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Doubts cast on influenza medication (11th April, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Medical experts are questioning why so much money was spent developing and then stocking up on medications for influenza. The tablet Tamiflu and nasal spray Relenza are commonly prescribed by doctors to treat the flu. Governments have heavily stockpiled the drugs as a precaution in the event of an influenza epidemic. However, new research casts doubt on their effectiveness and on the claims made by their manufacturers. The Cochrane Collaboration, a non-profit healthcare research network, and the British Medical Journal published a report based on clinical trials of the drugs. The study questions whether governments should be spending money on the drugs.

The research says Tamiflu does what manufacturers claim in that it shortens the symptoms of influenza by half a day. However, it says there is insufficient evidence to support claims that the drug reduces the likelihood of hospitalization or serious complications. The researchers also found Tamiflu increased the risk of nausea and vomiting by up to five per cent, and could cause headaches and depression. Tamiflu's makers said the research excluded "real-world data". The research team said Relenza worked little better than gargling with salt water or taking over-the-counter pain relievers. The maker, GlaxoSmithKline, said: "When used appropriately, in the right patient, it can reduce the duration of flu symptoms."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. MEDICINE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about medicine. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

medical / experts / developing / flu / epidemic / manufacturers / healthcare / drugs / symptoms / evidence / likelihood / hospitalization / complications / gargling / symptom

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. MEDICATION: What's best to treat these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What do you do?	Why?
Flu
Headache
Muscle pain
Toothache
Vomiting
Diarrhoea

4. DRUGS: Students A strongly believe people should get a refund if drugs do not cure them; Students B strongly believe that's silly. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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. EFFECTIVE: Rank these with your partner. Put the most effective for treating colds at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• sleep

• hot-water bottle

• honey and lemon

• keeping warm

• injection

• cold tablets

• garlic

• mother's secret remedy

6. INFLUENZA: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "influenza". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	There are questions about why governments spent money on drugs.	T / F
b.	Governments bought lots of the drugs in case of a bird flu epidemic.	T / F
c.	New research suggests manufacturers claims are wrong.	T / F
d.	The British Influenza Journal published the report.	T / F
e.	Researchers found that Tamiflu reduced flu symptoms by half a day.	T / F
f.	Researchers agreed that Tamiflu helped reduce hospitalizations.	T / F
g.	A drug maker said the researchers did not look at the proper data.	T / F
h.	The researchers said gargling with salt water worked better.	T / F

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

1.	experts	a.	time span
2.	stocking up on	b.	specialists
3.	precaution	c.	tests
4.	effectiveness	d.	lessens
5.	trials	e.	safeguard
6.	insufficient	f.	left out
7.	reduces	g.	amassing
8.	likelihood	h.	usefulness
9.	excluded	i.	possibility
10.	duration	j.	not enough

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

1.	experts are questioning	a.	evidence
2.	stocking up	b.	as a precaution
3.	commonly prescribed	c.	with salt water
4.	stockpiled the drugs	d.	on medications
5.	a report based on clinical	e.	manufacturers claim
6.	Tamiflu does what	f.	and vomiting
7.	insufficient	g.	why
8.	Tamiflu increased the risk of nausea	h.	counter pain relievers
9.	worked little better than gargling	i.	by doctors
10.	over-the-	j.	trials

GAP FILL

Medical experts are questioning why so much money was spent developing and then (1) ____________ up on medications for influenza. The tablet Tamiflu and (2) ____________ spray Relenza are commonly (3) ____________ by doctors to treat the flu. Governments have heavily stockpiled the drugs as a (4) ____________ in the event of an influenza epidemic. However, new research casts (5) ____________ on their effectiveness and on the (6) ____________ made by their manufacturers. The Cochrane Collaboration, a non-profit healthcare research network, and the British Medical Journal published a report (7) ____________ on clinical (8) ____________ of the drugs. The study questions whether governments should be spending money on the drugs.

doubt
based
stocking
precaution
trials
nasal
claims
prescribed

The research says Tamiflu does what manufacturers (9) ____________ in that it shortens the symptoms of influenza by half a day. However, it says there is insufficient (10) ____________ to support claims that the drug reduces the likelihood of hospitalization or serious (11) ____________. The researchers also found Tamiflu increased the risk of nausea and (12) ____________ by up to five per cent, and could cause headaches and (13) ____________. Tamiflu's makers said the research excluded "real-world (14) ____________". The research team said Relenza worked little better than (15) ____________ with salt water or taking over-the-counter pain relievers. The maker, GlaxoSmithKline, said: "When used appropriately, in the right patient, it can reduce the (16) ____________ of flu symptoms."

