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Superbugs that medicine can't kill (3rd May, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

There are many horror movies about superbugs that spread around the world and kill millions of people. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the spread of deadly superbugs is now a reality. Many of the medicines we have used for decades to keep away disease no longer work. Bugs have developed and have become resistant to antibiotics and other drugs. The WHO said this is a major threat to our health. The organization said nobody on Earth is safe. The superbugs can kill healthy people in rich countries as well as weaker people in poorer nations. The WHO looked at data from 114 countries. It found that some antibiotics that worked 30 years ago do not work now for about half the people who take them.

The WHO's assistant director-general for health security Keiji Fukuda describes a scary future. He said: "The world is headed for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries which have been treatable for decades can once again kill." This means that soon there will be no way to stop people from once again dying from diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and influenza. Dr Fukuda warned this was a global trend. He said: "This is not a regional phenomena. This is not a phenomena occurring in just poor countries or developing countries, or in rich countries or developed countries. This is something which is occurring in all countries in the world."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/04/30/who-drug-resistant-superbugs-serious-threat-worldwide/
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/824377
http://www.who.int/drugresistance/documents/surveillancereport/en/

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. SUPERBUGS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about superbugs. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

horror movies / deadly / medicines / decades / resistant / health / data / half / security / scary / future / common infections / minor injuries / malaria / regional / developed

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. HORROR MOVIES: Complete this table with your partner(s). Think of some simple stories. Change partners often and share your stories.

Movie about…	What happens?	What's the ending?
superbugs
human clones
global warming
giant rats
robots
the Internet

4. MEDICINE: Students A strongly believe scientists will always find medicines for all diseases; Students B strongly believe they won't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. HEALTH: Rank these with your partner. Put the one you'd most like a cure for at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• the common cold

• stress

• being overweight

• poor eyesight

• headaches

• tiredness

• itchiness

• other ______________

6. DRUGS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "drugs". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	There is a new horror movie about superbugs.	T / F
b.	Many of our usual medicines are no longer effective against diseases.	T / F
c.	The WHO said there is a serious danger to the health of all of us.	T / F
d.	The WHO analysed data from 140 countries.	T / F
e.	A WHO spokesman talked about a scary future.	T / F
f.	The man said many diseases now under control would be killers again.	T / F
g.	The man said it was a regional and not a global problem.	T / F
h.	Many countries will not be affected by the superbugs.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	movies	a.	unaffected by
2.	spread	b.	frightening
3.	reality	c.	prevent
4.	resistant to	d.	fact
5.	data	e.	worldwide
6.	scary	f.	statistics
7.	era	g.	films
8.	stop	h.	happening
9.	global	i.	time
10.	occurring	j.	growth

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	spread	a.	to antibiotics
2.	keep	b.	nations
3.	become resistant	c.	like malaria
4.	people in poorer	d.	who take them
5.	about half the people	e.	injuries
6.	The world is headed for a post-	f.	away disease
7.	minor	g.	trend
8.	diseases	h.	around the world
9.	this was a global	i.	just poor countries
10.	This is not a phenomena occurring in	j.	antibiotic era

GAP FILL

There are many horror movies about superbugs that (1) ____________ around the world and kill millions of people. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the spread of (2) ____________ superbugs is now a reality. Many of the medicines that we have used for decades to keep away disease no (3) ____________ work. Bugs have developed and have become (4) ____________ to antibiotics and other drugs. The WHO said this is a (5) ____________ threat to our health. The organization said nobody on Earth is safe. The superbugs can kill healthy people in rich countries as (6) ____________ as weaker people in poorer nations. The WHO looked at (7) ____________ from 114 countries. It found that some antibiotics that worked 30 years ago do not work now for about (8) ____________ the people who take them.

major
half
resistant
deadly
data
spread
well
longer

The WHO's (9) ____________ director-general for health security Keiji Fukuda describes a (10) ____________ future. He said: "The world is headed for a post-antibiotic (11) ____________, in which common infections and minor injuries which have been treatable for (12) ____________ can once again kill." This means that soon there will be no way to stop people from once again (13) ____________ from diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and influenza. Dr Fukuda warned this was a global (14) ____________. He said: "This is not a regional phenomena. This is not a phenomena occurring in (15) ____________ poor countries or developing countries, or in rich countries or developed countries. This is something which is (16) ____________ in all countries in the world."

