B1 — Intermediate
Pneumonic plague is a serious bacterial disease that affects the lungs and can spread through coughing and sneezing. It is very contagious and can spread quickly.
This is why the death of a 28-year-old worker at a plague research lab in Siberia from severe pneumonia, raised concerns that she may have been exposed to plague bacteria. Several hospital workers have been quarantined, but Russia says the cause of death is still unknown.
Read the article about concerns after a worker at a plague research laboratory in Siberia died.
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2610/261008-suspected-pneumonic-plague.html
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “to keep an eye on something” mean? “US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there was no “cause for alarm”. He said officials should “keep an eye on it“.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “to raise concerns” mean? “The USA has raised concerns after a worker at a plague research laboratory in Siberia died.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “to come into contact with something“ mean? “Some newspapers suspect that she died after coming into contact with plague bacteria.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
Discussion Questions:
- Why is it important to identify the cause of the worker’s death?
- What lessons can we learn from this incident about laboratory safety and public health?
- How can laboratories prevent accidents involving dangerous bacteria or viruses?
- How can health officials prevent a possible disease outbreak?
- Who should be responsible if a laboratory accident puts workers and the public at risk? Share your thoughts.