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Unit7-A

Caffeine:
The World's Favorite Drug

Ripening berries on the stem of a coffee plant.

Before You Read

A. Matching.

Look at the information below.

How many milligrams(mg) of caffeine do you think is in each item? Match a letter from the chart (a-h) to each item.

Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance that can affect a person's nervous system. Most people associate caffeine with coffee, but it can also be found in many other familar items.

□1. Espresso coffee, 30ml(1 oz)

□2. Milk chocolate bar,170g(6 oz)

□3. Brewed tea, 240 ml(8 oz)cup

□4. Can of energy drink, 240ml(8 oz)

□5. Brewed coffee, 360 ml(12 oz)cup

□6. Bottle of cola, 600ml(20 oz)

□7. Large soda drink,1.7L(64 oz)

□8. Pain relief medicine (2 tablets)

B. Discussion.

Do you think caffine is good for you? Read the passage below to check your ideas.

习题答案在文末

Paragraph1

It's 1:45 A.M., and 21-year-old Thomas Murphy is burning the midnight oil,studying for an important engineering exam he has at 2:00 in the afternoon later today. To stay awake and focused, he?x-oss-process=image/format,webp" style="max-width:100%">downing a popular energy drink—one that has two to three times the amount of caffeine as a similar sized can of soda. Many students like Murphy, as well as marathon runnes, airline pilots, and long-distance travelers, owe their energy—and sometimes their efficiency—to one of humankind's oldest stimulants: caffeine.

Paragraph 2

The power to counter physical fatigueand increase alertness is part of the reason caffeine ranks as the world's most popular mood-alteringdrug. It is found not only in sodas, energy drinks, coffee and tea, but also in diet pills, pain relievers (like aspirin) and chocolate bars. Many societies around the world have also created entire rituals around the use of caffeine: afternoon tea in the U.K., the café culture of France, the tea ceremony in Japan, and the morning cup of coffee or tea that in many cultures marks the start of the day.

Paragraph3

Caffeine is present in many of the foods or drinks we consume, but is it really good for us? Charles Czeisler, a scientist and sleep expert at Harvard Medical School, believes that caffeine causes us to lose sleep, which he says is unhealthy. "Without adequate sleep—the typical eight hours—the human body will not function at its best, physically, mentally, or emotionally. Too often," Czeisler says, "we consume caffeine to stay awake, which later makes it impossible for us to get the rest we need."

Paragraph 4

Health risks have also been tied to caffeine consumption. Over the years, studies have attributed higher rates of certain types of cancer and bone disease to caffeine consumption. To date, however, there is no proof that caffeine actually causes these diseases.

If someone is burning the midnight oil, they are staying up very late to study or do some other work.
A stimulant is a substance that can temporatily increase the activity of body processes.
To counter something is to produce an effect that is opposite of what is being experienced.
Fatigue is the feeling of extreme mental or physical tiredness.
A mood-altering substance is capable of causing changes in your mood.

Paragraph 5

A number of scientists, including Roland Griffiths, a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in the U.S., believe that regular caffeine use causes physical dependence. "Heavy caffeine users," Griffiths says, "exhibit similar behaviors: Their moods fluctuate from high to low; they get mild to severe headaches; or they feel tired or sad when they can't have a coffee, a soft drink, an energy drink, or a cup of tea." To minimize or stop these feelings, users must consume caffine—a behavior Griffiths says is characteristic of drug addiction.

Paragraph6

Despite these concerns, the general opinion in the scientific community is that caffeine is not dangerous when consumed moderately— for example, having one or two small cups of coffee (about 300 milligrams of caffeine) per day. Furthermore, a lot of current research contradictslong-held negative beliefs about caffeine, and suggests that it may, in fact, have health benefits. For instance, studies have shown that caffeine can help ease muscle pain. Because it is a stimulant, caffeine can also help improve one's mood. Research has also shown that some caffeinated drinks—specifically certain teas—have disease-fighting chemicals that can help the body fight a number of illnesses, including certain types of cancer.

Paragraph 7

In addition, as a type of mental stimulant, caffeine increases alertness, memory, and reaction speed. Because it fights fatigue, it facilitates performance on tasks like driving, flying, and solving simple math problems. And while it is true that caffeine can increase blood pressure, the effect is usually temporary and therefore not likely to cause heart trouble—especially if caffeine is consumed in moderation.

Paragraph 8

Moreover, despite its nearly universal use, caffeine has rarely been abused. "With caffeine, overuse tends to stop itself," says Jack Bergman, a specialist at Harvard Medical School. "If you consume too much, you get ... uncomfortable, and you don't want to continue."

Paragraph 9

Caffeine's behavioral effects are real, but most often mild. Getting that burst of energy, of course, is why many of the most popular drinks on Earth contain caffeine. Whether it's a student drinking coffee before class or a businessperson enjoying tea with lunch, humankind's favorite stimulant is at work every day, all over the world.

