Breaking News English

Home | Help This Site

MERS virus spreading (17th May, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The virus known as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) has spread enough for the WHO (World Health Organisation) to say the situation is now more serious and urgent. The WHO’s assistant director-general for health security Dr Keiji Fukuda said that the illness currently does not constitute a global health emergency but needs to be carefully monitored in case of a sudden epidemic. Dr Fukuda said declaring an emergency is "a major act" that can unnecessarily "raise anxieties." He added that there is no "evidence of person-to-person transmissibility". The virus has so far been reported in 18 countries since surfacing in Saudi Arabia in 2012. There have been 571 confirmed cases and 171 deaths.

The USA's Center for Disease Control said MERS is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus called MERS-CoV. It said: "Most people who have been confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection developed severe acute respiratory illness. They had a fever, cough, and shortness of breath. About 30 per cent of these people died." Researchers believe it was passed to humans from camels in Saudi Arabia. All of the people who have contracted it have had very close contact with other sufferers. Doctors said it does not pass from person to person like a flu virus. Airports in the U.S. are advising those travelling to the Middle East to: "Wash your hands often, avoid touching your face, avoid close contact with sick people."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/14/health/mers-outbreak/
http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-trb-mers-cdc-airport-signs-20140513-story.html
http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/index.html

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. VIRUSES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about viruses. 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.

virus / Middle East / serious / urgent / emergency / monitored / anxieties / evidence / respiratory / infection / fever / cough / shortness of breath / sufferers / sick people

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

3. ACTION: What can governments do to prevent the spread of viruses? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Actions	Problems with this
Internet
Airports
Curfews
Vaccines
Research
Doctors

4. VIRUS-FREE: Students A strongly believe the future will be virus-free; Students B strongly believe there will be more viruses in the future. 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. PREVENTION: Rank these with your partner. Put the best ways of preventing infections at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• hand washing

• education

• avoid public places

• wear a face mask

• stay at home all day

• close all borders

• wear gloves

• eat healthily

6. EMERGENCY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "emergency". 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.	The WHO said MERS isn't bad enough to be classed as serious.	T / F
b.	The WHO said MERS isn't bad enough to be called an emergency.	T / F
c.	The WHO has no proof that MERS can pass from person to person.	T / F
d.	There have been over 1,000 cases of MERS worldwide.	T / F
e.	MERS kills around a third of people who contract it.	T / F
f.	Researchers believe the virus originated in Saudi Arabian goats.	T / F
g.	The virus has so far been spread via people in very close contact.	T / F
h.	U.S. airports are telling people to stay away from markets.	T / F

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

1.	spread	a.	emerging
2.	urgent	b.	regularly
3.	constitute	c.	extended
4.	anxieties	d.	came down with
5.	surfacing	e.	amount to
6.	developed	f.	cautioning
7.	passed	g.	pressing
8.	advising	h.	refrain from
9.	often	i.	transmitted
10.	avoid	j.	worries

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

1.	Middle East	a.	respiratory illness
2.	the situation is now more	b.	transmissibility
3.	constitute a global	c.	cases
4.	person-to-person	d.	virus
5.	571 confirmed	e.	of breath
6.	a viral	f.	Respiratory Syndrome
7.	shortness	g.	contact with sick people
8.	very close contact	h.	health emergency
9.	like a flu	i.	serious and urgent
10.	avoid close	j.	with other sufferers

GAP FILL

The virus known as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) has (1) ____________ enough for the WHO (World Health Organisation) to say the situation is now more serious and (2) ____________. The WHO's assistant director-general for health security Dr Keiji Fukuda said that the illness currently does not (3) ____________ a global health emergency but needs to be carefully (4) ____________ in case of a sudden epidemic. Dr Fukuda said declaring an emergency is "a (5) ____________ act" that can unnecessarily "raise anxieties." He added that there is no "(6) ____________ of person-to-person transmissibility". The virus has so far been reported in 18 countries since (7) ____________ in Saudi Arabia in 2012. There have been 571 confirmed (8) ____________ and 171 deaths.

evidence
constitute
cases
spread
major
urgent
surfacing
monitored

The USA's Center for Disease Control said MERS is a viral respiratory illness (9) ____________ by a coronavirus called MERS-CoV. It said: "Most people who have been confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection developed severe (10) ____________ respiratory illness. They had a fever, cough, and shortness of (11) ____________. About 30 per cent of these people died." Researchers believe it was passed to humans from (12) ____________ in Saudi Arabia. All of the people who have contracted it have had very close (13) ____________ with other sufferers. Doctors said it does not pass from person to person like a (14) ____________ virus. Airports in the U.S. are (15) ____________ those travelling to the Middle East to: "Wash your hands often, (16) ____________ touching your face, avoid close contact with sick people."

