Dialogue

Ex. 1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Write agree (A) or disagree (D) in the first column of the table.

	My opinion	The Doctor’s opinion
a) You mustn’t get too much sun.
b) The sun is good for us at any time of the day.
c) The sun can make our skin get older more quickly.
d) We can get skin cancer from too much sun.
e) The sun can make us feel better.
f) The sun can help us slim.
g) The sun can protect us from coughs and colds.
h) Direct sunlight makes us feel sleepy.
i) The sun makes us produce fewer white blood cells.
j) People with fair skin shouldn’t go in the sun.

Ex. 2. Now read the dialogue to see if Dr. Williams agrees with them or not, and write A or D in the second column.

Is the Sun Good or Bad for Us?

Interviewer: Well, Mrs Robins, to answer the questions posed in your letter we are lucky to have in the studio today Doctor James Williams. Doctor Williams, is the sun good or bad for us?

Dr Williams: Mrs Robins, there are two answers to this: the sun can be either good or bad for you. Now, this depends on how much sun you get and at what time of the day.

Interviewer: What about the negative effects of the sun, Doctor? We, we hear that it’s usually the result of prolonged or repeated exposure.

Dr Williams: Yes, that’s right. Now, the negative effects are, of course, it increases the ageing process of the skin. And it also increases your chances of developing skin cancer. But, the sun in moderate doses has positive effects too.

Interviewer: What are those?

Dr Williams: Well, scientific experiments have shown that, we feel better; it can help us slim; it can protect us from coughs, colds and other illnesses.

Interviewer: Now, how does it do all those things?

Dr Williams: Well, it makes us feel better because we have a gland in the brain which produces a substance called melatonin. Now, a lot of melatonin makes us feel sleepy. Now, in the sunlight, ultraviolet rays enter the body through the eyes and make the gland produce less melatonin, so therefore we feel brighter.

Interviewer: Oh, I see. What about keeping slim?

Dr Williams: Ah, yes, ultraviolet rays help us to burn up calories. Sunlight makes the body use oxygen more efficiently. So therefore, we process our food better. And therefore we need less.

Interviewer: Now, … you mentioned that sunlight can protect us against illnesses. I’ve heard of that.

Dr Williams: Indeed, indeed. Experiments show that exposure to sunlight makes us produce more white blood cells, especially the cells responsible for fighting off disease. So, with correct doses of sunlight we increase our chances of not catching coughs, colds or other illnesses.

Interviewer: So, to sum up, Doctor Williams, what is your advice? Go in the sun or not?

Dr Williams: Oh, yes, yes, absolutely, but, not too often, and not for too long, especially between midday and three pm when the sun is at the highest. If you think of countries which have a very good climate, places we tend to go to for our holidays, they have a very good tradition, the natives … of the siesta.

Interviewer: Yes, of course.

Dr Williams: And especially if you have fair skin, you must be very, very careful not to burn.

Interviewer: Thank you very much, Doctor Williams.

Ex. 3. Compare and discuss your answers.

Ex. 4. Write a brochure entitled ‘Is the sun good or bad for us?’ You could mention any of the points Dr. Williams made. Use the box to help you.