Pesticides Are Dangerous # Practice Reading

Pesticides Are Dangerous

Source – http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/04/29/pesticide-exposure.aspx

More than one billion pounds ( the basic monetary unit of the United Kingdom )of pesticides (a chemical preparation for destroying plant, fungal, or animal pests) are used in the US each year, an amount that has quintupled (being five times as as much or as many)since 1945. This includes 20,000 products made from varying formulations (to create or prepare something carefully, giving particular attention to the details)of more than 1,000 chemicals, sprayed everywhere from farm fields and gardens to playgrounds and schools.

It should be revealing (giving your interesting information that you did not know before)that one commonly used type of pesticide, organophosphates (chemical containing carbon and phosphates), were first developed as nerve gas during World War II. They work by inhibiting (to prevent something from happening or make it happen more slowly or less frequently than normal)cholinesterase (an enzyme, found especially in the heart, brain, and blood, thathydrolyzes acetylcholine to acetic acid and choline), an enzyme that regulates a key messenger in your brain called acetylcholine.

In effect, these poisons disrupt the signals between neurons (a cell that carries information within the brain and between the brain and other parts of the body), an action that has been linked to neuro degenerative diseases (Neurodegenerative disease is an umbrella term for a range of conditions which primarily affect the neurons in the human brain)like Alzheimer’s disease (a serious disease, especially affecting older people, that prevents the brain from functioning normally and cause loss of memory, loss of ability to speak clearly etc)and Parkinson’s (a disease of the nervous system that gets worse over a period of time and causes the muscles to become weak and the arms and legs to shake)in humans. In children, there is increasing evidence (the facts, signs, or objects that make you believe that something is true)that these pesticides are especially damaging, not only at high exposure levels but also at low, chronic (lasting for a long time)levels to which millions are exposed (to show something that is usually hidden).

IELTSBAND7

Pharmaceutical Companies # Practice Reading

Lately pharma (pharmaceutical companies collectively as a sector of industry)execs have been taking yet another volley (a number of bullets, arrows, or other projectiles discharged at one time)of criticism (the expression of disapproval of someone or something on the basis of perceived faults or mistakes)over drug-pricing practices from Hillary Clinton and Marco Rubio—and plenty of others—without offering much in the way of a defense (the action of defending from or resisting attack). Now two CEOs say the industry—whose stocks tumbled (fall suddenly, clumsily, or headlong)on a Clinton tweet about ‘price gouging ( a large amount, as of money, exacted or extorted)’ and whose share prices have been ailing (in poor health)since July—is quietly formulating (express (an idea) in a concise or systematic way)its response plan.

When Biogen BIIB 0.84% CEO George Scangos was asked on a third quarter earnings (gain deservedly in return for one’s behaviour or achievements)call Tuesday about the industry’s relative silence on the subject of late, he predicted (say or estimate that (a specified thing) will happen in the future or will be a consequence of something)drug companies would soon weigh in. “Obviously, there has been a lot of rhetoric (the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the exploitation of figures of speech and other compositional techniques)recently,” Scangos said. “The industry is preparing a thoughtful presentation of a different perspective (a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view)on drug prices and the value that we bring to patients and the medical community.”

Eli Lilly LLY -0.19% CEO John Lechleiter offered a similar response when asked about the subject by an analyst (a person who conducts analysis)this morning, on an earnings call: “You can expect to see more coming from the industry,” he said, noting that the response needs to be well-calibrated (to determine, check, or rectify the graduation of (any instrument giving quantitative measurements)). “We have to be careful and thoughtful here. I don’t think there is a way you can spend enough money to all of a sudden change people’s mind.”

That said, Lechleiter believes it can be done. “We have a great story to tell,” he said. “If you look at the hepatitis space, the cancer space, diabetes—there are huge advances in recent years…I’ve never been as optimistic (disposed to take a favorable view of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome)about our chance to make a difference.” He added that the media focuses on examples of individual drug price hikes, it has overlooked the fact that expense of drugs as a proportion of healthcare spending has remained “remarkably constant” over the years. Moreover, drug companies, Lechleiter says, are mandated (a command or authorization to act in a particular way on a public issue given by the electorate to its representative)by the government to provide “deep discounts”, and are increasingly under pressure to do so to get their medicines on formularies (a collection or systems of formulas)and to be able to compete for business. “We have more work to do, and you can expect to see more.”

Source – http://fortune.com/2015/10/22/big-pharma-wont-stay-silent-in-drug-pricing-debate-for-long/

IELTSBAND7

 

Media Projecting Slim Women

You should spend 40 minutes on this task.

Over the last few decades, the media has projected the image of women as young and thin.
What problems has this caused?
What solutions can you suggest to this?

 

Media in the changing times has played a very crucial role in defining the decisions made by people. With coming of the digital era and Internet, people are highly dependent on  advertisements to make changes in their lifestyle. One such change that has been observed, is that women are now trying to be slim because the notion that things girls are pretty has grounded people’s mind set. This has given rise to a new set of issues.

Firstly, with portraying slick women as the epitome of femininity, the society in large, makes the women question about themselves. This has caused a shift in the minds, from the importance of being healthy to be rather slim, even if it is at the price of becoming unhealthy. Secondly, this has caused a negative psychology among young girls, who if are fat, look upon themselves as inferior to the ones who are slim. The age when children are supposed to learn and explore the world, the hassles of body, could be quite disheartening.

The most effective solution could be making deliberate attempt, to show all women are beautiful. Movies, advertisements or songs, should portray women as human beings, who could be either fat, short, black, slim, fair or whatever, and yet be successful. This method could act as a counteract to the present notion.

Overall, often media forgets the importance it plays in the lives of people, and takes irresponsible steps. But, if the media tries again, the notions present could be changed for better.

IELTSBAND7

Endangered Species # Essay For IELTS

You should spend 20 minutes on this task.

More and more wild animals are on the verge of extinction and many are endangered.

What are the causes of it and what measures can be taken to solve it?

Write at least 250 words.

 

The planet is meant to be shared by all species, humans, plants and animals. But, with increasing number of people, an imbalance has been created leading to either animal species becoming extinct or endangered. Deforestation, consumption of animal products, hunting and pollution are the main causes for habitats to vanish. There are several methods such as sharing money among communities, awareness, that can help save animals.

With rising population, we have slowly crept into the spaces of the animals. Since one needs space to live, massive deforestation has taken place destroying the habitats of animals living in forest. As a consequence, animals are forced to relocate and sometimes enter into the habitat of humans. The second reason for such a threatening scenario is the increased levels of pollution. For instance, air pollution is causing death among the birds and water pollution among the fishes.

The first step towards saving the animal species is conservation. The animal habitat must be conserved and human entry must be restricted in those areas. The next pragmatic step could be to give incentives to the communities living near the animal habitat. If the tourism department, gives  a share of the earned money to people living near animal habitat, chances are they will take ownership of animals and take extra care.

Overall, the main reasons causing extinction are the various disturbances such as deforestation and hunting. However, measures like incentives for the community and conservation can help protect the animals.

IELTSBAND7

1 … 418 419 420 421 422 … 541