Professional Documents
Culture Documents
I HEALTHY TOWNS
The number of overweight children is conXnuing to grow in western countries, and new ways of dealing with obese
children are badly needed. Today, England has got the faTest populaXon in Europe. The UK health secretary Alan
Johnson believes that obesity is one of the greatest challenges facing Britain today. Health experts are sure that
only a long-term change in lifestyle will help people control their weight.
II Obesity is presently cosXng the UK £1 billion a year due to medical expenses for treaXng illnesses that are connected
to obesity, and officials predict that this amount will reach £45 billion by 2050. They esXmate that by then, 25% of
children in the UK will be obese.
III England wants 10 eco-friendly towns to become healthy, or “fit”, towns. The town design and the faciliXes offered to
the public would promote a healthy lifestyle. The idea is that physical acXvity would be a part of everyday life.
Many cycle lanes and safe walking routes would be built so people wouldn’t have to drive to schools and the town
centre. Larger parks, modern play areas and sport centres would be planned. School programmes would teach
children how to prepare healthy food. If the plan succeeds, towns which already exist could be redesigned.
IV InternaXonal research shows that fighXng obesity successfully requires the involvement of the whole community. In
France, the enXre populaXon of several towns focused on children’s health for a period of five years. Parents,
teachers, doctors, local food businesses and sports associaXons were all involved. At the end of the five years, there
was a significant drop in the levels of child obesity. The BriXsh government hopes this model will succeed in the UK,
too.
Find evidence in the text to jusBfy your answers (3) 3 Answer the quesBon (2)
…… 1. Western countries are successfully coping with obesity. Why is France menXoned in the text?
…………………………………………………………………….
..............................................................................
…… 2. In Europe, the greatest number of overweight people live in ……………………………………………………………………..
England. …………………………………………………………………….
..............................................................................
4 Find words or expressions in the text that mean:
…… 3. Obesity is mainly a problem of how people look.
(2)
..............................................................................
2 Complete the sentences (3) 1. difficulXes (paragraph I) ………………………
1. People can overcome obesity by making .........………….. 2. at this Xme (paragraph II) ………………………
………………………………………………………………… 3. encourage (paragraph III) ………………………
2. The cost of obesity to the BriXsh economy is ............... 4. planned again (paragraph III) ………………………
..................................................................................... . 5. concentrated (paragraph IV) ………………………
3. Britain hopes to make eco-friendly towns that would …………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
WRITING. (10). CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TOPICS AND WRITE 110-130 WORDS
1. The importance of personal organisaBon.
2. Should people travel in their own country before visiBng other countries?