Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. processed (adj.) [pros-est] – prepared through an artificial or unnatural process
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. processed (adj.) [pros-est] – prepared through an artificial or unnatural process
Example:
Processed cheese contains chemicals that make them smoother and tastier.
2. analyze (v.) [an-l-ahyz] – to examine something carefully
and in detail
Example: Crime
experts analyzed the evidence presented
by the lawyers.
3. consume (v.) [kuhn-soom] – to eat or drink,
especially in large quantity
Example: He
feels sick because he consumed a lot of snacks before dinner.
4. secrete (v.) [si-kreet] – to produce and release
something (usually liquids)
Example: Skunks
secrete a very bad smelling liquid when threatened by attackers.
5. heighten (v.) [hahyt-n] – to increase the level
or amount of something; to make more extreme or intense
Example:
A lion’s senses are heightened when hunting for food.
Article
Read the text below.
Eating processed
meat such as sausages and bacon increases the risk of getting pancreatic cancer,
researchers from Sweden suggest. Although there are other causes linked to
pancreatic cancer, health experts say that avoiding processed meat altogether
would be best.
Professor
Susanna Larsson from the Karolinska Institute conducted the research by analyzing
data from 6,643 patients with pancreatic cancer. The study found that consuming
an additional 50 grams of processed meat every day--about one sausage a
day--increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by 19%. Having 100
grams a day increases the risk to 38%.
The pancreas is
the body organ behind the stomach that secretes digestive chemicals
into the intestines to help breakdown food.. Although developing cancer in
the pancreas is rare, very few people survive it. This is why Professor
Larsson says that knowing what can heighten the risk of the disease is
as important as diagnosing it early.
However, other
cancer research organizations believe that further research about the link
between processed meat and pancreatic cancer needs to be done. So far, experts have identified other
possible risk factors of the disease such as obesity and smoking.
But Doctor
Rachel Thompson, from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), says processed
meat should still be avoided, because a strong link between another cancer,
bowel cancer, and eating red and processed meat has already been established.
Doctor Thompson and WCRF advise people to eat only 500 grams of red meat a
week, and to avoid processed meat completely.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
● Why do you think processed foods
are popular in some parts of the world? Do you think people can give up eating
them?
● If people cannot give up eating
processed food, how do you think they should keep themselves healthy?
Discussion B
● Would you avoid eating your
favorite food if you find out that it might cause a certain disease? Please
explain your answer.
● What are the ways one can do to
stop eating unhealthy food?