I. Words and expressions

obesity  n. 肥胖（症）                   obese   a. 肥胖的

contaminate    v. 弄脏，污染         E. coli   n. 大肠杆菌

II. Watch the video about health risks related to modern technology, and then match the health risks with their causes.

Health risks:

1. obesity      2. hearing loss      3. back and neck pain

4. stomach pain                 5. stress and anxiety

  Causes:

A. wearing headphones for long periods

B. sitting in front of computers for long hours 

C. looking at smartphones for a long time

D. being attached to smartphones 

E. using contaminated smartphones

Medical issues for the 21st century Advances in modern technology have brought much convenience. Yet, along with the benefits, there are some health concerns. Take hearing loss for example. Some teenagers like to wear headphones for long periods of time and listen to music at a high volume. This might lead to hearing loss, a condition that commonly affects the elderly before. Obesity is another health threat. Due to the use of computers, most people sit longer than previous generations. This means they have far less opportunity for physical activities than in the past. As one study found, people who work over 40 hours a week are about 8% more likely to be obese. Of course, some health risks relate to smartphones. The smartphone has become such a necessity that many of us cannot imagine living without it. People spend an estimated 3.5 hours a day looking at their phones – something that can lead to back and neck pain. Smartphones may also cause stomach pain. A 2011 study found that 16% of smartphones are contaminated with E. coli, a type of bacteria that can result in stomach pain. In addition to physical risks, psychological problems may emerge when people become overly attached to their phones. Constantly checking social media may cause stress, and people may feel anxious when unable to access their mobile phones. Now that you know the health risks related to modern technology, try to use your electronic devices rationally. Don’t let them take over your life and damage your physical and psychological health.

1. Match the words with their definitions.

   1. concentration (n.)

   2. unsafe (adj.)

   3. harmful (adj.)

   4. myth (n.) 

   5. transmit (v.)

   6. digest (v.)

   7. circulate (v.)

   8. germ (n.)

   A.to move around continuously (within asystem)

   B.a story many people believe, but which isnot true

   C.to send or pass something from one personor place toanother

   D.causing hurt or damage

   E.a small living thing that causes diseases

   F.dangerous

   G.to change food to a form that the bodycan use

   H.a large amount of something in one place

2. Complete the sentences with the following words. Change the form if necessary. 

   A. circulate         B. concentration         C. digest         D. germ           

   E. harmful            F. myth                       G. transmit      H. unsafe 

   
   

   1. It’s __________ to eat meat that hasn’t been properly cooked.

   2. It’s widely recognized that smoking is __________ to the body.

   3. The virus was __________ by people coughing near one another.

   4. It’s important to wash your hands to stop the spread of __________.

   5. Please open the window so that the air __________ a bit.

   6. Phones often contain a high ______________  of bacteria.

   7. Some bacteria help us to __________ food.

   8. It might just be a __________, but many people believe it.

Words and expressions

tuberculosis     n. 结核病                 digest   v. 消化（食物）

handrail    n. (通道楼梯等)扶手、栏杆      air filter  空气过滤器

come down with  患，得，染上(小病)   

reinforce   v. 加强；强化(观点、思想或感觉)

seat tray   n. (前排)座椅托盘 

sponge    n. (擦洗用的) 海绵

valid      adj. 有效的， 正式认可的

recap     v. 扼要重述；概括

Listen to Germ myths and choose the best answer to each question you hear. 

1. What is the main focus of the podcast?

A. There are germs everywhere.

B. There are ideas about germs that aren’t correct. 

C. There are good and bad germs.

D. There are ideas about germs that are well-known by the public.

2. Why does Dr. Mitchell mention “good bacteria”?

A. To illustrate bacteria are inevitable.

B. To prove that bacteria are not dangerous.

C. To indicate bacteria are on all food.

D. To show some bacteria aren’t harmful.

3. According to the podcast, what is the myth about airplanes? 

     A. People get sick because other passengers are ill.

     B. People get sick because the air is cool.

     C. People get sick because the air recirculates.

     D. People get sick because there is not enough air.

4. What does Dr. Mitchell believe about the “five-second rule”?

     A. It is a myth.

     B. It is reasonable.

     C. It is true.

     D. It is funny.

5. Which of the following is NOT discussed in the podcast?

    A. Germs on money.

    B. Germs on airplanes.

    C. Germs on keyboards.

    D. Germs on kitchen floors.

Listen to Germ myths again and complete the notes. Fill in each blank with no more than two words or a number.

Germ myths

General information

    ·1) ________ = bacteria and viruses that can cause diseases.

    ·Most germs are 2) __________  to us!