flu
breath
avoid
advising
caused
camels
acute
contact

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The virus known as MERS (Middle East ______)
	a. Respiratory Syndromes b. Respiratory Sin Drone c. Respiratory Sinned Rome d. Respiratory Syndrome
2)	The WHO's assistant director-general for ______
	a. health securities b. health securely c. health security d. health secretary
3)	Dr Keiji Fukuda said that the illness currently does not constitute a global ______
	a. health emergency b. health emergencies c. health emergences d. health emergence is
4)	Dr Fukuda said declaring an emergency is "a major act" that can unnecessarily "______."
	a. rise anxieties b. raise anxieties c. raised anxieties d. rising anxieties
5)	There have been 571 confirmed cases ______.
	a. and 170 deaths b. and 171 deaths c. and 172 deaths d. and 173 deaths
6)	Most people who have been confirmed to have MERS-______
	a. CoV inflection b. CoV infection c. CoV in for action d. CoV infraction
7)	They had a fever, cough, and ______
	a. shortness for breath b. shortness from breath c. shortness of breath d. shortness if breath
8)	All of the people who have contracted it have had very close contact ______
	a. with other sufferers b. with other suffer as c. with other sufferance d. with other suffers are
9)	Doctors said it does not pass from person to person ______
	a. alike a flu virus b. liked a flu virus c. likes a flu virus d. like a flu virus
10)	Wash your hands often, avoid touching your face, avoid close contact ______
	a. with slick people b. with sickly people c. with sick people d. with stick people

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The virus known as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) has spread (1) ___________________ (World Health Organisation) to say the situation is now more serious and urgent. The WHO's (2) ___________________ for health security Dr Keiji Fukuda said that the illness currently does not constitute a global health emergency but (3) ___________________ monitored in case of a (4) ___________________. Dr Fukuda said declaring an emergency (5) ___________________ that can unnecessarily "raise anxieties." He added that there is no "evidence of person-to-person transmissibility". The virus has so far been reported in 18 countries since surfacing in Saudi Arabia in 2012. There have been (6) ___________________ and 171 deaths.

The USA's Center for Disease Control said MERS is (7) ___________________ caused by a coronavirus called MERS-CoV. It said: "Most people who have been confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection (8) ___________________ respiratory illness. They had a fever, cough, and shortness of breath. About 30 per cent of these people died." Researchers believe (9) ___________________ humans from camels in Saudi Arabia. All of the people who have contracted it have had (10) ___________________ with other sufferers. Doctors said it does not pass from person to person like a flu virus. Airports in the U.S. (11) ___________________ travelling to the Middle East to: "Wash your hands often, (12) ___________________ face, avoid close contact with sick people."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What does the "S" in MERS stand for?
2.	What is Keiji Fukuda's job?
3.	What did Dr Fukuda say declaring an emergency raise?
4.	In how many countries has MERS been reported?
5.	How many people have died so far?
6.	Where is the Center for Disease Control?
7.	What are the chances of dying if you contract the virus?
8.	From which animal do researchers believe the virus originated?
9.	What do all MERS sufferers have in common?
10.	What are U.S. airports advising people not touch?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What does the "S" in MERS stand for?	6.	Where is the Center for Disease Control?
	a) Suffering b) Sign c) Symptom d) Syndrome		a) Saudi Arabia b) USA c) UAE d) UK
2.	What is Keiji Fukuda's job?	7.	What are the chances of dying if you contract the virus?
	a) Internet security expert b) doctor c) charity worker d) marketing manager		a) around 67% b) around 45% c) around 50% d) around 30%
3.	What did Dr Fukuda say declaring an emergency raise?	8.	From which animal do researchers believe the virus originated?
	a) awareness b) money c) anxieties d) temperatures		a) camels b) goats c) rats d) dogs
4.	In how many countries has MERS been reported?	9.	What do all MERS sufferers have in common?
	a) 18 b) 19 c) 17 d) 11		a) their nationality b) they are all over 50 c) close contact with other sufferers d) weak immune systems
5.	How many people have died so far?	10.	What are U.S. airports advising people not touch?
	a) 169 b) 170 c) 171 d) 168		a) meat b) their faces c) doors d) animals

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Education

You think education is the best way to stop viruses spreading. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): curfews, free face masks or sterilising public places.

