The Reading / Listening - Level 5

Scientists are getting closer to developing a vaccine that will give life-long protection against influenza. This is good news for millions of people around the world who go to the doctor for their annual flu jab. Two research teams tested new drugs on animals and both had promising results. Trials will soon begin on humans to test the new vaccine. A flu expert told the BBC that: "This is a leap forward compared to anything done recently. They have good animal data, not just in mice but in ferrets and monkeys too." He added that: "It's a very good stepping stone."

Influenza kills up to half a million people every year. Finding a vaccine is difficult because the virus is always changing. Doctors have to guess which types of the virus are likely to cause the most infections, and then create a new version of the vaccine to fight it. The success rate of most flu vaccines is very low because there is so much guesswork. Vaccines in the U.S. reduced the risk of catching flu by just 23 per cent last year. The website Inverse.com said the research could help create vaccines for, "other viruses that mutate rapidly, like HIV or the common cold".

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34038808
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3209469/Scientists-one-step-closer-creating-universal-flu-vaccine-New-jab-protect-against-strains-virus.html
  • https://www.inverse.com/article/5587-could-we-get-a-universal-flu-vaccine


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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

closer to developing

a.

jab

2.

give life-long protection

b.

on humans

3.

flu

c.

recently

4.

Trials will soon begin

d.

against influenza

5.

A flu

e.

stone

6.

This is a leap

f.

a vaccine

7.

compared to anything done

g.

forward

8.

It's a very good stepping

h.

expert



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

1.

Influenza kills up to half

a.

changing

2.

Finding a vaccine

b.

a million people

3.

the virus is always

c.

rapidly

4.

Doctors have to guess

d.

most infections

5.

likely to cause the

e.

is difficult

6.

create a new version

f.

much guesswork

7.

there is so

g.

of the vaccine

8.

mutate

h.

which types

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Scientists are (1) ___________________ developing a vaccine that will give life-long protection against influenza. This (2) ___________________ millions of people around the world (3) ___________________ doctor for their annual flu jab. Two research teams tested new drugs on animals and both had promising results. Trials (4) ___________________ humans to test the new vaccine. A flu expert told the BBC that: "This is a leap forward (5) ___________________ done recently. They have good animal data, not just in mice but in ferrets and monkeys too." He added that: "It's (6) ___________________ stone."

Influenza (7) ___________________ a million people every year. Finding a vaccine is difficult because (8) ___________________ changing. Doctors have to guess which types of the virus are (9) ___________________ the most infections, and then create a new version of the vaccine to fight it. The success rate of (10) ___________________ is very low because there is so much guesswork. Vaccines in the U.S. (11) ___________________ of catching flu by just 23 per cent last year. The website Inverse.com said the research could help create vaccines for, "other (12) ___________________ rapidly, like HIV or the common cold".

INFLUENZA SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about influenza 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.

 

 

 

 

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

 

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about influenza for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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