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Gout is a form of arthritis that typically comes on suddenly, causing intense joint pain, especially in the feet, ankles, wrists, or fingers. It is caused by the accumulation of urate crystals in the joint. Whereas normally, uric acid dissolves in the bloodstream and passes out of the body in the urine, at times, uric acid builds up, forming crystals. A diet rich in the foods that increase levels of uric acid—meat, seafood, fructose—may be a risk factor for gout.
It now appears that nurse-led treatments focusing on lifestyle may provide significant aid for gout patients. Medical treatment for gout has usually involved pain relievers and corticosteroids. In addition, doctors may prescribe uric acid inhibitors for patients who have recurrent gout attacks. A recent British study indicates that nurse-led care, which includes holistic education, lifestyle advice, and some form of urate-lowering therapy, is not only cheaper but also more successful than the usual physician-led treatment. Nurses were thoroughly trained in the causes and management of gout and were encouraged to include patients in decisions involving their own treatment. After two years, outcomes largely favored the nurse-led patients.
Which is the best title for this passage?
- A. "Medical Treatment for Gout"
- B. "Uric Acid Affects the Joints"
- C. "Risk Factors for One Type of Arthritis"
- D. "Nurse-Led Care Aids Gout Patients"
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The passage focuses on how nurse-led care, including holistic education and lifestyle advice, can aid patients with gout.
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Most nail abnormalities are innocuous, but some may be clues to underlying health problems. Everyone should be alert to changes in the color, shape, or texture of his or her nails. Nails may provide an early warning sign to serious illness. White nails may indicate liver problems, especially when they are accompanied by yellowish skin on the fingers.
Yellow nails, on the other hand, usually just mean you have a treatable fungal infection. Pale nails can be a sign of anemia, whereas blue nails usually mean a lack of oxygen due to a lung or heart problem. If your usually smooth nails become pitted, this could be a sign of rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis. If they are indented and soft, you may have a serious iron deficiency. If normally healthy nails suddenly crack and split, you may need to get your thyroid checked. Dark lines under the nail may indicate the deadly skin cancer, melanoma.
Any unusual changes in your nails should lead you to make an appointment with your general practitioner or with a dermatologist. Your nails may be trying to tell you something about what’s going on in the rest of your body.
What is the meaning of the word innocuous as used in the first paragraph?
- A. Undiscovered
- B. Harmless
- C. Imperceptible
- D. Purposeless
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The word "innocuous" in this context means harmless, indicating that most nail abnormalities are not dangerous.
ZUMBA:
In 1998, Colombian choreographer and aerobics instructor Beto Pérez introduced the world to a new exercise craze. It was a bit of serendipity that led him to invent Zumba. He left his usual music for class at home and had to improvise around a series of hip-hop cassettes he happened to have. The resulting dance moves were a hit with the class. By 2001, Pérez, who had moved to Miami, released some videos featuring his new Rumbacize, or Zumba, routines. The rest is history; Zumba remains wildly popular, and classes are now found all over the world.
Zumba features four Caribbean and South American rhythms: merengue from the Dominican Republic, salsa from Cuba, reggaeton from Puerto Rico, and cumbia from Colombia. Instructors often include other styles such as flamenco, mambo, samba, and tango. The goal is to get people moving for an hour of aerobic dance. A study at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse determined that Zumba is a highly effective, full-body workout. It allows heart rates to alternate, similar to more typical interval workouts, thus burning more calories than many other exercise programs, including kickboxing and power yoga. The dance movements also aid with flexibility and core strength.
Importantly, Zumba classes provide good workouts for both very fit and less-fit participants. Even better, because the movements are fun and the music is lively, participants tend to come back.
What is the meaning of the word serendipity as it is used in the first paragraph?
- A. Chance
- B. Persistence
- C. Foreboding
- D. Expertise
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The word "serendipity" refers to a fortunate coincidence or chance, describing how Beto P©rez invented Zumba accidentally.
HEAT EXHAUSTION:
One of the human effects of the climate crisis is that as temperatures climb, more and more people are in danger of heat exhaustion. A recent spate of triple-digit temperatures occurred in states where such temperatures are rare. Municipalities provided cooling centers, which doubtless saved some lives. Knowing the signs of heat exhaustion can help you protect yourself on the hottest of days. Left untreated, heat exhaustion may lead to heatstroke, which can be fatal.
