Tag: esl english

toddler reading

Reading and Writing #4 (short passage)

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Getting a vaccination could soon be as simple as eating a potato. Researchers at the University of Maryland, led by Dr. Carol Tacket, are developing edible vaccines that could grant immunity against some diseases.

To be inoculated against a virus, bacterium, or toxin, the antibodies of our immune systems must be exposed to the illness-bearing agent, or pathogen. Vaccines work by exposing the body to pathogens that have been killed or disarmed. Once sensitized, antibodies can mobilize rapidly against familiar enemies by binding to them and preventing their growth and activity.

Most vaccines are delivered in shots or pills, but the new one will be incorporated in raw potatoes. The potatoes have been genetically engineered to produce the key piece of an E.coli toxin that causes acute diarrhea. As the spuds move through the intestinal system and are digested, the toxin fragment is released and exposed to the immune system, which then generates antibodies against the toxin.

Dr. Tacket’s group is waiting for approval from the FDA to test the potato vaccine on humans; it has already been tested successfully in mice. The next step would be to genetically modify bananas to carry vaccines, because raw bananas taste better than raw potatoes.

The potential for edible vaccines is tremendous, especially in developing countries. Whereas current vaccines are expensive to produce, store, transport, and administer, an edible vaccine could be grown where it is needed in the quantity desired, and requires considerably less medical expertise to use.

EXERCISE 1: Below are list of vocabulary from the reading article. Complete the table by providing the definition and sample sentence for each of the given vocabulary. You may download, link below.

vocabularymeaningsample sentence
edible fit to be eaten as foodFruits found in the forest may not be edible.
grant (verb)to giveTheir request for monetary allowance was granted.
immunitythe condition that permits either natural or acquired resistance to diseaseVaccines help the body build immunity to diseases.
disease
inoculate
toxin
antibody
immune system
expose
pathogen
genetically engineered
generates
potential
tremendous
current
administer
quantity
desire
vocabulary tableDownload

EXERCISE 2: Reading Comprehension Questions

Download questions to test your reading comprehension.

Questions-article-4Download WORD file
Questions-article-4PDF

EXERCISE 3: Write a short essay on any of the following topics.

  1. How a CoViD-19 vaccine works?
  2. Benefits of CoViD-19 vaccine
  3. Advantages of a vaccinated person over unvaccinated individual
  4. Importance of vaccination
  5. How are CoViD-19 vaccines administered?

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toddler reading

Reading and Writing #2 (short article)

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Just a few minutes’ chatting on a mobile phone reduces the brain functions of children for almost an hour, according to new Spanish test results quoted in Norwegian media.

The tests, conducted by the German investigator Michael Klieeisen at the Spanish Neuro Diagnostic Research Institute in Marbella, are the first to show how children’s brains react to the use of mobile phones. With the help of a scanner, Klieeisen was able to create pictures of how the brains of an 11-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl reacted while they used a mobile phone. The results were compared with similar tests using adult subjects.

The tests showed that the brain activity of the child subjects was reduced significantly, especially on the side where the mobile phone was held, a few minutes after the call was begun, the report said. Also, brain activity was lower than normal in large sections of the brain for 50 minutes after the end of the call, the test results showed.

“My advice to all parents is not to allow children to use mobile phones.” Klieeisen was quoted by Aftenposten as saying. “Not only are electrical activities affected, but also bio chemical processes. We do not know if it is dangerous, but we do know that children’s brains, which are not fully developed, are more vulnerable than adult brains are,” the researcher added.

Researchers in Britain confirm the Spanish results, and Norwegian and Swedish experts are also studying the health risk posed by mobile phones.

Reading Comprehension Questions

Questions-article-2Download
Questions-article-2Download

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New Hire: Human Resource Announcement

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Dear Colleagues:

I am pleased to announce that Mr. Mark Smith has accepted the position of accounting consultant in the accounting department, effective 1st March 2022. This position reports to Vice-president of finance Summer Dominguez.

Mr. Smith will be overseeing the accounts of five major clients in the construction industries.

