Post-test Reading

       A panic attack is a sudden feeling of error. Usually it is not last long, but it may feel like forever. The cause can be something as normal as driving over a bridge or flying in an airplane. It can happen even if the person has driven over many bridges or flown many times before. The signs of panic disorder include a fast heartbeat, sweaty hands, difficulty breathing, and a lightheaded feeling.

       At first a person may have no idea what is wrong. The first appearance is between the ages of eighteen and twenty four. In some cases, it develop after tragedy. For example, the death of a loved one or some other difficult situation. In the United States, the National Institute of Mental Health says more than two million people are affected in any one-year period. The American Psychological Association says that it happens more to women and men. It can last anywhere from a few months to lifetime.

       Some people who suffer a panic attack develop a phobia, a deep fear of ever repeating the activity that brought on the attack. But experts say panic disorder can be treated. Doctors, might suggest anti-anxiety or antidepressant medicines. Talking to a counsellor could help a person learn to deal with or avoid a panic attack. There are breathing methods, for example, that might help a person calm down.

       A panic disorder is included among what mental health professionals call anxiety disorders. A study published last week reported a link between anxiety disorder and several physical diseases. It says these include thyroid disease, lung, and stomach problems, arthritis, migraine headache, and allergic conditions.

(Adapted from: http://manythings.org/voa/health/4027.html)

1. What is the topic of the passage? …

       A panic attack is a sudden feeling of error. Usually it is not last long, but it may feel like forever. The cause can be something as normal as driving over a bridge or flying in an airplane. It can happen even if the person has driven over many bridges or flown many times before. The signs of panic disorder include a fast heartbeat, sweaty hands, difficulty breathing, and a lightheaded feeling.

       At first a person may have no idea what is wrong. The first appearance is between the ages of eighteen and twenty four. In some cases, it develop after tragedy. For example, the death of a loved one or some other difficult situation. In the United States, the National Institute of Mental Health says more than two million people are affected in any one-year period. The American Psychological Association says that it happens more to women and men. It can last anywhere from a few months to lifetime.

       Some people who suffer a panic attack develop a phobia, a deep fear of ever repeating the activity that brought on the attack. But experts say panic disorder can be treated. Doctors, might suggest anti-anxiety or antidepressant medicines. Talking to a counsellor could help a person learn to deal with or avoid a panic attack. There are breathing methods, for example, that might help a person calm down.

       A panic disorder is included among what mental health professionals call anxiety disorders. A study published last week reported a link between anxiety disorder and several physical diseases. It says these include thyroid disease, lung, and stomach problems, arthritis, migraine headache, and allergic conditions.

(Adapted from: http://manythings.org/voa/health/4027.html)

2. The word ‘lightheaded’ in paragraph 1 line 5 means …

       A panic attack is a sudden feeling of error. Usually it is not last long, but it may feel like forever. The cause can be something as normal as driving over a bridge or flying in an airplane. It can happen even if the person has driven over many bridges or flown many times before. The signs of panic disorder include a fast heartbeat, sweaty hands, difficulty breathing, and a lightheaded feeling.

       At first a person may have no idea what is wrong. The first appearance is between the ages of eighteen and twenty four. In some cases, it develop after tragedy. For example, the death of a loved one or some other difficult situation. In the United States, the National Institute of Mental Health says more than two million people are affected in any one-year period. The American Psychological Association says that it happens more to women and men. It can last anywhere from a few months to lifetime.

       Some people who suffer a panic attack develop a phobia, a deep fear of ever repeating the activity that brought on the attack. But experts say panic disorder can be treated. Doctors, might suggest anti-anxiety or antidepressant medicines. Talking to a counsellor could help a person learn to deal with or avoid a panic attack. There are breathing methods, for example, that might help a person calm down.

       A panic disorder is included among what mental health professionals call anxiety disorders. A study published last week reported a link between anxiety disorder and several physical diseases. It says these include thyroid disease, lung, and stomach problems, arthritis, migraine headache, and allergic conditions.

(Adapted from: http://manythings.org/voa/health/4027.html)

3. Based on paragraph 4, what did the study reveal about anxiety disorders? …

        A panic attack is a sudden feeling of error. Usually it is not last long, but it may feel like forever. The cause can be something as normal as driving over a bridge or flying in an airplane. It can happen even if the person has driven over many bridges or flown many times before. The signs of panic disorder include a fast heartbeat, sweaty hands, difficulty breathing, and a lightheaded feeling.

       At first a person may have no idea what is wrong. The first appearance is between the ages of eighteen and twenty four. In some cases, it develop after tragedy. For example, the death of a loved one or some other difficult situation. In the United States, the National Institute of Mental Health says more than two million people are affected in any one-year period. The American Psychological Association says that it happens more to women and men. It can last anywhere from a few months to lifetime.