Ifyou do something in moderation (e.g., smoke or drink), you don't do more than what is reasonable.

习题答案在文末

Multiple Choice

Choose the best answer for each question.

1. What is this reading mainly about?

a. the popularity of coffee

b. the effects of caffeine on the body

c. healthy vs. unhealthy caffeine products

d. the dangers of caffeine intake

2. In paragraph 1, the word downing could be replaced with

a. holding b. waking

c. decreasing d. drinking

3. In paragraph 3, which refers to

a. adequate sleep

b. lack of sleep

c. food containing caffeine

d. consuming caffeine

4. Which statement would sleep expert Charles Czeisler probably agree with?

a. It's a good idea to consume caffeine if you want to maintain your energy.

b. Regular consumption of caffeine will make it difficult for you to get enough rest.

c. How caffeine affects your sleep depends on the type of caffeine you consume.

d. Caffeine can help you get an adequate amount of sleep ifconsumed in moderation.

5. Which of the following is NOT listed as a possible side effect of drinking caffeine?

a. addiction

b. mood changes

c. painful headaches

d. muscle inflammation

6. Which of the following is closest in meaning to:

Moreover, despiteits nearly universal use, caffeine has rarely been abused.

a. Even though caffeine is consumed almost the world over, there aren't many instances of misuse.

b. Even though caffeine is often misused, it is consumed almost the world over.

c. Despite caffeine's popularity, addiction isn't a problem.

d. Caffeine is used all over the world, so it is commonly misused.

7. The following sentence would best be placed at the end of which paragraph?

Many say they couldn't live without it.

a. paragraph 1 b.paragraph 4

c. paragraph 6 d. paragraph8

Understanding Pros and Cons

A writer often discusses both sides of an argument or an issue. Understanding the reasons for an issue (the pros) and the reasons against an issue (the cons) helps you evaluate the author's claims and determine your position about the issue. The most effective way to do this is to list the pros and cons in two separate columns. This allows you to determine the strength of each claim.

A. Completion

Look back at the reading. Complete the chart with the pros and cons of caffeine consumption.

Caffeine consumption Pros

fatigue counters
increases alertness
can help muscle pain
improves mood
can help fight certain illnesses
increases alertness, and reaction speed
improves performance
no serious risk of

Caffeine consumption Cons

causes us to lose
possible risks of cancer and bone disease
can be addictive
causes changes
can cause headaches
going without causes tiredness and
increases temporarily

B. Evaluating

Is eating chocolate good for you? Mark each statement as P (a pro) or C (a con).

□1.It can be expensive if eaten every day.

□2.It can cause mood swings.

□3.It contains alow level of caffeine,which can help increase alertness.

□4.The sugar in chocolate can cause tooth decay.

□5.The calcium in chocolate can reduce the harmful effects of toothdecay.

□6.It has alot of calories—just 100grams contains 520 kcals.

A. Completion.

Complete the information below withthe correct form of words from thebox. One word is extra.

abuse depend
exhibit facilitate
furthermore severe

Did you know that you are 1.( ? ) your dog if you feed it chocolate? Too much chocolate can be harmful for dogs and can cause a variety of medical problems. The extent of harm usually 2.(?) on the type of chocolate. 3.(?) ,it is also affected by theamount of chocolate that the dog consumes. Some of theeffects are quite 4.(?), and could possibly lead to death. So if your dog5.(?) symptoms such as rapid breathing, or vomiting, it's possible that a chocolate "treat" was the cause.

B. Words in context
Complete each sentencewith the correct answer.

1. If you facilitate something, you make it

a. easier

b. more difficult

2. Something that is temporary continues

a. forever

b. for a limited time

3.A ritual is a series of actions or behaviors that is repeated

a. formally

b. randomly

4. If something is contradictory, it _____ another argument.

a. opposes

b. supports

5. If something fluctuates, it_____a lot in an irregular way.

a. changes

b. fights

本期答案

Before You Read

A.
1.b; 2.a; 3.c; 4.e; 5.g; 6.d; 7.h; 8.f

Answers will vary.Current research indicates that moderate levels of caffeine may have health benefits although caffeine also might affect sleep negatively.

Reading Comprehension

1.b; 2.d; 3.b; 4.b; 5.d; 6.a; 7.a

Reading Skill

Pros: physical, ease, memory, heart trouble/abuse;

Cons: sleep, mood, sadness, blood pressure

1.C; 2.C; 3.P; 4.C; 5.P; 6.C or P

Vocabulary Practice

1.abusing; 2.depends; 3.Furthermore; 4. severe; 5.exhibits

1.a; 2.b; 3.a; 4.a; 5.a