dying
just
era
occurring
assistant
trend
scary
decades

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	horror movies about superbugs that spread around the world and ______ people
	a. kill billions of b. kill trillions of c. kill millions of d. kill quadrillions of
2)	The World Health Organisation has said the spread of deadly superbugs is ______
	a. now a realty b. now a really c. now a reality d. now a real a tea
3)	Bugs have developed and have become ______
	a. resistance to antibiotics b. resist ant to antibiotics c. resist and to antibiotics d. resistant to antibiotics
4)	The WHO said this is a major ______ health
	a. treat to our b. threat to our c. threads to our d. thread to our
5)	antibiotics that worked 30 years ago do not work now for about ______
	a. half the people b. halve the people c. huff the people d. have the people
6)	The WHO's assistant director-general for health security Keiji Fukuda describes ______
	a. a scarier future b. a scary future c. a scare e-future d. a scare future
7)	common infections and ______
	a. minor injuries b. miner injuries c. mine or injuries d. mine are injuries
8)	no way to stop people from once again dying ______ malaria
	a. from disease is like b. from diseases liked c. from disease likes d. from diseases like
9)	He said: "This is not a ______"
	a. regional phenomena b. region all phenomena c. regional phenomenon d. region all phenomenon
10)	This is something which is ______ countries
	a. occur in in all b. occurring in all c. occur ring in all d. occurring inner

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

There are many horror movies about superbugs (1) ___________________ the world and kill millions of people. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the spread of deadly superbugs (2) ___________________. Many of the medicines that we have used for decades to keep away disease no longer work. Bugs have developed and have (3) ___________________ to antibiotics and other drugs. The WHO said this (4) ___________________ to our health. The organization said nobody on Earth is safe. The superbugs can kill healthy people in rich countries as well as weaker people in poorer nations. The WHO (5) ___________________ 114 countries. It found that some antibiotics that worked 30 years ago do not work now for about half the (6) ___________________.

The WHO's (7) ___________________ for health security Keiji Fukuda describes a scary future. He said: "The (8) ___________________ for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries which have been (9) ___________________ can once again kill." This means that soon there will be no way to stop people from (10) ___________________ from diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and influenza. Dr Fukuda warned this was a global trend. He said: "This is not a (11) ___________________. This is not a phenomena occurring in just poor countries or developing countries, or in rich countries (12) ___________________. This is something which is occurring in all countries in the world."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What kind of movies are there about superbugs?
2.	What did the WHO say was a reality?
3.	What did the WHO say bugs had become resistant to?
4.	Who did the WHO say was safe?
5.	From how many countries did the WHO look at data?
6.	What kind of future did a WHO spokesman describe?
7.	What kind of era did the WHO spokesman say we are headed towards?
8.	What disease did the WHO mention apart from flu and TB?
9.	What kind of trend did Dr Fukuda describe this as being?
10.	Where in the world did Dr Fukuda say this is occurring?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What kind of movies are there about superbugs?	6.	What kind of future did a WHO spokesman describe?
	a) horror movies b) action movies c) animated movies d) science fiction movies		a) a bright future b) a bleak future c) a disease-free future d) a scary future
2.	What did the WHO say was a reality?	7.	What kind of era did the WHO say we are headed towards?
	a) medicines b) the WHO c) the spread of superbugs d) disease		a) a disease-free era b) a post-antibiotic era c) an era of free medicines d) a superbug-free era
3.	What did the WHO say bugs had become resistant to?	8.	What disease did the WHO mention apart from flu and TB?
	a) people b) antibiotics c) disease d) health		a) smallpox b) polio c) cholera d) malaria
4.	Who did the WHO say was safe?	9.	What kind of trend did Dr Fukuda describe this as being?
	a) healthy people b) people in rich countries c) doctors d) nobody		a) an upward trend b) a trendy trend c) a global trend d) a short-term trend
5.	From how many countries did the WHO look at data?	10.	Where did Dr Fukuda say this is occurring?
	a) 114 b) 115 c) 116 d) 117		a) in developing countries b) in all countries c) in the southern hemisphere d) in countries with a tropical climate

ROLE PLAY

Role A – The common cold

You think a cure for the common cold is the most important cure to find. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't as important with their problems. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these to be cured (and why): stress, being overweight or tiredness.

