Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Medicine & Health

A problem-solution essay

Parágrafo 1: Introducción

Parágrafo 2: Describir 2 o 3 problemas

Parágrafo 3: Sugerir soluciones del problema

Parágrafo 4: Conclusion

These days a sedentary lifestyle is becoming more and more popular despite a big number of sport facilities. This essay will discuss the main problems associated with this epidemic and propose some possible solutions to avoid them.

The main problems caused by inactive lifestyle are obesity and various spine disorders. A growing number of body research shows that long periods of physical inactivity raise a risk of becoming overweight. What's more, a lot of studies show that so-called 'sitting disease' often results in posture and backbone problems. Due to constant sitting, a person loses... Continue reading "The Impact of Sedentary Lifestyle: Problems and Solutions" »

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" »

... Continue reading "Diabetes Mellitus: Type 1 and Type 2 Differences" »

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)

English Language Practice: Test B

Grammar Exercises

Exercise 1: Conditional Forms

1. 'll get; walk
2. 'd known; would have set
3. lived; would have
4. won't go; feel
5. don't have to; 'll come
6. would go; had

Exercise 2: Rewriting Sentences with Conditionals

1. Unless we go shopping, we won't have any food for tomorrow.
2. If I exercised regularly, I would lose weight.
3. If she hadn't felt ill, she would have gone out with her friends.
4. If you do weight training, you'll get fit very quickly.

Exercise 3: Completing Conditional Sentences

1. If I had lived in a town last year, I would have joined a sports club.
2. I won't get home late unless I miss the last bus.
3. He wouldn't have met my sister if he hadn't come to the party.
4. If I met the President, I would complain about the job situation.

Exercise

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" »

Essential Travel Phrases, Idioms, and Vocabulary

Travel Actions and Phrasal Verbs

• Taxied (e.g., an aircraft moving on the ground before takeoff or after landing)
• Take off (e.g., an aircraft leaving the ground; to begin a journey quickly)
• Give you a lift (offer someone a ride in a vehicle)
• Delayed (postponed or running late)
• Boarded (got on a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle)
• Rest (relax or cease activity)
• Head for: Go in the direction of a particular place.
• Come up with: Think of or produce an idea or plan.
• Turn out: Attend or take part in an event; or to happen in a particular way.
• Come across: Find something or meet someone by chance.
• Get about / Get around: Move from place to place.
• See off: Go to an airport, station, etc., to say goodbye to someone