English Final Grade Rise

TEXTO A
Shakira and Miley: writing a perfect break-up song
You have been through a break-up. You are experiencing all the emotions - rage, grief,
sadness and tears. You might binge a show, binge fast food, or unload your emotions into
your private diary.
Or, if you are a world-famous musician, you might decide to record a *diss track aimed at
your ex. Then, upload it to the Internet, stand back and watch the sparks fly. At least, that is
what Shakira did with Out of Your League, her song about footballer ex Gerard Piqué
cheating on her, which has broken YouTube records making it the most-watched new Latin
song in the platform’s history. But Shakira is not alone. Fans are convinced Flowers by Miley
Cyrus is about her ex, the famous Australian actor Liam Hemsworth. However, pop
superstars turning their emotions into break-up songs is not a new thing. Just ask Adele or
Taylor Swift, both queens of the break-up ballad, or Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and Justin
Bieber — just some of the big names who have released heartbreak-inspired hits.
But what is the trick to recording the perfect break-up song and why are they so satisfying to
listen to? According to songwriting professor Martin Wright, who works at the British and
Irish Modern Music Institute in Birmingham, the main reason for the genre’s popularity is
obvious: most of us have been left (or have left someone) at some point in our life.
Wright says the best break-up songs are all about the narrative. “If it is me breaking up with
you, it is about empowerment, liberation and freedom, whereas if it is you breaking up with
me, it might be about sadness, bitterness and even sometimes revenge,” he explains. In Out
of Your League, Shakira impressively combines most of these elements into a single line: “I
won’t get back with you, not if you cry, not even if you beg.”
The next ingredient is how a person feels about their breakup. There are a few options here.
A popular approach is the “I’m so over this”, as demonstrated by Ariana Grande (“I’ve
learned from the pain. I turned out amazing”).
And for the finishing touch, Wright says, the key is the chorus and looking to the future. You
could strike a hopeful note, like Adele (“Never mind, I’ll find someone like you”), or follow
Taylor Swift’s decisiveness (“But we are never, ever, ever, ever getting back together”). After
all, Taylor Swift has built a career on songs about past relationships.
As well as being good to listen to, break-up songs can be helpful for the people writing them.
Singer and songwriter Nahli, from London, says she used to write down her emotions in her
diary. Now she turns those journal entries into songs. “When I’m crying into the page and the
tears are falling, deep emotions come out; it really feels like therapy.”
Fragment adapted from BBC news, January 2023 *diss (disrespect + dismiss abbreviated)
TEXTO A
QUESTIONS
A.1.- Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text.
Use a complete sentence. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE.
a) Shakira’s Out of Your League holds the record for most-watched song in Youtube’s
history.
b) In the past few years, a new genre of break-up music has emerged.
A.2.- In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following
questions. Do not copy from the text.
a) According to Martin Wright, why are break-up songs such a popular genre?
b) What helps singer and songwriter Nahli let out her emotions?
A.3.- Find the words in the text that mean:

a) addressed to (paragraph 2)
b) cause (paragraph 3)
c) viewpoint (paragraph 5)
d) dropping down (paragraph 7)
A.4.- Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in
brackets when given.
a) Break up songs are gaining more and more _________ (popular). _________, it is
one of the most listened genres in the world.
b) If I ___________ (listen) to this song when I was a teenager, it _________ (become)
my favorite song at the time.
c) Taylor Swift, ________ is a famous singer, _________ (know) for her exceptional
songwriting, especially in songs written about her experiences.
d) Complete the following sentence to report what was said.
“I really enjoyed Adele’s new song when I first listened to it yesterday” she told me.
She told me ______________________________________________________.
A.5.- Write about 150 to 200 words on the following topic.

In your opinion, what are the key elements that make a song gain popularity? Discuss.
SUGGESTED ANSWERS
QUESTION A.1.
a) FALSE: “At least, that is what Shakira did with Out of Your League, her song about
footballer ex Gerard Piqué cheating on her, which has broken YouTube records
making it the most-watched new Latin song in the platform’s history.”
b) FALSE: “However, pop superstars turning their emotions into break-up songs is not a
new thing.”
QUESTION A.2.
a) As the text says, Martin Wright thinks this kind of music is famous because many of
us have experienced being left or leaving someone at some stage in our lives.
b) According to the text, Nahli used to write about her feelings in her diary and now she
transforms them into songs. She says that expressing deep emotions while she’s
crying is like a form of healing.
QUESTION A.3.
a) aimed at.
b) reason.
c) approach.
d) falling.
QUESTION A.4.
a) popularity —------- in fact.
b) had listened —------- would have become
c) who —------- is known.
d) She told me she had really enjoyed Adele’s new song when she had first listened to it
the previous day.
QUESTION A.5.
Nowadays, music is increasingly emerging and is constantly present in our lives.Once every
few months, a song appears seemingly out of nowhere and all of a sudden is heard in all
bars, events and radio stations. In my opinion, this is mainly due to the rhythm, the lyrics and
advertising.
Firstly, a catchy rhythm or melody is an essential element to make people listen to a song.
People find themselves humming the chorus and the melody is stuck in their heads for the
rest of the day. In addition, relatable lyrics are probably the most important part of a melody.
It makes people feel not only understood but also connected to the artist. Especially songs
about love are the ones that stand out among the others.
Secondly, the promotion of a song is key. Even the catchiest and most danceable melody in
the world could not blow up If it were not for the advertising. Today’s society is incredibly
influenced by social media, streaming platforms and the internet. Mainly tik tok is the means
where a piece of a song goes viral and the artist takes the opportunity to show it to the
public.
In conclusion, the popularity of a song is a mixture of many elements. All of the above
factors combined with enjoyment and connections are the fundamental ingredients to make
a hit song.

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TEXTO A

Shakira and Miley: writing a perfect break-up song

A.3.- Find the words in the text that mean:

A.5.- Write about 150 to 200 words on the following topic.

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