The Reading / Listening - Level 1

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the Zika virus could become a global pandemic. The outbreak could be more serious than the Ebola virus, which killed over 11,000 people. The WHO said Zika could affect four million people. It is spreading across South and Central America. The WHO warned that Zika is spreading at high speed. It is now a serious threat. The mosquito that carries the virus is spreading worldwide because of warmer weather.

The Zika virus is increasing birth defects in South America. It causes a disease called microcephaly. This is where babies are born with a smaller head and brain damage. Around 4,000 babies were born in Brazil with microcephaly last year. In 2014, there were just 150 cases. In Colombia, 2,100 pregnant women have the virus. It is difficult to find a vaccine for the Zika virus. Doctors must test a vaccine on pregnant women. This would be a very difficult problem.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.cbsnews.com/news/zika-virus-infects-more-than-2100-pregnant-colombian-women/
  • http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/30/zika-virus-health-fears
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zika_virus


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.

the Zika virus could

a.

high speed

2

The outbreak could be more serious

b.

people

3.

affect four million

c.

America

4.

Central

d.

weather

5.

Zika is spreading at

e.

than the Ebola virus

6.

It is now a serious

f.

worldwide

7.

spreading

g.

threat

8.

warmer

h.

become a global pandemic


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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

birth

a.

with a smaller head

2

It causes a disease called

b.

vaccine

3.

babies are born

c.

difficult problem

4.

brain

d.

women

5.

Around 4,000 babies were

e.

defects

6.

Doctors must test a

f.

born in Brazil

7.

pregnant

g.

microcephaly

8.

This would be a very

h.

damage

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the Zika virus could (1) ___________________ pandemic. The outbreak could be more (2) ___________________ Ebola virus, which killed over 11,000 people. The WHO said Zika (3) ___________________ million people. It is (4) ___________________ South and Central America. The WHO warned that Zika is spreading at high speed. It is now (5) ___________________. The mosquito that carries the virus is spreading worldwide because of (6) ___________________.

The Zika virus is increasing (7) ___________________ in South America. It causes (8) ___________________ microcephaly. This is where babies are born with a smaller head and brain damage. Around 4,000 babies (9) ___________________ Brazil with microcephaly last year. In 2014, (10) ___________________ 150 cases. In Colombia, 2,100 pregnant women (11) ___________________. It is difficult to find a vaccine for the Zika virus. Doctors must test a vaccine on pregnant women. This would (12) ___________________ difficult problem.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheWorldHealthOrganisation(WHO)saidtheZikaviruscouldbecomea
globalpandemic.TheoutbreakcouldbemoreseriousthantheEbolaviru
s,whichkilledover11,000people.TheWHOsaidZikacouldaffectfourmil
lionpeople.ItisspreadingacrossSouthandCentralAmerica.TheWHOw
arnedthatZikaisspreadingathighspeed.Itisnowaseriousthreat.Them
osquitothatcarriesthevirusisspreadingworldwidebecauseofwarmer
weather.TheZikavirusisincreasingbirthdefectsinSouthAmerica.Itca
usesadiseasecalledmicrocephaly.Thisiswherebabiesarebornwithas
mallerheadandbraindamage.Around4,000babieswereborninBrazilw
ithmicrocephalylastyear.In2014,therewerejust150cases.InColombi
a,2,100pregnantwomenhavethevirus.Itisdifficulttofindavaccinefort
heZikavirus.Doctorsmusttestavaccineonpregnantwomen.Thiswoul
dbeaverydifficultproblem.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

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d)

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e)

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f)

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g)

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h)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

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h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

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

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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