How Did Those Get in There?

11/10/2023 8:45:27 AM
Image: Bodem Educational

Do you know?

  • "Butterflies in the stomach" can occur in various situations, such as before public speaking, going on a first date or taking an important exam.
  • The physiological response that leads to "butterflies" may have evolved as a survival mechanism. It prepares the body to respond quickly to perceived threats or challenges.

Let's explore this feeling more!

Let's learn some new words before you read the passage:

Listen and complete the passage.

stressful stage whisper benefits respond


A young actress is about to go onto the stage. As she waits by the side of the stage, she looks nervous. You might hear her to her friend, “I’ve got butterflies in my stomach.” Butterflies in her stomach? How did those get in there? The feeling of butterflies comes from chemicals produced by the body in situations. 

One chemical that the body makes under stress is cortisol. This chemical the body in normal situations. In fact, it helps the body start normal activities in the morning after waking up. It also plays a role in helping the body and mind well to healthy exercise. However, when the body is under stress, extra cortisol begins to affect the stomach. For some people, cortisol shuts down the stomach, producing the funny feeling of butterflies. For others, cortisol speeds up the way the stomach works, which makes these people feel sick. 

All you need to do to get rid of a few butterflies in the stomach is just relax. Laughing with, or talking to, others about your stress can help reduce it. Stepping out onto the will also help those butterflies fly away.

Read the passage and answer the following questions.

Image: www.alamy.com

A young actress is about to go onto the stage. As she waits by the side of the stage, she looks nervous. You might hear her whisper to her friend, “I’ve got butterflies in my stomach.” Butterflies in her stomach? How did those get in there? The feeling of butterflies comes from chemicals produced by the body in stressful situations. 

One chemical that the body makes under stress is cortisol. This chemical benefits the body in normal situations. In fact, it helps the body start normal activities in the morning after waking up. It also plays a role in helping the body and mind respond well to healthy exercise. However, when the body is under stress, extra cortisol begins to affect the stomach. For some people, cortisol shuts down the stomach, producing the funny feeling of butterflies. For others, cortisol speeds up the way the stomach works, which makes these people feel sick. 

All you need to do to get rid of a few butterflies in the stomach is just relax. Laughing with, or talking to, others about your stress can help reduce it. Stepping out onto the stage will also help those butterflies fly away.

Source: Reading Challenge 1

What does the passage mainly discuss?

  • A new kind of medicine called cortisol
  • An illness that nervous people get
  • The impact of the nervousness on the body
  • The stress that actors normally deal with

According to the reading, what is NOT mentioned about cortisol?

  • It is essential for the body in some cases.
  • It can lead to the stomach stopping functioning.
  • It is found in many kinds of food.
  • It appears when the body experiences stress.
According to the passage, what makes some people feel sick?
  • The stomach being forced to stop
  • The stomach being empty
  • The stomach working too fast
  • The stomach having too little cortisol
Which may help a person get over butterflies in the stomach?
  • Doing the thing that makes him or her nervous
  • Not talking while the butterflies are there
  • Shutting down his or her stomach for some time
  • Taking a small amount of cortisol

Build your vocabulary by learning these intensive phrases/idioms:

Choose the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s).

I almost didn't go on stage and perform tonight because I had butterflies in my stomach.

  • felt furious
  • felt anxious
  • felt amazed
  • felt exhausted

Choose the sentence that is CLOSEST in meaning to the sentence given.

For a while, he kept body and soul together by working as a migrant laborer.

  • The business was in trouble, but he was about keeping his head above water.
  • He struggled to get on well with other worker while working as a migrant laborer.
  • After being a migrant laborer, he finally found a new job, bringing an end to his previous struggles.
  • He managed to make ends meet for a period when he worked as a migrant laborer.

Rearrange the words in a correct order to make a complete sentence (kéo từng từ/cụm từ về vị trí đúng để tạo thành câu hoàn chỉnh).