Read the text.

The secrets of a long life

In three areas of the world a very high number of people
live to be 100. Scientists want to know why. What do the
three places have in common?

Ecuador
Vilcabamba, a small village in the
Andes, is often called ‘the Valley of
Long Life’. What’s its secret? Firstly,
Vilcabamba is not very hot or very cold
– the temperature is usually between 18
and 27 degrees, and the air is very clean.
Secondly, people work hard in the
fields, and do a lot of exercise. Thirdly,
their diet is very healthy – they eat a lot
of fruit and vegetables, and they hardly
ever eat meat or fish. The water they
drink, from the river in Vilcabamba, is
very rich in minerals. They also have a
good social life. In Vilcabamba people
say, ‘The left leg and the right leg help
you to be healthy, because they take you
to your friends’ homes.’

English File third edition Elementary • Student’s Book • Unit 4C, p.33 © Oxford University Press PHOTOCOPIABLE
 Italy 2

In Ogliastra, a mountain region of

Sardinia, one out of every 200 people
lives to be 100, and they are normally
very healthy, too. Most of the people in
the villages work outside in their fields
and with their animals. They have a
healthy diet, with a lot of vegetables
and not much meat or fish. They hardly
ever take any medicine, but they usually
drink a little grappa before they go to
bed. ‘Life is hard,’ says Fortunato, who
is a shepherd, ‘but I am never stressed.
I never read the newspaper – because I
can’t read very well.’

Japan
People in Okinawa in Japan do not
have big meals. They usually just have
vegetables and fish, and often eat soya.
Okinawans are very active, and they
often work until they are 80 or more.
But they also relax every day – they see
friends and they meditate. Ushi, from
Okinawa, is 107. In the evening she
often dances with her daughter and
has a glass of sake. ‘I want to have a
boyfriend,’ she says. When journalists
ask people from Okinawa ‘What is your
secret?’ they answer, ‘We are happy, we
are always positive, and we are never in
a hurry.’

grappa – an Italian alcoholic drink

sake – a Japanese alcoholic drink
soya – a kind of bean typical in Asia

English File third edition Elementary • Student’s Book • Unit 4C, p.33 © Oxford University Press PHOTOCOPIABLE
 Read the text. 1

X Factor winners
– where are they
now?
‘In the future everyone will be famous
for fifteen minutes.’ Andy Warhol

Steve Brookstein –
winner of the first series
And then?
A recording contract with Sony and a
number 1 with his first and only single.
Later a job as a singer on a ferry boat
between England and Spain.

Today?
No recording contract. He gives concerts
in pubs in Britain to small audiences.

Leona Lewis –
winner of the third series
And then?
Number 1 hits in the USA and UK and
top ten records in many other countries.
An appearance at the Olympic opening
ceremony and three Grammy awards.

And today?
She has a new album coming soon.

English File third edition Elementary • Student’s Book • Unit 5A, p.37 © Oxford University Press PHOTOCOPIABLE
 Leon Jackson – 2
winner of the fourth series
And then?
A recording contract with Sony and a
number 1 single, When you believe.

And today?
He gives concerts in small nightclubs and
pubs in the UK. He now plays the guitar
and piano, too, but he doesn’t have a
recording contract.

Alexandra Burke –
winner of the fifth series
And then?
1 million copies sold of her version of
Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. Three number
1 singles.

And today?
She has a recording contract with Epic
Records and she is also the face of Sure
Women, a deodorant.

English File third edition Elementary • Student’s Book • Unit 5A, p.37 © Oxford University Press PHOTOCOPIABLE
 Read the text. 1

What to do in
London...
1 When it’s very cold
Go ice skating at Somerset house. Somerset
House is a beautiful 18th century building on
the river Thames. In the winter, the area in
front of the house is made into an ice-skating
rink. There is a skating school, where you
can have lessons, and there are also late-
night sessions and DJ nights. In November
and December there is an enormous
Christmas tree, and the café serves special
Christmas food.

2 When it’s raining

Go to South Kensington, and visit three
wonderful museums. You can walk from
one to the other because they are all very
near. The Science Museum is very popular
with adults and children, and also the
Natural History Museum, which has life-
size robotic dinosaurs and other fascinating
exhibits. The third museum, the Victoria and
Albert Museum, is full of art and design
from all over the world. It has an amazing
collection of fashion from the 17th century
to the present day. And if the sun comes out,
cross the road into Kensington Gardens, one
of London’s many parks, and visit the famous
statue of Peter Pan.

English File third edition Elementary • Student’s Book • Unit 5C, p.40 © Oxford University Press PHOTOCOPIABLE
 3 When the sun is shining 2

Go to Hampstead Heath, London’s biggest

park. From the top of Parliament Hill, in the
south part of the Heath, you can see many
of London’s famous monuments, including
St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Eye.
Have a picnic, and then, if it’s hot, walk to
the open-air swimming pool, where you can
swim with plants and trees all round you. It
is a magical place, and you can’t believe that
you are in the middle of a capital city.

Where can you...?

1 learn to do something new

2 eat outside

3 have a fantastic view

4 see beautiful old clothes

5 do some exercise

6 have fun after 9p.m.

7 see some animals that don’t

exist today

8 see a famous character from

a book

English File third edition Elementary • Student’s Book • Unit 5C, p.40 © Oxford University Press PHOTOCOPIABLE