The Reading / Listening - Tai Chi & Parkinson's - Level 6

Researchers have found that the Chinese martial art of tai chi could slow down the progression of Parkinson's disease by years. Tai chi, with its slow, meditative and deliberate movements, is known to benefit physical and mental well-being. Doctors from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine conducted a five-year study on people with Parkinson's. The researchers discovered that the condition progressed at a slower rate in those who practiced tai chi. They observed fewer falls, and less dizziness and back pain in the tai chi practitioners. The researchers also noted that the cognitive function of the test participants who regularly practiced tai chi deteriorated more slowly.

Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that affects the nerves and muscles. It progressively causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. People with Parkinson's may eventually have difficulties walking and talking. One of the most famous people with Parkinson's was the heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. The researchers suggest that doing tai chi could keep symptoms of Parkinson's at bay for years. They said: "The long-term beneficial effect of tai chi on Parkinson's could prolong the time without disability, leading to a higher quality of life, a lower burden for caregivers and a reduction in drug use."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Tai Chi & Parkinson's - Level 4  or  Tai Chi & Parkinson's - Level 5

Sources
  • https://people.com/tai-chi-slows-down-symptoms-of-parkinsons-disease-study-finds-ozzy-osbourne-8382455
  • https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/parkinsons-disease-slows-down-martial-art-b2435538.html
  • https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-10-tai-chi-curb-parkinson-disease.htm


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. TAI CHI: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about tai chi. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       martial art / tai chi / Parkinson's / disease / meditative / well-being / dizziness / pain /
       brain disorder / nerves / muscles / shaking / balance / boxing / symptoms / drug use
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. PARKINSON'S: Students A strongly believe we should all learn about Parkinson's and similar disorders at school; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. MARTIAL ARTS: What do you know about these martial arts? How useful are they? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What We Know

Usefulness

Tai chi

 

 

Karate

 

 

Aikido

 

 

Sumo

 

 

Tae kwon do

 

 

Kung fu

 

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

5. WELL-BEING: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "well-being". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. BRAIN HEALTH: Rank these with your partner. Put the best activities for brain health at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Tai chi
  • Sleeping
  • Reading
  • Meditation
  • Learning a language
  • Playing the piano
  • Crossword puzzles
  • Socializing

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. martial art a. A person actively engaged in an art, discipline, or profession.
      2. meditative b. Done consciously and intentionally.
      3. deliberate c. Relating to the focusing of one's mind for a period of time for religious, spiritual or other purposes.
      4. dizziness d. Slowly became worse.
      5. practitioner e. Various sports, which originated in Japan, Korea, and China as forms of self-defence or attack, such as judo, karate, and kendo.
      6. cognitive f. A sensation of spinning around and losing one's balance.
      7. deteriorated g. Relating to the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought.

    Paragraph 2

      8. disorder h. Not planned or meant.
      9. unintended i. Prevent someone or something from approaching or having an effect
      10. coordination j. A duty that causes great work, worry or hardship.
      11. symptom k. The ability to use different parts of the body together smoothly and efficiently.
      12. keep at bay l. Extend the duration of.
      13. prolong m. A physical or mental feature which is a sign of a condition of disease.
      14. burden n. An illness or condition that disrupts normal physical or mental functions.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Tai chi is a martial art that originated in China.     T / F
  2. The article says tai chi is a key part of meditation.     T / F
  3. Researchers from a university in Beijing conducted a study.     T / F
  4. Test participants who did tai chi suffered slower cognitive decline.     T / F
  5. Parkinson's disease mainly affects the cardiovascular system.     T / F
  6. Parkinson's disease affects people's coordination and balance.     T / F
  7. The article says a former karate champion had Parkinson's disease.     T / F
  8. Tai chi could reduce the need for drugs to treat Parkinson's disease.    T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. progression
  2. deliberate
  3. well-being
  4. observed
  5. deteriorated
  6. disorder
  7. balance
  8. symptoms
  9. prolong
  10. burden
  1. health
  2. condition
  3. worsened
  4. draw out
  5. purposeful
  6. stability
  7. signs
  8. advance
  9. responsibility
  10. saw

