Inglés PAU 2026

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2026 Proves d’accés a la universitat

Llengua estrangera Anglès Sèrie 5 - A

Espai per a la correcció Qualificació

Espai per a la revisió Comprovació

2a correcció

Comprensió oral Comprensió escrita Expressió escrita Suma de notes parcials Qualificació final

Etiqueta de qualificació

Etiqueta de correcció

Etiqueta de l’estudiant

Ubicació del tribunal ..................................................................................

Número del tribunal ....................................................................................

The exam consists of THREE mandatory parts.

In the first part, listening comprehension is assessed through 8 multiple choice questions. It is worth 3 points.

In the second part, reading comprehension is assessed through 6 open-ended questions. It is worth 3 points.

In the third part, written expression is assessed. Here, you may choose ONE of the two given options. It is worth 4 points.

Part 1: Listening comprehension

A CONVERSATION WITH YAYOI KUSAMA ON THE POWER OF ART AND EMOTIONS In this radio programme you are going to hear some new words. Read and listen to them.

Make sure you know what they mean.

art installations: instaŀlacions artístiques, creacions artístiques / instalaciones artísticas, creaciones artísticas polka dots: estampat de rodones / estampado de lunares boundless: sense límits / sin límites tapestry: tapís / tapiz

Ready?

Now read the questions on the following page. Read them carefully before listening to the radio programme.

[Now listen to the interview.]

QUESTIONS Choose the best answer according to the recording. Only ONE answer is correct.

[3 points: 0.375 points for each correct answer. Wrong answers will be penalized by deducting 0.125 points. There is no penalty for unanswered questions.]

Espai per a la correcció Correcta

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How does Yayoi Kusama see the relationship between her work and the emotions it expresses?

■ The essence of her art is driven by a love for immense chaos and mystery.

■ Her installations aim to change viewers’ perspective on love.

■ The essence of her art lies in creating a collective supportive feeling.

■ Her work is meant to reflect the limits of love and hope.

Yayoi Kusama created her “Infinity Rooms” to invite people to think about ■ the problem of mental illness.

■ the possibility of space travel.

■ our place in the universe.

■ mirrors and tapestries.

In her autobiography, Yayoi Kusama mentions suffering from mental health problems. How has art affected her?

■ Art has increased her sense of despair and hopelessness.

■ Art has given her tools to reverse her suffering and despair.

■ Art has intensified her need to overcome her mental health problems.

■ Creating art has cancelled her positive emotions.

According to the interviewer, why does Yayoi Kusama paint dots abundantly?

■ To portray the universe.

■ As a form of artistic rebellion.

■ To represent distress.

■ To create a sense of abundance.

What other type of message does Kusama’s use of polka dots convey?

■ The dots represent how the elements of outer space are interconnected.

■ They serve as a visual metaphor for the chaotic nature of the universe.

■ Polka dots symbolize how individuals are connected.

■ The repetition of dots represents individuals’ everyday fighting.

Why does Yayoi Kusama believe her art can surpass cultural gaps?

■ Because people from all walks of life visit her installations.

■ Because her art speaks a language that can be understood by all art experts.

■ Because her art connects people at the core of their essence as human beings.

■ Because polka dots are bound to a specific cultural audience.

According to Yayoi Kusama, why did she choose to leave Japan?

■ Kusama was aware of her artistic identity in Japan and chose to leave to develop it further.

■ The Japanese artists did not support her because of her mental health issues.

■ The Japanese government’s restrictions on kimonos made her move.

■ Kusama had connections in New York that could allow her to succeed as an artist there.

How does Yayoi Kusama see the power of art in facing global challenges?

■ Art has the power of eliminating global uncertainty.

■ Art inspires people to work together for the common good.

■ Art helps people see global challenges as an inevitable part of their future.

■ Art gets people to look into the past and learn from it.

Incorrecta

No contestada

Correctes Incorrectes No contestades

Recompte de les respostes Nota de comprensió oral

Part 2: Reading comprehension THE SCIENCE OF FEAR: HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR BODY AND MIND

Fear is a natural response that has helped humans survive dangerous situations for centuries.

