Before reading the text match the words in the first column with their synonyms in the second column

While reading. You are going to read an article how to avoid flu. Choose the most suitable heading from the list (1-4) to each part (A-D) of the article. There is one extra heading which you do not need to use.

1. What to Do When the Flu Bugs You?

2. Vaccine to the Rescue?

3. What Is the Difference Between the Flu and Cold?

4. How Do I Know if I Have the Flu?

5. How Is the Flu Spread?

Avoid Flu

Flu is the common name for influenza, a virus that attacks the respiratory system. These large-scale outbreaks are called epidemics. If they spread worldwide, they’re called pandemics.

A. The flu virusspreads through tiny droplets of respiratory fluid. This means that when infected people cough, sneeze, or even talk they may be sending out the virus to others. People who are carrying the virus can be contagious 1 to 4 days before their symptoms appear, so they can pass it on before they even know they’re sick. Don’t use the same towels or eating utensils as someone who has a flu, and don’t drink from the same glass, can, or bottle as anyone else – you never know who might be about to come down with a cold and is already spreading the virus.

B. Flu symptoms – like headache, fever, chills, muscle aches, and dry cough – appear anywhere from 1 to 4 days after you’ve been exposed to the virus. Your temperature can get as high as 40 degrees Celsius. You’ll probably feel achy and exhausted and you may lose your appetite. The fever and achiness usually disappear within 2 to 3 days, but then you may get a stuffy nose or a sore throat. The stuffy nose, sore throat and a feeling of tiredness may remain for a week or more.

C. Like all viruses, the viruses that cause colds have to run their course. When you get the flu the best way to take care of yourself is to rest in bed and drink lots of liquids like water and other noncaffeinated drinks. You should stay home from college until you are feeling better and your temperature has returned to normal. Whether you feel like sleeping around the clock or just taking things a bit easier, it’s a good idea to pay attention to what your body is telling you.

D. Each year, scientists develop a flu vaccine that consists of the flu viruses that are most likely to infect people that year. The vaccine shot contains killed flu viruses that won’t cause you to get the flu, but will cause your body to make antibodies to fight off infection if you encounter the live flu virus. Most doctors recommend annual flu vaccines for people over age 65, young children up to 2 years old, and people (including teens) with medical conditions such as asthma, heart disease, or sickle cell disease. The flu vaccine is usually given 4 to 6 weeks before flu season begins. Anyone allergic to eggs should not get a flu vaccine because the viruses for the vaccineare grown in chicken eggs. Antibiotics don’t work on viruses, they can’t cure the flu. Sometimes doctors can prescribe medicine to reduce the length of the illness.

Avoid aspirin or any products that contain aspirin because these put you at greater risk of developing Reye syndrome, a very serious illness that can lead to liver failure, which sometimes follows infection with the flu virus.

3. After reading. Think of different complications which may occur after the flu (such as pneumonia, bronchitis, otitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis). What are their symptoms? How can we prevent them? What should we do in case of developing one of them?

IV. Speaking Tasks