Variado

Lección 5ª: Reading  

The Persistent Pursuit of Thinness

Adolescence, as we all know, is one of the most problematic and difficult stages in the Evolution of Man. The youth not only suffers physical, psychological and social changes, but is also subject to pressure from friends and the Media. These pressures can cause certain eating disorders among adolescents.
Anorexia nervosa is oneof the principal illnesses with youths between the ages of 14 and 18. However, it can also affect adult women and men. People with anorexia are obsessed with being thin - they starve themselves to achieve this. They believe that they are fat even though they are very thin. It is a mental illness as it is an attempt to use food and the concept of weight to deal with emotional problems.
Thenumber of cases is increasing because today we live in a world where "image" counts for practically everything. The television, magazines and newspapers only show amazingly pretty and slim people. In the media we don't see successful 'fat', 'ugly' actors/actresses, models, etc. Consequently giving the impression to teenagers that success is related to being attractive. Therefore people withanorexia may believe that they would be happier and more successful if they were thin.
Treating people with anorexia is extremely difficult because those who suffer from this illness believe there is nothing wrong with them. However, if treatment is carried out within the first six months, the patient can be successfully treated. On the other hand, once beyond the six-month stage, treatmentbecomes less efficient. The anorexic can be taken into hospital, but even then it is not certain that the patient will make a complete recovery. Once in hospital, the patient not only has to change their diet, but also face up to the fact that they themselves have a problem.

Lección 5ª (cont.): Grammar
Word order
Subject + Verb + Object

The subject, verb and object normally go together.We do not usually put other words between the verb and the object.
I play football
He sees Jack
We eat apples
Study the following examples. Notice how the verb and the subject go together every time.
Do you watch television every night? (Not - Do you watch every night television?)
Our teacher speaks Spanish quickly (Not - Our teacher speaks quickly Spanish)
Everybody liked the match alot (Not - Everybody liked a lot the match)
Place
Normally the verb and the place go together:
Walk to the park
Go home
Live in the centre
If the verb has an object, the place goes directly after the verb
Meet a friend in a restaurant
Take somebody to a bar
Time
when? how long? how often?

Usually goes after the "place".
We arrived home at ten o'clock
I have been in Madridsince June
Did you drive to work this morning?
Study the following examples. Notice how the place goes before the time:
I went to Madrid on Monday
We arrived at work three hours late
They didn't go to the zoo yesterday as it was too dark
It is sometimes possible to put the time at the beginning of the sentence:
On Monday I went to Madrid
Yesterday, they didn't go to the zoo as it was toodark
Some adverbs
probably, almost, never, usually, etc

This adverbs go with the verb in the middle of the sentence
I never smoke
We usually go to work by car
Here are some general rules as to the positioning of adverbs:
1. If the verb is one word (e.g. walk / speak / does, etc) the adverb usually goes before the verb.
Exception: "have to". In this case adverbs go before "have to".They often speak Spanish to each other
Children always have to do their homework.
2. Adverbs go after "am / is / are / were"
We are always hungry
They are never late
3. If the verb is two or more words (e.g. do smoke / can swim, etc) the adverb goes after the first verb.
Laura and Vicky have never been to America
Maria doesn't usually smoke

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