EXAMEN #2


This exam will be quite heavy on vocabulary.  It includes BOTH chapter 1 and chapter 2 vocab.  Grades on vocab quiz 2b were good, but not quite as good as some of your other assignments, so practicing making up your own definitions for all of the words might be a wise way to spend some of your study time.

One other thing that I've noticed in grading exams very similar to this in past semesters is the importance of READING THE DIRECTIONS.  At least 10-20% of the points former students have lost were directly attributable to failing to pay attention to the instructions.  Very often they tell you to use specific verbs or types of expressions, and if you don't, you won't get full credit.  Remember that you are perfectly welcome to ask questions about the directions.

Exam 2 will follow roughly the following format:
 

Parte Oral:

A. Preguntas personales
Very similar to the same section on Exam 1.  Remember that the questions are designed to test the puntos clave, and try to be aware of which one each question is trying to address.  Also, listen very carefully to the questions to be sure you know whether they're asking about past or present, about what you like or what someone else likes, etc.  There's a section of "preguntas personales" in each chapter just after the vocab list that you can use to practice.

B. Vocabulario-- Situaciones
Multiple choice!  This is a section in which you'll hear a situation and you'll pick the most appropriate continuation/reaction to it.  Most of the choices are based on vocabulary from the chapter lists, but there may also be expressions from the purple-outlined boxes called "Para conversar mejor" and "expresiones útiles" scattered throughout the chapters.

C. Vocabulario-- definiciones
You'll hear a definition and write the appropriate word.  This section is just like vocab quiz 1b and 2b, EXCEPT that here the agreement of adjectives DOES count.

D. Comprensión
You'll hear a narrative and you'll answer written questions.  The narrative is about the cinco amigos.  You can answer the questions without any outside knowledge, but a quick review of who the five are and what situations we've seen them in will make it easier to understand the narration.
 

Parte Escrita:

1. Rincón cultural
You'll give short answers to written questions about the rincón cultural sections of chapters 1 and 2.  You need to know things like the names of the "lugares fascinantes" and what countries they're in, the names of the "fiestas fascinantes" and the cities or regions where they take place, and the names, nationalities, and stylistic tendencies of the artists, writers, musicians, dancers, etc who are mentioned.  You won't be asked dates of birth or exact dates of the fiestas, etc., or anything else involving specific numbers; these questions are meant to be pretty general and basic. We're not trying to trick you here at all.

2. Subjuntivo después de conjunciones
You need to know what "A SPACE" and "THE CD" stand for and what they mean.  This section is meant to test the same things we looked at on that handout you did with translations last week, but it's much easier.

3.  Composición
This will be a short letter in which you use the past tense, give advice, and use gustar-type verbs.  The tricky part is reading the directions carefully and making sure you include everything you're asked to include.  The other tricky part is that you may have to COMBINE gustar verbs with past tense-- tell what people liked and found interesting, etc, at  some time in the past.

4. Sección de misterio
This isn't actually going to be a complete mystery.  You're going to be writing about some pictures, which you will get to see ahead of time. As you look at the pictures, and as you look at the rest of this test outline and think about which puntos claves are and are not tested elsewhere, you can probably get a pretty good idea of what you'll have to do here.   The best way to prepare for this section is to think about the pictures ahead of time, think about everything that can be said about them, and look up the vocabulary and forms you think you might need. (Remember that there's no single word for "picture" in Spanish.)  Then READ THE DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY when you get the test.
 

The three most important tips I can give you are:

A. Study vocabulary and verb forms

B. Review graded papers. Make sure you understand ALL the markings and can avoid making similar errors (or repeat the things you did well!)

C.  Read the directions carefully!!