The Sun - A Mixed Blessing Reading Answers

Aug 14, 2024

The Sun - A Mixed Blessing Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. The sun - a mixed blessing Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the questions, you have to choose the correct option among the given choices. In the next section, you have to tell whether the statement is true or false. In the next section, you have to fill in the blanks.

Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers, which feature topics such as The Sun - a mixed blessing Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

Section 1

THE SUN - A MIXED BLESSING

A. People in Western countries have very mixed feelings about the sun. On the one hand, it evokes memories of beaches, summer holidays and playful times. Children's books often personify the sun as a smiling, happy typically contrasted with angry, moody rain clouds. The sun has such positive connotations that the descriptor sunny' refers not only to a state of weather but also to 'cheery, cheerful, or joyous' moods and dispositions amongst humans. On the other hand, many people fear the sun because of its association with cosmetic degeneration which can cause people to look much older than they are. Even more seriously, many people see the sun as a killer this is because excessive sun exposure can lead to skin cancer which has a very high mortality rate. So is the sun our friend or a foe? The answers are complex and contradictory.

B. Let's start with the worst news about the sun. It is a carcinogen. As the National Toxicology Program Report on Carcinogens from the Department of Health and Human Services reports, broad-spectrum UV radiation and solar radiation (what is known as 'sun rays') are thought to contribute to most of the estimated 1.5 million skin cancers diagnosed in the United States each year. This gives the sun the unfavourable distinction of being the leading carcinogen in the United States ahead of genetic mutations, bad diets, cigarettes, alcohol, chemical exposure and other lifestyle factors. Of these diagnoses, 8,000 sufferers will perish from the condition. The primary cause of this mortality is metastatic melanoma- moles that become cancerous and then spread mutated cells into the lymph nodes and eventually through the rest of the body.

C. Even if you are lucky enough to avoid skin cancer, the sun can still have damaging effects on your skin. This is known as premature ageing, so-called because sun damage mimics the skin's natural aging process, but does so at a much earlier age. The sun causes premature ageing by breaking down and mutating collagen fibrous, glue-like substance that supports and connects tissue and is responsible for the firmness, suppleness, elasticity and overall appearance of the skin. Skin's collagen production slows and eventually stops due to ageing anyway, but sun exposure accelerates this process. It also mutates collagen cells, producing visible abnormalities on the skin. The slowing collagen production appears as wrinkles, sagging and fine lines, while the mutated cells can take the form of a leathery skin texture, facial ruddiness and blemishes known as liver spots. Together these can dissolve signs of youth and vitality from a person's looks - an image that contrasts starkly with the smooth, tanned and youthful-looking models we often associate with summer!

D. The sun does have a lot of positive things to offer humans, however. Firstly, it staves off Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), an appropriate acronym for a mood disorder caused by insufficient exposure to light - as such, it is typically associated with winters and is sometimes called 'winter blues' or 'winter depression'. SAD, once treated with scepticism by health experts but now widely acknowledged to be a legitimate condition, can create several distressing problems. Sufferers may oversleep and find it difficult to be roused in the morning, crave 'comfort foods' high in carbohydrates, lack energy, find it difficult to concentrate and may withdraw from social exposure. Together these symptoms can lead to depression, pessimistic feelings of hopelessness and an inability to find pleasurable activities. Researchers are not yet sure of the exact physical mechanism that causes SAD, but they do know that exposure to bright life is an effective remedy. The sun has a palliative effect here.

E. In other ways, the health-improving effects of the sun can be even more powerful. These effects typically relate to Vitamin D, of which the sun is a great source for two reasons. Firstly, it is completely free, and secondly, our bodies have natural mechanisms that prevent an overdose of internally- generated Vitamin D from the sun. Although this vitamin can be sourced from milk, cod liver oil and supplements, solar radiation is still the primary source for most humans. Its preventative role is important: Vitamin D seems to protect against prostate, breast, colon, kidney and ovarian cancers, benefit bone health, as well as reduce overall mortality and the occurrence of cardiovascular events- mortality from strokes and heart attacks is up to 40% higher in some countries during winter months, a connection linked to lack of sun exposure. Skin cancer rates rise with proximity to the equator amongst light-skinned people, but the prognosis of most other cancers is exactly the opposite. Indeed, the overall benefits of sun exposure outweigh the risks when it comes to cancer, even though the sun is a well-documented carcinogen.

F. Ultimately, moderation and protection may be the key when it comes to sun exposure. This is true of other carcinogens such as alcohol as studies suggest that binge drinkers and teetotallers experience higher levels of health problems than people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol on social occasions. Healthy access to the sun involves wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen before every exposure (even in winter) and not staying in the sun any longer than is necessary, which is about five minutes for adequate Vitamin D exposure. With these simple steps, the sun once again becomes A fined and not mur foo

Questions 1-6

Reading Passage 1 has six paragraphs, A-F.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, from A - F.

1. A description of the physical process that makes someone look older

Answer: C

Supporting statement: “......The sun causes premature ageing by breaking down and mutating collagen—a fibrous, glue-like substance that supports and connects tissue and is responsible for the firmness, suppleness, elasticity and overall appearance of the skin......”

