Doubts cast on influenza medication

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Experts are questioning why money was spent on developing and stocking up on influenza drugs. Tamiflu and Relenza are prescribed by doctors to treat the flu. Governments have stockpiled the drugs in case there is an influenza epidemic. New research that looked at many clinical trials casts doubt on the effectiveness of the drugs and their manufacturers' claims. The study questions whether governments should spend money on the drugs.

The research says the drugs shorten the symptoms of influenza but there isn't enough evidence that they reduce the chances of hospitalization. Researchers said Tamiflu increased the risk of nausea and depression. The makers said the research excluded "real-world data". The research said Relenza was the same as gargling with salt water or taking pain relievers. Its maker said: "In the right patient, it can reduce the duration of flu symptoms."

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/09/tamiflu-relenza-study/7478287/
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-26954482
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/tamiflu-s-effectiveness-in-cutting-hospitalizations-questioned-1.2604783

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.	Experts are questioning	a.	on the drugs
2.	stocking up	b.	to treat the flu
3.	prescribed by doctors	c.	effectiveness of the drugs
4.	clinical	d.	why
5.	casts doubt on the	e.	trials
6.	spend money	f.	on influenza drugs

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	research says the drugs	a.	"real-world data"
2.	there isn't enough	b.	of hospitalization
3.	reduce the chances	c.	shorten the symptoms
4.	increased the risk of nausea	d.	with salt water
5.	the research excluded	e.	evidence
6.	the same as gargling	f.	and depression

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Experts are questioning (1) ___________________ on developing and stocking up on influenza drugs. Tamiflu and Relenza are prescribed by doctors (2) ___________________. Governments have stockpiled the drugs in case there is (3) ___________________. New research that looked at many clinical (4) ___________________ the effectiveness of the drugs and their manufacturers' claims. The (5) ___________________ governments should spend (6) ___________________.

The research says (7) ___________________ the symptoms of influenza but there isn't enough evidence that they (8) ___________________ hospitalization. Researchers said Tamiflu (9) ___________________ nausea and depression. The makers said the research excluded "real-world data". The research said Relenza was the (10) ___________________ with salt water or (11) ___________________. Its maker said: "In the right patient, it can reduce (12) ___________________ symptoms."

MEDICINE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about medicine 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about medicine for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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