By DA

Ever been kicked under a table by your dinner date? You probably, in the interest of getting acquainted, asked someone an uncouth question. Stepped on a social landmine. Every one of these questions is rather personal, and risks raising a sore subject. Save these for when you become very well acquainted, if then.

Things You’ll Need:

A sense of empathy

Step1. Avoid “You don’t remember me, do you?”

The person meant no offence surely – instead, reintroduce yourself, saying “We met before, at the….”

Step2. Never ask, “When are you gonna have kids?”

The last time I saw someone ask this at a party, the woman's eyes welled up with tears, and the husband snarled, "we've been trying for six years." It is a very personal and often sore subject.

Step3. Never mind what her midsection looks like - never ask a woman “Are you pregnant?” or “When are you due?”

Suppose she isn’t?

Step 4. “How old are you?”

It’s only OK if you are very well acquainted. Suppose that person is not keeping well, or coming up on a dreaded birthday?

Step 5. Never mind “How much did that cost?”

Could be car, suit, ring, watch.

Step 6. A close cousin to "how much did that cost" is “Who gave you that (car, ring, etc.)?”

Particularly to women – a successful woman can afford her own possessions.

Step 7. “What did your (spouse) give you for (your birthday, Christmas, etc.)?”

Suppose it was a vacuum cleaner, and they fought for days over it?

Step 8. “How much do you get paid?”

If you’re asked this question, the right answer is “twice as much as you.”

Step 9. “How do you two know each other?”

Seems innocent enough, but suppose they met in group therapy? Or “on-line” and they feel a little foolish about it? Best to leave this alone.

Step 10. “Where do I know you from?”

Seems innocent too, but suppose you saw him on the news because he’s on trial for something? If it's someone of the opposite sex, is it someone you went on one date with two years ago and never phoned and have since forgot?

http://www.ehow.com/how_2091193_people-uncouth-questions-top-ten.html Unit 14. MODELO DE EXAMEN⁷⁷

150240207 IDIOMA MODERNO FASE A) INGLÉS – SEPTIEMBRE 2007

READING COMPREHENSION TEST (30 min)

Read this text about the process of designing / building a new home and, then, chose the answer you think it suits best.

The Building Firm: design/build

An idea whose time has come, the design/build concept has made an important place for itself in this industry. At the same time, there are two caveats⁷⁸ to this gradual evolution: First, architects, independent or otherwise, are still a highly trained and invaluable resource to the remodelling industry; and second, poor design inevitably results in poor project results.

At its best, the integrated process of design, pricing and construction is efficient and rewarding – saving both time and money. Qualified architects and designers working in tandem with experienced project managers and crews have an excellent opportunity to provide you with a finished project that responds to your needs and desires, and has been developed with your financial investment in mind.

Here is a brief summary of the process:

Your Idea: You are finally ready (as an example) to replace your 30 year-old Kitchen and expand your Den into a bright, inviting Family Room. Logically, you contact The Building Firm.

1^st Meeting: A representative of TBF [The Building Firm] will offer to meet you at your home to discuss the feasibility of your project based on existing construction, site and zoning conditions, possible costs and other important variables, which may affect your plans.

Design Proposal: TBF will promptly prepare a Design Proposal, which explains the design process and outlines the potential cost of the process so that you can budget your investment appropriately.

Preliminary Design: Once the Design Proposal has been accepted, will initiate the preliminary design process, including zoning research, site measurements, photographic records, as-built drawings, and initial concept (schematic) drawings.

Design Review: Now it is time to review the initial drawings and to make revisions to them according to what you feel does and doesn’t work for your needs. Remodelling is classically a case of give-and-takes to achieve goals, and this is the time in the design process to decide what the final priorities are – what goes and what stays. Your input is every bit as valuable as our expertise.

Preliminary Pricing: Now that there is a pretty good idea of what the spaces will look like and how they will be used, we like to pause long enough to work out some preliminary pricing before plunging into construction drawings (also known as CD’s). We have previously discussed the potential investment with you, but now we have something more tangible with which to establish costs. We use this exercise to make mid-course corrections in design (and you may also decide to make some adjustments to your investment) so that we can move forward.

Final Design and Specifications: With the design and financial investment in alignment, the final stages of the design process can take place: The CD’s can be prepared for permitting and construction purposes, and you can participate in selections of the products that will go into the project – windows, cabinetry, appliances etc. The final Specifications for the project are written and all the documents are reviewed for accuracy.

Contract and Pre-construction: With all documents prepared, it is time to execute the Contract Agreement. A pre-construction conference is scheduled to carefully review all the procedures to ensure a professionally managed project (where to place a dumpster; security and safety issues; how not to let the dog run free; etc.) This sets the permitting process in motion as well as final scheduling of all resources required for a successful project.

[http://www.thebuildingfirm.com/process/design.shtml]

1. According to the text, “Den”, could refer to:
   1. A conservatory
   2. A lair
   3. A larder
   4. A room
2. The feasibility of the project, refers to
   1. The level of difficulty
   2. The overall costs
   3. The level of viability
   4. The site conditions
3. TBF will promptly prepare a Design Proposal, ... so that you can budget...
   1. TBF will help us to calculate the costs of the works
   2. TBF will immediately charge the works
   3. TBF will get little money from the works
   4. TBF will tell us whether we can pay for the works
4. The expression “As-built drawings”, may be rendered into Spanish as:
   1. «Planos conforme a obra»
   2. «Planos de la obra terminada»
   3. «Planos para la obra»
   4. «Planos según la construcción»
5. At the final design and specifications stage,
   1. A garbage and debris collection container (dumpster) is hired
   2. CD’s, DVD’s and other personal stereo appliances may be placed.
   3. Customers and contractors go through every detail of the works
   4. Customers have the opportunity to discuss security and safety issues

VOCABULARY TEST (50 min)

Give the Spanish equivalents of the following computer terms, and a BRIEF definition in English. E.g.: Lobby [Vestíbulo] a large entrance or reception room or area

WRITING TEST (40 min)

Write a description of your ideal home [150-200 words]. Your description should take the following form:

1. Introduction: give details of your preferences (location, facilities, and price).
2. Outline the advantages for your family.
3. Outline the advantages of the site and house.
4. Mention the financial costs and benefits.
5. Make conclusions and recommendations.

Key Words:

⁷⁷. The length of the text and the type of reading comprehension questions of the “Reading Text Section” may vary from one exam to the next. Lecturers may also consider including, occasionally, other sections, such as, e.g., a “Practical Grammar Section”, with a battery of grammar exercises. Unless otherwise stated, the entire exam is to be completed in English. ↩

⁷⁸. Caveats: warnings ↩