Dangers of Energy Drinks

According to the Article, what is a likely effect of consuming too many caffeinated energy drinks on a daily basis over a long period of time?

• People become reliant on the caffeine that is found in abundant quantities in each beverage and find that they cannot function without it.

• People end up spending large amounts of money on convenient, commercial beverages, like Monster Energy and Red Bull

• People can experience elevated blood pressure levels, mental health issues, irregular heartbeats, and a general feeling of fatigue.

• People who drink several of the beverages in a single day have experienced coronary problems, including heart attacks.

What is this Article mainly about?

• Although downing a super-caffeinated energy drink can give a person a brief energy boost, consuming too many of them over a long period of time can increase the risk of serious health issues.

• From the heavy load of daily schoolwork to after-school activities, students today often feel exhausted and opt for super-caffeinated commercial beverages to provide energy and help them maintain their focus.

• In one study, researchers found that the small group that was given a placebo beverage maintained a normal heartbeat, while the group that consumed just one well-known energy drink experienced abnormal heart rhythms.

• Some energy drinks can contain up to 200 milligrams of caffeine and 29 grams of sugar, as well as additives, such as taurine and glucuronolactone, all of which can be found at several times the acceptable daily serving in a single drink.

Which information is not in the Article?

• How beverage companies decide which ingredients to include in their energy drinks

• How super-caffeinated energy drinks can negatively affect one's health when over-consumed

• Why so many middle- and high-school students consume energy drinks on a regular basis

• Which chemical additives are commonly included in super-caffeinated commercial beverages

Which is the closest synonym for the word excessive, as it is used in the Article?

• Advisable

• Beneficial

• Immoderate

• Considerate

The Article states:

Well, some research is showing just that. While consuming one can presents no immediate threat to an ordinary person, excessive consumption has been shown to cause health issues. It can contribute to exhaustion, raised blood pressure, mental health problems, and disruptions in the heart's natural electrical rhythms. There's no reason to lose any sleep—so to speak—over these findings: You're in no particular danger from downing a can or two of Red Bull. But drinking too many does increase your risk of suffering from heart or other health issues later in life.

Why did the author include this passage?

• To point out the surprising results of a specific study on the effects of consuming energy drinks over an extended period of time

• To provide some of the reasons why energy drinks cause those who consume them to feel more alert and focused

• To describe the potentially harmful effects on the body of consuming too many energy drinks in a short amount of time

• To persuade the reader that there is no reason to consume super-caffeinated energy drinks, such as Red Bull

The reader can infer from the Article that __________.

• Energy drinks can be a suitable long-term alternative to eating solid meals and getting enough sleep at night.

• Drinking a can of super-caffeinated energy drink before bedtime may affect one's normal sleep patterns.

• If people have preexisting heart conditions, drinking energy drinks in moderation is liable to cause them to develop diabetes.

• While drinking energy beverages in excess can have a negative impact on health, drinking just one beverage has no observable effect on anyone.

The Article states:

Notably, those who took the placebo had a normal heartbeat. Those who drank the energy drink, however, showed abnormal heart rhythms. These results were later replicated by other researchers. This suggests that a strong case could one day be made for regulating or eliminating the use of chemical additives altogether.

Which would be the closest synonym for the word eliminating, as it is used above?

• Abolishing

• Analyzing

• Accelerating

• Advocating

Which passage from the Article best supports the idea that people might drink super-caffeinated energy drinks to help them stay focused on their daily activities?

• When consumed in moderation, these products may not be harmful. But there's concern that many young people are overindulging in these modern elixirs. Up to one third of middle- and high school-age students regularly consume them. Each serving can contain up to 200 milligrams of caffeine and as much as 29 grams of sugar—not to mention plenty of additives like taurine and glucuronolactone—at several times the acceptable daily serving, according to health professionals.

• It's after eight o'clock on Thursday night. You're totally wiped from a rough week of school and sports. But you still have that important biology paper to finish up…by tomorrow. This calls for a whopping dose of your favorite energy drink, the one that's loaded with caffeine and a variety of designer stimulants chemically-engineered to get your heart pumping, keep your head clear, and make sleep all but irrelevant.

• What if you discovered that those same chemicals that helped give you a late-afternoon boost could also throw your heart utterly out of whack? What if scientific research suggested that these products could actually lower your energy level over time?

• But don't freak out just yet! The science doesn't say that the drinks are a definite danger. The results suggest only that consuming them too often is problematic. And those with preexisting health problems, like diabetes or some heart conditions, should avoid them entirely. Most people may occasionally enjoy these bubbly boosters in moderation only.