Vocabulary

 

retire	secret	article (2)
grey	muffin	look away
yoga	resident	interview
hall	tai chi	longevity
wood	woods	good/better/best
main	mostly	head nurse
bald	without	nonetheless
stoop	first time	nevertheless
chain	non-stop	chain-smoke
pie	cupcake	community
just	screen	shot/shoot/shot
really	approach	turn away

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

The Article

Sandra, a journalist, wanted to write an article about the secrets of long life and good health. So one day, she visited a retirement community to interview the residents.

Under a Tree

After meeting the staff, Sandra entered the community garden. There she saw a grey-haired man reading a book under a tree. She approached him.

“Excuse me sir, but I was wondering if you could tell me how old you are, and what the secret to a long, healthy life is?” she asked.

The man looked up from his book. “Well, I’m 80 years old. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke. I go for walks in the woods, and I read books.”

Sandra thanked him and walked towards the flower section.

The Flower Garden

A white-haired woman with a dog was walking around. Sandra asked her the same question.

“I’m 90,” the woman answered. “I do yoga, tai chi, I eat mostly vegetables and fruits, plus yogurts and nuts. And I have my best friend here, Acey.”

Sandra thanked her and moved on towards the vegetable patch.

Next

After talking to many more residents, Sandra returned to the main hall and thanked the head nurse.

She was about to leave, when someone caught her eye . . . it was a stooping, bald man watching TV and smoking a cigarette.

“Oh, I’ve got to talk to him,” said Sandra.
“Uh . . . I don’t think you should,” replied the nurse.

But Sandra went to him anyway.

The TV Room

“Excuse me sir,” she asked. “Could you please tell me your secrets to a long, healthy life?”

Without looking away from the TV, he replied, very slowly, “Well I chain-smoke — non-stop, every day, all day.

I ONLY eat hamburgers, hotdogs, french fries, chips, cookies, ice-cream, candy, cakes, biscuits, pies, cupcakes, muffins; and drink soda, sugared-juices and whiskey . . .”

Sandra could see that he had no teeth.

TV Shows

“I just sit here and watch TV shows and movies from 10 in the morning till two in the morning, when I go to sleep.”

Sandra looked at the television screen. Men were shooting each other with pistols and assault rifles.

“REALLY? And how old are you sir, 100?”

The man slowly turned away from the TV for the first time. He looked directly into Sandra’s eyes.

“I’m 36.”
 
 
 
 

 

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Questions

Calisthenics. Sandra is a medical researcher. True or false? Where was she on that day?

Walking, Hiking. Did Sandra want to investigate the structure, management and organization of the retirement community? What did she want to do? What did she want to know?

Fresh Air. Describe the first individual. What were his secrets?

Hobbies, Activities. Who was the second person she interviewed? Describe her and tell her secrets.

Fruits and Vegetables. The head nurse suggested that Sandra interview the man watching TV. Is this right or wrong?

Yogurt, Cheese, Butter. What did the man say? Who was the last person she interviewed?

Raw Nuts and Seeds. Is there a moral or lesson to this story? What is the moral or lesson of the story?
 
 
 
Gardening. Do you know any very old people? Describe them.

Relaxation. There are places in my country where people live very long. Yes or no?

Reading, Watching Videos. In your town, city or country, do children look after their parents when they get old; or do old people live in retirement communities or nursing homes or both?

Writing, Journal. I know people who are middle-aged or old, but look younger. Yes or no? Why is that?

Solving Puzzles. Have you met young or middle-aged people who look older? Why is that?

Communicating, Keeping in Touch. What are the secrets to a long, healthy life?

Pets, Friends. What will happen in the future?