Can We Live Longer?

There has been a trend towards healthier living in the (1) ................... two or three decades. However, there is still a lot of debate about (2) ................... style of life is the (3) ............................ likely to help you live longer. Many people believe that staying fit and (4) ................... regular exercise can lead to a long life. It’s true that the healthier we are, the better we feel, but (5) ................... this lead to a longer life? Some people would like to think (6) .................. but there is no real proof that exercise is the answer. Obviously, abusing our bodies can lead to disaster. Drinking, smoking or leading a stressful life can shorten our lives dramatically. But even (7) ..................... some people live to excess, something appears to protect them. Could it be the genetic make-up they inherited (8) ................... their parents? A particularly strong gene could help people combat illness. On the other hand, if we are unlucky (9) ................. to have inherited a weak gene, then there is little to (10) ................. done. Even if this is the (11) ..................., then a balanced diet could be a help, if not a cure. It has (12) .................. proven that diet can help a variety of illnesses – from cancer to rheumatism – and even if we don’t suffer (13) ...................... these illnesses, a healthy diet can surely enhance the quality of our lives. There is no certainty that (14) ................. of these things will prolong our lives but even if we are unlucky in our genetic make-up, (15) .................... can be no harm in giving our bodies the best, even if nature doesn’t.

12 Fill in the gaps with the appropriate word(s) from the list

below. Their synonyms are given in brackets.

process average consume vital

resist individual ingredient overcome

1. It is wise to ................................... fruit and vegetables as part of

your daily diet. (eat)

2. He couldn’t ............................... his fear of flying so he travelled

by boat. (defeat)

3. Certain vitamins help the body to .......... disease. (fight against)

4. Let’s cooperate instead of each making .......................................

decisions. (separate)

5. The ....................................... of making cheese takes a couple of

weeks. (series of actions)

6. The fingerprints found at the scene of the crime were

............................. clues in the murder case. (essential)

7. Your ........................ intake of wine should not be more that two

glasses per day. (normal)

8. Flour is a necessary ....................................... for making a cake.

(component)

13 Read the text carefully. Some of the lines are correct and some

have a word which should not be there. Find this word.

A

The Dangers of the Sun

e. g. Holiday beaches are as like huge barbecues where

1 people lie like burgers on a grill. Many people do not realize

2 that the dangers of baking themselves in the sun. By

3 following on some sensible advice, holidaymakers can to

4 achieve a perfect tan, yet avoid such a dangers as sunburn

5 and even skin cancer. The sun is at its strongest between 11 am

6 and 3 pm, so that sit in the shade at this time. Babies

7 should have be kept out of direct sun, and children they

8 should wear sunblock and a hat. Remember to reapply sun

9 cream regularly, in particularly after the swimming.

10 Sunglasses are not just a fashion accessory. They provide

11 vital protection as from the sun’s rays. Never wear

12 sunglasses with much cheap lenses: they do more harm

13 than good. Summer is a great season, but be sensible!

B