Name :

NIM :
TT :

Study Increases Estimate of Flu Hospitalizations in the United States

 

This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Health Report.

Influenza can be life-threatening, especially for __________________(1) or the very young. In the United
States, a new study raises the estimate of how many people require hospital care___________________(2)
Most cases of influenza in the United States usually happen from __________________________(3) until
_______________ (4) , during the colder months.

Researchers from _______________________________________________________(5) did they study.

They looked at hospital records from the flu seasons between ________________________(6) and two
thousand-one. They counted flu-related hospitalizations. Doctor William Thompson
__________________(7).

They found that more than _______________________________(8) are hospitalized each year because of
the flu. That is almost _______________(9) as many as earlier estimates by __________________(10).

The researchers say one major reason for the increase is____________________________(11).

The number of Americans age eighty-five and older more than doubled in the last thirty years.

Also, the study included the years in _____________________________(12) when there were more cases
of severe forms of the flu. And the researchers noted _________________ _________(13) for the higher
number of hospitalizations they found. They considered a greater number of flu-related sicknesses to reach
the new estimate. The report appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The highest rates of influenza-related hospitalizations were among ______________________(14) and

older. The study found that the risk of hospitalizations increased with age starting at fifty. Those least
affected were between five and forty-nine years old. Children younger than five
____________________(15) to those among people fifty to sixty-four.

Influenza is a respiratory illness. It attacks______________________________(16). It causes a high body

temperature and muscle aches and makes people__________________(17). It also causes a dry cough and
sore throat. The virus spreads through the air when infected people cough or sneeze.

The C.D.C. says most people who get the flu _______ _____________ (18) in a week or two. But some
people develop life-threatening conditions_________________________________(19). In the United
States, health officials say an average of about thirty-six thousand people each year die from influenza.
They say the best way to prevent the flu is_________ ____________(20) each fall before flu season begins.

Name :
 NIM :
TT :

This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Health Report.

Last Sunday was World Heart Day. The World Heart Federation started the event five years ago
__________________________ (1) about the threat of heart disease and stroke.

World Heart Day is run by the World Heart Federation’s member organizations in
almost_______________________________(2). Each year, they hold educational activities
designed to get more people to exercise, eat better and lead a heart-healthy way of life.

This year, the main subject of World Heart Day was ____________________(3) and Heart
Disease.” Health officials say two-thirds of children worldwide are not active enough for good
health.

The World Heart Federation says more than ______________________(4) and twenty-two
million children under the age of five are severely overweight. Obesity has risen sharply in both
___________________________________________(5)

Experts say ________________________(6) are three to five times more likely to suffer a heart
attack or stroke before they reach the age of sixty-five. Even children who are overweight, but not
severely, ______________________________________(7) and stroke.

Cigarettes also threaten the future of___________________________(8). The World Heart

Foundation says smokers often begin to ___________________(9) before they are ten years old.
The younger a person begins to smoke, the greater the risk of developing heart disease.

Also, the World Heart Federation says almost ________________________(10) around the
world live with someone who smokes. It says children who breathe so-called secondhand smoke
suffer from ____________________(11) as smokers.

Experts say those children also have ___________________________(12) increased risk of

developing both lung cancer and heart disease. And they have an eighty percent increased risk of
a stroke. A stroke happens when an artery that carries blood and oxygen to the brain
is_____________________________(13).

The World Heart Federation says education is____________________(14) to reduce future heart
disease and stroke in children. It says children must be taught to eat healthier foods and
to_________________________(15). It also says measures must be taken to limit their exposure
to tobacco. And it says governments must develop policies that work to reduce the risks for heart
disease and stroke.
 Name :
NIM :
TT :

Last Sunday was World Heart Day. The World ______________________ (1) started
the event five years ago to increase public education about the threat of heart disease and
stroke. World Heart Day __________________ (2) the World Heart Federation’s
member organizations in almost one-hundred countries. Each year, they hold educational
activities designed to get more people to exercise, eat better and lead
____________________________ (3)way of life. This year, the main subject of World
Heart Day was “Children, Adolescents and Heart Disease.” Health officials
say_____________________________ (4) worldwide are not active enough for good
health. The World Heart Federation says more than three hundred million adults and
twenty-two million children ________________________________________ (5)
severely overweight. Obesity has risen sharply in both developed and less developed
countries. Experts say overweight children are __________________________ (6) times
more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke before they reach the age of sixty-five. Even
children who are overweight, but not severely, are at increased risk of heart disease and
________________________(7)

Cigarettes also threaten the future of children's hearts. The World Heart Foundation says
smokers often begin to use tobacco before _____________________________ (8) years
old. The younger a person begins to smoke, the greater the risk of developing heart
disease.

