The Reading / Listening - Heart Disease - Level 6

Researchers have discovered the people with the healthiest hearts in the world. The Tsimane people live in the Amazon region of Bolivia and have almost no risk of serious heart disease because of their plant-based diet and high levels of physical activity. Besides having a healthy heart, the Tsimane also have low blood pressure, low cholesterol levels and low blood glucose. This all adds up to a very strong cardiovascular system. And this means they avoid many of the diseases and conditions that kill hundreds of millions around the world, such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes and kidney failure. A study estimates that an 80-year-old from the Tsimane tribe has the same cardiovascular age as an American in their mid-50s.

The study on the Tsimane is published in the medical journal 'The Lancet'. Study co-author Dr Gregory S. Thomas stated: "This study suggests that coronary [disease] could be avoided if people adopted some elements of the Tsimane lifestyle, such as keeping their cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar very low, not smoking and being physically active." He added: "Most of the Tsimane are able to live their entire life without developing any coronary [disease]. This has never been seen in any prior research. While difficult to achieve in the industrialized world, we can adopt some aspects of their lifestyle to potentially forestall a condition we thought would eventually effect almost all of us."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Heart Disease - Level 4  or  Heart Disease - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.healthline.com/health-news/the-tribal-diet-that-could-eliminate-heart-disease
  • https://www.newscientist.com/article/2124999-south-american-group-has-the-healthiest-arteries-ever-seen/
  • http://thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(17)30752-3/abstract


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. HEART DISEASE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about heart disease. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       researchers / region / plant-based diet / physical activity / cholesterol / heart attack /
       medical journal / coronary disease / blood pressure / industrialized / lifestyle / condition

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. LAW: Students A strongly believe it should a legal requirement to be fit and healthy; Students B strongly believe not.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. HEART: What can we do to look after it? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What to do

What

What not to do

Food

 

 

 

Drink

 

 

 

Work

 

 

 

Sleep

 

 

 

Exercise

 

 

 

Friends

 

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. HELATHY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "healthy". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. LIFESTYLE: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things for your heart at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • being with friends
  • exercise
  • love
  • medicine
  • vegetables
  • sleep
  • laughter
  • long country walks

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The people with the healthiest hearts live in the Amazon jungle.     T / F
  2. The people have a largely freshwater fish-based diet.     T / F
  3. The people generally have high levels of blood sugar.     T / F
  4. An 80-year-old has the world's strongest cardiovascular system.     T / F
  5. The study on the jungle people can be read in a medical journal.     T / F
  6. A doctor recommended keeping levels of blood sugar low.     T / F
  7. A study has never before documented people with no coronary disease.   T / F
  8. The doctor said we couldn't adopt aspects of the tribe's lifestyle.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. discovered
  2. risk
  3. besides
  4. avoid
  5. estimates
  6. adopted
  7. entire
  8. prior
  9. aspects
  10. eventually
  1. stay away from
  2. whole
  3. calculates
  4. features
  5. possibility
  6. earlier
  7. in the end
  8. found
  9. took on
  10. apart from

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. in the Amazon region
  2. no risk
  3. because of their plant-
  4. a very strong cardiovascular
  5. kidney
  6. coronary
  7. their entire
  8. This has never been seen
  9. we can adopt some aspects
  10. eventually effect
  1. of serious heart disease
  2. in any prior research
  3. failure
  4. of their lifestyle
  5. based diet
  6. almost all of us
  7. of Bolivia
  8. life
  9. system
  10. disease

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
based
failure
discovered
system
age
risk
avoid
glucose

Researchers have (1) ____________ the people with the healthiest hearts in the world. The Tsimane people live in the Amazon region of Bolivia and have almost no (2) ____________ of serious heart disease because of their plant-(3) ____________ diet and high levels of physical activity. Besides having a healthy heart, the Tsimane also have low blood pressure, low cholesterol levels and low blood (4) ____________. This all adds up to a very strong cardiovascular (5) ____________. And this means they (6) ____________ many of the diseases and conditions that kill hundreds of millions around the world, such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes and kidney (7) ____________. A study estimates that an 80-year-old from the Tsimane tribe has the same cardiovascular (8) ____________ as an American in their mid-50s.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
sugar
eventually
suggests
entire
published
achieve
physically
prior

