Doctors say hospitals should ban perfumes

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Doctors want to ban perfumes and aftershaves in hospitals and clinics. They say these contain chemicals that cause asthma and allergies. Over half of asthma attacks are caused by strong smells, such as perfumes and aftershaves. Two doctors from McGill University wrote about the dangers of smells in hospitals. They said all hospitals should be free from artificial scents, to promote "the safety of patients, staff and visitors alike".

About one third of people say they are physically affected by smells. The doctors said this is a worry in hospitals. They said although perfumes make us smell nicer, they may harm weaker people. There is more and more proof that perfume makes asthma worse. Doctors say this is worrying in hospitals where there are many patients with asthma. They warn that perfumes and aftershaves can make patients sicker.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/11912457/Perfumes-and-aftershaves-should-be-banned-from-hospitals.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3260722/Ban-perfume-aftershave-hospitals-Doctors-complain-artificial-fragrances-triggering-patient-asthma-attacks-allergies.html
http://www.webmd.boots.com/allergies/news/20151005/call-to-ban-scents-in-hospitals

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.	Doctors want	a.	and aftershaves
2.	these contain chemicals that	b.	attacks
3.	Over half of asthma	c.	scents
4.	caused	d.	to ban perfumes
5.	perfumes	e.	of patients
6.	wrote	f.	cause asthma
7.	free from artificial	g.	by strong smells
8.	the safety	h.	about the dangers

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

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	About one	a.	asthma worse
2.	physically affected	b.	is worrying
3.	this is a worry	c.	more proof
4.	There is more and	d.	by smells
5.	perfume makes	e.	sicker
6.	Doctors say this	f.	in hospitals
7.	there are many patients	g.	third of people
8.	make patients	h.	with asthma

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Doctors (1) ___________________ perfumes and aftershaves in hospitals and clinics. They (2) ___________________ chemicals that cause asthma and allergies. Over half of asthma (3) ___________________ by strong smells, such as perfumes and aftershaves. Two doctors from McGill University (4) ___________________ dangers of smells in hospitals. They said all hospitals (5) ___________________ from artificial scents, to promote "the safety of patients, staff (6) ___________________".

About one third of people (7) ___________________ physically affected by smells. The doctors said (8) ___________________ hospitals. They said although perfumes make (9) ___________________, they may harm weaker people. There is more and (10) ___________________ perfume makes asthma worse. Doctors say (11) ___________________ hospitals where there are many patients with asthma. They warn that perfumes and aftershaves (12) ___________________ sicker.

PERFUME SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about perfume 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 perfume for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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