Questões de Inglês

TEXTO:

  Scientists say that a common ingredient found in 

Chinese herbal medicine is responsible for the very high 

incidence of some cancers and kidney disease in 

Taiwan. For thousands of years the aristolochia plant 

[5] with its reddish-yellow flowers has been a mainstay of 

Chinese herbal medicine. Sometimes referred to as 

birthwort in Europe, the toxic nature of the plant was 

discovered in the 1990s when dozens of Belgian women 

began developing kidney failure and urinary tract cancers. 

[10] They had been using aristolochia-based slimming aids 

at clinic. 

  Now scientists say that the key element, 

aristolochic acid, is responsible for the very high levels 

of kidney disease and urinary tract tumors in Taiwan. 

[15] It’s estimated that about one in three of the population 

there have used herbal medicines containing the toxin. 

The country has the world’s highest incidence of cancers 

of the upper urinary tract - and in their study the scientists 

say more than half can be directly linked to the ingredient. 

[20]   While products containing aristolochic acid are 

banned in many countries, one of the big concerns is 

China. In 2004 a study suggests Chinese farmers 

produce enough of the plant to dose 100 million people. 

Scientists are concerned, that in the decades to come, 

[25] disease caused by the aristolochia will create an 

international public health problem of considerable 

magnitude. 

Disponível em: <www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/04/120412_witn_herbal_medicine.shtml>. Acesso em: 12 out. 2013.

Fill in the parentheses with T (True) or F (False).

It’s stated in the text:

( ) Many countries have forbidden the use of products containing the aristolochic acid.

( ) The Chinese government has been trying unsuccessfully to ban the use of the aristolochia.

( ) Chinese farmers are able to supply a hundred million people with the aristolochia plant.

( ) Scientists believe the use of the aristolochia will cause a lot of damage in the future.

According to the text, the correct sequence, from top to bottom, is:

TEXTO:

  Scientists say that a common ingredient found in 

Chinese herbal medicine is responsible for the very high 

incidence of some cancers and kidney disease in 

Taiwan. For thousands of years the aristolochia plant 

[5] with its reddish-yellow flowers has been a mainstay of 

Chinese herbal medicine. Sometimes referred to as 

birthwort in Europe, the toxic nature of the plant was 

discovered in the 1990s when dozens of Belgian women 

began developing kidney failure and urinary tract cancers. 

[10] They had been using aristolochia-based slimming aids 

at clinic. 

  Now scientists say that the key element, 

aristolochic acid, is responsible for the very high levels 

of kidney disease and urinary tract tumors in Taiwan. 

[15] It’s estimated that about one in three of the population 

there have used herbal medicines containing the toxin. 

The country has the world’s highest incidence of cancers 

of the upper urinary tract - and in their study the scientists 

say more than half can be directly linked to the ingredient. 

[20]   While products containing aristolochic acid are 

banned in many countries, one of the big concerns is 

China. In 2004 a study suggests Chinese farmers 

produce enough of the plant to dose 100 million people. 

Scientists are concerned, that in the decades to come, 

[25] disease caused by the aristolochia will create an 

international public health problem of considerable 

magnitude. 

Disponível em: <www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/04/120412_witn_herbal_medicine.shtml>. Acesso em: 12 out. 2013.

The text says that, in Taiwan

TEXTO:

  Life in the age of internet addiction 

          Just one more tweet, dad! 

  Anyone who spends their day staring at screens 

can speak to the modern-day epidemic of eye fatigue. 

But what is our digital obsession doing to our brains? 

Researchers have noted a rise in something called Digital 

[5] Attention Disorder — the addiction to social networks 

and computers in general. 

  How does it work? More than 50 years ago, 

psychologist B.F. Skinner was experimenting on rats 

and pigeons, and noticed that the unpredictability of 

[10] reward was a major motivator for animals. If a reward 

arrives either predictably or too infrequently, the animal 

eventually loses interest. But when there was anticipation 

of a reward that comes with just enough frequency, the 

animals’ brains would consistently release dopamine, a 

[15] neurotransmitter in the brain that (basically) regulates 

pleasure. 

  What does this have to do with the internet? Some 

researchers believe that intermittent reinforcement — in 

the form of texts, tweets, and various other social 

[20] media — may be working on our brains the same way 

rewards did on Skinner’s rats. “Internet addiction is the 

same as any other addiction — excessive release of 

dopamine,” says Hilarie Cash, executive director of the 

reStart program for internet addiction and recovery, a 

[25] Seattle-area rehab program that helps wean people off 

the internet. “Addiction is addiction. Whether it’s 

gambling, cocaine, alcohol, or Facebook.” 

