This document summarizes information about fears and phobias from the website KidsHealth.org. It defines the difference between a fear and a phobia, explaining that a fear is a normal reaction to danger while a phobia causes a fear response even when no danger is present. The document also discusses how the brain activates the nervous system in response to perceived danger. It notes that while some fears can be helpful, phobias are unnecessary fears that can affect people's daily lives and prevent them from new experiences. The amygdala region of the brain is introduced as keeping track of experiences that trigger strong emotions. Therapies for overcoming phobias through exposure and relaxation techniques are also mentioned.

1. Finding Courage
Fears & Phobias
By Kidshealth.org

2.  Genre: Informational Text
 It’s a nonfiction text that informs the reader about the natural or
social world.
 It provides factual information.
 It includes evidence to support ideas and many forms such as news
articles and essays.
 It contains text features.

3. Text Features: Text features are design elements
that highlight the organization and important
details in an informational text.

4. Fear versus Phobia:
Fear is a normal reaction to a threat while a phobia leads
to a fear response even when you are not in danger.

5. High Frequency Words:
Activate: It means to cause something to start working.
Example: You must activate your new account to use
Classera.

6. High Frequency Words:
Trigger : It means to cause something to begin. Mostly
something happens because of something else.
Example: The ascending smoke trigged the fire alarm.

7. High Frequency Words:
Turbulence : In flying, turbulence is an interruption in the flow
of wind that causes planes to rise, fall, or sway in a rough way.
Example: The airplane shook due to a severe turbulence.

8. High Frequency Words:
Immaturity : Immaturity is the state of not being fully
developed or grown.
Example: His immaturity depicts him as a silly person.

9. Background:
Most people experience fear now and then; fear is an
ordinary part of life. Some fears may be overcome
quickly; others may continue, in varying degrees, for
a lifetime. Science explains why we experience fear
and why sometimes our fears seem out of control.
Whether it is a fear of spiders, a fear of the dark, or a
fear of flying, using science to understand our
responses to fear is the first step toward conquering it.

10. Questions:
 1- Does the writer suggest that fear is mostly helpful or
unhelpful? Cite evidence in your answer.
 The writer suggests that fear is mostly helpful. It “helps protect
us” from danger by acting “like a warning a signal that cautions
us to be careful.”
 2- How does the brain work when we sense danger?
It activates the nervous system which causes physical
responses such as a faster heartbeat, rapid breathing, and
an increase in blood pressure.

11. Questions:
3- How do people’s response to fear differ?
Some people enjoy it while others do not.
4- How the fear reaction is turned off by the brain within
seconds?
When the brain perceives no danger; it stops the reaction.

12. Questions:
5- How are healthy fears different from unnecessary fears?
 Healthy fears can keep a person safe from a dangerous situation,
while unnecessary fears can keep people from experiencing new
situations. Fear of high speed driving is healthy while fear of
climbing mountains is unnecessary.
6- How would people overcome unnecessary fears?
They can overcome unnecessary fears by trying them
such as speaking up in front of audience.

13. Questions:
7- Define the term Phobia.
 A phobia is an intense fear reaction to a particular thing or a
situation.
8- How might a phobia affect someone?
A person with a phobia may feel unsafe in an everyday,
safe situation. Seeing a dog or riding an elevator is
usually safe, but a person with a phobia about dogs or
elevators would be scared.

14. Questions:
9- “A tiny brain structure called the amygdala keeps track of
experiences that trigger strong emotions.” Why does the author
introduce the term amygdala in the article?
 The amygdala is introduced in this section to explain the
biological reason why some people develop phobias.
10- Why would some people be more sensitive to fears?
Perhaps, it’s because of personality traits they are born
with, certain genes, the parts of cells that give a living thing its physical
characteristics and make it grow and develop, they've inherited, or
situations they’ve experienced.

15. Questions:
11- What kinds of fear reactions might be the result of immaturity?
 A child might be frightened of a clown, a ghost, or a shadow
because these are misunderstood or new and surprising.
12- What factors help people overcome phobias?
a- Willingness and bravery to overcome a phobia
b- Therapy might include making a list of least-to-worst
c- Relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises
13- What is the author’s opinion about overcoming a phobia ?
The author thinks that overcoming a phobia is worth the
effort, because having one can be “exhausting and upsetting”
and can cause people to “miss out on opportunities.”