Questões de Inglês

Why you should care that Greenpeace found microplastics and chemicals in remote Antarctic waters

Amanda Froelich August 1, 2018

After reviewing water and snow samples from Antarctica, obtained during a recent expedition, a Greenpeace group found the presence of
microplastics and persistent chemicals in the majority of samples tested. Considering there is little data for microplastics in Antarctic waters,
this latest analysis provides valuable information concerning the presence of such contamination in the region.
As Frida Bengtsson of Greenpeace said, most people imagine the Antarctic as a “remote and pristine wilderness.” But, due to mankind’s
[05] unsustainable habits and lack of regard for the environment, the remote habitat is now contaminated with microplastic waste and hazardous
chemicals. “We need action at source, to stop these pollutants ending up in the Antarctic in the first place, and we need an Antarctic Ocean
Sanctuary to give space for penguins, whales and the entire ecosystem to recover from the pressures they’re facing,” said Bengtsson.
Microplastics and toxic chemicals weren’t the only offenders observed _____ the environment. The team also found waste ______ the
fishing industry. “Buoys, nets and tarpaulins drifted in ______ icebergs, which was really sad to see,” Bengtsson continued. “We took them
[10] out of the water, but it really made clear to me how we need to put vast parts of this area off-limits to human activity if we’re going to protect
the Antarctic’s incredible wildlife.”
As a result of this finding, it is now a fact that plastic has been found in all corners of Earth’s oceans. To protect marine life and the health
of the oceans, pollution in all forms needs to be curbed.
The Truth About Plastic Pollution
[15] It’s easy to grab an iced latte from your favorite coffee shop in the morning, then discard it without a second thought. But what’s not easy
is comprehending how the simple action can adversely affect wildlife, the environment, and even present and future generations.
Believe it or not, approximately 80 percent of the plastic which is discarded on land makes its way to the oceans. Once the debris is floating
at sea, it gets swept into giant converges of floating rubbish. The greatest is twice the size of Texas and is known as the Great Pacific
Garbage Patch.
[20] Over time, the friction of the waves breaks down the plastic trash. Once the plastic wears down to about five millimeters (or about the size
of a sesame seed), it is considered to be a “microplastic”. This term encompasses the tiny particles of trash that are being ingested by
wildlife, leaching hazardous chemicals into the environment, and traveling into remote recesses of the planet. If there was ever a time to
take action, that time is now.

(Retrieved and adapted from http://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/care-greenpeace-found-microplastics-chemicals-remote-antarctic-waters/. Access on August 20th, 2018)

The expressions we (line 6); they (line 7) and them (line 9), respectively, refer to

Why you should care that Greenpeace found microplastics and chemicals in remote Antarctic waters

Amanda Froelich August 1, 2018

After reviewing water and snow samples from Antarctica, obtained during a recent expedition, a Greenpeace group found the presence of
microplastics and persistent chemicals in the majority of samples tested. Considering there is little data for microplastics in Antarctic waters,
this latest analysis provides valuable information concerning the presence of such contamination in the region.
As Frida Bengtsson of Greenpeace said, most people imagine the Antarctic as a “remote and pristine wilderness.” But, due to mankind’s
[05] unsustainable habits and lack of regard for the environment, the remote habitat is now contaminated with microplastic waste and hazardous
chemicals. “We need action at source, to stop these pollutants ending up in the Antarctic in the first place, and we need an Antarctic Ocean
Sanctuary to give space for penguins, whales and the entire ecosystem to recover from the pressures they’re facing,” said Bengtsson.
Microplastics and toxic chemicals weren’t the only offenders observed _____ the environment. The team also found waste ______ the
fishing industry. “Buoys, nets and tarpaulins drifted in ______ icebergs, which was really sad to see,” Bengtsson continued. “We took them
[10] out of the water, but it really made clear to me how we need to put vast parts of this area off-limits to human activity if we’re going to protect
the Antarctic’s incredible wildlife.”
As a result of this finding, it is now a fact that plastic has been found in all corners of Earth’s oceans. To protect marine life and the health
of the oceans, pollution in all forms needs to be curbed.
The Truth About Plastic Pollution
[15] It’s easy to grab an iced latte from your favorite coffee shop in the morning, then discard it without a second thought. But what’s not easy
is comprehending how the simple action can adversely affect wildlife, the environment, and even present and future generations.
Believe it or not, approximately 80 percent of the plastic which is discarded on land makes its way to the oceans. Once the debris is floating
at sea, it gets swept into giant converges of floating rubbish. The greatest is twice the size of Texas and is known as the Great Pacific
Garbage Patch.
[20] Over time, the friction of the waves breaks down the plastic trash. Once the plastic wears down to about five millimeters (or about the size
of a sesame seed), it is considered to be a “microplastic”. This term encompasses the tiny particles of trash that are being ingested by
wildlife, leaching hazardous chemicals into the environment, and traveling into remote recesses of the planet. If there was ever a time to
take action, that time is now.

