Notes, abstracts, papers, exams and problems of Medicine & Health

The Unpredictable Fury of Nature

In December 2004, Pat Ralston was enjoying a luxurious stay at a Thai hotel. As he relaxed on the balcony, engrossed in a book, the beach below buzzed with volleyball players. The sun painted a picture of paradise. Suddenly, the idyllic scene dissolved into chaos as a tsunami roared ashore, engulfing the beach and hotel in its watery grip. Pat miraculously survived, but the immense wave left a trail of devastation across Southeast Asia, claiming thousands of lives and reducing buildings and villages to rubble.

Even the seemingly safe haven of a ship offers no guarantee against nature's wrath. In April 2005, the cruise ship Norwegian Dawn encountered a monstrous 21-meter wave near the Bahamas after battling two... Continue reading "The Power of Preparedness: How We Can Reduce Deaths from Natural Disasters" »

Tilikum's Early Life and Trauma

Blackfish analyzes how Tilikum’s life led up to his violent encounters. Tilikum was captured as a calf off the coast of Iceland, being separated from his family and taken to Sea Land of the Pacific in British Columbia. At Sea Land, Tilikum and the other orcas were placed in a 30 by 20 foot module at night, with barely enough room to float, and with the lights turned off, leaving him in total darkness and no room to swim. Animal specialists interviewed in the film claim that this led to a type of psychosis.

Tilikum's Involvement in Human Deaths

After Sea Land of the Pacific went out of business in 1992, Tilikum was transferred to Sea World, Orlando. Other than Dawn Brancheau’s death, Tilikum played a part in... Continue reading "Tilikum and Blackfish: Trauma of Orcas in Captivity" »

Culinary Terms and Food Descriptors

• Steamed: Cooked by being placed in steam. Example: Steamed vegetables retain more nutrients.
• Seasoned: Enhanced with flavorings. Example: The salad needs to be seasoned; maybe a little salt and olive oil will be enough.
• Stewed: Cooked slowly in a small amount of liquid. Example: The stewed apples were soft and flavorful.
• Broth: A soup, often with vegetables or rice in it. Example: Chicken broth is a common base for soups.
• Savory: Having a usually salty, but not sweet taste. Example: The dish had a savory flavor that was very satisfying.
• Jelly: A soft, sweet food that shakes when you move it. Example: Strawberry jelly is a popular choice for toast.
• Tender: (Of meat) Soft and easy to bite through. Example: The steak

Coetzee Wins Nobel Prize

Coetzee wins Nobel Prize

The Nobel Prize has often been misapplied. It evaded Tolstoy, Chekhov, Joyce, Kafka, and Nabokov. Coetzee was born in Cape Town in 1940 and trained as a computer scientist, coming to London in the Sixties to work for IBM, a period recollected in a superb autobiographical novel. According to the text, literary qualities have not always been the main reason for authors to be awarded a Nobel Prize for Literature. Sometimes, the judges have been influenced by political factors. Before writing his first novel, Coetzee was very busy professionally. In the Sixties, he worked for IBM in London and later became a professor of Literature in the United States and finally in Cape Town.

a) unquestionably c)

Darwin and the Theory of Evolution

General Facts About Darwin

• He explained how natural selection could produce evolution.
• The HMS Beagle adventure: a five-year round-the-world trip to make maps.
• He recorded data (notes and pictures) and collected specimens.
• The experience in the Galapagos Islands. Darwin was shocked by the great variability in the islands.
• The famous Galapagos finches: beaks designed for different food. Did they come from just one species?
• He came up with an idea that was not new, but he was the first one making enough arguments to persuade people that evolution happens.

History of Darwin and Wallace

Darwin was born in 1809 in Shrewsbury, England. He belonged to a wealthy family. His father and grandfather were both physicians. He started... Continue reading "Darwin, Mendel, Landsteiner, and Arsuaga: Key Figures in Science" »

Travel and Tourism Keywords

Travel agent, peak season, downside, destination, wildlife conservation, stunning, habitat, tour operator, policy, waste, range, flora and fauna, carbon footprints, biodiversity, fragile environment, pollute, under threat, increasing in popularity, itinerary, on the rise, ecotourism, endangered species, last-remaining, facing a crisis, dedicated, passengers, ecological damage, wilderness, landscape, raising animals, crops, campsites, off the beaten track, self-catering, Youth hostels, board and lodging, backpackers, go on a trek, vacate rooms

Commonly Misspelled Words

impact-, accounts-, devoted-, classified-, -particular, equal-, (to, in, on, for, as)

Travel-Related Vocabulary

settle, dish, at dawn, merely, on the move,... Continue reading "The Impact of Tourism: Balancing Exploration with Conservation" »

The bandage was wound around the wound.

• bandage - material used to help protect an injury
• wound (v) - past tense of 'wind,' meaning movement in a circular motion, wrap
• wound (n) - an injury

The farm was used to produce produce.

• produce (v) - make or manufacture
• produce (n) - things that have been grown on a farm: fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc.

The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

• dump - a place for depositing trash
• refuse (v) - not willing to accept
• refuse (n) - trash

We must polish the Polish furniture.

• polish (v) - to make the surface of something smooth and shiny by rubbing it
• Polish (n) - something or someone from Poland

He could lead if he would get the lead out.

• lead (v) - to organize and direct, to be in command
• lead (n) - a type

Navigating Cultures

Concepts: Appropriate, Awkward, Culture Gap, Fit In, Foreign, Language Barrier, Manners, Misconception, Narrow-minded, Open-minded, Outlook, Roots, Rude, Sensitive, Straightforward, Subtle, Tend To

Text: Anxiety, Attempt To, Heritage, Long For, Lose Touch With, Overwhelming, Resentful, Stay Behind, Trembling, Untouched

Phrasal Verbs

• Call On
• Carry Out
• Dress Up
• Make Of
• Show Off
• Stand Up For
• Stick To

Collocations

• Catch a Cold
• Catch by Surprise
• Catch Sight Of
• Catch Someone Red-Handed
• Catch Someone’s Eye
• Fall Asleep
• Fall Ill
• Fall in Love
• Fall into Place
• Fall Out of Favor
• Lose Count
• Lose One’s Nerve

Safety First

Concepts: Burn, Burn Down, Catch Fire, Choking, Collide, Concerned, Crash, Distract, Drown, Ensure, Faulty, Knock Over, Lifeguard, Safety... Continue reading "Navigating Culture, Safety, and Sports: Key Vocabulary" »

Unit Test 2: Grammar

7. 1. She met some friends while (she was) travelling around Europe.

2. I had read the novel before I saw the film.

3. We were very tired because we had gone to bed late the night before.

4. By the time I arrived, everyone had left.

5. We were having dinner when our friends arrived.

6. I was watching a film yesterday evening at 8 o'clock.

Reading: High-Tech Bike Sharing

1. 1. c 2. b

2. 1. T - "Consequently, many parking spots have already been transformed into bike stations."

2. F - "If riders fail to return them - or if the bikes are stolen - it will cost them $200."

3. T - "...making streets safer for two-wheelers. With that purpose in mind, Washington has already installed more than 48 km of bike lanes."

3. 1. They come with advanced