Here's a temporary post available as a training practice for the ABAU exams. It consists of a selection of transformation exercises that have appeared in recent ABAU tests. As you know it's the way grammar is checked in this kind of exams. Each transformation hides a grammatical sturcture you should anticipate.
This post will only be public previous to this year's Selectividad test.
- YOU HAVE TO SAY THE SAME WITHOUT ANY CHANGE IN MEANING, USING ANOTHER CORRECT STRUCTURE.
EXAMPLE:
a) David Givens asked “How do two bodies get close enough together to procreate?”
[Reported speech]
David Givens asked how two bodies got close enough together to procreate
b) True love is so complex that we cannot explain it.
[adj+TO infinitive &/or passive]
True love is too complex for us to explain it. /...complex to be explained.
c) Men have been attracted to certain sizes of hips and waists for more than 20,000 years.
[From passive to active]
Certain sizes of hips and waists have attracted men for more than 20,000 years
d) Codes of attraction and beauty may be millions of years old.
[Expressing possibility]
It is possible that codes of attraction and beauty are millions of years old.
- HERE ARE MORE TO PRACTICE:
a) Copying it would be useless.
It would...
b) The new owners gave it a place in American pop culture.
It ...
c) It’s not impossible to decipher the formula.
Deciphering ….
d) A pharmacist called John Pemberton created the formula in his laboratory.
John Pemberton, who …
a) “I’ve done about fifty jumps”, Mark Debenham said.
Mark Debenham said that …
b) Bungee jumping is an incredible experience, which makes your heart race.
Bungee jumping is such …
c) If you are 50 years old or more you need to have a medical certificate.
You must …
d) Many people take it up as a sport.
It …
a) You can always practise outside in a local park. It’s free and spacious.
You can …., which …
b) Dance teachers are more interested in the size of your talent than your waist.
The size of …
c) It is possible that you will think about following a career in dance.
You may …
d) It’s essential to warm up to avoid unnecessary injuries.
You must
a) It is possible to control a fear of flying
A fear of flying …
b) Mr.Yaffé said: “When people sign for the course they are sent a book about flying”
Mr. Yaffé said that …
c) For some people the prospect of flying is so terrifying that they can’t set a foot on a plane
For some people the prospect of flying is … terrifying feeling that …
d) Mr. Yaffé organizes special “air anxiety” seminars.
Special…
a) There are a lot of divorces in Britain. Therefore many young people prefer simply to live together.
There are so many …
b) “If you are unhappy with your husband, you should get a divorce” he said to her.
He advised her …
c) Women will tolerate less than they used to.
Women will not …
d) One of the main reasons for divorce is unreasonable or cruel behaviour.
Women often ….. because …..
a) I wish I hadn’t invented it.
I regret …
b) The game was so good that millions of people bought it.
It was such …
c) It took us 45 minutes to invent the rules.
In 45 minutes …
d) The correct answer is not chocolate or cocoa but … sugar!
Sugar, not …
a) The father’s power over the children did not end when they became adults.
When the ….
b) The system allowed little opportunity for change, and lasted over a thousand years.
The system, which ….
c) A plebeian could be arrested and executed by a patrician without a trial.
A patrician …
d) The system was inflexible and didn’t allow any change.
The system was too …
a) Afghanistan’s cultural treasures were stolen by vandals.
Vandals …
b) The French have a long history of archaeological work in Afghanistan.
The French have been …
a) She invented games to keep herself occupied.
She invented games because …
b) At the age of 24, she married Archie Christie.
When she
a) He didn’t tell us where we were going, so I was excited.
I was excited ..
b) The house seemed strange without his grandmother in it.
If his grandmother had been …
a) He had no criminal record but was suspected of stealing the car.
Although …
b) Video games cannot be separated from other forms of entertainment.
You cannot …
a) They use samples from the collection in order to study the minerals.
Samples from the collection …
b) We advise you to see the beautiful animated film.
“You…,” they said to us.
c) In the exhibition, there is a model house.
The exhibition …
d) A large model shows you a modern gold mine.
You can see …
a) Wiseman said he had found the funniest jokes in the world.
“I ……” said Wiseman.
b) The most popular jokes were about the relationship between men and women.
People enjoyed…
c) Americans and Canadians prefer jokes that make somebody look stupid.
The Americans’ and Canadians’ favourite…
d) Chris Wiseman conducted an experiment to find the world’s most popular joke
In order to…
a) Skaters were transporting goods across frozen waterways.
Goods ...
b) The International Skating Union was founded. Six years later, the first official event was celebrated.
Six years after …
c) As judges deduct points, a balanced programme is important.
If judges didn’t ....
d) Ice dancing consists of three sections.
