Water Are you drinking enough

Looking after yourself

(Reading:

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Multiple matching

How much watcr do you drink each day?

What are the benefits of drinking water? What do you ihjnk the effeets of not drinking enough are?

You are going to rcad a newspaper article about the importance of drinking water. For ąuestions 1-15, choose from the paragraphs (A-E), The paragraphs may be chosen morę than once. When morę than one answer is requtred, these may be given in any order.

Which paragraphs mention the fol łowi ng?

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the effeets of excessive water consumption

a local schemc to improve water provision

the effeets of dehydration on appearanee

evidence of improved brain activitv

the recommended daily intake of water

a denial that any problem otists

harmful altematives to water

free gifts to encourage the drinking of water

a survey result revcaling how few of us drink enough water

the improbabilily of a particular health problem occurring

a gcncial lack of awareness of the fuli extent of tlie dangers

difficulty in implementing a national scheme

informing people of the need to drink water

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Drinking water can protect your health, improve your concentration and even prevent depression. Kate Hilpern reports on the dangers of dehydration.

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Practicalty the only time I drink water is when I'm working out at the gym and can feel my body erying out for it. Like millions of people, the rest of the time I prefer some flavour to my beverage. Insufficient consumption of water is a serious problem, according to scientists, who claim that anyone drinking less than eight glasses of pure water per day is at risk of dehydration. The consequences, they say, include poor performance at work, depression, allergies and even some cancers. Adding to the problem of getting this message across to the public is the fact that recent studies show drinking too much water can atso jeopardize your heatth, causing 'acute water intoxication.' Salt in the blood is diluted, depriring the brain, heart and muscles of the amounts they need to function properly. But, according to Dr Wendy Doyte of the British Dietetic Association, 'It's very unlikety to happen except in the most extreme circumstances.^-

B One recent poll suggests that only one in 10 of us drinks the right amount to meet the bod/s needs. And it's not only adults who are affected. A quarter of children drink no water during the school day and their performance is affected as a result. Indeed, thirst can cause mental performance to drop by at least 10 per cent Studies of primary schools have found that test results significantly improve when pupits are encouraged to drink water throughout the day. There are atso risks of longer-term damage, with paediatricians treating inereasing numbers of children with bladder and kidney problems relating to dehydration.

Looking after yourself CEflT|

C Fizzy drinks are four and a hatf times morę popular than water among children, it seems.

'But soft drinks, including fizzy drinks and fruit juices, contain high leveis of sugar,' says Barrie Ciarkę of Water UK, the umbrella organization for water suppliers. This means they are absorbed much morę slowly than water so they don’t hydrate the brain as quickly.’ Really high sugar drinks cause a rapid rise in blood sugar level. followed by a sudden dip, which can cause lack of concentration, he adds. 'Most people know that drinking water is good for you but few realise the huge rangę of risks that can affect us every day, including lack of concentration, fatigue and irritability.' Then there's your vanity to think of. Lack of water leads to dry and tired looking skin as well as ageing.

D Recognizing that dehydration is a major health issue, primary schools in one region are taking action by providing water coolers. 'One of the major reasons seemed to be that, as in schools nationwide, the only water provided was through water fountains situated in the toilets. Many didn't work very well and the water was veiy often not that cold,' exptained Jackie Abusin of the 'Cool Schools' campaign. For every cooler installed in a school, the regional water authority gives away refillable water bottles which children can take into ciasses with them. There is still a lot of work to be done around explaining to teachers about the importance of drinking water,’ said Abusin. 'So part of our campaign is getting them not only to atlow children to have water bottles on their desks, but to encourage them to drink from them before they get thirsty.’

E But what about adults? Water fountains in public places, as in schools, often offer nothing but a dribble of tepid water and appear less than hygienic. Vfater UK is currently working with shopping centres and public parks, among other places, to address the problem nationwide, but admits it is a slow process. Ciarkę is also working with the Institute of Directors, as well as individual employers, to persuade offices to provide water coolers for their employees. Wre trying to get the message across that it's not an act of generosity, but that it's in their business interests as dehydrated employees are unproductive.' Not everyone agrees with the current panie, however. Dr Doyle believes that most forms of fluid are as good as water and that most of us get enough of it anyway. let's not forget that food contains a lot of water. According to research, a ąuarter of the water we need to replace in our bodies each day comes from food.'

Reacting to the text

How much importance is attached to drinking water in your country?

How effectivc would campaigns such as those described in the last two paragraphs be? What other measures might usefully be introduccd?

Language focus 3: Reported speech

Direct speech

a 'We’re meeting her tomorrow.'

b Tve seen him twice today.'

c 'She's been living here for years.'

. for years.

d T spoke to her last	He said he
week.'	"* to her	week.
e 'I was working	He told me he
yesterday.'	working	before.
f 'We'd asked her	They said they_
several times.’	her seueral times.

i Look at the following example from the text, togethet with the reported speech version. What change is madę to the verb when it is reporled?

Direct speech:    There is still a lot of work to be

done,' said Abusin.

Reported speech:    Abusin said there was still a lot of

work to be done.

Under what circumstances would the following reported speech uersion be possible?

Abusin said there is still a lot of work to be done.

I Complete the columns below to show how verb tenses and other words and expressions can change in reported speech.

Reported speech

They said they were meeting her the next day.

She said she_

him twice_day.

He told me she liuing_

3 Marne the tense in each sentence in exercise 2. Example: a present continuous —> past continuOus

4    What happens to the modal verbs will, may. can and must in reported speech?',

What happens to would. might, could. sheuld and ought to?

5    What happens to these time expressions in reported speech? two days ago next month tonight

this morning now

Check your ideas on page 215 of the Grammar reierence.

6    O Write down at least five things that different people have said recently. Then report the different statements to the dass using reported speech.

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