The study on the Tsimane is (9) ____________ in the medical journal 'The Lancet'. Study co-author Dr Gregory S. Thomas stated: "This study (10) ____________ that coronary [disease] could be avoided if people adopted some elements of the Tsimane lifestyle, such as keeping their cholesterol, blood pressure and blood (11) ____________ very low, not smoking and being (12) ____________ active." He added: "Most of the Tsimane are able to live their (13) ____________ life without developing any coronary [disease]. This has never been seen in any (14) ____________ research. While difficult to (15) ____________ in the industrialized world, we can adopt some aspects of their lifestyle to potentially forestall a condition we thought would (16) ____________ effect almost all of us."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  have almost no risk of serious heart disease because of their ______
     a.  plant-biased diet
     b.  plant-basted diet
     c.  plant-blasted diet
     d.  plant-based diet

2)  the Tsimane also have low blood pressure, low cholesterol levels and ______
     a.  lowly blood glucose
     b.  low bloody glucose
     c.  low blood glucose
     d.  low blooded glucose

3)  And this means they avoid many of the diseases and conditions ______
     a.  that kills hundreds
     b.  that killing hundreds
     c.  that kill hundred
     d.  that kill hundreds

4) millions around the world, such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes ______
     a.  and kidney failure
     b.  and kidney's failure
     c.  and kidneys failure
     d.  and kidney failures

5)  … has the same cardiovascular age as an American ______
     a.  in their mad-50s
     b.  in their mid-50s
     c.  on their mid-50s
     d.  in these mid-50s

6)  The study on the Tsimane is published in the medical ______ 'The Lancet'
     a.  medicals journal
     b.  medical journal
     c.  medically journal
     d.  medic all journal

7)  Most of the Tsimane are able to live their entire life without developing ______
     a.  any coronary disease
     b.  any coronary diseases
     c.  and coronary disease
     d.  and coronary diseases

8)  This has never been seen in any ______
     a.  prior research
     b.  priors research
     c.  priory research
     d.  prioritize research

9)  While difficult to achieve in the industrialized world, we can adopt some ______
     a.  aspects of these lifestyle
     b.  aspects of their lifestyles
     c.  aspects of their lifestyle
     d.  aspect of their lifestyle

10)  potentially forestall a condition we thought would eventually effect ______
     a.  almost tall of them
     b.  almost those of us
     c.  almost all of them
     d.  almost all of us

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Researchers have discovered (1) ___________________ healthiest hearts in the world. The Tsimane people live in the Amazon region of Bolivia and have (2) ___________________ serious heart disease because of their plant-based diet and high levels of physical activity. (3) ___________________ healthy heart, the Tsimane also have low blood pressure, low cholesterol levels and low blood glucose. This (4) ___________________ very strong cardiovascular system. And this means they avoid many of the diseases and conditions that kill hundreds of millions around the world, such as heart attack, (5) ___________________ kidney failure. A study estimates that an 80-year-old from the Tsimane tribe has the same cardiovascular age as an American (6) ___________________.

The study on the Tsimane (7) ___________________ the medical journal 'The Lancet'. Study co-author Dr Gregory S. Thomas stated: "This study suggests that coronary [disease] (8) ___________________ if people adopted some elements of the Tsimane lifestyle, such as keeping their cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar very low, not smoking and being (9) ___________________." He added: "Most of the Tsimane are able to live their entire life without developing any coronary [disease]. This has never (10) ___________________ prior research. While difficult to achieve in the industrialized world, we can adopt (11) ___________________ their lifestyle to potentially forestall a condition we thought would eventually effect (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. From which country are the people with the healthiest hearts?
  2. What kind of diet do the Tsimane people eat?
  3. What do the Tsimane have low levels of besides blood sugar?
  4. What system did the article say is strong in the Tsimane people?
  5. What organ did the article mention as being possible to fail?
  6. Who is Dr Gregory S. Thomas?
  7. What did the doctor say we should not do?
  8. What did the doctor say the Tsimane avoid for their whole life?
  9. Where is it difficult to achieve such a healthy lifestyle?
  10. Who did the doctor say coronary disease would eventually effect?

Multiple choice quiz

1) From which country are the people with the healthiest hearts?
a) Brazil
b) Bolivia
c) Belize
d) Benin

2) What kind of diet do the Tsimane people eat?
a) a fruitarian diet
b) a Mediterranean diet
c) a largely dairy diet
d) a plant-based diet

3) What do the Tsimane have low levels of besides blood sugar?
a) blood pressure and cholesterol
b) white blood cells and platelets
c) insulin
d) adrenalin

4) What system did the article say is strong in the Tsimane people?
a) the metabolism
b) the skeletal-muscular system
c) the cardiovascular system
d) the nervous system

5) What organ did the article mention as being possible to fail?
a) the pancreas
b) the kidneys
c) the liver
d) the lungs

6) Who is Dr Gregory S. Thomas?
a) the study's co-author
b) the leader of the tribe
c) originator of the Thomas Diet
d) an American in his mid-50s

7) What did the doctor say we should not do?
a) keep cholesterol
b) eat sugar
c) smoke
d) avoid pressure

8) What did the doctor say the Tsimane avoid for their whole life?
a) coronary disease
b) steak
c) exercise
d) stress

9) Where is it difficult to achieve such a healthy lifestyle?
a) in industrialized countries
b) at work
c) in cities
d) in the desert

10) Who did the doctor say coronary disease would eventually effect?
a) very few of us
b) half of us
c) all of us
d) almost all of us

Role play

Role A — Love

You think love is the best thing for your heart. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why): vegetables, sleep or medicine.