There are …
a) Phelps says, “I eat pretty much whatever I want”
Phelps said that …..
b) Phelps could improve his diet by including some fruit or salad.
Phelps could improve his diet if ….
c) Contrary to the copious breakfasts eaten by Phelps ….
Contrary to the copious breakfasts which …
d) Maybe he met Michael Phelps there.
He may ....
a) Don't leave tempting shoes, clothing, or children's toys within reach of your dog
The writer advises us …
b) His appetite may not be good.
Perhaps …
c) Don't allow him to do something one time and forbid it another.
If you allow him …
d) We must teach our pet manners.
Our pet …
a) Do responsible learners volunteer to clean the blackboard? Are they diligent and obedient?
The writer asks ……
b) They may not always be like that.
Perhaps …..
c) You can bring a horse to the water
A horse……
d) Learning will only happen if learners are willing to contribute.
Unless …….
a) My clients range from the paranoid to the extremely wealthy
Some of my clients …
b) At the moment we’re working on one of the biggest cases we’ve ever handled.
The author said that ….
c) I’ll teach the client how to live a different life
The client ........
d) He is criminally connected, so his wife is worried that he’ll try to have her murdered.
Because ….
a) Blindfolded waterskiing is a difficult sport and only the bravest and most experienced waterskiers dare
to do it.
Blindfolded waterskiing , ……………….. a difficult sport.
b) The skier cannot see the route or water over which they are skiing.
The skier isn’t ….
c) Steve Thiele has set a new world record in an effort to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
A new world record …
d) Thiele said: “It’s great to get a world record and I am very happy to have completed the challenge”
Thiele said that…
a) Its soft, dark water soothed her mind
Her mind ….
b) She felt at peace. Unhindered and free.
Not only did she ….
c) Quickly she gathered her things together and made for the cottage.
After …..
d) And there in the kitchen, skinny, cadaverous and unwelcome, stood a man.
A man, who ………………………………………. stood in the kitchen.
a) Patrick Smith is a pilot. He writes for the on-line magazine Salon.com.
Patrick Smith, ……
b) “Do crews empty the contents of the toilet over people’s houses?”
Some people asked if ….
c) Concentrating on these irrelevant things, you’re wasting time and resources.
If you ………………….
d) Some routes or airports require more attention than others.
More attention ………
a) Keep your eyes open for haggis in restaurants and pubs
The writer advised us …..
b) At most weddings country dancing is preferable to a disco
At most weddings the Scots …..
c) Most language centres provide tours and Scottish entertainment as part of their courses.
Tours and Scottish entertainment…
d) If you had enough money, you might even buy a kilt
Perhaps …
a) Could a government-issued licence be the best solution to reduce smoking?
The text asks ……………………………
b) Selling cigarettes to anyone without a licence would be severely punished
If an establishment sells………………………………………….
c) Tobacco products could not be sold to anyone without a licence.
Shops would not …………………………………………………….
d) He also suggests building in a financial reward to entice smokers to quit.
“Perhaps we………………………………………………………,” he suggests.
a) It will provide a "quiet zone" for passengers at no extra cost.
Passengers will be given a "quiet zone" without …
b) Parents will be angry at the suggestion that they should be segregated from other passengers.
If airlines suggest …
c) Do adults need to learn to live with child passengers?
Is it necessary …?
d) Malaysian Airlines will ban children from the top deck of A380 aircraft.
Children …
a) Michelle Obama was brought up in Chicago in a one-bedroom apartment.
Michelle Obama was brought up in Chicago in an apartment which …….
b) The family read and played games together.
The family not only ………………….
c) Their parents were not well off, but both children were brought up with an emphasis on education.
Although ……….
d) Michelle took various accelerated courses. She then went on to attend a special high school for gifted children.
After …..
a) Our trips start from a one-week duration, so you can go on your own mini adventure. You can go…
b) You could work in Australia and move on to South East Asia afterwards.
Before ...
c) Planning your adventure is easy!
It's ...
d) "If you are sensible you will be safe"
She told them that ...
a)The genes you inherit from your parents can determine how your metabolism deals with particular foods.
How your metabolism deals with particular foods …….
b) Do you fill yourself with junk food during the weekend after a week of dieting?
The author asks the reader whether ……..
c) Eating several small meals in a day helps you to avoid bingeing.
You can avoid bingeing if ……
d) You should have a specific time and place for eating.
The writer advises us ………
a) She was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen while returning home.
While she ...
b) "I didn't learn the importance of education from a book, I lived it." he said.
He said that ...
c) His school experience was similar to that of many of the other young delegates. Many of the other young delegates ...
d) Pupils today have access to specialist technology but Ban Ki-Moon began with very little.
Whereas pupils today ….
