Prueba de Inglés que realizaron los estudiantes de Aragón en el curso 1997-1998.

ACLARACIONES PREVIAS.

1. Se valorará de manera muy especial el uso del vocabulario correcto y la notación científica en cada una de las contestaciones

realizadas en la prueba. Los errores o faltas ortográficas, el desorden en la disposición de las ideas, la falta de limpieza en la

presentación del ejercicio, así como la mala redacción, podrán suponer una disminución hasta de un punto en la calificación final del

examen. No obstante, se contempla la posibilidad de que existan casos extremos determinados y justificados.

2. Puntuación que se otorgará a este ejercicio:

- Cuestiones 1 y 4: tres puntos cada una.

- Cuestiones 2 y 3: dos puntos cada una.

The roots of language.

Speculation about the origin of language is probably as old as languaje itself. In 1859 Darwin published ?The Origin of Species¹

and a modern explanation of the origin of language emerged. All creatures had evolved from earlier and mainly simpler forms of

life, even in the case of human beings. But many people wanted to preserve some special human property from the unenviable

grip of the higher apes.

In 1861 Max Muller put it as follows in a series of lectures on the science of languaje: "There is in man a something. I am not afraid

to call it for the present an occult quality, wich distinguishes him from the every animal without exception.

We call this something reason when we think of it as an internal energy, and we usually call it language when we perceive and

grasp it as an external phenomenon. No reason without speech, no speech without reason. Language is the Rubicon wich divides

man from beast, and no animal will ever cross it. I may express my conviction that science of language will yet eneable us to

withstand the extreme theories of the Darwinians, and to draw a hard and fast line between man and brute. Let the experiment

be tried and the most intelligent of apes be reared ans trained among men: he will not speak, he will remain brutish; while the

rudest human waif from the most savage tribe will promptly acquire from the human intercourse this first characteristic of

humanity".

Questions:

1. Add true or false, quoting the relevant information from the text:

a) According to Charles Darwin, all species, except human beings, have evolved from the former and simpler forms of life;

b) Language is quality that is closely associated with the ability of reason;

c) If monkeys are reared and trained among men, they will learn how to speak.

2. Answer the following questions in your own words:

a) What are the real consecuences of accepting the theory of evolution?

b) According to Max Muller, language is the Rubicon wich divides man from beast. Why did he said that?

3. Complete the following sentences:

a) An occult quality distinguishes man from animals. What distinguises...

b) The science of language will enable us to withstand the extreme theories of the Darwinians. We will...

4. Write a composition on the following topic: How are the languages learnt? (From 80 to 120 words).