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. tai chi could slow down
  2. slow, meditative and
  3. less
  4. cognitive
  5. deteriorated
  6. a brain disorder that
  7. difficulty with balance and
  8. keep symptoms of Parkinson's
  9. The long-term beneficial
  10. a lower burden
  1. affects the nerves
  2. more slowly
  3. effect of tai chi
  4. deliberate movements
  5. for caregivers
  6. dizziness
  7. the progression
  8. coordination
  9. at bay
  10. function

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
being
progression
regularly
progressed
deliberate
martial
dizziness
cognitive

Researchers have found that the Chinese (1) _____________________ art of tai chi could slow down the (2) _____________________ of Parkinson's disease by years. Tai chi, with its slow, meditative and (3) _____________________ movements, is known to benefit physical and mental well-(4) _____________________. Doctors from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine conducted a five-year study on people with Parkinson's. The researchers discovered that the condition (5) _____________________ at a slower rate in those who practiced tai chi. They observed fewer falls, and less (6) _____________________ and back pain in the tai chi practitioners. The researchers also noted that the (7) _____________________ function of the test participants who (8) _____________________ practiced tai chi deteriorated more slowly.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
eventually
bay
burden
symptoms
disorder
reduction
stiffness
beneficial

Parkinson's disease is a brain (9) _____________________ that affects the nerves and muscles. It progressively causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, (10) _____________________, and difficulty with balance and coordination. People with Parkinson's may (11) _____________________ have difficulties walking and talking. One of the most famous people with Parkinson's was the heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. The researchers suggest that doing tai chi could keep (12) _____________________ of Parkinson's at (13) _____________________ for years. They said: "The long-term (14) _____________________ effect of tai chi on Parkinson's could prolong the time without disability, leading to a higher quality of life, a lower (15) _____________________ for caregivers and a (16) _____________________ in drug use."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  found that the Chinese martial art of tai chi could slow ______
     a.  down the progressing
     b.  down the progress shun
     c.  down the progressive
     d.  down the progression
2)  meditative and deliberate movements, is known to benefit physical and ______
     a.  mental well-being
     b.  mental well-been
     c.  mental well-be in
     d.  mental well-bean
3)  the condition progressed at a slower rate in those ______
     a.  whom practiced tai chi
     b.  who practiced tai chi
     c.  whose practiced tai chi
     d.  who's practiced tai chi
4)  They observed fewer falls, and less dizziness and back pain in ______
     a.  the tai chi practicing errs
     b.  the tai chi practical nerds
     c.  the tai chi practicing nerds
     d.  the tai chi practitioners
5)  cognitive function of the test participants who regularly practiced tai chi ______
     a.  deter rioted more slowly
     b.  deter a rated more slowly
     c.  deteriorated more slowly
     d.  decorated more slowly

6)  Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that affects the ______
     a.  nervous and muscles
     b.  nerve and muscles
     c.  nerves and muscle
     d.  nerves and muscles
7)  unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and ______
     a.  difficulty with valance
     b.  difficulty with balanced
     c.  difficulty with balance
     d.  difficulty with balances
8)  researchers suggest that doing tai chi could keep symptoms of ______
     a.  Parkinson's at bay
     b.  Parkinson's at may
     c.  Parkinson's at say
     d.  Parkinson's at day
9)  The long-term beneficial effect of tai chi on Parkinson's could prolong the ______
     a.  time within disability
     b.  time wither out disability
     c.  time without disability
     d.  time with thought disability
10)  leading to a higher quality of life, a lower ______
     a.  burden for caregivers
     b.  bird on for caregivers
     c.  bard on for caregivers
     d.  burr don for caregivers

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Researchers have found that the Chinese (1) ____________________ tai chi could slow down the progression of Parkinson's disease by years. Tai chi, with (2) ____________________ and deliberate movements, is known to benefit physical and mental well-being. Doctors from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine conducted a five-year study on people with Parkinson's. The researchers discovered that the condition (3) ____________________ slower rate in those who practiced tai chi. They observed fewer falls, and (4) ____________________ back pain in the tai chi practitioners. The researchers also noted that (5) ____________________ of the test participants who regularly practiced tai chi (6) ____________________.

Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that affects the (7) ____________________. It progressively causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as (8) ____________________ difficulty with balance and coordination. People with Parkinson's (9) ____________________ difficulties walking and talking. One of the most famous people with Parkinson's was the heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. The researchers suggest that doing tai chi could (10) ____________________ Parkinson's at bay for years. They said: "The long-term beneficial effect of tai chi on Parkinson's could (11) ____________________ without disability, leading to a higher quality of life, a lower burden for caregivers and a (12) ____________________ use."

Comprehension questions

  1. By how long could tai chi slow down the progression of Parkinson's?
  2. What kind of movements does tai chi involve besides deliberate ones?
  3. How long was the study in the article?
  4. What did tai chi practitioners experience less of?
  5. What deteriorated more slowly in test participants who did tai chi?
  6. Which two areas of the body does Parkinson's affect, besides the brain?
  7. What might people with Parkinson's have trouble doing?
  8. What does the article say tai chi could keep at bay?
  9. What could doing tai chi lead to a higher quality of?
  10. Who might be burdened less if people practice tai chi?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  By how long could tai chi slow down the progression of Parkinson's?
a) decades
b) years
c) months
d) weeks
2)  What kind of movements does tai chi involve besides deliberate ones?
a) sudden and unexpected ones
b) carful and thoughtful ones
c) beautiful and elegant ones
d) slow and meditative ones
3) How long was the study in the article?
a) five years
b) six years
c) seven years
d) seven years
4) What did tai chi practitioners experience less of?
a) headaches and backaches
b) broken bones
c) dizziness and back pain
d) vocabulary loss
5) What deteriorated more slowly in test participants who did tai chi?
a) age
b) cognitive function
c) memory
d) language learning ability

6) Which two areas of the body does Parkinson's affect, besides the brain?
a) nerves and muscles
b) the legs and fingers
c) the stomach and bowels
d) the heart and lungs
7) What might people with Parkinson's have trouble doing?
a) cooking
b) playing games
c) walking and talking
d) using the Internet
8) What does the article say tai chi could keep at bay?
a) symptoms of Parkinson's
b) accidents
c) heart disease
d) memory loss
9) What could doing tai chi lead to a higher quality of?
a) life
b) memory
c) sleep
d) fitness
10) Who might be burdened less if people practice tai chi?
a) ambulance drivers
b) instructors
c) doctors
d) caregivers

Role play

Role  A – Tai Chi
You think tai chi is the best thing for brain health. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): sleeping, learning a language or socializing.

Role  B – Sleeping
You think sleeping is the best thing for brain health. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): tai chi, learning a language or socializing.

Role  C – Learning a Language
You think learning a language is the best thing for brain health. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): sleeping, tai chi or socializing.

Role  D – Socializing
You think socializing is the best thing for brain health. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): sleeping, learning a language or tai chi.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'tai chi'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'disease'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • down
    • known
    • conducted
    • rate
    • pain
    • regularly
    • nerves
    • difficulty
    • most
    • keep
    • time
    • leading