Role B — Vegetables

You think vegetables are best for your heart. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why): love, sleep or medicine.

Role C — Sleep

You think sleep is the best thing for your heart. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why): vegetables, love or medicine.

Role D — Medicine

You think medicine is the best thing for your heart. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why):  vegetables, sleep or love.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'heart'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'disease'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • journal
    • suggests
    • keeping
    • entire
    • achieve
    • eventually
    • discovered
    • risk
    • Besides
    • adds
    • means
    • 80

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Jungle people with almost no heart problems

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'heart'?
    3. What is the most interesting thing about what you read?
    4. Should we all go back to living off the land?
    5. Why doesn't everyone have a plant-based diet?
    6. How can we fit exercise into every part of our day?
    7. How is your health?
    8. What do you do to stay fit and healthy?
    9. What do you know about the cardiovascular system?
    10. Would you swap your life to live with the Tsimane people?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'disease'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How interested are you in reading the full article?
    5. How are your blood pressure and cholesterol levels?
    6. Is there anything in this article we didn't know before?
    7. Should we have health training at school?
    8. Should the government make laws to make us follow a healthy lifestyle?
    9. What do you need to do right now to be healthier?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Researchers have (1) ____ the people with the healthiest hearts in the world. The Tsimane people live in the Amazon (2) ____ of Bolivia and have almost no risk of serious heart disease because of their plant-(3) ____ diet and high levels of physical activity. Besides having a healthy heart, the Tsimane also have low blood pressure, low cholesterol levels and low blood glucose. This all adds (4) ____ to a very strong cardiovascular system. And this means they avoid many of the diseases and conditions that kill hundreds of millions around the world, such (5) ____ heart attack, stroke, diabetes and kidney failure. A study estimates that an 80-year-old from the Tsimane tribe has the same cardiovascular (6) ____ as an American in their mid-50s.

    The study on the Tsimane is published (7) ____ the medical journal 'The Lancet'. Study co-author Dr Gregory S. Thomas stated: "This study suggests that coronary [disease] could (8) ____ avoided if people adopted some (9) ____ of the Tsimane lifestyle, such as keeping their cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar very low, not smoking and being physically active." He added: "Most of the Tsimane are able to live their (10) ____ life without developing any coronary [disease]. This has never been seen in any (11) ____ research. While difficult to achieve in the industrialized world, we can adopt some aspects of their lifestyle to potentially (12) ____ a condition we thought would eventually effect almost all of us."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     discovered     (b)     discovers     (c)     discovery     (d)     discover    
    2. (a)     regional     (b)     regionalize     (c)     region     (d)     regionally    
    3. (a)     blasted     (b)     biased     (c)     based     (d)     basted    
    4. (a)     on     (b)     in     (c)     down     (d)     up    
    5. (a)     as     (b)     was     (c)     is     (d)     has    
    6. (a)     year     (b)     age     (c)     old     (d)     date    
    7. (a)     to     (b)     by     (c)     at     (d)     in    
    8. (a)     have     (b)     be     (c)     do     (d)     see    
    9. (a)     filaments     (b)     firmaments     (c)     elements     (d)     permanents    
    10. (a)     all     (b)     entire     (c)     every     (d)     intact    
    11. (a)     prior to     (b)     prioritize     (c)     priory     (d)     prior    
    12. (a)     uninstall     (b)     forestall     (c)     stall     (d)     install

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the Amazon neiorg of Bolivia
    2. low blood seusrrpe
    3. low chllerstoeo levels
    4. such as heart attack, stroke, ietebdas
    5. kidney afluire
    6. the same lrrasccaduivao age

    Paragraph 2

    1. published in the medical oanlurj 'The Lancet'
    2. rryaoocn disease
    3. This has never been seen in any ropir research
    4. in the iltrdnaeudzisi world
    5. enytlaioltp forestall a condition
    6. ueavyeltln effect almost all of us

    Put the text back together

    1  )     Researchers have discovered the people with the healthiest hearts in the world. The Tsimane people

