Question

OPTION A WHY DO WE LOVE JUNK FOOD?

1 Most of us know junk food is unhealthy. We know that poor nutrition is related to heart disease, high blood
2 pressure, and other health problems, including depression. But if eating junk food is so bad for us, why do we keep
3 doing it?
4 Food companies are spending millions to design foods with addictive sensations. They make food more addictive
5 in many ways: they combine different sensations in the same food, like a crispy shell with something soft inside; for
6 example, a slice of pizza, or an Oreo cookie. They build textures that dissolve in your mouth, which is a signal to your
7 brain that you’re not eating as much as you are, even though you are eating plenty of calories. The result: you tend to
8 overeat.
9 The brain also plays an important role. When you eat something succulent, your brain registers that feeling. The
10 next time you see or smell that food, you recall the memories that came when you ate it. These memories can cause
11 physical responses, like the “mouth-watering” desire that you get when thinking about your favourite foods.
12 What can we do about it? Research shows that the less junk food you eat, the less you need it. Here are three
13 strategies that might help. First, avoid buying processed foods. Second, eat a variety of foods to keep things
14 interesting. Finally, find a better way to deal with your stress. Stress causes the brain to liberate the same chemicals
15 that are released when you desire fat and sugar, which will make you want to eat junk food. In order to deal with
16 stress, you could take physical exercise or learn breathing techniques.

ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH THE PRECISE WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT,
OR USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (0.5 points each)

4. Food companies want you to become addicted to their products.
5. The brain remembers food smells.
6. Stress makes us eat junk food.

Prueba de Selectividad, Andalucia, Reserva B 2015-2016, INGLES

Answer 1

ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS WITH THE PRECISE WORDS OR PHRASES FROM THE TEXT, OR USE YOUR OWN WORDS. (0.5 points each)


4. Food companies want you to become addicted to their products.

TRUE. As said in the text: “Food companies are spending millions to design foods with addictive sensations”.



5. The brain remembers food smells.

TRUE. As said in the text:: “(The next time you see or smell that food,) you recall the memories that came when you ate it”



6. Stress makes us eat junk food.

TRUE. As said in the text: “Stress causes the brain to liberate the same chemicals that are released when you desire fat and sugar, which will make you want to eat junk food”.

Prueba de Selectividad, Andalucía, Reserva B 2015-2016, INGLÉS