ENS

Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.

Lesson Info

Type
Article
Level
3 / B1
Published
Title
Spring Allergies Are Getting Worse
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-04-16-spring-allergies/

Lesson Content

Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio

Understanding: Main Idea, True or False, Multiple Choice

Language: Words That Go Together

Use It: Discussion Builder, Sentence Unscramble, Discussion Questions

Answers

Think Ahead: Which advice does this story give about allergy medicine?

a) Take medicine only when you feel very sick.

b) Ask a doctor to test you for allergies first.

c) Start taking medicine two weeks before your symptoms begin.

A person in a spring park wipes their nose with a tissue, looking tired and uncomfortable from seasonal allergies, with blooming trees and soft sunlight in the background.
Spring brings allergies.

Ask: (1) Do you enjoy spring? What do you like or dislike about it? (2) What makes people sneeze?

Vocab List

allergy (n.) — A reaction your body has to something like pollen, causing sneezing or itchy eyes.
sneeze (v.) — To suddenly push air out of your nose and mouth, often because of pollen or illness.
pollen (n.) — A fine powder made by plants that travels through the air and can cause allergies.
itchy (adj.) — Describing a feeling that makes you want to scratch, often in the eyes or skin.
intense (adj.) — Very strong or serious.
runny (adj.) — Wet and dripping; a runny nose produces a liquid because of an allergy or cold.
symptom (n.) — A sign that shows you are sick, like sneezing or a runny nose.
filter (n.) — A device that removes unwanted things, like dust or pollen, from the air.
over-the-counter (adj.) — Medicine you can buy at a shop without a prescription from a doctor.
Reading

If your spring allergies feel worse than before, you are not alone. According to allergy experts in the United States, climate change is making pollen seasons longer and more intense. This means more people are suffering from sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny nose every spring.

As temperatures rise, plants start releasing pollen earlier in the year and continue longer into the fall. Some parts of the country now have pollen in the air almost all year round. The result is that allergy symptoms are starting sooner and lasting longer for millions of people.

However, there are practical steps you can take to reduce your symptoms. Try to check the pollen count in your area and stay indoors when levels are high. Keep your windows closed at home and in your car, and use an air filter if you have one. When you come inside, remove your shoes and change your clothes so you do not bring pollen in with you.

Over-the-counter medicine can also help. Some doctors even suggest taking medicine two weeks before your symptoms start. That way, it is already working when the pollen arrives. If your symptoms are very bad, a doctor can recommend stronger treatment options.

Spring Allergies Are Getting Worse

Level 3 Article Source: healthline.com
Warm-up → or → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

A person in a spring park wipes their nose with a tissue, looking tired and uncomfortable from seasonal allergies, with blooming trees and soft sunlight in the background.
Spring brings allergies.

If your spring allergies feel worse than before, you are not alone. According to allergy experts in the United States, climate change is making pollen seasons longer and more intense. This means more people are suffering from sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny nose every spring.

As temperatures rise, plants start releasing pollen earlier in the year and continue longer into the fall. Some parts of the country now have pollen in the air almost all year round. The result is that allergy symptoms are starting sooner and lasting longer for millions of people.

However, there are practical steps you can take to reduce your symptoms. Try to check the pollen count in your area and stay indoors when levels are high. Keep your windows closed at home and in your car, and use an air filter if you have one. When you come inside, remove your shoes and change your clothes so you do not bring pollen in with you.

Over-the-counter medicine can also help. Some doctors even suggest taking medicine two weeks before your symptoms start. That way, it is already working when the pollen arrives. If your symptoms are very bad, a doctor can recommend stronger treatment options.

Speaker: American Female  Duration: 1:18  YouTube

Listen Closely

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

If your spring allergies feel worse than before, you are not (1) . According to allergy experts in the United States, climate change is making pollen seasons longer and more (2) . This means more people are suffering from sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny nose every spring.

As temperatures rise, plants start releasing pollen earlier in the year and continue longer into the (3) . Some parts of the country now have pollen in the air almost all year round. The result is that allergy symptoms are starting sooner and lasting longer for millions of people.

However, there are practical steps you can take to reduce your symptoms. Try to check the pollen count in your area and stay indoors when levels are high. Keep your windows closed at home and in your car, and use an air (4) if you have one. When you come inside, remove your shoes and change your clothes so you do not bring pollen in with you.

