Reading & Writing: Colds and the Flu
English Grade 8 (Super Goal 2) · Unit 8: What's Wrong? · Lesson 8-3 · Term 1
Also known as: Colds and the flu · Reading comprehension
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Lesson idea
Reading about the common cold and influenza; Bud's stomachache conversation; writing advice with bullet points (heat exhaustion).
Key points
- Colds and the flu have very similar symptoms and people get them in the same way: sneezing/coughing through the air, or touching objects with viruses.
- Colds last five to seven days and are caused by viruses; there are more than 80 rhinoviruses, so vaccination against colds is impossible. Medicines give only temporary relief.
- The flu adds a high fever and severe muscle aches; it can cause pneumonia. 20 million people died in the 1919 flu epidemic; it affected younger people more.
- Today there are flu vaccines for some viruses, but new viruses appear all the time.
Vocabulary
Lesson questions (14)
- Why are colds and the flu often confused?
Answer: Their symptoms are very similar. - How does a person sneezing or coughing transmit the infection?
Answer: through the air - How long do colds usually last?
Answer: five to seven days - How many different rhinoviruses are there?
Answer: more than 80 - Why is vaccination against colds impossible?
Answer: There are more than 80 constantly mutating rhinoviruses. - What do medicines do for colds?
Answer: They provide temporary relief from symptoms. - Which symptoms does the flu have in addition to cold symptoms?
Answer: a high fever and severe muscle aches - What serious illness can the flu cause?
Answer: pneumonia - How many people died in the 1919 flu epidemic?
Answer: 20 million - Why did the 1919 flu affect younger people more than older people?
Answer: Their bodies didn't have defenses against the virus. - What is wrong with Bud?
Answer: He has a stomachache and feels like vomiting. - Why does Bud have a stomachache?
Answer: He ate too much at an all-you-can-eat buffet. - For heat exhaustion, you should drink plenty of water ____.
Answer: in small amounts slowly - When there is a list of steps in a certain order, it is better to use ____.
Answer: numbers
More lessons in Unit 8: What's Wrong?
Questions about this lesson
Why do people confuse colds and flu?
Because their symptoms are very similar, such as sneezing, a runny nose and coughing.
What does symptom mean?
A symptom is a sign of illness, such as fever and runny nose.
How do we answer a question about the reading text?
We read the question first, then look in the text for the key words and write the answer as it appears there.
Do students need an account to play this lesson?
No. The teacher shares the lesson link; the student types a first name and plays on a phone or computer, and the score reaches the teacher.
Which games suit this lesson?
You can play it in The Hunter, Complete the sentence, Match Up, Matching pairs and the other games and activities on Hessa Play.