It Could Have Been Avoided
Explora cómo los informes de incidentes describen oportunidades desaprovechadas, acciones necesarias y posibles causas en el pasado.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Completa el espacio en blanco.
The floor was wet, but nobody put up a warning sign. The fall could have ___ prevented.
- being
- been
- be
- was
Se trata de un hecho pasado, y la caída recibe la acción.
Show solution
The floor was wet, but nobody put up a warning sign. The fall could have been prevented.
La voz pasiva en pasado después de un verbo modal usa “have been” más un participio pasado. El enfoque está en la caída, no en quién la evitó.
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2. Completa el espacio en blanco.
During the storm, the window may have been ___ by a falling branch.
- broke
- breaking
- break
- broken
La forma verbal después de “been” debe ser un participio pasado.
Show solution
During the storm, the window may have been broken by a falling branch.
El participio pasado de “break” es “broken”. “Broke” es la forma del pasado simple.
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3. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Qué dice el informe sobre la salida de emergencia?
The fire exit ought to have been kept clear, but boxes were left in front of it.
- The staff failed to keep it clear when they were expected to.
- The staff kept it clear, as they were expected to.
- The writer is unsure whether the staff kept it clear.
- Keeping it clear became necessary only after the incident.
Compara el estándar de seguridad esperado con lo que realmente ocurrió.
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- The staff failed to keep it clear when they were expected to.
“Ought to have been” se refiere a una responsabilidad pasada que no se cumplió. Una salida bloqueada puede retrasar una evacuación.
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4. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Qué significa la última oración?
The alarm was working. The staff had time to act, but they did nothing. The damage could have been limited.
- The damage was definitely reduced.
- There was no opportunity to reduce the damage.
- There was an opportunity to reduce the damage, but it was not taken.
- The report is uncertain whether the staff acted to reduce the damage.
El personal contaba tanto con una alarma que funcionaba como con tiempo para responder.
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- There was an opportunity to reduce the damage, but it was not taken.
Aquí, “could have been” describe una oportunidad que no se aprovechó. No afirma que el daño se haya reducido realmente.
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5. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Qué juicio emite el informe?
After the leak, the report noted: “The password shouldn't have been shared in the group chat.”
- Sharing the password was unavoidable.
- Sharing the password was a mistake.
- The password was never shared.
- Sharing the password is recommended for next time.
El autor está juzgando una acción, no negando que haya ocurrido.
Show solution
- Sharing the password was a mistake.
“Shouldn't have been shared” critica una acción pasada. Es diferente de “wasn't shared”, que indica que la acción no ocurrió.
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6. Completa el espacio en blanco.
El autor llega a una conclusión firme sobre una acción pasada, no sobre una regla ni una posibilidad.
The sealed box was in the storeroom yesterday, but it is on a desk today. It ___ moved since yesterday.
- might have been
- should have been
- can't have been
- must have been
El cambio de ubicación aporta evidencia de que ocurrió una acción.
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The sealed box was in the storeroom yesterday, but it is on a desk today. It must have been moved since yesterday.
Aquí, “must have been” expresa una conclusión firme basada en la evidencia. No expresa una obligación.
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7. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Qué tan seguro está el autor de que la puerta se dejó abierta?
The warehouse door may have been left open overnight. No one has confirmed this yet.
- It is a possibility, not a confirmed fact.
- It is a conclusion the writer considers certain.
- It is something the writer believes was necessary.
- It is something the writer says could not have happened.
Observa que el autor todavía está esperando una confirmación.
Show solution
- It is a possibility, not a confirmed fact.
“May have been” presenta un posible hecho del pasado. No significa que estuviera permitido dejar la puerta abierta.
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8. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Qué afirma el informe sobre la inspección cancelada?
The inspection was canceled, and the loose railing went unnoticed. If the inspection had gone ahead, the fault would have been discovered.
- The inspection actually led to the discovery of the fault.
- The inspection could not have revealed the fault.
- The inspection would definitely have revealed the fault.
- The inspection would have offered only a possible chance of finding the fault.
La oración presenta un resultado sujeto a una condición que no se cumplió.
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- The inspection would definitely have revealed the fault.
“Would have been” presenta el resultado de una condición irreal en el pasado. “Could have been” expresaría solo un resultado posible.
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9. Completa el espacio en blanco.
El informe describe una reparación ya realizada como innecesaria.
A technician replaced the whole lock, although tightening one loose screw was enough. The lock ___ replaced.
- should have been
- needn't have been
- couldn't have been
- must have been
Una acción puede realizarse sin ser necesaria.
Show solution
A technician replaced the whole lock, although tightening one loose screw was enough. The lock needn't have been replaced.
“Needn't have been replaced” significa que se realizó el reemplazo, pero no era necesario. Una reparación menor habría sido suficiente.
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10. Completa el espacio en blanco.
El informe descarta que la pantalla se haya dañado por primera vez durante la entrega.
Photos show that the screen was already cracked before shipping. It ___ damaged for the first time during delivery.
- must have been
- might have been
- should have been
- can't have been
Concéntrate en cuándo apareció el daño por primera vez.
Show solution
Photos show that the screen was already cracked before shipping. It can't have been damaged for the first time during delivery.
“Can't have been” descarta una posibilidad en el pasado. “For the first time” es importante: aún es posible que se hayan producido daños adicionales durante la entrega.
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11. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Qué sigue siendo incierto?
The warning email may not have been delivered. We are still checking the server records.
- Whether the staff were allowed to deliver the email.
- Whether the staff were required to deliver the email.
- Whether the email reached its destination.
- Whether the staff will be able to deliver the email tomorrow.
Los registros del servidor podrían confirmar si el correo electrónico llegó.
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- Whether the email reached its destination.
“May not have been delivered” significa que es posible que el correo electrónico no haya sido entregado. No expresa una prohibición de entregar el correo electrónico.
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12. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Qué expresa “should have been saved” aquí?
The backup system ran automatically last night. Under normal conditions, the files should have been saved, but we have not checked them yet.
- An expected result that has not yet been confirmed.
- Criticism of someone who failed to save the files.
- Certainty that saving the files was impossible.
- A suggestion to save the files in the future.
El sistema se ejecutó, pero nadie ha verificado su resultado.
Show solution
- An expected result that has not yet been confirmed.
“Should have been” puede expresar un resultado esperado en el pasado, no solo una crítica. “We have not checked” deja sin confirmar el resultado real.