The Reading / Listening - Level 1

A new study shows that a low social status can be bad for your health. Researchers in the USA looked at the behaviour of 45 female monkeys. The monkeys with a lower social status were unhealthier. The monkeys were split into groups. They had time to get to know each other. Researchers then took one monkey from each group and put her into another group. Researchers found that the "new girl" was unhealthier than the other monkeys.

The researchers said that although their study was on monkeys, it could also be true for humans because we share a lot of our DNA with monkeys. A professor told the BBC News that governments should understand that people with a lower social status have more health problems. He said they have got cars and TVs, but that does not mean they are happy. Richer people can live up to two decades longer than poorer people.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 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 new
  2. a low social status can
  3. Researchers in the USA looked
  4. 45 female
  5. monkeys with a lower social status
  6. The monkeys were split
  7. They had time to get to
  8. the "new girl"
  1. were unhealthier
  2. at the behaviour
  3. was unhealthier
  4. into groups
  5. be bad for your health
  6. know each other
  7. study
  8. monkeys

Paragraph 2

  1. their study was
  2. it could also
  3. we share a lot of our
  4. governments should
  5. have more
  6. that does not mean
  7. Richer people can live up
  8. poorer
  1. understand
  2. DNA with monkeys
  3. to two decades longer
  4. they are happy
  5. on monkeys
  6. people
  7. health problems
  8. be true for humans

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A new study shows (1) ___________________ status can be bad for your health. Researchers in the USA looked at the behaviour of (2) ___________________. The monkeys with a lower social status (3) ___________________. The monkeys were split into groups. They had time (4) ___________________ each other. Researchers then took one monkey from each group and put her (5) ___________________. Researchers found that the "new girl" was unhealthier (6) ___________________ monkeys.

The researchers said that although (7) ___________________ on monkeys, it could (8) ___________________ humans because we share (9) ___________________ DNA with monkeys. A professor told the BBC News that governments should understand that people with a lower social status (10) ___________________ problems. He said they have got cars and TVs, but that does (11) ___________________ are happy. Richer people can live up to (12) ___________________ than poorer people.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Anewstudyshowsthatalowsocialstatuscanbebadforyourhealth.Rese
archersintheUSAlookedatthebehaviourof45femalemonkeys.Themo
nkeyswithalowersocialstatuswereunhealthier.Themonkeyswerespli
tintogroups.Theyhadtimetogettoknoweachother.Researchersthent
ookonemonkeyfromeachgroupandputherintoanothergroup.Resear
chersfoundthatthe"newgirl"wasunhealthierthantheothermonkeys.T
heresearcherssaidthatalthoughtheirstudywasonmonkeys,itcouldals
obetrueforhumansbecausewesharealotofourDNAwithmonkeys.Apr
ofessortoldtheBBCNewsthatgovernmentsshouldunderstandthatpeo
plewithalowersocialstatushavemorehealthproblems.Hesaidtheyhav
egotcarsandTVs,butthatdoesnotmeantheyarehappy.Richerpeoplec
anliveuptotwodecadeslongerthanpoorerpeople.

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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