The Reading / Listening - Toilet-seat Lids - Level 6

Many people believe that putting the toilet-seat lid down helps to prevent the spread of dangerous germs and viruses. A recent study pretty much dispels this supposition. A team of microbiologists from the University of Arizona conducted research on the aerial activity of viral particles after a toilet is flushed. The scientists determined that there is little difference in the spread of germs, regardless of whether the lid is up or down. Microbiologist Dr Charles Gerba has been studying lavatory pathogens for nearly five decades. He said: "All that air when you flush goes somewhere, and it carries the viruses that are in the toilet bowl out of it." He said a flush forces bacteria out from under the lid and contaminates nearby areas.

The researchers tested the spread of a test virus in two bathrooms after a flush. The virus was one not able to infect humans. They flushed one bowl with the lid up, and another with the lid down. After a minute, they used a sponge to swab the surfaces in the toilet. They concluded that there were no significant statistical differences in the quantities of the virus in the two bathrooms. They added that the results "demonstrate that closing the toilet lid prior to flushing does not mitigate the risk of contaminating bathroom surfaces, and that disinfection of all restroom surfaces may be necessary after flushing or after toilet-brush use" to cut the spread of germs. They also said it was important to disinfect the water in the bowl.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Toilet-seat Lids - Level 4  or  Toilet-seat Lids - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2024/01/25/does-it-matter-if-you-flush-with-toilet-lid-up-or-down-not-really/72321820007/
  • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13011553/Does-flushing-toilet-lid-really-stop-germs-spewing-bathroom-study-says-no.html
  • https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2024/01/26/closing-toilet-lids-before-flushing-may-not-prevent-spread-of-viruses


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. TOILET LIDS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about toilet lids. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       toilet seat / germs / study / microbiologists / toilet / five decades / flush / bacteria /
       test / humans / sponge / swab / differences / bathroom surfaces / water / brush
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. COMPUTER KEYBOARDS: Students A strongly believe computer keyboards are cleaner than toilet seats; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. GERMS: How dirty are these things? What do you do to avoid their germs Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Dirty

Avoidance

Computer keyboards

 

 

Elevator buttons

 

 

Escalator handrails

 

 

Toilet seats

 

 

Remote controls

 

 

Kitchen towels

 

 
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. SEAT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "seat". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. TOILETS: Rank these with your partner. Put the places with the best toilets at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Train stations
  • McDonald's
  • Parks
  • Hospitals
  • Schools
  • Hotels
  • Convenience stores
  • Streets

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. prevent a. Despite the current circumstances.
      2. dispels b. A belief held without proof or certain knowledge; an assumption or hypothesis.
      3. supposition c. Makes a doubt, feeling, or belief disappear.
      4. aerial d. Makes something impure by exposure to or addition of a poisonous or polluting substance.
      5. regardless e. Keep something from happening.
      6. pathogens f. Existing, happening, or operating in the air.
      7. contaminates g. A bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.

    Paragraph 2

      8. flush h. Affect a person, organism, etc. with a disease-causing organism.
      9. infect i. Clearly show the existence or truth of something by giving proof or evidence.
      10. swab j. The level top of something.
      11. mitigate k. Take a specimen of tissue from a person or part of the body for examination.
      12. demonstrate l. The process of cleaning something, especially with a chemical, in order to destroy bacteria.
      13. disinfection m. Make something bad less severe, serious, or painful.
      14. surface n. An action that makes the contents put in a toilet disappear with water forcing it down the pipe.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. A study proved that putting the toilet lid down helps to kill germs.     T / F
  2. Microbiologists studied the aerial spread of germs from toilets.     T / F
  3. Dr Charles Gerba has studied pathogens for nearly half a century.     T / F
  4. A microbiologist said flushing a toilet keeps germs in the toilet bowl.     T / F
  5. Researchers studied the spread of germs in a dozen toilets.     T / F
  6. The researchers found sponges were covered in germs.     T / F
  7. The researchers suggested disinfecting the surfaces in toilets.     T / F
  8. The researchers said there was no need to disinfect water in the bowl.     T / F