Role B – Stress

You think a cure for stress is the most important cure to find. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't as important with their problems. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these to be cured (and why): the common cold, being overweight or tiredness.

Role C – Being overweight

You think a cure for being overweight is the most important cure to find. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't as important with their problems. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these to be cured (and why): stress, the common cold or tiredness.

Role D – Tiredness

You think a cure for tiredness is the most important cure to find. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't as important with their problems. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these to be cured (and why): stress, being overweight or the common cold.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'super' and 'bug'.

super

bug

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

millions
used
other
major
well
take

scary
minor
soon
global
just
something

SUPERBUGS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about superbugs in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

SUPERBUGS DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'superbug'?
c)	Do you like horror movies about viruses that spread around the world?
d)	What do you think of what the WHO said?
e)	Do you think we are all in great danger?
f)	What would you do differently if superbugs were everywhere?
g)	Why haven't scientists made new medicines for the superbugs?
h)	Are you worried about this?
i)	What should governments do about this?
j)	What superbugs and viruses do you know about?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Do you think this scary future will come true?
c)	What would life be like if antibiotics no longer worked?
d)	Have you ever been ill because of an infection or disease?
e)	Do you think the world will panic if many diseases spread?
f)	How healthy are you?
g)	If there are superbugs everywhere, would you stay indoors?
h)	Should people now start washing their hands more often and wearing face masks?
i)	Will this happen or is it just another story?
j)	What questions would you like to ask Dr Keiji Fukuda?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

There are many horror movies about superbugs that (1) ____ around the world and kill millions of people. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the spread of deadly superbugs is now a (2) ____. Many of the medicines that we have used for decades to keep (3) ____ disease no longer work. Bugs have developed and have become resistant (4) ____ antibiotics and other drugs. The WHO said this is a major threat to our health. The organization said nobody (5) ____ Earth is safe. The superbugs can kill healthy people in rich countries as well as weaker people in poorer nations. The WHO looked at data from 114 countries. It found that some antibiotics that worked 30 years ago do not work now for about half the people who (6) ____ them.

The WHO's assistant director-general for health security Keiji Fukuda describes a (7) ____ future. He said: "The world is headed for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and (8) ____ injuries which have been treatable for decades can once again kill." This means that soon there will be no way to stop people from once again (9) ____ from diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and influenza. Dr Fukuda warned this was a global (10) ____. He said: "This is not a (11) ____ phenomena. This is not a phenomena occurring in just poor countries or developing countries, or in rich countries or developed countries. This is something which is (12) ____ in all countries in the world."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	spreader	(b)	spreading	(c)	spreads	(d)	spread
2.	(a)	real	(b)	really	(c)	realty	(d)	reality
3.	(a)	up	(b)	away	(c)	over	(d)	on
4.	(a)	at	(b)	in	(c)	to	(d)	of
5.	(a)	in	(b)	at	(c)	on	(d)	by
6.	(a)	take	(b)	absorb	(c)	drink	(d)	meal
7.	(a)	scared	(b)	scary	(c)	scares	(d)	scare
8.	(a)	minor	(b)	tested	(c)	sharp	(d)	heating
9.	(a)	death	(b)	dying	(c)	died	(d)	dead
10.	(a)	blend	(b)	amend	(c)	trend	(d)	upend
11.	(a)	district	(b)	downtown	(c)	regional	(d)	oceanic
12.	(a)	occurs	(b)	occurrence	(c)	occurred	(d)	occurring

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	rrhoor movies
2.	arsdep around the world
3.	now a itaryel
4.	become essanttri to antibiotics
5.	a major ttrhae to our health
6.	people in proroe nations
Paragraph 2
7.	The WHO's asistanst director-general
8.	common ofcnentisi
9.	minor ejiinsur
10.	This is not a roainlge phenomena
11.	vgnoeipled countries
12.	something which is gcrurncoi in all countries

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	antibiotics that worked 30 years ago do not work now for about half the people who take them.
( )	well as weaker people in poorer nations. The WHO looked at data from 114 countries. It found that some
( )	longer work. Bugs have developed and have become resistant to antibiotics and other drugs. The WHO said this is a major
( )	threat to our health. The organization said nobody on Earth is safe. The superbugs can kill healthy people in rich countries as
( )	way to stop people from once again dying from diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and
( )	future. He said: "The world is headed for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor
( )	influenza. Dr Fukuda warned this was a global trend. He said: "This is not a regional phenomena. This is not a phenomena occurring
( 1 )	There are many horror movies about superbugs that spread around the world and kill millions
( )	of people. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the spread of deadly superbugs is
( )	in just poor countries or developing countries, or in
( )	injuries which have been treatable for decades can once again kill." This means that soon there will be no
( )	now a reality. Many of the medicines we have used for decades to keep away disease no
( )	The WHO's assistant director-general for health security Keiji Fukuda describes a scary
( )	rich countries or developed countries. This is something which is occurring in all countries in the world."

