🇨🇴 ICFES SaberSemana 3 · 12 preguntas

Digital Age

Bundle W03 de Inglés para Grado 9 en Colombia (DBA MEN Colombia): 12 preguntas con explicación pedagógica.

Alineación: DBA MEN Colombia

CO-ING-9-2026-W03-digital-age-001-MASTERY-bundle

Pregunta 1

Bloom: Remember

Describing the sequence of using a computer.

By the time the computer crashed, I ________ my essay for three hours.

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: C) had been writing

  • A) wroteIncorrect. We need a tense that shows an action in progress before another past action.
  • B) had writtenIncorrect. This would mean the writing was finished before the crash, but the duration "for three hours" suggests progress.
  • C) had been writingCorrect! Past Perfect Continuous shows an action that was ongoing up to a point in the past.
  • D) have been writingIncorrect. This is Present Perfect Continuous, but the context is the past ("crashed").

💡 Explicación

El Pasado Perfecto Continuo (had been writing) se utiliza para expresar la duración de una acción que estaba en progreso hasta que ocurrió otro evento en el pasado (el fallo del ordenador).

Pregunta 2

Bloom: Remember

Explaining why someone was tired after a digital task.

Valentina was exhausted because she ________ all night to finish the coding project.

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: B) had been working

  • A) workedIncorrect. This is Simple Past and doesn't emphasize the cause of her state.
  • B) had been workingCorrect! Past Perfect Continuous emphasizes the cause of a state in the past.
  • C) has been workingIncorrect. This would imply she is still working or just finished now.
  • D) was workingIncorrect. This describes what she was doing at a specific time, not the reason for her exhaustion.

💡 Explicación

Usamos el Pasado Perfecto Continuo para hablar de una acción pasada que causó una situación o estado también en el pasado (was exhausted), resaltando el esfuerzo prolongado.

Pregunta 3

Bloom: Understand

Sequencing two past events in the history of the internet.

Before social media became popular, people ________ emails as their primary way to stay in touch.

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: B) had used

  • A) usedIncorrect. While possible, Past Perfect is better to clearly show which action happened first.
  • B) had usedCorrect! Past Perfect Simple indicates an action completed before another past event.
  • C) have usedIncorrect. Present Perfect cannot be used for a completed past period.
  • D) were usingIncorrect. This emphasizes progress but not the sequence as clearly as Past Perfect.

💡 Explicación

El Pasado Perfecto Simple (had used) se emplea para clarificar que una acción ocurrió y se completó antes de otro momento o acción en el pasado (became popular).

Pregunta 4

Bloom: Understand

A student explaining why they couldn't join a video call.

"Why didn't you join the Zoom meeting yesterday?"
"I couldn't. I ________ with my internet provider for an hour before they fixed the signal."

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: B) had been talking

  • A) talkedIncorrect. Doesn't reflect the sequence and duration well.
  • B) had been talkingCorrect! Shows the duration of the struggle before the resolution in the past.
  • C) was talkingIncorrect. This only shows the action was in progress, but not its relation to the "fixing".
  • D) have talkedIncorrect. Inappropriate for a specific past context.

💡 Explicación

El Pasado Perfecto Continuo es ideal para describir procesos largos y a veces frustrantes que precedieron a una solución en el pasado.

Pregunta 5

Bloom: Apply

Describing a cyber-security incident.

The hackers ________ to access the database for weeks when the security team finally detected them.

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: C) had been trying

  • A) triedIncorrect. Too simple for an ongoing attempt before a past event.
  • B) had triedIncorrect. This would mean they stopped trying before they were detected.
  • C) had been tryingCorrect! Highlights the ongoing attempt that was interrupted by detection.
  • D) have been tryingIncorrect. Mixed tenses (present vs past).

💡 Explicación

Este tiempo gramatical es muy útil para describir situaciones de vigilancia o intentos repetidos en el pasado que son interrumpidos por otro evento (detected).

Pregunta 6

Bloom: Apply

Discussing the evolution of music streaming.

By 2015, many Colombian artists ________ their music to streaming platforms to reach a global audience.

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: A) had uploaded

  • A) had uploadedCorrect! Past Perfect for a completed action before a specific point in time (By 2015).
  • B) have uploadedIncorrect. Present Perfect refers to a time up to now, not a past deadline.
  • C) were uploadingIncorrect. This focuses on the process, not the completion by the date.
  • D) uploadedIncorrect. Simple Past doesn't show the "before then" relationship.

💡 Explicación

La preposición By seguida de una fecha pasada es una señal clara de que debemos usar el Pasado Perfecto para indicar que la acción ya se había realizado antes de ese límite.