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

  1. supposition
  2. conducted
  3. determined
  4. forces
  5. contaminates
  6. surfaces
  7. significant
  8. demonstrate
  9. mitigate
  10. use
  1. carried out
  2. reduce
  3. infects
  4. major
  5. show
  6. discovered
  7. utilization
  8. drives
  9. belief
  10. tops

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

  1. A recent study pretty much dispels
  2. the aerial activity of
  3. regardless of whether
  4. a flush forces bacteria out
  5. contaminates nearby
  6. The virus was one not
  7. they used a sponge to
  8. significant statistical
  9. flushing does not mitigate
  10. disinfect the
  1. areas
  2. the lid is up or down
  3. differences
  4. able to infect humans
  5. this supposition
  6. water in the bowl
  7. the risk
  8. from under the lid
  9. swab the surfaces
  10. viral particles

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
aerial
nearby
prevent
lavatory
dispels
bowl
difference
decades

Many people believe that putting the toilet-seat lid down helps to (1) _____________________ the spread of dangerous germs and viruses. A recent study pretty much (2) _____________________ this supposition. A team of microbiologists from the University of Arizona conducted research on the (3) _____________________ activity of viral particles after a toilet is flushed. The scientists determined that there is little (4) _____________________ in the spread of germs, regardless of whether the lid is up or down. Microbiologist Dr Charles Gerba has been studying (5) _____________________ pathogens for nearly five (6) _____________________. He said: "All that air when you flush goes somewhere, and it carries the viruses that are in the toilet (7) _____________________ out of it." He said a flush forces bacteria out from under the lid and contaminates (8) _____________________ areas.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
statistical
flushed
disinfection
test
prior
disinfect
sponge
cut

The researchers tested the spread of a (9) _____________________ virus in two bathrooms after a flush. The virus was one not able to infect humans. They (10) _____________________ one bowl with the lid up, and another with the lid down. After a minute, they used a (11) _____________________ to swab the surfaces in the toilet. They concluded that there were no significant (12) _____________________ differences in the quantities of the virus in the two bathrooms. They added that the results "demonstrate that closing the toilet lid (13) _____________________ to flushing does not mitigate the risk of contaminating bathroom surfaces, and that (14) _____________________ of all restroom surfaces may be necessary after flushing or after toilet-brush use" to (15) _____________________ the spread of germs. They also said it was important to (16) _____________________ the water in the bowl.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A recent study pretty much ______
     a.  expels this superstition
     b.  these spells this imposition
     c.  dispels this supposition
     d.  dispels this exposition
2)  The scientists determined that there is little difference in the ______
     a.  spread off germs
     b.  spared of gems
     c.  speed of germs
     d.  spread of germs
3)  Dr Charles Gerba has been studying lavatory pathogens for ______
     a.  nearly five decadences
     b.  nearly five decants
     c.  nearly five decades
     d.  nearby five deck aids
4)  goes somewhere, and it carries the viruses that are in ______
     a.  the toilet bowel
     b.  the toilet bowl
     c.  the toilet ball
     d.  the toilet howl
5)  He said a flush forces bacteria out from under the lid and ______
     a.  contaminates nearby arenas
     b.  contaminates nearby areas
     c.  contaminates nearby auras
     d.  contaminates nearby aerials

6)  after a flush. The virus was one not able ______
     a.  to inflect humans
     b.  to infect humans
     c.  to infest humans
     d.  to inject humans
7)  with the lid down. After a minute, they used a sponge to ______
     a.  swab the surfaces
     b.  stab the surfaces
     c.  scab the surfaces
     d.  slab the surfaces
8)  They added that the results "demonstrate that closing the toilet lid ______
     a.  pair to flushing…
     b.  peer to flushing…
     c.  priory to flushing…
     d.  prior to flushing…
9)  and that disinfection of all restroom surfaces may be ______
     a.  necessary after blushing
     b.  necessary after flashing
     c.  necessary after flushing
     d.  necessary after fishing
10)  They also said it was important to ______
     a.  disinfection the water
     b.  re-infect the water
     c.  dissing fact the water
     d.  disinfect the water

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Many people believe that putting the toilet-seat lid down (1) ____________________ the spread of dangerous germs and viruses. A recent study pretty much (2) ____________________. A team of microbiologists from the University of Arizona conducted research on the aerial activity of (3) ____________________ a toilet is flushed. The scientists determined that there is little difference in the spread of germs, (4) ____________________ the lid is up or down. Microbiologist Dr Charles Gerba has been studying lavatory pathogens for nearly five decades. He said: "All that air when you flush goes somewhere, and it carries the viruses that are in the (5) ____________________ of it." He said a flush forces bacteria out from under the lid and (6) ____________________.