  “The vast majority of the American population is 

mildly addicted to technology, and our clinic treats only 

[30] very serious cases,” she told me in a phone interview. 

“Most of the people that come are young adult males 

around the ages of 18 to 30 who spend a lot of time on 

the internet. Their health is poor, their social relationships 

have turned to crap, they have no social confidence or 

[35] real-world friends. They don’t date. They don’t work.” 

  Internet and video game addiction starts young. 

Most young men are given computer or video games 

when they are five or six years old and therefore their 

childhood development is profoundly wired for these 

[40] activities. It’s quite different to drug addicts and alcoholics 

who are usually exposed to drugs or alcohol closer to 

the age of 15. Internet addicts usually have 15 to 20 

years of addiction on them due to starting younger. 

  The problem isn’t just young men, either. “Women 

[45] are getting addicted, too,” Cash told me. ”Although 

women usually become addicted later in life and, more 

often than not, directly to social media, while men are 

more adept to becoming addicted to multiplayer games. 

Women seem to juggle addiction and life better than 

[50] men.” 

Life in the age of internet addiction. Disponível em: . Acesso em:12 out. 2013.

The word or expression from the text is correctly defined in alternative

TEXTO:

  Life in the age of internet addiction 

          Just one more tweet, dad! 

  Anyone who spends their day staring at screens 

can speak to the modern-day epidemic of eye fatigue. 

But what is our digital obsession doing to our brains? 

Researchers have noted a rise in something called Digital 

[5] Attention Disorder — the addiction to social networks 

and computers in general. 

  How does it work? More than 50 years ago, 

psychologist B.F. Skinner was experimenting on rats 

and pigeons, and noticed that the unpredictability of 

[10] reward was a major motivator for animals. If a reward 

arrives either predictably or too infrequently, the animal 

eventually loses interest. But when there was anticipation 

of a reward that comes with just enough frequency, the 

animals’ brains would consistently release dopamine, a 

[15] neurotransmitter in the brain that (basically) regulates 

pleasure. 

  What does this have to do with the internet? Some 

researchers believe that intermittent reinforcement — in 

the form of texts, tweets, and various other social 

[20] media — may be working on our brains the same way 

rewards did on Skinner’s rats. “Internet addiction is the 

same as any other addiction — excessive release of 

dopamine,” says Hilarie Cash, executive director of the 

reStart program for internet addiction and recovery, a 

[25] Seattle-area rehab program that helps wean people off 

the internet. “Addiction is addiction. Whether it’s 

gambling, cocaine, alcohol, or Facebook.” 

  “The vast majority of the American population is 

mildly addicted to technology, and our clinic treats only 

[30] very serious cases,” she told me in a phone interview. 

“Most of the people that come are young adult males 

around the ages of 18 to 30 who spend a lot of time on 

the internet. Their health is poor, their social relationships 

have turned to crap, they have no social confidence or 

[35] real-world friends. They don’t date. They don’t work.” 

  Internet and video game addiction starts young. 

Most young men are given computer or video games 

when they are five or six years old and therefore their 

childhood development is profoundly wired for these 

[40] activities. It’s quite different to drug addicts and alcoholics 

who are usually exposed to drugs or alcohol closer to 

the age of 15. Internet addicts usually have 15 to 20 

years of addiction on them due to starting younger. 

  The problem isn’t just young men, either. “Women 

[45] are getting addicted, too,” Cash told me. ”Although 

women usually become addicted later in life and, more 

often than not, directly to social media, while men are 

more adept to becoming addicted to multiplayer games. 

Women seem to juggle addiction and life better than 

[50] men.” 

Life in the age of internet addiction. Disponível em: . Acesso em:12 out. 2013.

Hilarie Cash says that

TEXTO:

  Life in the age of internet addiction 

          Just one more tweet, dad! 

  Anyone who spends their day staring at screens 

can speak to the modern-day epidemic of eye fatigue. 

But what is our digital obsession doing to our brains? 

Researchers have noted a rise in something called Digital 

[5] Attention Disorder — the addiction to social networks 

and computers in general. 

  How does it work? More than 50 years ago, 

psychologist B.F. Skinner was experimenting on rats 

and pigeons, and noticed that the unpredictability of 

[10] reward was a major motivator for animals. If a reward 

arrives either predictably or too infrequently, the animal 

eventually loses interest. But when there was anticipation 

of a reward that comes with just enough frequency, the 

animals’ brains would consistently release dopamine, a 

[15] neurotransmitter in the brain that (basically) regulates 

pleasure. 

