Speaking Boost · B2 · Lesson 25 of 50
Speaking Boost B2 · Block 5: Health and the Body

What do the world’s longest-living people have in common?

In some places in the world, an unusual number of people seem to live to a hundred. Learn what researchers say about their lifestyle, review conditionals and advice, and give the final talk of Block 5.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

A long and healthy life

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Do you want to live to a hundred? Why or why not?
  2. What do you do to stay healthy?
  3. Who is the oldest person you know?
  4. What is your diet like?
  5. How much exercise do you get in a normal week?
  6. What would you change about your lifestyle?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about a healthy life.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. Another word for living a long time is .
  2. The average in Japan is among the highest in the world.
  3. A healthy includes exercise and good food.
  4. Eat everything in , not too much of anything.
  5. A strong helps people feel supported.
  6. Someone who lives to 100 is called a .
  7. Loneliness and are risks for older people.
  8. Some experts are about the data on very old people.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. longevity =
  2. moderation = not
  3. a centenarian is a person aged
  4. isolation = being
  5. sceptical =
  6. plant-based = made mostly from
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to give advice and talk about conditions.

  • If you want to live longer,...Якщо хочеш жити довше,...If you want to live longer, stay active.
  • If I lived there,...Якби я там жив,...If I lived there, I would walk every day.
  • You should...Тобі слід...You should eat more vegetables.
  • People tend to...Люди схильні...People there tend to eat mostly plants.
  • It seems that...Схоже, що...It seems that community matters.
  • They must have...Вони, мабуть, мають...They must have strong friendships.
  • I wish I could...Шкода, що я не можу...I wish I could spend more time outdoors.
  • On the other hand,...З іншого боку,...On the other hand, the data may be unreliable.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

The blue zones

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

What do the world’s longest-living people have in common?

In the early 2000s, the researcher Dan Buettner and his colleagues began to study regions where an unusually high number of people seemed to live to a great age. They named them "blue zones": Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, Ikaria in Greece and a community of Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, California.

Their lifestyles are different, but some patterns were reported: people move naturally during the day, for example by walking or gardening; they eat mostly plants and not too much; they have a sense of purpose; and they belong to a close community with strong family ties.

These findings have been popular, but they are not accepted by everyone. Some researchers are sceptical: in some places, official birth records are incomplete, so it is hard to be sure about the real ages. Others say that wealth, healthcare and genetics also play a role, and that lifestyle is only a part of the story.

Still, much of the advice is consistent with other health research. If you move regularly, eat well and keep good relationships, you will probably feel better, even if you don't live to a hundred.

Which of these habits would be the easiest for you?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Okinawa is one of the blue zones.
  2. All blue zones have exactly the same lifestyle.
  3. Some researchers question the data about the ages.
  4. The text says lifestyle is the only factor.
  5. A close community is one of the reported patterns.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Would you move to a blue zone if you could?
  2. Which of the reported habits would help you most?
  3. Is it more important to live long or to live well?
  4. How can we judge whether health claims are reliable?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Review: conditionals

Zero: general truths, with if + Present Simple, Present Simple. First: real future, with if + Present Simple, will. Second: unreal present, with if + Past Simple, would.

If you heat ice, it melts. If you move regularly, you'll feel better. If I lived there, I'd walk every day.

Review: deduction and advice

Must, might and can't for guesses. Should, ought to and had better for advice.

They must have strong friendships. They can't be lonely. You should walk more. You'd better not skip meals.

Block 5 review

Use the grammar from this block.

modals of deduction (L21) · first conditional, unless (L22) · second conditional, wish (L23) · advice: should, had better (L24)

Common mistakes: if + present for the first conditional, if + past for the second, and no will after if. ✗ If you will move more → If you move more. ✗ If I will live there → If I lived there.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. If you heat ice, it
    .
  2. If you move regularly, you
    better.
  3. If I
    there, I'd walk every day.
  4. They
    strong friendships.
  5. They
    lonely.
  6. You
    walk more.
  7. You'd better
    meals.
  8. She wishes she
    spend more time outdoors.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. If I will live there, I'd be happy. →
  2. If you eat well, you would feel better. →
  3. They must being very happy. →
  4. You had better to walk more. →
  5. If you will move more, you'll feel better. →
  6. I wish I can walk more. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use conditionals, modals of deduction and advice.

