Wealthy, educated, single men most likely to drink heavily in later life

Research on the drinking habits of the over-45s found that as they get older, people reduce the amount and the frequency at which they drink by up to a fifth. However, the extent of the reduction is affected by health, relationship status, income and education.

For both men and women, the wealthier and more educated drink larger quantities and more frequently, but those at the highest risk of heavy drinking in old age are educated, single men on high incomes.

Contrary to stereotypes, women who split from their partners reduced their drinking levels by more than 16 per cent while those in a partnership saw a drop of 11 per cent during the same period, the decade long study of 4,500 people by academics at Keele University and UCL found. Older people in poor health gave up alcohol the fastest, and women with poor health and lower levels of education are least likely to be heavy or frequent consumers.

Clare Holdsworth, professor of social geography at Keele, said: “Our findings suggest that the group most at risk of heavy drinking in later life is older single men with high levels of education and above average wealth. Our findings also challenge the assumption that the end of a partnership is associated with alcohol misuse in later life. In particular, our analysis of drinking behaviours demonstrates that change in partnership status for women is associated with a reduction in alcohol consumption. As a result it is not necessarily appropriate to target alcohol services at this group of older people.”

The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing found that at the beginning of the decade long study men consumed on average 19 units a week and women 14. In 2010 this had fallen to 14 and 7 respectively. Wealthier men with a university degree began the study drinking 34 units a week and it only fell to 28.

Prof Holdsworth said that this change could partly be attributed to people listening to medical advice as well as getting out and socialising less as they get older. She told the Times: “We have an image of who we think problem drinkers are, people who are lonely or down on their luck. But people who are drinking more are actually enjoying themselves.”

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. Women who split from their partners are generally believed to drink more.

b. Ill women who are not well educated drink heavily.

c. Married men drink more than single men when they grow old. Ill women who are not well educated drink heavily.

d. The study has been going on for at least ten years.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. According to the study, who are the heaviest drinkers?

b. Why do people reduce their alcohol consumption?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning tothe words and definitions given.                                                                                                   

a. break up (par.3)                   b. stop, quit (par.3)                          c. in danger (par.4)

d. shows (par.4)                       e. drop (par.5)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a.     Women who split from their partners drink less than those in a partnership.

Women who split from their partners don’t ………………………………….

b.    “We have an image of who we think problem drinkers are, people who are lonely or down on their luck.”

Prof Holdsworth said that …………………………………………………………..  

c.     The extent of the reduction is affected by health, relationship status, income and education.                                                                                                                                   

Health …………………………………………………………………………

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:     

What kinds of social problems does alcohol cause in your country?

An apple-a-day keeps the doctor away

If everyone over the age of 50 ate an apple a day, 8,500 deaths from heart attacks and strokes could be avoided every year in the UK, say researchers. Apples would give a similar boost to cardiovascular health as medicines, such as statins, yet carry none of the side-effects, the University of Oxford researchers say in the BMJ.They base their assumptions on modelling, not direct scientific study.Any fruit should work, but getting people to comply could be challenging.

More than two-thirds of adults do not eat the recommended five portions of fruit and veg a day, population surveys suggest. And although nine in 10 of us do manage to eat at least one portion a day, Dr Adam Briggs and colleagues, from the British Heart Foundation Health Promotion Research Group at Oxford University, say we would all benefit from eating more .By their calculations, if adults of all ages could manage to eat an extra portion of fruit or veg a day, as many as 11,000 vascular deaths could be averted each year.

The Victorian mantra of "an apple a day" to keep the doctor away is particularly important for the over-50s, who are at increased risk of vascular diseases, say the researchers. They analysed the effect on the most common causes of vascular mortality - heart attacks and strokes - of prescribing either a statin a day, which lowers cholesterol, or an apple a day to people over 50.Assuming at least seven in every 10 complied with the advice, statin drugs could save 9,400 lives and an apple a day 8,500 lives a year, they calculate.

