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2015 ‫מועד ספטמבר‬ - 49 - ‫ פרק שני‬- ‫ אנגלית‬

Text II (Questions 18-22)

(1) Coca-Cola is the best-selling soft drink in the world today. Among the legions of
Coke lovers, a large number drink Diet Coke, the artificially sweetened version of the
product. Some people opt for Diet Coke because they want to limit their intake of
calories, while others simply prefer its taste. Diet Coke is currently the most popular of

(5) all sugar-free soft drinks.

In recent years, there has been concern that many fans of this beverage are actually
addicted to it. An Internet search for "Diet Coke addiction" turns up a long list of pleas
for help by two-liter-plus-a-day drinkers who cannot break the habit, as well as
sympathetic advice from those who finally did. The addicts complain of intense, even

(10) obsessive, cravings that can only be satisfied by ever-increasing amounts of the drink.
They become tired and irritable if they do not get Diet Coke when they want it and
experience other withdrawal symptoms, such as severe headaches, if they have to go
without it for a few days.

What is it, then, that makes Diet Coke so hard to let go of? The beverage's main
(15) ingredients all contribute to the phenomenon. For one thing, it is a carbonated drink

and, although such drinks are not known to be physically addictive, their bubbly texture
is irresistible to some people. In addition, sweet food and drinks of any kind hold a
powerful attraction and are habit-forming for many. Still more significantly, Diet
Coke – like all cola drinks – contains caffeine, a stimulant that is known to be addictive.
(20) Finally, many studies suggest that aspartame, the artificial sweetener used in the
product, is also addictive.

Even if it is an addiction, is it such a bad one? Diet Coke enthusiasts argue that,
unlike cigarettes or alcohol, their habit provides pleasure without any downside. Critics
of the drink disagree: they stress that almost all the substances it contains can cause

(25) long-term health problems.

Questions

18. An appropriate title for this text would be -

(1) The World's Best-Selling Soft Drink
(2) Diet Coke Fans: A Loyal Legion
(3) How to Break the Diet Coke Habit
(4) Diet Coke: Hard to Resist

)‫© כל הזכויות שמורות למרכז ארצי לבחינות ולהערכה (ע"ר‬

.‫ בלא אישור בכתב מהמרכז הארצי לבחינות ולהערכה‬- ‫ כולה או חלקים ממנה‬- ‫ או ללמדה‬,‫אין להעתיק או להפיץ בחינה זו או קטעים ממנה בכל צורה ובכל אמצעי‬