Instituto Cervantes 04_03A

Question 1

1a. Census box ticked: Japonese
1b. square of a chessboard + board game
2a. Coming home to stay, after a period as an expatriate, is to feel exultant
2b. what does this mean: pletórico de adj
3. It’s joy, energy, a constant high.
4. your host country

Answer 1

1a. casilla del censo marcada: japonés
1b. casilla = cuadrícula (grid) del tablero de ajedrez + juego de mesa
2a. volver a casa para quedarse, después de una temporada expatriado, es sentirse pletórico
2b. full of X
3. Es alegría, energía, un subidón constante.
4. tu país de acogida

Question 2

1. There are hugs by the bucketload, continuous welcoming parties and a calmness that stuns.(clue - calmness NOT calma)
   1b. what does N = bucketload mean literally?
2. where everything was going to be easy and go smoothly (expl smoothly)
   3a. with more lows + than what you expected
   3b. explain lows?
   3c. Explain when use that than (clue: not que)

Answer 2

1a. Son abrazos a destajo, fiestas continuadas de bienvenida y una placidez que atonta. (atontar)
1b. a destajo = piecework, ie paid by the item.
2. donde todo iba a ser fácil e ir rodado (rodado = rounded)
3. con más bajones anímocos + de los que te esperabas
4a. bajón = sharp drop -> slump (met) + anímoco = mental, emotion, state of mind
3c. de los/las que = with numbers + quantities

Question 3

1. Their faces are narrower. (Japanese) (adj not estrecho -> explain vb origin)
2. The nose is a bit more pointed.
3. Their eyelids are flatter. (clue: NOT llano)
4. They have round faces. (Chinese)
5. Their central teeth (incisors) are wider, like those of rabbits.

Answer 3

1. Sus rostros son más angostos (adj-> angostar = to take in (clothes) ie to narrow).
2. La nariz es un poco más puntiaguda (ie con punta + aguda).
3. Tienen los párpados más planos.
4. Tienen rostros redondeados.
5. Sus dientes centrales (incisivos) son más anchos, como los de los conejos.

Question 4

1. The more time one spends away from home, the more difficult is the adaptation. (loc struct - the more, the less etc)
2. palliative care
3. Costa Ricans
   4a. I didn’t remember that today is a day before a public holiday (clue: a single word means this)
   4b. explain the word (use for shortened work week)

Answer 4

1. Cuanto más tiempo se pasa fuera de casa más dificil es la adaptación.
2. cuidados paliativos
3. costarricenses
   4a. ¡no me acordaba que ya hoy es juernes!
   4b. combination jueves + viernes

Question 5

1a. It’s immediately clear from his appearance that he’s a “mod”.
1b. why that prep from (1 of 2 poss)
2a. When you go to see your grandmother, give her a kiss from me
2b. What that prep 4 from? (2 of 2 poss)

Answer 5

1a. Está inmediatamente claro por su aspecto que es un «mod».
1b. por = from the cause or reason for s.th, here reason is his appearance.
2a. Cuando vayas a ver a tu abuela, dale un beso de mi parte
2b. de = from what punta de partida (starting pt) or ORIGIN, here from starting pt of me -> destination, tu abuela)

Question 6

1a. Oh that the big things become small around you
when I kiss you (song lyric)
1b. why not volverse?
2a. I feel + uncomfortable/ill at ease ie not belonging
2b. I feel + at home (clue: an estar exp + not a gusto)
3. The only thing that is missing is the metal fittings (or metal fixtures) for the plant that is placed against the fence (vb = to place against) (Maida)

Answer 6

1a. ay que lo grande se hace pequeño alrededor cuando te beso
1b. hacerse = physical change, notwithstanding is sudden + volverse = only use for people (per Chus)
2a. me siento + fuera de lugar
2b. me siento + como en casa (estar a gusto)
3. Solo me falta los herrajes de la planta que se adosan a la valla (adosar = to place against)

Question 7

1a. I feel + in my element (hence confident re what doing)
1b. I feel + like a fish out of water
1c. I feel + lost/adrift (as in confused or disorientated)
2. to talk, work (not trabajar), sell animatedly (ie without rest)
3. to experience, live, suffer in your bones

Answer 7

1a. me siento + como pez en el agua
1b. me siento + fuera de lugar
1c.me siento + descolocado
2, hablar, currar, vender a destajo
3. experimentar, vivir, sufrir en tus carnes

Question 8

1a. I feel + comfortable (not estar exp)
1b. I feel + pleased as punch (ie super happy)
2a. To be on holiday is like disconecting from everything and everyone. (es + ese + inf struct - to describe feelings)
2b. To feel ashamed is like saying to yourself: “earth, swallow me up”. (es + ese + inf struct)
3. The alternative to ese + inf to describe sensations?

