb without changing the basic spatial relationship.The second sentence fronts the locative phrase and uses locative inversion, while still locating the portrait above the fireplace.
B)It turns the fireplace into the agent that hangs the portrait.Above the fireplace remains a phrase of location; it does not become an agent, and the portrait remains the subject.
C)It changes the past event into a future prediction.Hung remains a past-tense verb in both sentences; changing word order does not introduce future time.
D)It forms a question asking where the portrait was displayed.This is declarative locative inversion, not an interrogative construction; it states the portrait's position.
💡 Explicación
Locative inversion places a location phrase first and can put the subject after the verb. It changes how the scene is presented while preserving the underlying spatial meaning.
Pregunta 17
Pregunta 17 · D10Bloom: Evaluate
A school debate in Bogotá about reading habits.
During a debate about why teenagers read less, Daniela says: 'I can't help but feel that we are barking up the wrong tree. Banning phones won't help if the books on the school list have nothing to do with our lives.' What does Daniela mean?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: A)The group is focusing on the wrong cause of the problem.
💡 Explicación
Idioms are understood through their figurative meaning and the context. Daniela's second sentence names a different cause, which confirms that the idiom "bark up the wrong tree" means the group was blaming the wrong thing.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: A)The group is focusing on the wrong cause of the problem.
A)The group is focusing on the wrong cause of the problem.Correct. "Barking up the wrong tree" means looking for an answer in the wrong place; Daniela says that the real problem is the choice of books, not phones.
B)They are literally looking for something in the trees of the school.Incorrect. This reads the idiom literally; the debate is about reading, and no trees are involved.
C)The debate has become too noisy and aggressive.Incorrect. "Barking" here does not refer to noise; the idiom is about choosing the wrong target, as her second sentence shows.
D)Students should read books about trees and nature.Incorrect. This takes the image of the tree as a proposal; Daniela proposes changing the reading list, not choosing books about nature.
💡 Explicación
Idioms are understood through their figurative meaning and the context. Daniela's second sentence names a different cause, which confirms that the idiom "bark up the wrong tree" means the group was blaming the wrong thing.
Pregunta 18
Pregunta 18 · D10Bloom: Evaluate
Two friends in Cali talk about a salsa show.
Read the conversation.
Isabel: How was the salsa show at the Teatro Municipal? Carlos: Amazing! The main couple was good, but the eight-year-old girl who danced in the second part stole the show. Everybody stood up to applaud her.
What does Carlos mean?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: D)The girl attracted more attention and praise than anyone else.
💡 Explicación
"Steal the show" is a positive idiom about performances. The contrast "was good, but" and the standing applause help the reader see that the girl outshone the main dancers.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: D)The girl attracted more attention and praise than anyone else.
A)The girl took something from the theatre without paying.Incorrect. "Steal" in this idiom is not a crime; the expression describes how a performer captures the audience's attention.
B)The girl ruined the show with her mistakes.Incorrect. The audience stood up to applaud her, which shows admiration, not disappointment.
C)The main couple danced better than the girl.Incorrect. Carlos says the couple "was good, but" the girl stole the show, so he considers her performance the most impressive.
D)The girl attracted more attention and praise than anyone else.Correct. To "steal the show" is to be the most impressive or most admired person in a performance; Carlos says that everybody stood up to applaud the girl.
💡 Explicación
"Steal the show" is a positive idiom about performances. The contrast "was good, but" and the standing applause help the reader see that the girl outshone the main dancers.
Pregunta 19
Pregunta 19 · D10Bloom: Evaluate
Two classmates in Tunja talk about a student who reads a lot.
Read the conversation.
Natalia: Have you seen Mateo in the library? He's read every novel by Héctor Abad and now he's starting on Laura Restrepo. Simón: Yes, he's a real bookworm. He even reads during the break.
What does Simón say about Mateo?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: D)Mateo loves reading and spends a lot of time with books.
💡 Explicación
Many English nouns describe people through images, like "bookworm" for someone who "eats" books. The details about the novels and reading during the break confirm the figurative meaning in this conversation.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: D)Mateo loves reading and spends a lot of time with books.
A)Mateo damages the books in the library.Incorrect. This is a literal reading of "worm"; Simón describes Mateo's reading habit, not damage to books.
B)Mateo works as a librarian at the school.Incorrect. Mateo is seen reading in the library, but nothing in the conversation says he works there.
C)Mateo does not like Colombian literature.Incorrect. Natalia says he has read every novel by Héctor Abad and is starting on Laura Restrepo, both Colombian writers, so he clearly enjoys it.
D)Mateo loves reading and spends a lot of time with books.Correct. A "bookworm" is a person who reads a great deal; Simón supports this by saying Mateo even reads during the break.
💡 Explicación
Many English nouns describe people through images, like "bookworm" for someone who "eats" books. The details about the novels and reading during the break confirm the figurative meaning in this conversation.
Pregunta 20
Pregunta 20 · D10Bloom: Evaluate
Two friends in Medellín give opinions about an art exhibition.
Read the conversation.
Andrea: What did you think of the modern art exhibition at the museum? Julián: Well, it was very original, but abstract painting isn't really my cup of tea. I prefer portraits.
How does Julián express his opinion?
Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.
Respuesta correcta: B)He politely says that he does not personally enjoy that type of art.
💡 Explicación
Speakers often soften negative opinions. Julián uses a positive comment, the connector "but" and the idiom "not my cup of tea" to show personal dislike without saying the exhibition was bad, which is a typical polite strategy in English.
Ver respuesta
Respuesta correcta: B)He politely says that he does not personally enjoy that type of art.
A)He says that the exhibition was badly organised.Incorrect. Julián says nothing about the organisation; he talks about his personal taste in painting.
B)He politely says that he does not personally enjoy that type of art.Correct. "Not my cup of tea" is a soft, polite way to say you do not like something; Julián first praises the exhibition ("very original") and then expresses his personal preference for portraits.
C)He invites Andrea to drink tea after the exhibition.Incorrect. This is a literal reading of the idiom; the conversation is about art preferences, not about drinks.
D)He says that abstract painting is his favourite style.Incorrect. "Isn't my cup of tea" means the opposite, and he adds "I prefer portraits".
💡 Explicación
Speakers often soften negative opinions. Julián uses a positive comment, the connector "but" and the idiom "not my cup of tea" to show personal dislike without saying the exhibition was bad, which is a typical polite strategy in English.
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