EnglishClub

Pre-listening vocabulary

• influenza: a type of lung infection caused by a virus
• pandemic: a global outbreak of disease
• neutral: not involved in either side of a conflict
• deadly: dangerous, possibly fatal
• quarantine: a time when someone stays alone in their home to avoid spreading disease
• track: to monitor the location or path of something

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:22 — 1.3MB)

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Gapfill exercise

The Spanish flu was a 1918 influenza pandemic that infected nearly one third of the world’s . The virus that caused the pandemic was unusual, because it mainly caused serious illness in young and people. Despite the name of the disease, this flu virus did not actually come from Spain. Spain was a neutral country during World War I, and Spanish newspapers were simply the first to start on the pandemic. As the situation got worse, more countries began to realize how deadly the new virus was. To prevent the spread of the disease, people spent time in quarantine and wore face . However, there was very limited back then. Tracking the spread of the virus was very difficult, and there was no way to treat the disease. Between 1918 and 1920, about 50 million people died from the Spanish flu, and it is now known as one of the worst pandemics in history.

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”20104″]

Discussion/essay questions

1. The article says that the 1918 flu virus was difficult to control because of the limited technology. How would this pandemic be different if they had the technology that we have today?
2. Compare the 1918 flu pandemic with the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. What is similar about the methods of disease control? What is different?

Transcript

The Spanish flu was a 1918 influenza pandemic that infected nearly one third of the world’s population. The virus that caused the pandemic was unusual, because it mainly caused serious illness in young and healthy people. Despite the name of the disease, this flu virus did not actually come from Spain. Spain was a neutral country during World War I, and Spanish newspapers were simply the first to start reporting on the pandemic. As the situation got worse, more countries began to realize how deadly the new virus was. To prevent the spread of the disease, people spent time in quarantine and wore face masks. However, there was very limited technology back then. Tracking the spread of the virus was very difficult, and there was no way to treat the disease. Between 1918 and 1920, about 50 million people died from the Spanish flu, and it is now known as one of the worst pandemics in history. 

Further Reading

• PANdemics and Other PANs

Pre-listening vocabulary

• hygiene: practices used for keeping oneself clean
• eliminate: to remove or destroy something
• adhere: to stick or attach to something
• friction: the resistance of objects rubbing against each other
• transfer: to move an object from one place to another
• professional: a person who works in a specific field

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:26 — 1.3MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | More

Gapfill exercise

Washing hands is common practice for maintaining good hygiene and disease. However, show that many people still don’t wash their hands properly. Rinsing with water is not enough to eliminate viruses. This is because viruses can adhere to skin, and the friction caused by rubbing hands together is not always enough to them. The molecules in hand soap are able to break the virus away from the skin. These molecules can then kill the virus by breaking the bonds that hold it together. It is recommended that people wash their hands for over twenty seconds with soap and water. Drying hands is also important, because wet hands can transfer bacteria to more easily than dry hands. Some people use hand sanitizer instead of soap to prevent disease. While hand sanitizer can be against bacteria and viruses, medical professionals agree that it is not quite as effective as soap and water.

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”19321″]

Discussion/essay questions

1. Hand washing is one measure you can take to prevent infection from COVID-19. What other precautions are you taking to protect yourself?

Transcript

Washing hands is common practice for maintaining good hygiene and preventing disease. However, studies show that many people still don’t wash their hands properly. Rinsing with water is not enough to eliminate viruses. This is because viruses can adhere to skin, and the friction caused by rubbing hands together is not always enough to remove them. The molecules in hand soap are able to break the virus away from the skin. These molecules can then kill the virus by breaking the bonds that hold it together. It is recommended that people wash their hands for over twenty seconds with soap and water. Drying hands is also important, because wet hands can transfer bacteria to surfaces more easily than dry hands. Some people use hand sanitizer instead of soap to prevent disease. While hand sanitizer can be effective against bacteria and viruses, medical professionals agree that it is not quite as effective as soap and water.