Look through the article and state whether the sentences given after it true (T) or false (F).

Scientists in the USA have found a type of nerve cell may be the reason we itch. The team from Washington University suggested itchiness was from specific cells. They also believe itching is not a minor form of pain. For decades, many in the medical community have put itching in the pain category. The researchers said they think itching is a completely different and unique sensation. Their decades-long research was on mice. It focused on how the brain reacted to itching and pain. They discovered an ‘itch gene’, called GRPR. The mice were injected with a chemical to kill this gene. The rodents were still able to feel pain, suggesting the two feelings are different.

The new research has great potential for cures and treatments of itches and itching-related diseases. There are over 50 illnesses in which itching leads to a poor quality of life. In some cases, the itching can be unbearable for the sufferer. Severe itching can lead to excessive scratching, which results in bleeding and infection. Lead researcher Dr. Zhou Feng Chen said: ‘This finding has very important therapeutic implications. We have shown that particular neurons are critical for the itching sensation but not for pain… These can be explored or identified as targets for future treatment or management of chronic itching.’ He said cures for humans are still many years away.

 

a.	American scientists now know exactly why people itch.	T / F
b.	The researchers think that itching is not a kind of pain.	T / F
c.	The research team said mice have made us itch for many decades.	T / F
d.	A special chemical made mice itch so much that they died.	T / F
e.	The research is good news for those who suffer from itching diseases.	T / F
f.	There are many illnesses that make people’s lives miserable.	T / F
g.	The research is important because it focuses on itching and not pain.	T / F
h.	New medicines to stop itching will be in pharmacies from next year.	T / F

 

BLOCK III

1. Read the text and do after-text activities.

Chocolate is Good for Your Health

A study carried out in Germany has found that chocolate may be good for your heart. This is fantastic news for all chocolate lovers. The extensive research was conducted over eight years. The research team followed the chocolate-eating habits and health of almost 20,000 people. They compared how much chocolate was in their diet to the number of heart attacks and strokes people had. Lead researcher Brian Buijsse said: ‘The good news is that chocolate is not as bad as we used to think, and may even lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.’ Mr Buijsse said his team found that dark chocolate was the healthiest kind to eat: ‘Dark chocolate exhibits the greatest effects, milk chocolate fewer, and white chocolate no effects,’ he said.

The German study showed that people who ate the most chocolate (at least one bar per week) reduced their risk of having a heart attack by 27 per cent. The risk of suffering a stroke was cut by as much as 48 per cent. Nutrition experts believe that natural compounds in chocolate called flavonols are good for our heart. Flavonols also help reduce blood pressure. They are found in cocoa beans so dark chocolate (which has more cocoa) contains more of them than milk chocolate (which has more fat). Buijsse warns people not to suddenly eat lots of chocolate: ‘Eating higher amounts will most likely result in weight gain. If people start eating small amounts of chocolate, it should replace something else, preferably other high-calorie sweets or snacks.’

 

a) Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	found	a.	chance
2.	fantastic	b.	experiencing
3.	extensive	c.	cut
4.	risk	d.	volumes
5.	exhibits	e.	discovered
6.	reduced	f.	wide-ranging
7.	suffering	g.	mixtures
8.	compounds	h.	wonderful
9.	amounts	i.	if possible
10.	preferably	j.	shows

 

b) Phrase match (sometimes more than one choice is possible).

1.	Chocolate may	a.	of heart disease
	This is fantastic news for	b.	called flavonols
3.	They compared how much chocolate	c.	eat lots of chocolate
4.	To lower the risk	d.	be good for your heart
5.	Dark chocolate was the healthiest	e.	stroke was cut
6.	At least one	f.	sweets or snacks
7.	The risk of suffering a	g.	was in their diet
8.	Natural compounds in chocolate	h.	kind to eat
9.	Buijsse warns people not to suddenly	i.	bar per week
10.	Other high-calorie	j.	all chocolate lovers

c) Naughty but nice. Complete this table.

Things	Good / Bad (why)	These Things in My Life
Chocolate
Television
Fast food
Coffee / Cola
Spending lots of money
Gossip

 

d) Chocolate discussion.

1. What did you think when you read the headline?

2. What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘chocolate’?

3. Will you eat more chocolate if it’s healthy for you?

4. What do you think of this research?

5. Do you prefer dark, milk or white chocolate? Why?

6. Do you think it’s OK to give chocolate to children?

7. What other benefits are there of eating chocolate?

8. What questions would you like to ask Brian Buijsse?

 

2. Study the article and discuss the following:

Ø What do you think of the idea of make-up that has health benefits?

Ø Do you think chemicals in make-up can harm the body?

Ø Are really expensive cosmetics much better than cheap ones?

Ø What do you think is the best cosmetics company in the world / in your country?

Ø Do people look better with or without cosmetics (for ladies)?