He graduated from Ramangala University in Songkhla with a degree in accounting. Prior to accepting this position, he served as a senior accountant for Liquor Brewery Limited for ten years. Mr. Smith brings experience and a proven track record of success in the accounting area, which will be invaluable in meeting the departmental goals and objectives.

I am confident that Mr. Mark Smith will be an excellent match for this position and a strong asset to the accounting department. He will be located in main building and can be reached at 0912345678 or marksmith@gmaildotcom.

Please join me in welcoming Mr. Mark Smith to Upland Groups.

Vocabulary

overseeprioracceptinvaluable
assetannouncetrack recordconstruction

GUIDE QUESTIONS

  1. What is the announcement about?
  2. Where was Mark previously affiliated?
  3. What is Mark’s work?
  4. How will you be able to contact Mark?
  5. Who will Mark be reporting to?

source: HR Forms New Hire: Human Resource Announcement

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negotiation step 2

Negotiation Step 2: Establish a Position

Posted on by Ms. Elle

This is the second step in strategic negotiation, establishing a position. To review step one of the strategic negotiation process, please head on to Negotiation Step 1: Pitching an Idea.

Here, Mike is talking with colleagues Grant and Tess, and they are trying to work out an initial position before heading into the negotiation with NVP.

STUDENT TASK 1

Listen to the dialogue and fill in the missing word(s) below. Copy paste this link onto your web browser to answer the task on google forms (https://forms.gle/E25biVX6gRpiqbP69).

Grant: Alright folks. Let see what we can _________ here. Tess jump in whenever.

Tess: uh-huh…

Grant: Now I’ve seen the __________ on the emails since we kicked this into play. But Mike what’s your _________ all of this?

Mike: Well, we all agreed that NVP is our __________ in Southeast Asia huge volume, huge network, a really strong foothold in Thailand and Malaysia, which was our _________ in all of this.

Grant: Yes indeed. Good point. But I think as you’ve seen they’re really ___________ more than Southeast Asia. It’s obvious they’re pushing for a ______________, the whole of Asia really. And so the issue there is China?

Tess: We’re talking about Hangshan Motors, right. I __________________________ for something untested a burden in the hand as they say.

Mike: Well I think maybe there’s a way around this. If we buy them out, ______________________ the NVP deal in three years just from China alone. Opening up the rest of Asia on top of that puts us well ahead of the game.

Tess: I see. So you’re suggesting we get out of our existing agreement? You know… if we’re talking about a broader partnership…_________________________________. Lots of different possibilities here, I was thinking of South America in particular.

Grant: Right. So _______________________________________. We’re game for a partnership, we need Southeast Asia for sure… we’ll say we’re prepared to buy out Hangshan when they push for that and _________________________________ our South American channels later.

Tess: Yes! I think __________________________________. But we’ll have to look into our agreements with Brazil and Argentina more closely first. I __________________________ with hundred percent confidence right now.

Mike: Yeah, definitely. And when we talk with them let’s get on the same page about partnering, then… wait for Lisa to start pushing the whole Pan-Asian thing. We can play that a bit slow and see what we can squeeze out of them… and _____________________________________ until later… sound like a plan?

Grant: I think that will work. We know they want to work with us and I think we’ve got a __________________________.

STUDENT TASK 2

In the video there are three guide questions to answer. Complete this task after listening to the dialogue, and discuss your answers with your teacher.

Guide Questions

1. Why does Mike mention NVP’s huge volume, huge network, and strong foothold in SE Asia?
2. What does Mike suggest as a way around the China problem?
3. Which idea does the team agree to save for later in the negotiation?

STUDENT TASK 3

Acquaint yourself with the business vocabulary and idioms mentioned in the dialogue, and use them in sentences.

Instructions

  1. Copy paste this list on a word file
  2. Define the vocabulary and idioms
  3. Use each of them in at least two sentences
  4. Submit your answer on google classroom

For example

vocabulary/idiomsdefinitionsentences
back and forthto and froHe has been anxiously walking back and forth.
vocabulary/idiomsdefinitionsentences
best bet
take on
kick into play
jump in
keen on
give up
burden in the hand
a way around
buy out
ahead of the game
game for
way forward
on the same page
squeeze out
sit on

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