Role B – Curfews

You think curfews are the best way to stop viruses spreading. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): education, free face masks or sterilising public places.

Role C – Free face masks

You think free face masks are the best way to stop viruses spreading. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): curfews, education or sterilising public places.

Role D – Sterilise public places

You think sterilising public places is the best way to stop viruses spreading. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): curfews, free face masks or education.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

Middle

East

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:

enough
currently
case
major
far
cases

caused
severe
30
camels
flu
face

VIRUSES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about viruses 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.

VIRUSES 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 'virus'?
c)	What do you know about the MERS virus?
d)	Why do you think lots of new viruses have been appearing?
e)	How do you think this virus will be different from SARS, etc.?
f)	Should the WHO be giving people more information?
g)	What would you do if there was a global pandemic?
h)	Would you travel to the Middle East right now?
i)	Is too much attention given to viruses like MERS, SARS and H1N1?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What do you when you get cold-like symptoms?
c)	Do you think viruses will become more dangerous?
d)	Will doctors be able to cure all viruses one day?
e)	What do you do to avoid infections?
f)	What kind of chaos would a global pandemic cause?
g)	Should all airplanes be grounded if there is a pandemic?
h)	What news coverage have you seen of MERS?
i)	What questions would you like to ask the WHO doctor?

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

The virus known as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) has (1) ____ enough for the WHO (World Health Organisation) to say the situation is now more serious and (2) ____. The WHO's assistant director-general for health security Dr Keiji Fukuda said that the illness currently does not (3) ____ a global health emergency but needs to be carefully monitored in (4) ____ of a sudden epidemic. Dr Fukuda said declaring an emergency is "a major act" that can unnecessarily "raise anxieties." He added that there is no "(5) ____ of person-to-person transmissibility". The virus has so far been reported in 18 countries since (6) ____ in Saudi Arabia in 2012. There have been 571 confirmed cases and 171 deaths.

The USA's Center for Disease Control said MERS is a viral respiratory illness caused (7) ____ a coronavirus called MERS-CoV. It said: "Most people who have been confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection developed severe (8) ____ respiratory illness. They had a fever, cough, and (9) ____ of breath. About 30 per cent of these people died." Researchers believe it was passed to humans from camels in Saudi Arabia. All of the people who have contracted it have had very close contact with other (10) ____. Doctors said it does not pass from person to person like a (11) ____ virus. Airports in the U.S. are advising those travelling to the Middle East to: "Wash your hands often, avoid touching your face, (12) ____ close contact with sick people."

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

1.	(a)	crossed	(b)	spread	(c)	traveled	(d)	seeped
2.	(a)	urgency	(b)	urgent	(c)	urgently	(d)	resurgent
3.	(a)	absolute	(b)	restitute	(c)	institute	(d)	constitute
4.	(a)	casing	(b)	case	(c)	cases	(d)	cased
5.	(a)	affluence	(b)	residence	(c)	incidence	(d)	evidence
6.	(a)	leveling	(b)	panning	(c)	surfacing	(d)	rising
7.	(a)	by	(b)	with	(c)	of	(d)	at
8.	(a)	accurate	(b)	accidental	(c)	acute	(d)	access
9.	(a)	shorts	(b)	shorted	(c)	shorting	(d)	shortness
10.	(a)	sufferers	(b)	sufferance	(c)	suffers	(d)	sufferings
11.	(a)	flu	(b)	cold	(c)	chills	(d)	freezing
12.	(a)	avoid	(b)	evade	(c)	avid	(d)	advance

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	Middle East Respiratory emrnSydo
2.	uiscnttoet a global health emergency
3.	a sudden idemciep
4.	there is no veidncee
5.	since argcusfni in Saudi Arabia in 2012
6.	571 iendcform cases
Paragraph 2
7.	caused by a inuovrcoasr
8.	They had efver, cough, and…
9.	people who have oacdctrten it
10.	contact with other sfurefesr
11.	vsnigida those travelling
12.	iadov close contact

