Ejercicio Option B - I · Inglés PAU País Vasco Extraordinaria 2022

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?