The researchers tested the spread of a test virus in two bathrooms after a flush. The virus was one not (7) ____________________ humans. They flushed one bowl with the lid up, and another with the lid down. After a minute, they used a (8) ____________________ the surfaces in the toilet. They concluded that there were no significant (9) ____________________ the quantities of the virus in the two bathrooms. They added that the results "demonstrate that closing the toilet lid (10) ____________________ does not mitigate the risk of contaminating bathroom surfaces, and that (11) ____________________ restroom surfaces may be necessary after flushing or after toilet-brush use" to cut the spread of germs. They also said it was (12) ____________________ the water in the bowl.

Comprehension questions

  1. When did a study dispel a supposition about toilet seats?
  2. Where was this research conducted?
  3. What kind of activity did scientists research regarding viral particles?
  4. What has Dr Charles Gerba studied for half a century?
  5. What did a microbiologist say was contaminated after a toilet flush?
  6. How many bathrooms did researchers use in their research?
  7. What did researchers use to swab surfaces in toilets?
  8. What statistical differences did the researchers find?
  9. What might we need to disinfect after using it?
  10. What did the researchers say it was important to disinfect?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  When did a study dispel a supposition about toilet seats?
a) 1984
b) recently
c) last year
d) two years ago
2) Where was this research conducted?
a) the University of Amazonia
b) the University of Armenia
c) the University of Sanitation
d) the University of Arizona
3) What kind of activity did scientists research regarding viral particles?
a) fusion activity
b) hot activity
c) aerial activity
d) fission activity
4) What has Dr Charles Gerba studied for half a century?
a) lavatory pathogens
b) toilet bowls
c) ergonomic toilet seats
d) bathrooms
5) What did a microbiologist say was contaminated after a toilet flush?
a) toilet paper
b) nearby areas
c) the flush button
d) toilet door handles

6) How many bathrooms did researchers use in their research?
a) two
b) three
c) four
d) five
7) What did researchers use to swab surfaces in toilets?
a) cotton
b) toilet aper
c) a sponge
d) a syringe
8) What statistical differences did the researchers find?
a) no significant differences
b) huge differences
c) none at all
d) many
9) What might we need to disinfect after using it?
a) our hands
b) the toilet seat
c) toilet paper
d) a toilet brush
10) What did the researchers say it was important to disinfect?
a) everything
b) the toilet floor
c) the water in the bowl
d) the flush button

Role play

Role  A – Train Stations
You think train stations have the best toilets. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these places (and why): parks, schools or convenience stores.

Role  B – Parks
You think parks have the best toilets. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these places (and why): train stations, schools or convenience stores.

Role  C – Schools
You think schools have the best toilets. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these places (and why): parks, train stations or convenience stores.

Role  D – Convenience Stores
You think convenience stores have the best toilets. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these places (and why): parks, schools or train stations.

After reading / listening

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

'toilet'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'germs'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • study
    • activity
    • difference?
    • decades
    • air
    • areas
    • test
    • minute
    • statistical
    • prior
    • surfaces
    • important

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Toilet-seat Lids

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'toilet'?
    3. What do you think of toilet lids?
    4. What worries do you have about toilet seats?
    5. What do you think of public toilets?
    6. How germ-free is the toilet seat in your house?
    7. What do you do to avoid 'stuff' in public toilets?
    8. What do you think of putting fluffy covers on toilet seats?
    9. What do you think of bidets?
    10. Has reading this article changed your view of toilet seats?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'germs'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Should we hold our breath when we flush the toilet?
    5. What do you think of toilets in fast food restaurants?
    6. Are toilet seats cleaner than computer keyboards?
    7. How hygienic are door handles, escalator handrails and elevator buttons?
    8. What's the worst toilet you've ever been in?
    9. What do you think of the toilet in your house?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Many people (1) ____ that putting the toilet-seat lid down helps to prevent the spread of dangerous germs and (2) ____. A recent study pretty much dispels this supposition. A team of microbiologists from the University of Arizona conducted research on the (3) ____ activity of viral particles after a toilet is flushed. The scientists determined that there is (4) ____ difference in the spread of germs, regardless of whether the lid is up or down. Microbiologist Dr Charles Gerba has been studying (5) ____ pathogens for nearly five decades. He said: "All that air when you flush goes somewhere, and it carries the viruses that are in the toilet bowl out of it." He said a flush forces bacteria out from under the lid and (6) ____ nearby areas.

