2. Study the article and discuss the following:

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

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

• Are really expensive cosmetics much better than cheap ones?

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

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

Cleopatra’s Eye Make-Up Had Health Benefits

The heavy eye make-up used by ancient Egyptians may have been good for the eyes. This is according to a study by French scientists published in the journal ‘Analytical Chemistry’. The researchers found that the lead in the cosmetics helped fight off bacteria that cause eye infections. It did this by stimulating the cells in the immune system. The scientists from the Louvre Museum analyzed the lead salts found in the make-up. Lead is usually a risk to health but the low levels in the make-up had health benefits. Lead researcher Philippe Walter said: ‘We knew ancient Greeks and Romans noted the make-up had medicinal properties, but we wanted to determine exactly how.’

The make-up used by the ancient Egyptians helped darken the eyes and make them look sexier. It sometimes took many weeks to make the special mixture. The most famous ‘model’ for the cosmetics was the Queen of Egypt Cleopatra. She used eye make-up to try to win the heart of the emperor Mark Anthony. The story of their love was made famous by the Shakespeare play ‘Anthony and Cleopatra’. Fashion has changed little in the past 2,000 years. Women and men spend a fortune every year on making their eyes look more attractive. There is a multi-billion-dollar industry based on mascara, eyeliner, eye moisturizer and false eyelashes.

3. Read the article about eating disorders and tell whether you agree / disagree with the following statements:

• Cases of eating disorders are mostly common among women.

• Anorexia nervosa is the result of ladies’ wish to meet society’s standards in beauty.

• Depression leads to eating disorders.

• A person with anorexia develops joint and muscles problems.

• Eating disorders cause fractures and bones problems.

• Anorexics have poor opinion about themselves.

Eating disordersare complex psychological disorders when a person experiences severe disturbances in eating behavior, usually in extremes. The person may either eat large amounts of food or go into a fasting mode to starve. These people are overly distressed or concerned about their body weight or shape. Such behavior often leads to emotional and physical laxative addiction, as the digestive system can lose its ability to function normally.

The two main types of eating disorder are bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. There is also a third category called the ‘eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS),’ which includes other variations of eating disorders like ‘binge-eating’ disorder.

Drunkorexia, Manorexia, Diabulimia are new terms (not official or standard medical terms) that have emerged recently and simply refer to subcategories of the well-known eating disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Drunkorexia is a term used to describe the condition of binge drinking combined with the typical self-imposed starvation seen with anorexia nervosa. The person affected with this disorder is typically a college-aged woman who starves herself whole day so that she can get drunk at night.

Manorexia, as the name suggests, refers to a man suffering from Anorexia Nervosa.

Diabulimia is also a type of eating disorder that affects people who take insulin to treat their diabetes.

Teenagers are regularly subjected to images of famous actors, singers and dancers in the print and broadcast media who are frequently thin and idolized. In their attempt to emulate their heroes teenagers think that they have to be thinner than they are, this can make them resort to an eating disorder.

BLOCK IV

Topics for discussion and essays.

1. Do you have a first aid kit at home? What’s in it?

2. What new medicines would you like to see invented?

3. Have you ever suffered from the side-effects of a medicine?

4. Do you think pets are good for a person’s health? Is it unhealthy to keep a cat in your home?

5. Do you think you will live until a ripe old age? Why or why not? What do you think about getting old? What is the average age of people in your country?

6. Would you consider donating your organs after your death?

7. Have you ever donated blood? What’s the norm of donated blood per a person? Is it a kind of a business for some of donors? What’s your blood type?

8. Have you ever been to an acupuncturist? What do you think of acupuncture?

9. Is euthanasia common (practiced) in your country? Do you approve of it?

10. What do you think about abortion? Why do some people support it and others are against it?

11. What do you think of cosmetic surgery? Do you know anyone who has had cosmetic surgery? Would you ever consider having cosmetic surgery?

12. What do you think about the idea of having a family doctor? Do you have it in your country?

13. What do you think of the health service in this country? Is there health insurance in your country? How can the health service be improved?

LESSON 13

Leisure Time

Life’s a hobby.

Beware the hobby that eats.

I have only one real hobby – my husband.

When a habit begins to cost money, it’s called a hobby.

It was just a hobby. I didn’t expect it to turn into a business.

Leisure only means a chance to do other jobs that demand attention.

The real problem of leisure time is how to keep others from using yours.

The best way to make money is to make money your hobby and

not your god.