Reading Comprehension: Health is wealth.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF Valerie studies at a big university. At the same time, she maintains a full-time job so that she can pay for her tuition and her living expenses. So Valerie spends most of the day at the office, then goes to class three days a week. She also stays up late at night to study for her classes. Valerie does not do any physical exercise. Between work and university, she is so busy that she thinks she does not have time for any physical activity. Sadly, she rarely eats home-made meals. She usually just grabs a bag of chips or a hamburger as she leaves her office to take the bus to university. Since she is convinced that she does not have time to make a healthy dinner when she gets home, she eats lots of pizzas that she orders over the phone. After dinner, she starts studying and preparing her assignments. Valerie does not sleep very much because of it. She feels grumpy when she wakes up early in the morning, and she is irritable at work. After her long day, she feels tired in class, and it is hard for her to concentrate. To make matters even worse, Valerie keeps getting sick. This makes her miss work and class. She is miserable! She just wants to feel good. Her grades start to go down because of her illnesses. As she thinks about her whole life situation, she gets so frustrated that she does not even want to study anymore. During her mid-year break, Valerie decides to make some big changes. First, she learns how to make some easy, healthy recipes. She actually finds that she saves a lot of money by preparing her food herself, and the food tastes much better too! After an early dinner and some quiet reading, Valerie goes to bed early every night. Now she really feels refreshed in the morning. Then she decides to give something else a try. Her office is not really so far from her university, so one day after work she tries walking there. As she walks down the street, looking at all the people, the shops, and the movement in the city, she remembers how much she hates being stuck on the bus in traffic. In fact, she finds that she can get to class almost as fast by walking. And she is so much happier when she arrives! When the semester begins, Valerie maintains her healthy habits. She sets time aside on the weekends to study and do her assignments. Because she is sleeping and eating better now, she can finally concentrate and needs to spend much less time studying. It is a huge improvement. Valerie saves money on food and transportation, she has much more energy, she feels less stressed, and her grades are better. She is glad she finally started to take care of herself. Now she finally enjoys all of her different activities and feels happy about her life. Vocabulary Questions 1. What does "tuition" mean? a) the money you pay to live in an apartment b) the money someone pays you to work for them c) the money you pay to a university to study there d) the money a university gives you to help you study 2. What does "grumpy" mean? a) upset and irritable b) confused c) energetic d) tired 3. What does "healthy" mean? a) good for your body b) good for your emotional state c) good for your mental state d) all of the above Grammar Questions 1. She decides ________ to class. a) to walk b) walking c) walk d) walked 2. Valerie keeps ________ sick. a) having b) getting c) being d) doing 3. She is so much ________ when she arrives. a) happy b) happiest c) more happy d) happier Comprehension Questions 1. Why does Valerie always feel frustrated and irritable? 2. What healthy changes does Valerie make in her life? 3. Imagine that you are currently like Valerie, what life changes would you make to improve your health? GRAMMAR PRACTICE 1. I ____ here for five years so far. A) worked B) have worked C) am working D) was working 2. George must go home now, but he wishes ____ . A) he hasn’t had to B) hadn’t had to C) he mustn’t D) he didn’t have to 3. The teacher told us ____ any mistakes. A) don’t make B) not make C) not to make D) not made 4. I took a taxi so that I ____ miss the train. A) can’t B) wouldn’t C) won’t D) don’t 5. The ____ names are David and Samuel. A) man’s B) men’s C) men D) their 6. You never saw him, ____ you? A) did B) do C) didn’t D) don’t 7. They walked ____ the hospital. A) until to B) as far as C) until D) as much as 8. Who ____ ? A) for you waited B) did you wait for you C) did you wait for D) did wait for you 9. There’s a boy over there, ____? A) doesn’t there B) wasn’t there C) isn’t it D) isn’t there 10. He’ll take ___. A) them off B) of them C) them of D) bus on 11. We’ll get ____ here. A) on bus B) the bus on C) on the bus D) bus on 12. She has been with us ____ ten years. A) since B) from C) for D) in 13. We must be very careful when we drive, ____ we? A) mustn’t B) must C) oughtn’t D) don’t 14. It’s been rainy all afternoon, ____ it? A) wasn’t B) isn’t C) hasn’t D) doesn’t 15. Children often hurt ____ while playing in the garden. A) themselves B) himself C) their D) they 16. New York is ____ important city in USA. A) the more B) the most C) more D) most 17. I am interested ____ flying kites. A) at B to C) for D) in 18. The temperature is about 35C today, ____ it? A) isn’t B) doesn’t C) shall D) won’t 19. His father told him ____ careful. A) being B) to be C) be D) been 20. She told him where ____. A) she lived B) does she live C) has she lived D) did she live 21. ____ their sister given a present last year? A) Are B) Is C) Was D) Does 22. She’s ____ her lunch. A) already eaten B) still eaten C) eaten yet D) yet eaten 23. English ____ almost everywhere in the world. A) is speaking B) is spoke C) is spoken D) spoken 24. She asked me if ____ her. A) I had seen B) had I seen C) I have seen D) did I see 25. I asked him ____ close the door. A) do not B) don’t to C) not to D) don’t 26. Jack asked me if ____ swimming. A) did I like B) I liked C) do I like D) I was liked 27. When ____ to you? A) did that letter send B) does that letter send C) is that letter sending D) was that letter sent