Unit Review & Progress Test

Unit review — Social Class, Privilege & Mobility

Al finalizar esta unidad, deberías ser capaz de discutir temas complejos relacionados con la estructura social, la desigualdad y la movilidad ascendente o descendente utilizando un registro formal y académico. Habrás desarrollado la capacidad de expresar hipótesis sobre situaciones pasadas que afectan el presente y viceversa, utilizando estructuras gramaticales avanzadas.

Asimismo, deberías dominar el vocabulario específico sobre estratificación social, privilegios y meritocracia, permitiéndote participar en debates de nivel C1 con precisión léxica. Serás capaz de estructurar argumentos complejos tanto de forma escrita como oral, demostrando un control sofisticado de las inversiones y los condicionales mixtos.

Grammar consolidation

Complete the following tasks. For transformations, rewrite the sentence starting with the word provided. For error correction, identify and fix the mistake. For rewriting, follow the specific instruction.

1. Transformation: If he hadn't inherited that vast fortune, he wouldn't be a billionaire now. Had... __________.

2. Error Correction: If I would have studied harder at university, I would have a better job today. ____________.

3. Transformation: If you should need any further assistance regarding your application, please contact us. Should... ____________.

4. Rewriting: I didn't take the scholarship, so I am not studying at Oxford. (Use a mixed conditional) ____________.

5. Transformation: If she were more hardworking, she would have achieved that promotion last year. Were... ______________.

6. Error Correction: Had they known about the social barriers, they would have fought harder. (Is this sentence correct? If not, fix it. If yes, write 'Correct'). ____________.

7. Rewriting: He didn't grow up in a privileged environment, so he doesn't understand the struggles of the working class. (Use a mixed conditional) ____________.

8. Transformation: If the government had implemented those policies, the wealth gap wouldn't be so wide. Had... __________.

9. Error Correction: If I were you, I would have accepted the position yesterday. (Identify the error in the conditional type). ____________.

10. Rewriting: You don't visit the archives often, so you don't know the history of the aristocracy. (Use an inverted conditional starting with 'Should'). ____________.

Vocabulary activation

Complete the tasks using the appropriate word formation, collocation, or register.

1. Word Formation: The widening _ (gap) between the upper class and the working class has led to social unrest.
2. Collocation: To achieve social mobility, one often needs to break through the _ ceiling.
3. Word Formation: Many believe that the current system lacks _ (merit) and instead rewards nepotism.
4. Collocation: Growing up in a _-class household often provides access to better educational resources.
5. Word Formation: The _ (stratify) of society has become more pronounced in the digital age.
6. Register Choice: (Formal) The government must address the _ (inequality) inherent in the current economic structure.
7. Collocation: He was born into _; he didn't have to work for his status.
8. Word Formation: The _ (privilege) of the elite often goes unnoticed by those in lower social strata.
9. Collocation: Many people struggle to escape the _ of poverty.
10. Word Formation: Social _ (mobility) is often hindered by systemic biases.
11. Collocation: He is a self-made man who rose from _ to the top of the corporate ladder.
12. Word Formation: The _ (disparity) between the rich and the poor is a global concern.

Integrated skills task

Source Text: The Myth of Meritocracy

The concept of meritocracy suggests that social position is determined solely by individual talent and effort. However, critics argue that this ignores the profound impact of inherited privilege. When children are born into affluent families, they benefit from 'invisible' advantages: better nutrition, superior schooling, and influential social networks. These factors create a head start that is often mistaken for pure merit.

Furthermore, social mobility is frequently hindered by systemic barriers. Even when individuals possess high levels of competence, they may lack the 'cultural capital' required to navigate elite institutions. This creates a cycle where wealth and status are consolidated within specific classes, making it increasingly difficult for those from disadvantaged backgrounds to ascend. Consequently, the 'level playing field' promised by meritocracy remains, for many, a sociological impossibility.

Writing Task

Instrucciones: Basándote en el texto anterior, escribe un ensayo de opinión (180-220 palabras). Debes analizar si la meritocracia es un objetivo alcanzable o una ilusión. Utiliza vocabulario avanzado y estructuras de condicionales mixtos o inversiones para expresar hipótesis sobre la estructura social. Tu respuesta debe ser formal.

Speaking checkpoint

Responde a las siguientes preguntas de forma oral, asegurándote de utilizar un lenguaje de nivel C1 (conectores sofisticados, vocabulario preciso y estructuras gramaticales complejas).

1. Compare: Compare the advantages of being born into a wealthy family versus the advantages of being self-made.
2. Speculate: If social mobility were significantly higher in your country, how might the political landscape change?
3. Evaluate: To what extent do you believe that education is the primary driver of social mobility in the modern world?
4. Justify: Some argue that privilege is a natural consequence of hard work. Do you agree or disagree? Justify your position.
5. Hypothesize: Had the industrial revolution not occurred, how might the current class structure be different?
6. Discuss: Evaluate the impact of 'cultural capital' on an individual's ability to succeed in professional environments.

Self-assessment rubric

Answer key

Grammar consolidation 1. Had he not inherited that vast fortune, he wouldn't be a billionaire now. 2. If I had studied harder at university, I would have a better job today. 3. Should you need any further assistance regarding your application, please contact us. 4. If I hadn't taken the scholarship, I wouldn't be studying at Oxford. 5. Were she more hardworking, she would have achieved that promotion last year. 6. Correct. 7. If he hadn't grown up in a privileged environment, he would understand the struggles of the working class. 8. Had the government implemented those policies, the wealth gap wouldn't be so wide. 9. Error: "would have accepted" should be "had accepted" (Third conditional/Mixed conditional context). 10. Should you visit the archives often, you would know the history of the aristocracy. (Note: Inversion with 'should' is used for possibility/unlikely events).

Vocabulary activation 1. wealth gap / inequality gap 2. glass 3. meritocracy 4. upper / middle 5. stratification 6. inequality 7. privilege 8. privilege 9. cycle / trap 10. mobility 11. nothing / rags 12. disparity