Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. respiratory
    • ex. Smoking can cause serious respiratory problems, such as lung disease.
  2. spread
    • ex. The flu virus can spread quickly in busy places, making it easier for people to catch it from one another.
  3. a cough
    • ex. Emma drank some warm tea to help with her bad cough.
  4. a complication
    • ex. If you do not treat the flu properly, it can lead to a complication like pneumonia.
  5. diarrhea
    • ex. After eating some bad food, Tim had diarrhea and felt very sick.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Measles is not seen much in the United States today. However, some Americans are worried about it because cases are increasing in some parts of West Texas. Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus. The virus easily spreads when a sick person breathes or sneezes. It usually affects children.

Scott Weaver from the Global Virus Network said that one sick person may spread the virus to about 15 other people. The disease starts in the respiratory area and can spread throughout the body. It causes a high fever, cough, red eyes, and red spots on the skin. Though measles usually isn’t deadly, it can lead to complications like ear problems and diarrhea.

How can a person prevent measles? The best way to avoid it is to get the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. According to Weaver, this vaccine has been very successful in controlling measles. Before it became available, most people had the disease, but not anymore. Experts say that the first shot should be given to children between 12 and 15 months old. Then, the second shot should be given between 4 and 6 years old.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

When a Virus Spreads

  • In your country, what was the last virus/disease that affected a lot of people (ex. coronavirus, dengue fever)? Discuss.
  • Do you think measles is a threat in your country? Why do you think so? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, what should be done to prevent measles from spreading in a community? Discuss.

Vaccine

  • In your opinion, are vaccines important for public health? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, how can the health department encourage people to get vaccines? Discuss.
  • Imagine that measles is spreading quickly in your country. Would you get a vaccine? Why or why not? Discuss.