Sunscreen label confusion putting Britons at risk

Britons are putting themselves at risk of sunburn and long-lasting skin damage by failing to
understand the dual protection labelling on sunscreen products. As the UK this week enjoyed
an early heatwave, six out of 10 people polled said they were unaware that the SPF Sun
Protection Factor rating displayed on labels does not alone guarantee protection from potential
sun damage. A total of 2,000 UK adults were questioned for the study, which was published on
Friday by health and beauty chain, Superdrug.

Suncreams are designed to protect skin from UVA and UVB radiation, which may increase the
risk of developing skin cancer. SPF indicates the amount of protection offered against UVB,
which is the main cause of sunburn. Protection from harmful UVA rays, however, is indicated
by a separate star rating of between zero and five. UVAs are short-wave rays that penetrate the
skin deeply, even on an overcast day, and are considered to be the biggest cause of skin cancer.
UVA rays also exacerbate the carcinogenic effects of UVB rays and are increasingly seen as a
cause of skin cancer on their own, which is why it is highly important that a sun lotion contains
both SPF and a high rating.

The research revealed that 75% of Britons are not looking for both SPF and the top five-star
protection when buying their sun care. The most misunderstood factor when buying suncare
[products] is that people think that SPF equals everything, but while choosing the right SPF is
important it only protects against UVB rays and not the long-lasting damage resulting from
UVA rays said Simon Comins, Superdrug commercial director.

Superdrug is one of a number of companies to have repackaged their suncare range to make
protection levels clearer and easier to understand. The move follows calls by the Royal
Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) for manufacturers to introduce simpler labelling after it warned
that ignorance could be putting people at greater risk of skin damage and even cancer.We
know that its the damage that is done to skin when youre under 18 that affects your chances of
developing skin cancer as an adult, so its really important to help children and teens get the
sun-safe habit early on said Dr Pixie Mckenna, resident GP on TV show Embarrassing Bodies.
There are some simple steps everyone should take to enjoy the sun, protect their skin and avoid
the pain and shame of the lobster look.

Rates of malignant melanoma (skin cancer) have been steadily rising in the UK since the mid-
1970s and, according to the British Association of Dermatologists, more than 100,000 new
cases of skin cancer are now diagnosed annually. The increase may be partly due to better
awareness and early detection as well as changes in diagnostic criteria, the RPS said, but it is
also linked to more holidays being taken abroad and sunbed use.

Adapted from The Guardian, 27 May 2017

I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the
information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. What measure has Superdrug taken?

b. Why is it necessary to help children and teens get the sun-safe habit early?
II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of the text that
supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the answer sheet. (1.5 point)

a. The study has been published by a scientific magazine recently.

b. Protection from UVA rays are indicated in sun lotions by means of five letters.

c. British people don't know that SPF does not have anything to do with UVA rays.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options: (1 point)

polled overcast exacerbate lobster steadily sunbed

a. intensify

b. constantly

c. questioned

d. cloudy

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct. (1.5 points)

1. The study concluded that...

a) most British people do not use suncream.

b) most British people do not know how to choose their suncare products properly.

c) a small percentage of Britons do not choose the appropriate suncare products.

2. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society...

a. suggests companies use labelling easier to understand for customers.

b. suggests customers avoid being ignorant.

c. intends to deliver simpler labelling to all the suncare companies.

3. One of the reasons why there are more cases of cancer nowadays in Britain is that...

a. British people travel more abroad.

b. British people always travel abroad in summer.

c. British people do now know how to detect cancer.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points)

Do you think people can avoid cancer? If so, how can they do it? If you don't think so, why not?