Match the words (1 - 8) with their meanings (a – h): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
deadly respiratory outbreak severe tribute communicable surveillance update
a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h.
very serious able to be passed from one person to another able or likely to kill people a report containing the latest information relating to the process of breathing air in and out the careful observation of something the sudden start of a disease a speech or article in praise of another person
1. What does SARS stand for? a. Severe acute respiratory syndrome b. Strong acute respiratory syndrome c. Severe active respiratory syndrome 2. Where did SARS originate? a. South-East Asia b. Hong Kong c. Beijing 3. What is SARS? a. A bacterial infection b. A chronic illness c. A virus 4. What part of the body does SARS affect? a. The heart b. The lungs c. The brain Now look in the text and check your answers
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Doctor who identified SARS becomes its victim The doctor who identified the deadly flu-like virus that has claimed the lives of hundreds of people worldwide and infected thousands of others fell victim to the disease and died recently. Dr Carlo Urbani, who worked for the World Health Organisation in Vietnam, identified the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in an American businessman admitted to hospital in Hanoi. But the virus, which is fastmoving and creates severe breathing difficulties, also infected the Italian father of three. A tribute was paid to him by his colleague Pascale Brudon, who said: "Carlo was the one who very quickly saw that this was something strange. When people became very concerned in the hospital, he was there every day, collecting samples, talking to the staff and
strengthening infection control procedures."
chemical protection suits on the streets.
The WHO issued a statement praising Urbani, 46, an expert in communicable diseases. "Because of his early detection of SARS, global surveillance was heightened and many new cases have been identified and isolated before they infected hospital staff," the statement read. But despite the fact that the virus has been identified, it continues to spread rapidly across East Asia. The disease has so far infected thousands of people in 15 countries, and has killed hundreds. China, Hong Hong, Singapore and Vietnam are among the hardest hit. In the first weeks of the spread more than 530 cases were treated in Hong Kong. At least 60 of these came from a single building in Kowloon Bay, raising questions about the way the virus spreads.
Beijing has agreed to publish daily updates on the spread of the disease, but critics in Hong Kong say the Chinese move has come two months too late to save lives. Vital information on the virus, including the speed with which it spread in hospitals treating patients, was not initially released by China.
Hong Kong has closed schools for a million students for 10 days, but some doctors say this should be extended to a month. Normal daily life has changed beyond recognition for residents as they avoid restaurants, theatres and taking taxis, and wear face masks and even
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Dozens of medical staff were infected by the virus when it reached Hong Kong, which was infected initially by Liu Jianlun, a Guangdong doctor who arrived in February. The Guardian Weekly
Match the beginnings and endings of the sentences: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Dr Carlo Urbani died from … Dr Carlo Urbani … The fact that Dr Urbani detected SARS quickly … The fact that 60 people in a single building in Hong Kong have been infected … Although the virus has been identified … Life in Hong Kong has changed radically … The Chinese government has been criticised … The Chinese government failed …
a. …helped to save the lives of many hospital workers. b. …it has continued to spread rapidly. c. …was the first to see that there was something strange. d. …to provide information about the spread of the virus. e. …the disease that he was the first to identify. f. …has led to questions about how the disease spreads. g. …as people avoid meeting in public places. h. …for its delay in reporting the outbreak of the disease.
Fill the gaps using verbs from the text. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
At the time of writing, SARS had ____________ hundreds of lives worldwide. Thousands of people had ____________ victim to the virus. The virus ____________ severe breathing difficulties. Dr Urbani’s colleagues ____________ tribute to him. Infection control procedures have been ____________ . Global surveillance has been ____________ . The spread of the virus has ____________ a number of questions. The Chinese government has agreed to ____________ daily updates.
©Macmillan Publishers Ltd Taken from the News section in www.onestopenglish.com
Fill the gaps using prepositions. Look in the text to check your answers. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
The doctor fell victim ____________ the disease. The businessman was admitted ____________ hospital in Hanoi. He was an expert ____________ communicable diseases. The disease is spreading rapidly ____________ East Asia. Questions have been raised ____________ the way the disease spreads. Life has changed ____________ recognition. Vital information ____________ the virus was not released. Dozens of medical staff have been infected ____________ the virus.
How can a virus like SARS be prevented from spreading around the world? Will SARS have an effect on the world economy and particularly on the airline business?
©Macmillan Publishers Ltd Taken from the News section in www.onestopenglish.com
1 Key Vocabulary 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
c e g a h b f d
2 What do you know? 1. 2. 3. 4.
a a c b
3 Comprehension Check 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
e c a f b g h d
4 5 6 7 8
f b g h d
©Macmillan Publishers Ltd Taken from the News section in www.onestopenglish.com
4 Collocations 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
claimed fallen creates paid strengthened heightened raised publish
5 Prepositions 1. to 2. to 3. in 4. across 5. about 6. beyond 7. on (about) 8. by