Also, the World Heart Federation says almost half of all children around the world live
with someone__________________________________ (9). It says children who breathe
so-called secondhand smoke suffer from many of the same diseases as smokers.

Experts say those children also have a___________________________ (10) increased

risk of developing both lung cancer and heart disease. And they have an eighty percent
increased risk of a stroke. A stroke happens when an artery that
______________________________________ (11) to the brain is blocked by a clot or
bursts.

The World Heart Federation says education is the most effective way to reduce
_____________________________ (12) and stroke in children. It says children must be
taught to eat healthier foods and to exercise more. It also says measures must be taken to
limit their exposure to tobacco. And it says governments must develop policies that work
to reduce the risks for _________________________________________________ (13).
 Name :
NIM :
TT :

This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Health Report.

Experts on tuberculosis say ________________________________ (14) program for this

lung disease is DOTS. DOTS is directly observed treatment, short-course. This means
health care workers watch patients _______________________________ (15) every day.
This is a way to make sure patients take medicine long enough to kill the germs that
cause TB. China recently reported a drop in _____________________________ (16)
because of DOTS. There has also been some success in the Philippines. But public health
centers identified __________________________ (17) of TB cases in the country. So
Philippine health officials have decided also to include __________________________
(18) in the program. Experts hope such efforts will reduce the spread of the kind of
tuberculosis that __________________________________ (19). People with drug-
resistant TB must take medicines that cost much more. And they must take these for
_______________________________ (20) months. Normally, patients with TB
___________________________________ (21) for six to eight months. The DOTS
program calls for direct observation for the first two months at least.

Health experts say most people treated for TB ______________________________ (22).

But getting people to take all their medicine is not the only problem. Around the world,
experts say only __________________________________________ (23) of TB cases
are ever identified. The World Health Organization is trying
__________________________ (24) to educate people to see a health worker as soon as
they show signs of the disease. Earlier this year, a program started in Kenya. The
program is called ________________ (25), which means Communication for Behavioral
Impact. Kenyan schoolchildren take home information about TB. People also get
information through _______________________________________ (26) and when they
go into businesses. Colorful signs identify health care centers where people can be tested.

Doctors say people who _____________________ (27) that does not go away after three
weeks should get tested for TB. Infected people spread the bacteria through the air when
they cough. Also, people with TB often have hiccups that will not stop. They may sweat
at night and ____________________________________ (28).

Yet there are reasons why people do not go to a doctor when they
_____________________________ (29). They may not think a cough is very serious.
They may need to keep working even though _______________________ (30). Finding
a doctor may not be easy. In the words of a W.H.O. report, “Knowing what to do is
different from doing it.”
 Name :
NIM :
TT :

This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Health Report.

Experts on tuberculosis say the best treatment program for ………………………………( 1 ) is

DOTS. DOTS is directly observed treatment, short-course. This means health care workers watch
patients take their medicine every day. This is a way ………………………………..( 2 ) take
medicine long enough to kill the germs that cause TB.

China recently reported ………………………………..( 3 ) because of DOTS. There has also

been some success in the Philippines. But public health centers identified only sixty percent of
TB cases in the country. So Philippine health officials have decided also to include private
doctors in the program.

Experts hope such efforts will reduce the spread of the kind of tuberculosis
that…………………………………(4) . People with drug-resistant TB must take medicines that
cost much more. And they must take these for ……………………………………(5)

Normally, patients with TB…………………………………………(6) for six to eight months.

The DOTS program calls for direct observation for the first two months at least.

Health experts say most people treated for TB…………………………..(7). But getting people to
take all their medicine is not the only problem. Around the world, experts say only thirty-seven
percent of TB cases are ever identified.

The World Health Organization …………………………………….(8) to educate people to see a

health worker as soon as they show signs of the disease. Earlier this year, a program started
in………………………..(9). The program is called COMBI, which means Communication for
Behavioral Impact.

Kenyan schoolchildren take home information……………………………(10). People also get

information through television and in movies and when they go into businesses. Colorful signs
identify health care centers where people…………………………………………………(11).

Doctors say people who have a cough that does not go away………………………………….(12)
should get tested for TB. Infected people spread the bacteria through the
air………………………………….......(13). Also, people with TB often have hiccups that will
not stop. They may sweat at night and feel very hot.

Yet there are reasons why people do not go to a doctor when they………………………………..
(14) . They may not think a cough is very serious. They may need to keep working even
though……………………………………(15). Finding a doctor may not be easy. In the words of
a W.H.O. report, “Knowing what to do is different from doing it.”