B1 – Intermediate
A team of researchers from Georgetown University and other research institutions in the USA have discovered the wonders of reptiles’ excreta and waste elimination processes.
Researchers think that the waste elimination processes of some reptiles could help prevent and treat conditions such as gout and kidney stones which are due to high uric acid.
Read the article about how understanding reptiles’ excretory system works could potentially be helpful in preventing and treating gout and kidney stones.
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2510/251027-snake-pee-crystals.html
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “excrete” mean? “This research was really inspired by a desire to understand the ways reptiles are able to excrete this material safely, in the hope it might inspire new approaches to disease prevention and treatment.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “to pass water” mean here, “Our bodies flush most of the uric acid waste away when we pass water.”? Use the idiom in a sentence.
- What does “untapped bounty of something” mean? “The natural world contains a yet-to-be-discovered, untapped bounty of remedies to help doctors.” Use the phrase in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- Explain how reptiles’ waste elimination process could help treat uric acid-related health problems like gout and kidney stones.
- Share your thoughts on the results of this study.
- What are some things you know about gout and kidney stones?
- Talk about the other ways to manage and prevent gout and kidney stones.