       Some people who suffer a panic attack develop a phobia, a deep fear of ever repeating the activity that brought on the attack. But experts say panic disorder can be treated. Doctors, might suggest anti-anxiety or antidepressant medicines. Talking to a counsellor could help a person learn to deal with or avoid a panic attack. There are breathing methods, for example, that might help a person calm down.

       A panic disorder is included among what mental health professionals call anxiety disorders. A study published last week reported a link between anxiety disorder and several physical diseases. It says these include thyroid disease, lung, and stomach problems, arthritis, migraine headache, and allergic conditions.

(Adapted from: http://manythings.org/voa/health/4027.html)

4. The word ‘deal with’ in paragraph 3 line 4 means …

         Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder. It is also known as manic-depressive illness. It causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. It also affects the ability to carry out day to day tasks. There are four basic types of bipolar disorder. All of them involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. These moods range, from periods of extremely “up” to “down” periods. During the “up” periods one shows energized behaviour. During the “down” periods she is very sad or hopeless. The “up” periods are known as manic episodes. The “down” periods are known as depressive episodes. Less severe manic people are known as hypomanic episodes.

        People with bipolar disorder experience periods of extremely intense emotion. They also experience changes in sleep patterns and activity levels. They show unusual behaviours. These periods are called “mood episodes”. Mood episodes are extremely different from the person’s ordinary moods and behaviour. During the mood episodes there are extreme changes in energy, activity, and sleep.

        Sometimes a mood episode includes both manic and depressive symptoms. This is called an episode with mixed features. People experiencing an episode with mixed features may feel sad, empty, or hopeless and extremely energized at the same time.

        Bipolar disorder experience even when mood swings are less extreme. For example, some people with bipolar disorder experience hypomania. It is a less severe form of mania. During a hypomanic episode, an individual may feel very good. The person may not feel that anything is wrong. However, family and friends may recognize the mood swings. Without proper treatment, people with hypomania may develop severe mania or depression.

(Adapted from:https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topicsbipolar-disorder/index.shtml)

5. What is the topic of the passage? ….

         Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder. It is also known as manic-depressive illness. It causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. It also affects the ability to carry out day to day tasks. There are four basic types of bipolar disorder. All of them involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. These moods range, from periods of extremely “up” to “down” periods. During the “up” periods one shows energized behaviour. During the “down” periods she is very sad or hopeless. The “up” periods are known as manic episodes. The “down” periods are known as depressive episodes. Less severe manic people are known as hypomanic episodes.

        People with bipolar disorder experience periods of extremely intense emotion. They also experience changes in sleep patterns and activity levels. They show unusual behaviours. These periods are called “mood episodes”. Mood episodes are extremely different from the person’s ordinary moods and behaviour. During the mood episodes there are extreme changes in energy, activity, and sleep.

        Sometimes a mood episode includes both manic and depressive symptoms. This is called an episode with mixed features. People experiencing an episode with mixed features may feel sad, empty, or hopeless and extremely energized at the same time.

        Bipolar disorder experience even when mood swings are less extreme. For example, some people with bipolar disorder experience hypomania. It is a less severe form of mania. During a hypomanic episode, an individual may feel very good. The person may not feel that anything is wrong. However, family and friends may recognize the mood swings. Without proper treatment, people with hypomania may develop severe mania or depression.

(Adapted from:https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topicsbipolar-disorder/index.shtml) 

6. The word “intense” means …

         Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder. It is also known as manic-depressive illness. It causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. It also affects the ability to carry out day to day tasks. There are four basic types of bipolar disorder. All of them involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. These moods range, from periods of extremely “up” to “down” periods. During the “up” periods one shows energized behaviour. During the “down” periods she is very sad or hopeless. The “up” periods are known as manic episodes. The “down” periods are known as depressive episodes. Less severe manic people are known as hypomanic episodes.

        People with bipolar disorder experience periods of extremely intense emotion. They also experience changes in sleep patterns and activity levels. They show unusual behaviours. These periods are called “mood episodes”. Mood episodes are extremely different from the person’s ordinary moods and behaviour. During the mood episodes there are extreme changes in energy, activity, and sleep.

        Sometimes a mood episode includes both manic and depressive symptoms. This is called an episode with mixed features. People experiencing an episode with mixed features may feel sad, empty, or hopeless and extremely energized at the same time.

        Bipolar disorder experience even when mood swings are less extreme. For example, some people with bipolar disorder experience hypomania. It is a less severe form of mania. During a hypomanic episode, an individual may feel very good. The person may not feel that anything is wrong. However, family and friends may recognize the mood swings. Without proper treatment, people with hypomania may develop severe mania or depression.

