Clinical depression, clinical trial, endorphin, hormone,
immune system, muscle, physiological, pulse, stress, therapy
1. : a form of treatment for an illness ormedical condition.
2. : relating to the way that the body of aliving thing operates.
3. : a chemical substance produced inanimals and plants that controls thingssuch as growth.
4. : a type of hormone produced in the bodythat reduces pain, especially when youare injured or physically tired.
5. : the system in your body that protectsyou against diseases.
6. : the regular movement of blood as theheart pumps it round the body.
7. : a piece of flesh that connects one boneto another and is used for moving aparticular part of your body
8. : a worried or nervous feeling that stopsyou relaxing, caused, for example, bypressure at work or personal problems.
9. : a medical condition in which a personis so unhappy that they cannot live anormal life
10. : a test of a new medicine that involvesgiving it to people.
Listening comprehension
1. Watch the video and put the section titles in the correct order.
Laughter clubs
Using laughter to aid recovery
Clinical trials
Signs of clinical depression
2. Choose the correct option. Circle your answer.
Scientists have discovered that laughing produces physiological changes that (1) calm / excite body and
mind. After laughing, the pulse (2) drops / increases, levels of happy hormones called endorphins (3) fall
/ rise, and (4) less / more oxygen is supplied to the muscles. The body’s natural immune system gets a (5)
boost / rest, and stress hormones in the blood are (6) increased / reduced as well.
3. Decide if the statements are true (T) or false (F). Correct the false statements.
1 As children we laugh around 100 times a day. T / F
2 Adults don’t laugh enough. T / F
3 Being unable to laugh at all is a sign of clinical depression. T / F
4 We can learn to laugh again at laughter clubs. T / F
5 Artificial laughter doesn’t have the same health benefits as the real thing. T / F
6 In hospitals trainee doctors pretend to be clowns. T / F
