- https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing/b2-writing/informal-email
- https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing/b2-writing/more-formal-email
https://edubenchmark.com/blog/place-ielts-cue-card-speaking-part-2/
Pau test practice:
Pau test Eng.ord.22
"How Food Influencers Affect What We Eat"
Many of us are lucky enough to have some degree of choice over what we eat, with numerous options available to us whenever we open our fridge. But are the decisions we make about our diet as free as we think? It seems that hunger and choice are not the only factors influencing what we eat. Scroll through social media sites and you will be confronted with picture after picture of perfectly presented and utterly delicious-looking meals. While the actual smell and taste of food has an undeniably powerful effect on us, could endless posts of steaming snacks be equally influential?
Certainly, it appears we're hugely influenced by other people – especially those closest to us – when it comes to what we eat. Research has found that the stronger two people's connection, the more influence they have over each other's food choices. According to Professor Argeseanu, from Atlanta University, "it's all about relationships and comparisons. If I think the person I'm with is more appealing or popular, I'll tend to want to imitate them more. This can mean these social cues generally encourage us to eat more, although being around healthy eaters could encourage you to eat healthier, too.”
Our eating habits are also influenced by what we see. "There is some evidence that, if you see pictures of food, this visual stimulation can prompt you to feel a desire to eat", says Suzanne Higgs, a British psychobiologist. Social media is one place where visual and social cues meet. Evidence suggests that if social network friends post regularly about particular types of food, it could lead you to copy them, for better or for worse. And research indicates that social media might be changing our relationship with food, making us think differently about what we eat. "Friends posting pictures of themselves consuming fast food is going to set a norm that eating fast food is what people do", says Higgs.
Research suggests we're more likely to engage with photos of fast food, particularly when the food is high in saturated fat, because it makes us feel good by releasing dopamine and stimulating pleasure centres in the brain. It doesn't help that healthier foods are often seen as boring in comparison, says Tina Tessitore, a food marketing expert. "In advertising, you see unhealthy food in social settings – people having a barbeque with friends, for example, while healthy food often focuses more on the nutritional value. If you saw friends eating salad together, it wouldn't seem so credible”.
www.bbc.com, 7 December 2021 (Adapted)
Question 1: True or False
• a) You normally encounter many photos of food on your social network accounts.
◦ TRUE: "Scroll through social media sites and you will be confronted with picture after picture of perfectly presented and utterly delicious-looking meals"
• b) People who we are closer to tend to influence our food choices less.
◦ FALSE: "Certainly, it appears we’re hugely influenced by other people – especially those closest to us – when it comes to what we eat"
• c) Studies show that what we see and read online could be changing our opinions about the food we consume.
◦ TRUE: "And research indicates that social media might be changing our relationship with food, making us think differently about what we eat"
• d) We feel better when we see and eat foods which are high in saturated fats.
◦ TRUE: "Research suggests we’re more likely to engage with photos of fast food, particularly when the food is high in saturated fat, because it makes us feel good by releasing dopamine..."
Question 2 . Answering with your own words:
• a) What different factors affect our choice of food according to the text? While personal preference and the physical sensation of hunger are basic drivers, our diet is also heavily shaped by the sensory appeal of food, such as its aroma and flavor. Additionally, social connections play a major role, as we tend to copy the eating habits of those we are close to. Visual triggers from social media posts and biological responses, such as the release of dopamine when we see high-fat foods, further influence our cravings and decisions.
• b) What two types of people are most likely to influence us on social media and why? We are most affected by people with whom we share strong personal bonds, as the level of influence increases with the strength of the relationship. We are also highly susceptible to the choices of individuals we perceive as more attractive or popular. This happens because we have a natural tendency to imitate others whom we admire or view as social ideals.
• c) How are different types of food shown differently in photos and how does that affect the viewer? Unhealthy food is often depicted in fun, social environments, like a barbecue with friends, which makes these foods seem like a normal and enjoyable part of life. On the other hand, healthy food is usually presented by emphasizing its nutritional facts, which can make it appear unexciting or "boring". Consequently, viewers may find images of people eating healthy food together to be less believable or convincing than images of fast food.
Question 3: Vocabulary (Synonyms)
• a) Amount, level: Degree.
• b) Completely: Utterly.
• c) Attractive: Appealing.
• d) Rule: Norm.
• e) To connect: Engage.
• f) Believable: Credible.
Question 4: Multiple Choice
1. d) is still very important when it comes to our choice of food. (The text states the actual smell and taste have an "undeniably powerful effect").
2. c) is both visual and social in nature. (Social media is described as the place where "visual and social cues meet").
3. c) try to transmit the idea that the food is good for you. (Healthy food advertising focuses on "nutritional value")
