The UK government wants to make a plan to help men’s health. Men in the UK often have unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking too much. This makes them live about four years less than women. Experts say it’s not just about habits; men also don’t know much about health and don’t visit doctors often.

Many men feel they must be tough and not ask for help, which makes health problems worse. Men in poorer areas have even more health problems and die younger. Health services don’t always fit men’s needs, especially for those with jobs that make it hard to see a doctor. Even though there are health checks available, not many men go to them.

There are ways to help men be healthier. Programs like Men’s Sheds let men work on projects together and talk about health. Experts want a big plan to teach men about health and encourage them to take care of themselves. Simple things like checking waist size and talking about health can help a lot. The government sees this plan as a chance to make men’s health better and help them live longer.

Original news source: Why men are so unhealthy – and what can be done (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will take turns acting out different unhealthy habits mentioned in the article (like smoking, drinking, or avoiding the doctor) without speaking. The rest of the class will guess what they are acting out.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Students will walk around the classroom and ask each other if they think men’s health should be a priority. They will record the opinions of their classmates and then share the results with the class.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: As a class, create a mind map on the board about men’s health. Start with “Men’s Health” in the center and branch out with ideas from the article, such as unhealthy habits, health services, and ways to improve health.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Write key vocabulary words from the article (like “health,” “doctor,” “smoking,” “habits”) on slips of paper. Students will take turns drawing a word and illustrating it on the board while their classmates guess the word.

– TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
Instructions: Each student will think of three statements related to the article. Two statements will be true, and one will be a lie. They will share their statements with a partner, who will guess which is the lie. Then, they can share their findings with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What does the UK government want to do to help men’s health?
2. Why do men in the UK live about four years less than women?
3. What are some unhealthy habits that men in the UK have?
4. How do many men feel about asking for help with their health?
5. Where do men have more health problems and die younger?
6. What is one program mentioned that helps men talk about health?
7. What are some simple things that can help men be healthier?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The UK (1)______ wants to make a plan to help men’s health. Men in the UK often have unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking too much. This makes them (2)______ about four years less than women. (3)______ say it’s not just about habits; men also don’t know much about health and don’t visit doctors often.

Many men feel they must be tough and not ask for help, which makes health (4)______ worse. Men in poorer (5)______ have even more health problems and die younger. (6)______ services don’t always fit men’s needs, especially for those with jobs that make it hard to see a doctor. Even though there are health (7)______ available, not many men go to them.

There are ways to help men be (8)______. (9)______ like Men’s Sheds let men work on projects together and talk about health. Experts want a big plan to teach men about health and encourage them to take care of themselves. (10)______ things like checking (11)______ size and talking about health can (12)______ a lot. The government sees this plan as a chance to make men’s health better and help them live longer.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a healthy habit you have?
2. Do you think it’s important for men to visit doctors? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if someone you know doesn’t take care of their health?
4. Do you like talking about health with your friends? Why or why not?
5. What is a way you think men can be healthier?
6. Do you think men should ask for help when they are not feeling well? Why?
7. How would you feel if you had to wait a long time to see a doctor?
8. What is something you do to stay healthy?
9. Do you think more men should join programs like Men’s Sheds? Why or why not?
10. How would you feel if you lived in an area with fewer doctors?
11. Do you think it is okay for men to show their feelings about health? Why?
12. What is a good way to encourage someone to be healthier?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. government
2. unhealthy
3. habits
4. experts
5. tough
6. poorer
7. services
8. available
9. encourage
10. waist
11. chance
12. projects

Meanings:
(A) Ready to be used or taken
(B) The group of people who make rules for a country
(C) People who know a lot about a subject
(D) Things you do often, like brushing your teeth
(E) Strong and not showing weakness
(F) Help or assistance provided to people
(G) The middle part of your body, around your stomach
(H) To make someone want to do something
(I) Not good for your body
(J) Having less money or resources
(K) Tasks or activities that need to be completed
(L) An opportunity to do something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What does the UK government want to help with?
(a) Men’s health
(b) Women’s health
(c) Children’s health
(d) Animal health

2. What unhealthy habits do many men in the UK have?
(a) Eating too many fruits
(b) Exercising too much
(c) Sleeping too little
(d) Smoking and drinking too much

