©(AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, file)
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Why might some people be afraid to go to the doctor or hospital?
- What do you think are some good ways to stop a virus from spreading?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- sharply /SHAARP-lee/
- dairy /DAIR-ee/
- deportation /dee-pawr-TEY-shuhn/
- immigrant /IM-i-gruhnt/
- domestic /duh-MES-tik/
[adverb] – suddenly and by a large amount
Tourist visits to the island fell sharply following the volcanic eruption.
[adjective] – related to milk or products made from milk
She avoids dairy foods because of a lactose intolerance.
[noun] – the act of forcing someone to leave a country, usually for legal reasons
Fear of deportation prevents some undocumented workers from reporting abuse.
[noun] – a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country
The city has many programs to help new immigrants find jobs and housing.
[adjective] – relating to the home or to animals that are not wild
The shelter takes in domestic animals that have been abandoned.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Health officials in the United States have issued repeated warnings about the H5N1 bird flu virus, stressing the need for continued monitoring. New human cases have decreased sharply since early 2024, but experts remain concerned about the drop in testing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last confirmed human infections in February 2025. Most earlier cases were linked to dairy and poultry farmworkers. California reported 38 human cases, with no new cases after January 14. One person did not survive the virus, while most others had mild symptoms.
Officials say the lower number of cases may be due to wild bird migration patterns. However, other experts suggest that reduced testing could be hiding mild infections, especially among vulnerable groups. Some believe that fear of deportation among immigrant workers might stop people from seeking medical help. Experts are also concerned about a drop in staffing at agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, which may affect testing and reporting. Researchers from Texas A&M University and the University of Maryland are studying past exposure in dairy workers and cats. Over 120 domestic cats in the U.S. have tested positive, some of which did not survive the virus. Experts are calling for stronger surveillance to avoid missing infections and to ensure preparedness in case the virus spreads more widely in the future.
Officials say the lower number of cases may be due to wild bird migration patterns. However, other experts suggest that reduced testing could be hiding mild infections, especially among vulnerable groups. Some believe that fear of deportation among immigrant workers might stop people from seeking medical help. Experts are also concerned about a drop in staffing at agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, which may affect testing and reporting. Researchers from Texas A&M University and the University of Maryland are studying past exposure in dairy workers and cats. Over 120 domestic cats in the U.S. have tested positive, some of which did not survive the virus. Experts are calling for stronger surveillance to avoid missing infections and to ensure preparedness in case the virus spreads more widely in the future.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- When did the CDC last confirm human cases of bird flu?
- Who were most of the early human cases connected to?
- How many human cases did California report?
- What happened to most people who got the virus?
- Why might some farmworkers not go to the doctor?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever heard news about a virus before? If yes, what was it about? If not, would you like to learn more about viruses?
- Have you ever heard of a health warning from the government or school? If yes, what did they say? If not, how do you think people should respond to health warnings?
- Do you agree that it is important to keep testing for viruses, even when there are fewer cases?
- How can the government help protect both people and animals from bird flu?
- What problems might happen if there are fewer workers in health agencies? How can this affect testing or care?