If you are forced to be outside and active in a place where high temperatures combine with high humidity, monitor your body for unusual reactions. People with heat exhaustion may sweat heavily yet have skin that feels clammy or cold. They may have a sudden sharp headache or muscle cramps and experience dizziness when standing up, which can lead to nausea. If you notice that your heart is racing and you feel faint, stop your activity at once. Find a cool place to rest, and hydrate immediately with water or an electrolyte-fortified sports drink.
If you suddenly stop sweating entirely, become confused, or cannot drink, you need immediate medical attention. Be aware that certain medical conditions—such as obesity or any condition that requires you to take beta blockers, tranquilizers, or antipsychotics—may exacerbate your reaction to excessive heat. If your weight or medications make you susceptible to heat exhaustion, avoid all physical activity when the heat index is over 90 degrees.
The term exacerbate, as used in the last paragraph, can best be defined as ___________.
- A. To soothe
- B. To intensify
- C. To adapt
- D. To disclose
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: "Exacerbate" means to intensify or worsen, especially in the context of medical conditions worsening heat exhaustion.
EART VS SPACE:
Mark Kelly and his identical twin, Scott, were professional astronauts. They served as space shuttle pilots, with each logging multiple flights. In 2015, Scott began a year’s service aboard the International Space Station. NASA cleverly recognized this as an opportunity to do a longitudinal study on the effects of space flight and weightlessness on the human body. By comparing Scott in space to Mark on the ground, researchers could draw some important and valuable conclusions that could be used to plan for extended space travel in the future.
Ten teams of researchers developed a plan to test both men preflight, inflight, and postflight over 25 months. For the most part, the results showed the resilience of the human body even when under such unusual stress as a year in space. Among some of the findings were these: Scott’s cognitive performance was similar to Mark’s on the ground. Scott’s body mass decreased substantially, probably due to his diet of prepackaged food and his increased exercise, but it stabilized and returned to normal postflight. His gut bacteria were significantly different from Mark’s inflight, but they, too, returned to normal afterward.
A potentially troubling finding had to do with inflammation and arterial wall thickening, which appeared in Scott during and post flight but did not appear in Mark. Astronauts have often suffered from vision problems, and a study of fluid shifts determined that a certain protein was elevated in Scott’s system during flight. Some slight DNA damage, possibly due to radiation exposure, also appeared in Scott but not in Mark. Perhaps the most fascinating finding had to do with telomeres, the caps on chromosomes that shorten with age. Unexpectedly, Scott’s telomeres lengthened over his year in space, decreased after landing, and then shortened even more or vanished in the months that followed. Because telomere shortening and loss is connected to age-related diseases, this is an aspect of space travel that researchers want to understand better.
A reader might infer from this passage that NASA ___________.
- A. Plans new twin studies as it aims for Mars
- B. Allows other agencies to study its astronauts
- C. Will use these data in planning future trips
- D. Cares more about physiology than psychology
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage suggests that NASA will use the findings from the twin study to plan future extended space missions.
HEAT EXHAUSTION:
One of the human effects of the climate crisis is that as temperatures climb, more and more people are in danger of heat exhaustion. A recent spate of triple-digit temperatures occurred in states where such temperatures are rare. Municipalities provided cooling centers, which doubtless saved some lives. Knowing the signs of heat exhaustion can help you protect yourself on the hottest of days. Left untreated, heat exhaustion may lead to heatstroke, which can be fatal.
If you are forced to be outside and active in a place where high temperatures combine with high humidity, monitor your body for unusual reactions. People with heat exhaustion may sweat heavily yet have skin that feels clammy or cold. They may have a sudden sharp headache or muscle cramps and experience dizziness when standing up, which can lead to nausea. If you notice that your heart is racing and you feel faint, stop your activity at once. Find a cool place to rest, and hydrate immediately with water or an electrolyte-fortified sports drink.
If you suddenly stop sweating entirely, become confused, or cannot drink, you need immediate medical attention. Be aware that certain medical conditions—such as obesity or any condition that requires you to take beta blockers, tranquilizers, or antipsychotics—may exacerbate your reaction to excessive heat. If your weight or medications make you susceptible to heat exhaustion, avoid all physical activity when the heat index is over 90 degrees.
In this passage, which of these is not mentioned as a possible sign of heat exhaustion?
- A. Dizziness
- B. Nausea
- C. Headache
- D. Drowsiness
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The passage mentions dizziness, nausea, and headache as symptoms but does not list drowsiness.