Shadowing Practice: VOA Learning English - Health Report # 397 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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This is the VOA Special English Health Report.
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33 sentences
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This is the VOA Special English Health Report.
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Cardiovascular disease is the world's leading cause of death.
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It includes heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.
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Over the years, researchers have identified several substances in the blood that can serve as what they call cardiac biomarkers.
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These are used to measure the presence and development of cardiovascular disease.
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Researchers have increasingly tried to use these biomarkers to identify people who are at high risk of developing heart disease.
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But a new study has found that they offer little help in this way.
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A team from Massachusetts General Hospital and Sweden's Lund University studied how effective the biomarkers are as predictors.
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Thomas Wang at the Mass General Heart Center was the senior was the senior author of the study.
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Dr. Wang said that even after measuring those additional biomarkers,
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they were not able to fully understand who was more likely to develop heart disease.
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Dr. Wang says they did identify some combinations of biomarkers that improved predictions of heart disease heart attacks and strokes.
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He said it is possible that in certain patients,
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measuring these biomarkers would be helpful.
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But for the majority of patients,
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having the information of the biomarker probably would not make a difference.
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Dr. Wang hopes future research will discover biomarkers that are better able to predict the risk of cardiovascular disease.
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But for now, he says,
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doctors should depend on traditional risk factors.
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These include a history of high blood pressure,
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high cholesterol, tobacco use, diabetes,
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obesity, physical inactivity, or poor nutrition.
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A separate study found no support for a theory that a biomarker called C-reactive protein causes heart disease.
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Earlier research suggested that the more of the protein in people's blood,
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the more likely they are to develop heart disease.
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The new study confirmed a link,
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but did not find evidence that the C-reactive protein causes the disease.
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Both studies appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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The World Health Organization estimates that cardiovascular disease killed 17 and a half million people in 2005.
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That was 30 percent of all deaths.
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Eight out of ten deaths were in low and middle income countries.
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At current growth rates, the WHO expects the number to reach 20 million by 2015.
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And that's the VOA Special English Health Report.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice your English listening and speaking skills through the health report on cardiovascular disease from VOA Learning English. By using the shadowing technique, you can improve your pronunciation, intonation, and overall fluency. The topic is important and relevant, helping you not only learn English with YouTube but also to familiarize yourself with key health vocabulary that could arise in conversations. You'll specifically focus on the study surrounding cardiac biomarkers and traditional risk factors associated with heart disease.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Cardiovascular disease - a broad term for heart-related health issues, including heart attack and stroke.
  • Cardiac biomarkers - substances in the blood used to measure the presence of cardiovascular disease.
  • Predictors - factors that can indicate the likelihood of developing a disease.
  • C-reactive protein - a protein in the blood that has been studied for its link to heart disease.
  • High cholesterol - a condition that can increase the risk of heart problems.
  • Tobacco use - smoking or using tobacco products, a significant risk factor for heart disease.
  • Obesity - excessive body weight, which can contribute to cardiovascular issues.
  • Physical inactivity - lack of exercise which is linked to higher risk of heart disease.

Practice Tips

To effectively use the shadow speech technique, first listen carefully to the video at a normal speed. Note the tone and rhythm of the speaker. Once you're familiar with the content, play the video again, but this time, pause frequently. Repeat phrases and sentences aloud, mimicking the speaker's intonation and pronunciation. Pay attention to the important vocabulary listed above; practice these terms multiple times to enhance retention.

Since the speaker uses a clear and steady tone, take advantage of this by allowing yourself to speak at a similar pace. If needed, slow down the video slightly if you're finding it challenging to keep up. Incorporating the shadowspeak method will help you capture nuances in speech, thereby improving your overall language skills. Regular practice will make you more confident in discussing health topics and expressing your thoughts clearly in English.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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