UTBK 1

Vitamin D deficiency is traditionally associated with bone and muscle weakness, but in recent years a number of studies have shown that low levels of the vitamin may predispose the body to high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and chronic blood vessel inflammation (associated with hardening of the arteries). It also alters hormone levels to increase insulin resistance, which raises the risk of diabetes.

In a review article published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers surveyed recent studies on the link between vitamin D deficiency and heart disease to come up with practical advice on screening and treatment. They concluded that vitamin D deficiency is much more common than previously thought, affecting up to half of adults and apparently healthy children in the U.S. Researchers say higher rates of vitamin D deficiency may be due in part to people spending more time indoors and efforts to minimize sun exposure through the use of sunscreens. Sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 blocks approximately 99% of vitamin D synthesis by the skin.

“We are outside less than we used be, and older adults and people who are overweight or obese are less efficient at making vitamin D in response to sunlight,” says O’Keefe. “A little bit of sunshine is a good thing, but the use of sunscreen to guard against skin cancer is important if you plan to be outside for more than 15 to 30 minutes of intense sunlight exposure.”

1. The main idea of this passage is that …

• vitamin D deficiency in one’s body is the main cause of diseases.

• Traditional vitamin D deficiency causes problems in bones and muscles.

• Research findings show vitamin D deficiency may lead to health problems.

• The U.S. researchers say-that sunscreen can keep everyone from skin diseases.

Vitamin D deficiency is traditionally associated with bone and muscle weakness, but in recent years a number of studies have shown that low levels of the vitamin may predispose the body to high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and chronic blood vessel inflammation (associated with hardening of the arteries). It also alters hormone levels to increase insulin resistance, which raises the risk of diabetes.

In a review article published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers surveyed recent studies on the link between vitamin D deficiency and heart disease to come up with practical advice on screening and treatment. They concluded that vitamin D deficiency is much more common than previously thought, affecting up to half of adults and apparently healthy children in the U.S. Researchers say higher rates of vitamin D deficiency may be due in part to people spending more time indoors and efforts to minimize sun exposure through the use of sunscreens. Sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 blocks approximately 99% of vitamin D synthesis by the skin.

“We are outside less than we used be, and older adults and people who are overweight or obese are less efficient at making vitamin D in response to sunlight,” says O’Keefe. “A little bit of sunshine is a good thing, but the use of sunscreen to guard against skin cancer is important if you plan to be outside for more than 15 to 30 minutes of intense sunlight exposure.”

• chronic vitamin D deficiency.

• excessive exposure to sunlight.

• doing more indoor activities.

• low levels of vitamin consumption.

Smartphones, tablets and e-readers should have an automatic “bedtime mode” that stops them disrupting people’s sleep, says a leading doctor. Professor Paul Gringras argued the setting should filter out the blue light that delays the body clock and keeps people awake later into the evening. The doctor, from Evelina Children’s Hospital in London, said every new mode 5 l was “bluer and brighter”. He said manufacturers needed to show more “responsibility”.

As it gets darker in the evening, the body starts to produce the sleep hormone melatonin – which helps people nod off. Certain wavelengths of light, those at the blue-green end of the spectrum, can disrupt the system.

Professor Gringras was part of a study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, analysing the light emitted by devices. It concluded there was a clear trend for new devices to be bigger, brighter, have higher levels of contrast and 10 emit more blue light. The professor of children’s sleep medicine told the BBC News website: “That is great for use in the day, but awful for use at night.

“There is converging data to say if you are in front of one of these devices at night-time it could prevent you falling asleep by an extra hour. “He said some sleep-aware apps had already been designed to reduce blue-green light emissions. And that a 15 bedtime mode could automatically filter out the blue as software such as flux already does. He said there needed to be “more responsibility from 15 manufacturers” and the “key is to automate it” Professor Gringras added: “It is not good enough to say do less and accept this is the world we live in, they are fun devices but we do need some protection on what they do at night-time.

3. The passage mainly discusses a topic on....

• sleep disorder and its cure

• problems with new electronic gadgets

• electronic gadgets that help people fall asleep

• new technology that can help reduce sleep disruption

Smartphones, tablets and e-readers should have an automatic “bedtime mode” that stops them disrupting people’s sleep, says a leading doctor. Professor Paul Gringras argued the setting should filter out the blue light that delays the body clock and keeps people awake later into the evening. The doctor, from Evelina Children’s Hospital in London, said every new mode 5 l was “bluer and brighter”. He said manufacturers needed to show more “responsibility”.

As it gets darker in the evening, the body starts to produce the sleep hormone melatonin – which helps people nod off. Certain wavelengths of light, those at the blue-green end of the spectrum, can disrupt the system.

Professor Gringras was part of a study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, analysing the light emitted by devices. It concluded there was a clear trend for new devices to be bigger, brighter, have higher levels of contrast and 10 emit more blue light. The professor of children’s sleep medicine told the BBC News website: “That is great for use in the day, but awful for use at night.

“There is converging data to say if you are in front of one of these devices at night-time it could prevent you falling asleep by an extra hour. “He said some sleep-aware apps had already been designed to reduce blue-green light emissions. And that a 15 bedtime mode could automatically filter out the blue as software such as flux already does. He said there needed to be “more responsibility from 15 manufacturers” and the “key is to automate it” Professor Gringras added: “It is not good enough to say do less and accept this is the world we live in, they are fun devices but we do need some protection on what they do at night-time.”

4. The word emitted in line 8 in the passage means ….

• produced

• reflected

• blocked

• shaded

Smartphones, tablets and e-readers should have an automatic “bedtime mode” that stops them disrupting people’s sleep, says a leading doctor. Professor Paul Gringras argued the setting should filter out the blue light that delays the body clock and keeps people awake later into the evening. The doctor, from Evelina Children’s Hospital in London, said every new mode 5 l was “bluer and brighter”. He said manufacturers needed to show more “responsibility”.

As it gets darker in the evening, the body starts to produce the sleep hormone melatonin – which helps people nod off. Certain wavelengths of light, those at the blue-green end of the spectrum, can disrupt the system.

Professor Gringras was part of a study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, analysing the light emitted by devices. It concluded there was a clear trend for new devices to be bigger, brighter, have higher levels of contrast and 10 emit more blue light. The professor of children’s sleep medicine told the BBC News website: “That is great for use in the day, but awful for use at night.

“There is converging data to say if you are in front of one of these devices at night-time it could prevent you falling asleep by an extra hour. “He said some sleep-aware apps had already been designed to reduce blue-green light emissions. And that a 15 bedtime mode could automatically filter out the blue as software such as flux already does. He said there needed to be “more responsibility from 15 manufacturers” and the “key is to automate it” Professor Gringras added: “It is not good enough to say do less and accept this is the world we live in, they are fun devices but we do need some protection on what they do at night-time.”

5. Who are responsible for the automation of the blue-green light that may be caused by electronic devices, according to professor Gringras?

• Manufacturers

• Scientists

• Inventors

• Users