Test 1

1 Peter can be very ........ sometimes; he just says what he thinks even if it upsets people. argumentative brash presumptuous blunt There’s been an ........ of food poisoning at a hotel in the city centre. outlook outcome outrage outbreak After Tom lost the game, he was ........ and didn’t want to talk to anyone. sulky withdrawn resentful wretched Sally is very ........ and not willing to do what others want. headstrong aggressive self-confident dominant Some people find that certain foods can …………an allergic reaction. facilitate prompt trigger initiate Sue ........ dinner before her guests arrived. has already been cooking was already cooking had already cooked is already cooking I don’t know if ........ that people will drive flying cars in the future. there is a chance there is a chance the chance is the chance seems William is only ........ successful as his brother. twice as half as not quite as the more The girl gave her little sister a long and ........ hug. considerate sympathetic affectionate tolerant Sue ........ living alone in a big city. didn’t use to isn’t used to is getting used would In which section does the writer:1.suggest that where your family originated may be important?2. say what kind of medical care patients might soon receive?3. explain a weakness of formal guides to heathy behaviour?4.list negative effects of choosing the wrong diet?5. give examples of a number of confusing health recommendations?6. mention trendy ways to lose weight?7. provide details about how a certain gene functions?8. offer an explanation for unsuccessful research? Eating for who you areA. Is drinking four cups of coffee a heart attack risk, or will it actually improve heart health and reduce the risk of cancer? Will eating too much salt cause you to have high blood pressure, or is it irrelevant? Is milk an important source of healthy nutrients or a food not meant for adults to consume? Is eating lots of meat a bigger health risk than being vegetarian or vice versa? Conflicting information about healthy habits is common, but why is there so much confusion? Continuing advances in our understanding of genetics is beginning to reveal the reason for advice that seems contradictory. The truth is, the answer to all of these questions is genes!B. For example, a frequent topic of argument that has a genetic element is the effectiveness of various diets for weight loss and general health. The two most common diet types are high fat and protein diets, as opposed to plant based, low fat, high carbohydrate diets. Proponents of each type of diet insist that they are correct, but research has been inconclusive. Now, it seems that the inability of studies to come up with a clear answer could be because both diets are best, only the one that is best for each individual depends on their genes and the environment where their ancestors lived. It turns out that your favourite fad diet may depend on variations in a region of your DNA called your FADS genes.C. The FADS genes, which are an abbreviation for fatty acid desaturase, control how the body produces essential fatty acids from the foods that we eat. People with one version of this gene cannot make these fatty acids from plant foods very effectively so they depend on animal products, and especially fish, to get the nutrients they need. They may be healthiest on a high protein, high fat diet. Other versions of the gene, however, contain changes that allow the body to get more fatty acids from plant foods; in other words, the whole system is more efficient. People with this version of the gene probably benefit from low fat vegetarian diets, and problems can arise if they eat too much meat or especially processed vegetable oils that are so common in modern fast food. Having the wrong balance of fatty acids, for whatever reason, increases inflammation which can lead to increased risk of a variety of illnesses including allergies, heart disease and metabolic syndrome.D. In this way, genetic variation creates challenges when governments and health organisations try to form guidelines for people to follow. Usually, they aim to identify diets that are optimal for everybody and it is becoming increasingly clear that what is optimal for one person could even lead to health problems in another person. It also creates problems in prescribing and testing medicines, because many of the same genetic variations that affect diet can also affect whether an individual is cured by a medicine, experiences no improvement or is actually harmed. Healthcare is on the verge of a fundamental shift and one day we may have a system of personalised medicine where healthcare providers check our genes and make recommendations that allow us to avoid illnesses before they arise. However, at the moment, the complex interactions between genes, diet and health are still largely unkn Your English friend Howard has sent you an email. Here is an extract from it:I failed two of my A-level exams and I’m afraid I won’t be able to get into university. I feel like such a failure; I’ll never get a degree now. Have you got any advice? Write your email giving Howard your advice (200-250 words). Good luck