    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 - Tai Chi & Parkinson's

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'tai chi'?
    3. What do you know about tai chi?
    4. What do you know about martial arts?
    5. How can we keep our brain healthy?
    6. Do you worry about losing cognitive abilities?
    7. What do you do for your physical and mental well-being?
    8. Do you ever get dizzy or have back pain?
    9. How can we help people with Parkinson's?
    10. When will diseases like Parkinson's be a thing of the past?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'disease'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why do so many brain disorders affect older people?
    5. What do you know about brain disorders?
    6. Should we all do tai chi to keep Parkinson's at bay?
    7. Is there enough education about things like Parkinson's?
    8. How can we ensure there are caregivers for ageing populations?
    9. What do you hope to be doing in your later years?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Researchers have found that the Chinese (1) ____ art of tai chi could slow down the progression of Parkinson's disease by years. Tai chi, (2) ____ its slow, meditative and deliberate movements, is known to benefit physical and mental (3) ____-being. Doctors from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine conducted a five-year study (4) ____ people with Parkinson's. The researchers discovered that the condition progressed at a slower rate in those who practiced tai chi. They observed fewer falls, and (5) ____ dizziness and back pain in the tai chi practitioners. The researchers also noted that the cognitive (6) ____ of the test participants who regularly practiced tai chi deteriorated more slowly.

    Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that (7) ____ the nerves and muscles. It progressively causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, (8) ____, and difficulty with balance and coordination. People with Parkinson's may (9) ____ have difficulties walking and talking. One of the most famous people with Parkinson's was the heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. The researchers suggest that doing tai chi could keep symptoms of Parkinson's at (10) ____ for years. They said: "The long-term beneficial effect of tai chi on Parkinson's could (11) ____ the time without disability, leading to a higher quality of life, a lower (12) ____ for caregivers and a reduction in drug use."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     martial     (b)     Martian     (c)     marital     (d)     matinee    
    2. (a)     by     (b)     on     (c)     with     (d)     for    
    3. (a)     good     (b)     better     (c)     well     (d)     best    
    4. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     by     (d)     on    
    5. (a)     fewer     (b)     smaller     (c)     less     (d)     decline    
    6. (a)     feature     (b)     function     (c)     future     (d)     futility    
    7. (a)     confects     (b)     affects     (c)     inflects     (d)     effects    
    8. (a)     staffing     (b)     stiffness     (c)     stuffing     (d)     strafing    
    9. (a)     succumb     (b)     degenerate     (c)     eventually     (d)     suffer    
    10. (a)     may     (b)     say     (c)     day     (d)     bay    
    11. (a)     prole     (b)     proletariat     (c)     prologue     (d)     prolong    
    12. (a)     boding     (b)     balding     (c)     bidding     (d)     burden

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the Chinese iatlmra art of tai chi
    2. slow down the irorosgspen of Parkinson's
    3. tedimteiva and deliberate movements
    4. less zdeiiszsn
    5. tai chi einartcitrspo
    6. aedreotetidr more slowly

    Paragraph 2

    1. a brain ddsroire
    2. nerves and smcelsu
    3. euntylavel have difficulties walking
    4. keep smtpsmyo of Parkinson's at bay
    5. prolong the time without iisiatbyld
    6. a lower ebrdun for caregivers

    Put the text back together

    (...)   physical and mental well-being. Doctors from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine conducted a five-
    (...)   a slower rate in those who practiced tai chi. They observed fewer falls, and less dizziness and back
    (  1  ) Researchers have found that the Chinese martial art of tai chi could slow down the progression of Parkinson's disease
    (...)   or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and
    (...)   by years. Tai chi, with its slow, meditative and deliberate movements, is known to benefit
    (...)   suggest that doing tai chi could keep symptoms of Parkinson's at bay for years. They said: "The long-term beneficial
    (...)   famous people with Parkinson's was the heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. The researchers
    (...)   coordination. People with Parkinson's may eventually have difficulties walking and talking. One of the most
    (...)   of the test participants who regularly practiced tai chi deteriorated more slowly.
    (...)   effect of tai chi on Parkinson's could prolong the time without disability, leading to a higher
    (...)   pain in the tai chi practitioners. The researchers also noted that the cognitive function
    (...)   quality of life, a lower burden for caregivers and a reduction in drug use."
    (...)   Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that affects the nerves and muscles. It progressively causes unintended
    (...)   year study on people with Parkinson's. The researchers discovered that the condition progressed at

