You are going to read a newspaper article about a young professional footballer. For questions 1-10, choose from the people (A-D). Margaret Garelly goes to meet Duncan Williams, who plays for Chelsea Football Club A It's my first time driving to Chelsea's training ground and I turn off slightly too early at the London University playing fields. Had he accepted football's rejections in his early teenage years, it is exactly the sort of ground Duncan Williams would have found himself running around on at weekends. At his current age of 18, he would have been a bright first-year undergraduate mixing his academic studies with a bit of football, rugby and cricket, given his early talent in all these sports. However, Duncan undoubtedly took the right path. Instead of studying, he is sitting with his father Gavin in one of the interview rooms at Chelsea's training base reflecting on Saturday's match against Manchester City. Such has been his rise to fame that it is with some disbelief that you listen to him describing how his career was nearly all over before it began. B Gavin, himself a fine footballer - a member of the national team in his time - and now a professional coach, sent Duncan to three professional clubs as a 14 year-old, but all three turned him down. 'I worked with him a lot when he was around 12, and it was clear he has fantastic technique and skill. But then the other boys shot up in height and he didn't. But I was still upset and surprised that no team seemed to want him, that they couldn't see what he might develop into in time. When Chelsea accepted him as a junior, it was made clear to him that this was more of a last chance than a new beginning. They told him he had a lot of hard work to do and wasn't part of their plans. Fortunately, that summer he just grew and grew, and got much stronger as well.' C Duncan takes up the story: 'The first half of that season I played in the youth team. I got lucky - the first-team manager came to watch us play QPR, and though we lost 3-1, I had a really good game. I moved up to the first team after that performance.' Gavin points out that it can be beneficial to be smaller and weaker when you are developing - it forces you to learn how to keep the ball better, how to use 'quick feet' to get out of tight spaces. 'A couple of years ago, Duncan would run past an opponent as if he wasn't there but then the other guy would close in on him. I used to say to him, ''Look, if you can do that now, imagine what you'll be like when you're 17, 18 and you're big and quick and they won't be able to get near you.'' If you're a smaller player, you have to use your brain a lot more.' D Not every kid gets advice from an ex-England player over dinner, nor their own private training sessions. Now Duncan is following in Gavin's footsteps. He has joined a national scheme where young people like him give advice to ambitious young teenagers who are hoping to become professionals. He is an old head on young shoulders. Yet he's also like a young kid in his enthusiasm. And fame has clearly not gone to his head; it would be hard to meet a more likeable, humble young man. So will he get to play for the national team? 'One day I'd love to, but when that is, is for somebody else to decide.'' The way he is playing, that won't be long.
ПОЛУЧИТЬ ОТВЕТ Read the email and choose the correct answer. If both answers are correct, choose the word Both.
✮ Read the text and mark the true sentences. Amy Logan’s insomnia was leading to a lot of restless nights. Taking a friend’s advice, she decided to pay a visit to a hypnotist. Here Amy looks at the medical benefits of hypnosis and is put into a deep, deep sleep ... . The lights are dim and the couch is comfortable; the hypnotist’s voice is monotonous, yet soothing. “Listen and relax, listen and relax,” he repeats over and over. My arms and legs and even my eyelids are feeling heavy. My breathing is slowing down, as though I’m falling into a deep sleep and then the hypnotist begins ... . There is evidence that the ancient Egyptians used hypnotism over 2,000 years ago, but hypnotherapy as we know it dates from the 18th century. Austrian physician Franz Mesmer became renowned for treating nervous disorders and we still use his name today whenever we say we are ‘mesmerised’ by something. It wasn’t until the following century, however, that surgeons began to use hypnotism (coming from the Greek word for sleep) to relax patients during surgery. With modern anaesthetics, however, hypnotism has become associated with stage-show hypnotists entertaining an audience, swinging a pocket-watch in front of their victims and getting them to cluck like a chicken! Now, with the help of hypnotherapy, people are managing anxiety, losing weight, stopping snoring and overcoming many other addictions and conditions. In fact, up to 75% of people who have used hypnotherapy to stop smoking have been able to kick the habit. It has also helped people suffering from phobias, depression or panic attacks. So how exactly does it work? Scientists are not 100% sure. What they do know is that it creates a state of deep relaxation in which patients are more open to suggestions than when they are wide awake. Patients sometimes compare the experience to being totally absorbed in a good book or film. They are not cut off from the outside world, but they’re completely focused on the hypnotist’s voice. It’s at this point that he can suggest positive changes to thought patterns and habits. Hypnotherapy isn’t just for psychological problems, though. Amazingly, some hospitals are now using it alongside conventional medicine to reduce pain and speed up recovery. Burn victims, for instance, have benefited from pain relief after a session of hypnotherapy. One pensioner even had an operation which involved a surgeon sawing into her foot while under hypnosis! She says, “I said to myself that if I had any pain I should think of it as waves lashing against a sea wall. Every time it happened, I imagined the pain going away, like the tide.” While hypnotism isn’t a magic wand, it seems it may be able to treat countless conditions. Moreover, it is painless as well as risk-free, it has no side effects and it’s cheap. Many people, however, are still not willing to put their faith in a therapy that can’t be scientifically proven. Before trying hypnotherapy for myself, I did a little research and found out that although about 90% of people can be hypnotised, good hypnotherapy patients tend to be relaxed, imaginative, intelligent and easily absorbed by things. So what happened after my own hypnotherapy experience? Well, throughout it, I felt normal and could still hear the traffic outside, but when I ‘awoke’ after what I thought was about 20 minutes, I was surprised to learn that an hour had passed. I have to admit I’ve been sleeping better ever since. Not perfectly, but there has definitely been an improvement. It looks like hypnotherapy might work for me, but what about you? Could you be hypnotised?
