Herewith we propose a reading exercise, GCSE higher, based on an Edexcel past paper exam, June 2018.
We made a list of 157 words that can be revised before or after the reading. Checking these words will help you revise the topics related to the different texts included in the exam.
It is very effective to learn vocabulary and then check its meaning in context and see how the words and expressions behave together with other words (in context, with prepositions, links…).
How to carry out this reading GCSE higher exercise if you are a student
If you are a student:
a) Check the list of vocabulary bellow and try to guess the English meaning without looking.
b) Do the reading past paper:
- If you are taking the exam in a short period of time: do it in exam conditions
- If you are still learning topics:
- Use only the texts of the topics you are familiar with, or
- Do the whole exercise, allow yourself to check and take notes in the list of vocabulary.
You can find the past paper here: “texto“.
c) Check the solutions. Enlace “soluciones”
d) If you do not understand why your answers were wrong, check this link explicaciones a las soluciones, which includes comments about key words, negative words…., etc.
How to carry out this reading GCSE higher exercise if you are a teacher/tutor
On the other hand, if you are a teacher you could:
a) Carry out any previous exercise to activate the vocabulary and expressions included in the text:
- Using this list in flashcards, games, etc.
- Asking the students to revise the list as homework
- Asking the students to work in groups testing the peers
b) Depending on which topic you are working with in the classroom, choose only the questions/texts in the exam related to it. Then you should choose only part of the vocabulary and text, solutions and solution comments: medio ambiente, transporte, trabajo, etc. also related to the topic and text.
c) As homework you could work with any of the texts asking the students to change the whole text to the present, past, future, conditional…..You could also ask them to continue any of the stories….. This way they may practice more the vocabulary.
Vocabulary list (words and expressions) Spanish GCSE Reading Exercise
157 words and expressions as shown in the text
| Español | Inglés |
| Ayuntamiento | Town Hall |
| Extracurriculares | Extracurriculars |
| Concursos | Competitions, contests |
| Instituto | Secondary school |
| Dibujo | Drawing / art subject |
| Escuela | School (colegio) |
| Barrio | Borough, neighbourhood |
| Ganar | To win, to earn |
| Tener ganas | To feel like …., to fancy…. |
| Premio | Price /award |
| Carrera | Degree /career |
| Mejorar | To improve |
| Vida | Life |
| Edad | Age |
| Poner | Tu put |
| Desarrollar | To develop |
| Recibir | To receive |
| Llamada | A call |
| Ruido | Noise |
| Comisaría | Police station |
| Cuidar | To take care |
| Con cuidado | With care= carefully |
| Perder | To lose something or to miss the bus, etc. |
| Soler + infinitive | Usually ….. |
| Buscar | To look for, to search for, to seek |
| Búsqueda | Searh |
| Paisaje | Landscape |
| Pueblo | Village |
| Resultar, convertirse | To come of, to become, to turn out |
| Quedarse | To stay |
| Quincena | A fortnight |
| Hace…….años | …….years ago |
| Quedarse con la boca abierta | to be astonished, to be amazed |
| Cambiar | To change |
| Cambios | Changes |
| Graves | Serious |
| Grabar | To record/to engrave |
| Embotellamiento | Traffic jam, bottleneck, congestion Bottling |
| Conducir | To drive, lead to |
| Conductor | Driver |
| Me parece/te parece/le parece…(like “gustar” verb) | It seems to me, … |
| Caro | Expensive |
| Rica | Rich or tasty |
| Riqueza | Wealth |
| Mezcla | Mix |
| Crecer | To grow |
| Crecimiento | Growth |
| Terminar + gerund (verb ending ando/iendo), ej. Terminar comiendo patatas fritas | End up + gerund, i.e. end up eating chips |
| Informática | Information technology |
| Coincide | To coincide, to agree on |
| Entrevista | Interview |
| Protagonista | Main character |
| Antes | Before |
| Recordar – Acordarse | To remember |
| Estar acostumbrado | Accustomed to something, used to something |
| Criarse | To be raised, to grow |
| Cria | Breeding, young, offspring, baby animal (cub, calf, …) |
| Recursos | Resources |
| Cómodo/incómodo | Confortable/ unconfortable |
| Abierto/abierta | Opened |
| Cerrado/cerrada | Closed |
| Cintura | Belt |
| Estrecho | Narrow, tight |
| Pantalón | Trouser |
| Demasiado | Too much/too many |
| Favorecer | To favour, to look good on, to suit |
| Camino | Path |
| Pilgrim route | La ruta de pelegrinaje |
| Pensar | To think |
| Pensamientos | Thoughts |
| Sentirse (me siento, te sientas…) | To feel |
| Paz | Peace |
| Única | Unique |
| Disfrutar | Enjoy |
| Cientos | Hundreds |
| Tesoro | Tresure |
| Reto | Challenge |
| Enseñar | To teach |
| Lograr | To get an achievement |
| Boda | Wedding |
| Excursiones | Excursions, trips |
| Largo | Long |
| Zapatos | Shoes |
| Aventura | Adventure |
| Acompañado | Accompanied by, have a companion |
| Tratarse (se trata de…) | To be about |
| Aconsejar | Give advice |
| Consejo | A piece of advice |
| Lleno | Full |
| Vacío | Empty |
| Albergue | Hostal |
| Primavera/verano/otoño/invierno: estaciones | Spring/summer/autumn/winter: seasons |
| Mismos | The same |
| Jamás=nunca | never |
| Prácticas | Work in order to get experience, intership |
| Campamentos | Camps |
| Darse bien algo | To be good at something |
| Magisterio | Teaching |
| Naturaleza | Nature |
| Opción | Option |
| Aprobar | To pass |
| Oposición | Public examination= civil service exams It also means opposition or desagreement |
| Método | Method |
| Acceder | To access |
| Colegios Públicos | State Schools |
| Puesto | Position/post |
| “de por vida” | For life |
| Permite | Allows |
| Abrir – cerrar | To open-to close |
| Dar | To give |
| Ayudar | To help |
| Gestion | Management |
| Arrepentirse | To regret |
| Escoger, elegir | To choose |
| Selección / elección | Selection, choosing |
| Garantizar | Guarantee |
| Volar | To fly |
| Relajarse | To relax |
| Vecino | Neighbour |
| Revista | Magazine |
| Sugieren | Suggest |
| Asiento | Seat |
| Mirar | To watch |
| Seguro | Safe |
| Hablar, charlar | to talk, to chat |
| Antes | Before |
| Durante | During |
| Tartar de+inf, intentar+inf | Try to….+ infinitive |
| Sentarse | To seat down |
| Tumbarse | To lie down |
| Ponerse de pie / estar de pie | To stand up, to be standing up |
| En el centro = en el medio | In the middle |
| Levantarse | To get up |
| Caminar= andar=pasear | To walk |
| Anuncios | Adverts |
| Saltar / saltos | To jump / jumps |
| Nieve | Snow |
| Gastar | To spend |
| Malgastar | To waste |
| Nadie | Noone |
| Velocidad | Speed, velocity |
| Barato | Cheap |
| Jugador | Player |
| Frecuencia | Frequency |
| Viento | Wind |
| Aerogenerador | Wind generator |
| Aire | Air |
| Residuos | Waste, residues |
| Bajar | To go down |
| Subir | To go up |
| Guardar = almacenar | To store |
| Director | Manager, head of |
| Éxito | Success |
| Ya | already |
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