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15 Sept 2026
Not all situations that lead to adrenaline rushes are bad. Riding roller coasters, watching spooky movies or even getting a crush can trigger a cascade of this hormone.S-S-S/iStock/Getty Images Plus
The Science of Adrenaline: How Your Body Gets Super Energy
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) Adrenaline helps your body react quickly to danger.
b) Adrenaline makes you fall asleep faster at night.
c) Adrenaline changes the colour of your eyes instantly.
Ask:
(1) How do you feel when you get a big surprise?
(2) What makes your heart beat very fast?
VOCABULARY
body (/ˈbɒdi/, noun)
Meaning: The physical structure of a person or animal.
Example: Exercise is very good for your body.
heart (/hɑːt/, noun)
Meaning: The organ in your chest that pumps blood.
Example: My heart beats fast when I run.
scared (/skeəd/, adjective)
Meaning: Feeling fear or worry.
Example: The little boy is scared of the dark.
fast (/fɑːst/, adjective)
Meaning: Moving or happening with great speed.
Example: The tiger is a very fast animal.
energy (/ˈenədʒi/, noun)
Meaning: The power and strength to do work or play.
Example: Healthy food gives children lots of energy.
safe (/seɪf/, adjective)
Meaning: Not in danger or at risk of harm.
Example: Keep your toys in a safe place.
Your body is amazing. It protects you every day. Sometimes you see a big dog. Sometimes you feel scared. Your body makes a special hormone called adrenaline. It goes into your blood quickly.
Your heart beats fast. You breathe quickly. Your eyes open wide. Your body gets super energy. This helps you run away from danger. It helps you stay safe. Scientists call this reaction fight or flight.
You also feel adrenaline on a fun roller coaster. You feel it during an exciting sports game. It helps you act fast. After the danger goes away, your body cools down. Your heart beats normally again. You feel calm and quiet.
Adrenaline, or epinephrine, is not just a natural hormone. It’s a lifesaving medication. Injected with a device such as an EpiPen (pictured), epinephrine can open the airways of someone having a severe allergic reaction.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(1) How do you feel when you ride a roller coaster?
(2) Do you like scary movies or games? Why or why not?
(3) What animal makes you run away fast?
(4) What do you do to feel calm again?
(5) Why is adrenaline good for our bodies?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: energy, fast, heart, scared
Your body is amazing. It protects you every day. Sometimes you see a big dog. Sometimes you feel _______(1). Your body makes a special hormone called adrenaline. It goes into your blood quickly.
Your _______(2) beats fast. You breathe quickly. Your eyes open wide. Your body gets super _______(3). This helps you run away from danger. It helps you stay safe. Scientists call this reaction fight or flight.
You also feel adrenaline on a fun roller coaster. You feel it during an exciting sports game. It helps you act _______(4). After the danger goes away, your body cools down. Your heart beats normally again. You feel calm and quiet.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of the story?
a) Adrenaline gives your body quick energy to keep you safe.
b) Roller coasters are dangerous for young children.
c) Sleeping every night helps your heart beat normally.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
(1) Adrenaline goes into your blood slowly. T/F
(2) Your heart beats fast when you feel scared. T/F
(3) Adrenaline helps you run away from danger. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put these events in order from 1 to 3:
( ) Your heart beats normally again and you feel calm.
( ) You see something scary or exciting.
( ) Your body makes adrenaline and your heart beats fast.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
(1) body
(2) heart
(3) scared
(4) energy
(5) safe
a) feeling fear or worry
b) power and strength to do work
c) organ that pumps blood
d) not in danger
e) physical structure of a person
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) When I see a big spider, I feel _______ and my heart beats fast.
a) scared
b) calm
(2) Playing football gives me a lot of _______.
a) energy
b) water
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) Unscramble the sentence:
A) body
B) makes
C) Your
D) adrenaline
E) quickly.
(2) Unscramble the sentence:
A) protects
B) Adrenaline
C) every
D) day.
E) you
ANSWER KEY
Answer Key
Warm Up: a
Section 1: (1) scared, (2) heart, (3) energy, (4) fast
Section 2: a
Section 3: (1) False, (2) True, (3) True
Section 4: 3, 1, 2
Section 5: (1) e, (2) c, (3) a, (4) b, (5) d
Section 6: (1) a, (2) a
Section 7: (1) C-A-B-D-E (Your body makes adrenaline quickly.), (2) B-A-E-C-D (Adrenaline protects you every day.)
Section 8: Student's own answers.
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