    (    )     pressure, low cholesterol levels and low blood glucose. This all adds up to a very strong cardiovascular

    (    )     The study on the Tsimane is published in the medical journal 'The Lancet'. Study co-author

    (    )     around the world, such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes and kidney failure. A study estimates that an 80-year-old

    (    )     Dr Gregory S. Thomas stated: "This study suggests that coronary [disease] could be avoided if people adopted

    (    )     live in the Amazon region of Bolivia and have almost no risk of serious heart disease because of their plant-

    (    )     very low, not smoking and being physically active." He added: "Most of the Tsimane are able to live their

    (    )     research. While difficult to achieve in the industrialized world, we can adopt some aspects of their lifestyle to

    (    )     some elements of the Tsimane lifestyle, such as keeping their cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar

    (    )     from the Tsimane tribe has the same cardiovascular age as an American in their mid-50s.

    (    )     system. And this means they avoid many of the diseases and conditions that kill hundreds of millions

    (    )     potentially forestall a condition we thought would eventually effect almost all of us."

    (    )     based diet and high levels of physical activity. Besides having a healthy heart, the Tsimane also have low blood

    (    )     entire life without developing any coronary [disease]. This has never been seen in any prior

    Put the words in the right order

    1. The   hearts   people   in   with   the   the   world   healthiest   .
    2. heart   serious   of   risk   no   almost   Have   disease   .
    3. system   adds   a   cardiovascular   all   to   strong   This   up   very   .
    4. of  and   kill  many   diseases   that  Avoid   the  conditions  hundreds   .
    5. American  an  as  age  cardiovascular  same  The  mid-50s  mid  their  in  .
    6. disease   study   could  suggests   be   that   avoided  coronary   This   .
    7. Tsimane   some   lifestyle   elements   If   of   people   the   adopted   .
    8. any   entire   coronary  life   disease   without  Live  developing  their   .
    9. seen   This   in   has   any   never   prior   been   research   .
    10. of  us  A  condition  we   thought  would  eventually  effect  almost  all  .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Researchers have discovered / discovery the people with the healthiest hearts in the world. The Tsimane people live in the Amazon regional / region of Bolivia and have almost no risky / risk of serious heart disease because of their plant-based diet / dietary and high levels of physical activity. Besides / Insides having a healthy heart, the Tsimane also have low blood pressure, low cholesterol levels and low blood / bloody glucose. This all subtracts / adds up to a very strong cardiovascular system. And this means they evade / avoid many of the diseases and conditions that kill hundreds of millions around the world, such as heart attack, strike / stroke, diabetes and kidney failure. A study estimates that an 80-year-old from the Tsimane tribe has the same cardiovascular age has / as an American in their mid-50s.

    The study on the Tsimane is published in the medically / medical journal 'The Lancet'. Study co-author Dr Gregory S. Thomas stated: "This study suggests / suggestive that coronary [disease] could be / have avoided if people adopted some elementary / elements of the Tsimane lifestyle, such as / was keeping their cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar / sugary very low, not smoking and being physically activate / active." He added: "Most of the Tsimane are able to live their entire / entirely life without developing any coronary [disease]. This has never been seen in any before / prior research. While difficult to achieve in the industrialized world, we can adopt some aspects of their lifestyle to potentially forestall a condition we thought would eventually effect almost all / every of us."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    R_s__rch_rs h_v_ d_sc_v_r_d th_ p__pl_ w_th th_ h__lth__st h__rts _n th_ w_rld. Th_ Ts_m_n_ p__pl_ l_v_ _n th_ _m_z_n r_g__n _f B_l_v__ _nd h_v_ _lm_st n_ r_sk _f s_r___s h__rt d_s__s_ b_c__s_ _f th__r pl_nt-b_s_d d__t _nd h_gh l_v_ls _f phys_c_l _ct_v_ty. B_s_d_s h_v_ng _ h__lthy h__rt, th_ Ts_m_n_ _ls_ h_v_ l_w bl__d pr_ss_r_, l_w ch_l_st_r_l l_v_ls _nd l_w bl__d gl_c_s_. Th_s _ll _dds _p t_ _ v_ry str_ng c_rd__v_sc_l_r syst_m. _nd th_s m__ns th_y _v__d m_ny _f th_ d_s__s_s _nd c_nd_t__ns th_t k_ll h_ndr_ds _f m_ll__ns _r__nd th_ w_rld, s_ch _s h__rt _tt_ck, str_k_, d__b_t_s _nd k_dn_y f__l_r_. _ st_dy _st_m_t_s th_t _n 80-y__r-_ld fr_m th_ Ts_m_n_ tr_b_ h_s th_ s_m_ c_rd__v_sc_l_r _g_ _s _n _m_r_c_n _n th__r m_d-50s.