depression
gargling
evidence
vomiting
claim
duration
complications
data

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	so much money was spent developing and then stocking ______
	a. up in medications b. up on medication c. up in medication d. up on medications
2)	commonly prescribed by doctors to ______
	a. treating the flu b. treat the flu c. treats the flu d. treated the flu
3)	heavily stockpiled the drugs as a precaution in the event of ______
	a. the influenza epidemic b. influenza epidemics c. and influenza epidemic d. an influenza epidemic
4)	new research casts doubt on their effectiveness and on the claims made ______
	a. by their manufacturer b. by their manufacturing c. by their manufacturers d. by their manufactured
5)	the British Medical Journal published a report based ______
	a. on clinical trials b. on clinical trails c. on clinical try-all d. on clinical trial
6)	However, it says there is insufficient evidence ______
	a. too support claims b. to support claims c. two support claims d. through support claims
7)	the drug reduces the likelihood of hospitalization ______
	a. or seriously complications b. or serious complicated c. or serious complications d. or seriously complicated
8)	The researchers also found Tamiflu increased the risk of ______
	a. nausea and vomiting b. nausea and vomit in c. naughty and vomiting d. no seer and vomiting
9)	worked little better than gargling with salt water or taking over-the-______
	a. counter pain reliever b. counters pain relievers c. counter pain relievers d. counter pained relievers
10)	in the right patient, it can reduce the duration ______
	a. of flu symptoms b. of flu symptom c. of flu symptomatic d. of flu simpletons

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Medical experts are (1) ___________________ much money was spent developing and then (2) ___________________ medications for influenza. The tablet Tamiflu and nasal spray Relenza are commonly prescribed by doctors to treat the flu. Governments (3) ___________________ the drugs as a precaution in the event of an influenza epidemic. However, new research (4) ___________________ effectiveness and on the claims made by their manufacturers. The Cochrane Collaboration, a non-profit healthcare research network, and the (5) ___________________ published a report based (6) ___________________ the drugs. The study questions whether governments should be spending money on the drugs.

The research says Tamiflu does what manufacturers claim in that it shortens the symptoms of (7) ___________________. However, it says there is insufficient (8) ___________________ claims that the drug reduces the likelihood of hospitalization or serious complications. The researchers also found Tamiflu (9) ___________________ nausea and vomiting by up to five per cent, and could cause headaches and depression. Tamiflu's makers said the research (10) ___________________. The research team said Relenza worked little better than (11) ___________________ or taking over-the-counter pain relievers. The maker, GlaxoSmithKline, said: "When used appropriately, in the right patient, it (12) ___________________ of flu symptoms."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Who is questioning the money governments spent?
2.	What kind of spray is Relenza?
3.	What is the stockpiling of the drugs a precaution against?
4.	Whose claims are in doubt regarding the drugs?
5.	What kind of trials was the report based on?
6.	How long can Tamiflu reduce influenza symptoms by?
7.	What kind of evidence supports claims of reduced hospitalizations?
8.	What goes up by 5% with taking Tamiflu?
9.	What kind of pain relievers are mentioned in the article?
10.	Who did a manufacturer say its product could help?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Who is questioning the money governments spent?	6.	How long can Tamiflu reduce influenza symptoms by?
	a) patients b) medical experts c) drugs companies d) the government		a) half a day b) a few hours c) a week d) several days
2.	What kind of spray is Relenza?	7.	What kind of evidence supports claims of reduced hospitalizations?
	a) an inflammable one b) an aerosol spray c) a handy one d) a nasal spray		a) court evidence b) forensic evidence c) insufficient evidence d) hard evidence
3.	What is the stockpiling of the drugs a precaution against?	8.	What goes up by 5% with taking Tamiflu?
	a) competition b) price rises c) an influenza epidemic d) drug-company bankruptcies		a) the risk of vomiting b) inflation c) body temperature d) share prices of the drug company
4.	Whose claims are in doubt regarding the drugs?	9.	What kind of pain relievers are mentioned in the article?
	a) manufacturers b) doctors c) patients d) pharmacists		a) generic ones b) ones that stop headaches c) ineffective ones d) over-the-counter ones
5.	What kind of trials was the report based on?	10.	Who did a manufacturer say its product could help?
	a) court trials b) clinical c) indecisive ones d) difficult ones		a) children b) adults c) the right patient d) everyone

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Sleep

You think sleep is the best remedy for influenza. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their cures. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): garlic, honey and lemon or drugs.

