Examen de Inglés de selectividad — Canarias 2026

PRUEBA DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PAU

CURSO 2025–2026

MATERIA: LENGUA EXTRANJERA: INGLÉS

Convocatoria: MIÉRCOLES 3 JUNIO

How TikTok harms boys and girls differently

Taking as a model two studies published in 2022 and 2024, both of which revealed alarming results,
journalist Neelam Tailor embarked on an investigation to uncover what TikTok truly offers young
teenagers.
The first study, on which Tailor based her work, indicated that teenage boys are exposed to misogynistic
5 content, which significantly increases within just the first five days of using the platform. In contrast, the
second one showed that TikTok offers teenage girls content related to eating disorders, self-harm, and
suicide just seconds after they create an account.
To observe the experiences of a typical teenager registering on TikTok and test the app’s algorithm,
which determines what content users see based on their interactions, Tailor opened accounts for two fake
10 children: a 14-year-old boy named Rami and a 13-year-old girl named Angie.
The two accounts had only been active for a few minutes, but the journalist quickly noticed differences
in the types of content they were receiving. After spending only a short time browsing, she became
convinced that there are significant dangers for kids on the app. The platform appears to exploit
vulnerable teenagers while profiting substantially from advertisements by keeping them scrolling.
15 When the journalist logged in as Rami, she encountered content related to cricket, football, and cars, as
well as explicit and violent videos. Male influencers discussed masculinity and provided dating tips,
often expressing negative feelings towards women and girls. However, when she signed in as Angie, the
platform showed her an idealised view of a perfect life and body, emphasising a super-flat stomach,
suggesting healthy food alternatives and listing what not to eat.
20 To gain a deeper understanding of the studies that support her work, Tailor arranged to speak to the
research teams who conducted them. The Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Countering Digital
Hate, which was responsible for the experiment about teens at risk for eating disorders, stated the
following: “We set up accounts in four different countries, and in 2.6 minutes, they began receiving self-
harm content. To indicate that the users might be vulnerable, we named half of the accounts ‘Susan
25 Loses Weight’, and TikTok subsequently tripled the amount of harmful content directed at those
accounts. Surprisingly, TikTok’s response to our report was quite extraordinary. They did not deny any
of the findings; instead, they made it more difficult for us to replicate our research in the future.”
On the other hand, the team studying how app algorithms contribute to online hate and misogyny made
an interesting observation: “Our viewing habits have changed. We used to watch TV or films
30 collectively, but now we primarily consume content alone, and we tend to normalise what we see
because we are used to scrolling with our personal algorithms. Therefore, it would be interesting to scroll
through our most-used apps with a partner occasionally. If this experience makes us feel uncomfortable,
we should take a moment to reflect on it.”

Adapted from The Guardian, September 2025

Ejercicio 1

1. Say whether the following sentences are TRUE or FALSE according to the text. COPY the evidence from
   the text. No marks will be given without the evidence. (1.5 points)

a) Journalist Neelam Tailor asked two adolescents to create individual TikTok accounts to examine how the
platform presents content to different users.

b) The journalist set up a meeting with the teams responsible for the research that supports her work to discuss
future collaborations.

c) The writer suggests that it could be beneficial to examine our most commonly viewed apps with someone
else.

Ejercicio 2

2. ANSWER the questions below. COPY no more than 10 words and/or a number from the text to answer
   each question. (1.5 points)

a) What motivated Tailor to do her research project?
b) How does TikTok make most of its money when young people spend time on its platform?
c) Why did the Centre for Countering Digital Hate give a name to some of the accounts they created?

Ejercicio 3

3. FIND a word or expression in the text that means... (1 point)

a) grows (lines 1-10)
b) traits, behaviours, and roles that societies have traditionally associated with being male (lines 11-19)
c) the opposite of realistic (lines 11-19)
d) unexpectedly (lines 20-33)

Ejercicio 4

4. READ this conversation and COMPLETE your part. Write the numbers (1-6) and complete each
   sentence on your exam paper. (1.5 points)

You: Talking to your form teacher about a problem you have
Your teacher:
You: Good morning, Miss. (1) ________________________?
Of course. Tell me.
Your teacher: I’m really worried. My history teacher saw me looking at another student’s test paper,
You: and now (2) ________________________
Your teacher: Cheating is a serious matter. Why did you do that?
You: (3) ________________________, so I thought cheating would help me pass.
Your teacher: I understand. We need to find a way for you to fix this and rebuild trust.
You: (4) ________________________?
Your teacher: No, no, no. I’ll do it. It’s better if I talk to her first.
(5) ________________________?
You: Only if necessary will I talk to your parents. I’ll talk with the history teacher first. Right
Your teacher: now, let’s focus on doing things properly.
Thanks for (6) ________________________
You’re welcome, and remember, mistakes help us learn. I’m here to support you with
anything you need.

Ejercicio 5

5. Choose ONLY 3 of the following situations and WRITE what you would say in each one to show that
   you understand the context of the situation. Write between 10 and 25 words. (1.5 points)

a) Your neighbour’s dog keeps barking at night and disturbing your sleep. Politely share your concern with
them.

b) Your sibling borrowed your headphones without asking and broke them. Express your disappointment to
them.

c) Your music teacher asks if you’d like to participate in the school’s Got Talent. Respond with enthusiastic
acceptance.

d) Your classmate invites you to study together on Saturday, but you already have plans. Politely decline the
invitation.

e) Your classmate keeps talking to you during class, making it hard to pay attention. Address the issue with
them.