Over-the-counter medicine can also help. Some doctors even suggest taking medicine two weeks before your (5) start. That way, it is already working when the pollen arrives. If your symptoms are very bad, a doctor can recommend stronger (6) options.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Loading listening activity...

Discussion Builder

  1. Q: What practical steps from the article are easiest to follow?

    A:

  2. Q: Have you noticed the effects of climate change? How is your environment different?

    A:

  3. Q: What do you do when you feel sick? Do you see a doctor or take some over-the-counter medicine?

    A:
Use It

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Q: What practical steps from the article are easiest to follow?

    A: I usually keep my windows closed in spring the pollen count is too high outside.

    so / because / but / and

    I usually keep my windows closed in spring because the pollen count is too high outside.

  2. Q: Have you noticed the effects of climate change? How is your environment different?

    A: Yes, I have noticed that summers feel hotter, the pollen season lasts longer.

    and / but / because / so

    Yes, I have noticed that summers feel hotter, and the pollen season lasts longer.

  3. Q: What do you do when you feel sick? Do you see a doctor or take some over-the-counter medicine?

    A: When I feel sick, I usually take medicine first, I see a doctor if I do not get better.

    but / because / unless / if

    When I feel sick, I usually take medicine first, but I see a doctor if I do not get better.

Sentence Unscramble

Sentence Unscramble

  1. A. in my country, B. the pollen C. I think D. but E. spring is really beautiful F. can be a big problem.

    I think spring is really beautiful in my country, but the pollen can be a big problem.

  2. A. I usually B. more sleep. C. try to get D. When I start to feel sick, E. and F. take some medicine

    When I start to feel sick, I usually take some medicine and try to get more sleep.

  3. A. I have never B. before going outside, C. I always check D. about pollen levels. E. but F. the weather G. really thought

    I always check the weather before going outside, but I have never really thought about pollen levels.

Discussion Questions
  1. What are spring allergies? Have you experienced them?
  2. Have you noticed the effects of climate change? How is your environment different?
  3. How does the environment in your country change between seasons?
  4. What practical steps from the article are easiest to follow?
  5. Do you usually check the weather before going outside? What about other conditions like air quality?
  6. Do you pay attention to air quality where you live? Is it something people talk about in your country?
  7. Do you like being indoors or outdoors better? Why?
  8. What habits help you stay healthy during seasonal changes?
  9. What do you do when you feel sick? Do you see a doctor or take some over-the-counter medicine?

Discussion Questions

  1. What are spring allergies? Have you experienced them?
  2. Have you noticed the effects of climate change? How is your environment different?
  3. How does the environment in your country change between seasons?
  4. What practical steps from the article are easiest to follow?
  5. Do you usually check the weather before going outside? What about other conditions like air quality?
  6. Do you pay attention to air quality where you live? Is it something people talk about in your country?
  7. Do you like being indoors or outdoors better? Why?
  8. What habits help you stay healthy during seasonal changes?
  9. What do you do when you feel sick? Do you see a doctor or take some over-the-counter medicine?

Answers Spring Allergies Are Getting Worse / Level 3

Listening: (1) alone, (2) intense, (3) fall, (4) filter, (5) symptoms, (6) treatment

Main Idea: Spring allergies are getting worse, but there are ways to reduce your symptoms.

True or False:

  1. True. The article says "allergy experts in the United States" confirm that climate change is making pollen seasons longer and more intense.
  2. True. The article says some parts of the country now have pollen "almost all year round."
  3. False. The article says to keep your windows closed at home and in your car, not open.
  4. False. The article says a doctor can recommend stronger treatment options if your symptoms are very bad, not only if you take medicine early.

Multiple Choice: b, b, b, c

Vocabulary:

  1. Suffer from: itchy eyes
  2. Take: medicine
  3. Release: pollen
  1. Stay: indoors
  2. Remove: your shoes
  3. Recommend: treatment

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Giving a reason. 2) Addition. 3) Contrast.

  1. because
  2. and
  3. but

Sentence Unscramble:

  1. I think spring is really beautiful in my country, but the pollen can be a big problem.
  2. When I start to feel sick, I usually take some medicine and try to get more sleep.
  3. I always check the weather before going outside, but I have never really thought about pollen levels.

eslnewsstories.com