The data their work rests on comprises a large body of medical trials and observations involving hundreds of thousands of patients. Dr Briggs said: "The Victorians had it about right when they came up with their brilliantly clear and simple public health advice, 'An apple a day keeps the doctor away' "It just shows how effective small changes in diet can be, and that both drugs and healthier living can make a real difference in preventing heart disease and stroke.” While no-one currently prescribed statins should replace them for apples, we could all benefit from simply eating more fruit."

Dr Peter Coleman, of the Stroke Association, said everyone stood to benefit from eating a balanced diet.

"Apples have long been known as a natural source of antioxidants and chemical compounds called flavanoids, all of which are good for our health and wellbeing.” This study shows that, as part of a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and veg, a daily apple could help to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. Eating an apple a day will prevent 8,500 deaths from heart attacks every year.

b. It is only apples that prevent deaths from heart attacks.

c. Middle-aged people are more likely to suffer from heart attacks.

d. Statin drugs would save more lives a year than eating an apple a day.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. According to the British Heart Foundation Research group, what are the benefits of eating more fruit everyday?

b. Why is an apple a particularly good fruit for improving heart disease?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. improvement (para. 1)                               d. tests (para. 3)

b. difficult  (para. 1)                                        e. at present (para. 3)

c. reduce  (para. 3)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. More than two thirds of adults do not eat the recommended five portions of fruit a day.

    Less than........

b. The patient did not follow the doctor's recommendation, so he suffered fro heart disease.

    If the patient had.....

c. He said, “ It just shows how effective small changes in diet can be.”

    He said that......

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

What do you do to look after your diet? Discuss.

Untidy beds may keep us healthy

Word cloud made with WordItOut

            Failing to make your bed in the morning may actually help keep you healthy, scientists believe. Research suggests that while an unmade bed may look scruffy it is also unappealing to house dust mites thought to cause asthma and other allergies. A Kingston University study discovered the bugs cannot survive in the warm, dry conditions found in an unmade bed. The average bed could be home to up to 1.5 million house dust mites. The bugs, which are less than a millimetre long, feed on scales of human skin and produce allergens which are easily inhaled during sleep. The warm, damp conditions created in an occupied bed are ideal for the creatures, but they are less likely to thrive when moisture is in shorter supply.

            The scientists developed a computer model to track how changes in the home can reduce numbers of dust mites in beds. “Something as simple as leaving a bed unmade during the day can remove moisture from the sheets and mattress so the mites will dehydrate and eventually die” Researcher Dr Stephen Pretlove said: "We know that mites can only survive by taking in water from the atmosphere using small glands on the outside of their body.”Something as simple as leaving a bed unmade during the day can remove moisture from the sheets and mattress so the mites will dehydrate and eventually die."

            In the next stage of their research, the scientists are putting mite pockets into beds in 36 houses around the United Kingdom to test their computer model and will investigate how people's daily routines affect mite populations. Building features such as heating, ventilation and insulation will also be altered to monitor how the mites cope. Dr Pretlove said the research had the potential to reduce the £700m spent treating mite-induced illnesses each year in the UK. "Our findings could help building designers create healthy homes and healthcare workers point out environments most at risk from mites."

            Dr Matt Hallsworth, of the charity Asthma UK, said: 'House-dust mite allergen can be an important trigger for many people with asthma, but is notoriously difficult to avoid." Professor Andrew Wardlaw, of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, agreed. He said: "Mites are very important in asthma and allergy and it would be good if ways were found to modify the home so that mite concentrations were reduced.”It is true that mites need humid conditions to thrive and cannot survive in very dry (desert like) conditions. "However, most homes in the UK are sufficiently humid for the mites to do well and I find it hard to believe that simply not making your bed would have any impact on the overall humidity."

