Energy drinks harmful to kids

PART I: READING.

Energy drinks harmful to kids

              Energy drinks packed full of caffeine may be harmful for children. That’s the conclusion of a new report from the University of Miami. Study author Judith Schaechter said popular drinks like Red Bull and Monster Energy have no health benefits. Many of the ingredients used to make them are not regulated. Dr. Schaechter warned that children with conditions such as diabetes, mood swings and heart, kidney or liver diseases may have negative reactions to the drinks and could even die after drinking them.

              Report co-author Steven Lipshultz said: “Pediatricians need to be aware of the possible effects of energy drinks.” He advised that: “Toxicity surveillance should be improved and regulations of…sales…should be based on appropriate research assessing energy drink safety.”

              Nearly a third of American children between the ages of 12 to 14 years regularly buy these beverages. Sales are steadily rising in the U.S. from $6.5 billion in 2008 to $6.9 billion in 2009. Sales for 2010 are expected to be much higher. American teens say the drinks help them at school. Tracy Wong, 18, said she needs them because, “it pumps my system full of caffeine. That's why I have energy. Caffeine energizes you and keeps you awake." A Red Bull spokesman said: “Red Bull Energy Drink is available in over 160 countries because health authorities across the world have concluded that [it] is safe to consume.” However, it is banned in Germany and Taiwan for containing minute traces of cocaine.

        ESL/EFL lessons Copyright © 2004-2011 by Sean Banville.

A/ COMPREHENSION.   8 pts

1)     a- The text is:    1 pt

a-a website article                        b-  an extract from a book               c-  a letter

b-Are the following statements true or false? Write T or F next to the letter corresponding to the    

      right answer.      2 pts

a-       Energy drinks are harmless to children.

b-       Around a half of children consume energy drinks.

c-       Sales of the drinks have increased over the past years.

d-       Red Bull is banned in most countries.

2)     Answer the following questions according to the text.   3 pts

a-     Are energy drinks dangerous to children’s health?

b-     Who might have very negative reactions to energy drinks?

c-     Why do you think Red Bull not banned in other countries? Justify.

3)     What or who do the underlined words refer to in the text?   1 pt

-          them ( §1) : ……………………………………………………………………………………

-          them ( § 3): …………………………………………………………………………………..

4)     The text is about: ( The title of the text to be omitted ) 1 pt

a-     The benefits of energy drinks on teenagers.

b-     The side effects of energy drinks on teenagers.

c-     The positive and the negative effects of energy drinks.

B/ TEXT EXPLORATION:   7 pts

1-      Find in the text words or phrases that are closest in meaning  to the following:  2 pts

a-     Dangerous ( §1) = …………………………………

b-     Drinks ( § 2 ) = ……………………………………

                                  

2-     Complete the chart as shown in the example:   1.5 pt

	Verb	Noun	Adjective
Examplee	Energize	Energy	Energetic
	…………………………….	……………………………….	harmful
	…………………………….	drink	………………………………….
	To consume	……………………………..

3-     Rewrite sentences (b) so that they mean the same as sentences (a):    1.5 pt

1.a- Steven Lipshultz said: “Pediatricians need to be aware of the possible effects of energy

drinks.”

   b- Steven Lipshultz said that ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2.a- Energy drinks producers should improve toxicity surveillance.

   b- Energy drinks producers …………………………………………………………………………………………………….

4-     Fill in the gaps with the words given:   2 pts

cigarettes    -    consumed   -   consume    -     energy drinks     

Recent studies suggest that teenagers who chug ………………………………. are much more likely than their peers to use alcohol and other drugs. “Students who …………………….energy drinks were two to three times more likely to say they’d recently used alcohol, ……………………, and drugs than those who didn’t ……………………… energy drinks,” say the researchers at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research.

PART II: WRITTEN EXPRESSION:        5 pts

Using the following notes, write a composition of about 70 to 80 words

Topic1 : You have received a letter from an English-speaking friend of yours. He asked you for advice

about getting into shape and eating healthy food.Write a letter to him, giving practical advice

on fitness and healthy eating.

-          Eat a balanced diet.

-          Practise a physical activity.

-          Avoid snacking between meals.

-          Eliminate stress.