Pregunta 7

Bloom: Analyze

Comparing Past Perfect Simple and Continuous.

Which sentence suggests that the digital project was finished before the deadline?

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: A) When the deadline arrived, Juan had already finished the website.

  • A) When the deadline arrived, Juan had already finished the website.Correct! Past Perfect Simple shows completion.
  • B) When the deadline arrived, Juan had been working on the website.Incorrect. This implies he was still working on it.
  • C) When the deadline arrived, Juan was finishing the website.Incorrect. This means he was in the middle of it.
  • D) When the deadline arrived, Juan finished the website.Incorrect. This suggests he finished it at the same time or just after.

💡 Explicación

El Pasado Perfecto Simple (had finished) enfatiza el resultado y la finalización, mientras que el Continuo (had been working) enfatiza el proceso y la duración.

Pregunta 8

Bloom: Analyze

Understanding causal relationships in technology failure.

"The app didn't work because I ________ the latest update."

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: B) hadn't downloaded

  • A) didn't downloadIncorrect. Both actions are in Simple Past, which doesn't show the priority.
  • B) hadn't downloadedCorrect! The failure to download happened before the app failed to work.
  • C) wasn't downloadingIncorrect. This implies a continuous action that wasn't happening.
  • D) haven't downloadedIncorrect. Present Perfect doesn't fit the past context of "didn't work".

💡 Explicación

Usamos el Pasado Perfecto para explicar la causa de algo que sucedió después en el pasado. La falta de descarga (hadn't downloaded) fue el motivo previo del error.

Pregunta 9

Bloom: Analyze

Distinguishing between multiple past events.

After the company ________ its new smartphone, they realized that they ________ to include the charger in the box.

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: C) had launched / had forgotten

  • A) launched / forgotIncorrect. Doesn't show the full sequence clearly.
  • B) had launched / have forgottenIncorrect. Mixed past and present.
  • C) had launched / had forgottenCorrect! Both actions happened before the realization.
  • D) was launching / were forgettingIncorrect. Doesn't reflect completion.

💡 Explicación

Cuando tenemos una serie de eventos pasados, usamos el Pasado Perfecto para marcar las acciones que ocurrieron antes de la acción principal del relato (realized).

Pregunta 10

Bloom: Evaluate

Finding an error in a text about the history of computers.

Identify the error in this paragraph:
"Before the first personal computer appeared (A), scientists had already been using (B) large machines for calculations. These early computers had occupied (C) entire rooms and had required (D) a lot of electricity."

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: C) had occupied

  • A) appearedIncorrect. This is the correct past reference point.
  • B) had already been usingIncorrect. This correctly describes the ongoing use before the PC.
  • C) had occupiedIncorrect. This should be Simple Past (occupied) because it describes a permanent state/fact of those machines, not a sequence of events.
  • D) had requiredIncorrect. Similar to C, Simple Past (required) is better for general characteristics in the past.

💡 Explicación

No todas las acciones en el pasado necesitan el Pasado Perfecto. Para descripciones de características o estados permanentes en el pasado, el Simple Past es la forma estándar.

Pregunta 11

Bloom: Evaluate

Judging the best explanation for a digital mistake.

Which explanation is most likely from someone who is frustrated by a lost file?

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: B) I had been working on that file for three hours when the power went out and I lost everything!

  • A) I lost the file because I forgot to save it.Incorrect. A neutral statement of fact.
  • B) I had been working on that file for three hours when the power went out and I lost everything!Correct! The Past Perfect Continuous emphasizes the wasted effort and time.
  • C) I had already saved the file when the power went out.Incorrect. This implies the file is safe.
  • D) I have been losing files all day.Incorrect. Present Perfect doesn't explain the specific past loss as well.

💡 Explicación

A nivel B2, el estudiante debe reconocer que el Pasado Perfecto Continuo no solo indica tiempo, sino que a menudo añade un matiz emocional sobre el esfuerzo invertido en una tarea.

Pregunta 12

Bloom: Evaluate

Choosing the best conclusion for a text about connectivity.

"Before the pandemic started, most companies ________ the idea of remote work, but they soon realized they ________ no choice but to adapt."

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: D) had rejected / had

  • A) had rejected / haveIncorrect. Tenses don't match.
  • B) were rejecting / were havingIncorrect. "Have" (possession) is a stative verb.
  • C) rejected / had rejectedIncorrect. The sequence is inverted.
  • D) had rejected / hadCorrect! Rejection happened before the pandemic, and the realization followed.

💡 Explicación

Esta pregunta requiere evaluar el orden cronológico lógico: primero se rechaza una idea (had rejected), luego llega un cambio externo, y finalmente se tiene una necesidad (had).

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