ORDINARIA 2026

 Greenwashing

1 Being green is big business, with one study showing that 66% of consumers worldwide are willing to pay more for products they believe to be socially and environmentally responsible. However, shoppers should exercise caution when shopping sustainably, as much of the language companies use to sell their products is not what it seems. The practice of greenwashing involves companies making misleading or exaggerated environmental statements about their products in order to gain a competitive advantage over similar items on supermarket shelves. "Companies are under a lot of pressure to become eco-friendly because consumers are looking for this," explains eco-influencer Mandy Spooner, "so they present a 'greener' image of themselves through advertising and packaging."

2 Some of the marketing tricks companies use include natural-looking imagery and vague terminology. For example, terms like biodegradable and compostable are often more complicated than they appear, as many products cannot be processed in a household compost bin and instead need specific commercial conditions to break down. Another strong example of a commonly greenwashed product is bottled water. Despite being marketed as clean and pure, the water industry drains local natural resources and uses vast quantities of petrol, shipping their "product" thousands of kilometres around the world. It is also a significant contributor to plastic waste. Just because a plastic water bottle is recyclable does not mean it will be.

3 A significant fallout of greenwashing is that it can erode consumer confidence, as Spooner explains: "When companies make sustainability claims that turn out to be false, they not only damage their own reputation but also brands genuinely committed to doing the right thing." Greenwashing can have serious consequences. To tackle this issue, the UK government recently published the Green Claims Code, a set of guidelines to help companies comply with the law and clearly communicate their environmental credentials.

4 So, how can consumers ensure they are buying truly sustainable products? A simple rule Spooner recommends is to always check the labels on the packaging and contact brands if their sustainability claims are vague or hard to understand: "It only takes a couple of minutes to email a company with a question or two." Spooner believes consumers have an obligation to ensure the products they buy are ethical and sustainable, as "the choices we make today can have a profound impact on the future." She explains, "Being a mum absolutely informs my decisions. I try to live sustainably for my children and for generations to come.”

Adapted from Yahoo! News, December 2025

Question 1 [2 points].

Indicate clearly by writing the words TRUE or FALSE whether the following statements are true or false according to the text and write down the sentence or the part of the text that you consider justifies your answer. The evidence must make sense and be grammatically and lexically coherent.

No points will be given if the evidence is not correct or if the handwriting is not sufficiently clear.

A. Most consumers believe it is unacceptable that companies charge more money for environmentally friendly products.

B. Greenwashing is a term used to describe when companies are dishonest about the environmental impact of their products

C. Greenwashing has a negative impact on companies that are genuinely environmentally friendly.

D. Spooner argues that consumers should not be held responsible for ensuring products are ethical or sustainable.

Question 2 [2 points].

Choose and answer only TWO of the following questions in your own words according to the text.

A. Why do companies engage in greenwashing? Give at least two reasons.

B. What are the problems with companies labelling their products as biodegradable and compostable?

C. How can shoppers know that the products they buy are sustainable?

Question 3 [1.5 points].

Find in the text a word or phrase that corresponds to the meaning, definition, or opposite of each of the following.

A. A formal way to say "be careful" [paragraph 1]

B. A word to describe "the material that covers a product for sale" [paragraph 1]

C. A phrasal verb that means "to decompose" [paragraph 2]

D. A synonym for "repercussions" [paragraph 3]

Question 4 [1.5 points].

Choose the correct option - A, B, C, or D - for each question. Indicate your choice clearly in your answer sheet, either by writing the letter A, B, C, or D or by copying the letter and the sentence that follows. No points will be given if the handwriting is not sufficiently clear.

1. How do companies engage in greenwashing?

A) They use colours and visuals inspired by nature to present themselves and their products.

B) They use words and phrases that suggest environmental benefits without offering clear evidence.

C) They criticise non-environmentally friendly products sold by their competitors.

D) Both A and B are correct.

2. What is the UK government's Green Claims Code?

A) A set of parameters to help companies avoid engaging in greenwashing.

B) A new law that the government will use to punish companies that engage in greenwashing.

C) A set of guidelines to help consumers make better choices when shopping.

D) A platform where companies can communicate with consumers.

3. Why is bottled water such a powerful example of greenwashing, according to the text?

A) Because water companies are profiting from a natural resource.

B) Because the bottled water industry actively damages the environment at multiple levels.

C) Because bottled water is not safe to consume.