    The researchers tested the spread of a test virus in two bathrooms after a flush. The virus was one not able to (7) ____ humans. They flushed one bowl with the lid up, and another with the lid down. After a minute, they used a sponge to (8) ____ the surfaces in the toilet. They concluded that there were no significant statistical differences in the (9) ____ of the virus in the two bathrooms. They added that the results "demonstrate that closing the toilet lid (10) ____ to flushing does not mitigate the risk of contaminating bathroom surfaces, and that disinfection (11) ____ all restroom surfaces may be necessary after flushing or after toilet-brush use" to cut the spread of germs. They also said it was important to (12) ____ the water in the bowl.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     believing     (b)     believer     (c)     beliefs     (d)     believe    
    2. (a)     vitals     (b)     virality     (c)     virals     (d)     viruses    
    3. (a)     aerial     (b)     aerial     (c)     oral     (d)     aerology    
    4. (a)     small     (b)     few     (c)     little     (d)     tiny    
    5. (a)     lavatory     (b)     lavender     (c)     lavish     (d)     laboratory    
    6. (a)     contaminates     (b)     contributes     (c)     contents     (d)     contagious    
    7. (a)     inject     (b)     inflect     (c)     ingest     (d)     infect    
    8. (a)     swab     (b)     sway     (c)     swag     (d)     swap    
    9. (a)     queasiness     (b)     quantities     (c)     qualifies     (d)     qualities    
    10. (a)     a priori     (b)     priory     (c)     prior     (d)     priority    
    11. (a)     to     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     off    
    12. (a)     reinfect     (b)     disinfect     (c)     defect     (d)     confect

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. pretty much dispels this pspunoisoti
    2. A team of omigcotbiirsols
    3. research on the arliea activity
    4. viral pateclsir
    5. studying lavatory tpnohsage for nearly five decades
    6. taiaonsnmect nearby areas

    Paragraph 2

    1. The virus was one not able to cetnfi humans
    2. they used a sponge to awbs
    3. significant tstiaastlci differences
    4. flushing does not tmiegtai the risk
    5. all restroom cafruess
    6. fdcestini the water

    Put the text back together

    (...)   and viruses. A recent study pretty much dispels this supposition. A team of microbiologists from the University of Arizona
    (...)   to swab the surfaces in the toilet. They concluded that there were no significant statistical differences in the
    (...)   flushed. The scientists determined that there is little difference in the spread of germs, regardless of whether the lid is
    (...)   quantities of the virus in the two bathrooms. They added that the results "demonstrate that closing the toilet lid
    (...)   decades. He said: "All that air when you flush goes somewhere, and it carries the viruses that are in the toilet
    (...)   the spread of germs. They also said it was important to disinfect the water in the bowl. 
    (...)   The researchers tested the spread of a test virus in two bathrooms after a flush. The virus was one not able to infect
    (...)   bowl out of it." He said a flush forces bacteria out from under the lid and contaminates nearby areas.
    (...)   humans. They flushed one bowl with the lid up, and another with the lid down. After a minute, they used a sponge
    (  1  )   Many people believe that putting the toilet-seat lid down helps to prevent the spread of dangerous germs
    (...)   conducted research on the aerial activity of viral particles after a toilet is
    (...)   up or down. Microbiologist Dr Charles Gerba has been studying lavatory pathogens for nearly five
    (...)   prior to flushing does not mitigate the risk of contaminating bathroom surfaces, and that disinfection of all restroom
    (...)   surfaces may be necessary after flushing or after toilet-brush use" to cut

