The Reading / Listening - Level 0

A low social status can be bad for you. Researchers looked at the health of 45 female monkeys. The monkeys with a lower social status were unhealthier. The monkeys were put into groups. A new monkey was then added to each group. Researchers said the "new girl" was unhealthier because she was at the bottom of the group.

The study was on monkeys, but it could also be true for humans. A professor said governments should understand that people with a lower social status have more health problems. Poorer people have cars and TVs, but that does not mean they are happy. Richer people can live up to 20 years longer than poorer people.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 1,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.nhs.uk/news/2016/11November/Pages/Low-social-status-damages-immune-function.aspx
  • http://www. bbc.com/news/health-38092146
  • https://www.newscientist.com/article/2114070-being-popular-is-good-for-health-in-monkeys-at-least/


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 :-)

Phrase Matching

Paragraph 1

  1. A low social status can
  2. Researchers looked
  3. 45 female
  4. a lower
  5. The monkeys were put
  6. added to
  7. the "new girl" was
  8. at the bottom
  1. into groups
  2. unhealthier
  3. of the group
  4. at the health
  5. monkeys
  6. be bad for you
  7. social status
  8. each group

Paragraph 2

  1. The study was
  2. it could also be true for
  3. A professor said governments
  4. people with a
  5. have more health
  6. that does not mean
  7. Richer people can live up to
  8. poorer
  1. 20 years longer
  2. should understand
  3. problems
  4. humans
  5. they are happy
  6. on monkeys
  7. people
  8. lower social status

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A low social (1) ___________________ bad for you. Researchers looked (2) ___________________ 45 female monkeys. The monkeys (3) ___________________ social status were unhealthier. The monkeys (4) ___________________ groups. A new monkey was (5) ___________________ each group. Researchers said the "new girl" was unhealthier because she was (6) ___________________ the group.

The study was on monkeys, but (7) ___________________ true for humans. A professor said (8) ___________________ understand (9) ___________________ a lower social status have more health problems. (10) ___________________ have cars and TVs, (11) ___________________ not mean they are happy. Richer people (12) ___________________ 20 years longer than poorer people.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Alowsocialstatuscanbebadforyou.Researcherslookedatthehealthof4
5femalemonkeys.Themonkeyswithalowersocialstatuswereunhealth
ier.Themonkeyswereputintogroups.Anewmonkeywasthenaddedtoe
achgroup.Researcherssaidthe"newgirl"wasunhealthierbecauseshe
wasatthebottomofthegroup.Thestudywasonmonkeys,butitcouldals
obetrueforhumans.Aprofessorsaidgovernmentsshouldunderstandt
hatpeoplewithalowersocialstatushavemorehealthproblems.Poorerp
eoplehavecarsandTVs,butthatdoesnotmeantheyarehappy.Richerpe
oplecanliveupto20yearslongerthanpoorerpeople.

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 — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

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

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

(k) ________________

(l) ________________

(m) ________________

(n) ________________

(o) ________________

(p) ________________

Free writing

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

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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