Learn English #4 •Intermediate | Advanced

Read the newspaper story below, and then answer the questions that follow it.

Scientist 'lives on sunlight'

A German scientist is being studied by colleagues after claiming that he has eaten nothing for four years. Cancer researcher Dr Michael Werner says he gets all his energy from sunlight. He says he drinks only water mixed with a small amount of fruit juice.

Dr Werner has written a book about his experiences, saying that when he started the experiment he even put on weight. In his book he says: "I can't really explain what is happening on a scientific level in my case, but perhaps just a little bit of faith is all that is needed."

German colleagues who are investigating the source of Dr Werner's energy say only plants can synthesise energy from the sun, and they cannot explain how he is able to stay healthy.

Dr Helmut Oberritter, head of the German society for nutrition, said: "It is not possible to live on what one gets from fruit juice. There are lots of vital proteins and fats that are missing. Obviously this case needs a lot more investigating before we will be able to explain it."


• Text from Ananova.com

Reading comprehension

True or false?

    true false
1. Dr Werner says that he eats no food.
2. He claims that all his energy comes from fruit juice and water.
3. He has gained a lot of weight since he stopped eating.
4. He doesn't think it's possible to give a scientific explanation for his situation.
5. Other scientists suspect that Dr Werner is lying to them.
6. Fruit juice does not contain the nutrients a person needs to survive.
       

Exercises

1. Food and nutrients

Match the things the human body gets from food (1-8) with the definitions (a-h).

Please ensure the Java Virtual Machine is installed and enabled

 

2. Phrasal verbs: "Live"

Complete the sentences with the words below.

Please ensure the Java Virtual Machine is installed and enabled

 

3. More exercises
You will find more exercises relating to this text in the Advanced section:

 

What do you think?

Do you think it's true that Dr Werner has eaten nothing for four years? Do you think the scientists investigating his case will find an explanation for how he has managed to survive? What's your personal explanation for the results of Dr Werner's experiment?

Have you ever fasted for a long time (fast= eat nothing)? What were your reasons for fasting? How long did your fast last? How did you feel at the end of it? What other reasons do people have for fasting? Do you believe the experts who claim that eating very little can make you live longer? Would you want or be able to eat very little if that claim was shown to be true?

 

More exercises

 


English courses in Barcelona | Online English courses

Top | About IH Barcelona | Privacy