For many entertainers, stage fright is an enemy that only willpower and experience can conquer. But those who are severely afflicted often rely on alcohol or tranquillizes to suppress stage fright’s most severe symptoms, which include extreme nervousness, shortness of breath, a pounding heart and uncontrollably trembling hands.
Now, many entertainers have turned to an alternative. Called propranolol, it is a drug that doctors have prescribed since the 1960s for high blood pressure, heart conditions and migraine headaches. But its success in combatting stage fright has made it extremely popular among musicians. Said one member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, who asked not to be identified: “If you have a solo performance to play, it can be very helpful”.
Marketed as INDERAL by Ayerst Laboratories of Montreal, propranolol works by preventing adrenalin, which the body produces naturally in frightening situations, from affecting the heart. Musicians say it is popular because it is non-addicting and, unlike either alcohol or tranquillizers, it does not impair judgment or co-ordination. But many are concerned that it could lead to psychological dependence. Declared another Toronto performer who said he uses it only in emergencies: “It is a powerful medicine. Students are beginning to use it, and that is unfortunate”.
Still, propranolol has proved so popular among musicians that its use
is spreading to other professionals who work under heavy stress. Some U.S. doctors have acknowledged using it during public speaking engagements. Said Michael Sole, a cardiologist at Toronto General Hospital who prescribes it legitimately for two surgeons with high blood pressure: “These surgeons have told me they feel more confidant in the operating room during difficult operations, but every drug has a price”.
For those with asthma, that price can include even more severe attacks.And long-term use by healthy people can lead to elevations in blood cholesterol, vivid nightmares and impotence. But most performers who had been occasionally incapacitated by stage fright remain unmoved by the drawbacks. For them, a dose of propranolol can be a professional lifesaver.
Reading Comprehension n. 7
1. Answer the following comprehension questions.
· What is the passage about?…………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
· How does stage fright manifest itself in many performers?……………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
· What were the original intended purposes of the drug propranolol?………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
· Why would the quoted speaker in line 10 ask not to be identified?……………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
· What are the supposed advantages of propranolol over the traditional remedies to fight stage fright?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
· What are the possible negative side-effects of the extended use of propranolol?……………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
· What is the implicit warning/criticism in the expression “every drug has its price”? (26)…………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
· Explain the meaning of the following words or phrases as they are used in the passage.
a) balm (title)………………………………………………………………
b) stage fright (1)…………………………………………………………..
c) will-power (1)…………………………………………………………..
d) it is non-addicting (15)………………………………………………….
e) it does not impair judgement (15)…………………………………………
f) psychological dependence (17)…………………………………………
g) its use is spreading (20)…………………………………………………
h) doctors have acknowledged (22)………………………………………..
i) unmoved by the drawbacks (30)…………………………………………
j) a professional lifesaver (31)…………………………………………….
2. What do the following words refer to? 34
that (1)…………………………………………… those (2)……………………………………..
which (3)………………………………………… it (7)…………………………………………..
its (8)…………………………………………….. who (10)………………………………………
which (13)……………………………………….. he (18)…………………………………………
that (19)…………………………………………... me (25)………………………………………..
they (25)………………………………………….. those (27)…………………………………….
them (30)………………………………………….
3. Translate the following linking words as they are used in the text. State the function of each linking word.
· but (2)…………………………………………………………..
· now (6)…………………………………………………………
· if (10)………………………………………………………….
· because (15)…………………………………………………..
· either….or (15)……………………………………………….
· still (20)………………………………………………………..
4. IRREGULAR VERBS …write the infinitive, past simple, past participle and translation of the following verbs.
INFINITIVE PAST SIMPLE PAST PARTICIPLE TRANSLATION
……………………………………………………………………made (9)……………………………………
…………………………………said (9)………………………………………………………………………..
have (10)………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
begin (19)………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
spread (21)………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………….told (25)……………………………………
feel (25)………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
lead (28)………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
35
5. MODALS ….translate each of the following modal constructions and state what each modal expresses,
e.g., ability, possibility, obligation, advice etc.
· only will-power and experience can conquer (1)………………………………………………………
· it can be very helpful (11)………………………………………………………………………………
· it could lead to psychological dependence (16)………………………………………………………..
· that price can include (27)…………………………………………………………………………….
· use by healthy people can lead to (28)………………………………………………………………..
· propranolol can be a professional lifesaver (31)………………………………………………………
6. “-ING-forms”…..note the use of the following ‘ing-forms’, and decide if they function as adjectives, or nouns
or as present participles with the verb ‘to be’. Translate these phrases.
· a pounding heart (4)……………………………………………………………………………
· uncontrollably trembling hands (5)……………………………………………………………..
· in combatting stage fright (8)…………………………………………………………………….
· it works by preventing adrenalin (13)…………………………………………………………….
· in frightening situations (14)………………………………………………………………………
· from affecting the heart (14)………………………………………………………………………
· it is non-addicting (15)…………………………………………………………………………….
· students are beginning (18)………………………………………………………………………..
· its use is spreading (20)……………………………………………………………………………..
· doctors have acknowledged using it (22)…………………………………………………………..
· public speaking engagements (22)…………………………………………………………………..
· in the operating room (25)……………………………………………………………………………
7. CLOZE ….fill each of the numbered spaces with an appropriate word taken from the box.
although basic around mind same
civilisations to have dating the
axle was surface were undoubtedly
The first invention of human beings was the wheel. ___________________(1) no wheel forms
are found in nature, __________________(2) the earliest ‘wheels’ were smooth logs which
_______________(3) used for moving weights over the earth’s ________________(4). No one
recorded who he or she ______________(5) or when it happened, but when _______________(6)
‘first inventor’ placed a wheel on an _______________(7), people began to roll from one place
_______________(8) another. Records of this type of wheel ________________(9) been found among
Egyptian relics _______________(10) back to 2000 B.C., and earlier Chinese ________________(11)
are credited with an independent invention of the __________________(12) mechanism. The wheel
so fascinated the human _______________(13) that people have spent centuries building machines
_________________(14) it. Yet, in over 40000 years, its _______________(15) design has remained
unchanged.
8. VOCABULARY….fill in the spaces with an appropriate Noun, Verb, Adjective or Adverb.
Entertainer
Fright
Afflicted
Rely
Shortness
Prescribe
Prevent
Psychological
Legitimately
Popular
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