Vegetables

We are frequently told these days that we should eat more vegetables (1) ......as........ part of a healthy diet. However, a large (2) .............. of people are still not taking this advice. One of the reasons could be that they (3) .......... bad memories of the few vegetables they were forced to eat by (4) .......... parents when they were children. (5) ................ the other hand, potatoes are one (6) …............. of vegetables which we are familiar (7) ……........ although we do not perhaps think of them (8) .............. healthy food to eat. Of course, chips are not very good for us (9) ……........ of their high fat content, but potatoes can (10) .............. cooked in many other interesting ways which do not harm our health. (11) .............. vegetables which we will almost certainly (12) ……........ eaten are carrots, turnips and parsnips. Carrots can be eaten raw, while parsnips can be prepared (13) ............. potatoes, and baby turnips are crisp and as sweet as apples when cooked. Alternatively, there are many different vegetables in the shops, (14) …........ as celeriac*, kohlrabi and salsify**. These may (15) ........... strange to us at the moment, but they are as easy to cook as (16) …......... of the other vegetables mentioned and make a delicious change.

*celeriac: a vegetable that is a type of celery with an edible root that looks like an irregularly shaped turnip and is eaten cooked or raw. Cf. (корневой) сельдерей.

**salsify: a European composite plant that has leaves resembling grass, purple flowers, and a long edible root. Cf. козлобородник.

B

The Brain

Contrary to popular belief, it is not true (1) .................. we use only 10 percent of our brain power; it is (2) .................. of the myths of modern times. The brain controls all of our bodily functions as (3) .................. as carrying out the most complicated processes (4) .................. thought and imagination. There must (5) , ..................., be some spare capacity built into the system because brain cells – unlike most of the body’s other cells - are not (6) ............. to divide and therefore are incapable (7) ............. replacing themselves (8) .................. they die.

It is possible to increase the abilities of our brain. We do (9) ........................... when we learn to read, (10) .................. example. Current research shows that the learning process creates new connections (11) .................. brain cells (12) .................. increases our mental powers. But scientists are unable to say exactly how (13) .................. of our brains we don’t use. Despite a lot of research, the brain is still the (14) .................. mysterious organ in the body and it will be many years (15) .................. enough information can be gathered to explain all (16) .................. functions.

C

Choose Your Sport Carefully

Regular exercise such as jogging or swimming is good (1) .................. the heart. It can also give you more energy to enjoy life. As a (2) .................. of regular exercise, your body gets better (3) .................. using oxygen. It becomes easier for your heart to pump blood (4) .................. your body. After a while, the heart doesn’t (5) .................. to work quite as hard. Exercise is often thought to be an easy (6) .................. of losing weight. But in (7) .................., exercise tends to increase your appetite. Many people discover they lose (8) .................. weight with exercise alone. (9) .................. diet and exercise are needed to achieve this. Some people exercise because they think it will help them to live longer. If that is your reason for exercising, then you (10) .................. avoid short, intensive exercise. Squash, for example, (11) .................. is a fast game, may be harmful (12) .................. you’re unfit or middle-aged. Other sports can be dangerous (13) .................. . Although both rugby and football are popular sports, a rugby player is three (14) .................. more likely to be injured than a tennis player. It is advisable, (15) .................. , to choose a sport that suits you and not one that is going to harm you.

D