Part one: Reading

In the selection below, the British Department of Health launches a campaign to raise awareness of a
“silent killer “linked to overeating.

Read the selection carefully, and then work on the activities that follow.

Half a Million Facing Liver- Disease “Time Bomb”

1. Half a million children are under threat from a liver- disease “time bomb”
fueled by obesity and underage drinking, a government expert warned last night.
2. With two-thirds of children predicted to be overweight within forty years, the
Department of Health is to launch a major publicity campaign to get young people
active this summer. They are concerned about the lack of awareness of the
impact of nonalcoholic, fatty liver disease(NAFLD), caused by overeating. The
condition is exacerbated by drinking.
3. Professor Martin Lombard, national clinical director for liver disease at the
department of health, says, “The number of children at risk is likely to soar as
waistlines expand. Liver disease is a silent killer putting the lives of thousands of
our children at risk. We do not want to see the next generations dying young from
a condition that can be prevented. We know that with childhood obesity on the
rise, we can expect more children to be at risk of fatty liver disease in the near
future. What’s of great concerns is the potential scenario of half a million children
or more approaching their teenage years, which is when some experiment with
large amounts of alcohol. Even modest amounts of alcohol may make NAFLD
worse.”
4.In total, 500,000 children aged from four to fourteen are at risk. By 2050, it is
predicted that 63% of children will be obese. Caused by a build- up of fat within
liver cells, NAFLD can trigger inflammation and swelling, preventing the liver from
performing properly. This can lead to cardiovascular problems and Type 2
diabetes. In some cases, the disease can progress to cirrhosis of the liver, a life
threatening condition. As the symptoms do not appear until the disease is at an
advanced stage, many people suffering from it will die young.
5. Experts are concerned that young people experiment with alcohol-particularly
during the summer-to celebrate the end of exams, straining their livers further
and increasing the chance of long-term problems. The warning comes one day
ahead of Childhood Obesity Week.
6. The Department of Health is also launching a new Change 4 life Program in a
few weeks, aimed at changing permanently the lifestyles of millions of children
who have become less active. Public Health Minister Anne Milton says, “If we are
going to turn around the life chances of our children, it’s important that parents
understand why being physically active matters so much.”
7. Professor Dame sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, says,
“Parents have to be made aware of the hidden risks of poor diet for their children.
Fatty liver disease is becoming a very common, chronic liver disorder in western
countries, causing serious ill health. In addition, many cases of fatty liver disease
are linked to being obese. We all need to be aware that fat is not only stored on
our blood surface but also in and around internal organs.”
8. Sarah Matthews, from the British Liver Trust says, “Even though alcohol is
regarded as the key cause of liver disease in the UK, weight- related liver damage
is set to become a huge public health problem where obesity could overtake
alcohol as the biggest, single drive of cirrhosis in the future.”
A. Answer in complete sentences using your own words.
1. In reference to Paragraph 2, what shows the depth of worry at the British
Department of Health?
2. In reference to Paragraph 3, why would the number of children under threat
from NAFLD rise as they become adolescents?
3. How does the Department of Health intend to drastically reduce the number of
NAFLD patients?
4. Explain the role of parents in curbing the spread of NAFLD?

B. Think critically before you answer the following.

1. What is the function of Paragraph 1?
2. Scan Paragraph 3 for a figure of speech, identify it, and then state its
significance.
3. How does the writer achieve coherence in paragraph 6? Explain.
4. Identify the tone conveyed in Paragraph 8. Justify.
C. The following statements are false, for they misinterpret what is stated or
implied in the text. Rewrite each correctly.
1. Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular problems could lead to obesity.
2. Obesity is the sole cause of liver malfunction in the UK.
D. Read the table carefully, and then explain what the percentages displayed
indicate about the relation between obesity and age in the US.
Obesity Percentages Among US Teens and Adults
Age/ Year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2016
12- 19 35% 40% 45% 50% 56%
20- 30 40% 56% 60% 65% 70%

E. Read each sentence carefully, and then determine which paragraph it

completes.
1. We all need to be aware that fat is not stored on our body surface but also in
and around our internal organs.
2. As the symptoms do not appear until the disease is at advanced stage, many
people suffering from it will die young.
F. Use context clues to figure out the meaning of each word in the box. Then, fill
in the blanks with the correct words to make complete sentences. Pay attention
to the correct part of speech and form of each word used.

Exacerbated( Paragraph 2) Prevented ( Paragraph 3) Approaching ( Paragraph 3)

Trigger ( Paragraph 4) Chronic ( Paragraph 7)

1. Eating a healthy diet and controlling your weight help maintain your general
health,…………………………………… conditions, such as high blood pressure, type 2
diabetes, heart disease stroke, and some cancers.

2. The individuals with certain…………………………………………… diseases who lived the

longest were not overweight.

3. Heat often ………………………………….. the disease, and most patients have worse
symptoms during the summer months.

4. Smoking…………………………….. diseases, such as lung cancer and inflammation.

Writing

Researchers have discovered that extreme weight teens face stigma,

discrimination, and isolation. Those factors, combined with other barriers to
losing weight, make it especially hard for extreme- weight teens to shed the kilos
they wish and keep a smile on their faces.

In an essay of 250- 300 words, discuss the statement above, elaborating on the
case of an obese teenager you know or have read about, suffering from
physical, social and/or psychological problems.