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. Humans breathe in house dust mites during their sleep.

b. The presence of moisture in the air is vital for the bug's survival.

c. Heating, ventilation and insulation do not affect the mites and will not be studied.

d. It is relatively easy for people with asthma to avoid getting it from house mites.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. What is the aim of the research?

b. What might be the effects of the research?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. untidy (par. 1)                                  d. lose moisture (par. 2)

b. eat (par.1)                                       e. manage to survive (par. 3)

c. observe (par. 2)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. The house mites are less likely to thrive when moisture is in short supply.

The house mites probably....

b. Professor Andrew Wardlaw said, "It is true that mites need humid conditions to thrive and cannot survive in very dry conditions.

He said.....

c. The scientists developed a computer model to track how changes in the home can reduce numbers of dust mites in beds.

A computer model....

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

How important is it for children to help with the house work? Why/why not?

Best time to drink a cup of coffee: 10.30am

Scientists have worked out the best time to drink a cup of coffee to get your daily hit of caffeine is between 9.30am and 11.30am, according to neuroscientists. It may seem that a cup of strong coffee first thing in the morning is the best way to get yourself going, but in fact waiting until later may be better.

            This is due to the way caffeine interacts with a key hormone – called cortisol – which helps to regulate the body’s own internal clock and promotes alertness. Cortisol levels are naturally high shortly after waking up and can remain high for up to an hour afterwards – with the average peak being between 8am and 9am.

            Steven Miller, a neuroscientist at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, argues it is better to then drink caffeine after this peak as it promotes cortisol production.  He said that drinking coffee while levels of this hormone are high can cause people to develop a tolerance of the caffeine it contains, meaning they often need an extra shot in their morning cup to get the same effect.

            Other scientists have found that drinking coffee in the afternoon can help to offset lapses in attention that occur after a large lunch. Mr Miller said: “Although your cortisol levels peak between 8 and 9am, there are a few other times where blood levels peak again – between noon to 1pm, and 5.30 to 6.30pm”

            However, the exact time of when to drink that morning cup of coffee will vary from person to person depending on their cortisol cycle and the time when they normally get up in the morning. Early risers may find their ideal time is earlier than those who get to enjoy a lie in.

                Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. Cortisol makes us be more attentive.

b. Cortisol levels are higher just before we wake up.

c. Having a big afternoon meal affects our levels of concentration.

d. The later you get up, the later you need a cup of coffee.

                Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. Why is it better to wait until you drink your first cup of coffee?

b. What may happen when you drink coffee just after you wake up?

                Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. caused by par. 2

b. highest point par. 2

c. to boost par. 3

d. to neutralize par.4

e. to differ par.5

                Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. Despite drinking coffee when he gets up, he doesn't concentrate in his work.

                Although...

b.  Mr Miller said: “Although your cortisol levels peak between 8 and 9am, there are a few other times where blood levels peak again.”

            Mr Miller said that...

c. Drinking coffee promotes cortisol production.

                Cortisol...

                Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

                “A good night's sleep helps us to be active.” Do you agree? Why? Why not?

Will the new food labelling scheme get the green light?

What's in a label? Health experts are hoping that yet another "traffic light" labelling scheme in supermarkets will stop Britain's slump toward obesity.

If you ever look at the labels on the food you eat, chances are you will already get the general gist. Many foodstuffs are rated for their fat, sugar and salt content. If it is low the product is marked green, medium gets an amber and if it is high then the product is marked red.

Traffic lights, we are told, make a difference. Studies have shown that they are very successful in changing our behaviour. The Co-operative produced a survey last week showing that 41pc of women and 30pc of men would leave a product on the shelf if it had a red traffic light.

But instead of one coherent system, the food industry has produced a mishmash of labelling schemes that has not served the public well. The result has been years of confusion over food labelling in supermarkets.

The latest voluntary scheme, announced last week, is the culmination of years of dithering. The Food Standards Agency first proposed traffic-light food labelling in 2008, but supermarkets and food companies objected. Kellogg's and Tesco were among the objectors, complaining that products were judged on 100g sizes rather than recommended portions, which confused customers.