While, unlike those faced by our ancestors, today’s threats are less likely to involve sabre-tooth tigers, haunted houses, scary movies, and harmless pranks still trigger the same physical and emotional reactions. The body’s fight-or-flight response releases stress hormones and prepares us to either face the challenge or escape it. But how exactly does fear work, and what happens when it is activated too often?

The amygdala is a part of the brain that handles the processing of emotions and detection of danger. The fear response originates from it; upon detecting an apparent peril, signals are sent to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is an organ that initiates nervous and endocrine systems. Further, it encourages the release of stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. These chemicals cause a chain reaction in the body: your heart beats faster to pump oxygen-rich blood to your muscles and brain, your breathing quickens, your pupils dilate for better vision, and your muscles tense up ready for action. Adrenaline also reduces pain and heightens focus, allowing you to respond effectively to a threat. Interestingly, the release of dopamine, another hormone, can create a feeling of happiness during fear-inducing situations, which explains why some people enjoy being scared.

Your brain doesn’t instantly distinguish between actual and imagined dangers. When an actor in a haunted house jumps out wearing a scary mask, for example, your body automatically behaves as if the danger were real. This is the automatic and brief initial phase of the fear response. However, the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that is responsible for reasoning, quickly weighs this event. It confers with the hippocampus, an organ that retrieves the memories of similar events from storage to determine if there really is any danger. If you have been through a haunted house before, your brain knows the threat is not real, and the fear response turns off. But when the situation is unfamiliar—say, some terrifying scene in a horror movie—your body may release stress hormones, and physical effects—such as a racing heart or sweaty palms—may be more obvious.

While the fear response is necessary for survival, frequent activation can damage the body. Continuous release of stress hormones may lead to high blood pressure, heart problems, digestive issues and immune system dysregulation because your body is constantly in “high alert” mode. Chronic exposure to jump scares can also desensitize the brain to real threats, potentially dulling critical survival instincts.

Some groups should take more care with scary activities. For instance, people with heart diseases, chronic pain, and anxiety disorders are more sensitive to the negative side effects of scares. According to experts, scary activities are not recommended in order to protect mental and physical health.

Controlled scares—the ones in haunted houses or elsewhere—are enjoyable to many. The temporary flash of stress hormones followed by relief creates an exhilarating sensation. But just like with any other activity involving health risks, moderation must be observed. When you become aware of what fear is, you can appreciate its role in survival and entertainment but also treat its impact on your health with respect.

Text adapted from an article by Daryl Austin. National Geographic [online] (October 2, 2024)

prank: bretolada, broma / gamberrada, broma retrieve: recuperar exhilarating: emocionant, excitant / emocionante, excitante

QUESTIONS Answer the questions below using complete sentences. You may use fragments from the text unless specified not to do so.

[3 points: 0.5 points for each correct answer. Up to 0.3 points might be deducted from the total mark for lack of intelligibility in the answers provided.]

1. According to the text, which threat is not usually encountered today?

2. Paraphrase the following sentence: “The release of dopamine […] can create a feeling of happiness during fear-inducing situations” (lines 14-15). You may keep the word dopamine.

3. How does the hippocampus help in distinguishing real threats from fake ones? DO NOT COPY DIRECTLY FROM THE TEXT. You may keep the words hippocampus, brain, and past.

4. How can frequent exposure to scary experiences affect someone’s reaction to real danger?

5. Find a synonym in the text for consider in the sense of “assess, evaluate, and analyze.”

6. Complete the following sentence:

It’s important to understand what fear is so that you…

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2.

3.

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Deduction for lack of intelligibility (up to 0.3 points) Reading comprehension score

Part 3: Writing Choose ONE topic. Your answer should be 125-150 words in length. There is no specific penalty for exceeding 150 words in length.

[4 points: 1 point for grammar, 1 point for vocabulary and spelling, 1 point for cohesion, and 1 point for adequacy and coherence]

1. Before going to university, you would like to spend a semester abroad improving your English while working as an au pair. Write a formal email to an au pair agency applying for a job as an au pair and explaining why you would like this job, your experience in childcare and the personal qualities and skills that would make you the ideal person for the job.

2. Up to 2025, Catalonia suffered from serious water supply problems that affected agriculture, industries, and personal use at home due to the prolonged absence of rainfall. The Government acted by implementing measures that affected many of us, regardless of the quantity of water we used. Write an opinion essay on the policies and regulations created to control water usage to be published in the school newspaper.

