Read the text and mark the statements True, False or Not stated.
Junk Food
It is a sad reality that children all around the world are putting more and more weight, and many health experts say junk food is responsible. Unhealthy meals and snacks are freely available in many primary and secondary schools, which raises the serious question of whether schools should ban junk food in order to keep their weight down.
There are some good reasons for banning junk food in schools. For instance, eating junk food has been shown to cause nervousness and bad behaviour in children. Children would behave and perform better in the classroom if junk food wasn’t available in schools. In addition, given a choice between junk food and healthy food, a child will always choose junk food. As eating too much junk food can cause serious diseases, it is inappropriate that schools offer children junk food, as it is their job to protect and care for children.
There are also, however, very good reasons for not banning junk food in schools. For example, telling a young child that they are not allowed to have a particular type of food simply makes that food more appealing to the child. So, a ban could in fact increase the appeal of junk food. What is more, as children will still be able to get junk food outside of school, banning it in schools will do little good, as this action will not change children’s general habits.
All in all, the strong arguments on both sides of the debate make it clear that it is difficult to decide if banning junk food in schools is a good idea. It seems unlikely, however, that ‘hiding’ foods from children will do much good. What seems more likely to work is educating children about healthy eating habits. Parents have the greatest influence over a child’s eating habits, thus it is perhaps in the home and not in schools, where food education must take place.

• Группы
  • True
  • False
  • Not stated
• Варианты
  • Eating too much junk food doesn’t lead to any serious health problems.
  • Children can easily get unhealthy meals and snacks in many primary and secondary schools.
  • Children who live in the UK are more overweight than those who live in the USA.
  • Banning junk food in schools will change children’s general habits.
  • Food education should take place at home because parents can influence a child’s eating habits greatly.
  • Hamburgers and hot dogs are more appealing to children than crisps and fizzy drinks.
  • There are more strong arguments for banning junk food in schools than for not doing it.