✮ Read the text. According to the text, how long did Amy's hypnotherapy experience last? Choose the correct answer. Amy Logan’s insomnia was leading to a lot of restless nights. Taking a friend’s advice, she decided to pay a visit to a hypnotist. Here Amy looks at the medical benefits of hypnosis and is put into a deep, deep sleep ... . The lights are dim and the couch is comfortable; the hypnotist’s voice is monotonous, yet soothing. “Listen and relax, listen and relax,” he repeats over and over. My arms and legs and even my eyelids are feeling heavy. My breathing is slowing down, as though I’m falling into a deep sleep and then the hypnotist begins ... . There is evidence that the ancient Egyptians used hypnotism over 2,000 years ago, but hypnotherapy as we know it dates from the 18th century. Austrian physician Franz Mesmer became renowned for treating nervous disorders and we still use his name today whenever we say we are ‘mesmerised’ by something. It wasn’t until the following century, however, that surgeons began to use hypnotism (coming from the Greek word for sleep) to relax patients during surgery. With modern anaesthetics, however, hypnotism has become associated with stage-show hypnotists entertaining an audience, swinging a pocket-watch in front of their victims and getting them to cluck like a chicken! Now, with the help of hypnotherapy, people are managing anxiety, losing weight, stopping snoring and overcoming many other addictions and conditions. In fact, up to 75% of people who have used hypnotherapy to stop smoking have been able to kick the habit. It has also helped people suffering from phobias, depression or panic attacks. So how exactly does it work? Scientists are not 100% sure. What they do know is that it creates a state of deep relaxation in which patients are more open to suggestions than when they are wide awake. Patients sometimes compare the experience to being totally absorbed in a good book or film. They are not cut off from the outside world, but they’re completely focused on the hypnotist’s voice. It’s at this point that he can suggest positive changes to thought patterns and habits. Hypnotherapy isn’t just for psychological problems, though. Amazingly, some hospitals are now using it alongside conventional medicine to reduce pain and speed up recovery. Burn victims, for instance, have benefited from pain relief after a session of hypnotherapy. One pensioner even had an operation which involved a surgeon sawing into her foot while under hypnosis! She says, “I said to myself that if I had any pain I should think of it as waves lashing against a sea wall. Every time it happened, I imagined the pain going away, like the tide.” While hypnotism isn’t a magic wand, it seems it may be able to treat countless conditions. Moreover, it is painless as well as risk-free, it has no side effects and it’s cheap. Many people, however, are still not willing to put their faith in a therapy that can’t be scientifically proven. Before trying hypnotherapy for myself, I did a little research and found out that although about 90% of people can be hypnotised, good hypnotherapy patients tend to be relaxed, imaginative, intelligent and easily absorbed by things. So what happened after my own hypnotherapy experience? Well, throughout it, I felt normal and could still hear the traffic outside, but when I ‘awoke’ after what I thought was about 20 minutes, I was surprised to learn that an hour had passed. I have to admit I’ve been sleeping better ever since. Not perfectly, but there has definitely been an improvement. It looks like hypnotherapy might work for me, but what about you? Could you be hypnotised?
