Name: ________________________ Activity #._______ Name: ________________________ Activity #.

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Date: ___________ Score:__________________ Date: ___________ Score:__________________/
PHOBIAS PHOBIAS
What is a phobia? A phobia is an intense fear or What is a phobia? A phobia is an intense fear or
feeling of anxiety that occurs only in a particular situation that feeling of anxiety that occurs only in a particular situation that
frightens you. This might be something as seemingly logical as frightens you. This might be something as seemingly logical as
a fear of heights, or as illogical as a fear of the colour green. a fear of heights, or as illogical as a fear of the colour green.
At other times you don’t feel anxious. For example, if you have At other times you don’t feel anxious. For example, if you have
a phobia of spiders (as millions of people do), you only feel a phobia of spiders (as millions of people do), you only feel
anxious when there’s a spider around, otherwise you feel fine. anxious when there’s a spider around, otherwise you feel fine.
About one in ten people has a significant phobia, although About one in ten people has a significant phobia, although
few people seek treatment. People develop phobias to all few people seek treatment. People develop phobias to all
sorts of things. Each phobia has its own name. Some (of a very sorts of things. Each phobia has its own name. Some (of a very
long list) include:  Musophobia – fear of mice  Peladophobia long list) include:  Musophobia – fear of mice  Peladophobia
– fear of bald people  Amathophobia – fear of dust  – fear of bald people  Amathophobia – fear of dust 
Pnigophobia – fear of choking or smothering  Pnigophobia – fear of choking or smothering 
Maieusiophobia – fear of childbirth  Homichlophobia – fear Maieusiophobia – fear of childbirth  Homichlophobia – fear
of fog  Arachibutyrophobia – fear of peanut butter sticking of fog  Arachibutyrophobia – fear of peanut butter sticking
to the roof of the mouth Phobias make people avoid situations to the roof of the mouth Phobias make people avoid situations
they know will make them anxious, but this can make the they know will make them anxious, but this can make the
phobia worse. A person’s life can become increasingly phobia worse. A person’s life can become increasingly
dominated by the precautions they take to avoid a situation dominated by the precautions they take to avoid a situation
they fear. You may know there’s no real danger and you may they fear. You may know there’s no real danger and you may
feel embarrassed by your fear, but you’re still unable to feel embarrassed by your fear, but you’re still unable to
control it. It’s better to confront your fears, even if it’s in a very control it. It’s better to confront your fears, even if it’s in a very
careful way or with the help of a trained therapist. A phobia is careful way or with the help of a trained therapist. A phobia is
more likely to go away if it began after a distressing or more likely to go away if it began after a distressing or
traumatic event. What’s the treatment? Cognitive traumatic event. What’s the treatment? Cognitive
behavioural therapy – a ‘talking treatment’ where you learn behavioural therapy – a ‘talking treatment’ where you learn
all about the thing or situation you are scared of and how to all about the thing or situation you are scared of and how to
change your behaviour – has a high success rate in phobias. change your behaviour – has a high success rate in phobias.
Your GP can refer you. Your GP can refer you.
Skimming and scanning quiz Skimming and scanning quiz
1. The purpose of the text is to ... 1. The purpose of the text is to ...
A) give information about phobias A) give information about phobias
B) give instructions for people with phobias B) give instructions for people with phobias
C) persuade people with phobias to seek help C) persuade people with phobias to seek help
2. A phobia ... 2. A phobia ...
A) happens to everyone when they are frightened A) happens to everyone when they are frightened
B) happens only in certain situations B) happens only in certain situations
C) only happens to people who are anxious C) only happens to people who are anxious
3. Phobias ... 3. Phobias ...
A) are logical B) are not logical C) can be logical or not logical A) are logical B) are not logical C) can be logical or not logical
4. The number of people who have phobias is ... 4. The number of people who have phobias is ...
A) five out of ten people A) five out of ten people
B) ten people B) ten people
C) 10 percent of the population C) 10 percent of the population
5. Peladophobia is ... 5. Peladophobia is ...
A) fear of bald people B) fear of dust C) fear of fog A) fear of bald people B) fear of dust C) fear of fog
6. The writer advises people with phobias to ... 6. The writer advises people with phobias to ...
A) consult a psychotherapist A) consult a psychotherapist
B) avoid situations that make them anxious B) avoid situations that make them anxious
C) confront the fear rather than avoid it C) confront the fear rather than avoid it
7. Which of these phobias is not mentioned in the text? 7. Which of these phobias is not mentioned in the text?
A) Arachibutyrophobia B) Arachnophobia C) Amathophobia A) Arachibutyrophobia B) Arachnophobia C) Amathophobia
8. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is ... 8. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is ...
A) a recommended treatment for phobias A) a recommended treatment for phobias
B) not a recommended treatment for phobias B) not a recommended treatment for phobias
C) is a recommended treatment for some phobias C) is a recommended treatment for some phobias
9. This text might be found under which heading on the BBC website? 9. This text might be found under which heading on the BBC website?
A) Physical health B) Mental health C) You and your therapist A) Physical health B) Mental health C) You and your therapist
10. What is the main message of this article? 10. What is the main message of this article?
A) Some people have phobias and live in fear of certain things. A) Some people have phobias and live in fear of certain things.
B) If you have a phobia you should see a therapist. B) If you have a phobia you should see a therapist.
C) What a phobia is and how to treat it. C) What a phobia is and how to treat it.
Skimming and scanning quiz 8. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is ...
1. The purpose of the text is to ... A) a recommended treatment
A) give information about phobias for phobias
B) give instructions for people with B) not a recommended
phobias
treatment for phobias
C) persuade people with phobias to
seek help
C) is a recommended treatment
2. A phobia ... for some phobias
A) happens to everyone when they 9. This text might be found under
are frightened which heading on the BBC website?
B) happens only in certain situations A) Physical health
C) only happens to people who are B) Mental health
anxious C) You and your therapist
3. Phobias ... 10. What is the main message of this
A) are logical article?
B) are not logical A) Some people have phobias
C) can be logical or not logical and live in fear of certain things.
4. The number of people who have B) If you have a phobia you
phobias is ... should see a therapist.
A) five out of ten people C) What a phobia is and how to
B) ten people treat it.
C) 10 percent of the population
5. Peladophobia is ...
A) fear of bald people
B) fear of dust
C) fear of fog
6. The writer advises people with
phobias to ...
A) consult a psychotherapist
B) avoid situations that make
them anxious
C) confront the fear rather
than avoid it
7. Which of these phobias is not
mentioned in the text?
A) Arachibutyrophobia
B) Arachnophobia
C) Amathophobia