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	around and spread world millions that the kill Superbugs.
2.	have decades away we for keep Medicines used to.
3.	is said safe nobody on The Earth organization.
4.	looked countries at data The from WHO 114.
5.	not work now Antibiotics that worked 30 years ago do.
6.	for a post - antibiotic era The world is headed.
7.	for treatable been have which Injuries decades.
8.	will there soon that means This stop to way no be.
9.	just poor countries This is not a phenomena occurring in.
10.	in something occurring countries is is all This which.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

There are many horror movies about superbugs that spreading / spread around the world and kill millions of people. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the spread of deathly / deadly superbugs is now a really / reality. Many of the medicines that we have used for decades to keep away disease no / not longer work. Bugs have developed and have become resistant to / of antibiotics and other drugs. The WHO said this is a major threat / treat to our health. The organization said nobody on / in Earth is safe. The superbugs can kill healthily / healthy people in rich countries as well as weaker people in poorer nations. The WHO looked at date / data from 114 countries. It found that some antibiotics that worked 30 years ago do not work now for about half the people who take / drink them.

The WHO's assistant director-general for health secure / security Keiji Fukuda describes a scary future / futuristic. He said: "The world is headed for a post-antibiotic are / era, in which common infections and minor / minority injuries which have been treatable for / in decades can once again kill." This means that soon there will be now / no way to stop people from once again dying from / for diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and influenza. Dr Fukuda warned this was a global / globally trend. He said: "This is not a regional phenomena. This is not a phenomena occurring / occur in just poor countries or developing countries, or in rich countries or developed countries. This is something which is occurring in whole / all countries in the world."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_r_ _r_ m_ny h_rr_r m_v__s _b__t s_p_rb_gs th_t spr__d _r__nd th_ w_rld _nd k_ll m_ll__ns _f p__pl_. Th_ W_rld H__lth _rg_n_s_t__n (WH_) h_s s__d th_ spr__d _f d__dly s_p_rb_gs _s n_w _ r__l_ty. M_ny _f th_ m_d_c_n_s th_t w_ h_v_ _s_d f_r d_c_d_s t_ k__p _w_y d_s__s_ n_ l_ng_r w_rk. B_gs h_v_ d_v_l_p_d _nd h_v_ b_c_m_ r_s_st_nt t_ _nt_b__t_cs _nd _th_r dr_gs. Th_ WH_ s__d th_s _s _ m_j_r thr__t t_ __r h__lth. Th_ _rg_n_z_t__n s__d n_b_dy _n __rth _s s_f_. Th_ s_p_rb_gs c_n k_ll h__lthy p__pl_ _n r_ch c__ntr__s _s w_ll _s w__k_r p__pl_ _n p__r_r n_t__ns. Th_ WH_ l__k_d _t d_t_ fr_m 114 c__ntr__s. _t f__nd th_t s_m_ _nt_b__t_cs th_t w_rk_d 30 y__rs _g_ d_ n_t w_rk n_w f_r _b__t h_lf th_ p__pl_ wh_ t_k_ th_m.