Ejercicio 6

6. Choose ONE of the following topics and WRITE a composition of about 140-180 words. (3 points)

a) Pros and cons of TikTok, the most popular app for kids.
b) Should TikTok be banned? Give your opinion.
PRUEBA DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD

PAU

CURSO 2025–2026

MATERIA: LENGUA EXTRAJERA II: INGLÉS

Convocatoria: JUNIO_MARTES 2

Technology Regret

Today, more and more people experience what is known as “technology regret”, the disappointment felt
when realising that a new device is unnecessary or unhelpful. A recent survey illustrates this
phenomenon by identifying the most regretted home technology purchases, including smart lighting
systems and video doorbells.
5 The reasons behind this feeling are not surprising. For instance, smart lighting systems, which can be
controlled remotely, were marketed as a solution to the “hard” task of standing up to switch on a light,
but most people never saw this as a real problem. Similarly, video doorbells seemed appealing for their
ability to capture something interesting: a crime, a touching family moment, or a funny incident to share
on social media. However, in everyday life, those events are rare, even though our homes are more
10 connected and monitored than ever. In the end, constant watching rarely reveals anything significant.
Yet, undoubtedly, this dissatisfaction is particularly strong when it comes to wearable devices, especially
smartwatches. A fitness industry expert notes that people seldom replace a smartwatch when it breaks.
“Initially, users may panic; if their steps aren’t counted, did they even happen? How will they assess
their sleep quality, monitor their blood sugar or manage their heart health? Then that anxiety disappears.
15 Many soon realise that their smartwatch was simply annoying them: sometimes offering encouragement
(Well done!), but more often pushing them (Just 375 more calories! It’s almost midnight, but you can
still make it!). Eventually, they feel relieved. If a real person acted this way, we would probably get mad
at them,” the expert explains.
Nevertheless, not all modern technologies receive negative responses. Survey results show that people
20 remain positive about eco-friendly installations such as solar panels, heat pumps and electric vehicle
chargers, which benefit both the environment and help reduce our bills. Clearly, not all modern
advancements are harmful or annoying; some are genuinely helpful and do not make buyers regret their
choices.
In conclusion, while new electronic gadgets can be exciting at first, it is easy to end up installing too
25 many unnecessary devices in our homes. The most effective technology is the one you do not even
notice. Therefore, to avoid regret, it is wise to choose technology that genuinely improves your life,
rather than simply following trends.

Adapted from The Guardian, September 2025

Ejercicio 7

1. Say whether the following sentences are TRUE or FALSE according to the text. COPY the evidence
   from the text. No marks will be given without the evidence. (1.5 points)

a) Turning lights on and off manually is not seen as a real inconvenience.
b) The usefulness of video doorbells is overestimated because noteworthy events to be caught do not regularly

happen.
c) According to a professional, smartwatches are so essential that people cannot live without them and

immediately buy a new one if anything goes wrong with theirs.

Ejercicio 8

2. ANSWER the questions below. COPY no more than 10 words and/or a number from the text to answer
   each question. (1.5 points)

a) What resource was used to find out which household electronics buyers regret the most?
b) What would most of us do if someone spoke to us as smart devices do?
c) What are some home technologies that people view positively?

Ejercicio 9

3. FIND a word or expression in the text that means... (1 point)

a) becoming aware (lines 1-10):
b) items you have acquired (lines 1-10):
c) nearly (lines 11-18):
d) the opposite of beneficial (lines 19-27):

Ejercicio 10

4. READ this conversation and COMPLETE your part. Write the numbers (1-6) and complete each
   sentence on your exam paper. (1.5 points)

You: Talking about recycling over breakfast at school
A young schoolmate:
You: Hey, what are you doing?! That’s plastic! (1) ________________________
A young schoolmate: I just put everything in the same bin.
You: (2) ________________________
A young schoolmate: I simply don’t think it makes much difference.
You: Really? (3) ________________________?
A young schoolmate: Well, a lot of our recycling is burnt or taken to developing countries. Don’t you know?
(4) ________________________; not all our rubbish ends up like that.
You: Yeah, but I don’t really want to waste my time separating rubbish if it’s not actually
A young schoolmate: going to be recycled.
You: If nobody recycles, (5) ________________________
Maybe you’re right.
A young schoolmate: Of course I am. So go and take your rubbish out of the general bin and
You: (6) ________________________
Okay, okay, I’ll put the sandwich wrapper and juice carton in the yellow bin.
Big applause for you! And remember, recycling only works if everyone does their
part.

Ejercicio 11

5. Choose ONLY 3 of the following situations and WRITE what you would say in each one to show that
   you understand the context of the situation. Write between 10 and 25 words. (1.5 points)

a) Your sibling took your skateboard without asking. Express your disappointment.
b) Your art teacher asks you to help with the decoration of the graduation ceremony. Respond.
c) Your project partner is often late to your group meetings. Complain about it to them.
d) Your classmate invites you to study together on Saturday, but you are busy. Decline the invitation.
e) Your upstairs neighbour plays loud music early on weekends, disturbing your rest. Talk to them about the

issue.

Ejercicio 12

6. Choose ONE of the following topics and WRITE a composition of about 140-180 words. (3 points)

a) Advantages and disadvantages of modern technology.

b) Are you a fan of the latest gadgets? Give your opinion.