PART 1.- READING COMPREHENSION: Choose text A or text B and answer the questions 1A-3A or 1B-3B (5 points).
Text A. THE TRUTH BEHIND 7 OF THE BIGGEST HEALTH BELIEFS
Here are some common health beliefs and what science says now – so you can start making better health decisions this year.
1. "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Although there is nothing about the first meal of the day that makes it particularly special, the timing of meals is now recognised as an important factor in weight loss. One study found that those who ate a large breakfast saw greater weight loss than another group who had a smaller breakfast and larger dinner.
2. "You should walk 10,000 steps a day." 10,000 wasn't based on any science when it was used in the 1960s, but it might be good advice. A study released in 2.022 found that walking may reduce the risk of an early death from heart disease and cancer.
3. "You need eight hours of sleep." Some people need eight hours of sleep, while others can get by on seven. But in one of the largest ever sleep studies, started in 2.017, people who reported sleeping seven to eight hours performed better than those who slept less.
4. "You should try to eat five portions of fruits and vegetables a day." In general, those who eat more fruits and vegetables may experience decreased levels of disease.
5. "You need to drink two litres of water a day." Staying hydrated is important, but the recommendation to drink two litres of water a day, while good advice, is not based on hard science. You can also stay hydrated by drinking other drinks, such as coffee, tea, milk, or soft drinks.
6. "A daily glass of wine is better than not drinking." This belief is based on the idea that people who classify themselves as "moderate drinkers" seem to have a lower risk for some diseases. However, recent research suggests that regular, moderate drinking can still be bad for you: one study found that even one or two drinks a day might increase the risk of an early death.
7. "Red meat is bad for you." Red meat was often advised against because it contains a lot of fat – but it's not as simple as that. Several studies have shown a connection between eating a lot of red meat and an increased risk of certain diseases and illnesses, but it is now believed that this might be confusing, because many studies don't show the difference between processed (bacon, sausages, burgers, and deli meals) and unprocessed red meat.
(Joel Snape, 4 January 2.023, Adapted from The Guardian)
1A. Choose the correct answer A, B or C. (3 points, 0.5 each)
1. What benefit can a large breakfast have?
2. Does walking improve your health?
3. How many hours are recommended for better cognitive performance?
4. Is it advisable to consume a small amount of alcohol every day?
5. What is the main problem with consuming red meat?
6. What is the main purpose of this text?
2A. Answer the following questions in no more than 8 words. (1 point, 0.25 each)
1. What is the main benefit of eating fruits and vegetables?
2. How can you keep hydrated?
3. What is the main conclusion of a study related to regular alcohol drinking?
4. How many of the health beliefs are somehow related to scientific studies?
3A. Find a word in the text for each of these definitions. (1 point, 0.25 each)
1. The condition of the body and the degree to which it is free from illness.
2. Especially, or more than usual.
3. To become or make something become smaller in size, amount, degree, etc.
4. A detailed study of a subject, especially to discover new information.

PART 2.- USE OF ENGLISH: CHOOSE FOUR OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS AND REPHRASE THEM SO THAT THEIR MEANING IS AS SIMILAR AS POSSIBLE TO THE ORIGINAL. (2 points, 0.5 each).
1. You can't have a bicycle. You are ...
2. I don't know her address, so I can't write to her. But if ...
3. The shop assistant didn't give us the ticket. We ...
4. Shona was sorry she ate so many cakes. Shona wished ...
5. "Where did the robbery take place?" the police asked. The police asked ...
6. The mechanic is going to repair Peter's car next week. Peter ...
7. Listen to her accent. I'm sure she is French. Listen to her accent. She ...
8. Venice is a wonderful place. We spent our last holiday there. Venice ...

PART 3. WRITING: Choose ONE of the following topics and write a 135-180 words long text.
1. Write an OPINION ESSAY about a restaurant. Describe your favourite restaurant. You can give information about its location, staff, atmosphere, range of food and drink, cost, and overall experience.
2. Write a FORMAL LETTER to the townhall proposing an event to be held in your city. You live in a town called Stirling. You think your town should have a special event (for example an exposition, a festival, a sports event, a concert, charity, etc) every year. Describe the event, explain why it would be good for the city, and give details about where, when, and how long it could last.
Details for your letter:
- Addresser: Michael Smith. Address: Aitken Crescent, Stirling FK7 0JX, United Kingdom.
- Addressee: The Mayor, Mr Mark Irwin. Address: Dumbarton Rd, Stirling FK8 2QL, United Kingdom.