    Th_ st_dy _n th_ Ts_m_n_ _s p_bl_sh_d _n th_ m_d_c_l j__rn_l 'Th_ L_nc_t'. St_dy c_-__th_r Dr Gr_g_ry S. Th_m_s st_t_d: "Th_s st_dy s_gg_sts th_t c_r_n_ry [d_s__s_] c__ld b_ _v__d_d _f p__pl_ _d_pt_d s_m_ _l_m_nts _f th_ Ts_m_n_ l_f_styl_, s_ch _s k__p_ng th__r ch_l_st_r_l, bl__d pr_ss_r_ _nd bl__d s_g_r v_ry l_w, n_t sm_k_ng _nd b__ng phys_c_lly _ct_v_." H_ _dd_d: "M_st _f th_ Ts_m_n_ _r_ _bl_ t_ l_v_ th__r _nt_r_ l_f_ w_th__t d_v_l_p_ng _ny c_r_n_ry [d_s__s_]. Th_s h_s n_v_r b__n s__n _n _ny pr__r r_s__rch. Wh_l_ d_ff_c_lt t_ _ch__v_ _n th_ _nd_str__l_z_d w_rld, w_ c_n _d_pt s_m_ _sp_cts _f th__r l_f_styl_ t_ p_t_nt__lly f_r_st_ll _ c_nd_t__n w_ th__ght w__ld _v_nt__lly _ff_ct _lm_st _ll _f _s."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    researchers have discovered the people with the healthiest hearts in the world the tsimane people live in the amazon region of bolivia and have almost no risk of serious heart disease because of their plant-based diet and high levels of physical activity besides having a healthy heart the tsimane also have low blood pressure low cholesterol levels and low blood glucose this all adds up to a very strong cardiovascular system and this means they avoid many of the diseases and conditions that kill hundreds of millions around the world such as heart attack stroke diabetes and kidney failure a study estimates that an 80-year-old from the tsimane tribe has the same cardiovascular age as an american in their mid-50s

    the study on the tsimane is published in the medical journal 'the lancet' study co-author dr gregory s thomas stated "this study suggests that coronary [disease] could be avoided if people adopted some elements of the tsimane lifestyle such as keeping their cholesterol blood pressure and blood sugar very low not smoking and being physically active" he added "most of the tsimane are able to live their entire life without developing any coronary [disease] this has never been seen in any prior research while difficult to achieve in the industrialized world we can adopt some aspects of their lifestyle to potentially forestall a condition we thought would eventually effect almost all of us"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Researchershavediscoveredthepeoplewiththehealthiestheartsinthe
    world.TheTsimanepeopleliveintheAmazonregionofBoliviaandhaveal
    mostnoriskofseriousheartdiseasebecauseoftheirplant-baseddietan
    dhighlevelsofphysicalactivity.Besideshavingahealthyheart,theTsim
    anealsohavelowbloodpressure,lowcholesterollevelsandlowbloodglu
    cose.Thisalladdsuptoaverystrongcardiovascularsystem.Andthisme
    anstheyavoidmanyofthediseasesandconditionsthatkillhundredsofm
    illionsaroundtheworld,suchasheartattack,stroke,diabetesandkidne
    yfailure.Astudyestimatesthatan80-year-oldfromtheTsimanetribeh
    asthesamecardiovascularageasanAmericanintheirmid-50s.Thest
    udyontheTsimaneispublishedinthemedicaljournal'TheLancet'.Study
    co-authorDrGregoryS.Thomasstated:"Thisstudysuggeststhatcoron
    ary[disease]couldbeavoidedifpeopleadoptedsomeelementsoftheTsi
    manelifestyle,suchaskeepingtheircholesterol,bloodpressureandblo
    odsugarverylow,notsmokingandbeingphysicallyactive."Headded:"
    MostoftheTsimaneareabletolivetheirentirelifewithoutdevelopingany
    coronary[disease].Thishasneverbeenseeninanypriorresearch.While
    difficulttoachieveintheindustrializedworld,wecanadoptsomeaspects
    oftheirlifestyletopotentiallyforestallaconditionwethoughtwouldeven
    tuallyeffectalmostallofus."

    Free writing

    Write about heart disease for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    It is easy for all of us to eat an extremely healthy diet and exercise a lot. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about the Tsimane people and their healthy lifestyle. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. HEART DISEASE: Make a poster about heart disease. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. HEALTHIER: Write a magazine article about governments introducing laws that would require us all to be healthier. What could these laws be? Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on heart disease. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to avoid it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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