“A Norwegian town shrouded in shadow
for half the year has found an ingenious way to get a bit of sunlight. But why
go to such extreme measures? As Linda Geddes discovers, the Sun has powerful effects
on our minds and bodies – and it changes us when it’s absent.”
By: By Linda Geddes
Published: 14 March 2017, BBC, http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170314-the-town-that-built-a-mirror-to-catch-the-sun
Level of Difficulty: **
BEFORE YOU READ
·
Polar night in The Arctic - what it's like &
what to do https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coIaVH1uNYw
·
The Polar Night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKidr9WZcx8
·
Giant mirrors shed sunlight in the winter months
on the Norwegian town of Rjukan - hi-tech
QUESTIONS
1.
Determine which
paragraphs constitute the “introduction”. Now answer the question: The strong
interest in the sun in Norway may be due to social convention / geographical
location / latitude / obsession. Mark the one that doesn’t fit.
2.
Continue
reading: which paragraphs constitute the next section? What general conclusion
can be drawn about life in countries such as Norway?
3.
Which
paragraphs constitute the next section? Read all about The Yellow Emperor’s
Classic of Medicine and Phillip Pinel’ Treatise on Insanity. What do these
works share with their modern counterparts? They all describe…..
4.
Which
paragraphs constitute the next section? Now answer the questions on this
section of the text:
·
The
reason for SAD is psychological / social/ physical / practical
·
What
natural physical response lies at the root of the problem? The positive
correlation between…..and……
·
We
understand from this section that SAD results from failing to adjust the time
correctly /going against the body’ biological functioning / suppressing morning
sunshine/ the inability to wake up.
·
The
source of the depression resulting from SAD is psychological/ social/
physical / practical in that the higher…………the lower………..
5.
Which
paragraphs does the next section of the text include? Now answer the questions
on this section:
·
Which
of the following phrases could not replace “this” in the sentence “Martin
Andersen didn’t know all of this”: the
past experiments with sun light / how to soak up the sun/ past efforts to
access sun light/ efforts to bring the sun to the people/ efforts to bring the
people to the sun.
·
Why
is the reaction of the locals to sun mirrors surprising? Base your answer on
what you have read so far?
6.
Where
does the next section start and where does it end? Now answer the questions.
·
The
reason for the locals’ reaction to the reduction of sunlight seems to be the
fact that…
·
What
surprising discovery was made in Tromso?
·
Research
with Icelanders supports the theory that…
·
Hektoen’s
observations seem to indicate that reaction to darkness depends on geography/
perspective/ preparedness/ appreciation.
·
The
purpose of the interior decoration of Hektoen’s house is to create …
·
Read
the description of life in Tromso in winter. This description seems to prove that
a healthy attitude / a social attitude / the right attitude / the wrong
attitude can help people get on with their lives in more northerly parts of
the world.
7. Read the last section of the text and answer
the questions:
·
What
interesting result emerged at the end of the study carried out by Vitterso and
Leibowitz?
·
What
conclusion can be drawn from the above study?
·
We
understand from Rohan’s remarks that people need not be stuck with SAD/ can
get treatment for SAD/ avoid hibernation mode/ be more active in winter. Mark
the one that doesn’t fit.
THE DARK TOWN THAT
BUILT A GIANT MIRROR TO DEFLECT THE SUN KEY AND TEACHERS’ NOTES
Seasonal affective
disorder or the winter blues is a very real phenomenon for some people who are
perfectly miserable and lethargic during the winter months. This text delves
into the underlying reasons for this disorder and corrects some misconceptions.
1. Paragraphs
one and two / Obsession
2.
Martin’s story; paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 / Most
people living in countries such as Norway experience a sense of dismay at
automne’s dwindling light
3.
The first three paragraphs under the subtitle
“Dark Place”/ The Winter Blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder
4.
The paragraph beginning “Why should darker
months…” to the next subtitle “Mirror Mirror” / physical / darkness and higher
melatonin levels / going against the body’s biological functioning/ physical ,
the higher the melatonin levels, the lower the level of active thyroid hormone
5.
The first paragraph under the title “Mirror
Mirror to the beginning of the paragraph beginning “Andersen Admits…” /past
efforts to access sunlight/They are always trying to access sunlight and feel depressed
in the winter
6.
The section begins with the paragraph beginning
“Andersen admits…” and ends with words we’d never get anything done. They have
got used to the lack of sunlight or they have grown immune to the normal thirst
for sunlight. / Despite its high altitude studies found no difference between
rates of mental distress in winter and summer/ Resistance to winter depression
is genetic / Perspective/ A fairy tale version of winter / the right attitude
7.
Liking
winter was associated with greater life satisfaction and being able to
undertake challenges that lead to greater personal growth / Adopting a more
positive attitude really might help to ward off the winter blues / Can get
treatment for SAD
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