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	breath. About 30 per cent of these people died." Researchers believe it was passed to humans
( )	Organisation) to say the situation is now more serious and urgent. The WHO's assistant director-general for health
( )	security Dr Keiji Fukuda said that the illness currently does not constitute a global health emergency but needs to
( )	from camels in Saudi Arabia. All of the people who have contracted it have had very close contact
( )	in 2012. There have been 571 confirmed cases and 171 deaths.
( )	be carefully monitored in case of a sudden epidemic. Dr Fukuda said declaring an emergency is "a major
( )	person transmissibility". The virus has so far been reported in 18 countries since surfacing in Saudi Arabia
( )	those travelling to the Middle East to: "Wash your hands often, avoid touching your face, avoid close contact with sick people."
( )	with other sufferers. Doctors said it does not pass from person to person like a flu virus. Airports in the U.S. are advising
( )	severe acute respiratory illness. They had a fever, cough, and shortness of
( )	The USA's Center for Disease Control said MERS is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus
( )	act" that can unnecessarily "raise anxieties." He added that there is no "evidence of person-to-
( 1 )	The virus known as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) has spread enough for the WHO (World Health
( )	called MERS-CoV. It said: "Most people who have been confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection developed

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	known enough as MERS The has virus spread.
2.	assistant general security WHO's - health The director for.
3.	in epidemic case of Carefully a monitored sudden.
4.	that can A unnecessarily major raise act anxieties.
5.	so far been reported in 18 countries The virus has.
6.	coronavirus by illness viral caused a . respiratory A
7.	to who confirmed MERS people been have Most have.
8.	it to camels believe passed from Researchers was humans.
9.	with close Had other contact very sufferers.
10.	it does not pass from person to person Doctors said.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The virus knowing / known as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) has spread enough for the WHO (World Health Organisation) to say the situation is now more seriously / serious and urgent. The WHO's assistant director-general for health severity / security Dr Keiji Fukuda said that the illness currently does not institute / constitute a global health emergency but needs to be carefully monitored in case / encase of a sudden epidemic. Dr Fukuda said declaration / declaring an emergency is "a major act" that can unnecessarily "raise / rise anxieties." He added that there is no "evidence of person-to-person transmissibility". The virus / viral has so far been reported in 18 countries since surfacing / leveling in Saudi Arabia in 2012. There have been 571 confirmed cases / causes and 171 deaths.

The USA's Center for Disease Control said MERS is a viral respiratory illness caused by / with a coronavirus called MERS-CoV. It said: "Most people who have been confirmed / conformed to have MERS-CoV infection developed severe / several acute respiratory illness. They had a fever, cuff / cough, and shortness of breath / breathe. About 30 per cent of these people died." Researchers believe it was past / passed to humans from camels in Saudi Arabia. All of the people who have contracted it have had very closely / close contact with other sufferers. Doctors said it does not pass from person to person like a flu / influenza virus. Airports in the U.S. are advising / advice those travelling to the Middle East to: "Wash your hands often, avoid touching your face, avoid close contact with sickness / sick people."

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_ v_r_s kn_wn _s M_RS (M_ddl_ __st R_sp_r_t_ry Syndr_m_) h_s spr__d _n__gh f_r th_ WH_ (W_rld H__lth _rg_n_s_t__n) t_ s_y th_ s_t__t__n _s n_w m_r_ s_r___s _nd _rg_nt. Th_ WH_'s _ss_st_nt d_r_ct_r-g_n_r_l f_r h__lth s_c_r_ty Dr K__j_ F_k_d_ s__d th_t th_ _lln_ss c_rr_ntly d__s n_t c_nst_t_t_ _ gl_b_l h__lth _m_rg_ncy b_t n__ds t_ b_ c_r_f_lly m_n_t_r_d _n c_s_ _f _ s_dd_n _p_d_m_c. Dr F_k_d_ s__d d_cl_r_ng _n _m_rg_ncy _s "_ m_j_r _ct" th_t c_n _nn_c_ss_r_ly "r__s_ _nx__t__s." H_ _dd_d th_t th_r_ _s n_ "_v_d_nc_ _f p_rs_n-t_-p_rs_n tr_nsm_ss_b_l_ty". Th_ v_r_s h_s s_ f_r b__n r_p_rt_d _n 18 c__ntr__s s_nc_ s_rf_c_ng _n S__d_ _r_b__ _n 2012. Th_r_ h_v_ b__n 571 c_nf_rm_d c_s_s _nd 171 d__ths.