    Put the words in the right order

    1. dangerous   germs   .   the   prevent   spread   to   of   Helps
    2. recent   A   study   dispels   supposition   .   pretty   this   much
    3. There's   difference   the   little   germs   .   of   spread   in
    4. you   that   flush   when   All   air   goes   somewhere   .
    5. from   flush   the   A   bacteria   lid   .   under   forces
    6. The   two   of   in   spread   virus   bathrooms   .   a
    7. one   They   bowl   with   up   .   flushed   lid   the
    8. swab   the   sponge   surfaces   .   to   used   They   a
    9. Mitigate   surfaces   .   contaminating   bathroom   risk   the   of
    10. was   It   the   important   disinfect   water   .   to

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Many people believe that putting the toilet-seat lid down helps to prevention / prevent the spread of dangerous germs and viruses. A recent study pretty much expels / dispels this supposition. A team of microbiologists from the University of Arizona conducted research on the aerial / aural activity of viral particles after a toilet is flashed / flushed. The scientists detriment / determined that there is little difference in the / a spread of germs, regardless of whether / rather the lid is up or down. Microbiologist Dr Charles Gerba has been studying lavatory / laboratory pathogens for nearly five decades. He said: "All that air when you flush goes somewhere, and it carries the viruses that are in the toilet bowel / bowl out of it." He said a flush forces bacteria / bacterium out from under the lid and contaminates nearby areas.

    The researchers tested the spread of a vest / test virus in two bathrooms after a flush. The virus was one not able to inject / infect humans. They flushed one bowl with the lid up, and another with the lid down. After a minute, they used a sponge to squab / swab the surfaces in the toilet. They concluded that there were no significant statistically / statistical differences in the quantities / qualities of the virus in the two bathrooms. They added that the results "demonstrate that closing the toilet lid prior / priory to flushing does not mitigate the risk to / of contaminating bathroom surfaces, and that dissatisfaction / disinfection of all restroom surfaces may be necessary after flushing or prior / after toilet-brush use" to cut the spread of germs. They also said it was important to reinfect / disinfect the water in the bowl.

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

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    M_ny  p__pl_  b_l__v_  th_t  p_tt_ng  th_  t__l_t-s__t  l_d  d_wn  h_lps  t_  pr_v_nt  th_  spr__d  _f  d_ng_r__s  g_rms  _nd  v_r_s_s.  _  r_c_nt  st_dy  pr_tty  m_ch  d_sp_ls  th_s  s_pp_s_t__n.  _  t__m  _f  m_cr_b__l_g_sts  fr_m  th_  _n_v_rs_ty  _f  _r_z_n_  c_nd_ct_d  r_s__rch  _n  th_  __r__l  _ct_v_ty  _f  v_r_l  p_rt_cl_s  _ft_r  _  t__l_t  _s  fl_sh_d.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  d_t_rm_n_d  th_t  th_r_  _s  l_ttl_  d_ff_r_nc_  _n  th_  spr__d  _f  g_rms,  r_g_rdl_ss  _f  wh_th_r  th_  l_d  _s  _p  _r  d_wn.  M_cr_b__l_g_st  Dr  Ch_rl_s  G_rb_  h_s  b__n  st_dy_ng  l_v_t_ry  p_th_g_ns  f_r  n__rly  f_v_  d_c_d_s.  H_  s__d:  "_ll  th_t  __r  wh_n  y__  fl_sh  g__s  s_m_wh_r_,  _nd  _t  c_rr__s  th_  v_r_s_s  th_t  _r_  _n  th_  t__l_t  b_wl  __t  _f  _t."  H_  s__d  _  fl_sh  f_rc_s  b_ct_r__  __t  fr_m  _nd_r  th_  l_d  _nd  c_nt_m_n_t_s  n__rby  _r__s.

