【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. fizzy /ˈfɪz i/ (adj.) – carbonated and bubbly
Example: The beer he made at home is too fizzy.
2. hangover /ˈhæŋˌoʊ vər/ (n.) – a feeling of sickness felt hours after drinking alcohol
Example: He woke up with a hangover after last night’s party.
3. drunk /drʌŋk/ (adj.) – not being able to behave normally after drinking too much alcohol
Example: He got drunk after drinking five bottles of beer.
4. depressant /dɪˈprɛs ənt/ (adj.) – causing lesser activity in the body’s nervous system
Example: He advised the patient to take a depressant medicine.
5. life-threatening /ˈlaɪfˌθrɛt nɪŋ/ (adj.) – putting one’s life in danger
Example: He had a life-threatening accident.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
Carbonated alcoholic beverages like beers and fizzy wines can cause the worst hangover.
According to Boris Tabakoff, a pharmacology professor at the University of Colorado, the body absorbs alcohol faster when drinking carbonated alcoholic drinks. The carbon dioxide in these beverages causes alcohol to be absorbed quickly. When the absorption rate is high, blood alcohol levels shoot up, making people get drunk faster.
In a 2001 study, researchers from the United Kingdom found that fizzy champagne caused higher amounts of alcohol in the participants’ bodies compared to flat or noncarbonated champagne.
Hangovers happen because of excessive drinking. A person with a hangover usually suffers from headache, dizziness, thirst, stomach pain, and morning sickness. Sometimes, people can also experience depression and anxiety because of alcohol’s depressant effects.
On a wider perspective, getting drunk can be life-threatening. Accidents, violence, and poor decision-making are known effects of alcohol.
To reduce the effects of a hangover, medical experts recommend eating before and during a drinking session. The food in the stomach helps slow down the body’s alcohol absorption.
Since taking alcoholic drinks increases the body’s urine production, drinking water helps avoid dehydration. Also, water can help quicken the removal of alcohol in the system. Drinking a sports drink can also be helpful in replenishing the body’s minerals lost because of the increased urination.
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【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· How is alcohol drinking viewed in Japan?
· What problems are associated with excessive alcohol intake?
Discussion B
· Should the drinking age in your country be raised? Why do you think so?
· How can people be encouraged to drink alcohol responsibly?
