NUEVO MODELO PAU 2025

 DON’T FAKE HAPPINESS

When I see people smiling warmly in pictures, when I see them grinning cheekily through filters, when I see them partying as if there is no tomorrow, and when I see them laughing as if their heart isn’t choked up with sorrow, a question pops in simple words, the answer is “No, they are not really happy. They just pretend to be.”

How do I know that or who am I to assume things? The first thing we need to wrap our heads around is the reality of happiness. What is happiness? Wikipedia refers to it as a feeling of satisfaction and joy. A positive and pleasant emotion. But everyone has their own way of thinking, so there must be multiple different definitions of happiness. Nonetheless, we all experience happiness in one way or another.

Happiness is a raw emotion. A genuine one. When it appears in its truest form, you just “feel” it. You don’t fake it. You don’t put fake smiles or let out laughs. You just feel it surging through your whole body, in your heart, in your veins. And this emotion is sometimes too raw that you even cry as well.

We are living in the age of social media. You share something on it, and magically, it flies till the other end of the world. You start doing it just for fun. Sharing little things about you. You love boasting, hanging out with pals, late movie nights, sun-kissed pictures, shopping, funny vlogs, and what not! An escape from the tiresome studies and work. But then, you don’t even realise, and it plants its roots in you. On the contrary, people know how you look, your family, your house, how you present yourself. They see your videos and see how you are in person. People criticise you and those people surrounding you, and you don’t want them to know that your life is not all rainbows and sunshine. I can see right through the faces that are morphed into fake happiness. We don’t want others to suspect anything is wrong with us.

The people, who you admire on social media, also go through the exact same issues. They get anxious and depressed as well. They also have this fear of people judging them. Happiness, before anything else, is an emotion. And so is sadness, and anger. You are not obliged to be happy all the time. Be happy, for yourself. Not for the world to see. Happiness can be found anywhere and everywhere. You can feel it while working, suddenly realising how much you love your job. You can feel it when you see your pet running around your house. Nothing else should matter. This is genuine. This is raw.

Today, I want you to make a promise to yourself, that you’ll at least try to not fake your happiness; that you’ll try to not let social media and other people around, affect you; that you’ll try to be really happy. Just promise that you’ll try. And once you’ll try it, you will know how pure and ecstatic that feels.

 

Question 1: [2 POINTS]

Indicate clearly by writing the words **TRUE** or **FALSE** whether the following statements are true or false according to the text and provide the sentence or part of the text that justifies your answer. The evidence must make sense and be grammatically and lexically coherent.

A. People often share their lives on social media to escape from the stress of their daily routines. 

B. According to the text, all emotions, including happiness and sadness, are equally valid. 

C. The author believes that social media is solely responsible for creating fake happiness. 

D. The author encourages people to be happy only for the approval of others.

Question 2: [2 POINTS]

Choose and answer only TWO of the following questions in your own words according to the text.

A. What is the author’s view on the relationship between social media and the portrayal of happiness? 

B.What does the author suggest about the nature of “genuine” happiness? 

C.How does the author contrast the happiness people show on social media with their true emotional state?

Question 3: [1.5 POINTS]

Find in the text:

A. A synonym for "fakes" (paragraph 3). 

B. An antonym for "raw" (paragraph 3). 

C. A word that means “to criticize” (paragraph 4). 

D. A word derived from “emotion” (paragraph 6).

Question 4: [1.5 POINTS]

Choose the correct option - A, B, C, or D - for each question. Indicate your choice clearly in your answer sheet, either by writing the letter A, B, C, or D, or by copying the letter and the sentence that follows.

1. According to the text, how does the author view the portrayal of happiness on social media? 

A. It is a reflection of people’s genuine feelings. 

B. It is often exaggerated and unrealistic. 

C. It is a means of promoting one’s lifestyle. 

D. It is mostly used to seek validation from others.

2. What does the author suggest is necessary for achieving true happiness? 

A. Constantly trying to please others. 

B. Pretending to be happy for social media. 

C. Focusing on personal happiness and emotional authenticity. 

D. Using social media to showcase personal achievements.

3. In the sentence, "I can see right through the faces that are morphed into fake happiness," what does the author mean by "morphed"? 

A. Transformed into something genuine. 

B. Changed into something unrecognizable. 

C. Altered into something that is not real. 

D. Protected from showing emotions.

 

Question 5: [2 POINTS]

Write an essay in which you discuss the following statement: 

"Social media has a major influence on how we perceive happiness, but true happiness is something much more personal." 

 

 

KEY

Question 1:

A. People often share their lives on social media to escape from the stress of their daily routines.
TRUE.
Justification: “An escape from the tiresome studies and work.”

B. According to the text, all emotions, including happiness and sadness, are equally valid.
TRUE.
Justification: “Happiness, before anything else, is an emotion. And so is sadness, and anger. You are not obliged to be happy all the time.”

C. The author believes that social media is solely responsible for creating fake happiness.
FALSE.
Justification: “But then, you don’t even realise, and it plants its roots in you.” (The text implies that social media contributes to fake happiness but does not state it is solely responsible.)

D. The author encourages people to be happy only for the approval of others.
FALSE.
Justification: “Be happy, for yourself. Not for the world to see.”

Question 2:

A. What is the author’s view on the relationship between social media and the portrayal of happiness?

The author believes that social media often leads people to present a false image of happiness to avoid being judged or criticized. While it may start as harmless fun, it becomes a habit where people feel pressured to showcase an idealized version of their lives, hiding their true emotions.

B. What does the author suggest about the nature of “genuine” happiness?

The author suggests that genuine happiness is a pure and intense emotion deeply felt throughout the body. It is authentic and cannot be faked. True happiness arises naturally, often unexpectedly, and may even be expressed through tears.

C. How does the author contrast the happiness people show on social media with their   true emotional state?

The author highlights that the happiness displayed on social media is often fake or exaggerated, crafted to appear perfect to others. This contrasts with people’s true emotional states, which may include anxiety, sadness, or fear of judgment—emotions they avoid showing publicly on these platforms. 

Question 3:

A.“morphed”.
B.“fake”.
C.“criticise”.
D.“emotional”.

Question 4:

B. It is often exaggerated and unrealistic.

C. Focusing on personal happiness and emotional authenticity.

C. Altered into something that is not real.