Directions: Scan the following passage and find the words which have
roughly the same meanings as those given below. The number in the brackets after
each word definition refers to the number of paragraph in which the target word
is. Write the word you choose on the Answer Sheet. Why
is a positive body image so important Psychologists and counselors agree that a
negative body image is directly related to self-esteem. The more negative the
perception of our bodies, the more negative we feel about ourselves.
Being a teenager is a time of major change. Besides the obvious changes
in size and shape, teens are faced with how they feel about themselves. Body
image and self-esteem are two important ways to help promote a positive
image. When most people think about body image they think about
aspects of physical appearance, attractiveness, and beauty. But body image is
much more. It is the mental picture a per- son has of his/her body as well as
their thoughts, feelings, judgments sensations, awareness and
behavior. Body image is developed through interactions with
people and the social world. It’s our mental picture of ourselves; it’s what
allows us to become ourselves. Body image influences behavior, self-esteem, and
our psyche. When we feel bad about our body, our satisfaction and mood plummets.
If we are constantly trying to push, reshape or remake our bodies, our sense of
self becomes unhealthy. We lose confidence in our abilities. It’s not uncommon
for people who think poorly of their bodies to have problems in other areas of
their lives, including sexuality, careers and relationships.a power affecting a person, thing, or course of events (Para. 4)