Role B – Garlic

You think garlic is the best remedy for influenza. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their cures. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): sleep, honey and lemon or drugs.

Role C – Honey and lemon

You think a honey and lemon mix is the best remedy for influenza. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their cures. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): garlic, sleep or drugs.

Role D – Drugs

You think a pill from the doctor is the best remedy for influenza. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their cures. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): garlic, honey and lemon or sleep.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

question

why

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:

experts
commonly
heavily
event
casts
based

shortens
likelihood
nausea
depression
little
right

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.

MEDICINE DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'medicine'?
c)	How often are you ill?
d)	What do you do as a precaution against illness?
e)	What are the symptoms of flu?
f)	Have you ever had the flu? What was it like?
g)	What do you think about what you read?
h)	Do governments do enough research before buying things?
i)	Do you believe the claims made by manufacturers about their drugs?
j)	What's the best thing to do when you have a cold?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What would you do if there was an epidemic?
c)	Have you ever taken medicine that didn't work?
d)	Is it worth taking a medicine that ends your symptoms half a day early?
e)	Does the body become less able to fight disease if we always take medicine?
f)	What good does gargling do?
g)	Should governments ask the drug companies for a refund?
h)	Do you think over-the-counter medicine works well?
i)	Is medicine too expensive?
j)	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)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Medical experts are questioning why (1) ____ much money was spent developing and then stocking up on medications for influenza. The tablet Tamiflu and nasal spray Relenza are (2) ____ prescribed by doctors to treat the flu. Governments have heavily stockpiled the drugs (3) ____ a precaution in the event of an influenza epidemic. However, new research casts doubt (4) ____ their effectiveness and on the claims made by their manufacturers. The Cochrane Collaboration, a non-profit healthcare research network, and the British Medical Journal published a report based on clinical (5) ____ of the drugs. The study questions (6) ____ governments should be spending money on the drugs.

The research says Tamiflu does what manufacturers claim (7) ____ that it shortens the symptoms of influenza by half a day. However, it says there is insufficient evidence to support claims that the drug reduces the (8) ____ of hospitalization or serious complications. The researchers also found Tamiflu increased the risk of nausea and (9) ____ by up to five per cent, and could cause headaches and depression. Tamiflu's makers said the research (10) ____ "real-world data". The research team said Relenza worked little better than (11) ____ with salt water or taking over-the-counter pain relievers. The maker, GlaxoSmithKline, said: "When used appropriately, in the right patient, it can reduce the (12) ____ of flu symptoms."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	so	(b)	as	(c)	that	(d)	big
2.	(a)	common	(b)	commoner	(c)	commonly	(d)	commons
3.	(a)	was	(b)	is	(c)	as	(d)	has
4.	(a)	in	(b)	of	(c)	to	(d)	on
5.	(a)	trials	(b)	trails	(c)	rituals	(d)	retails
6.	(a)	or	(b)	whether	(c)	otherwise	(d)	which
7.	(a)	by	(b)	as	(c)	on	(d)	in
8.	(a)	livelihood	(b)	likelihood	(c)	lively	(d)	liking
9.	(a)	vomits	(b)	vomited	(c)	vomiting	(d)	vomit
10.	(a)	banned	(b)	blackballed	(c)	banished	(d)	excluded
11.	(a)	giggling	(b)	juggling	(c)	gagging	(d)	gargling
12.	(a)	diction	(b)	detention	(c)	direction	(d)	duration

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	Medical xprstee
2.	stocking up on instcioaemd for influenza
3.	commonly rdcbspeire by doctors
4.	in the event of an influenza ipcmeide
5.	casts doubt on their iceneesefsfvt
6.	based on ianlclic trials
Paragraph 2
7.	it shortens the msostmyp of influenza
8.	there is insufficient nviceeed to support claims
9.	serious smptnclcoaioi
10.	increased the risk of asneua and vomiting
11.	taking over-the-counter pain seerelvri
12.	When used rplioatpypare …

