The Reading / Listening - Level 0

The Zika virus could become a world pandemic. It could be more serious than the Ebola virus. The WHO said four million people could get Zika. It is spreading across South and Central America very quickly. It is now a big problem. Mosquitos with the virus are spreading worldwide because of warmer weather.

The Zika virus is harming babies. It causes a disease called microcephaly. This is where babies are born with smaller heads and brain damage. Many babies were born in Brazil with microcephaly. It is difficult to find a vaccine for the Zika virus. Doctors must test it on pregnant women. This is a very difficult problem.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 1,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.cbsnews.com/news/zika-virus-infects-more-than-2100-pregnant-colombian-women/
  • http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/30/zika-virus-health-fears
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zika_virus


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.

The Zika virus could

a.

the virus

2

more serious

b.

people could get Zika

3.

four million

c.

weather

4.

Central

d.

than the Ebola virus

5.

It is now a

e.

become a world pandemic

6.

mosquitos with

f.

worldwide

7.

spreading

g.

big problem

8.

warmer

h.

America

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

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

The Zika virus is

a.

women

2

It causes a disease

b.

damage

3.

babies are born

c.

find a vaccine

4.

brain

d.

difficult problem

5.

Many babies were born

e.

harming babies

6.

It is difficult to

f.

in Brazil

7.

pregnant

g.

called microcephaly

8.

This is a very

h.

with smaller heads

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The Zika virus (1) ___________________ world pandemic. It could (2) ___________________ than the Ebola virus. The WHO said four million people (3) ___________________ Zika. It is spreading across South and Central America (4) ___________________. It is now a (5) ___________________. Mosquitos with the virus are spreading worldwide because of (6) ___________________.

The Zika virus is (7) ___________________. It causes a disease called microcephaly. This is where babies (8) ___________________ smaller heads and (9) ___________________. Many babies were born in Brazil with microcephaly. It (10) ___________________ find a vaccine for the Zika virus. Doctors must (11) ___________________ pregnant women. This (12) ___________________ difficult problem.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheZikaviruscouldbecomeaworldpandemic.Itcouldbemoreserioust
hantheEbolavirus.TheWHOsaidfourmillionpeoplecouldgetZika.Itiss
preadingacrossSouthandCentralAmericaveryquickly.Itisnowabigpr
oblem.Mosquitoswiththevirusarespreadingworldwidebecauseofwar
merweather.TheZikavirusisharmingbabies.Itcausesadiseasecalled
microcephaly.Thisiswherebabiesarebornwithsmallerheadsandbrain
damage.ManybabieswereborninBrazilwithmicrocephaly.Itisdifficult
tofindavaccinefortheZikavirus.Doctorsmusttestitonpregnantwome
n.Thisisaverydifficultproblem.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about Zika virus for 10 minutes. Read and talk about your partner’s paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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