The new system is called a hybrid scheme, which means that it will contain elements of all of the different pack labelling schemes we are used to. So you will see the traffic light colours based on a standard 100g size, the amount of sugar, salt and fat as a percentage guideline daily amount, as well as the words "high", "medium" or "low" by each of these categories.

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. The idea behind the traffic light labelling scheme is to improve levels of obesity in Britain.

b. More men than women react positively to the traffic light  scheme.

c. The Food  Standards  Agency successfully set up the traffic light  food labelling  scheme in 2008.

d. The new system will include additional information to the original scheme.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a.      Why is the idea of traffic lights used in the schemes?

b.      How is the new hybrid system different from the original scheme?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. general idea ( para. 2)

b. questionnaire (para. 3)

c. mixture (para. 4)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a.      If you ever look at the labels on the food you eat, you will probably already get the general gist.

If you ever looked………………………………………………………………………………………….

b.      Kellogg’s and Tesco said that the products were judged on 100 g sizes rather than recommended portions, which confused customers.

“ The products……………………………………………………………………….”, said Kellogg’s and Tesco.

c.      The Cooperative produced a survey last week.

A  survey…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

How do you think it is best to reduce child obesity?

Could the new 5p and 10p coins cause skin trouble?

Worries are spreading that brand new 5p and 10p coins could cause skin problems.

The new coins contain more of a metal called nickel and less copper, than the present coins. Skin experts - called dermatologists - say this could cause problems for people with nickel allergies, including some people with eczema. But people from the Royal Mint, who make the coins, say the change will not have any bad effects.

The new 5p and 10p coins are being introduced because nickel is cheaper than copper, which is getting more expensive. But up to 10% of the UK population, mainly women, are thought to be affected by a nickel allergy.

Similar coins in Sweden have been reported as being an "unacceptable risk to health", according to medical experts. The UK Government and the Royal Mint say they are confident the new coins won't cause any more skin problems than the present ones.

True or False?
1. Copper causes more allergies than nickel.
2. The British government doesn’t think the coins will cause any more problems.
3. More women than men have nickel allergies.
4. Sweden introduced similar coins in the past.
5. The new coins do not contain any copper.
6. The new coins will be produced by the Royal Mint.
7. There is no such thing as a nickel allergy.
8. People with eczema do not have nickel allergies.

Match each word to its definition

allergies / brand new / confident / eczema / effects / introduced / present

-completely new, especially not yet used
-happening or existing now
-condition that makes a person become ill because they have eaten certain foods or been near certain substances
-condition in which areas of the skin become red, rough and sore
-results
-put something into use for the first time
-certain of something

What is the missing word?
1. The new coins_______________more of a metal called nickel.
2. The new 5p and 10p coins are being_______________because nickel is cheaper.
3. The new coins won't cause any more skin_____________than the present ones.
4. The____________will not have any bad effects.



KEY

True/ False
1 False 2 True 3 True 4 True 5 False 6 True 7 False 8 False

Vocabulary
brand new completely new, especially not yet used
present happening or existing now
allergies condition that makes a person become ill because they have eaten certain foods or been near certain substances
eczema condition in which areas of the skin become red, rough and sore
effects results
introduced put something into use for the first time
confident certain of something

Missing words
1 contain 2 introduced 3 problems 4 change

School grades hit by lack of routine

Research for the Prince's Trust suggests young people with poor exam grades are twice as likely to claim their days lacked structure as they grew up. In an online survey, 2,136 respondents aged between 16 and 25 were asked how happy and confident they are in different areas of their life. The responses were converted to a numerical scale, resulting in a number out of 100 – with 100 representing entirely happy or confident and zero being not at all happy or confident. Young people’s happiness has fallen to its lowest number of 70 in 2010 and their confidence has also fallen - from an overall score of 74 in 2008 to 71 in 2010.

