1. Listen to Phong’s talk about meditation. Complete the notes below.

(Hãy nghe bài nói chuyện của Phong về thiền hành. Hoàn thành bảng bên dưới.)

1. Phong has practised meditation for _________ years.

2. Recommendations for meditation:

a. Location: at a _________  place

b. Time: _________  or _________

c. Duration: _________  / a day

d. Techniques: Listen to _________  and breathe _________.

3. Benefits of meditation:

a. _________

Reason: You would feel completely at ease if _________.

b. _________

Reason: Your body stops producing stress hormones and other chemicals that _________.

2. Discuss the questions with a partner.

(Thảo luận những câu hỏi dưới đây với bạn bên cạnh.)

1. Do you know any other ways to relieve stress and feel relaxed?

(Bạn có biết cách nào khác để giảm căng thẳng và cảm thấy thư giãn?)

2. Which do you think works best? Why?

(Bạn nghĩ việc nào tốt nhất? Tại sao?)

1. Decide whether the following statements are true (T), false (F), or not given (NG). Tick the correct box.

(Những câu phát biểu dưới đây đúng (T), sai (F), hay không có thông tin (NG). Đánh dấu vào ô đúng.) 

A LONGEVITY HOT SPOT

Nagano is a mountainous, landlocked prefecture in the centre of Japan, with a population of more than two million. In 2014, the life expectancy there was 87.2 years for women and 80.9 for men, which is one of the highest in the world.

The region once experienced high death rates from causes such as stroke and heart attacks. This was attributed to the residents’ favourite food: salted, pickled vegetables and miso, a kind of fermented soy bean paste. Being inland, Nagano does not have readily available seafood, and salt was used to process and preserve food for use in the long snowy winters.

The turning point was in 1981, when the non-profit Nagano Dietetic Association decided to take action. The first step was a campaign to reduce salt intake and promote a healthier diet and lifestyle. Volunteers were trained to conduct nutrition seminars at supermarkets, shopping malls, and community centres. At first, it was difficult to convince people to change, but gradually it became easier. The efforts paid of with surprising speed. By 1990, life expectancy had risen by three years in a decade, and the death rates due to heart disease had decreased.

The local government has also taken other measures in cooperation with the association: organising routine health check-ups, creating hundreds of walking trails for residents to exercise, and building hot springs for local people to recover from ill health.

The efforts of Nagano’s residents and the government to change the lifestyle and prolong life have been really successful. Nagano is an excellent model that the rest of the world can follow: education, dietary changes, exercise, and the spirit of cooperation can make a difference.

2. Discuss with a partner.

(Thảo luận với bạn bên cạnh.)

1. What is the key to Nagano’s success in its efforts to improve people’s health and longevity?

(Đâu là chìa khóa thành công của Nagano trong nỗ lực nâng cao sức khoẻ và tuổi thọ của con người?)

2. If Vietnam wants to follow Nagano’s model, what is the first step to take?

(Nếu Việt Nam muốn theo mô hình của Nagano, bước đầu tiên cần làm là gì?)