Exámenes EBAU: Situaciones

Los ejemplos siguientes corresponden a la actividad número cuatro de la prueba, es decir, la actividad conocida como 'situations'. A continuación veremos posibles situaciones y las posibles respuestas que podemos dar.

MAKING SUGGESTIONS

Example Situations

  • Your parents have given you some money. Invite your best friend to the cinema.

  • Your brother has lost the tickets for the football match. What can you do? Make a suggestion.

  • On Friday afternoon your sister is bored at home. Make an interesting suggestion.


Possible Answers

  • Why don’t you / we go to the movies tonight?

  • You / we could visit New York while you’re / we’re there.

  • Let’s go to the travel agent’s this afternoon to book our ticket.

  • What about asking your brother for help?

  • How about going to Hawaii for your vacation?

  • I suggest you, we take all the factors into consideration before we decide.

  • I suggest that we should ...

  • I think we should...

AGREEING WITH SUGGESTIONS

Example Situations

  • You are invited to a party and you would like to go. What would you say?

  • Your parents ask you to go with them to Vancouver on holiday and you accept. What would you say?

  • A friend asks you to help him / her prepare a surprise party and you agree. What would you say?


Possible Answers

  • That’s a good idea!

  • What a good idea!

  • That sounds like a very good idea!

  • Yes, why not!

  • Yes, let’s...

DISAGREEING WITH SUGGESTIONS

Example Situations

  • You’re invited to a party but you wouldn’t like to go. What would you say?

  • Your parents ask you to go with them to Miami on holiday but you don’t accept. What would you say?

  • A friend asks you to help him/her prepare a surprise party and you disagree. What would you say?

Possible Answers

  • I don’t think it is a very good idea.

  • That doesn’t sound like a very good idea to me.

  • No, let’s not go.

MAKING COMPLAINTS

Example Situations

  • There is no hot water in your hotel bedroom.

  • The waiter has brought you something you did not order.

  • You are at the library studying for an exam and there are lots of students talking and you can’t study.

Possible Answers

  • I’m sorry to have to say this but...

  • I’m sorry to bother you, but...

  • Maybe you forgot to...

  • Don’t get me wrong, but I think we should...

  • I’m afraid to say this... / I’m afraid that ...

  • I’m fed up with...

  • I can’t stand...

  • I wish you wouldn’t...

AGREEING AND DISAGREEING

Example Situations

  • Your classmates think that they should wear uniform at school. Give your opinion.

  • Your teacher tells you that you have to do some extra activities during the exam period. Give your opinion.

  • Prices in the cafeteria are going to be lowered. What is your opinion?

Possible Answers

  • I quite/absolutely/entirely agree with you...

  • I think you are (absolutely) right.

  • I see what you mean, but...

  • I can see that but...

  • I suppose you can be right but...

  • I’m sorry but I don’t agree with...

  • You can’t be serious...

  • I think that is nonsense...

  • I’m afraid I have to disagree with you.

  • I agree with much / most of what you say, but...

ASKING FOR INFORMATION

Example Situations

  • You and your friend are in London and you don’t know how to get to the London Eye.

  • You want to take a bus to the beach but you don’t know which line to take.

  • You go to a shopping centre to buy a new laptop but you don’t know which one to buy.

Possible Answers

  • Could you tell me...?

  • Do you know...?

  • I’d like to know...

  • Could/Can you give me any information about/on..., please?

  • I’m interested in...

  • I’m looking for...

ASKING FOR ADVICE

Example Situations

  • You have a terrible headache. Ask your mother for some advice.

  • Your boy/girlfriend has asked you to live together. Ask your friend for advice.

  • You don’t know exactly what to study so you go to talk to the school counsellor.

Possible Answers

  • I’m not sure what to do...

  • Could you give me some advice about...?

  • Do you think I should...?

  • What would you advise me to do....?

  • What would you recommend...?

  • I’d like some advice about...

  • What would you do if you were me?

GIVING ADVICE

Example Situations

  • Your sister has problems in her job and asks you for advice.

  • Your father is very stressed because he is always working.

  • Your best friend spends all the money s/he earns and s/he has economic problems.

Possible Answers

  • I (don’t) think you should...

  • You should... / You shouldn’t...

  • If I were you, I’d...

  • If I were in your positions, I’d...

  • You had better... / You’d better...

  • Whatever you do, ....

ACCEPTING INVITATIONS

Example Situations

  • A friend of yours invites you to a concert but you don’t feel like going.

  • Your mother invites you to go shopping with her this afternoon.

  • Your favourite football team plays and your brother gets some tickets and invites you to go.

Possible Answers

  • That sounds very nice...

  • That’s very kind of you...

  • Lovely! / That’s great! / Wonderful!

  • Thank you very much / so much.

DECLINING INVITATIONS

Example Situations

  • Would you like to see a film tonight?

  • Do you fancy going to the cinema?

  • You will go to the cinema, won’t you?

Possible Answers

  • I’m afraid I can’t go out tonight. I’ve got a test tomorrow.

  • That’s very kind of you but...

  • Thank you very much but...

  • Thank you but I’d rather... / I prefer...

  • I wish I could but...

  • Sorry, but I’m not very fond of... / very keen on...

OFFERING HELP

Example Situations

  • You watch an old woman having problems carrying some bags.

  • You work as a shop assistant in a clothes shop. You look at a man who seems a little bit lost.

  • You are walking down the street and you see a child crying on the floor.

Possible Answers

  • May/Can I help you?

  • Are you looking for something?

  • Would you like some help?

  • Do you need some help?

  • What can I do for you?

  • Is there anything I can do (to help)?

  • Can I give you a hand with...?

ASKING FOR HELP

Example Situations

  • You are very tired because you have studied a lot. You want a sandwich and your mother is in the kitchen.

  • You arrive at a very big shopping centre and you don’t know where the supermarket is. Ask for help.

  • You are in New York and you are looking for the Madison Square Garden.

Possible Answers

  • I’d like to have...

  • I need...

  • Could / Will you please...?

  • I’m looking for...

  • Would you mind...?

  • Do me a favour...

APOLOGISING

Example Situations

  • You and your brother have forgotten your mother’s birthday.

  • Accidentally, you drop an ice cream on your best friend’s jacket.

  • You have forgotten your homework and your teacher wants to have a look at them.

Possible Answers

  • I’m sorry.

  • I made a mistake.

  • Please accept my apologies.

  • I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to...

ASKING FOR OPINIONS

Example Situations

  • You are at a shop and you can’t decide which trousers (the black or the blue ones) to buy.

  • You have just finished a difficult paper but you are not happy with it. Ask your opinion to your classmates.

Possible Answers

  • What do you think...?

  • What are your thoughts about...?

  • What do you feel...?

GIVING OPINIONS

Example Situations

  • Your best friend has broken his leg for the second time this year. What would you say?

  • Your best friend gets a ten in a very difficult subject. Congratulate him/her.

  • Your sister tells you that she is getting married next week. What would you say?

Possible Answers

  • What a good / great / wonderful....!

  • Well done!

  • Congratulations on...

  • What a pity / shame...!

  • I’m sorry about...

  • Never mind.

  • I know how it feels.

CRITICISING

Example Situations

  • The soup tastes terrible in an expensive restaurant.

  • Your favourite team loses the match although they were wining during the fist half.

  • You meet your favourite actor and he doesn’t pay attention to you.

Possible Answers

  • Excuse me, but I think this soup is not good.

  • What a terrible...!

  • What a disappointment!

  • You were terrible!