New Destinations B1+ Module 7a

Listen to the extracts and choose the correct alternatives to answer the questions.

1 You hear a boy and a girl talking about the girl’s absence from school. What she did she think about the new medical centre?                                 [The decoration is very modern., It’s efficient., It isn’t as big as the old one.]

2 You hear two people talking about an operation. How does the boy feel about the operation?             [unconcerned, worried, embarrassed]

3 You hear two people talking about a new pet. What does the girl say about the dog?                [It’s crazy., It’s friendly., It’s not well.]

4 A doctor is giving a talk. Why did he become a doctor?                                         [He had always wanted to be a doctor., His parents were doctors., He enjoyed relevant subjects at school.]

5 You hear two people talking about catching flu. Who does the boy think he caught the flu from?      [Mike, Jim, Jack]

Read the article. Choose the correct alternatives to complete the sentences.

The twenty-first century seems to have brought with it a whole range of new medical problems. Many of these are related to our increased use of technology. For example, there are now several problems connected with using computers and mobile phones. Certain parts of our body ache because they are overused, like thumbs from too much texting, eyes from peering at small screens repeatedly, elbows because of lifting phones to our ears and our ears from the increased volume of music we constantly listen to on MP3 players and at clubs. We are getting more ear infections because we share headphones. The list goes on and on. However, one of the biggest dangers to health today is not a direct result of technology but it is definitely related to it. That is stress.

Stress has always been with us. The feeling of being overwhelmed and unable to control aspects of our lives seems to have been part of the human condition forever. But experts say that stress levels, and health problems caused by stress, have gone up alarmingly in recent years. One reason for this is that technology has speeded up our lives dramatically. Everything can happen instantly: communication, travel, accessing information, and so on. This means that, whereas we used to have thinking time between communications both at work and in our personal lives, today that is gone. People do not have enough time to do nothing, and sometimes our brains need that.

Commuting to work used to be a time to relax and prepare for the day ahead or to wind down after a busy day. Now it is the opposite. If you’re driving, the rush hour is usually one long traffic jam and if you’re on the train, you’ll probably be on your mobile phone or on your laptop continuing the day’s work. Students don’t escape either. Children are under much more pressure to take and pass more and more exams. So, the stress factor can start at an early age.

So, how can we best deal with our stressful lives? It is important that we try, as stress causes not only mental problems but physical ones too. People under a lot of stress can become nervous and moody, and even suffer from severe depression. It also affects the heart and can cause problems related to blood pressure. It can affect our sleeping patterns, and when we don’t get enough sleep that leads to other problems too.

According to the experts, we need to try to cut out some of things that cause us most stress in our daily lives. Obviously, it is not possible to stop studying for exams or going to work, but we can reduce stress if we approach these things in the right way. Of course, stress affects different people in different ways, but one answer is to write down a list of things that you find stressful and find ways round them. It may be that you tend to leave revising for tests to the last minute, and this is stressful. The answer would be to spread the revising over a longer period. If driving in the rush hour stresses you out, try putting on some calming music to distract you from the situation. If it’s possible, switch off your phone on the train and read a book! We all need time to relax, a time when we can do something we enjoy, such as reading or watching a film. Another excellent way to fight stress is to do some form of exercise. This has the advantage of improving our general fitness as well as reducing stress levels, so definitely try to fit in some sport or gym time.

It is inevitable that the pace of life is going to speed up even further, and we shall have to deal with it. But as long as we allocate ourselves some down time, we’ll stay healthy. So, switch off that laptop and chill out!

In the 21^st century, technology has

Read the article. Choose the correct alternatives to complete the sentences.

The twenty-first century seems to have brought with it a whole range of new medical problems. Many of these are related to our increased use of technology. For example, there are now several problems connected with using computers and mobile phones. Certain parts of our body ache because they are overused, like thumbs from too much texting, eyes from peering at small screens repeatedly, elbows because of lifting phones to our ears and our ears from the increased volume of music we constantly listen to on MP3 players and at clubs. We are getting more ear infections because we share headphones. The list goes on and on. However, one of the biggest dangers to health today is not a direct result of technology but it is definitely related to it. That is stress.

Stress has always been with us. The feeling of being overwhelmed and unable to control aspects of our lives seems to have been part of the human condition forever. But experts say that stress levels, and health problems caused by stress, have gone up alarmingly in recent years. One reason for this is that technology has speeded up our lives dramatically. Everything can happen instantly: communication, travel, accessing information, and so on. This means that, whereas we used to have thinking time between communications both at work and in our personal lives, today that is gone. People do not have enough time to do nothing, and sometimes our brains need that.

Commuting to work used to be a time to relax and prepare for the day ahead or to wind down after a busy day. Now it is the opposite. If you’re driving, the rush hour is usually one long traffic jam and if you’re on the train, you’ll probably be on your mobile phone or on your laptop continuing the day’s work. Students don’t escape either. Children are under much more pressure to take and pass more and more exams. So, the stress factor can start at an early age.

So, how can we best deal with our stressful lives? It is important that we try, as stress causes not only mental problems but physical ones too. People under a lot of stress can become nervous and moody, and even suffer from severe depression. It also affects the heart and can cause problems related to blood pressure. It can affect our sleeping patterns, and when we don’t get enough sleep that leads to other problems too.

According to the experts, we need to try to cut out some of things that cause us most stress in our daily lives. Obviously, it is not possible to stop studying for exams or going to work, but we can reduce stress if we approach these things in the right way. Of course, stress affects different people in different ways, but one answer is to write down a list of things that you find stressful and find ways round them. It may be that you tend to leave revising for tests to the last minute, and this is stressful. The answer would be to spread the revising over a longer period. If driving in the rush hour stresses you out, try putting on some calming music to distract you from the situation. If it’s possible, switch off your phone on the train and read a book! We all need time to relax, a time when we can do something we enjoy, such as reading or watching a film. Another excellent way to fight stress is to do some form of exercise. This has the advantage of improving our general fitness as well as reducing stress levels, so definitely try to fit in some sport or gym time.

It is inevitable that the pace of life is going to speed up even further, and we shall have to deal with it. But as long as we allocate ourselves some down time, we’ll stay healthy. So, switch off that laptop and chill out!

According to the article, stress