Article for masters

Babies of older fathers may be less healthy   (3rd November, 2018)

A study from Stanford University in the USA reports that babies of older fathers may be more likely to have health problems. Scientists studied data on 40,529,905 births in the USA between 2007 and 2016 to ascertain whether a father's age adversely affects his child's health. Researchers discovered that compared to babies born to fathers in the 25-to-34 age bracket, babies born to fathers over the age of 45 were at greater risk of being born with health problems. These included being born prematurely, having a low birth wieight or being admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. The researchers added that babies born to older fathers were generally not as healthy as those conceived by younger fathers.

One scientist said a lot more detailed research was needed to prove that older fathers conceive less-healthy babies. Dr Michael Eisenberg from the Stanford University School of Medicine said: "I think it's important to understand that the risks we are seeing are modest. So for an individual, the risk may not change much." He added that his team's data could show a trend that health departments in governments might want to be aware of. He said: "At a population level, there may be public health implications of men...waiting longer to conceive." Dr Eisenberg concluded that: "While the oldest father ever is 96, this research suggests that the risk to child and mother may increase if fathers conceive later."

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

1.	likely	a.	Find something out for certain; make sure of something.
2.	ascertain	b.	Before the due time; ahead of time.
3.	adversely	c.	A range of ages people decide on to use in research or for comparisons.
4.	age bracket	d.	In a way that prevents success or development; harmfully or unfavorably.
5.	prematurely	e.	Such as well might happen or be true; probable.
6.	admitted	f.	Anything about newborn children.
7.	neonatal	g.	Received a patient into a hospital for treatment.

    Paragraph 2

8.	prove	h.	A general direction in which something is developing or changing.
9.	conceive	i.	Show the truth or existence of something by evidence or argument.
10.	modest	j.	About, of or for just one person.
11.	data	k.	The conclusion that can be drawn from something.
12.	individual	l.	Of an amount, rate, or level relatively limited, or small.
13.	trend	m.	Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis.
14.	implications	n.	Become pregnant with a child; father a child.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

1. A report on the health of babies was made by Yale University.     T / F
2. Scientists studied data on over 40 million births.     T / F
3. The article says babies born to fathers aged over 55 were unhealthy.     T / F
4. Babies born to older fathers are generally heavier at birth.     T / F
5. A scientist said there was a lot of research to prove the research.     T / F
6. A doctor said the risks are not so big.     T / F
7. The doctor said governments needed to know about the research.     T / F
8. The oldest ever father to have conceived a child is 96.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1. study
2. likely
3. ascertain
4. bracket
5. generally
6. prove
7. modest
8. data
9. implications
10. risk

1. small
2. group
3. as a rule
4. consequences
5. probable
6. chance
7. paper
8. show beyond doubt
9. facts and figures
10. find out

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1. older fathers may be more likely to
2. a father's age adversely
3. fathers in the 25-to-34
4. being admitted to a neonatal
5. babies born to older fathers were
6. a lot more detailed research
7. his team's data could show a
8. governments might want to be
9. public health
10. the risk to child and mother

1. implications
2. intensive care
3. was needed
4. aware of
5. have health problems
6. may increase
7. age bracket
8. generally not as healthy
9. trend
10. affects his child's health

Comprehension questions

1. What university conducted this research?
2. How many millions of people's data did scientists look at?
3. What age bracket did researchers compare over-45-year-old fathers to?
4. What might be low in babies born to older fathers?
5. What kind of care units might babies born to older fathers stay in?
6. What did a scientist say was needed to prove this research?
7. For whom might the risks not change much?
8. Who did a doctor say should be aware of this research?
9. How old is the oldest ever father to have fathered a child?
10. Who might be at risk (besides babies) if fathers conceive later?

11. Multiple choice quiz

12.  1) What university conducted this research?
a) Yale University
b) Oxford University
c) Stanford University
d) Tokyo University
2) How many millions of people's data did scientists look at?
a) 40
b) 400
c) 14
d) 44
3) What age bracket did researchers compare over-45-year-old fathers to?
a) 25 to 34
b) 25 to 40
c) 35 to 40
d) 20 to 45
4) What might be low in babies born to older fathers?
a) blood pressure
b) birth weight
c) heart rate
d) red blood cell count
5) What kind of care units might babies born to older fathers stay in?
a) day care units
b) health care units
c) prenatal unit
d) intensive care unit

13.  6) What did a scientist say was needed to prove this study?
a) more hospitals
b) detailed research
c) money
d) more people
7) For whom might the risks not change much?
a) individuals
b) babies
c) hospitals
d) doctors
8) Who did a doctor say should be aware of this research?
a) women
b) old men
c) governments
d) doctors
9) How old is the oldest ever father?
a) 99
b) 86
c) 106
d) 96
10) Who might be at risk (besides babies) if fathers conceive later?
a) mothers
b) teenagers
c) doctors
d) scientists