Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.
Lesson Info
Lesson Content
Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio
Understanding: Main Idea, True or False, Multiple Choice
Language: Words That Go Together, New Sentences
Use It: Discussion Builder, Discussion Questions
Answers
What do you think officials do when food is linked to an outbreak?
a) They investigate where the food came from.
b) They ask restaurants to change how the food is prepared.
c) They study whether the illness can spread between people.
Vocab List
Health officials in the United States say a parasite outbreak linked to lettuce has spread to four more states. It now includes nine states and is the largest known cyclospora outbreak in the country.
Nearly 2,000 cases have been linked to lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants. At least 98 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.
Cyclospora is a tiny parasite that can enter food through dirty water. It can cause stomach pain and serious diarrhea that may continue for several weeks.
Officials are trying to find where the lettuce was grown, packed, and delivered. They are also asking sick people what they ate before their symptoms began.
The investigation has focused on lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and grown in central Mexico. The company recalled the lettuce. However, Mexican officials later tested lettuce and water samples from the farm and did not find the parasite. This does not prove the lettuce was never contaminated, so investigators are still trying to discover exactly where the problem began.
The Taco Bell cases are part of a much larger rise in cyclospora illnesses. Since May, more than 4,100 cases have been confirmed across 41 states, and officials are investigating thousands more.
Lettuce Linked to Major Parasite Outbreak
What do you think officials do when food is linked to an outbreak?
a) They investigate where the food came from.
b) They ask restaurants to change how the food is prepared.
c) They study whether the illness can spread between people.
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outbreak (n.)
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parasite (n.)
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hospitalized (adj.)
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diarrhea (n.)
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symptom (n.)
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recall (v.)
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contaminated (adj.)
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investigation (n.)
Health officials in the United States say a parasite outbreak linked to lettuce has spread to four more states. It now includes nine states and is the largest known cyclospora outbreak in the country.
Nearly 2,000 cases have been linked to lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants. At least 98 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.
Cyclospora is a tiny parasite that can enter food through dirty water. It can cause stomach pain and serious diarrhea that may continue for several weeks.
Officials are trying to find where the lettuce was grown, packed, and delivered. They are also asking sick people what they ate before their symptoms began.
The investigation has focused on lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and grown in central Mexico. The company recalled the lettuce. However, Mexican officials later tested lettuce and water samples from the farm and did not find the parasite. This does not prove the lettuce was never contaminated, so investigators are still trying to discover exactly where the problem began.
The Taco Bell cases are part of a much larger rise in cyclospora illnesses. Since May, more than 4,100 cases have been confirmed across 41 states, and officials are investigating thousands more.
Main Idea
Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.
Main Idea
Choose one:
- Officials are investigating a large food-related illness outbreak. Correct answer
- A parasite can cause serious stomach problems for several weeks.
- Tests at a farm in Mexico did not find the parasite that is making people sick.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. The lettuce-linked outbreak now includes nine states. TRUEFALSE True
2. Health officials have confirmed exactly where the lettuce became contaminated. TRUEFALSE False
3. More than 4,100 cyclospora cases have been confirmed across 41 states since May. TRUEFALSE True
Multiple Choice
Answer each question by selecting A, B, or C, then click CHECK to see your results.
Multiple Choice
1. What can cyclospora cause?
a) Headaches and a cough
b) Stomach pain and serious diarrheaCorrect
c) A skin infection
2. Why are officials asking sick people what they ate?
a) To find where the contaminated food came fromCorrect
b) To decide which restaurants should serve lettuce
c) To learn how much food people usually buy
3. What happened after Taylor Farms recalled the lettuce?
a) Taco Bell stopped serving all vegetables.
b) Later tests did not find the parasite in lettuce or water samples.Correct
c) Investigators announced that the farm was not connected to the outbreak.
4. What are investigators still trying to discover?
a) Exactly where the lettuce became contaminatedCorrect
b) Whether Taco Bell served lettuce
c) How many people were hospitalized
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
Health officials in the United States say a parasite outbreak linked to lettuce has spread to four more (1) . It now includes nine states and is the largest known cyclospora outbreak in the country.
Nearly 2,000 cases have been linked to lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants. At least 98 people have been (2) , but no deaths have been reported.
Cyclospora is a tiny parasite that can enter food through dirty (3) . It can cause stomach pain and serious diarrhea that may continue for several weeks.
Officials are trying to find where the lettuce was grown, packed, and delivered. They are also asking sick people what they ate before their (4) began.
The investigation has focused on lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and grown in central Mexico. The company recalled the lettuce. However, Mexican officials later tested lettuce and water (5) from the farm and did not find the parasite. This does not prove the lettuce was never contaminated, so investigators are still trying to discover exactly where the problem began.