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	relievers. The maker, GlaxoSmithKline, said: "When used appropriately, in the right patient, it can reduce the duration of flu symptoms."
( )	precaution in the event of an influenza epidemic. However, new research casts doubt
( )	symptoms of influenza by half a day. However, it says there is insufficient evidence to support
( )	The research says Tamiflu does what manufacturers claim in that it shortens the
( )	prescribed by doctors to treat the flu. Governments have heavily stockpiled the drugs as a
( )	up on medications for influenza. The tablet Tamiflu and nasal spray Relenza are commonly
( )	depression. Tamiflu's makers said the research excluded "real-world data". The research
( )	on their effectiveness and on the claims made by their manufacturers. The Cochrane Collaboration, a non-
( )	profit healthcare research network, and the British Medical Journal published a report based on clinical
( )	trials of the drugs. The study questions whether governments should be spending money on the drugs.
( )	the risk of nausea and vomiting by up to five per cent, and could cause headaches and
( 1 )	Medical experts are questioning why so much money was spent developing and then stocking
( )	team said Relenza worked little better than gargling with salt water or taking over-the-counter pain
( )	claims that the drug reduces the likelihood of hospitalization or serious complications. The researchers also found Tamiflu increased

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	questioning much spent are so was Experts why money.
2.	by the prescribed treat Commonly to doctors flu.
3.	an in of epidemic precaution event influenza A the.
4.	their on doubt casts research New effectiveness.
5.	drugs report clinical the A on of based trials.
6.	symptoms of influenza by half a day It shortens the.
7.	likelihood the reduces drug The hospitalization of.
8.	excluded "real-world . Makers said the research data"
9.	Relenza better with little gargling water worked than salt.
10.	duration It of can flu reduce symptoms the.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Medical experts are questioning why so much money was spent developing and then stocking out / up on medications for influenza. The tablet Tamiflu and nasal / naval spray Relenza are commonly proscribed / prescribed by doctors to treat the flu. Governments have heavy / heavily stockpiled the drugs as a precaution / precautionary in the event of an influenza epidemic. However, new research casts / cast doubt on their effectiveness and on the claims made by / at their manufacturers. The Cochrane Collaboration, a non-profit healthcare research / researched network, and the British Medical Journal published a report based in / on clinical trials of the drugs. The study questions whether governments should be spending / spent money on the drugs.

The research says Tamiflu does what manufacturing / manufacturers claim in that it shortens the symptomatic / symptoms of influenza by half a day. However, it says there is insufficient providence / evidence to support claims that the drug reduces the livelihood / likelihood of hospitalization or serious complications. The researchers also found Tamiflu increased the risky / risk of nausea and vomiting by up / as to five per cent, and could cause headaches and depressing / depression. Tamiflu's makers said the research excluded "real-world data". The research team said Relenza worked little better / well than gargling with salt water or taking over-the-counter pain relievers / reliefs. The maker, GlaxoSmithKline, said: "When used appropriately, in the right patient, it can deduce / reduce the duration of flu symptoms."

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

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

M_d_c_l _xp_rts _r_ q__st__n_ng why s_ m_ch m_n_y w_s sp_nt d_v_l_p_ng _nd th_n st_ck_ng _p _n m_d_c_t__ns f_r _nfl__nz_. Th_ t_bl_t T_m_fl_ _nd n_s_l spr_y R_l_nz_ _r_ c_mm_nly pr_scr_b_d by d_ct_rs t_ tr__t th_ fl_. G_v_rnm_nts h_v_ h__v_ly st_ckp_l_d th_ dr_gs _s _ pr_c__t__n _n th_ _v_nt _f _n _nfl__nz_ _p_d_m_c. H_w_v_r, n_w r_s__rch c_sts d__bt _n th__r _ff_ct_v_n_ss _nd _n th_ cl__ms m_d_ by th__r m_n_f_ct_r_rs. Th_ C_chr_n_ C_ll_b_r_t__n, _ n_n-pr_f_t h__lthc_r_ r_s__rch n_tw_rk, _nd th_ Br_t_sh M_d_c_l J__rn_l p_bl_sh_d _ r_p_rt b_s_d _n cl_n_c_l tr__ls _f th_ dr_gs. Th_ st_dy q__st__ns wh_th_r g_v_rnm_nts sh__ld b_ sp_nd_ng m_n_y _n th_ dr_gs.

