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 to have eaten nothing for four years. Cancer researcher Dr Michael Werner claims to get 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 managed to put on weight. In his book, "Living through the Energy of Light", 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, but so far they are at a loss to explain how he is managing 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 alone. There are lots of vital proteins and fats that are missing. Obviously this case needs a lot more investigating if we are 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. Idioms and expressions with "live"

Complete the sentences with the correct form of one of the expressions below.

live it up
live and breathe
live and let live
live hand to mouth
live a lie
live beyond your means
live dangerously
live in sin

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2. More exercises
You will find more exercises relating to this text in the Intermediate 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

 


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