The Reading / Listening - Level 5

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicine is part of our lives. Many of us go to pharmacies for cold and headache tablets, cough syrups or allergy treatments. OTC drugs save the need to go to the doctor's. However, OTC drugs may cause more harm than good. A new study published in a medical journal suggests that many of these medicines have unwanted and serious side effects. Side effects in older adults who take OTC medicines for asthma, aches and pains, insomnia and allergies, etc. include cognitive damage, dementia and even brain shrinkage.

The study was done by Indiana University. Researchers looked at the link between OTC drugs and cognition in older people who did not have dementia. The scientists found that OTC drugs led to a lower glucose metabolism, which means the brain isn't as healthy. A researcher said the findings provide a better understanding of how OTC drugs can affect the brain, "in ways that might raise the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia". She added: "I certainly wouldn't advise my grandparents or even my parents to take these medications unless they have to."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.medicaldaily.com/over-counter-cold-medicine-cognitive-impairment-brain-scans-382524
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/hayfever-drugs-reduce-brain-size-risk-dementia-alzheimer-s-a6991281.html
  • http://www.healthnewsline.net/common-cold-flu-medicines-may-shrink-brain-dementia-risk-study/2535182/


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 :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

cold and headache

a.

pains

2.

cough

b.

tablets

3.

drugs may cause more harm

c.

damage

4.

published in a medical

d.

than good

5.

serious side

e.

journal

6.

aches and

f.

syrups

7.

cognitive

g.

shrinkage

8.

brain

h.

effects



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

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

the link between OTC drugs

a.

understanding

2.

older people who did

b.

metabolism

3.

OTC drugs led to a lower glucose

c.

medications

4.

the brain isn't

d.

not have dementia

5.

the findings provide a better

e.

of cognitive impairment

6.

how OTC drugs can

f.

and cognition

7.

raise the risk

g.

affect the brain

8.

take these

h.

as healthy

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicine (1) ___________________ lives. Many of us go to pharmacies for cold and headache tablets, (2) _________________ allergy treatments. OTC drugs save the need to go to the doctor's. However, OTC drugs may (3) ___________________ than good. A new study published in a medical journal (4) ___________________ of these medicines have unwanted and serious side effects. Side effects in older (5) ___________________ OTC medicines for asthma, aches and pains, insomnia and allergies, etc. include cognitive damage, dementia and even (6) ___________________.

The study was done by Indiana University. Researchers (7) ___________________ between OTC drugs and cognition in older people who did not have dementia. The scientists found that OTC drugs led to a (8) ___________________ metabolism, which means the brain isn't as healthy. A researcher said the (9) ___________________ a better understanding of how OTC drugs can affect the brain, "in ways (10) ___________________ the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia". She added: " (11) ___________________ advise my grandparents or even my parents to take these medications (12) ___________________ to."

MEDICINE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about medicine 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.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

 



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You