Friday Listening

At approximately what temperature does it get in Xi'an during summer at midday?

• Above 30 degrees Celsius

• Above 35 degrees Celsius

• Above 40 degrees Celsius

• Above 45 degrees Celsius

What time does Ms Li usually go outside for her sun routine?

• Around 12 o'clock in the afternoon

• Around 1 o'clock in the afternoon

• Around 2 o'clock in the afternoon

• Around 3 o'clock in the afternoon

What does Ms Li do when she goes outside in the afternoon?

• She wears shoes and walks in the shade

• She walks barefoot and sunbakes her back

• She wears sandals and sits under a tree

• She walks barefoot and swims in a pool

How long does Ms Li spend outside doing her sun routine?

• About 30 minutes

• About 45 minutes

• About one hour

• About two hours

Why does Ms Li say she sunbakes in the hot weather?

• She wants to get a tan on her skin

• She believes her body has too much heat and needs cooling down

• She believes her body is too cold and needs warming up

• She enjoys exercising in the hot sun every day

According to Ms Li, who should be especially careful when starting this sun routine?

• Only elderly people

• Only children under ten years old

• People who are just beginning this practice

• People who have been doing it for a long time

Ms Li says beginners should not sunbake for too long. Using evidence from the passage, explain why it would be particularly risky for a beginner to sunbake barefoot on the footpath in Xi'an at midday compared to Ms Li's routine.

• Beginners would enjoy it more at midday because the sun is brighter

• Midday temperatures can exceed 40 degrees Celsius, which is hotter than the afternoon, making it more dangerous for someone not used to the heat, especially without shoes on a scorching surface

• Beginners should sunbake at midday because it is the most effective time to warm the body

• It would not be risky at all because the temperature is the same throughout the day

Ms Li believes sunbaking is good for her body because she has too much "cold" inside her. Do you think this belief alone is enough reason for everyone to try the same routine? Use reasoning and evidence from the passage to support your answer.

• Yes, because Ms Li has been doing it for a long time and feels great, so it must be safe for everyone

• No, because the passage states that not everyone can do this, and beginners must be careful about the duration and the heat level, suggesting personal health differences need to be considered

• Yes, because sunbaking in extreme heat is always beneficial for the human body regardless of health conditions

• No, because sunbaking outdoors is never a good idea in any weather condition

Think about the safety advice Ms Li gives in the passage. If a student wanted to try sunbaking safely, which plan would best follow Ms Li's advice?

• Go outside at midday for two hours without shoes when the temperature is above 40 degrees Celsius

• Start with a short session in the early morning when it is cooler, gradually increasing the time over several days

• Sunbake every day for one hour at the hottest time of day to get used to the heat quickly

• Only sunbake when the temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius so there is no risk of overheating

Ms Li chooses to go outside at around 3 o'clock in the afternoon rather than at midday. Using reasoning and evidence from the passage, explain why this choice might make her routine safer compared to going out at midday.

• Three o'clock is safer because the sun has completely set by then and there is no UV radiation

• Three o'clock is safer because the temperature at midday can exceed 40 degrees Celsius, which is extremely hot, and going out slightly later may mean slightly lower temperatures, reducing the risk of heat-related harm

• Three o'clock is more dangerous than midday because the sun is stronger in the late afternoon

• The time of day makes no difference to safety because the temperature stays the same all day in Xi'an