Read the text and fill in the gaps with an appropriate word. You have been given the number of missing letters.

A doctor taking over a local practice visited a 74-year-old woman (1) --- had been bedridden for 40 years. He wasn't (2) ---- to find anything wrong with her. He discovered that the doctor before him (3) --- ordered the woman to bed because she had influenza and had told (4) --- not to get up again until he returned. Unfortunately, he had forgotten (5) -- return.

Within a (6) --- days, the 34-year-old single woman had recovered. But she remained in her sickroom waiting for (7) --- doctor's visit. Several weeks went by and he still did not call. By then the patient had discovered that she enjoyed (8) ----- looked after so much that she refused to move.

At first she (9) --- nursed by her mother. But when the old woman died, a brother-in-law took over. Finally, a new doctor to the area paid a routine call to (10) --- patient's home in Taunton, Devon, and examined the woman, now (11) ---- 74 and still determined to keep to her bed. It took seven months (12) -- sympathetic encouragement before the old lady was persuaded (13) -- leave her bed, but happily she was on her feet again (14) --- three fairly active years before her death (15) -- the age of 77.

1. What is being an addict? Have you had any addictions? What did you do to give them up?

2. Read the article about different typs of addicts. Which person do you think has the most serious problem? Why?

Are you hooked?

(1) No one likes to admit they're an addict. They are sad creatures ruled by deadly substances such as tobacco or alcohol. But there are others less damaging to the health. Like it or not, large numbers of us are addicts. Addictions can be chemical (caffeine), emotional (shopping), physical (exercise) or downright strange - such as picking your spots! You're the odd one out if you don't have at least one everyday addiction. What do you do when you feel under pressure, bored or depressed? Get lost in the world of TV? Go shopping? Eat one bar of chocolate after another?

(2) Becci has been a chocaholic for ten years. 'I just get an urge for it - a need,' says Becci. 'I really don't know why, it's just so delicious. People say that chocolate can make up for lost passion - I don't know about that, but I love the way it melts in my mouth.' Every day, Becci gets through several bars of her favourite Cadbury's chocolate (the one with the soft caramel centre is the best). But it's not only the bars she goes for - hot chocolate drinks and chocolate cakes are also essentials. Towards exam time, Becci feels she has to increase her intake to cope with all the work. 'If I get up late, I'll have chocolate for breakfast, then more and more during the day. I am addicted. It's like smoking, I suppose, but I have no plans to give it up. If I like it so much, why should I?'

(3) Addiction to exercise can ruin your life, Janine learnt to her cost. 'I was swimming at least fifty lengths a day, jogging to the gym and doing three aerobic classes a week. At home, I used an exercise bike and keep-fit videos. My husband said that I didn't have time for him, and he was right. But I couldn't believe it when he left me. Finally, I came to my senses, I wanted to get fit but it all got out of hand and my addiction ruined my marriage. Now, I'm seeing a counsellor and gradually reducing the amount of exercise I do.'

(4) Well-known Member of Parliament, Tony Benn, just can't live without his favourite drink. He has on average eighteen pints of tea a day and his addiction has raised concern about his health. When he collapsed recently, some people blamed his excessive tea drinking. Mr Benn has calculated that, over the years, he has drunk enough tea (around 300,000 gallons) to displace an ocean-going liner. If he ever tried to stop, he would find it agonising.

(5) Anne shopped for thirteen hours a day without leaving her living room - she was addicted to TV shopping. When she got home from her job as a nightcare worker at 8.30 a.m., Anne would immediately tune into a satellite TV shopping channel and buy everything in sight. Her home was soon an Aladdin's cave of household goods and trendy clothes she didn't need. When her cash ran out, she stole money from the elderly patients in her care and was charged with theft. 'It seemed so easy,' she says. 'I didn't realise I'd become so addicted.' Anne's family have now removed her satellite receiver.

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