OPTION A — FAIRTRADE

The things we buy come from many different places. A lot of these products are made by people who work extremely hard for very little money, while big companies make huge profits. That is why Fairtrade was created, as a system that helps farmers and artisans get paid reasonably. The traded products of this global organisation are environmentally friendly, of good quality and are sold at proper prices.

Coffee is one of the biggest Fairtrade products. There are about 25 million coffee farmers around the world. Many of them make so little money that they have to leave their farms and migrate to other countries or use their farms for illegal crops. Farmers who grow Fairtrade coffee get enough money to send their children to school and buy food for their family. Caitlin Blacklaws, nowadays a Fairtrade activist, worked in Guatemala as a volunteer some years ago. While she was there, Caitlin got in touch with local coffee farmers. "Before that I didn't know what Fairtrade was, but learning about local people's lives made me get involved. A farmer who doesn't sell his coffee through Fairtrade can't send his children to school. They have to stay on the farm and work with him," she explains.

Alysha, from India, had to leave school when she was 14 and started making carpets. She states that Fairtrade saves poor people from starving and gives them a decent salary for their hard work. "It has helped me become respected by others. Now that I earn good money, I can have a dignified life. From time to time, I can even afford some little luxuries such as a nice dress or a necklace. I also have a bank account, and people appreciate me as an active member of the community".

As an ethical consumer, it can be difficult to know what to buy. Of course, the Fairtrade logo will help you, but you also have to think about where you are shopping and who is selling. Some companies sell Fairtrade products because they believe in the system, but others do it because ethical shopping has become cool and they may also offer other products that aren't produced ethically. Moreover, many crafts that are ethically produced don't have a logo. So, keep it simple: buy from sources with a good reputation and ask about where things come from before you buy them.

I.- Answer 4 out of the following 6 questions according to the information given in the text. WRITE COMPLETE SENTENCES USING YOUR OWN WORDS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. DO NOT COPY FROM THE TEXT. (Choose 4 out of the 6 questions) (4 marks)

1. What is the purpose of Fairtrade?
2. What do many coffee farmers do because of the little money they earn?
3. Why did Caitlin become a Fairtrade activist?
4. What are the benefits that Fairtrade has brought to Alysha?
5. Why do stores offer Fairtrade products?
6. What are the easiest ways to buy ethically?

II.- Are these statements True or False? Justify your answers based on information from the text, rewriting the original sentences in your own words or quoting properly. (Choose 2 out of the 3 statements) (2 marks).

1. Although big companies make lots of money with the things we buy, many producers earn very little money.
2. Poor people would starve and wouldn't receive the salary they deserve without Fairtrade, according to Alysha.
3. All ethically produced products have a logo that certifies it.

III.- Find the words or expressions in the text that mean: (Choose 4 out of the 6 questions) (1 mark)

1. massive, very big
2. cultivate, plant
3. someone who does work without being paid, especially helping people
4. to have enough money to buy something
5. a piece of jewellery that you wear around your neck
6. fashionable, trendy

IV.- Write a composition of about 130 words on one of these topics. Specify your option. (3 marks)

1. The journalist George Monbiot wrote, "Ethical shopping is just another way of showing how rich you are." Do you think this statement is true? Write an opinion essay.
2. Are you a responsible consumer? What do you take into account when you buy something? Explain.

OPTION B — YOUR HUNGER CAN AFFECT YOUR TEMPER AND YOUR DECISIONS

It is one thing to feel you need something to eat. It's another to be so starved that you are unreasonably irritable and get easily annoyed. That's the difference between being hungry and being "hangry," a clever combination of "hungry" and "angry."

"We all know that hunger can sometimes affect our emotions and perceptions of the world around us, but it's only recently that the expression "hangry", meaning bad-tempered or irritable because of hunger, was accepted by the Oxford Dictionary," explains Dr. Jennifer MacCormack.

There is a medical explanation for being hangry. When your blood sugar -glucose- level falls, your brain will perceive this as a life-threatening situation and increase the amounts of hormones related to stress and aggressiveness.

Getting aggressive in times of hunger is a survival mechanism. If our ancestors had calmly let others get to the food before them, they would have starved and died. So, individuals that were aggressive when hungry had an advantage because they managed to get enough to eat, and therefore ensured that their genes were carried on.

Hunger may have other negative consequences, such as tiredness. You may also find it hard to concentrate so you make silly mistakes and simple things can become difficult.

Additionally, being hungry can also affect the way you think. Swedish researchers have found that "ghrelin" – another hormone we release when we are hungry- has a negative impact on decision-making and impulse control. Therefore, you should get a second opinion on any important decisions if you're dealing with a mild case of hunger.

The easiest way to handle these effects is to eat something before you get too hungry. The problem is that hangry people tend to want biscuits, chocolate, or sweets. These sugary snacks will raise your blood sugar quickly. But that rise inevitably leads to another fall —leaving you angrier than before. So, choose natural foods that help satisfy hunger for as long as possible. Your body will thank you and your family and friends might too.

A final - and very civilised – piece of advice: deal with difficult situations after food, not before and don't try to make decisions on an empty stomach, because it's probably not good for you.

I.- Answer 4 out of the following 6 questions according to the information given in the text. WRITE COMPLETE SENTENCES USING YOUR OWN WORDS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. DO NOT COPY FROM THE TEXT. (Choose 4 out of the 6 questions) (4 marks)

1. What is the difference between being "hangry" and being just hungry?
2. How does your brain interpret a fall in glucose levels?
3. Why was it an evolutionary advantage for people to be aggressive when they needed food?
4. What effects related to being hungry have Swedish scientists found?
5. What should you do if you have to make an important decision when you are hungry?
6. Why should you not eat sugary foods when you are hungry?

II.- Are these statements True or False? Justify your answers based on information from the text, rewriting the original sentences in your own words or quoting properly. (Choose 2 out of the 3 statements) (2 marks).

1. Hangry is a word that does not appear in dictionaries.
2. It was more likely for the genes of individuals who did not try to get food aggressively to be passed on to future generations.
3. Your friends and family will thank you if you eat sugary foods when you are hungry.

III.- Find the words or expressions in the text that mean: (Choose 4 out of the 6 questions) (1 mark)

1. suffered or died because of not having enough food to eat
2. in a way that is not fair or acceptable
3. a condition giving a greater chance of success
4. made certain that something would happen
5. moderate, slight, minor
6. manage, deal with, cope

IV.- Write a composition of about 130 words on one of these topics. Specify your option. (3 marks)

1. Should people eat whenever they feel hungry or only at regular (standard) meal times? Write an opinion essay on this topic.
2. Everybody feels irritable or angry at some point. How do you react? How do you deal with your temper? What do you do that helps you calm down? Explain your answers.