Reading Part AThis resource was developed by OET Online Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email:
[email protected] 1 Vitamin C Part A Summary Gap Fill Time Limit: 15 minutes Instructions • Complete the following summary using the information in the texts for this task. • Skim and scan the texts to find the information required. • Gaps may require 1, 2 or 3 words. • Write your answers in the appropriate space in the column on the right hand side. • Make sure your spelling is correct. Summary Answers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for humans in its function as a vitamin. However, unlike in most(1)___, the human body can not (2)___vitamin C by itself. As a result, vitamin C must be (3)___ through our daily dietary intake. Vitamin C can be found in all (4)___ and (5)___ but the (6)___ of this essential vitamin are green peppers, (7)___ and strawberries. The human body (8)___vitamin C for tissue growth and (9)___ and it is an important element in the (10)___ of wounds as well as the (11)___ of teeth, cartilage and bones. Vitamin C is also an (12)___. Therefore, it can act as a block against damage caused by free radicals. It is this quality which has some experts claiming that it has an anti-ageing effect and can lessen the effects of a variety of (13)__ including cancer and heart disease as well as arthritis which is an (14)___. 14. Reading Part A This resource was developed by OET Online Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email:
[email protected] 2 Part A Answer Sheet continued Summary Answers 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. However the role of vitamin C in the prevention and treatment of the common cold is controversial. A recent study by (15)___ reported mixed results in the ability of vitamin C to fight this most common of ailments. Positive results included significant reduction in the (16)____ in adults and children when vitamin C was used as a (17)___. A 50% reduction in cold incidence was also reported by (18)___ , skiers and soldiers who had been exposed to conditions of (19)___ or significant cold. In contrast, the frequency of the common cold (20) ___ in several community studies in which the subjects were given (21)___ prophylactic doses as high as 2 grams. Despite this mixed evidence, the Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends (22)___ vitamin C every day in amounts ranging from (23)___ for babies between zero and 6 months, 65 to 75 mg per day for (24) ___ boys and girls to 90mg per day for (25)___ aged 19 and over. In addition, (26)___ are required for pregnant women and smokers. To date there is no (27)___that Vitamin C in large amounts is toxic, despite (28)__that very large doses can cause birth defects and genetic mutations. An upper intake limit of (29)___ per day is recommended to prevent mild symptoms such as (30)___. TOTAL SCORE Reading Part A This resource was developed by OET Online Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email:
[email protected] 3 Part A Time Limit: 15 minutes Instructions • Complete the summary on the answer page using the information in the four texts below. • Skim and scan the texts to find the information required. • Write your answers in the appropriate space in the column on the right hand side. • Make sure your spelling is correct. Vitamin C Text 1 The Recommended Dietary Allowance The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends Vitamin C be consumed every day in the following amounts: Infants and Children • 0 - 6 months: 40 milligrams/day (mg/day) • 7 - 12 months: 50 mg/day • 1 - 3 years: 15 mg/day • 4 - 8 years: 25 mg/day • 9 - 13 years: 45 mg/day Adolescents • Girls 14 - 18 years: 65 mg/day • Boys 14 - 18 years: 75 mg/day Adults • Men age 19 and older: 90 mg/day • Women age 19 year and older: 75 mg/day Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and those who smoke need higher amounts. All fruits and vegetables contain some amount of vitamin C. Foods that tend to be the highest sources of vitamin C include green peppers, citrus fruits and strawberries. Reading Part A This resource was developed by OET Online Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email:
[email protected] 4 Text 2 Toxicity A number of possible problems with very large doses of vitamin C have been suggested, including genetic mutations and birth defects. However, these alleged adverse health effects have not been confirmed, and there is no reliable scientific evidence that large amounts of vitamin C (up to 10 grams/day in adults) are toxic or detrimental to health. With the latest RDA published in 2000, a tolerable upper intake level (UL) for vitamin C was set for the first time. A UL of 2 grams daily was recommended in order to prevent most adults from experiencing diarrhoea. Such symptoms are not generally serious, especially if they resolve with temporary discontinuation or reduction of high-dose vitamin C supplementation. Text 3 Source: Public Library of Science Authors: Douglas R & Hemila H Research Review We sought to discover whether vitamin C in doses of 200 mg or more daily reduces the incidence, duration, or severity of the common cold when used either as continuous prophylaxis or after the onset of cold symptoms. Literature from 1940 to 2004 was methodically screened. • Studies of marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold and/or physical stress experienced 50% reduction in common cold incidence. • Duration of cold that occurred during prophylaxis was significantly reduced in both children and adults. For children this represented an average reduction of 14% in symptom days, while in adults the reduction was 8%. • Incidence of the common cold showed no change in several community studies where prophylactic doses as high as 2 g daily were used. Implications of the Review • The clinical significance of the minor reduction in duration of common cold episodes experienced during prophylaxis is questionable, although the consistency of these findings points to a genuine biological effect. • In special circumstances, where people used prophylaxis prior to extreme physical exertion and/or exposure to significant cold stress, the collective evidence indicates that vitamin C supplementation may have a considerable beneficial effect Reading Part A This resource was developed by OET Online Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email:
