Reading Comprehension - Articles 6-10

Reading Comprehension 6

Memorandum.
To: All Staff
Date: 22 June
SUBJECT: New Filing Clerk

Despite the enormous strides forward in office automation, the amount of paperwork and consequently the amount of filing, grows and grows. Statistics show that, on average, a secretary spends twenty per cent of working time filing and during the course of one year creates at least five thousand new files. It is therefore this company’s policy to employ a full time filing clerk who will reorganise the filing system more efficiently and cut down the number of files needed by each department, thus freeing individual secretaries from this task. For further enquiries about the above please telephone Ms Espey on Ext. 247.

1. This memo should be distributed to all staff.
2. Statistics show that, on average, a secretary spends a third of working time filing.
3. Ms Espey should be contacted with further enquiries.
4. All firms should employ a full time filing clerk.

Reading Comprehension 7

Millions of lives around the world could be saved, and the quality of life of hundreds of millions markedly improved - very inexpensively - by eradicating three vitamin and mineral deficiencies in people's diets.The three vitamins and minerals are vitamin A, iodine and iron - so-called micronutrients. More than 2 billion people are at risk from micronutrient deficiencies and more than 1 billion people are actually ill or disabled by them, causing mental retardation, learning disabilities, low work capacity and blindness. It costs little to correct these deficiencies through fortification of food and water supplies. In a country of 50 million people, this would cost about $25 million a year. That $25 million would yield a fortyfold return on investment.

1. Most illnesses in developing countries are caused by vitamin and mineral deficiencies
2. Micronutrients provide inadequate nourishment to maintain a healthy life
3. Vitamin A, iodine and iron are the only micronutrients that people need in their diet
4. Correcting micronutrient deficiencies would cost about $2 per person per year

Reading Comprehension 8

So much of the literature of the western world, including a large part of its greatest literature, was either written for actual speaking or in a mode of speech, that we are likely to deform it if we apply our comparatively recent norm of writing for silent reading. It is only that so much of this work is drama or oratory (the latter including the modern forms of sermons, lectures and addresses which as late as the nineteenth century play a most important part). It is also that through classical and mediaeval times, and in many cases beyond these, most reading was either aloud or silently articulated as if speaking: a habit we now recognise mainly in the slow. Most classical histories were indeed quite close to oratory and public speech, rather than silent reading of an artefact, was the central condition of linguistic composition.

1. Until the nineteenth century, most people could only read with difficulty
2. In ancient times, literature was intended to be read aloud
3. Classical histories were passed on orally and never written down
4. Only people with literacy problems now read aloud

Reading Comprehension 9

The clinical guidelines in asthma therapy have now moved towards anti-inflammatory therapy - and away from regular bronchiodilator therapy - for all but the mildest asthmatics. This is now being reflected in prescribing patterns. In the U.S., combined prescription volumes of the major bronchiodilators peaked in 1991 (having risen slowly in the preceding years), though they still account for around half of the 65 million asthma prescriptions there. During the same period, prescriptions for inhaled steroids have doubled, but still account for less than 10% of asthma prescriptions in the U.S.

1. Only mild cases of asthma can be helped by anti-inflammatory therapy
2. Use of bronchiodilators has been increasing since 1991
3. Doctors are reluctant to treat asthma with inhaled steroids for fear of potential side-effects
4. Bronchiodilators are the single most prescribed treatment for asthma

Reading Comprehension 10

Cardiovascular disease is so prevalent that virtually all businesses are likely to have employees who suffer from, or may develop, this condition. Research shows that between 50-80% of all people who suffer a heart attack are able to return to work. However, this may not be possible if they have previously been involved in heavy physical work. In such cases, it may be possible to move the employee to lighter duties, with appropriate retraining where necessary. Similarly, high-pressure, stressful work, even where it does not involve physical activity, should also be avoided. Human Resources managers should be aware of the implications of job roles for employees with a cardiac condition.

1. Physical or stressful work may bring on a heart attack.
2. The majority of people who have suffered a heart attack can later return to work.
3. Heart disease may affect employees in any type of business.
4. Heart disease can affect people of any age.