Dancing with death

During the last decade, drug use in society has increased markedly, especially among youth.

Fashions in drugs come and go: if the 70’s were the golden age of marijuana and the 80’s of cocaine,

then the 90’s and the beginning of the 21st century belong to Ecstasy. Ecstasy is an illegal drug. It

is a profound stimulant with light hallucinogenic powers that makes users fell optimistic and

enthusiastic about everything they see. This effect increases when Ecstasy is taken together with

alcohol in very noisy places such as discos. Once the pleasant face is over, users feel tired, sad and

depressed. Panic attacks and nightmares may occur. The Council of Europe estimates that Ecstasy

is the second most popular (after cannabis) among those aged 15 to 25, probably because it is quite

cheap. Most Ecstasy is now manufactured in Eastern Europe and then sent west by Russian mafia

organisations, often controlled from Holland. Holland is one of the world’s biggest production

centres for Ecstasy.

Two weeks ago in Britain police reported that a young girl collapsed after her 18th birthday

party after taking one dose of Ecstasy. While their daughter was in a coma, her parents, who

campaign against drug use in schools, took their crusade against Ecstasy to the public. Sadly, the

girl died.

Drug use is a road to misery, health problems, isolation and death. So, the best way to

avoid that is to stay away from it.

Find the meanings or the synonymous for the following words:

has grew considerably (1st paragraph) ________________________

young people (1st paragraph) _______________

a period of time very successful (1st paragraph) ____________________

a very frightening dream (1st paragraph) ___________________

economical (1st paragraph) ________________

a state of unconsciousness (2nd paragraph) _________________

tragically (2nd paragraph) _______________

loneliness (3rd paragraph) _____________________

Who/What do the following words refer to?

They (l. 6)

___________________________________________________________________

It (l.10) ___________________________________________________________________

Her (l15) __________________________________________________________________

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Who (l.16) _________________________________________________________________

It (l.19) ________________________________________________________________

Write the antonymous of the following words:

1. decreased ______________________

2. legal ____________________

3. nothing _________________

4. unpopular ______________

5. expensive _______________

6. smallest ________________

Say if the following sentences are True or False:

1. People have always used Ecstasy. ______

______________________________________________________________________

2. The pleasant effect of Ecstasy never passes on. _____

______________________________________________________________________

3. Holland monopolises the Ecstasy production.

______________________________________________________________________

4. In long term effects Ecstasy can even lead to death.

______________________________________________________________________

Answer the following questions about the text:

1. Who are the most vulnerable people to drug use?

___________________________________________________________________

2. Is Ecstasy an illegal drug?

___________________________________________________________________

3. What are Ecstasy short-term effects?

___________________________________________________________________

4. What could increase the Ecstasy’s pleasant effect?

___________________________________________________________________

5. Which is the most popular drug among young Europeans?

___________________________________________________________________

6. Why did the British girl die?

___________________________________________________________________

7. Explain the meaning of: “Dancing with death.”

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

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 _______________________________________________________________________

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Grammar

Put the following sentences in the negative and interrogative form:

1. Drug use has increased considerably in society.

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

2. An English girl died after taking one dose of ecstasy.

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

3. Amsterdam is one of the biggest centres of drug distribution.

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

4. Drugs bring unhappiness to people’s lives.

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Put the following sentences in the correct verb form:

1. Cocaine/ be/ a powerful stimulant drug/ extracted/ from the leaves/ of the South

American/ coca plant. (Simple Present)

_____________________________________________________________________

2. The shop assistant/ close/ the shop / now. (Present Continuous)

_____________________________________________________________________

3. When/ I/ walk/ to school/ I/ see/John. (Simple Past and Past Continuous)

_______________________________________________________________________

4. Last night/the concert/ begin/ at 9p.m. and /end/ at 11p.m. (Simple Past)
______________________________________________________________________

5. When/ the weather/ is/ fine/we/ probably/ have/ a picnic/in our garden. (Future-will)
______________________________________________________________________

Give the comparative and the superlative of the following adjectives:

Adjective Comparative Superlative
Bad
Regular
Exciting
Friendly
few
Strong
Empty
Good