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SLEEP:
Most people get a little grumpy when they do not get enough sleep, but for children, the issue may extend beyond mere irritability. Lack of sleep can affect their weight and overall behavior. A study conducted in New Zealand at the University of Auckland and published in the medical journal Sleep followed almost 600 children from infancy through seven years of age. Researchers observed the children�s sleep patterns and found that they generally slept less on weekends than during the week, and even less during the summer months.
According to the findings, children who slept the least were at a greater risk for being overweight and experiencing behavioral problems. Those who regularly slept less than nine hours a night were three times more likely to be obese and to show signs of attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared to those who slept more. These results were based on questionnaires completed by the children�s parents and teachers.
The connection between sleep and weight is still not fully understood, but experts suspect that chronic sleep deprivation may alter hormones involved in appetite control and metabolism. This is a connection that needs further exploration to be fully understood.
Experts recommend that preschoolers get 11 to 13 hours of sleep each night, while school-age children should get between 10 and 11 hours per night. However, many children average only 8 hours of sleep. The study concluded that adjusting sleep duration is a manageable risk factor that can help prevent future health problems for today�s young people.
What conclusion can a reader draw about the connection between sleep and young children?
- A. Lack of sleep causes children to fail in school.
- B. Inadequate rest raises the risk of behavioral and physical problems.
- C. Sleeping less than 10 hours a night is guaranteed to result in obesity.
- D. Eight hours of sleep each night meets the requirements of most children.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The study outlined in the passage indicates that children who lack adequate sleep are at a higher risk for behavioral and physical issues, such as obesity and attention disorders. This conclusion is derived from the evidence provided in the passage, suggesting a direct link between sleep deprivation and negative outcomes, thus supporting option B..
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THE FOOD PYRAMID:
The food pyramid is a visual representation of how the different food groups can be combined to form a healthy diet. Although it was a vital part of dietary guidelines for years before being replaced by the �MyPlate� model, the pyramid was constantly analyzed and revised as additional study was done in nutritional fields. A few years ago, the pyramid underwent a change regarding the unique dietary needs of seniors.
Modifications in the pyramid for older adults included an emphasis on fiber and calcium, as well as on vitamins D and B12. By incorporating these changes, the pyramid indicated that the nutrients found in a person�s routine daily consumption typically are not enough for seniors. Seniors need supplementation. As people age, they tend to move less and thus need fewer calories to maintain their weight. Because seniors tend to eat a more limited amount, dietitians urge them to choose wisely. They are encouraged to eat nutrient-rich meals featuring such foods as fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and high-fiber whole grains.
The revised pyramid also focused on the importance for older people of ingesting adequate amounts of fluids daily. This helps to ensure proper digestion and prevent dehydration. Finally, the revised pyramid included information on incorporating exercise and other physical activities into the lives of older adults. Suggestions included swimming, walking, or simple yard work. With recent reports indicating that obesity levels for people older than 70 years of age are climbing, performing some type of regular exercise is more essential than ever.
Which of the following is not mentioned as being important for seniors?
- A. Vitamin B12
- B. Calcium
- C. Nitrates
- D. Exercise
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage lists important nutrients for seniors, including fiber, calcium, vitamin D, and B12, while exercise is also discussed as crucial for health. However, nitrates are not mentioned at all, making option C correct since it stands out as the only nutrient not discussed in the context of seniors' health
FAT IN A HEALTHY DIET:
After years of bad publicity, it may sound absurd, but many dietitians are now extolling the virtues of consuming fat. According to Laurie Tansman, a nutritionist at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York, fat "not only plays a vital role in the health of the membrane of every cell in our body, it also helps protect us from a number of key health threats." Fat is a critical part of your necessary food intake, with a general recommendation that 30 percent of your daily calories should come from fat. Without it, your body would not be able to absorb or transport vitamins A, D, E, and K. Additionally, body temperature, hair follicles, and skin cells all rely on the consumption of fats to function properly.
There is near-universal agreement that the healthiest fats are unsaturated fats. This category includes olive oil, sesame oil, walnut oil, avocado oil, and omega-3 fatty acids. When consumed in moderation, these fats can lower cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. Saturated fats, while not as healthy as unsaturated fats, should still be consumed more sparingly. These fats are commonly found in animal products such as beef, pork, and chicken.
The least healthy of all fats are trans-fatty acids, or trans fats. Though trans fats can occur naturally in small amounts in animal products, they are more commonly found as artificially produced oils used for frying foods or softening prepackaged snacks. These fats increase the risk of heart disease, and the U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend consuming as few trans fats as possible.
What is the meaning of the word moderation as used in the second paragraph?
- A. Adequate amounts
- B. Intervals of time
- C. Excess
- D. Variation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In this context, moderation means consuming adequate amounts of unsaturated fats. The passage highlights that unsaturated fats like olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial when consumed in appropriate quantities. Choice B, intervals of time, is incorrect as it does not relate to the consumption of fats. Choice C, excess, is incorrect because moderation implies avoiding excess consumption. Choice D, variation, is unrelated to the context of consuming fats in appropriate amounts.