    Th_  r_s__rch_rs  t_st_d  th_  spr__d  _f  _  t_st  v_r_s  _n  tw_  b_thr__ms  _ft_r  _  fl_sh.  Th_  v_r_s  w_s  _n_  n_t  _bl_  t_  _nf_ct  h_m_ns.  Th_y  fl_sh_d  _n_  b_wl  w_th  th_  l_d  _p,  _nd  _n_th_r  w_th  th_  l_d  d_wn.  _ft_r  _  m_n_t_,  th_y  _s_d  _  sp_ng_  t_  sw_b  th_  s_rf_c_s  _n  th_  t__l_t.  Th_y  c_ncl_d_d  th_t  th_r_  w_r_  n_  s_gn_f_c_nt  st_t_st_c_l  d_ff_r_nc_s  _n  th_  q__nt_t__s  _f  th_  v_r_s  _n  th_  tw_  b_thr__ms.  Th_y  _dd_d  th_t  th_  r_s_lts  "d_m_nstr_t_  th_t  cl_s_ng  th_  t__l_t  l_d  pr__r  t_  fl_sh_ng  d__s  n_t  m_t_g_t_  th_  r_sk  _f  c_nt_m_n_t_ng  b_thr__m  s_rf_c_s,  _nd  th_t  d_s_nf_ct__n  _f  _ll  r_str__m  s_rf_c_s  m_y  b_  n_c_ss_ry  _ft_r  fl_sh_ng  _r  _ft_r  t__l_t-br_sh  _s_"  t_  c_t  th_  spr__d  _f  g_rms.  Th_y  _ls_  s__d  _t  w_s  _mp_rt_nt  t_  d_s_nf_ct  th_  w_t_r  _n  th_  b_wl.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    many people believe that putting the toiletseat lid down helps to prevent the spread of dangerous germs and viruses a recent study pretty much dispels this supposition a team of microbiologists from the university of arizona conducted research on the aerial activity of viral particles after a toilet is flushed the scientists determined that there is little difference in the spread of germs regardless of whether the lid is up or down microbiologist dr charles gerba has been studying lavatory pathogens for nearly five decades he said all that air when you flush goes somewhere and it carries the viruses that are in the toilet bowl out of it he said a flush forces bacteria out from under the lid and contaminates nearby areas

    the researchers tested the spread of a test virus in two bathrooms after a flush the virus was one not able to infect humans they flushed one bowl with the lid up and another with the lid down after a minute they used a sponge to swab the surfaces in the toilet they concluded that there were no significant statistical differences in the quantities of the virus in the two bathrooms they added that the results demonstrate that closing the toilet lid prior to flushing does not mitigate the risk of contaminating bathroom surfaces and that disinfection of all restroom surfaces may be necessary after flushing or after toilet brush use to cut the spread of germs they also said it was important to disinfect the water in the bowl

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Manypeoplebelievethatputtingthetoilet-seatliddownhelpstoprev
    entthespreadofdangerousgermsandviruses.Arecentstudyprettymu
    chdispelsthissupposition.AteamofmicrobiologistsfromtheUniversity
    ofArizonaconductedresearchontheaerialactivityofviralparticlesafter
    atoiletisflushed.Thescientistsdeterminedthatthereislittledifferencei
    nthespreadofgerms,regardlessofwhetherthelidisupordown.Microbi
    ologistDrCharlesGerbahasbeenstudyinglavatorypathogensfornearl
    yfivedecades.Hesaid:"Allthatairwhenyouflushgoessomewhere,andi
    tcarriesthevirusesthatareinthetoiletbowloutofit."Hesaidaflushforce
    sbacteriaoutfromunderthelidandcontaminatesnearbyareas.Therese
    archerstestedthespreadofatestvirusintwobathroomsafteraflush.Th
    eviruswasonenotabletoinfecthumans.Theyflushedonebowlwiththeli
    dup,andanotherwiththeliddown.Afteraminute,theyusedaspongetos
    wabthesurfacesinthetoilet.Theyconcludedthattherewerenosignifica
    ntstatisticaldifferencesinthequantitiesofthevirusinthetwobathroom
    s.Theyaddedthattheresults"demonstratethatclosingthetoiletlidprior
    toflushingdoesnotmitigatetheriskofcontaminatingbathroomsurface
    s,andthatdisinfectionofallrestroomsurfacesmaybenecessaryafterflu
    shingoraftertoilet-brushuse"tocutthespreadofgerms.Theyalsosaidi
    twasimportanttodisinfectthewaterinthebowl.

    Free writing

    Write about toilet-seat lids for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Toilet seats are cleaner than computer keyboards. Discuss.

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    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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. TOILET LIDS: Make a poster about toilet lids. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SELF-DISINFECTING TOILETS: Write a magazine article about laws to require all toilet lids to be self-disinfecting. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    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 toilet lids. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on toilet cleanliness. 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

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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