D) Because water companies do not encourage customers to recycle their used water bottles.

Option 2.

BookTok

1 BookTok is a TikTok subcommunity where people make content about the literature they love. Videos range from book reviews and reading recommendations to “book hauls” and bookshelf setups. What started as a small community of avid readers has now become one of the most popular corners of the social media platform, with #BookTok gaining 92.7 billion views and some posts up to 100,000 likes.

2 Publishing industry insiders say that BookTok has led to an unprecedented boost in book sales. Kristen McLean is the executive director of NPD Bookscan, an industry data provider that tracks book sales. She says that, along with the COVID-19 pandemic, BookTok has definitely been a factor in the recent boom in sales. McLean first noticed the platform’s influence in 2020, when it appeared to drive up sales in the young adult fiction genre before expanding into adult fiction and non-fiction.

3 One example of the “BookTok effect” is the massive success of author Colleen Hoover. Before BookTok became popular in 2020, Hoover had sold only 200,000 copies of her books. In August 2022, she sold 2.3 million copies, six of which entered the New York Times’ fiction bestseller list. Another example is the number of older books becoming popular years after their initial release. Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles went viral years after their publication, and both landed on bestseller lists many years later.

4 Many publishers and book retailers are keen to cash in on the BookTok trend. Some publishers hire younger employees who are familiar with the platform and can help create marketing campaigns that resonate with the BookTok community. Other publishers work directly with influencers, sending them book copies prior to release and paying them to promote the new titles. However, these strategies do not always work, as BookTok influencer Kendra Keeter explains: “A lot of sponsored content doesn’t do well because it just isn’t authentic. How can you trust someone’s book recommendation if you know they were paid to post?” BookTok is also influencing how retailers do business, with many dedicating spaces to “BookTok favourites” in online and physical shops. “BookTok has had an immense impact on sales,” says James Daunt from Barnes & Noble Books, “It’s bringing energy into our shops, with people of all ages coming together around a shared love for reading.”

Adapted from Yahoo! News, December 2025

Question 1 [2 points].

Indicate clearly by writing the words TRUE or FALSE whether the following statements are true or false according to the text and write down the sentence or the part of the text that you consider justifies your answer. The evidence must make sense and be grammatically and lexically coherent.

No points will be given if the evidence is not correct or if the handwriting is not sufficiently clear.

A. BookTok is not the only reason for the significant growth in book sales.

B. The impact of BookTok has been limited to just one category of literature.

C. Older people have stopped going to bookshops as a result of BookTok.

D. Publishers have had mixed success when interacting with the BookTok community.

Question 2 [2 points].

Choose and answer only TWO of the following questions in your own words according to the text.

A. How has BookTok impacted author Coleen Hoover’s career? Give at least two reasons.

B. How have publishers responded to BookTok? Give at least two examples.

C. Why does Kendra Keeter think sponsored content on BookTok is problematic?

Question 3 [1.5 points].

Find in the text a word or phrase that corresponds to the meaning, definition, or opposite of each of the following.

A. A synonym for “accumulate” [paragraph 1]

B. A word that means “to record the development of someone or something over time”

[paragraph 2]

C. A synonym for “publication” [paragraph 3]

D. A verb and preposition combination that means “to make money from an event or situation”

[paragraph 4].

Question 4 [1.5 points].

Choose the correct option - A, B, C, or D - for each question. Indicate your choice clearly in your answer sheet, either by writing the letter A, B, C, or D or by copying the letter and the sentence that follows. No points will be given if the handwriting is not sufficiently clear.

1. Which type of BookTok video content is not mentioned in the text?

A) Reviews and recommendations

B) Book purchases

C) Bookcase arrangements

D) Author interviews

2. What happened to Song of Achilles after its release?

A) The novel was an instant bestseller.

B) The novel became a huge success much later on.

C) The novel caused controversy on the internet.

D) The novel sold more copies than The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

3. How have bookshops changed since the emergence of BookTok

A) The atmosphere in physical shops has become more dynamic and lively.

B) New online shops explicitly dedicated to BookTok have opened.

C) Customers can access computers in physical shops to order “BookTok Favourites.”

D) Book sales have decreased in both online and physical shops.

PART 2 [3 points]. Written production. Choose ONE of the two options below and write a short composition (120-150 words). Compositions up to 200 words will not be penalized. Remember that compositions MUST NOT be signed.