    Put the words in the right order

    1. down   Parkinson's   .   could   slow   Tai chi   progression   of   the
    2. is   benefit   known   Tai chi   well-being   .   mental   to
    3. The   progressed   slower   rate   .   at   a   condition
    4. less   the   dizziness   falls   Fewer   practitioners   .   in   and
    5. participants   .   the   The   cognitive   of   test   function
    6. brain   that   the   A   affects   disorder   nerves   .
    7. It   as   causes  shaking  .  such  unintended  progressively  movements
    8. walking   .   have  Parkinson's  may  People  with  eventually  difficulties
    9. keep   at   bay   .   Tai chi   symptoms   of   could   Parkinson's
    10. the   disability   .   prolong   without   time   Parkinson's   could

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Researchers have found that the Chinese martial art of tai chi could slow down the progressive / progression of Parkinson's disease by yearly / years. Tai chi, with its slow, meditative and deliberate / deliberately movements, is known to / for benefit physical and mental well-being. Doctors from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine conduced / conducted a five-year study in / on people with Parkinson's. The researchers discovered that the condition progressed at / of a slower rate in those who practiced tai chi. They observed fewer falls / fails, and less dizziness and back pain in the tai chi practitioners. The researchers also denoted / noted that the cognitive function of the test participants who regularly practiced tai chi defibrillated / deteriorated more slowly.

    Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that effects / affects the nerves and muscles. It progressively courses / causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such was / as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with / wither balance and coordination. People with Parkinson's may eventual / eventually have difficulties walking and talking. One of the most famous people with Parkinson's was the heavyweight boxer / boxing champion Muhammad Ali. The researchers suggest that done / doing tai chi could keep symptoms of Parkinson's at bay / day for years. They said: "The long-term beneficial effect of tai chi on Parkinson's could prologue / prolong the time without disability, leading to a higher quality of life, a lower burden for caregivers and a reduction on / in drug use."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    R_s__rch_rs  h_v_  f__nd  th_t  th_  Ch_n_s_  m_rt__l  _rt  _f  t__  ch_  c__ld  sl_w  d_wn  th_  pr_gr_ss__n  _f  P_rk_ns_n's  d_s__s_  by  y__rs.  T__  ch_,  w_th  _ts  sl_w,  m_d_t_t_v_  _nd  d_l_b_r_t_  m_v_m_nts,  _s  kn_wn  t_  b_n_f_t  phys_c_l  _nd  m_nt_l  w_ll-b__ng.  D_ct_rs  fr_m  th_  Sh_ngh__  J___  T_ng  _n_v_rs_ty  Sch__l  _f  M_d_c_n_  c_nd_ct_d  _  f_v_-y__r  st_dy  _n  p__pl_  w_th  P_rk_ns_n's.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  d_sc_v_r_d  th_t  th_  c_nd_t__n  pr_gr_ss_d  _t  _  sl_w_r  r_t_  _n  th_s_  wh_  pr_ct_c_d  t__  ch_.  Th_y  _bs_rv_d  f_w_r  f_lls,  _nd  l_ss  d_zz_n_ss  _nd  b_ck  p__n  _n  th_  t__  ch_  pr_ct_t__n_rs.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  _ls_  n_t_d  th_t  th_  c_gn_t_v_  f_nct__n  _f  th_  t_st  p_rt_c_p_nts  wh_  r_g_l_rly  pr_ct_c_d  t__  ch_  d_t_r__r_t_d  m_r_  sl_wly.

