Instituto Cervantes 03_04

Question 1

1. mi hermano SE QUEDÓ un poco AFLIGIDO cuando supo la noticia (quedarse + adj) (afligir = to upset -> afligirse = to get upset/to get worked up)
2. La noticia DEJÓ A mi hermano muy AFLIGIDO. (dejar + a + alguien + adj, ie do to s.o else)
3. Mi hermano ESTÁ un poco AFLIGIDO desde que conoció la noticia. (estar + adi = emotional state starts and continues)
4. el desprecio de X SE FUNDA EN la certeza DE que (fundarse en)

Answer 1

1. my brother WAS a bit DISTRAUGHT when he heard the news (why that vb?)
2. The news LEFT my brother very upset. (why that vb?)
3. My brother HAS BEEN a bit DISTRAUGHT since he heard the news. (why that vb?)
4. X’s contempt IS FOUNDED ON the certainty that (vb)

Question 2

1. el personal del hotel dejaron encantados a mis padres. (dejar + adj + a + person = to leave s.o else emotional state)
2. Cuando Carlos supo que no seguiría en la empresa, SE QUEDÓ un poco DESMOTIVADO (quedarse + adj = sudden emotional change)
3. Desde que Carlos supo que no seguiría en las empresa, está un poco desmotivado. (estar + adj = emotional change starts and continues)
   4a. susurra PLEGARIAS y maldiciones
   4b. plegar = to fold, plegaria like position folded over (revo

Answer 2

1. my parents were delighted with the hotel staff. (why vb?)
2. When Carlos found out that he wouldn’t continue with the company, he was a bit deflated.
3. Since Carlos found out that he wouldn’t continue with the company, he has been a bit demotivated.
   4a. whisper PRAYERS and curses
   4b. explain origin PRAYER (+ alt N = alt vb)

Question 3

1. los EMBARRADOS idiotas que juegan (embarrar = to splash, splatter or cake (if thick) in mud = barro N)
2. la PLEBE piensa con los pies
3. la CHUSMA tiene lo que quiere
4. y se dejan LLEVAR COMO UN REBAÑO por sus enemigos de clase (BORREGO = lamb (lit), sheep/follower (fig.))

Answer 3

1. the MUD-SPLATTERED idiots that plqy (soccer) (explain adj - muddy)
2. the PLEBS think with their feed
3. the RIFF-RAFF (LOWLIFE + RABBLE) have what they want (ie perorative por gente baja)
4. and let themselves BE LED LIKE SHEEP by their class enemies (N = lit a flock of sheep) (+ alt N in this exp?)

Question 4

1a. Caruso WENT SILENT after shouting goal.
1b. quedarse + adj = sudden change, often permanent eg se quedó ciego
2a. Caruso HAS BEEN SILENT since he shouted goal.
2b. estar + adj = the change has started and continues
3a. Caruso SILENCED his teammates with his shout of goal.
3b. dejar + adj + a alguien = leave s.o else adj

Answer 4

What is the difference between:

1a. Caruso SE QUEDÓ MUDO después de gritar el gol
1b. explanation
2a. Caruso ESTÁ MUDO desde gritó el gol.
2b. explanation
3a. Caruso DEJÓ MUDOS a sus compañeros con su grito de gol.
3b. explanation

Question 5

3a. CONDICIONAL (EQUIVALE A SI) = a prerequisite action to X happening
3b. estudiando tan poco, no aprobarás el examen
3c. ie if you study so little X will happen
4a. to describe an obstacle which doesn´t stop the main action happening
4b. estudiando poco, aprobó el examen
4c. aunque estudió poco, aprobó el examen
1. soy rico, guapo y bueno y por eso todo el mundo le tengo MANÍA

Answer 5

Last two uses of 4 of the gerundio:
3a. 3rd use of the gerundio
3b. studying so little you won’t pass the exam
3c. explain eg
4a 4th use of the gerundio
4b. EVEN THOUGH he studied little, he passed the exam
4c. How say w/out gerundio?
1. I´m rich, good looking and good and that´s why everyong is HUNG-UP ON me (ie fixated on)

Question 6

1. describe brevamente un día que te quedaste sin palabras
2. describe brevamente qué haces cuando estás hecho polvo
3. cuando los húngaros GOLEARON A la selección inglesa
4. FLAMEAN las banderas, suenan las MATRACAS, (flamear = 1. blaze, fire ie burn bright + 2. flutter, flag ie undulate)