Money

    ·3) _________ and 4) ________ pick up bacteria / viruses as they circulate.

    ·The number of bacteria depends on the circulation time. 

    ·Don’t worry about this – just wash your hands!

Recirculated air

    ·Air filters on planes remove roughly 5) ________% of bacteria and viruses.  

    ·Plane air is refreshed 6) ___________ times an hour > office air is refreshed 7) ___________ times an hour.

    ·Don’t worry about this either – recirculated air = unlikely to make you sick.

Kitchens 

    ·Kitchens = full of germs! Cleaning with sponges + cloths may 8) ________ germs.     

    ·The floor has a high concentration of germs.

    · “Five-second rule” = a myth. Any food dropped on the floor is 9) ________ to eat. 

Germ myths

HOST: Welcome to Health Beat. In this digital age, we’re constantly exposed to medical claims. “Wonder drugs” that cure disease … foods that can cause cancer … but which claims are true and which complete nonsense? Joining us this month to talk about germs and disease is Dr. Mitchell of the Mayweather Institute in New York. Dr. Mitchell, welcome to the show.

DR. MITCHELL: Thanks for having me.

HOST: OK, so to start us off, Dr. Mitchell, what exactly are germs?

DR. MITCHELL: By germs, we mean bacteria and viruses that can cause diseases. For example, tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium. The common cold and influenza are caused by viruses.

HOST: … and is it true that dangerous germs are all around us?

DR. MITCHELL: While it is true that germs are everywhere, it’s a myth that all germs are dangerous. Most are not harmful, and, in fact, some “good” bacteria in our bodies help us to digest food.

HOST: So you mean that we don’t need to worry about germs so much?

DR. MITCHELL: Erm …, no. To clarify, I’m saying we need to keep in mind that just because germs exist everywhere, this doesn’t mean that ALL germs we come in contact with cause diseases.

HOST: But many people think they will, don’t they? One of our listeners claims that money spreads diseases because it has a lot of germs on it. Is that true?

DR. MITCHELL: It is a classic myth that money is a major way that diseases are spread. Of course, any money we use – both banknotes and coins – might have picked up some bacteria or viruses as it circulates from person to person. How many bacteria a banknote has depends on how old it is, and this varies from country to country. However, you don’t need to worry about it too much. Just remember to wash your hands after handling money.

HOST: So, you either wash your hands all the time, or you get sick? 

DR. MITCHELL: No, no … in actual fact you could wash your hands all the time and still get sick. Just make sure you wash your hands regularly … especially after you’ve come into contact with things that have been handled by many different people, like banknotes … handrails on trains …

HOST: OK, good advice. Next, people claim that they get sick when they fly because the air is circulated and recirculated on the plane the whole flight. Is it true that breathing in recirculated air on flights makes passengers sick?

DR. MITCHELL: Actually, the air you breathe on a plane is pretty fresh. High-efficiency air filters remove about 99.9% of any bacteria and viruses in the air that’s pulled into the plane. What’s more, recirculated air is continuously released from the plane and replaced with fresh air from the outside. The average plane’s air is refreshed about 20 times an hour. In comparison, the air in an average office is only changed about 12 times an hour!

HOST: So why do people think that planes make them sick?

DR. MITCHELL: Well, let’s say a passenger comes down with a cold after a flight. This reinforces the myth that the air was the cause. In fact, the cold virus might have been spread from touching the seat tray, or it could have been spread by turning a door handle. Or it may have been spread by a passenger sitting nearby who was coughing and sneezing. We don’t know the true cause.

HOST: So, your main point is that the recirculated air isn’t the way that germs are spread on flights.

DR. MITCHELL: Exactly. There are lots of different ways to get sick on a plane, but it’s very unlikely to be caused by recirculated air.

HOST: Another listener believes the kitchen is the dirtiest room in the house. That isn’t true, is it?

DR. MITCHELL: Well, in fact, some say it is. Kitchens are, in fact, full of germs that can cause diseases. For example, many people use a wet sponge or cloth to clean up. They don’t realize that dangerous germs might have been spread as they cleaned. The kitchen table looks clean, but it isn’t. And, the kitchen floor is another place we know that can have a high concentration of germs. Here’s another myth related to the kitchen floor: the “five-second rule.” The rule is: If you drop some food on the floor, but you pick it up within five seconds, then it’s still OK to eat it. That’s not valid, of course. As soon as the food touches the floor, it comes into contact with bacteria. This usually means it’s unsafe to eat.

HOST: We’re out of time. Thank you, Dr. Mitchell. To recap: Germs are everywhere; not all germs are dangerous. Money’s not likely to make us sick, but the kitchen might.