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Sunshine Vitamin May Prevent Heart Disease
Upper-Intermediate - Vocabulary
the ARTICLE (for teachers)
Sunshine Vitamin May Prevent Heart Disease
Vitamin D has been called "the sunshine vitamin" because the sun's rays are a primary source for it. Scientists
used to believe that vitamin D only strengthened bones and prevented rickets, a disease which deforms bones.
But new studies point to a vastly different conclusion. Vitamin D is significantly more important for good health
than experts previously believed.
A study was conducted in Austria with 3,258 men and women, most of whom had heart disease. The study
found that people are more likely to die if they also have low levels of the sunshine vitamin. During the study's
eight years, blood was taken and analyzed every week. 737 people died, with more than half due to heartrelated problems. Of this figure, 307 of the test subjects had the lowest levels of vitamin D. Only 103 people
who died had the highest levels of the vitamin. The researchers looked at age, physical activity, and other
factors. They concluded that people with insufficient levels of the sunshine vitamin were twice as likely to die.
People shouldn't begin popping pills and spending hours and hours in the sun, because both are harmful to
good health. However, low levels of vitamin D have definitely been linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, and
obesity. There is also a connection between levels of vitamin D and some forms of cancer. In fact, some
scientists believe that the vitamin could hinder the formation of tumors.
A set of guidelines to guarantee enough vitamin D hasn't been endorsed yet. But milk, fatty fish, a multivitamin,
or ten minutes in the sun each day should lead to good health and prevent heart disease until a
recommendation becomes available.
Teacher's Notes:
* Underlined words in red typeface are the answers.
Heads Up English - page 1
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Sunshine Vitamin May Prevent Heart Disease
Upper-Intermediate - Vocabulary
the Article (for students)
Fill in the blank with the correct word.
vastly
popping
heart
hinder
analyzed
deforms
factors
connection
recommendation
Sunshine Vitamin May Prevent Heart Disease
previously
endorsed
physical
strengthened
primary
insufficient
Vitamin D has been called "the sunshine vitamin" because the sun's rays are a (a. _______________)
source for it. Scientists used to believe that vitamin D only (b. _______________) bones and prevented
rickets, a disease which (c. _______________) bones. But new studies point to a (d. _______________)
different conclusion. Vitamin D is significantly more important for good health than experts
(e. _______________) believed.
A study was conducted in Austria with 3,258 men and women, most of whom had (f. _______________)
disease. The study found that people are more likely to die if they also have low levels of the sunshine
vitamin. During the study's eight years, blood was taken and (g. _______________) every week. 737
people died, with more than half due to heart-related problems. Of this figure, 307 of the test subjects had
the lowest levels of vitamin D. Only 103 people who died had the highest levels of the vitamin. The
researchers looked at age, (h. _______________) activity, and other (i. _______________). They
concluded that people with (j. _______________) levels of the sunshine vitamin were twice as likely to die.
People shouldn't begin (k. _______________) pills and spending hours and hours in the sun, because both
are harmful to good health. However, low levels of vitamin D have definitely been linked to high blood
pressure, diabetes, and obesity. There is also a (l. _______________) between levels of vitamin D and
some forms of cancer. In fact, some scientists believe that the vitamin could (m. _______________) the
formation of tumors.
A set of guidelines to guarantee enough vitamin D hasn't been (n. _______________) yet. But milk, fatty
fish, a multivitamin, or ten minutes in the sun each day should lead to good health and prevent heart
disease until a (o. _______________) becomes available.
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Sunshine Vitamin May Prevent Heart Disease
Upper-Intermediate - Vocabulary
STEP ONE
Define: What does "sunshine" mean? Can you use it in a sentence? Can you give examples?
STEP TWO
Target Word Pool: Find the target words (in bold) with their exact match. How long did it take to find all the
words?
factors
endorsed
hind
connection
deforms
previously
insufficient
primarily
impervious
primary
hinder
insufficiency
popping
vastly
connected
factoring
enforced
vast endorsement
verily
hinder
pooping
deformed
subprime
previews
sufficiently
pop
insufficiently
previously
factored
primary
proctor
correction
deforming
hindered
hinders
popping
connecting
deformity
vests
factor
sufficient
endorsed
prime
vastly
preview
proprietor
factors
comprehension
primer
insufficient
endorse
previous
hindering
vastness
connection
deforms
popped
deforms
endorsing
STEP THREE
Fill in the Blanks: Fill in the blank with the correct word. Use a dictionary for any words you don't know, but be
sure to check your English-English dictionary, too.
factors
endorsed
connection
deforms
previously
insufficient
primary
hinder
popping
vastly
a. Vitamin D has been called "the sunshine vitamin" because the sun's rays are a (
b. Vitamin D strengthens bones and prevents rickets, a disease which (
c. But new studies point to a (
) bones.
) different conclusion.
d. Vitamin D is significantly more important for good health than experts (
e. The researchers looked at age, physical activity, and other (
f.
They concluded that people with (
g. People shouldn't begin (
h. There is also a (
) source for it.
) believed.
).
) levels of the sunshine vitamin were twice as likely to die.
) pills and spending hours and hours in the sun.
) between levels of vitamin D and some forms of cancer.
i.
Some scientists believe that the vitamin could (
j.
A set of guidelines to guarantee enough vitamin D hasn't been (
) the formation of tumors.
) yet.
Heads Up English - page 3
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Sunshine Vitamin May Prevent Heart Disease
Upper-Intermediate - Vocabulary
STEP FOUR
The Article: 1) Read the article, but don't worry about the missing words. 2) Fill in the blanks with today's
vocabulary, followed by all the other words. 3) Read the article again, and circle any unknown words/phrases. In
pairs/groups, use your dictionaries to understand the words or phrases your circled. 4) Answer the questions to
check your comprehension.
a. What is "the sunshine vitamin?"
b. What conclusion has changed recently?
c. Of the people who died during the study, what were their levels of vitamin D?
d. What other information does the article mention about diseases and vitamin D?
e. According to the article, what can be done in general to prevent heart disease?
STEP FIVE
Discuss: Write down five vocabulary words from today's article that you want to use.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Now talk about the following questions in pairs/groups. Every time you use a vocabulary word, place a check
next to it.
a. What was your general impression after reading this article?
b. How healthy are you? What do you do to stay healthy?
c. Do you think vitamin D and some sunshine is enough to prevent heart disease? Why/not?
d. What other studies have you heard which focus on some aspect of health? Please explain.
Score yourself:
10 or more times: Fantastic! Be sure to review the words at home.
6-9 times:
Pretty good! You're on your way to acquiring today's vocabulary. Try writing your own
sentences at home for additional practice.
5 or less times:
Try harder next time! To acquire new vocabulary, you need to use the new words as much
as possible.
Heads Up English - page 4
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