Th_ r_s__rch s_ys T_m_fl_ d__s wh_t m_n_f_ct_r_rs cl__m _n th_t _t sh_rt_ns th_ sympt_ms _f _nfl__nz_ by h_lf _ d_y. H_w_v_r, _t s_ys th_r_ _s _ns_ff_c__nt _v_d_nc_ t_ s_pp_rt cl__ms th_t th_ dr_g r_d_c_s th_ l_k_l_h__d _f h_sp_t_l_z_t__n _r s_r___s c_mpl_c_t__ns. Th_ r_s__rch_rs _ls_ f__nd T_m_fl_ _ncr__s_d th_ r_sk _f n__s__ _nd v_m_t_ng by _p t_ f_v_ p_r c_nt, _nd c__ld c__s_ h__d_ch_s _nd d_pr_ss__n. T_m_fl_'s m_k_rs s__d th_ r_s__rch _xcl_d_d "r__l-w_rld d_t_". Th_ r_s__rch t__m s__d R_l_nz_ w_rk_d l_ttl_ b_tt_r th_n g_rgl_ng w_th s_lt w_t_r _r t_k_ng _v_r-th_-c__nt_r p__n r_l__v_rs. Th_ m_k_r, Gl_x_Sm_thKl_n_, s__d: "Wh_n _s_d _ppr_pr__t_ly, _n th_ r_ght p_t__nt, _t c_n r_d_c_ th_ d_r_t__n _f fl_ sympt_ms."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

medical experts are questioning why so much money was spent developing and then stocking up on medications for influenza the tablet tamiflu and nasal spray relenza are commonly prescribed by doctors to treat the flu governments have heavily stockpiled the drugs as a precaution in the event of an influenza epidemic however new research casts doubt on their effectiveness and on the claims made by their manufacturers the cochrane collaboration a non-profit healthcare research network and the british medical journal published a report based on clinical trials of the drugs the study questions whether governments should be spending money on the drugs

the research says tamiflu does what manufacturers claim in that it shortens the symptoms of influenza by half a day however it says there is insufficient evidence to support claims that the drug reduces the likelihood of hospitalization or serious complications the researchers also found tamiflu increased the risk of nausea and vomiting by up to five per cent and could cause headaches and depression tamiflu's makers said the research excluded "real-world data" the research team said relenza worked little better than gargling with salt water or taking over-the-counter pain relievers the maker glaxosmithkline said "when used appropriately in the right patient it can reduce the duration of flu symptoms"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Medicalexpertsarequestioningwhysomuchmoneywasspentdevelo
pingandthenstockinguponmedicationsforinfluenza.ThetabletTam
ifluandnasalsprayRelenzaarecommonlyprescribedbydoctorstotre
attheflu.Governmentshaveheavilystockpiledthedrugsasaprecauti
onintheeventofaninfluenzaepidemic.However,newresearchcasts
doubtontheireffectivenessandontheclaimsmadebytheirmanufact
urers.TheCochraneCollaboration,anon-profithealthcareresearch
network,andtheBritishMedicalJournalpublishedareportbasedoncli
nicaltrialsofthedrugs.Thestudyquestionswhethergovernmentssh
ouldbespendingmoneyonthedrugs.TheresearchsaysTamifludoes
whatmanufacturersclaiminthatitshortensthesymptomsofinfluenz
abyhalfaday.However,itsaysthereisinsufficientevidencetosupport
claimsthatthedrugreducesthelikelihoodofhospitalizationorserious
complications.TheresearchersalsofoundTamifluincreasedtherisko
fnauseaandvomitingbyuptofivepercent,andcouldcauseheadaches
anddepression.Tamiflu'smakerssaidtheresearchexcluded"real-
worlddata".TheresearchteamsaidRelenzaworkedlittlebetterthang
arglingwithsaltwaterortakingover-the-counterpainrelieve
rs.Themaker,GlaxoSmithKline,said:"Whenusedappropriately,int
herightpatient,itcanreducethedurationofflusymptoms."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

If a drug doesn't make someone better, the patient should get a refund. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 influenza. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. EPIDEMICS: Make a poster about epidemics. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. DRUGS: Write a magazine article about governments spending money on influenza drugs. 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 a medical expert. Ask him/her three questions about influenza. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to avoid catching it. 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...

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

F

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	experts	a.	specialists
2.	stocking up on	b.	amassing
3.	precaution	c.	safeguard
4.	effectiveness	d.	usefulness
5.	trials	e.	tests
6.	insufficient	f.	not enough
7.	reduces	g.	lessens
8.	likelihood	h.	possibility
9.	excluded	i.	left out
10.	duration	j.	time span

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Medical experts
2.	A nasal spray
3.	An influenza epidemic
4.	Manufacturers' claims
5.	Clinical trials
6.	Half a day
7.	Insufficient evidence
8.	The risk of nausea and vomiting
9.	Over-the-counter ones
10.	The "right patient"

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

c

4.

a

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

d

10.

c

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Doubts cast on influenza medication (11th April, 2014)

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