Grammar Vocabulary and spelling Cohesion Adequacy and coherence Writing score

Comprovació i 2a correcció:

3a correcció:

Etiqueta de l’estudiant

L’Institut d’Estudis Catalans ha tingut cura de la correcció lingüística i de l’edició d’aquesta prova d’accés.

Pàgina 1 de 5 Anglès Proves d’accés a la Universitat 2026, convocatòria ordinària. Criteri específic d'avaluació

Sèrie 5 I. Listening comprehension (3 points) A CONVERSATION WITH YAYOI KUSAMA ON THE POWER OF ART AND EMOTIONS In this radio programme you are going to hear some new words. Read and listen to them. Make sure you know what they mean.

art installations: instal·lacions artístiques – creacions artístiques / instalaciones artísticas – creaciones artísticas polka dots: estampat de topos / estampado de topos boundless: sense límits / sin límites tapestry: tapís / tapiz Ready? Now read the questions on the following page. Read them carefully before listening to the radio programme. [Now listen to the interview.] Interviewer: In the realm of contemporary art, few figures are as iconic and enigmatic as Yayoi Kusama. Renowned for her avant-garde art installations, polka dots, and infinite reflections, Kusama has captivated the world with her unique artistic vision.

Today, we have the privilege of delving into the mind of this visionary artist, exploring her thoughts on the transformative power of art. Good morning, thanks for being with us today.

Yayoi Kusama: Good morning, thanks for the invitation.

Interviewer: Your art is often described as a celebration of love and hope. How do you envision the relationship between your work and these powerful emotions?

Yayoi Kusama: Love and hope are the essence of my art. They are the driving forces behind my creations. When people encounter my installations, I want them to feel a sense of boundless love and hope, transcending the boundaries of time and space.

Through my work, I aim to cultivate a shared experience that unites people in a profound, positive way.

Interviewer: That was deep indeed! Your "Infinity Rooms" are immersive experiences that transport viewers into realms beyond this world. How do these installations contribute to the exploration of love and hope?

Yayoi Kusama: The "Infinity Rooms" are like cosmic vessels, offering a glimpse into the countless possibilities of love and hope. As visitors step into these spaces, surrounded by endless reflections, they are immersed in a universe of boundless

Pàgina 2 de 5 Anglès Proves d’accés a la Universitat 2026, convocatòria ordinària. Criteri específic d'avaluació

potential. It's a symbolic journey that mirrors the limitless nature of love and hope, inviting individuals to reflect on their own place within the cosmic tapestry. I believe sharing these positive emotions is the power of art. I fight anxiety and fear every day, and the only method I have found that relieves my illness is to keep creating this type of art.

Interviewer: Actually, in your autobiography, you mention struggling with mental health issues. How has art been a source of healing and hope for you?

Yayoi Kusama: Art has been my refuge, a sanctuary where I can channel my innermost feelings. In the darkest moments of my mental health struggles, creating art became a lifeline. It allowed me to transform pain into beauty, despair into hope. Art has been a cathartic journey, helping me to navigate the complexities of my emotions.

Interviewer: In any case, your use of polka dots is a signature element in your art. I perceive these motifs as a representation of hallucinatory visions. Similar to how episodes of depersonalization invoke fear, these dots create a visual manifestation of anxiety. The dots multiply and attach themselves to the surroundings, becoming a form of psychic obsession that you attempt to run away from.

Yayoi Kusama: Yes, I paint them abundantly; it's my way of trying to escape.

Interviewer: But can you also tell us about the significance of polka dots in conveying positive messages?

Yayoi Kusama: Polka dots are a symbol of the world, the cosmos, and our interconnectedness. When I cover surfaces with dots, I'm expressing the idea that we are all dots in this vast universe. The repetition of dots signifies the multiplicity of individuals, yet the pattern also reflects unity. It's a visual metaphor for the collective energy that binds us together, creating a sense of harmony and love.

Interviewer: Oh wow. Now, your installations are experienced by people from diverse backgrounds. How do you believe your art can bridge cultural gaps and speak a universal language of love and hope?

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