Some 14% of all young people said they had grown up without set mealtimes, compared with 30% of young people with poor exam grades. The research also suggests that 27% of youngsters did not grow up with a set bedtime. This rose to 39% for those who left school with fewer than five good GCSEs.

The data comes from the charity's latest annual Youth Index, which looks at how young people feel about their lives across a range of areas from family life to physical health. It also suggested those who felt they "lacked structure and direction" while growing up also appeared to be less content and confident than their peers. One in three of those with lower qualifications (33%) said they "always" or "often" felt rejected, compared with about one in five young people (22%) overall.

Princes Trust chief executive Martina Milburn said: "The absence of structure and routine in a young life can have a devastating impact. "Without the right support, directionless teenagers can become lost young adults - unconfident, underqualified and unemployed."

Comments from readers of this article

I am a primary school teacher in an Inner City area. A large proportion of children have no breakfast before school, some even arrive not having had a drink. The same group of children look exhausted and quite often go to bed far later than I do. Unsurprisingly, these children don’t do so well. Yet the govt still expects these children to do as well as those in wealthier, more structured households!

What surprises me, is that this information should even be considered as a surprise to anyone. Of course children who have a well structured routine will do better in school. The presence of a routine denotes a stable family environment, which in turn lends itself to times set aside for homework, exam revision and education in general. A link between the two is hardly a groundbreaking discovery.

What is YOUR reaction to this survey and its results?

Do YOU have set mealtimes and bedtime?
Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.
a) Only teenagers took part in the study.
b) Young people nowadays are not as happy as they were before.
c) The questions in the survey only asked about school.
d) Martina Milburn disagrees with the results of the survey.

Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) What are the consequences of a lack of routine in young people’s lives?
b) How was the survey conducted?

Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as:
a) total (par. 1) b) figures, information (par.3) c) effect (par.4)

Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) Young people with poor exam grades are twice as likely to claim their days lacked structure as they grew up.
If young people’s days .....................................................................................
b) 14% of all young people said they had grown up without set mealtimes, whereas 30% of young people with poor exam grades answered that they had not eaten at regular times.
14% of young people said “I .................................................,” whereas 30% of those with poor exam grades answered “........................................”
c) First, 2,136 people between 16 and 25 were asked how happy and confident they were, then the responses were converted to a numerical scale.
After ................................................. , the researchers ……………..

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:Having a regular daily routine is important for success.” What do you think?

Sir Paul McCartney attacks French school over vegetarian ban

Sir Paul McCartney has attacked the French Government for banning vegetarian meals in schools.
There will be no meat-free days in French schools for six million children following a new decree from their government that all students will have to eat meat if they want lunch at school. Taking a packed lunch is not an alternative as they are also banned.

The ban will shortly be extended to kindergartens, hospitals, prisons, colleges and old people's homes.

French agriculture minister, Bruno Lemaire, said in January that the Government's aim for nutrition was to defend the French agricultural model and counter initiatives such as those by vegetarian campaigners like Sir Paul – who has called for a reduced consumption of meat.

But writing on his website, Sir Paul said: "The French Government's recent decree effectively enforcing the consumption of animal products in public institutions is a backward step for France. It goes against the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union by prohibiting individuals' right to express their beliefs.No one needs to eat animals – and we can combat climate change and lessen the risk of suffering from heart disease and other ailments by reducing the amount of meat we eat."
This week People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) launched a new stamp range featuring the 20 most famous vegetarians of all-time, including the ex-Beatle. Sir Paul along with Natalie Portman, Pamela Anderson and Morrissey have agreed to feature on the stamp. The stamps can be purchased throughout December at www.peta.org

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.

a) Students cannot take home-made lunches to school.
b) Currently there are no meat-free meals for people who are in prison. c) Sir Paul McCartney believes that the French Government’s decision does not respect people’s rights. D) According to McCartney, people who eat meat are more likely to suffer illnesses.

Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.

a) Why has Sir Paul McCartney reacted against the French Government?
b) What has PETA done about the ban?

Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as:

a) soon (par.3) b) attenuate, decrease (par.5) c) buy (par.6)

Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a) The French Government has banned packed lunches.
Packed lunches ......................................................
b) " No one needs to eat animals and we can combat climate change.”
Sir Paul McCartney said that .................................................
c) Mr. Dahl suffered from heart disease because he ate too much meat.
If Mr Dahl .................................................

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
What do you think about climate change? How can you help?

Kids banned from using sunbeds

Children and teenagers across England and Wales have been banned from using sun-beds. The new law will stop under 18s from getting a tan on the beds in places like gyms and salons. And the punishment for breaking the rules is pretty big - tanning shops could be fined £20,000 if they're caught letting kids use the beds. A leading health charity says the new law will help protect children from developing skin cancer in later life. The law was passed last year but it comes into force today.

True or false?
1. A sunbed can give you a tan.
2. The new law will cure cancer.
3. The law came into force as soon as it was passed.
4. The ban applies to England, Ireland and Wales.
5. Once you are 18, you can use a sunbed.
6. Sunbeds can’t give you cancer once you turn 18.
7. Teenagers who get caught using a sunbed can be fined up to £20,000
8. There are shops where you can got to get a fake tan.

Match the words below to their definitions
banned / charity / gyms / in force / salons / tan
forbidden to do something
places where people go to exercise
shop selling beauty or fashion products or services
when your skin is brown from being in the sun
organisation which gives money or help to people in need
when something is in force, it is currently in use, as in “the following rules are in force”
Which word or phrase means the same as the one in italics?
1. leading a) the same as important b) the same as following c) the same as outspoken
2. passed a) the same as forgotten b) the same as approved c) the same as debated
3. pretty a) the same as petty b) the same as fairly c) the same as slightly
4. letting a) the same as releasing b) the same as opening c) the same as allowing

KEY
True or false?
1. True 2. False 3. False 4. False 5. True 6. False 7. False 8. True

Vocabulary
banned forbidden to do something
gyms places where people go to exercise
salons shop selling beauty or fashion products or services
tan when your skin is brown from being in the sun
charity organisation which gives money or help to people in need in
force when something is in force, it is currently in use, as in “the following rules are in force”

Which word or phrase means the same as the one in italics? a) the same as important b) the same as approved b) the same as fairly c) the same as allowing

Meditation Better Than Pain-Killers

Meditation can be better at relieving pain than the best pain-relieving drugs, according to a new report published in the Journal of Neuroscience. The study into the effects of the mind and pain was led by Dr Fadel Zeidan in the USA. The research looked at a technique called “focused attention,” which is a form of meditation where people focus their thoughts only on their breathing. Dr Zeidan said: “This is the first study to show that only a little over an hour of meditation training can dramatically reduce both the experience of pain and pain-related brain activation”. Zeidan added: “We found a big effect - about a 40per cent reduction in pain intensity and a 57 per cent reduction in pain unpleasantness.”

The study involved a group of volunteers who had never meditated before. They attended four 20-minute classes to learn about focused attention. Before and after the meditation training, the researchers examined the participants’ brain activity using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). During the scans, a heat device was placed on their leg to create pain. The MRI scans showed that after the meditation training, pain felt by every volunteer decreased from between 11 to 93 per cent. Zeidan compared these results to medicines, saying: “Meditation produced a greater reduction in pain than even morphine or other pain-relieving drugs, which typically reduce pain by about 25 per cent.”

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.
a. The technique focuses people’s attention on the source of the pain.
b. Only an hour of meditation can make you feel 60% less pain.
c. The group of people who took part in the sudy were used to meditating.
d. The meditators had their brains scanned before and after meditating.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.
a. Where did they conduct the research? What technique did they use?
b. How did they carry out the study?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.
a. discomfort (par.1) b. strength (par.1) c. put (par.2)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a. “This is the first study to show that only a little meditation can reduce the experience of pain.” Dr. Zeidan said that ……………………………………………
b. The researchers examined the participants’ brain activity.
The participants’ ………………………………………………….
c. People who use the “focused attention” technique feel less pain.
If they didn’t ……………………………………………………….

