Are you the sort of person who is always giving advice? If you are, you might like to try a type of writing often found in newspapers and magazines. There are lots of different subjects from which you might choose. These include relationships, fashion, beauty, travel, and food and drink. This week, we will look at health tips. People nowadays are becoming increasingly interested in leading a healthy lifestyle. This includes how and when to exercise and what they should eat. People often feel more comfortable writing down a personal question rather than asking face to face. Perhaps you could set up a question box at school and reply to questions in your school newspaper or on a notice board. Good Health to You May from Kowloon City writes: I recently joined a gym but after going three or four times, I lost my motivation. I know it is important to exercise and keep fit but I am just too lazy. What should I do? May, you did the right thing joining a gym. Having people around you who are also exercising means you are not so lonely. The mistake you made was not organising an exercise programme. This can be difficult to do by yourself. So I recommend you employ a personal fitness trainer. This will cost some money but it will be worth it. Your trainer will assess your needs and plan a set of exercises to suit your needs. If you do this, you will soon be fitter than you can imagine! Ernest from North Point writes: My mother is trying to stop me eating burgers from fast-food restaurants. She saw a documentary film in which a man almost died after eating burgers for nearly a month. She says they are bad for me. But I really enjoy burgers and French fries for lunch. It does not seem to have harmed me. I am confused. Ernest, your confusion is understandable. The thing to remember is that a balanced diet is important. If you eat too much of anything, it can do you harm. Therefore, your mother has a point. Burgers have a high fat content. Fat can build up in your arteries and be bad for your heart. My advice is to eat fewer burgers but enjoy them when you do! Georgie from Shamshuipo writes: Teachers at school tell me it is important to be hygienic. They say I should wash my hands before eating. Why is this? Georgie, it is important to clean off the germs that collect on your hands. It is a vital part of food hygiene. You can get very sick if you are not careful. Germs are everywhere. Washing your hands is not only sensible; it is necessary. Spend at least 10 seconds rubbing your hands together to make sure they are really clean. Glossary motivation (n) - enthusiasm or driving force lazy (adj) - idle; not wanting to work lonely (adj) - friendless; feeling alone to assess (v) - to consider; weigh up documentary (n) - a factual film hygienic (adj) - clean; germ free Comprehension 1. How many times did May go to the gym? 2. Who assesses needs and plans exercises? 3. Where does Ernest live? 4. What can build up in your arteries? 5. What was Georgie advised to do before eating? 6. How long should Georgie rub his hands together while washing them? Writing style When you give advice, you may want to say that something is good or bad. Then you might want to compare one thing to another and say that something else is better or worse. Use the correct word in the sentences below: good, worse, bad, better 7. My father says that running is _________ exercise than walking. 8. I read a book that advised that smoking is _______ for your health. 9. Six hours' sleep is _____ for you, but eight hours' sleep is better. 10. Nothing is _____ than doing no exercise at all. 11. A healthy diet is _______ for you. Crossword Many people enjoy hamburgers. Read the clues below about food related to them and fill in the crossword. mayonnaise, ketchup, sesame, fries, pepper, onions 1. You sprinkle this on to improve the flavour. 2. These seeds can be found in some buns. 3. Salad dressing, sometimes called mayo for short. 4. If eaten raw, these can make you cry! 5. Another word for potato chips. 6. A red sauce for (5). Answers: 1. three or four times; 2. a personal fitness trainer; 3. North Point; 4. fat; 5. wash hands; 6. 10 seconds; 7. better; 8. bad; 9. good; 10. worse; 11. good Crossword: 1. pepper; 2. sesame; 3. mayonnaise; 4. onions; 5. fries; 6. ketchup