Answer 6

1. briefly describe one day that you were speechless
2. briefly describe what you do when you’re knackered (phrase means physically + mentally (v sad))
3. when the Hungarians THRASHED the English national team (vb only this meaning sport)
4. flags FLUTTER, RATTLES ring (what flutter mean re fire)

Question 7

1. describe brevamente un día que dejaste a alguien con la boca abierta
2. describe brevamente algo que te ha dejado perplejo últimamente
3. las GRADAS sin nadie (+ la TRIBUNA)
4. los PALCOS

Answer 7

1. briefly describe a day when you left someone stunned (fig)
2. briefly describe something that has lately left you BEWILDERED (Adj in Spanish has idea of being v surprising)
3. the STANDS-TERRACES with no one in them (of a stadium) (+ alt N)
4. the BOXES (like in a theatre + here corp hospitality)

Question 8

1. se trata de convertir esa información en conocimiento útil para LA TOMA DE DECISIONES
2. [una máquina] que se NUTRE DE información sobre quien es usted (nutrir = to feed, nourish ->nutrir de = proveer de ie to supply, as in to provide eg books)
3. la publicidad que usted recibe APUNTA A sus motivaciones (apuntar, as in to aim at HENCE targets)
4. pero ahora se han vuelto indispensables (volverse)

Answer 8

1. it is about converting that information into useful knowledge for DECISION MAKING
2. [a machine] that is FED information about you you are (vb + effect of vb + de + alt vb)
3. the ADVERTISING that you receive TARGETS your motivations (not anuncios)(explain vb)
4. now they have BECOME indispensible (NB the become vb)

Question 9

1. Me PROVOCA + TERNURA verlo tan feliz
2. Me HACIA GRACIA que pensaras que
3. Eso ME DA/N QUE PENSAR.
   4a ME MORIRÍA DE vergüenza + risa
   4b. casi me meé de risa (mearse de risa)
   4c. me caguè de miedo (cagarse de + miedo only)

Answer 9

Vbs use to describe things that cause emotion:

1. it PROVOKES tender feelings to see him so happy (fml, written)
2. I FOUND IT FUNNY that you thought that … (also It MAKES ME LAUGH) (common, oral)
3. That GIVES ME PAUSE TO THINK or food for thought or MAKES ME WONDER
   4a. I WOULD DIE (OF) shame + laughing
   4b. I almost pissed myself laughing
   4c. I was scared shitless

Question 10

1. la VENTAJA de Obama en este campo SE REMONTA A las elecciones primarias de 2007 (ventaja = lead, if re a competition) (REMONTARSE = to go back to)
   2a. lo sé porque lo SUFRÍ en carne propia
   2b. EN CARNE PROPIA
   3a. muchos de ellos son EMPLEADOS A TIEMPO COMPLETO y provienen de empreses como Google
   3b. empleado a tiempo parcial

Answer 10

1. Obama’s LEAD in this area DATES BACK TO the 2007 primaries (explain lead) (what is vb?)
   2a. I know because I EXPERIENCED it firsthand (use this vb for experience when live through s.th)
   2b. firsthand or WITH YOUR OWN EYES, as in directly
   3a. many of them are FULL TIME EMPLOYEES and come from companies like Google
   3b. part-time employee

Question 11

1. nos cogimos de la mano (cogerse de la mano)
2. Los críticos ELOGIARON la actuación de Tim Curry (elogiar, has a neutral sense ie not exaggerated)
   3a. Juan cuenta unos chistes DELIRANTES
   3a. delirante = delirious (lit) + outrageous (collq) -> delirar = as in to rave, ie be delirious -> un delirio = ravings (+ crazy ideas)

Answer 11

1. we held hands (vb - to hold hands)
2. The critics PRAISED Tim Curry’s performance … (vb)
   3a. Juan tells HILARIOUS jokes (collq)
   3b. explain hilarious origin ->vb -> N

Question 12

1. describe brevamente una vez que te quedaste con las ganas de hacer algo
2. y ENMASCARAR las contradicciones sociales (enmascarar = to mask, as in to cover eg face in a mask)
3. Haga la prueba (hacer la prueba)
4. párase en medio de la CANCHA y escuche (pararse = estar de pie)

Answer 12

1. briefly describe a time that you felt you wanted to do something (ie at that moment)
2. and COVER UP the social contradictions (vb + what lit mean?)
3. Try it. (vb, as in put it to the test)
4. stand in the middle of the PITCH and listen (pitch, court, field ie playing area) (+ what stand if Esp?)