  What does this have to do with the internet? Some 

researchers believe that intermittent reinforcement — in 

the form of texts, tweets, and various other social 

[20] media — may be working on our brains the same way 

rewards did on Skinner’s rats. “Internet addiction is the 

same as any other addiction — excessive release of 

dopamine,” says Hilarie Cash, executive director of the 

reStart program for internet addiction and recovery, a 

[25] Seattle-area rehab program that helps wean people off 

the internet. “Addiction is addiction. Whether it’s 

gambling, cocaine, alcohol, or Facebook.” 

  “The vast majority of the American population is 

mildly addicted to technology, and our clinic treats only 

[30] very serious cases,” she told me in a phone interview. 

“Most of the people that come are young adult males 

around the ages of 18 to 30 who spend a lot of time on 

the internet. Their health is poor, their social relationships 

have turned to crap, they have no social confidence or 

[35] real-world friends. They don’t date. They don’t work.” 

  Internet and video game addiction starts young. 

Most young men are given computer or video games 

when they are five or six years old and therefore their 

childhood development is profoundly wired for these 

[40] activities. It’s quite different to drug addicts and alcoholics 

who are usually exposed to drugs or alcohol closer to 

the age of 15. Internet addicts usually have 15 to 20 

years of addiction on them due to starting younger. 

  The problem isn’t just young men, either. “Women 

[45] are getting addicted, too,” Cash told me. ”Although 

women usually become addicted later in life and, more 

often than not, directly to social media, while men are 

more adept to becoming addicted to multiplayer games. 

Women seem to juggle addiction and life better than 

[50] men.” 

Life in the age of internet addiction. Disponível em: . Acesso em:12 out. 2013.

According to Hilarie Cash, Internet addiction

TEXTO:

  Life in the age of internet addiction 

          Just one more tweet, dad! 

  Anyone who spends their day staring at screens 

can speak to the modern-day epidemic of eye fatigue. 

But what is our digital obsession doing to our brains? 

Researchers have noted a rise in something called Digital 

[5] Attention Disorder — the addiction to social networks 

and computers in general. 

  How does it work? More than 50 years ago, 

psychologist B.F. Skinner was experimenting on rats 

and pigeons, and noticed that the unpredictability of 

[10] reward was a major motivator for animals. If a reward 

arrives either predictably or too infrequently, the animal 

eventually loses interest. But when there was anticipation 

of a reward that comes with just enough frequency, the 

animals’ brains would consistently release dopamine, a 

[15] neurotransmitter in the brain that (basically) regulates 

pleasure. 

  What does this have to do with the internet? Some 

researchers believe that intermittent reinforcement — in 

the form of texts, tweets, and various other social 

[20] media — may be working on our brains the same way 

rewards did on Skinner’s rats. “Internet addiction is the 

same as any other addiction — excessive release of 

dopamine,” says Hilarie Cash, executive director of the 

reStart program for internet addiction and recovery, a 

[25] Seattle-area rehab program that helps wean people off 

the internet. “Addiction is addiction. Whether it’s 

gambling, cocaine, alcohol, or Facebook.” 

  “The vast majority of the American population is 

mildly addicted to technology, and our clinic treats only 

[30] very serious cases,” she told me in a phone interview. 

“Most of the people that come are young adult males 

around the ages of 18 to 30 who spend a lot of time on 

the internet. Their health is poor, their social relationships 

have turned to crap, they have no social confidence or 

[35] real-world friends. They don’t date. They don’t work.” 

  Internet and video game addiction starts young. 

Most young men are given computer or video games 

when they are five or six years old and therefore their 

childhood development is profoundly wired for these 

[40] activities. It’s quite different to drug addicts and alcoholics 

who are usually exposed to drugs or alcohol closer to 

the age of 15. Internet addicts usually have 15 to 20 

years of addiction on them due to starting younger. 

  The problem isn’t just young men, either. “Women 

[45] are getting addicted, too,” Cash told me. ”Although 

women usually become addicted later in life and, more 

often than not, directly to social media, while men are 

more adept to becoming addicted to multiplayer games. 

Women seem to juggle addiction and life better than 

[50] men.” 

Life in the age of internet addiction. Disponível em: . Acesso em:12 out. 2013.

Considering Dr. Skinner’s experiment, animals’ interest in an activity results when the reward