OPTION A — Practical Advice for Healthier, More Sustainable Diets

Concerns about the environment are growing, and experts agree that it is crucial for governments, leaders, and individuals to take action, especially regarding our food choices. This is why health professionals have been offering more and more information about sustainable diets to the general public.

'Sustainable diets' refer to eating habits that are good for the planet and can be maintained over time. However, the concept of sustainability does not only consider the environment but what is good for people, too; in other words, sustainable diets must also take people's health into consideration. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, a sustainable diet promotes individual health and well-being, has a low environmental impact, is accessible, affordable, and safe.

Making our diet more environmentally friendly involves a few simple steps. First, experts insist that we should try to eat more plant-based foods like beans, vegetables, and grains because meat and dairy production has a much greater impact on the environment. Second, if we avoid wasting food by planning our meals, storing food properly, and finding creative ways to use leftovers, we will also be able to reduce our demand for food production and, consequently, use fewer resources. Third, it is important to choose foods that are produced locally to save the energy used for transporting food, as well as to choose foods that are in season because they require less energy to be produced, which also means they can be bought for less money.

Taking care of your health with a sustainable diet is also simple. Make sure to eat a mix of foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. This will prevent you from missing important nutrients. Try different protein sources like beans, nuts, and seeds, which are lower in saturated fats and higher in fiber. It is okay to consume some meat, but you should eat smaller portions and do so less often. Lastly, make a serious effort to cut down on highly processed foods: they tend to be less nutritious and have more sodium and sugar in them.

Adopting sustainable diets not only benefits the planet but also supports individual health. And it is much easier to achieve than you think. Through these practical steps, everyone can play a role in creating a healthier and more sustainable world.

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. How have health professionals been helping people to take action regarding their food choices?
2. What does the concept of sustainability consider?
3. According to the FAO, besides promoting health and well-being and having a lower environmental impact, what are the other characteristics of sustainable diets?
4. What are the advantages of avoiding food waste?
5. What foods should we choose in order to save energy?
6. Why should we cut down on highly processed foods?

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. Plant-based foods are less environmentally friendly than meat and dairy.
2. Eating many different foods will provide you with fundamental nutrients.
3. Meat should never be eaten.

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

1. feelings of worry about something
2. not too expensive, reasonably priced
3. relating to milk and products made using milk
4. in an area near you
5. amounts of food served to people
6. that contains many nutrients

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

1. "Everyone can play a role in creating a healthier and more sustainable world". Do you agree with this statement? Write an opinion essay about it.
2. Nowadays more and more people shop online. What are the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping? Write a for-and-against essay.

OPTION B — Fitspiration

Fitspiration is a new and popular social media trend that promotes exercise, health, and fitness. Fitspiration involves showing encouraging body images and videos that emphasise the importance of taking up exercise and healthy dietary habits to achieve an athletic body.

Fitspiration began several years after the #thinspiration movement, a trend that considered a thin body as an ideal body image, and it has since gained a huge worldwide following. In fact, more than 90 million related photos and videos were found when searching for #fitspiration and #fitspo on Instagram in April 2.023.

Despite the good intentions and the many benefits of the #fitspiration movement, scientific evidence says that it is doing more harm than good. A study with more than 200 participants found that there was a high number of followers who felt stressed by Fitspiration content. One emerging problem related to this content is body dissatisfaction, mainly caused by constant exposure to photos or videos of people with 'perfect' body types. Actually, research has shown that this body dissatisfaction can contribute to mental health problems, including suicidal thoughts, low self-confidence and social isolation.

But body dissatisfaction is not the only negative aspect of this movement. Exercise addiction is also common among Fitspiration followers. Fitspiration encourages the idea of "pushing yourself to the limit", which can lead people to exercise despite being injured or feeling sick and may also cause feelings of guilt when interrupting an exercise routine, even for a necessary rest.

As the physique pursued by Fitspiration followers is often unrealistic and it is also difficult to achieve through natural means, many of them opt for nutritional supplements and unhealthy body-enhancing drugs, which are frequently associated with harmful side effects.

In addition, Fitspiration supporters are increasingly concerned because followers' excessive control over eating habits frequently leads to poor nutrition. Recent studies have found that individuals who are constantly exposed to Fitspiration content are more likely to suffer from anorexia or bulimia.

It is common for some people to use social media for self-confidence and approval. These people are more likely to be negatively affected by movements like Fitspiration. To prevent this from happening, experts advise people to develop the habit of using social media responsibly, to set limits on its use, and to balance life and social media, making an effort to interact with people in real life.

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 does the Fitspiration movement emphasise in images and videos?
2. Why do many Fitspiration followers feel body dissatisfaction?
3. Why is the idea of "pushing yourself to the limit" dangerous for people?
4. What makes Fitspiration followers opt for nutritional supplements and body-enhancing drugs?
5. What kind of people are more likely to be negatively affected by movements like Fitspiration?
6. According to experts, how could people avoid the negative aspects of movements like Fitspiration?

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. Fitspiration is a trend that has many followers.
2. According to recent scientific evidence, Fitspiration is more beneficial than harmful.
3. Fitspiration supporters are not very worried about the way Fitspiration followers eat.

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

1. perfect, most suitable, model
2. something which provides proof for belief or disbelief
3. tense, worried and not able to relax
4. inability to stop using a substance or engaging in a behaviour
5. additional consequences, usually undesirable ones
6. tell somebody what you think they should do

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

1. New research shows that Millennials and Generation Z now make up 80% of health club members. Are they more concerned than previous generations with how they look? Write an opinion essay on this topic.
2. Nowadays, we are aware of the negative effects of social media, but there are also wonderful things we owe to social media. Do you agree with this statement? Explain.