3. How many years less do men in the UK live compared to women?
(a) Two years
(b) Four years
(c) Six years
(d) Three years

4. Why do many men not visit doctors often?
(a) They are always busy with work
(b) They don’t know much about health
(c) They are afraid of doctors
(d) They don’t like waiting

5. What do many men feel they must be?
(a) Happy
(b) Lazy
(c) Funny
(d) Tough

6. Who has more health problems and dies younger?
(a) Men in poorer areas
(b) Men in richer areas
(c) Women in poorer areas
(d) Children in richer areas

7. What is one way to help men be healthier?
(a) More fast food restaurants
(b) Longer work hours
(c) Men’s Sheds programs
(d) Less exercise

8. What does the government want to teach men about?
(a) Sports
(b) Cooking
(c) Health
(d) Travel

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Women in poorer areas have more health problems.
2. Men in the UK live about four years less than women.
3. The UK government wants to help women be healthier.
4. Health services do not always meet men’s needs.
5. Many women in the UK smoke and drink too much.
6. The government wants to teach women how to take care of themselves.
7. Programs like Men’s Sheds help men talk about health.
8. Some men do not visit doctors very often.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. What unhealthy habits do many men in the UK have?
2. Why do some men not visit doctors often?
3. How do health problems differ for men in poorer areas?
4. What is one program mentioned that helps men talk about health?
5. What does the government want to do to help men be healthier?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What does the UK government want to do to help men’s health?
The UK government wants to make a plan to help men become healthier.

2. Why do men in the UK live about four years less than women?
Men in the UK live about four years less than women because they often have unhealthy habits.

3. What are some unhealthy habits that men in the UK have?
Some unhealthy habits that men have include smoking and drinking too much alcohol.

4. How do many men feel about asking for help with their health?
Many men feel they must be tough and do not want to ask for help with their health.

5. Where do men have more health problems and die younger?
Men have more health problems and die younger in poorer areas.

6. What is one program mentioned that helps men talk about health?
One program mentioned is called Men’s Sheds, where men can work on projects and talk about health.

7. What are some simple things that can help men be healthier?
Some simple things that can help men be healthier are checking their waist size and talking about health.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) government
(2) live
(3) Experts
(4) problems
(5) areas
(6) Health
(7) checks
(8) healthier
(9) Programs
(10) Simple
(11) waist
(12) help
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. government
Answer: (B) The group of people who make rules for a country

2. unhealthy
Answer: (I) Not good for your body

3. habits
Answer: (D) Things you do often, like brushing your teeth

4. experts
Answer: (C) People who know a lot about a subject

5. tough
Answer: (E) Strong and not showing weakness

6. poorer
Answer: (J) Having less money or resources

7. services
Answer: (F) Help or assistance provided to people

8. available
Answer: (A) Ready to be used or taken

9. encourage
Answer: (H) To make someone want to do something

10. waist
Answer: (G) The middle part of your body, around your stomach

11. chance
Answer: (L) An opportunity to do something

12. projects
Answer: (K) Tasks or activities that need to be completed
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What does the UK government want to help with?
Answer: (a) Men’s health

2. What unhealthy habits do many men in the UK have?
Answer: (d) Smoking and drinking too much

3. How many years less do men in the UK live compared to women?
Answer: (b) Four years

4. Why do many men not visit doctors often?
Answer: (b) They don’t know much about health

5. What do many men feel they must be?
Answer: (d) Tough

6. Who has more health problems and dies younger?
Answer: (a) Men in poorer areas

7. What is one way to help men be healthier?
Answer: (c) Men’s Sheds programs

8. What does the government want to teach men about?
Answer: (c) Health
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Women in poorer areas have more health problems. (Answer: False)
2. Men in the UK live about four years less than women. (Answer: True)
3. The UK government wants to help women be healthier. (Answer: False)
4. Health services do not always meet men’s needs. (Answer: True)
5. Many women in the UK smoke and drink too much. (Answer: False)
6. The government wants to teach women how to take care of themselves. (Answer: False)
7. Programs like Men’s Sheds help men talk about health. (Answer: True)
8. Some men do not visit doctors very often. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