FOOD ADDICTION
Few people would disagree that one of the world's most popular dishes is pizza. Twenty-two-year-old Zack certainly wouldn't. He would eat a variety of pizza-based items, including homemade pizza, precooked microwave pizza, and even pizza leftovers from the night before. He was consuming 800kg of pizza a year. As a child, Zack had eaten a wide variety of food. But he became addicted to pizza when he started secondary school. American school meals have often been criticised for the large amount of fast food present on the menu, and pizza is the star dish. Zack even spent all his pocket money on slices of pizza.
Naturally, Zack's family worried about his high-calorie, low-vitamin diet. So did Zack. In an attempt to break his addiction, Zack agreed to appear on a TV programme called Freaky Eaters. Its aim was to encourage food addicts to beat their addictions with the help of a psychologist and nutritionist. It wasn't easy. He had to eat a fish dish, while his brother sat in front of him enjoying... a pizza! However, Zack met the challenge and has never eaten pizza again.
Seventeen-year-old Stacy Irvine's friends visit her and discover that she has been rewarded thousands of free toys from fast food restaurants as a regular customer. Stacy's mother often gave her two-year-old girl a portion of fried chicken in a McDonald's restaurant. [I] Since then, Stacy has refused to eat anything else except for pieces of fried chicken, and as a result, her diet has created serious health. She has been warned that if she doesn't change her diet, she will die. [II] Stacy once collapsed due to lack of vitamins and nutrients and needed to be hospitalised. [III] She insisted that Stacy adopt a healthier lifestyle. However, worryingly, Stacy's mother said that while Stacy was beginning to understand the seriousness of her situation, she couldn't eat anything else but chicken nuggets. [IV]
Twenty-year-old Hanna Little was keen on chips. The only thing that Hanna consumed for fifteen years was one plate of chips after another. Not surprisingly, a diet that contained few nutrients and an excess of fat and carbohydrates could only have negative consequences. And it did because not only did Hanna develop health problems, but she also had to leave her job after collapsing at work. At five, Hanna became addicted to chips and refused to eat fruits and vegetables despite her mother's efforts. Hanna says that she was terrified of tasting the flavour of different types of food and she would feel anxious just at the idea of doing it. Parties, picnics and barbecues with friends and family used to be a nightmare. Furthermore, Hanna was soon seen as 'odd' by her friends' parents.
It wasn't until the age of sixteen that Hanna realised she had Selective Eating Disorder (SED). Despite this new knowledge, no solution was found. It wasn't until she lost her job before she started eating normally. Hanna sought therapy from psychologist Felix Economakis, who used hypnosis, a treatment that none of the doctors that she had seen before had mentioned, to get her to eat fruit after one one-hour session, and since then she has been willing to eat anything.... including chips!
(Adapted from Friends Global)

Most people today know about global warming. They know our planet is in trouble. The weather is changing, the seas are rising and the ice caps are melting. Why is it then that nobody seems to be doing anything about it? Perhaps they don't know what to do?
[I] There are lots of things we can do that will help. [II] Firstly, we must stop using aerosols, such as hairspray and spray deodorants. [III] The ozone layer is very important, as it filters the light from the sun. [IV] If we didn't have the ozone layer, the sun's light would be too dangerous for us.
In addition, we must use public transport instead of cars. Cars produce carbon monoxide. This is a very dangerous gas which pollutes the air. We must also stop pouring chemicals and waste into rivers and lakes, as this pollutes the water and kills the plants, fish and birds which live there.
Furthermore, we must stop cutting down trees and destroying the rainforests. We need trees because they produce oxygen which we all need to breathe. Also, if we cut down trees, we destroy the homes of animals and birds.
However, it will take more than just this to make any real changes. Governments can help, too. They have to make car manufacturers, factories and oil companies promise to take positive action. They cause most of the pollution and do little to control it. We can help by writing to politicians and company directors asking them to reduce this. We can use our votes to elect people who promise to improve the situation and change things for the better.
(Adapted from Upstream)

SMART ENERGY
The upcoming decades will bring significant changes in energy supply and consumption. As some major oil-producing countries have already reached 'peak oil' and concerns about global warming rise, many nations are prioritizing the transition to a low-carbon economy, which will transform electricity supply and usage. [I] Firstly, there will be an increase in overall demand, as consumers switch from oil and gas to electricity to power their homes and vehicles. [II] Secondly, there will be an increase in power generation, not only in terms of how much is generated, but also how it is generated, as there is growing electricity generation from renewable sources. [III] To meet these challenges, countries are investing in Smart Grid technology. [IV] This system aims to provide the electricity industry with a better understanding of power generation and demand, and to use this information to create a more efficient power network.
Smart meters can be integrated with the internet or telephone networks. This connectivity enables customers to control their appliances from a distance. For instance, individuals can turn devices on or off remotely, providing added convenience. Overall, the system offers significant benefits in managing energy usage. By analyzing real-time data, it allows for better decision-making. This technology not only improves efficiency but also supports cost savings. Ultimately, the integration of smart technology will enhance user experience and system management.
The coming decades will bring significant shifts in energy supply and usage. A problem is the fact that many renewable power generation sources are located in remote areas, such as windy uplands and coastal regions, where there is currently a lack of electrical infrastructure. New infrastructures therefore must be built. Thankfully, with improved smart technology, this can be done more efficiently by reducing the reinforcement or construction costs.
Although Smart Technology is still in its infancy, pilot schemes to promote and test it are already underway. Consumers are currently testing the new smart meters which can be used in their homes to manage electricity use. There are also a number of demonstrations being planned to show how the smart technology could practically work, and trials are in place to test the new electrical infrastructure. It is here where Smart Technology is likely to be promoted first, utilising a range of sustainable power sources, transport solutions and an infrastructure for charging electrically powered vehicles. The infrastructure is already changing fast.
(Adapted from examenglish.com)