Examen de Inglés de selectividad — Galicia 2026

PAU CÓDIGO 63

This exam comprises four questions: 1. and 2. contain two subsections which you must answer in full;
3. contains only one section which you must answer; in 4., answer only one of the two subsections.

Read the following text:
A recent study has found that intelligent people are more likely to swear. It’s the news that every foul-
mouthed person has been waiting for—the opportunity to excuse your unclean mouth as one of the
side-effects of being smart.
Researchers at the University of Rochester quizzed 1,000 people about 400 typical behaviours, and
discovered a strong link between intelligence and swearing. Participants with higher intellects were
found to be more likely to curse, eat spicy breakfasts, and walk around the house naked. Interestingly,
they also reported greater creativity, emotional awareness, and a tendency to question rules or
traditions that didn’t make sense to them. These findings suggest that intelligence may correlate not
just with knowledge, but also with a more flexible approach to social norms.
Extroverts, as you’d probably expect, like to drive cars faster, gamble, and tell dirty jokes. Introverts, on
the other hand, were found to engage more in quiet or solitary activities such as reading, reflecting, or
listening to music. The contrast between these groups highlights how personality traits influence the
ways people express themselves, whether through bold behaviour or more restrained habits.
The study explored the complexity surrounding each different personality type, and the array of
behaviours associated with each one. Its findings were published in a journal article where researchers
emphasised that everyday actions can reveal hidden aspects of our psychological makeup. They argued
that small, seemingly trivial choices—like language use or morning routines—can serve as powerful
indicators of cognitive and emotional patterns.
Another study previously found that people who can name the most swear words in a minute tend to
score higher on IQ tests. Rather than being the sign of someone with a limited vocabulary, the study
found that swearing proficiency was a sign of rhetorical strength and verbal creativity, showing that
fluent speakers are capable of adapting language expressively depending on mood and context.
Another benefit of swearing is that it acts as a natural pain relief. Psychologists from the University of
Keele conducted tests in which some participants were asked to swear before either doing an intense
session on an exercise bike or squeezing a device that measures hand grip strength. In both situations,
they found that swearing rudely resulted in significant improvements in performance compared with
uttering ‘neutral’ words. Researchers believe this effect may stem from the body’s natural fight-or-flight
response, which boosts endurance and reduces perceived discomfort.

Ejercicio 1

1. Answer the two subsections in this question. (2.5 points)
   1.1. After reading the text, indicate whether the following statements are True (T), False (F) or the
   information is Not Given (NG). In true and false cases only, copy the part of the text which justifies
   your answer. (1.5 points)
2. According to the text, a person that swears a lot will always be comparatively smarter than a

person that never swears.
2. The study reported in the text found that there is a direct link between people’s conducts and their

innate personalities.
3. The researchers that conducted the experiment stated that the way people use language is

connected to their emotional intelligence.
4. A previous study mentioned in the text reported that there was no connection between someone’s

ability to recall words—including swear words—and their intellectual capacity.
5. Researchers have found that intelligent people swear when they are exercising but not in any other

situation.
6. The link between uttering rude words and pain-relief effects is not culture-dependent.

1.2. Find a synonym (S) or an antonym (A) in the text for each of the following words. (1 point)
1.probable (S) 2. ignorance (A) 3. take part in (S) 4. apparently (S) 5. decreases (verb; A)
PAU CÓDIGO 63

Ejercicio 2

2. Answer the two subsections in this question. (2.5 points)
   2.1. Write a NEW sentence that has the same meaning as the given one. Use the word or expression
   in brackets. (1.5 points)
3. They forced him to sign the contract. (he)
4. I’m sure she isn’t telling the truth. (can’t)
5. He’s said to have written ten novels. (say)
6. We use this room only on special occasions. (is)
7. She sings better than her sister. (well)
8. “Remember to lock the door”, Mum said to me. (I)

2.2. Answer the following questions about pronunciation. (1 point)

1. Which of the following pairs of words are pronounced the same? plumb/plan, shop/show,

wear/where, tear/tire, fowl/ fool.
2. In which of the following words does the stress fall on the third syllable? assessment,

comfortable, visibility, informal, garage.
3. In which two words is/are the underlined letter/s pronounced as in “kids”? sip, music, device,

moves, certain.
4. In which word do we pronounce the letter “c” as in “cool”? muscle, scene, ascend, scope,

scissors.

Ejercicio 3

3. In this text, fill each one of the gaps with a word taken from the box below. Bear in mind that

there are five extra words which you must leave out. Each word may be used only once. (2 points)

A few decades 1. , working life was simple: 2. people went to the same office

every day, stayed there from 9 3. 5, and had to live near their job. But today, technology

4. changed everything. A growing number of young professionals are becoming 5.

nomads — people who work remotely while 6. to different countries.

Thanks to laptops, mobile 7. , and Wi-Fi, it’s now possible to work from anywhere. Many of

these nomads choose 8. like graphic design, writing, marketing, or teaching online. They

enjoy the 9. and flexibility of deciding 10. and where to work.

However, this lifestyle isn’t 11. easy. You need to be very self-disciplined to manage your

time well without a boss 12. . It can also be difficult to find good internet in some places,

and staying 13. with family or friends can be a challenge. Some people may also feel

14. after being on the road for too long.

15. , the number of nomads keeps 16. . Some countries now offer special 17.

work visas to attract them. 18. many young people, this is a 19.

to explore the world while building a career 20. the same time.

connected remote for who although
at when travelling most always
degrees will nearby has almost
still digital devices careers ago
chance to lonely freedom growing

Ejercicio 4

4. Answer ONE of the following subsections. (3 points)
   4.1. Imagine you work for an online magazine. Write an article discussing whether technology
   improves or damages human relationships, and explore how digital tools affect personal connections,
   family life, and friendships. (140 words)
   4.2. Imagine you must give a speech at the end of the academic year dealing with the following topic:
   Can money really buy happiness? Write your speech exploring whether material wealth leads to a better
   life or if other values are more important. (140 words)