Answer 8

1a. me siento + a gusto
1b. me siento + más a gusto que un arbusto
2a. Estar de vacaciones es + ese + desconectar de todo y de todos.
2b. Sentir verguenza es + ese + decirte a ti mismo: “tierra, trágame”
3. es + como + N/inf

Question 9

1. I (don’t) feel + like (dancing) (why: struct to exp wants)
   1b. I feel + awful (v collq)
   2a. To be in love is that feeling of butterflies in your stomach. (why: es + ese + inf struct to describe feelings)
   2b. To be enamoured is like wandering lost in thought (x2) down-along the street. (why: as per 2a)
   3a Winning the lottery is like realising a dream (2nd struct re describing sensations) (why: es + como + inf struct)
   3b.Winning the lottery is that getting away from working in the office forever. (1st struct)

Answer 9

1a. (no) me siento + con ganas de (bailar)
1b. me siento + como el culo
2a. Estar enamorado es ese sentir mariposas en el estómago
2b. Estar enamorado es ese deambular ensimismado (or absorto) por la calle
3a. Que te toque la lotería es como realizar un sueño.
3b. Que te toque la lotería es ese librarse de trabajar en la oficina para siempre (librarse de)

Question 10

1a. What struct exp that a change in 1 measure (up/down) -> correponding change (up/down)?
1b. When does cuanto have concordancia with M/F of N?
1c. what 3 vb tenses use in struct in 1a ?
2. a backpacker
3. a jumble sale or flea market or street market
4. I’m a decent (or honourable) man through and through (loc prep)

Answer 10

1a. Cuanto más/menos (X) → más/menos (Y)
1a. only in singular* = cuanto/a, *in plural always = cuanto
1c. habitual actions in pres (indic) and past (imp) + future (pres subj)
2. un mochilero
3. un mercadillo
4. Soy hombre de bien + a carta cabal

Question 11

1a. The more I eat, the fatter I get (Q: why vb tense?)
1b. The more goodlookingthey are, also the more stuck-up (Q: why no concordancia?)
2. to stand s.o up (loc vb) (Q: what N in loc vb mean x2)
3. I volunteered (loc vb = to volunteer)
4. It begins when you realise (or notice) (in your bones), as our grandmothers would say) (clue: not darse cuenta)

Answer 11

1a. Cuanto más como, más engordo (gen statement)
1b. Cuanto más guapos son, más creidos también. (cuanto sing cos N is plural)
2. dar plantón -> plantón = 1. a sapling (young tree) + 1. a long wait (eg flight delayed)
3. me hice voluntaria (hacerse voluntaria)
4. Comienza cuando compruebas (en tus carnes), que dirían nuestras abuelas)… (comprobar)

Question 12

1a. The more fruit you eat, the better you’ll feel (Q: what tense 1st verb, 2nd psn?)
1b. The older you become, the more you look like your mother.
2a. two weeks remain to the due date (Cristina)
2b. we´re quite well
2c. I will let you know when he’s born (CLUE - note the vb tense)
3. They say I’m a bit of an animal

Answer 12

1a. Cuanta** más frut_a_** comas, mejor te encontrarás (subj = future action orientated)
1b. Cuanto mayor se hace, más se parece a su madre.
2a. quedan 2 semanas para la fecha estimada
2b. estamos bastante bien
2c. Te informaré cuando nazca
3. Dicen de mí que soy un tanto animal

Question 13

1. I can´t go on like this
2. I need to make a radical change (or turn a radical corner) in my life (loc vb + fig meaning: what is the literal meaning?)
3. to let go of my fears (clue - not lit let go)
4. to look forwards instead of backwards

Answer 13

1. no puedo seguir así
2. necesito dar un giro radical en mi vida (dar un giro = lit to make a turn -> turn around (lit))
3. dejar atrás mis miedos
4. mirar hacia adelante en vez de hacia atrás

Question 14

1. I hope everything goes smoothly for me (clue: loc. vb)
2. I have to take it one step at a time (clue: loc. vb)
3. if I get + halfway there (loc prep)
4. it’s very difficult to return to the beginning (loc. prep)

Answer 14

1. espero que todo me vaya a ir rodado
2. tengo que ir paso a paso
3. si me quedo + a medio camino (a medio camino)
4. es muy difícil volver al punto de partida

Question 15

1. We’re at an impasse (as in dead end) (loc prep)
2. I am not able to move forward
3. I´m in a real bind (loc prep) (clue: think at a crossroads fig + lit)
4. not knowing where to go or what road to take

Answer 15

1. estamos en un callejón sin salida
2. no soy capaz de avanzar
3. estoy en una verdedera encrucijada (encrucijada = intersection)
4. sin saber hacía dónde ir o que camino tomar

Question 16

latinismos de uso frecuente en español

1. ópera prima (what mean in Eng?)
2. the Minister´s appearance was suspended for lack of a quorum
3. The president left office of his own accord (clue: not dejar or salir etc)
4. we reached an agreement right at the death (clue; reached NOT llegar)

Answer 16

1. debut (ie first work of an author or actor)
2. se suspendió la comparencia de la ministra por falta de cuórum
3. El presidente abandonó el cargo moto propio
4. alcanzamos un acuerdo in extremis

Question 17

1. refereeing decisions should always be taken before or during the match, but never after the fact (or in hindsight)(clue: common latin phrase)
2. the documents should be handed over before hand ( or in advance) (clue: common latin phrase)
3. every day that + feeling of freedom with no place where I had to be (clue: eg of a structure)
4. I felt that + rising of my soul like that bird that rode the wind

Answer 17

1. las decisiones arbitrales siempre deben tomarse antes o durante el partido, pero nunca a posteriori
2. Los documentos se deben entregar a priori
3. cada día ese + sentirme libre con ni lugar donde tenía que estar
4. me sentía ese + elevar el alma como ese pájaro que cabalgaba al viento