Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。
- Have you ever worn a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic?
- Are you still following any of the rules that were introduced during the pandemic?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。
- virus /VAHY-ruhs/
- declare /dih-KLAIR/
- reduce /ri-DOOS/
- access /AK-ses/
- illness /IL-nis/
[noun] – a microscopic infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism
The virus that affected the local farms caused a significant loss in livestock.
[verb] – to announce something formally or officially
The government will declare a state of emergency due to the ongoing wildfires.
[verb] – to make something smaller in size, amount, or degree
The company implemented new strategies to reduce production costs.
[noun] – the ability or right to approach, enter, or use something
Students in rural areas often lack access to quality educational resources.
[noun] – a condition of being unwell or having a disease
Her sudden illness forced her to cancel the trip to Europe.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。
The COVID-19 pandemic began in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, and became one of the most serious global health crises in recent history. The virus, called SARS-CoV-2, was first linked to a seafood market, but its exact origin is still unclear. It spread rapidly worldwide, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a pandemic in March 2020. Over 7 million deaths have been officially reported, though experts believe the actual number could exceed 20 million. Older adults and people with pre-existing health conditions face the highest risks. Vaccines were developed within a year, helping reduce severe cases, but unequal vaccine access between wealthy and poorer nations highlighted global health inequalities and raised concerns about future pandemics.The virus continues to evolve, with variants like Delta and Omicron keeping scientists vigilant. Omicron, identified in late 2021, spread faster but caused milder illness, partly due to vaccine protection and previous infections. Long COVID, with symptoms like fatigue and memory issues, still affects millions. Research on new treatments and vaccines, including nasal options, is ongoing. Experts emphasize the importance of improving healthcare systems and monitoring for new variants to prepare for future crises.
True or False:
Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.
文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。
- SARS-CoV-2 was first linked to a seafood market.
- The World Health Organization declared a pandemic in January 2020.
- Older adults are not at high risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms.
- Vaccines for COVID-19 were developed within two years.
- Research on new COVID-19 treatments is no longer happening.
Fill in the blanks:
Choose the correct word from the table, then fill in the blanks.
適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。
| virus | declare | reduce | access | illness |
- The spread of the __________ in the community led to school closures.
- Regular exercise can __________ the risk of developing heart diseases.
- The library provides free __________ to online journals and e-books.
- The judge decided to __________ the competition winner after reviewing all the entries.
- Scientists are studying a new __________ found in wild animals to prevent future outbreaks.