COVID-19
Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).
1. The new Omicron variant was named by South Africa's
government. T / F
2. The Omicron variant was first reported in Botswana on November
19. T / F
3. Israel, Madagascar and Belgium have reported cases of
Omicron. T/F
4. Epidemiologists say current vaccines will protect us against
Omicron. T / F
5. Scientists have found 50 different genetic changes in
Omicron. T/F
6. Vaccines currently in use focus on the center of the coronavirus
crown. T / F
7. Scientists need over two months to know if vaccines can fight
Omicron. T / F
8. The White House said Omicron would spread all across the
world. T/F
How has the coronavirus affected these things? Have you been affected?
People On You
Work / Study loss their job Can’t go to school
Shopping hard to buy -
miss planning/waste of
Travel not able to travel abroad.
money
Socializing less acquaintance -
The economy economic recession -
Mental health stress frightened
Breaking News English
Omicron coronavirus variant spreading worldwide
A new variant of the covid-19 virus is beginning to spread worldwide.
The WHO named the mutation Omicron, after a letter of the Greek
alphabet. It was first reported in Botswana on the 9th of November. Two
weeks later, it was detected in South Africa and flagged as a "virus of
concern". Soon after this, cases were reported in Hong Kong, Israel,
Madagascar and Belgium. Epidemiologists have warned that this new strain
could be extremely infectious. They also said it may be able to evade
protections afforded us by current vaccines. This has led to countries
reinstating travel bans. Despite these, new cases have already been
reported in the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic.
Scientists are currently analyzing Omicron to assess the dangers it
might pose. They have detected 50 genetic changes in the DNA that
affects the spikes surrounding the crown of the virus. Current vaccines
focus on these spikes. Any changes in the DNA of the spikes could make the
virus more virulent, more transmissible and possibly more resistant against
vaccines. Scientists say it could take a few weeks to determine how
effective our vaccines are against Omicron. The White House's chief
medical adviser has warned that: "When you have a virus that is showing
this degree of transmissibility, and you're already having travel-related
cases…it almost invariably is ultimately going to go all over [the world]."
Sources
https://nypost.com/2021/11/27/omicron-variant-found-in-uk-germany-czech-republic/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/27/omicron-variant-covid-southern-africa-travel-restrictions
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/11/27/1059501446/covid-coronavirus-omicron-variant
Comprehension
1. Who named the new variant 6. How many genetic changes in
Omicron? Omicron have scientists discovered?
a) South Africa's a) 50
government b) 40
b) the WHO c) 60
c) the Greek Alphabet d) 20
Association 7. What do current vaccines focus
d) a person got covid on?
2. Where was the variant first a) white blood cells
reported? b) arms
a) Israel c) coronavirus spikes
b) South Africa d) the respiratory system
c) Hong Kong 8. How long might it take scientists
d) Botswana to find out how dangerous Omicron
3. What is Omicron being is?
flagged as? a) a few weeks
a) a worry b) days
b) extremely dangerous c) hours
c) a virus of concern d) ages
d) a warning 9. Which member of the White House
4. Who warned Omicron could staff commented on Omicron?
be extremely infectious? a) the special advisor to the
a) epidemiologists President
b) neurologists b) the chief of staff
c) entomologists c) the special advisor to vaccines
d) endocrinologists d) the chief medical adviser
5. What have many countries 10. Where did the White House
reinstated? staffer say Omicron might travel?
a) mask wearing a) to warmer countries
b) travel bans b) across the continent of Africa
c) social distancing c) all over the world
d) working from home d) to colder countries
Vocabulary
Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
alphabet infectious detected cases
reported vaccines variant concern
variant
A new (1) ____________ of the covid-19 virus is beginning to
spread worldwide. The WHO named the mutation Omicron, after a
alphabet
letter of the Greek (2) _____________. It was first reported in
Botswana on the 9th of November. Two weeks later, it was
detected
(3) ______________ in South Africa and flagged as a "virus of
(4) concern
_______________". Soon after this, cases were (5)
reported
______________ in Hong Kong, Israel, Madagascar and Belgium.
Epidemiologists have warned that this new strain could be extremely
infectious
(6) ______________. They also said it may be able to evade
vaccines
protections afforded us by current (7) ______________. This has
led to countries reinstating travel bans. Despite these, new (8)
cases
_______________ have already been reported in the UK, Germany
and the Czech Republic.
Vocabulary
Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
surrounding determine currently degree
virulent detected ultimately chief
currently
Scientists are (9) ______________ analyzing Omicron to
detected
assess the dangers it might pose. They have (10) _____________
50 genetic changes in the DNA that affects the spikes (11)
surrounding the crown of the virus. Current vaccines focus on
_____________
these spikes. Any changes in the DNA of the spikes could make the
virulent
virus more (12) _______________, more transmissible and possibly
more resistant against vaccines. Scientists say it could take a few
determine
weeks to (13) _____________ how effective our vaccines are
chief
against Omicron. The White House's (14) ____________ medical
adviser has warned that: "When you have a virus that is showing this
degree
(15) ____________ of transmissibility, and you're already having
ultimately
travel-related cases...it almost invariably is (16) _____________
going to go all over [the world]."
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2111/211129-omicron-a.htm
l
Listening
Listen and fill in the gaps
A new covid-19 variant called Omicron (1) _________.
is spreading worldwide
detected in
It was first reported in Botswana and was (2) _________
South Africa, Hong Kong, Israel and Belgium. It is now a "(3)
virus of concern Epidemiologists say this new strain could
___________".
be very infectious. It may be (4) able
________
to evade protections our
(5) current
__________
vaccines us. Many countries have reinstated travel
been reported in
bans. Despite these, new cases have (6) __________
Europe.
dangers
Scientists are looking (7) __________ Omicron might
genetics in
pose. They found 50 (8) ______________ the DNA in the
on this spikes
spikes of the virus. Vaccines focus (9) ______________.
Any changes in their DNA could make the virus more
dangerous, spreadable (10) and resistant against vaccines. The
_____________
White House warned that: "When you have a virus that is
(11) showing this degree of transmissibility, and you're already
_____________
having travel-related cases...it (12) is ultimately going to
______________
go all over."
A 5-Minute-Activity #3
Work in pairs and write your answers in the
Who finishes first? boxes!
1. List 3 things you can knit. coat scarf wool
2. Name 3 things you can fly. butterfly airplane insects
3. Name three lakes. Victoria Michigan Caspian
4. 3 animals beginning with B. bee bird bear
5. List three fast food. hamburger pizza french-fries
6. 3 words beginning with in- interesting intelligent ingredients
7. 3 fish living in salt water. salmon nemo tuna
8. 3 pieces of sports gear. ball racket hula hoop
9. 3 things in your schoolbag. pencil eraser ruler
10. 3 animals you can ride. horse camel elephant
11. 3 types of flowers rose sunflower Lilly
12. Three things made of wood. cupboard paper door
13. Three types of music. K-pop C-pop classic