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (about 120-150 words) on the following topic: Would you like to “volunteer” for anything? Give reasons.

Meditation Better Than Pain-Killers

KEY

Question 1
a. False. “…. a technique called “focused attention,” which is a form of meditation where people focus their thoughts only on their breathing.”
b. False. “…only a little over an hour of meditation training can dramatically reduce both the experience of pain ………..about a 40 per cent reduction in pain intensity and a 57 per cent reduction in pain.
c. False. “The study involved a group of volunteers who had never meditated before.”
d. True. “Before and after the meditation training, the researchers examined the participants’ brain activity using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). The MRI scans showed that after the meditation training, pain felt by every volunteer decreased from between 11 to 93 per cent.“

Question 2
a. The investigation took place in the USA. They used an approach known as “focused attention“, where people concentrate exclusively on their breathing while they meditate.
b. They gave people with no previous expreience of meditating four classes to show them how to meditate focusing on their breath. The activity in these people’s brains was tested before and after the experiment and during the experiment, they made them feel some pain by putting heat on their legs.

Question 3
a. unpleasantness b. intensity c. placed/place

Question 4
a. Dr. Zeidan said that that was the first study to show/that showed that only a little meditation could reduce the experience of pain.
b. The participants’ brain activity was examined by the researchers.
c. If they didn’t use the “ focused attention“ technique, they would feel more pain.

High Heels Shorten Women's Leg Muscles

Scientists have found out that women who wear high-heel shoes make the calf muscles shorter. The heels also give many women pain in their legs when they take them off and walk. The researchers tested different women aged between 20 and 50 who wore heels that were 5cm or higher. The research, which covered a two-year period, also looked at women who never wore high heels. The research team used ultrasound to measure the length of the fibres in the calf muscles. Their results showed that the muscle fibres of high-heel wearers were 13 per cent shorter than those in the non-high-heel-wearing women. Lead researcher Professor Marco Narci said: "This confirmed the hypothesis that when you place the muscle in a shorter position, the fibres become shorter.”

The researchers also found that women who regularly wore high heels suffered more muscle aches and pains when they took their shoes off. This is because their muscles are being overstretched for long periods and do not have time to relax. Professor Narci said it was harder for women to stretch their feet out when they took their shoes off. He did advise women to do simple stretching exercises to relieve the pain. "If you stand on your tip toes and lower your heels up and down again it will stretch out the tendons making it easier to walk without heels,” he said. He did not suggest that women stop wearing high heels but recommended wearing flat shoes a little more often."Fashion is intended to be uncomfortable and none of the women in the study planned to give up their high heels," he said.

Question 1. (2 points)

Say whether the following statements are true or false. Give evidence from the text.

a. Wearing high heels makes women’s legs shorter.

b. Women suffer more pain when their high heels are on.

c. A professor advised women to sit down and stretch their toes.

d. The women in the study intend to keep on wearing high heels.

Question 2. (2 points)

Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. Which women were examined and how did they carry out the study?

b. What were the results of the study?

Question 3. (1.5 points)

Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. to discover (par.1)

b. head (par. 1)

c. difficult (par.2)

Question 4. (1.5 points)

Complete the sentences without changing the meaning.

a. Professor Narci said it was harder for women to stretch their feet out when they took their shoes off. He said:“.....................................................................................................................“

b. Their muscles are being overstretched for long periods. They ................................................................

c. She suffered muscle aches and pains because she wore high heel shoes. If she had .......................................................

Question 5. (3 points)

Write a short essay (120 to 150 words) on the following topic:

How important is fashion for you?