Option 1.

You have received an email from your friend Anouk.

I can’t wait to visit you next week in Santander! Will you be able to meet me at the train

station? I arrive at 10:00. I have checked the weather forecast but I’m still not sure what

clothes to bring. What do you think? I’d also like to know what we’ll do when I’m there. Have

you planned anything special for us?

Write an email response to Anouk providing her with the information she needs.

Option 2.

“Schools and universities should prohibit all use of artificial intelligence (AI).” Do you agree or

disagree with this statement? Give reasons to justify your opinion.

KEY

Option 1. Greenwashing                                                                               

 

Question 1. [2 points – 0.5 points each]

A.     FALSE. [“Being green is big business, with one study showing that] 66% of consumers worldwide are willing to pay more for products they believe to be socially and environmentally responsible.”

B.     TRUE. [“The practice of] greenwashing involves companies making misleading or exaggerated environmental statements about their products [in order to gain a competitive advantage over similar items on supermarket shelves.]”

C.     TRUE. [“When companies make sustainability claims that turn out to be false,] they not only damage their own reputation but also brands genuinely committed to doing the right thing."

D.    FALSE. "Spooner believes consumers have an obligation to ensure the products they buy are ethical and sustainable, [as 'the choices we make today can have a profound impact on the future."]

 

Question 2. [2 points – 1 point each]

A.     Information in paragraph 1:

·         They want customers to believe their products are eco-friendly.

·         They want their product to sell more than those of companies with similar items.

·         There is pressure to be eco-friendly from customers

B. Information in paragraph 2 & 3:

·         Paragraph 2: These words are deceptive (i.e., don’t tell the full truth).

·         Paragraph 2: Lots of these products cannot be processed [in a compost bin] at home.

·         Paragraph 2: Lots of these products can only be processed in specific commercial conditions.

·         Paragraph 3: If these claims are false, they damage their reputation and those of truly sustainable companies.

C.     Information in paragraph 4:

·         [Spooner says that] consumers should/can always read product labels.

·         [Spooner says that] consumers should/can contact brands [by email] for information if they do not understand the sustainability information.

 

Question 3. [1.5 points – 0.375 points each]

A.     (to) exercise caution

B.     packaging

C.     (to) break down

D.    consequences 

Question 4. [1.5 points – 0.5 points each].

1.       d. Both A and B are correct

2.       a. A set of parameters to help companies avoid engaging in greenwashing

3.       b. Because the bottled water industry actively damages the environment at multiple levels

 

 Option 2. BookTok                                                                                     

Question 1. [2 points -- 0.5 points each]

A.     TRUE. “[She says that] along with the COVID-19 pandemic, BookTok has definitely been a factor in the recent boom in sales.”

B.     FALSE. [“McLean first noticed the platform’s influence in 2020, when] it appeared to drive up sales in the young adult fiction genre before expanding into adult fiction and non-fiction.”

C.     FALSE. [BookTok has had an immense impact on sales,” says James Daunt from Barnes & Noble Books,] “It’s bringing energy into our shops,

with people of all ages coming together around a shared love for reading."

D.    TRUE. [“However,] these strategies do not always work, AND/OR [as BookTok influencer Kendra Keeter explains:] “A lot of sponsored content doesn’t do well because it just isn’t authentic. [How can you trust someone’s book recommendation if you know they were paid to post."]

Question 2. [2 points – 1 point each]

A.     Information in paragraph 3:

·         She has become very successful.

·         She sold more books after BookTok (from 200,000 in 2020 to 2.3 million in 2022).

·         Her books became bestsellers (6 entering the New York Times bestseller list)

B.     Information in paragraph 4:

·         They want to make money from the BookTok trend.

·         Some employ young people, who understand TikTok and can help with marketing.

·         Some send TikTok influencers pre-release books and pay them for promotion.

C.     Information in paragraph 4:

·         [She says that]

o   this type of content is not real (i.e., inauthentic, fake)

o   publishers pay influencers to post content.

o   followers cannot trust this type of content. 

Question 3. [1.5 points – 0.375 points each]

A.     (to) gain/gaining

B.    (to) track/tracks

C.     release

D.    (to) cash in (on)

Question 4. [1.5 points – 0.5 points each].

1.       d. Author interviews

2.       b. The novel became a huge success much later on.

3.       a. the atmosphere in physical shops has become more dynamic and lively.