(Retrieved and adapted from http://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/care-greenpeace-found-microplastics-chemicals-remote-antarctic-waters/. Access on August 20th, 2018)

According to the text, it is possible to affirm that

Leia o texto para responder a questão.

 

HEALTH

PEOPLE WITH A SENSE OF PURPOSE LIVE LONGER,

STUDY SUGGESTS

BY KASHMIRA GANDER ON 5/24/19 AT 11:10 AM EDT

 

People who have a sense of purpose in life appear to live longer, according to the  latest research linking this outlook to a person’s quality of life and to better physical and mental health. 

The authors of the study published in the journal JAMA Network Open  looked at data collected from 6,985 adults who were signed up to the Health and Retirement Study on people ages 50 and above in the US. The team looked at a group who completed a questionnaire in 2006 about their purpose in life, and used it to come up with a score. On average, the participants were 68.6 years old. Next, the scientists looked at causes of death in the group between 2006 and 2010. Variables included their demographic, marital status, race  and education level. Lifestyle choices like smoking and drinking were also noted. Purpose was defined by the authors as a selforganizing life aim that stimulates goals,  promotes healthy behaviors and gives meaning to life.

The data revealed that the stronger the participants felt they had a purpose in life, the lower their risk of dying. This result remained even when the scientists adjusted their calculations for factors that could affect their score, such as a participants’ sociodemographic status and their health.

But scientists don’t know why there seems to be a link between purposefulness and the length of life. One explanation is that the attitude and overall wellbeing could prevent genes linked with inflammation from being expressed in the body. Meanwhile, lacking a purpose could dampen a person’s motivation to be healthy and active, the authors suggested.

Andrew Oswald, a professor of economics and behavioral science at the University of Warwick, in the U.K., who studies human happiness, told Newsweek: “It is as though the mind and body can draw on a pool of immune responses, and a healthy mind allows the body more immune response, in some way that we simply do not understand in 2019. Remarkably, a number of studies seem to show that happy people and people with a sense of purpose live longer.”

<https://tinyurl.com/yykc8uu4> Acesso em: 27.05.2019. Adaptado.

No trecho do sexto parágrafo — Remarkably, a number of studies seem to show that happy people and people with a sense of purpose live longer – o termo em destaque poderia ser substituído, sem alteração de sentido, por

Read the text carefully.

 

Folic acid

 

What are folic acid and folate?

 

    Folic acid is the man-made form of folate. Folate is found naturally in certain fruits, vegetables and nuts. Folic acid is found in vitamins and fortified foods. Both are different forms of vitamin B9.

    Folic acid and folate help the body make healthy new red blood cells. 5 Red blood cells carry oxygen to all the parts of your body. If your body does not make enough red blood cells, you can develop anemia. Anemia happens when your blood cannot carry enough oxygen to your body, which makes you pale, tired, or weak. Also, if you do not get enough folic acid, you could develop a type of anemia called folate-deficiency anemia.