Th_ WH_'s _ss_st_nt d_r_ct_r-g_n_r_l f_r h__lth s_c_r_ty K__j_ F_k_d_ d_scr_b_s _ sc_ry f_t_r_. H_ s__d: "Th_ w_rld _s h__d_d f_r _ p_st-_nt_b__t_c _r_, _n wh_ch c_mm_n _nf_ct__ns _nd m_n_r _nj_r__s wh_ch h_v_ b__n tr__t_bl_ f_r d_c_d_s c_n _nc_ _g__n k_ll." Th_s m__ns th_t s__n th_r_ w_ll b_ n_ w_y t_ st_p p__pl_ fr_m _nc_ _g__n dy_ng fr_m d_s__s_s l_k_ m_l_r__, t_b_rc_l_s_s, _nd _nfl__nz_. Dr F_k_d_ w_rn_d th_s w_s _ gl_b_l tr_nd. H_ s__d: "Th_s _s n_t _ r_g__n_l ph_n_m_n_. Th_s _s n_t _ ph_n_m_n_ _cc_rr_ng _n j_st p__r c__ntr__s _r d_v_l_p_ng c__ntr__s, _r _n r_ch c__ntr__s _r d_v_l_p_d c__ntr__s. Th_s _s s_m_th_ng wh_ch _s _cc_rr_ng _n _ll c__ntr__s _n th_ w_rld."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

there are many horror movies about superbugs that spread around the world and kill millions of people the world health organisation (who) has said the spread of deadly superbugs is now a reality many of the medicines that we have used for decades to keep away disease no longer work bugs have developed and have become resistant to antibiotics and other drugs the who said this is a major threat to our health the organization said nobody on earth is safe the superbugs can kill healthy people in rich countries as well as weaker people in poorer nations the who looked at data from 114 countries it found that some antibiotics that worked 30 years ago do not work now for about half the people who take them

the who's assistant director-general for health security keiji fukuda describes a scary future he said "the world is headed for a post-antibiotic era in which common infections and minor injuries which have been treatable for decades can once again kill" this means that soon there will be no way to stop people from once again dying from diseases like malaria tuberculosis and influenza dr fukuda warned this was a global trend he said "this is not a regional phenomena this is not a phenomena occurring in just poor countries or developing countries or in rich countries or developed countries this is something which is occurring in all countries in the world"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Therearemanyhorrormoviesaboutsuperbugsthatspreadaroundt
heworldandkillmillionsofpeople.TheWorldHealthOrganisation(W
HO)hassaidthespreadofdeadlysuperbugsisnowareality.Manyofth
emedicineswehaveusedfordecadestokeepawaydiseasenolonger
work.Bugshavedevelopedandhavebecomeresistanttoantibiotics
andotherdrugs.TheWHOsaidthisisamajorthreattoourhealth.The
organizationsaidnobodyonEarthissafe.Thesuperbugscankillhealt
hypeopleinrichcountriesaswellasweakerpeopleinpoorernations.
TheWHOlookedatdatafrom114countries.Itfoundthatsomeantibi
oticsthatworked30yearsagodonotworknowforabouthalfthepeopl
ewhotakethem.TheWHO'sassistantdirector-generalforhealth
securityKeijiFukudadescribesascaryfuture.Hesaid:"Theworldish
eadedforapost-antibioticera,inwhichcommoninfectionsandm
inorinjurieswhichhavebeentreatablefordecadescanonceagainkill
."Thismeansthatsoontherewillbenowaytostoppeoplefromonceag
aindyingfromdiseaseslikemalaria,tuberculosis,andinfluenza.DrF
ukudawarnedthiswasaglobaltrend.Hesaid:"Thisisnotaregionalph
enomena.Thisisnotaphenomenaoccurringinjustpoorcountriesor
developingcountries,orinrichcountriesordevelopedcountries.Thi
sissomethingwhichisoccurringinallcountriesintheworld."

FREE WRITING

Write about superbugs for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Describe and compare three ways to could protect us from superbugs.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about superbugs. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. SUPERBUGS: Make a poster about superbugs. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. SPREAD: Write a magazine article about the spread superbugs. Include imaginary interviews with WHO doctors and with ordinary people who are worried.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on superbugs. Ask him/her three questions about superbugs. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to keep healthy. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	movies	a.	films
2.	spread	b.	growth
3.	reality	c.	fact
4.	resistant to	d.	unaffected by
5.	data	e.	statistics
6.	scary	f.	frightening
7.	era	g.	time
8.	stop	h.	prevent
9.	global	i.	worldwide
10.	occurring	j.	happening

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Horror movies
2.	The spread of deadly superbugs
3.	Antibiotics and other drugs
4.	Nobody
5.	114
6.	A scary future
7.	A post-antibiotic era
8.	Malaria
9.	A global trend
10.	In all countries

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

b

4.

d

5.

a

6.

d

7.

b

8.

d

9.

c

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Superbugs that medicine can't kill (3rd May, 2014)

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