Speed Reading — Acid Attacks - Level 3 — 300 wpm 

Now do this put-the-text-back-together activity.

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Police officers in London have been given 1,000 special kits to deal with acid attacks. This is because the number of crimes using acid on London's streets has been increasing. Two weeks ago, criminals sprayed acid in the faces of people to rob them of their motorbikes. There were five different acid attacks on just one night. The number of crimes involving acid or other dangerous substances has more than doubled in London over the past three years. A leading plastic surgeon today said the number of patients he treats for acid attacks has reached "epidemic" levels in London. Professor Peter Dziewulski said there had been an "explosion" of cases involving acid since the start of last year.

Rapid response police cars will now carry the 1,000 acid attack response kits. The kits include protective clothing and five-litre bottles of water. This allows police officers to give immediate treatment to victims sprayed with acid. Experts have said the rise in acid attacks could be because of a crackdown on knives and guns. Street gangs are now using acid instead because it is easy to buy and easy to hide in soda bottles. Police spokesman Mike West spoke about acid attacks. He said: "These are life-changing injuries." He added: "I am confident that we are stepping up our response to this crime and we are looking for a safer way to identify some of the substances on the streets."

Comprehension questions
  1. What has been happening to the number of crimes in London using acid?
  2. When did criminals spray acid in people's faces?
  3. How many acid attacks did the article say happened on one night?
  4. What is the job of the guy who said attacks had reached "epidemic" levels?
  5. When did the "explosion" of acid attacks start?
  6. What kind of clothing do the kits contain?
  7. What kind of treatment do the kits allow police officers to provide?
  8. Where do the street gangs hide their acid?
  9. What kind of injuries did a police spokesman say acid attacks caused?
  10. What is the police stepping up?

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