Th_ _S_'s C_nt_r f_r D_s__s_ C_ntr_l s__d M_RS _s _ v_r_l r_sp_r_t_ry _lln_ss c__s_d by _ c_r_n_v_r_s c_ll_d M_RS-C_V. _t s__d: "M_st p__pl_ wh_ h_v_ b__n c_nf_rm_d t_ h_v_ M_RS-C_V _nf_ct__n d_v_l_p_d s_v_r_ _c_t_ r_sp_r_t_ry _lln_ss. Th_y h_d _ f_v_r, c__gh, _nd sh_rtn_ss _f br__th. _b__t 30 p_r c_nt _f th_s_ p__pl_ d__d." R_s__rch_rs b_l__v_ _t w_s p_ss_d t_ h_m_ns fr_m c_m_ls _n S__d_ _r_b__. _ll _f th_ p__pl_ wh_ h_v_ c_ntr_ct_d _t h_v_ h_d v_ry cl_s_ c_nt_ct w_th _th_r s_ff_r_rs. D_ct_rs s__d _t d__s n_t p_ss fr_m p_rs_n t_ p_rs_n l_k_ _ fl_ v_r_s. __rp_rts _n th_ _.S. _r_ _dv_s_ng th_s_ tr_v_ll_ng t_ th_ M_ddl_ __st t_: "W_sh y__r h_nds _ft_n, _v__d t__ch_ng y__r f_c_, _v__d cl_s_ c_nt_ct w_th s_ck p__pl_."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the virus known as mers (middle east respiratory syndrome) has spread enough for the who (world health organisation) to say the situation is now more serious and urgent the who's assistant director-general for health security dr keiji fukuda said that the illness currently does not constitute a global health emergency but needs to be carefully monitored in case of a sudden epidemic dr fukuda said declaring an emergency is "a major act" that can unnecessarily "raise anxieties" he added that there is no "evidence of person-to-person transmissibility" the virus has so far been reported in 18 countries since surfacing in saudi arabia in 2012 there have been 571 confirmed cases and 171 deaths

the usa's center for disease control said mers is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus called mers-cov it said "most people who have been confirmed to have mers-cov infection developed severe acute respiratory illness they had a fever cough and shortness of breath about 30 per cent of these people died" researchers believe it was passed to humans from camels in saudi arabia all of the people who have contracted it have had very close contact with other sufferers doctors said it does not pass from person to person like a flu virus airports in the us are advising those travelling to the middle east to "wash your hands often avoid touching your face avoid close contact with sick people"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ThevirusknownasMERS(MiddleEastRespiratorySyndrome)hasp
readenoughfortheWHO(WorldHealthOrganisation)tosaythesitua
tionisnowmoreseriousandurgent.TheWHO'sassistantdirector-ge
neralforhealthsecurityDrKeijiFukudasaidthattheillnesscurrently
doesnotconstituteaglobalhealthemergencybutneedstobecarefull
ymonitoredincaseofasuddenepidemic.DrFukudasaiddeclaringan
emergencyis"amajoract"thatcanunnecessarily"raiseanxieties."H
eaddedthatthereisno"evidenceofperson-to-persontransmis
sibility".Thevirushassofarbeenreportedin18countriessincesurfac
inginSaudiArabiain2012.Therehavebeen571confirmedcasesand
171deaths.TheUSA'sCenterforDiseaseControlsaidMERSisaviralr
espiratoryillnesscausedbyacoronaviruscalledMERS-CoV.Itsa
id:"MostpeoplewhohavebeenconfirmedtohaveMERS-CoVinf
ectiondevelopedsevereacuterespiratoryillness.Theyhadafever,c
ough,andshortnessofbreath.About30percentofthesepeopledied.
"ResearchersbelieveitwaspassedtohumansfromcamelsinSaudiA
rabia.Allofthepeoplewhohavecontractedithavehadveryclosecont
actwithothersufferers.Doctorssaiditdoesnotpassfrompersontope
rsonlikeafluvirus.AirportsintheU.S.areadvisingthosetravellingtot
heMiddleEastto:"Washyourhandsoften,avoidtouchingyourface,a
voidclosecontactwithsickpeople."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Discuss three ways of preventing a pandemic. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 the MERS virus. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. MERS: Write a magazine article about MERS. Include imaginary interviews with doctors who are trying to find a cure for it.

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 a virologist. Ask him/her three questions about viruses. Give him/her three of your opinions on how to contain them. 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

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	spread	a.	extended
2.	urgent	b.	pressing
3.	constitute	c.	amount to
4.	anxieties	d.	worries
5.	surfacing	e.	emerging
6.	developed	f.	came down with
7.	passed	g.	transmitted
8.	advising	h.	cautioning
9.	often	i.	regularly
10.	avoid	j.	refrain from

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Syndrome
2.	Assistant director-general for health security
3.	Anxieties
4.	18
5.	171
6.	USA
7.	About 30%
8.	The camel
9.	They all had close contact with other sufferers
10.	Their faces

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

c

4.

a

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

a

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 ;-)

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English

Home | Help This Site

MERS virus spreading (17th May, 2014)

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS