V. Cloze Test Design (20%: passage 12% ; questions 8%)Please rewrite the following article into a shorter passage, based on which design 7multiple-choice cloze questions, each with 4 distracters. The target testees are 11th graders.To many, air travel is far from pleasant. First of all, aircraft don’t offer the kind of air pressurethat we would experience at sea level. Instead, the cabin altitude is usually between 1,828 and 2,438meters. This means less oxygen and expansion of gases in our body cavities. There are othersources of stress too: flight delays, going through airport security, noise and vibration on board,tasteless food, low humidity, cramped seating and jet lag – to name but a few. Unpleasant as it is,there are still ways to make the journey more bearabl
(E) Here are some of them: Starve the jet lagFast before a long-haul flight, because it eases your jet lag. Harvard researchers say thatstarving for about 16 hours before boarding a plane can help travelers engage a special clock in thebrain that will make adjusting to a new time zone easier. The timing of meals is also an importantfactor in adaptation to a new time zon
(E) Airlines often try to stuff you with a breakfast just beforelanding while your body clock thinks it is the middle of the night. It would be wise to leave thebeans and sausages, and stick with water and a cracker. Moreover, carb-rich foods, such as pasta,whole grain bread, and oatmeal, are helpful too because they induce the secretion of insulin, whichmakes it easier for our bodies to avoid jet lag. Watch what you eat and drink in the airEat healthy and light food that’s easy to digest. Before boarding, don’t indulge in greasy, friedor similar fast foo
(D) Also, steer clear of beans and vegetables, such as onions, broccoli, cauliflowerand cabbage, as they are likely to give you gas. When it comes to liquids, don’t restrict your fluidintake even if you’re stuck in the middle seat and don’t want to disturb other passengers to go to thelavatory. This is a bad approach as well as a reason why bladder infections and cystitis are commonin women after long-haul flights. Instead, drink plenty – at least half-a-liter of liquid for every threehours in the air. Drinking alcohol, however, increases dehydration. Not only will alcohol make youwant to drink more, but humidity being very low on board also means that one glass of alcohol isequivalent to having two on the groun
(D) Use neck pillowsPut a pillow, sweater or a blanket behind your lower back to support your spine and keep it inits natural shap
(E) If your neck is leaning to the side, the oxygen flow gets interrupte
(D) And if you aresleeping, it’ll wake you up, leading to an uncomfortable journey. Since most airplane seats areC-shaped, many passengers suffer from aching necks and backs after the flight. Move itAnother problem for air travelers – especially on longer flights – is the risk of deep veinthrombosis (DVT), the formation of blood clots in deep veins. They are caused by being seated fortoo long, leading to swollen feet and ankles, as well as leg pain. Clots in the legs are not serious, butat times they may travel to the lungs and cause chest pain and shortness of breath – or wors
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