    P_rk_ns_n's  d_s__s_  _s  _  br__n  d_s_rd_r  th_t  _ff_cts  th_  n_rv_s  _nd  m_scl_s.  _t  pr_gr_ss_v_ly  c__s_s  _n_nt_nd_d  _r  _nc_ntr_ll_bl_  m_v_m_nts,  s_ch  _s  sh_k_ng,  st_ffn_ss,  _nd  d_ff_c_lty  w_th  b_l_nc_  _nd  c__rd_n_t__n.  P__pl_  w_th  P_rk_ns_n's  m_y  _v_nt__lly  h_v_  d_ff_c_lt__s  w_lk_ng  _nd  t_lk_ng.  _n_  _f  th_  m_st  f_m__s  p__pl_  w_th  P_rk_ns_n's  w_s  th_  h__vyw__ght  b_x_ng  ch_mp__n  M_h_mm_d  _l_.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  s_gg_st  th_t  d__ng  t__  ch_  c__ld  k__p  sympt_ms  _f  P_rk_ns_n's  _t  b_y  f_r  y__rs.  Th_y  s__d:  "Th_  l_ng-t_rm  b_n_f_c__l  _ff_ct  _f  t__  ch_  _n  P_rk_ns_n's  c__ld  pr_l_ng  th_  t_m_  w_th__t  d_s_b_l_ty,  l__d_ng  t_  _  h_gh_r  q__l_ty  _f  l_f_,  _  l_w_r  b_rd_n  f_r  c_r_g_v_rs  _nd  _  r_d_ct__n  _n  dr_g  _s_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    researchers have found that the chinese martial art of tai chi could slow down the progression of parkinsons disease by years tai chi with its slow meditative and deliberate movements is known to benefit physical and mental wellbeing doctors from the shanghai jiao tong university school of medicine conducted a fiveyear study on people with parkinsons the researchers discovered that the condition progressed at a slower rate in those who practiced tai chi they observed fewer falls and less dizziness and back pain in the tai chi practitioners the researchers also noted that the cognitive function of the test participants who regularly practiced tai chi deteriorated more slowly

    parkinsons disease is a brain disorder that affects the nerves and muscles it progressively causes unintended or uncontrollable movements such as shaking stiffness and difficulty with balance and coordination people with parkinsons may eventually have difficulties walking and talking one of the most famous people with parkinsons was the heavyweight boxing champion muhammad ali the researchers suggest that doing tai chi could keep symptoms of parkinsons at bay for years they said the longterm beneficial effect of tai chi on parkinsons could prolong the time without disability leading to a higher quality of life a lower burden for caregivers and a reduction in drug use

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ResearchershavefoundthattheChinesemartialartoftaichicouldslowd
    owntheprogressionofParkinson'sdiseasebyyears.Taichi,withitsslow,
    meditativeanddeliberatemovements,isknowntobenefitphysicaland
    mentalwell-being.DoctorsfromtheShanghaiJiaoTongUniversitySch
    oolofMedicineconductedafive-yearstudyonpeoplewithParkinson's.T
    heresearchersdiscoveredthattheconditionprogressedataslowerratei
    nthosewhopracticedtaichi.Theyobservedfewerfalls,andlessdizzines
    sandbackpaininthetaichipractitioners.Theresearchersalsonotedthat
    thecognitivefunctionofthetestparticipantswhoregularlypracticedtai
    chideterioratedmoreslowly.Parkinson'sdiseaseisabraindisorderthat
    affectsthenervesandmuscles.Itprogressivelycausesunintendedorun
    controllablemovements,suchasshaking,stiffness,anddifficultywithb
    alanceandcoordination.PeoplewithParkinson'smayeventuallyhavedi
    fficultieswalkingandtalking.OneofthemostfamouspeoplewithParkin
    son'swastheheavyweightboxingchampionMuhammadAli.Theresear
    cherssuggestthatdoingtaichicouldkeepsymptomsofParkinson'satba
    yforyears.Theysaid:"Thelong-termbeneficialeffectoftaichionParkins
    on'scouldprolongthetimewithoutdisability,leadingtoahigherqualityo
    flife,alowerburdenforcaregiversandareductionindruguse."

    Free writing

    Write about tai chi - Parkinson's for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Everyone should do tai chi or meditate every day to look after their brain.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. TAI CHI: Make a poster about tai chi. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. DAILY TAI CHI: Write a magazine article about everyone doing tai chi to look after their brain. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on tai chi. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to look after your brain. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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