Scientists in the USA have found a strong link between headaches and warmer weather. For many years people have believed that sudden increases in temperatures cause headaches. Doctors at a medical centre in Boston now say they know it’s true. Researchers did a study on 7,054 patients who went to hospital because of a headache. Their research showed that the main cause of the patients’ headaches was a change in the weather. A rise in temperature in the previous 24 hours was the biggest trigger. The research team said the chances of getting a bad headache increased by 7.5 percent with every five-degree Celsius rise in the temperature. The second biggest cause was a fall in air pressure, which happens especially after thunderstorms.

Lead researcher Dr. Kenneth J. Mukamal of Harvard Medical School gave a simple explanation of his research. He said: “In the summer, you may think that ice cream sets off your migraine. But it wasn’t the ice cream, it was the temperature increase on that very hot day that led you to eat the ice cream.” Dr. Mukamal added: “Our results are consistent with the idea that severe headaches can be triggered by external factors. These findings tell us that the environment around us does affect our health.” One doctor said to avoid headaches, we should stay away from things like coffee and wine when the weather suddenly gets hotter. Bad headaches and migraines affect millions. Around 18 percent of women and six percent of men suffer from them.

DISCUSSION
a) What do you think of Dr. Mukamal’s simple explanation?
b) What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘headache’?
c) Do you think changes in the weather can give you a headache?
d) What usually gives you a headache?
e) What do you think is the best way of avoiding headaches?
f) How does the weather change your feeling?
g) Can you remember the biggest headache you ever had?
h) Do you think people living in hot countries get more headaches than those in cold countries?
i) Do you think the weather has affected your health, positively or negatively?
j) What country has the best weather? Do you think people are healthier there?
b) Do you think people get more headaches today than 100 years ago?
c) Why do women get more headaches than men?
e) Does the type of job you do affect the chances of getting a headache?
f) Does studying English give you a headache?

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Moving out

After decades of continuous growth, the population Seoul is now on a continual decline. With a population of only 1.5 million people in 1955, by 1989 the population had grown to more than 10 million. That number represented approximately one-fourth of the total population of Korea.

However, beginning in the early 1990’s Seoul residents, frustrated with the hassles of living in the overcrowded capital, began to move out. Where is everybody going? Most of them are moving to the suburbs where the air is slightly cleaner, there is less traffic, and where housing is more affordable. Many people who live in Seoul complain about the decline in the quality of life there. Air quality is worse than ever, apartment prices are unreal, and the steady increase in the number of cars on the roads now has traffic at a crawl much of the time.

Reasons for the move are as follows:

“Seoul is too expensive.” The cost of everything from apartment rental fees to the price of a cup of coffee are higher in Seoul than in the suburbs. An old 25-pyeong apartment in Seoul can cost more to buy or rent than a brand new 43-pyeong apartment in the suburbs. Seoul has been designated as one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in.

“Shopping facilities are better.” Another reason for the popularity of the satellites towns are the better shopping facilities there. Space is not at a premium as it is in the cities, so sprawling discount stores have been built. The stores in the city are usually much more congested and cover less land area, so most people find shopping in the suburbs stores more convenient.

The only reason given for wanting to remain in Seoul are the better educational opportunities there. Most Koreans feel Seoul’s school are the finest the country has to offer.

Questions:
1. Which of these statements best describes the way you feel about Seoul? Tell why you think so.
o Seoul is a wonderful city and a good place to live and work.
o Seoul is too big and crowded, and too noisy.

2. Most Koreans who move to Seoul from other parts of the country say it is hard to make new friends in Seoul. Is Seoul an unfriendly place to out-of-towners? If so, why?

3. Where would you rather live—in Seoul or in one of the “new cities” around Seoul, such as Bundang or Ilsan? Why?

4. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Tell why you think so?
a. All the best jobs in Korea are in seoul.
b. The schools in Seoul are better than anywhere else in the country.
c. The quality of life in Seoul is worse than anywhere else in the country.

5. The idea of moving the capital (government) out of Seoul has often been discussed. If the government were moved out of Seoul, where would be the best place to move it? Give the advantages and disadvantages of each of the following locations.
o Deajon
o Busan
o Daegu
o Gyeongju
o Incheon

6. The only reason some people want to live in Seoul is to send their children to Seoul schools. Are schools in Seoul really much better than in other places?

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What makes teens and twenty-somethings happy these days? You might be tempted to cite sex, money, and music as primary sources of happiness. You would be wrong. Among 13-24 year olds, according to a survey asked of 1280 people, spending time with family came in at top. Time with friends followed in the number two position, and time with a significant other was third. Almost no one said money as a source of happiness.

Seventy three percent indicated that a good relationship with their parents made them happy. In addition, when looking towards a role model, nearly half of the respondents mentioned one of their parents. Moms ranked higher than dads, though, with 29% of the vote. Dads garnered 21%.

Other results tend towards the disconcerting. Most of the pollees generally felt happy with the direction of their lives, but the survey discovered a racial divide. Whites tended to be happier across all economic categories than blacks or Hispanics. And as for stress, kids noted a 10% higher rate than adults. For 13-17 year olds, school stressed them out. For those in the 18-24 range, jobs and financial matters caused worry. The middle class and women had slightly elevated stress levels.

The big question came down to the future, and whether today's youth will remain happy. Sixty-two percent of teens believed the future will hold greater amounts of happiness. Pollees in the 18-24 year old range were even more optimistic than their younger counterparts. However, many in both age groups anticipate a more difficult life than their parents' is in store.

VOCABULARY

cite - to refer to ; especially : to mention formally in commendation or praise: to name in a citation
primary - something that stands first in rank, importance, or value
respondents - one who responds: one who answers in various legal proceedings
garnered - to acquire by effort: earn
disconcerting - to throw into confusion
racial - of, relating to, or based on a race
elevated - to raise in rank or status
optimistic - to anticipate the best possible outcome
counterparts - one remarkably similar to another: one having the same function or characteristics as another
anticipate - to look forward to as certain : expect

Comprehension Questions:
1. Do you agree with the article that family is more important than sex, money, or music? Why/not?
2. What makes a family successful? Why do you think so?
3. According to the article, many think the future will be more difficult. What do you think? Why?
4. Compared to now, did you feel more or less stress when you were younger? Why?
5. If you won $1,000,000, would you be happy? Why/not?

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