- •Part 3 natural phenomena
- •Thunder and lightning
- •If you’re at home:
- •If you’re away from home:
- •Дні рівнодення
- • Speaking Have you ever heard of the greenhouse effect and global warming? What do you know about them?
- •What’s up with the Weather?
- •Part 4 wheather wisdom
- •Weather and mood
- • Speaking
- • Speaking
- •Weather wisdom
- •Part 5 climate
- •Weather Forecast.
- • Speaking
- •Variety of Climates in the United States
- •Revision topics
Part 4 wheather wisdom
Reading
Read the text and answer the questions below.
Weather and mood
Hippocrates, the father of medicine, observed in the 4th century BC that “whoever wishes to pursue the science of medicine must first investigate the seasons of the year and what occurs in them.”
People who suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) are depressed, predisposed to overeat and need a great deal of sleep. The disorder is linked directly to the amount of light travelling through the optic nerve. The acronym first hit the headlines in the early ‘80s. Many SAD sufferers have been successfully treated using light therapy.
Countries in the higher altitudes (including Sweden, Finland, Alaska, Iceland) often suffer psychological problems through lack of sunlight, with high rates of suicide, depression and alcoholism. The inhabitants of the world’s most nothernly city - Tromso, Norway - have to endure two months in darkness. The result is bio-rhythmic confusion: many people can’t sleep, feel as if they have jet lag, put on weight. Local winds such as le Mistral can have effect on mood. Le Mistral is a strong, dry, cold wind that blows through the Rhone Valley and the South of France to the Mediterranean. Symptoms include tiredness, headaches, insomnia, bad temper.
From “BBC English”
What kind of symptoms were mentioned in the text?
What kind of diseases were mentioned in the text?
What kinds of treatment were mentioned in the text?
Which reasons for certain illnesses were mentioned?
Speaking
MOODS
Here are some of the most common adjectives we use to describe the way we feel. Each one has a clue with it, to help you understand the mood, and to allow you to test yourself later. Some of the clues contain useful phrases about the weather. Have you ever had a year like this? Read on.
JAN
1 7 10 16 23 31 |
Another year gone never to return. I suppose none of us is getting any younger. To think nearly half the world is white with snow today. The snow never seems as white as it used to be. Oh, for the spring! Love Story on TV again tonight – super! |
melancholic pensive thoughtful nostalgic full of longing sentimental |
FEB
3 7 12 13 21 27 |
Another grey, cloudy day. Yet another day of drizzle and fog. Heavy storms and a few sunny periods. Everyone got a rise in salary except me! Why, oh why can’t I seem to do things right? Another series of repeats on telly – oh no! |
bored miserable moody resentful frustrated fed up |
MAR
4 9 14 17 24 30 |
Showers and rainbows. Umbrella and parasol? Who am I? What am I? Can I? Could I? Dare I? Oh, sit still, will you! I think the rain is going to ease off! |
confused uncertain introspective unsure of oneself restless hopeful |
APR
2 5 8 9 16 25 |
Sleet and biting winds. Frosty mornings and icy roads. You won’t have any fingernails left. OK, OK, don’t bite my head off! I heard a cockoo. Did you hear it? The sun’s coming out. |
edgy touchy nervous irritable alert cheerful |
MAY
1 6 11 19 22 26 |
I think it’s going to clear up. I’ve booked the holiday, so you can’t say no. Just six more weeks and we’ll be there. How about a ten-mile walk tomorrow? Oh, I loved it! Adored it! Fantastic! You mean I’ve really won the Best Office Boy title? |
optimistic positive excited active enthusiastic thrilled |
JUN
5 13 16 19 24 28 |
UK Best Office Boy Competition? No problem! Not a breath of wind. A cool breeze, a cloudless sky. I could lie here forever. It’s too hot to move. Oh yes, this is the life! |
confident calm refreshed relaxed idle/lazy content |
JUL
1 4 7 10 18 28 |
She smiled at me! She actually smiled at me! She said she’d come to dinner! Now I know how the winner must have felt. Jumping for joy! Pinch me to let me know I’m not dreaming. Paradise must be like this. |
exhilarated elated triumphant on top of the world up in the clouds ecstatic |
AUG
2 6 9 14 19 24 |
I know I don’t know you, but still you can marry me! It’s so close and heavy today, no air at all. Sticky, thundery heat. No energy, no emotion. She’s gone. I’ve got nothing left. And it was going to be so good! |
wild/rash weary drained exhausted empty disappointed |
SEP
1 4 11 18 24 29 |
And she was so, so nice. That’s the last holiday romance I’ll ever have! The days are closing in. It’s going to be a long hard winter. Why bother? Why care? I just don’t understand. |
heart-broken disillusioned gloomy depressed disheartened bewildered |
OCT
2 8 12 17 24 30 |
An overcast sky. Why did you have to mention her name? The rain’s set in for the day. Why are there no new people to meet? I don’t want any new faces round here, thank you! Hailstorms and icy winds. |
dejected easily upset distressed lonely hostile bitter |
NOV
1 2 8 15 16 17 |
Redundant, maybe? And thrown out of my flat? All alone. To be or not to be? Nextdoor’s music is really getting on my nerves! It’s brightening up. I don’t believe it. It can’t be true. I don’t know what to say! Come on, let’s fly to Paris for breakfast. |
insecure suicidal easily annoyed astonished/ amazed overwhelmed light-headed |
DEC
6 9 12 18 24 31 |
Fancy dress parties and drinks round at our place. Snowball fights. I must be the happiest man alive. Skating on frozen puddles and falling over laughing. Champagne bubbles and laughter. I haven’t done so badly this year after all! |
sociable playful over the moon frivolous merry self-satisfied |