The Taco Bell cases are part of a much larger rise in cyclospora illnesses. Since May, more than 4,100 cases have been (6) across 41 states, and officials are investigating thousands more.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
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Words That Go Together
Drag each word to its match below, or select a word and then select its match:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Words That Go Together
Match each word with the words it goes with:
1. Spreadg) to more states
2. Linkf) an outbreak to lettuce
3. Causee) serious diarrhea
4. Recalld) a food product
5. Testc) water samples
6. Investigateb) thousands of possible cases
7. Confirma) more than 4,100 cases
a) more than 4,100 cases
b) thousands of possible cases
c) water samples
d) a food product
e) serious diarrhea
f) an outbreak to lettuce
g) to more states
New Sentences
Choose the best word for each new sentence.
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Doctors noticed an {blank} when many people in the same town became ill.
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She was {blank} for three days after becoming seriously ill.
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A high fever can be a {blank} of several different illnesses.
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The company had to {blank} the product because it might be unsafe.
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Tests showed that the drinking water had been {blank} by harmful bacteria.
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The scientist took a small water {blank} back to the laboratory.
New Sentences
contaminated / diarrhea / hospitalized / outbreak / parasite / recall / sample / symptom
- Doctors noticed an when many people in the same town became ill.
- She was for three days after becoming seriously ill.
- A high fever can be a of several different illnesses.
- The company had to the product because it might be unsafe.
- Tests showed that the drinking water had been by harmful bacteria.
- The scientist took a small water back to the laboratory.
Discussion Builder
1) Condition 2) Reason 3) Contrast
Q: Would you stop eating a food if it was linked to an outbreak? Why or why not?
A:Q: How quickly should a company recall food that may be unsafe?
A:Q: Do reports about food outbreaks make people worry too much, or do they help keep people safe?
A:
Discussion Builder
Choose the best phrase for each gap:
Q: Would you stop eating a food if it was linked to an outbreak? Why or why not?
A: I would stop eating lettuce for a while I knew an outbreak was happening near me.
although / if / but / so
I would stop eating lettuce for a while if I knew an outbreak was happening near me.
Q: How quickly should a company recall food that may be unsafe?
A: Food companies should recall a product quickly people could get ill.
because / although / but / so
Food companies should recall a product quickly because people could get ill.
Q: Do reports about food outbreaks make people worry too much, or do they help keep people safe?
A: Reports about food outbreaks can make people worried. they can also help people avoid unsafe food.
For example, / As a result, / However, / In addition,
Reports about food outbreaks can make people worried. However, they can also help people avoid unsafe food.
Discussion Questions
- Do you like lettuce in your food? What foods are good with lettuce?
- Have you ever become sick after eating something? What happened, and how long did it take you to recover?
- How do you feel about the idea of a parasite living in food?
- Would you stop eating a food if it was linked to an outbreak? Why or why not?
- Is this story likely to damage Taco Bell’s reputation? How?
- How can people find out whether food in their home has been recalled?
- How quickly should a company recall food that may be unsafe?
- Do reports about food outbreaks make people worry too much, or do they help keep people safe?
- Who should be responsible for food safety?
Discussion Questions
- Do you like lettuce in your food? What foods are good with lettuce?
- Have you ever become sick after eating something? What happened, and how long did it take you to recover?
- How do you feel about the idea of a parasite living in food?
- Would you stop eating a food if it was linked to an outbreak? Why or why not?
- Is this story likely to damage Taco Bell’s reputation? How?
- How can people find out whether food in their home has been recalled?
- How quickly should a company recall food that may be unsafe?
- Do reports about food outbreaks make people worry too much, or do they help keep people safe?
- Who should be responsible for food safety?
Answers
Listening: (1) states, (2) hospitalized, (3) water, (4) symptoms, (5) samples, (6) confirmed
Main Idea: Officials are investigating a large food-related illness outbreak.
True or False:
- True. The outbreak spread to four more states, bringing the total to nine.
- False. Investigators are still trying to discover where the problem began.
- True. The article says more than 4,100 cases have been confirmed, with thousands more under investigation.
Multiple Choice: b, a, b, a
Vocabulary:
- Spread: to more states
- Link: an outbreak to lettuce
- Cause: serious diarrhea
- Recall: a food product
- Test: water samples
- Investigate: thousands of possible cases
- Confirm: more than 4,100 cases
New Sentences: 1. outbreak; 2. hospitalized; 3. symptom; 4. recall; 5. contaminated; 6. sample
Discussion Builder:
Hints: 1) Condition. 2) Reason. 3) Contrast.
- if
- because
- However,