Let's Get 7 in IELTS

Who's affected?

IBS is the most common gut condition and affects one in five people at some time, mostly people aged between 25 and 45. Women are more often affected than men.

Although the exact cause is unknown, and it isn't possible to prevent IBS from developing, there are certain things that trigger attacks and so should be avoided, including stress, irregular mealtimes and, in some cases, a lack of dietary fibre. Some people develop IBS following gut infections and food poisoning.

The following are all common in IBS: abdominal cramps that may be eased by passing wind or passing a motion; bloating and abdominal distension; diarrhoea, constipation, or alternating diarrhoea and constipation; and a feeling of incomplete emptying of the rectum.

Other possible symptoms that aren't related to the gut include backache, tiredness, headaches, and urinary or gynaecological symptoms.

 By Jonathan Amos
Science reporter, BBC News, Liverpool

Conservationists in Nepal say efforts to save the nation's dwindling tiger populations are facing a twin attack.

They have recorded a significant decrease in the number of the endangered species in some of the protected areas of the country.

Conservationists in Nepal say efforts to save the nation's dwindling tiger populations are facing a twin attack.

They have recorded a significant decrease in the number of the endangered species in some of the protected areas of the country.

How accurate are tennis calls? 

Hawk-Eye Line Call: Photo by Hawk-Eye Innovations

Europe's first mission to the Moon looks set for a July blast-off.

Scientists and engineers working on the Smart 1 spacecraft are hoping to fly around the 15th of that month - but it all depends on the status of the launcher.

Currently, Europe's rockets are grounded following the high-profile failure of a vehicle in December last year.

September 9, 2008 -- Updated 1351 GMT (2151 HKT)

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BEIJING, China (AP) -- A Chinese dairy that sold baby milk powder linked to kidney stones in infants and one death knew weeks before it ordered a recall that the product contained a banned chemical, the Health Ministry said Saturday, as the number of sick babies rose to 140.

A Health Ministry statement gave no indication as to why Sanlu Group, China's biggest milk powder producer, failed to warn consumers immediately.

Employees who answered the phone Saturday at the ministry's news office and at China's product safety agency said they had no more information.

In August, Sanlu's testing "revealed melamine in the baby milk powder and showed that it was contaminated," a ministry statement said. It was not known when Sanlu alerted authorities about its findings.

The dairy only announced a recall Thursday of 700 tons of formula made before August 6.

 Friday, Sep. 12, 2008 By AP/VERENA DOBNIK

Smoke pouring from the upper floors of the twin towers after terrorist highjackers crashed 2 Boeing 767 passenger planes into the World Trade Center, September 11, 2001.

Robert Giroux / Getty

Sometime in mid-July 1518, in the city of Strasbourg, a woman stepped into the street and started to dance.

She was still dancing several days later. Within a week about 100 people had been consumed by the same irresistible urge to dance. The authorities were convinced that the afflicted would only recover if they danced day and night.

So guildhalls were set aside for them to dance in, musicians were hired to play pipes and drums to keep them moving, and professional dancers were paid to keep them on their feet. Within days those with weak hearts started to die.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/puffbox/hyperpuff/audiovideo/technology/wide_av_hyper/7611376.stm

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The Greenbird team's Richard Jenkins and Dennis Bassano testing the craft across a salt lake.