©USDA Agricultural Research Service via AP
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you heard of insects that harm farm animals? If so, what do they do? If not, what do you think they might do?
- Have you learned about how science helps stop harmful insects? If so, what methods do you know? If not, what methods do you think could help?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- contamination /kuhn-tam-uh-NEY-shuhn/
- efficient /ih-FISH-uhnt/
- convert /kuhn-VURT/
- cooperation /koh-op-uh-REY-shuhn/
- economic /ek-uh-NOM-ik/
[noun] – the process of making something dirty or harmful by adding something dangerous or unwanted
The water had contamination, so people could not drink it.
[adjective] – working well without wasting time or energy
The new machine is very efficient and finishes work fast.
[verb] – to change something into a different form or use
The old factory was converted into a museum.
[noun] – the act of working together with someone to reach a goal
The team won the game because of good cooperation.
[adjective] – related to money, trade, or industry
The country is facing many economic problems.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
In June 2025, the United States Department of Agriculture announced a plan to build a fly-breeding center at Moore Air Base in southern Texas, about 32 kilometers from the Mexico border. The goal is to stop the spread of the New World screwworm. This insect lays eggs in animal wounds. When the eggs hatch, the young flies eat the flesh of live animals. This causes serious injuries, especially to farm animals like cows. The plan is to release sterile male flies into the wild. When these flies mate with female flies, no babies are born. This method helped eradicate the screwworm in the 1960s. In late 2024, the insect was found again in southern Mexico, so the U.S. quickly stopped bringing in live animals from Mexico to avoid further contamination.
The Texas facility will cost about $8.5 million and can produce 300 million sterile flies each week. This plan is very important because of the insect’s reemergence and the danger it brings to U.S. farms. A similar facility in Panama now produces 100 million sterile flies weekly. Experts said this method is the most efficient way to protect animals. A facility in Mexico will also be converted to help produce sterile flies, but this will take 18 months. Without action, the parasite could cause catastrophic damage. Officials emphasized the need for collaboration, urgency, and international cooperation to prevent a serious agricultural and economic crisis.
The Texas facility will cost about $8.5 million and can produce 300 million sterile flies each week. This plan is very important because of the insect’s reemergence and the danger it brings to U.S. farms. A similar facility in Panama now produces 100 million sterile flies weekly. Experts said this method is the most efficient way to protect animals. A facility in Mexico will also be converted to help produce sterile flies, but this will take 18 months. Without action, the parasite could cause catastrophic damage. Officials emphasized the need for collaboration, urgency, and international cooperation to prevent a serious agricultural and economic crisis.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- Where is Moore Air Base located, and how far is it from the Mexico border?
- What insect lays eggs in animal wounds and causes serious injuries?
- What happens when the screwworm eggs hatch inside a wound?
- What kind of flies will be released to stop the spread of screwworms?
- Why do no baby flies come from the mating of sterile and female flies?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever visited a farm or seen farm animals? If so, what animals did you see? If not, would you like to visit one?
- Have you ever learned about insects in school? If so, what did you learn? If not, what insect would you like to know more about?
- Do you agree that science can help stop harmful insects?
- Why do you think sterile flies help stop the screwworm?
- Why do you think countries need to work together to solve this problem?