(Adapted from:https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topicsbipolar-disorder/index.shtml)

7. One of the symptoms of manic episodes is feeling …

       A folk culture is small, isolated, cohesive, conservative, nearly self-sufficient group that is homogeneous in custom and race, with a strong family or clan structure and highly developed rituals. Order is maintained through sanctions based in the religion or family, and interpersonal relationships are strong. Tradition is paramount’ and change comes infrequently and slowly. There is relatively little division of labor into specialized duties. Rather, each person is expected to perform a great variety of tasks, though duties many differ between the sexes. Most goods are handmade, and a subsistence economy prevails. Individualism is weakly developed in folk cultures’ as are social classes. Unaltered folk cultures no longer exist in industrialized countries “humility”, clearly reflects the weakness of individualism and social class so typical of folk cultures, and there is a corresponding strength of Amish group identity. Rarely do the Amish marry outside their sect. The religion, a variety of the Mennonite faith, provides the principal mechanism for maintaining order.

       By contrast, a popular culture is a large heterogeneous group, often highly individualistic and constantly changing. Relationships tend to be impersonal, and a pronounced division of labor exists, leading to the establishment of many specialized professions. Secular institutions of control such as the police and army take the place of religion and family in maintaining order, and a money-based economy prevails, Because of these contrasts, “popular” may be viewed as clearly different from “folk”. The popular is replacing the folk in industrialized countries and in many developing nations, Folk-made objects give way to their popular equivalent, usually because the popular item is more quickly or cheaply produced, is easier or saving to use, or lends more Prestige to the owner.

8. What does the passage mainly discuss? …

       A folk culture is small, isolated, cohesive, conservative, nearly self-sufficient group that is homogeneous in custom and race, with a strong family or clan structure and highly developed rituals. Order is maintained through sanctions based in the religion or family, and interpersonal relationships are strong. Tradition is paramount’ and change comes infrequently and slowly. There is relatively little division of labor into specialized duties. Rather, each person is expected to perform a great variety of tasks, though duties many differ between the sexes. Most goods are handmade, and a subsistence economy prevails. Individualism is weakly developed in folk cultures’ as are social classes. Unaltered folk cultures no longer exist in industrialized countries “humility”, clearly reflects the weakness of individualism and social class so typical of folk cultures, and there is a corresponding strength of Amish group identity. Rarely do the Amish marry outside their sect. The religion, a variety of the Mennonite faith, provides the principal mechanism for maintaining order.

       By contrast, a popular culture is a large heterogeneous group, often highly individualistic and constantly changing. Relationships tend to be impersonal, and a pronounced division of labor exists, leading to the establishment of many specialized professions. Secular institutions of control such as the police and army take the place of religion and family in maintaining order, and a money-based economy prevails, Because of these contrasts, “popular” may be viewed as clearly different from “folk”. The popular is replacing the folk in industrialized countries and in many developing nations, Folk-made objects give way to their popular equivalent, usually because the popular item is more quickly or cheaply produced, is easier or saving to use, or lends more Prestige to the owner.

9. Which of the following is typical of folk cultures?

       A folk culture is small, isolated, cohesive, conservative, nearly self-sufficient group that is homogeneous in custom and race, with a strong family or clan structure and highly developed rituals. Order is maintained through sanctions based in the religion or family, and interpersonal relationships are strong. Tradition is paramount’ and change comes infrequently and slowly. There is relatively little division of labor into specialized duties. Rather, each person is expected to perform a great variety of tasks, though duties many differ between the sexes. Most goods are handmade, and a subsistence economy prevails. Individualism is weakly developed in folk cultures’ as are social classes. Unaltered folk cultures no longer exist in industrialized countries “humility”, clearly reflects the weakness of individualism and social class so typical of folk cultures, and there is a corresponding strength of Amish group identity. Rarely do the Amish marry outside their sect. The religion, a variety of the Mennonite faith, provides the principal mechanism for maintaining order.

       By contrast, a popular culture is a large heterogeneous group, often highly individualistic and constantly changing. Relationships tend to be impersonal, and a pronounced division of labor exists, leading to the establishment of many specialized professions. Secular institutions of control such as the police and army take the place of religion and family in maintaining order, and a money-based economy prevails, Because of these contrasts, “popular” may be viewed as clearly different from “folk”. The popular is replacing the folk in industrialized countries and in many developing nations, Folk-made objects give way to their popular equivalent, usually because the popular item is more quickly or cheaply produced, is easier or saving to use, or lends more Prestige to the owner.

10. The word “homogeneous” in paragraph 1 line 2 is closest in meaning to …