  1. What habits do you think help people live long?
  2. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
  3. What will happen to your health if you keep your present lifestyle?
  4. What should every person do to stay healthy?
  5. Why do you think some people are so active when they are old?
  6. How much do you trust health studies in the news?
5

Three views on long life and a final talk

8 min
5.1

Three views on long life

Three people have different views on long life. Compare them. Who has the healthiest lifestyle? Who is the most careful with the facts? What would you change in your own life?

Person 1

Kenji, 85

  • Lives in Okinawa
  • Walks and gardens every day
  • Eats mostly vegetables
  • Meets friends for tea
Person 2

Maria, 92

  • Lives in Sardinia
  • Lives with her family
  • Walks in the hills
  • Says family is her purpose
Person 3

Dr Bell, 50

  • Is a demographer
  • Checks birth records
  • Is sceptical about some data
  • Says lifestyle matters but isn't everything
5.2

Final talk of Block 5: health and the body

This is the final speaking task of Block 5. Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: guess why someone you know is always tired or always energetic (modals of deduction).
  3. Part 2: what will happen if you change a habit, and what you would do in an imaginary situation (conditionals).
  4. Part 3: advice for a long and healthy life (should, ought to, had better).
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What do you do to stay healthy?
  2. How active are you in a normal week?
  3. What would you change about your diet?
  4. Do you walk every day?
  5. Would you like to live to a hundred?
  6. What would you do if you had more free time?
  7. What gives your life purpose?
  8. Do you spend time with friends every week?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family lives the longest?
  2. Who is the healthiest person you know?
  3. Who walks every day?
  4. Who gives you advice about health?
  5. Who do you know that is over eighty?
  6. Who cooks the healthiest food?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is a long life always a good life?
  2. Should governments help people live more healthily?
  3. Will people live much longer in the future?
  4. Is loneliness as dangerous as smoking? What do you think?
  5. Should we trust health advice from the media?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Giving a presentation

You

Presenter

You present blue zones to a group (your teacher):
  • say where the zones are
  • describe common habits
  • mention a doubt
  • give advice
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use conditionals and advice.
Your teacher

Audience

Says things like:
  1. Where are the zones?
  2. What do people do there?
  3. Is it all true?
  4. What should we do?
7.2

Planning a healthy week

You

Friend

You and a friend (your teacher) plan healthier habits:
  • say what you would change
  • say what will happen if you do
  • give advice to each other
  • agree on a plan
You do most of the talking. Use: If I..., I'll... · If I were..., I'd... · You should...
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. I want to be healthier.
  2. I never have time.
  3. What would you do?
  4. OK, let's try!
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

longevitylife expectancylifestylemoderationcommunitycentenarianisolationsceptical
  1. Another word for living a long time is .
  2. The average in Japan is among the highest in the world.
  3. A healthy includes exercise and good food.
  4. Eat everything in , not too much of anything.
  5. A strong helps people feel supported.
  6. Someone who lives to 100 is called a .
  7. Loneliness and are risks for older people.
  8. Some experts are about the data on very old people.
H2

Block 5 review: choose the correct form

  1. If you badly, you feel tired.
  2. If I you, I'd see a doctor.
  3. He tired; he keeps yawning.
  4. You eat more vegetables.
  5. If we more, we'd act differently.
  6. They hungry; they've just eaten.
  7. Unless you , you'll be ill.
  8. I wish I swim better.
H3

Correct or incorrect? (Block 5 review)

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. If you heat ice, it melts.
  2. If you will move more, you'll feel better.
  3. If I lived there, I'd walk every day.
  4. They must being very happy.
  5. You'd better not skip meals.
  6. You had better to walk more.
  7. I wish I could walk more.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. If you want to live longer,
  2. If I lived there,
  3. You should
  4. People there tend to
  5. It seems that
  6. They must have
  7. On the other hand,

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.