Running. Sleeping. Writing. Use of English

Running

We all know about the physical benefits of running, but the mental effects, such as clarity of thought and relief from stress, are just as important for good health. Running sends blood to the brain and makes it easier to think clearly. (1) ……………………… If you’re feeling stressed, go for a jog. The effect is even better when you run well. How to do it? A good tip is to watch an eight-year-old child running. Their steps are springy; the foot gets off the floor quickly and comes down lightly. You should take notice of what your brain is telling you. (2) ……………………… You’ll discover how good it makes you feel once you get the hang of it.

Sleeping

It is all too easy for those who can ‘hit the pillow and go out like a light’ to tell you to just stop thinking about things. If you are a worrier, you can’t just stop worrying, and this can affect your sleep. So, obey the basic rules: try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day, and allow some time to relax before bed. (3) ……………………… This should ideally be in the same place, at the same time every day. Give yourself 15–20 minutes to think about your worries and write a to-do list. Try drinking some warm milk and whatever you do, switch off your phone! And if you’re worrying about not sleeping and not being able to cope the next day, remember that sometimes our bodies actually need less sleep than we think. (4) ………………………

Writing

Writing down the things that are worrying us can be very therapeutic. It is a way of setting a thought free. Once it’s on the page or screen, we can read it, reread it, delete it or think about it. It can help us look at a problem more objectively. (5) ……………………… Try it: take one of your worries, such as a conversation or argument that has troubled you, and write what you wish you’d said or the words of support you'd hoped the other person might say to you. Writing a blog may have replaced diaries, but they are both a means of presenting your thoughts. (6) ……………………… Try some of these suggestions and may find that your stress levels begin to go down. But don’t forget – a certain level of stress in the body is good for you!

A Running robotically on a treadmill with a blasting MP3
player is not going to get those happy hormones working.

B Although we’re told to get eight hours, six to seven hours can be fine, so you may be getting more than enough sleep for your body to function well.

C Tune into your feet and not the MP3 player.

D Writing allows us to use both the logical and creative parts of the brain.

E The style doesn’t need to be of a prize-winning standard to have value!

F As for your worries, give yourself a ‘worry period’.

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8 Read the article again and choose the best answers, A, B or C.

1 Running helps clarity of thought because

A blood travels more slowly to the brain.

B blood travels faster to the brain.

C the brain helps you run faster.

2 To find out how to run you should

A join a gym.

B watch how children run.

C listen to music.

3 People who get to sleep easily do the following.

A hit the pillow first.

B get into bed and make lists.

C get into bed and don’t worry.
4 If you have problems getting to sleep, you should

A allow yourself a short time to worry.

B not worry at all, but start writing a list.

C allow yourself as much time as you need to worry.

5 The author suggests than you can write

A in a notebook.

B in a blog.

C on a computer or on paper.

6 The benefit of writing is that it helps you to

A order your thoughts.

B prepare arguments for tomorrow.

C improve how you express yourself.

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Total

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Use of English

9 Choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) to complete the email.

Hi Patrick,

What a day! I was going to have a really (1) …………… Saturday, finishing off some homework and doing various things
(2) …………… the house for Mum. Well, that was the plan! Alison phoned just after breakfast and persuaded me to go shopping in the new mall with her. Disaster! I (3) …………… all the money I earned from helping mum in the house!. Not on clothes, you’ll be pleased to hear! You know I’ve recently taken (4) …………… tennis? Well, there was a pair of amazing
(5) …………… in the sale in the sports shop, a real bargain, so of course I had to get them and a new (6) …………… as well because I’ve been borrowing Rowena’s for the last three weeks. I’ll be using both on the (7) …………… tomorrow, so you can see them! I also bought a few things for school. I got a new dictionary and some pens, but although I spent a lot, I don’t think I wasted my money.

After that, Alison told me that her brother was in the (8) …………… of the new play at the Apollo Theatre, so of course I went along with her in the evening. It was really good, and her brother gave a superb performance, but the tickets cost me £ 30! I definitely need to earn some more if I’m going to go to The Killers gig with you next month!

Hope your weekend was good!

Best wishes,

Josie

1 A relaxed B relaxing C relax D relaxation

2 A around B at C inside D to

3 A lost B cost C spent D earned

4 A down B up C in D off

5 A clubs B gloves C goggles D trainers

6 A net B racket C boots D skates

7 A pitch B pool C slope D court

8 A list B cast C programme D lyrics

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Listening

10 Listen to two people talking about an experiment involving mobile phones. Are these statements True (T) or False (F)?

1 The experiment was to see when teenagers
used their mobile phones the most. T/F

2 Grant’s experience wasn’t as bad as he had
imagined it would be. T/F

3 During the week, Grant started to imagine
things. T/F

4 For a while, Marian felt very isolated. T/F

5 Marian found that she looked at her watch
more during the week. T/F

6 Marian’s reaction changed during the week. T/F

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11 Listen again and complete the sentences with one word in each gap.

1 The presenter explains that the aim of the experiment was to find out how much teenagers relied on their mobile ……………………….

2 Teenagers had to try living without mobiles for
a ……………………….

3 Grant found it very difficult and during the night he thought he could ……………………… his mobile ringing.

4 Marian found the beginning of the week difficult,
but by the middle of the week, she wasn’t missing ……………………… or calling her friends.

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Total

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Writing

12 Write a reply to Josie’s email in Exercise 9 and say what you did over the weekend.

In your email include information about:

• activities you did.

• sports you played.

• people you saw.

• the best part of the weekend.

Write 150–180 words.

……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. ………. ………….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. ………. …………….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. ………. ………….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. ………. …………….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. ………. ………….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. ………. …………….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. ………. ………….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. ………. …………….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. ………. ………….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. ………. …………….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. ………. ………….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. ………. …………….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. ………. ………….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. …….. ……….. ………. ……

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Speaking

13Compare and contrast the photographs, then say how the people are feeling. Use the ideas in the box to help you make some brief notes before you begin.

• What are the people doing in each photo?

• How are they feeling?

• Which activity would you prefer to do and why?

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Total

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