[email protected] 5 Text 4 Function of Vitamin C Vitamin C is required for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It is necessary to form collagen, an important protein used to make skin, scar tissue, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C is essential for the healing of wounds, and for the repair and maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth. Vitamin C is one of many antioxidants. Antioxidants are nutrients that block some of the damage caused by free radicals, which are by-products that result when our bodies transform food into energy. The build up of these by-products over time is largely responsible for the ageing process and can contribute to the development of various health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and a host of inflammatory condition like arthritis. Antioxidants also help reduce the damage to the body caused by toxic chemicals and pollutants such as cigarette smoke. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. Unlike most mammals and other animals, humans do not have the ability to make their own vitamin C. Therefore, we must obtain vitamin C through our diet. Reading Part A This resource was developed by OET Online Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email:
[email protected] 6 Vitamin C Answer Sheet 1. Mammals 2. make 3. obtained (change verb to passive form) 4. fruits 5. vegetables 6. highest sources 7. citrus fruits 8. requires (change verb to active form) 9. repair 10. healing 11. repair and maintenance 12. antioxidant (change to singular form) 13. health conditions 14. inflammatory condition (change to singular form) 15. Douglas R & Hemila H/ Douglas & Hemila 16. duration of cold 17. prophylaxis 18. marathon runners 19. physical stress 20. showed no change 21. daily 22. consuming/the consumption of (change verb to noun form) 23. 40 mg/day 24. adolescents 25. men 26. higher amounts 27. reliable scientific evidence (all words required) 28. suggestions (change verb to noun) 29. 2 grams 30. diarrhoea Reading Part A This resource was developed by OET Online Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email:
[email protected] 7 Highlighted Answers Vitamin C Text 1 The Recommended Dietary Allowance The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends Vitamin C be (22)consumed (consuming) every day in the following amounts: Infants and Children • 0 - 6 months: (23)40 milligrams/day (mg/day) • 7 - 12 months: 50 mg/day • 1 - 3 years: 15 mg/day • 4 - 8 years: 25 mg/day • 9 - 13 years: 45 mg/day (24)Adolescents • Girls 14 - 18 years: 65 mg/day • Boys 14 - 18 years: 75 mg/day Adults • (25)Men age 19 and older: 90 mg/day • Women age 19 year and older: 75 mg/day Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and those who smoke need (26)higher amounts. All )4)fruits and (5)vegetables contain some amount of vitamin C. Foods that tend to be the )6)highest sources of vitamin C include green peppers, (7)citrus fruits and strawberries. Text 2 Toxicity A number of possible problems with very large doses of vitamin C have been (28)suggested (suggestions), including genetic mutations and birth defects. However, these alleged adverse health effects have not been confirmed, and there is no (27)reliable scientific evidence that large amounts of vitamin C (up to 10 grams/day in adults) are toxic or detrimental to health. With the latest RDA published in 2000, a tolerable upper intake level (UL) for vitamin C was set for the first time. A UL of (29)2 grams daily was recommended in order to prevent most adults from experiencing (30)diarrhoea. Such symptoms are not generally serious, especially if they resolve with temporary discontinuation or reduction of high-dose vitamin C supplementation. Reading Part A This resource was developed by OET Online Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email:
[email protected] 8 Text 3 Source: Public Library of Science Authors: (15)Douglas R & Hemila H Research Review We sought to discover whether vitamin C in doses of 200 mg or more daily reduces the incidence, duration, or severity of the common cold when used either as continuous prophylaxis or after the onset of cold symptoms. Literature from 1940 to 2004 was methodically screened. • Studies of (18)marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers exposed to significant cold and/or (19)physical stress experienced 50% reduction in common cold incidence. • (16)Duration of cold that occurred during (17)prophylaxis was significantly reduced in both children and adults. For children this represented an average reduction of 14% in symptom days, while in adults the reduction was 8%. • Incidence of the common cold (20)showed no change in several community studies where prophylactic doses as high as 2 g (21)daily were used. Implications of the Review • The clinical significance of the minor reduction in duration of common cold episodes experienced during prophylaxis is questionable, although the consistency of these findings points to a genuine biological effect. • In special circumstances, where people used prophylaxis prior to extreme physical exertion and/or exposure to significant cold stress, the collective evidence indicates that vitamin C supplementation may have a considerable beneficial effect Text 4 Function of Vitamin C Vitamin C is (8) require(s) d for the growth and (9)repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It is necessary to form collagen, an important protein used to make skin, scar tissue, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C is essential for the (10)healing of wounds, and for the (11)repair and maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth. Vitamin C is one of many (12)antioxidant(s). Antioxidants are nutrients that block some of the damage caused by free radicals, which are by-products that result when our bodies transform food into energy. The build up of these by-products over time is largely responsible for the ageing process and can contribute to the development of various (13)health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and a host of (14)inflammatory condition(s) like arthritis. Antioxidants also help reduce the damage to the body caused by toxic chemicals and pollutants such as cigarette smoke. The body does not manufacture vitamin C on its own, nor does it store it. It is therefore important to include plenty of vitamin C-containing foods in your daily diet. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. Unlike most (1)mammals and other animals, humans do not have the ability to (2)make their own vitamin C. Therefore, we must (3) obtain(ed) vitamin C through our diet.