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Spanish Language Reading and Writing Flashcards
51 question-and-answer cards covering Reading and Writing as it is examined in Spanish Language. 24 of them are printed below, taken from across the deck — no signup, no paywall on the preview.
24 sample cards from the Reading and Writing deck
Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.
Contrast the meaning of "comía" and "comió."
"Comía" (imperfect) = "was eating / used to eat" (ongoing/habitual); "comió" (preterite) = "ate" (a single completed action).
Which past tense do these time markers signal: "ayer," "anoche," "el año pasado" versus "todos los días," "mientras," "siempre"?
"Ayer, anoche, el año pasado" signal the preterite (completed actions); "todos los días, mientras, siempre" signal the imperfect (habitual/ongoing actions).
Give three Spanish expressions for stating an opinion.
"Creo que..." (I think that...), "En mi opinión..." (In my opinion...), and "Me parece que..." (It seems to me that...).
How do you justify an opinion in Spanish, and which mood follows a negated opinion verb?
Justify with "porque," "ya que," or "por eso." After a negated opinion verb ("No creo que..."), Spanish uses the subjunctive: "No creo que sea verdad."
Give two Spanish phrases each for agreeing and disagreeing with an opinion.
Agree: "Estoy de acuerdo" and "Tienes razón." Disagree: "No estoy de acuerdo" and "No es cierto / Te equivocas."
Approximately how many countries have Spanish as an official language, and on which continents are they found?
About 20 countries, mainly across the Americas (North, Central, and South America) plus Spain in Europe and Equatorial Guinea in Africa.
What is the capital and currency of Mexico, and of Argentina?
Mexico: capital Mexico City (Ciudad de México), currency the Mexican peso. Argentina: capital Buenos Aires, currency the Argentine peso.
What are "tapas" and "la sobremesa" in Spanish culture?
"Tapas" are small savory dishes shared with drinks; "la sobremesa" is the relaxed time spent talking at the table after a meal has finished.
What is "la siesta," and how does it affect shop opening hours in Spain?
A short afternoon rest. Many small shops traditionally close in the early afternoon (roughly 2–5 p.m.) and reopen in the evening.
What is celebrated at Spain's "Las Fallas" and "La Tomatina"?
"Las Fallas" (Valencia, March) burns giant satirical figures with fireworks; "La Tomatina" (Buñol, August) is a mass tomato-throwing festival.
What is "El Día de los Muertos," where is it mainly celebrated, and what is its purpose?
The Day of the Dead, celebrated mainly in Mexico around November 1–2, honors deceased loved ones with altars (ofrendas), marigolds, and sugar skulls (calaveras).
What are "las Posadas" and "Semana Santa" in the Spanish-speaking world?
"Las Posadas" are pre-Christmas processions (Dec 16–24) re-enacting Mary and Joseph seeking shelter; "Semana Santa" (Holy Week) features solemn Easter religious processions.
When and how do many Spanish-speaking children traditionally receive gifts at Christmas time?
On January 6, "el Día de Reyes" (Epiphany), when the Three Wise Men (los Reyes Magos) bring gifts, often celebrated with "roscón de Reyes" cake.
In Spanish, when do you use "tú" versus "usted"?
"Tú" is informal, for friends, family, and peers; "usted" is formal/polite, for strangers, elders, and people in authority.
What are the polite Spanish equivalents of "please," "thank you," and "you're welcome"?
"Por favor" (please), "gracias" (thank you), and "de nada" (you're welcome).
What is the customary Spanish greeting between friends, and how does it differ in formal or business settings?
Friends often greet with two kisses on the cheeks (or a hug); in formal/business settings a handshake (un apretón de manos) is used.
How do you politely make a request or ask permission in Spanish using the conditional?
Use the conditional for softness: "¿Podría ayudarme?" (Could you help me?) or "Me gustaría..." (I would like...) / "¿Le importaría...?" (Would you mind...?).
What is the main pronoun difference in the second-person plural between Spain and Latin America?
Spain uses "vosotros/vosotras" (informal plural "you"); Latin America uses "ustedes" for all plural "you," formal and informal alike.
What is "voseo," and where is it common?
"Voseo" is the use of "vos" instead of "tú" for informal singular "you," with special verb forms (e.g., "vos tenés"). It is common in Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Central America.
How is the pronunciation of "c" (before e/i) and "z" different in Spain versus Latin America?
In most of Spain they are pronounced as a soft "th" sound (distinción/ceceo); in Latin America they are pronounced as "s" (seseo).
Give three everyday vocabulary differences between Spain and Latin America.
Car: "coche" (Spain) vs "carro/auto" (Lat. Am.); computer: "ordenador" (Spain) vs "computadora" (Lat. Am.); potato: "patata" (Spain) vs "papa" (Lat. Am.).
Which past tense do Spain and Latin America each prefer for recent past actions like "I ate breakfast this morning"?
Spain tends to use the present perfect ("He desayunado"), while much of Latin America prefers the preterite ("Desayuné").
What is the difference between "por qué," "porque," and "por que/porqué" when reading Spanish?
"¿Por qué?" = why (question), "porque" = because (answer/cause), and "el porqué" (one word, noun) = the reason.
When narrating a story, which Spanish connectors show time sequence and result?
Time sequence: "entonces" (then), "de repente" (suddenly), "al final" (in the end); result: "así que" / "por eso" (so/therefore).
What this deck covers
The Reading and Writing deck follows the Spanish Language Reading and Writing syllabus — 4 chapters and 16 topics — so questions land on material that is genuinely examinable rather than trivia around it. That works out to roughly 12.8 cards per chapter.
Answers are written to be recallable, not just readable — averaging about 136 characters, which is long enough to carry the reasoning and short enough to say out loud.
A deck like this earns its keep on the second and third pass. Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then use the cards to find the specific facts that have not stuck.
Reading and Writing flashcards FAQ
How many Reading and Writing flashcards are in this Spanish Language deck?
51 cards. This page previews 24 of them, sampled evenly across the deck so you can judge the difficulty before installing anything.
Are these Spanish Language flashcards free?
Yes. The preview here is free to read with no signup, and the full 51-card deck is free inside the Examius app.
What do the Reading and Writing cards cover?
They follow the Spanish Language Reading and Writing syllabus — 4 chapters and 16 topics — so the questions track what is actually examinable.
How should I use these flashcards?
Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then drill the deck. Examius schedules each card with spaced repetition, so cards you keep missing come back sooner and ones you know drift further apart.