Question 13

1. donde puede ver EN CARNE Y HUESO a sus ángeles
2. RARA VEZ el hincha dice …
3. qué goleada les hicimos
4. BATIÉNDOSE A DUELO contra los demonios de TURNO (batirse a duelo = to fight a duel) (de turno = on duty or on call)
5. humor de negro

Answer 13

1. where he can see IN THE FLESH his angels (ie football players)
2. HARDLY EVER does the fan say …
3. what a drubbing we gave them
4. FIGHTING A DUEL against the devils of THE DAY (vb) (of the day NOT lit -> what more usual meaning?)
5. black humour

Question 14

1. sus principales ASESORES (asesorar = aconsejar = to advise)
   2a. en una elección tan REÑIDA como esta
   2b. reñir = 1. to tell off + 2. to row, to fight (discutir violentamente)
2. que utiliza complejos algoritmos
3. para identificar LOS PATRONES que pueden existir en las enormes bases de datos

Answer 14

1. his main ADVISORS (+ explain N origin + alt vb)
2. in an election as HARD FOUGHT as this one
   2b. explain origin of adj CLOSE or TIGHT
3. which uses complex ALGORITHMS
4. to identify PATTERNS that may exist in the huge databases.

Question 15

1a. DE SIMULTANEIDAD = to describe how a person was when the did s.th
1b. Ana llegó a casa llorando
2a. to describe how s.th was done
2b. Entró en casa SALTANDO POR la ventana
3a. Sabiendo el mal humor QUE GASTA, decidí dejarle en paz
3b. gastar(se) = to have (colloquial Esp), when means to exhibit to others
4. siempre me pone verde (poner verde a sus espaldas

Answer 15

First two uses of 4 of the gerundio:
1a 1st use of the gerundio
1b. Ana came home crying-in tears
2a. 2nd use of the gerundio
2b. He came home by jumping in-out the window
3a. Knowing he HAS such a bad-temper, I decided to leave him alone.
3b explain HAS in 3a (not tener)
4. he´s always bad mouthing me ( vbl exp = to bad mouth someone behind their back)

Question 16

1a. De posterioridad ie to express a relation to AFTERWARDS, LATER
1b use Y + Preterito pasado
1c. Nació en Valencia Y SE TRASLADÓ a León a los cinco años. (NOT , traslandándose a)
2. había una chica llorando a lágrima viva (llorar a lágrima viva)
3a. Mi hermana GASTA muy MALA LECHE, es major no criticarla demasiado (gastar mala leche + gastar mal humor)
3b. es DEL MAL GENIO (genio = genie + genius + temper or temperament, character of a person)

Answer 16

1a. Key circ NOT use gerundio (unlike in English)
1b. What use instead
1c. Eg Born in Valencia, MOVING to Leon at the age of 5. (Not mudarme)
2. there was a girl CRYING HER EYES OUT (vb = to blubber ie to weep noisely)
3a. My sister IS very BAD TEMPERED, it’s better not to criticise her too much. (vbl exp = to be bad tempered x2 forms)
3b. She has a bad temper (nml verbal way to express)

Question 17

1a. YENDO DE CAMINO a la barbacoa nos llamaron para decirnos que le dejaban para otro día,
1b. G = de simultaneidad, emphasises it)
2a. Los atronadores cánticos de la afición resonaban como
2b. trueno (N) = thunder -> atronar (vb) = to deafen ->atronador = deafening, thunderous
2c. la afición (SINGULAR) = fans, supporters + crowd (at an event) + hinchada = the fans
2d. cántico also = poem
3. El fortísimo CHUTE entró en la portería

Answer 17

1a. ON THE WAY to the BBQ they called to tell us to leave it … for another day (ie it was raining)
1b why gerundio?
2a. The THUNDEROUS CHANTS of the CROWD
2b. explain thunderous?
2c explain crowd? + alt N
2d. what else chant mean?
3. the really strong SHOT entered the goal …