44. Reading Skills Comprehension: Soft Drink

Soft Drink

Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions:-

1. Every time a child takes a soft drink, he’s laying the groundwork for a dangerous bone disease. No, fizzy and sugary drinks don’t cause osteoporosis. But, because they are often a substitute for a glass of milk, kids are not getting the calcium and vitamin D they need to build a strong skeleton. Many of them also lead a sedentary lifestyle, so they aren’t getting the bone-building benefits for vigorous exercise either. These children aren’t just in jeopardy for brittle bones and fractures decades down the road. They could be at risk of osteoporosis at a younger age than ever before.

2. The Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research, a body of osteoporosis experts is trying to spread awareness about this bone crippling disease. Osteoporosis starts in childhood but has consequences later in life. The condition causes bones to become riddled with holes, like the framework of a house that’s been attacked by termites. That can lead to broken bones, which in turn can cause deformity, chronic pain or disability. Osteoporosis can be fatal: up to 25 per cent of older people who suffer a broken hip die within a year. Osteoporosis isn’t just your grandmother’s health threat. Although it strikes over 50 million women in India, it also menaces over 12 million men. Osteoporosis causes loss of height, pain in joints and back, fractures and fear of fractures, and can be very depressing. So it is important that we adopt preventive measures, to save millions of people.

3. There is a new medical understanding of the best ways to protect ourselves and our children. “Simple lifestyle changes and nutrition will help save your bones,” says Dr Mittal. To get us moving in the right direction, he says, “It’s never too late to adopt bone-friendly habits—exercise, get enough sunlight, and have adequate calcium. This way, we can keep our bones healthy and prevent osteoporosis.

A.Answer the following questions briefly:

(i) Why are fizzy and sugary drinks blamed for osteoporosis?

(ii) Why do bones get weak?

(iii) When does osteoporosis become apparent? Why is it called fatal?

(iv) What are the measures to prevent osteoporosis?

B. Find words in the passage which convey the similar meaning of the following words by choosing the correct option:

(i) deadly………………

(a) dangerous (b) fatal

(ii) to do things with great energy and enthusiasm ……………..

(a) jeopardy (b) vigorous

(iii) a kind of drink with bubbles of carbon dioxide…………….

(a) fizzy (b) vigorous