Why do women need folic acid?

 

² Everyone needs folic acid to be healthy. But it is especially important for women:

 

    Before and during pregnancy. Folic acid protects unborn children against serious birth defects called neural tube defects. These birth defects happen in the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. ³ Folic acid might also help prevent other types of birth defects and early pregnancy loss (miscarriage). Since about half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, experts recommend all women get enough folic acid even if you are not trying to get pregnant.

    To keep the blood healthy by helping red blood cells form and grow. Not getting enough folic acid can lead to a type of anemia called folate-deficiency anemia. Folate-deficiency anemia is more common in women of childbearing age than in men.

 

How do I get folic acid?

 

     You can get folic acid in two ways.

     Through the foods you eat. Folate is found naturally in some foods, including spinach, nuts, and beans. Folic acid is found in fortified foods (called "enriched foods"), such as breads, pastas, and cereals. Look for the term "enriched" on the ingredients list to find out whether the food has added folic acid.

     

     As a vitamin. Most multivitamins sold in the United States contain 400 micrograms, or 100% of the daily value, of folic acid. Check the label to make sure.

 

     What can happen if I do not get enough folic acid during pregnancy?

 

      ¹If you do not get enough folic acid before and during pregnancy, your baby is at higher risk for neural tube defects.

     Neural tube defects are serious birth defects that affect the spine, spinal cord, or brain and may cause death. These include:

 

     Spina bifida. This condition happens when an unborn baby's spinal column does not fully close during development in the womb, leaving the spinal cord exposed. As a result, the nerves that control the legs and other organs do not work. Children with spina bifida often have lifelong disabilities. ⁴ They may also need many surgeries.

 

     Anencephaly. This means that most or all of the brain and skull does not develop in the womb. Almost all babies with this condition die before or soon after birth.[…]

Retrieved from: . Access: 27/05/2019 (adapted).

Based on questions and answers about Folic Acid, choose the alternative in which there are only correct propositions.

 

I. Folate and folic acid are forms of vitamin. Folate occurs naturally in food, and folic acid is the synthetic form of this vitamin.

II. Folate vitamin is used for preventing and treating low blood levels of folic acid, as well as its complications, including the lack of blood cells.

III. Women who are pregnant or might become pregnant take folic acid to prevent miscarriage and “neural tube defects,” birth defects such as spina bifida or anencephaly.

 

Mark the correct alternative.

Read the infographic carefully.

Analyze the infographic from CDC (Center of Disease Control) and choose the information, which is not mentioned in the text.

Read the text to answer question.

 

Ethics Questions in Medical School Interviews

 

    The medical school interview1 frequently involves questions about ethical issues. You may be asked to state your position on topics such as euthanasia, abortion or stem cell research, all of which have ethical implications. Alternatively, you may be given a hypothetical ethical scenario and asked to make a decision.

    Medical schools ask these questions because they are interested in the critical-thinking process you employ to arrive at a decision or state your position. Navigating through ethical scenarios can be challenging if you aren’t equipped with the right tools. One important approach that can help you successfully work your way through such scenarios is the development of a logical construct.

    Before the interview, develop a set of guiding principles – or logical construct – that you can apply in every ethical scenario or question you face. These guiding principles could be to minimize pain and suffering, to cause the least harm, to take into account the wishes of those affected or to always be fair. Once you have defined these guiding principles, you can apply them to myriad situations. The interviewer wants to see how you arrive at your decision more so than knowing what decision you would ultimately make.

    A logical construct can serve as the “how” that gets you to your position. Make sure you discuss the different guiding principles with your interviewer as you apply each to an ethical scenario. In so doing, you will show your interviewer that you are capable of thinking critically.

(Ali Lotfi, M.D. www.usnews.com, 20.06.2017. Adaptado.)

 

¹ Personal interviews are required for admission at essentially all medical schools in the United States.

The expression “In so doing”, in the last sentence of the text, refers to act of