Life Expectancy in the US:
Where would you expect the United States to rank in life expectancy, the average number of years a person is expected to live? Near the top in the world, right? Well, surprise—we rank number 31, after Costa Rica and right before Cuba. World Health Organization data from 2015 indicate that the average life expectancy worldwide is 71 years—slightly more for females and slightly less for males. In the United States, we beat that average by around eight years. Yet we are several years behind Japan, with a female life expectancy of 86.8 years, or Switzerland, with a male life expectancy of 81.3 years. Even relatively poor European countries, such as Slovenia, Cyprus, and Malta, do better than we do.
There are a number of indicators that lead to our low score among wealthy nations. Those include obesity and its accompanying heart disease and diabetes, car crash deaths, gun violence, and embarrassingly high infant mortality rates. We eat more, drive more, have more guns, and allow poor women to go through pregnancies unattended by regular physicians. There are many other health indicators that separate us from other developed nations, but most correspond to the extreme wealth inequities in the United States.
It is too soon to tell whether an increase in insured Americans will help to turn this distasteful data around. Certainly those nations with universal health care have better numbers than we do. Much of our problem has to do with lifestyles that will not be easy to alter. We continue to build living spaces that are not walkable, to work long hours and drive long distances, to overeat—and we love our Second Amendment right to bear arms. It is difficult to imagine how we will overcome these realities and improve our longevity status.
What is the overall tone of the essay?
- A. Apathetic
- B. Fascinated
- C. Discouraged
- D. Hopeful
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The tone of the essay is discouraged as it expresses concern about the U.S.'s lower life expectancy ranking and contributing factors.
BEAUTY THE BEAST:
In recent years, there have been frightening headlines about harmful ingredients such as mercury and lead in ordinary cosmetics. However, these are hardly the first examples of people paying a heavy price to conform to cultural ideals of beauty. This tradition has been around for centuries.
Ancient Egyptians decorated their eyes with malachite (a green ore of copper), galena (a lead sulfide), and kohl (a paste made from soot, fat, and metals such as lead). While these cosmetics may have enhanced their appearance, they also led to health problems such as insomnia and mental confusion.
The ancient Greeks took these practices even further. They applied lead to their entire faces to clear their complexions and improve skin coloration. This practice resulted in health issues ranging from infertility to insanity. The lead ointment whitened their faces�a sign of beauty�while red lead was added to the cheeks for a rosy glow. To make matters worse, they also used hair dyes containing lead.
The Romans adopted these toxic beauty practices, and some historians suspect that lead poisoning contributed to the decline of the Roman Empire. As recently as 2007, lipsticks and mascaras were found to contain lead and mercury. Additionally, phthalates�industrial chemicals that can cause birth defects and infertility�are present in personal care products such as shampoos, lotions, perfumes, and deodorants.
An old saying states that beauty has a price, and sometimes that price may be much higher than consumers realize. It is important to be aware of what you are putting on your face.
What is the author's attitude toward the use of cosmetics?
- A. Sympathetic
- B. Mocking
- C. Tolerant
- D. Disapproving
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The author's tone is disapproving, as evidenced by the focus on the negative consequences of using cosmetics with harmful ingredients. The passage discusses historical and contemporary health issues related to beauty practices, indicating a critical stance on the use of cosmetics that compromise health, which supports option D.
MRSA:
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a form of the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium that is resistant to antibiotics and, as a result, is very difficult to treat. MRSA now kills more Americans every year than HIV/AIDS, and the rates of infection are rising. Methicillin, an antibiotic introduced in the 1960s, was intended to combat Staphylococcus aureus, which is ubiquitous in hospitals. However, within a year of its introduction, doctors began finding strains of bacteria that had already developed immunity to methicillin. By the 1990s, MRSA had become the leading hospital-acquired skin infection in the United States.
At the same time MRSA started appearing outside of hospitals, different strains of the bacteria emerged, spreading just as quickly and being just as dangerous. In the past 15 years, MRSA bacteria have become ubiquitous not only in hospitals but also in gyms, locker rooms, swimming pools, and other settings with frequent human contact.
Researchers in Ireland are developing technology that may significantly halt the spread of hospital-associated MRSA bacteria. They have created a textile made of nanomaterials 1,000 times smaller than a human hair. These textiles have been shown to halt the spread of infection and can be used for linens, drapes, and upholstery in hospitals. The potential for this technology to reduce instances of hospital-associated MRSA is staggering.
To reduce your risk of community-associated MRSA infection, regularly wash your hands, cover all open wounds with a clean bandage, and avoid sharing personal items like razors or towels.
Which of the following statements is an opinion related to MRSA?
- A. Hand-washing stations are one means of combating MRSA infection.
- B. Not all Staphylococcus bacteria are resistant to antibiotics.
- C. Hospitals in the United States should quickly adopt the use of new germ-fighting textiles.
- D. MRSA infection kills more people in the United States than does HIV/AIDS.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it is an opinion rather than a verifiable fact. The statement suggests a recommendation for hospitals to adopt new germ-fighting textiles swiftly, which is a subjective viewpoint and not objectively measurable. Choices A and B are factual statements regarding combating MRSA infection and antibiotic resistance, respectively. Choice D provides a comparison of MRSA infection with HIV/AIDS, which is a factual statement based on statistical data. Therefore, C is the only choice that presents an opinion rather than a fact.