Health and the Body

Read the following text and in English explain the words given in italics. Then agree or disagree with the underlined parts of the text.

State if the sentences are true or false. Give the reasons.

Andrew thinks health and happiness are not connected.

He has done some research into the effect of happiness on health.

He thinks the doctor should try to make people happier rather than healthier.

Angela thinks a lot of people ignore the doctor’s advice.

She thinks the health service spends a lot of money on these people.

She thinks the government should let them look after themselves rather than provide a health service for them.

6) Discuss the questions:

Who do you agree with most: Andrew or Angela? Both of them? Neither of them?

What are the most important points that they make?

To what extent do you “look after yourself properly”?

Do you eat the right food? Smoke? Drink? Take regular exercise?

Do you consider yourself to be healthy?

Do you consider yourself to be happy?

Do you agree with Andrew that there is a connection between health and happiness?

1) Scan through the following short texts and state the sentence or sentences which give: information about people, a reason, a definition, information about places, examples of things that affect health, suggestions for improving health, information about a period of time.

Exercise and health Middle age is when most of us tend to lead more sedentary lives, but physical activity is important if we want to keep healthy. It improves circulation and burns calories, which helps us lose weight. So get some exercise at least three times a week. You can go walking if you live in an area where there are parks, or join a gym where there are aerobics classes for the middle-aged. Do consult a doctor who can advise you about what kind of exercise is best for you if you are over the age of forty and haven’t exercised for a long time.

Diet and Health Diet is one of the factors which plays a role in keeping us healthy, and this is why we should pay more attention to what we eat. Those who are overweight are prone to high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which can cause heart disease, so it is important to eat wisely. Remember, a healthy diet that is low in saturated fats and sugar can be just as enjoyable as one that is based on junk food. Statistics also show that nations whose diet includes large amounts of vegetables and fruit tend to live longer.

Keeping fit and staying healthy have, not surprisingly, become a growth industry. Quite apart from the amount of money spent each year on doctors’ prescriptions and approved medical treatment, huge sums are now spent on health foods and drugs of various kinds, from vitamin pills to mineral water, not to mention clubs and keep-fit books and videos. We are more concerned than ever, it seems, about the water we drink and the air we breathe, and are smoking less, though not yet drinking less alcohol. This does not appear to mean that coughs and sneezes have been banished, or that we can all expect to live to a hundred. To give a personal example, one of my friends, who is a keep-fit fanatic, a non-smoker and teetotale r, and who is very detailed about what he eats, is at present languishing in bed with a wrist in plaster and a badly sprained ankle. Part of his healthy lifestyle is to play squash every day after work, and that accounts for the ankle. He also cycles everywhere, and if you have ever tried to cycle through the rush-hour traffic with a sprained ankle, you will understand how he acquired the broken wrist. For health, it seems, is not just a matter of a good diet and plenty of exercise. Too much exercise can be harmful, as many joggers have discovered. Eating the right food can easily become an obsession, as can overworking, which you might have to do so as to be able to afford your membership of the squash club, your mountain bike, your health food, and a few holidays in peaceful and healthy places.

3) Answer and discuss the following questions:

What two health problems may be caused by too much cholesterol?

Plague can also form on teeth. Do you try to encourage or prevent this?

What do eggs, shellfish and offal have in common?

What sorts of food contain fibre?

Why is fibre useful?

For what three conditions might doctors recommend running as a form of exercise?

How far an average does someone have to run to use up 500 calories?

In what way does this vary from person to person?

What mental health problem is also improved by running?

Why does running help with this problem?

1) Read two texts given below, explain the words in bold and see if your guesses were right:

Дата добавления: 2014-12-29