Keywords: ageing, breaking

Keyword Location: para C, lines 2-3

Explanation: Paragraph C explains how the sun causes premature ageing by breaking down collagen, making it a detailed description of the process that makes someone look older.

2. Recommendations for how to be safe in the sun

Answer: F

Supporting statement: “......Healthy access to the sun involves wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen before every exposure (even in winter) and not staying in the sun any longer than is necessary, which is about five minutes for adequate Vitamin D exposure......”

Keywords: sunscreen, not staying

Keyword Location: para F, lines 3-5

Explanation: Paragraph F provides recommendations on how to stay safe in the sun, such as wearing sunscreen and limiting sun exposure.

3. Examples of emotional ailments that contact with the sun can treat

Answer: D

Supporting statement: “.....SAD, once treated with scepticism by health experts but now widely acknowledged to be a legitimate condition, can create several distressing problems........”

Keywords: emotional, ailments

Keyword Location: para D, lines 3-5

Explanation: Paragraph D describes how exposure to the sun can treat emotional ailments associated with SAD, such as lack of energy and difficulty concentrating.

4. Evidence that the sun can lower death rates

Answer: E

Supporting statement: “......mortality from strokes and heart attacks is up to 40% higher in some countries during winter months, a connection linked to lack of sun exposure.......”

Keywords: mortality, sun

Keyword Location: para E, lines 4-6

Explanation: Paragraph E provides evidence that sun exposure can lower death rates from strokes and heart attacks, particularly during winter months when sun exposure is lower.

5. An explanation of how a single word can have contrasting connotations

Answer: A

Supporting statement: “......The sun has such positive connotations that the descriptor 'sunny' refers not only to a state of weather but also to 'cheery, cheerful, or joyous' moods and dispositions amongst humans.......”

Keywords: sunny, positive

Keyword Location: para A, lines 3-5

Explanation: Paragraph A explains that the word "sunny" has positive connotations, but the sun can also be associated with negative effects, demonstrating the contrasting connotations of the word.

6. Several causes of cancer

Answer: B

Supporting statement: “......This gives the sun the unfavourable distinction of being the leading carcinogen in the United States ahead of genetic mutations, bad diets, cigarettes, alcohol, chemical exposure and other lifestyle factors......”

Keywords: carcinogen, genetic

Keyword Location: para B, lines 4-6

Explanation: Paragraph B lists several causes of cancer, including genetic mutations, bad diets, and chemical exposure. Hence B is the correct answer.

Question 7

A Pullupitor

Choose the correct letter

7. Which of the following is premature ageing?

A. Loose skin

B. Organ problems

C. Redness on the face

D. Rough, dry feel to skin

Answer: B

Supporting statement: “......The slowing collagen production appears as wrinkles, sagging and fine lines, while the mutated cells can take the form of a leathery skin texture, facial ruddiness and blemishes known as liver spots......”

Keywords: wrinkles, sagging

Keyword Location: para C, lines 5-7

Explanation: Paragraph C mentions sagging as a sign of premature ageing, which corresponds to loose skin.

Questions 8-13

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

8. Sun exposure can result in SAD.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “......SAD, once treated with scepticism by health experts but now widely acknowledged to be a legitimate condition, can create several distressing problems......”

Keywords: SAD, exposure

Keyword Location: para D, lines 2-3

Explanation: The passage explains that SAD is caused by insufficient exposure to light, not by sun exposure. Hence the statement is false.

9. Experts no longer consider SAD to be a health problem.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “.......SAD, once treated with scepticism by health experts but now widely acknowledged to be a legitimate condition.....”

Keywords: SAD, legitimate

Keyword Location: para D, line 2

Explanation: The passage states that SAD is now widely acknowledged to be a legitimate condition, indicating that experts still consider it a health problem.

10. Artificial sources of light are not very good at treating SAD.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: There is no information provided in the passage regarding the effectiveness of artificial light sources for treating SAD.

11. The sun cannot give us too much Vitamin D.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “.....Firstly, it is completely free, and secondly, our bodies have natural mechanisms that prevent an overdose from internally generated Vitamin D from the sun........”

Keywords: overdose, Vitamin

Keyword Location: para E, lines 2-3

Explanation: The passage states that our bodies have mechanisms to prevent an overdose of Vitamin D from the sun.

12. Most people get their Vitamin D from the sun.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “.....Although this vitamin can be sourced from milk, cod liver oil and supplements, solar radiation is still the primary source for most humans.......”

Keywords: source, Vitamin

Keyword Location: para E, lines 3-4

Explanation: The passage indicates that solar radiation is the primary source of Vitamin D for most people. Hence the given statement is true.

13. The sun can both cause and prevent cancer.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “.....Indeed, the overall benefits of sun exposure outweigh the risks when it comes to cancer, even though the sun is a well-documented carcinogen.......”

Keywords: risks, cancer

Keyword Location: para E, line 7

Explanation: The passage explains that while the sun is a carcinogen, it also provides benefits that outweigh the risks, indicating that it can both cause and prevent cancer.

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