✮✮✮ Read the Introduction. Your teenage brother has some problems with insomnia and you want to help him cope with this problem. While getting ready for your school lesson you've come across the article on alternative therapies. It is about a woman called Amy Logan who also suffers from insomnia. Read the text. Do you think your brother should visit a hypnotist? Give reasons for and against trying a hypnotherapy. Amy Logan’s insomnia was leading to a lot of restless nights. Taking a friend’s advice, she decided to pay a visit to a hypnotist. Here Amy looks at the medical benefits of hypnosis and is put into a deep, deep sleep ... . The lights are dim and the couch is comfortable; the hypnotist’s voice is monotonous, yet soothing. “Listen and relax, listen and relax,” he repeats over and over. My arms and legs and even my eyelids are feeling heavy. My breathing is slowing down, as though I’m falling into a deep sleep and then the hypnotist begins ... . There is evidence that the ancient Egyptians used hypnotism over 2,000 years ago, but hypnotherapy as we know it dates from the 18th century. Austrian physician Franz Mesmer became renowned for treating nervous disorders and we still use his name today whenever we say we are ‘mesmerised’ by something. It wasn’t until the following century, however, that surgeons began to use hypnotism (coming from the Greek word for sleep) to relax patients during surgery. With modern anaesthetics, however, hypnotism has become associated with stage-show hypnotists entertaining an audience, swinging a pocket-watch in front of their victims and getting them to cluck like a chicken! Now, with the help of hypnotherapy, people are managing anxiety, losing weight, stopping snoring and overcoming many other addictions and conditions. In fact, up to 75% of people who have used hypnotherapy to stop smoking have been able to kick the habit. It has also helped people suffering from phobias, depression or panic attacks. So how exactly does it work? Scientists are not 100% sure. What they do know is that it creates a state of deep relaxation in which patients are more open to suggestions than when they are wide awake. Patients sometimes compare the experience to being totally absorbed in a good book or film. They are not cut off from the outside world, but they’re completely focused on the hypnotist’s voice. It’s at this point that he can suggest positive changes to thought patterns and habits. Hypnotherapy isn’t just for psychological problems, though. Amazingly, some hospitals are now using it alongside conventional medicine to reduce pain and speed up recovery. Burn victims, for instance, have benefited from pain relief after a session of hypnotherapy. One pensioner even had an operation which involved a surgeon sawing into her foot while under hypnosis! She says, “I said to myself that if I had any pain I should think of it as waves lashing against a sea wall. Every time it happened, I imagined the pain going away, like the tide.” While hypnotism isn’t a magic wand, it seems it may be able to treat countless conditions. Moreover, it is painless as well as risk-free, it has no side effects and it’s cheap. Many people, however, are still not willing to put their faith in a therapy that can’t be scientifically proven. Before trying hypnotherapy for myself, I did a little research and found out that although about 90% of people can be hypnotised, good hypnotherapy patients tend to be relaxed, imaginative, intelligent and easily absorbed by things. So what happened after my own hypnotherapy experience? Well, throughout it, I felt normal and could still hear the traffic outside, but when I ‘awoke’ after what I thought was about 20 minutes, I was surprised to learn that an hour had passed. I have to admit I’ve been sleeping better ever since. Not perfectly, but there has definitely been an improvement. It looks like hypnotherapy might work for me, but what about you? Could you be hypnotised?
✮✮ Read the text and complete the sentences.
✮ Read the text. Choose if the statement below is True, False or Not stated.
✮✮✮ Read the text and choose if the statements are facts or opinions.
✮ You've found one more article on alternative therapies Fire Dragon Therapy and you want to discuss it with your brother. Read the text below. According to the text, can QI help him overcome problems and increase his life energy? Fire Dragon Therapy In China, there is one kind of therapy that is bound to leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. However, some may say that it is too hot to handle! Would you dare to be set aflame with fire dragon therapy? Originally developed in Tibet, fire dragon therapy aims to stimulate the flow of energy, or qi, in a person’s body. In China, qi is believed to be the life force of all living things, which becomes blocked when a person is sick. As such, traditional Chinese medicine helps to redress the flow of energy and restore balance in the body. Fire dragon therapy is one such method that corrects the flow of qi. It is used for a variety of ailments, such as stress, insomnia and general aches and pains. It can also aid weight loss and improve the condition of the skin. Prior to the therapy, each patient is given a full-body examination during which the specialist determines which areas require healing. Once they have been pinpointed, those regions are covered with herbs and then bound in plastic wrap. Finally, several wet towels are placed on the patient in order to prevent severe burns during the treatment. Once a patient has been prepared, they are told to relax and be fearless, which is quite necessary in light of what comes next! Then, the towel atop their flesh is promptly set on fire! At first, patients simply feel a warm sensation; however, the fire is left to burn until it becomes unbearable. This heat is said to encourage blood flow, which in turn helps the body to expel any harmful toxins that lead to ill health. The moment a patient reports that they can take the heat no more, the flames are extinguished using a wet towel and the area is massaged with oil. Many people consider this the most painful part of the treatment, as the massage must be intense in order to drive the toxins out of the body. This procedure is repeated several times and then the patient is allowed to rest. Afterwards, people report feeling relaxed and pain-free, which is surprising since they have just been ignited! A visit to a fire therapist will cost a mere 100 Yuan (£10) for a single session. However, a series of treatments is recommended for long-term benefits. These usually take place once or twice a week, and can be applied to any part of the body, including the back, stomach, legs and even the head! Although it may seem rather dangerous, many patients swear by the effectiveness of this kind of therapy. They believe that fire is a natural healer which also helps to purify the body. So what do you think? Would you like to spice up your life with a little fire, or does the idea of it make you break out in a sweat?
✮✮ Read the text and complete the sentences.
✮✮ Your brother is going to visit a fire therapist and he asks you to join him. Study the advertisement. How much will you pay for three sessions if you go there together? You are fifteen years old, your brother is fourteen. Calculate and choose the correct variant.
✮✮✮After reading the texts, what kind of therapy would you or your brother ever try? Why? Why not? Express your opinion.
