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Germs
简体
Germs
细菌

Learn English with this health English lesson

Date: Mar 01 2013

Themes: Health

Grammar: Present Perfect Tense

Intro

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You probably don’t like to think about it very often, but germs are everywhere. Any time you go out into a public space, you run the risk of interacting with something that could make you sick. The sickness could be as harmless as a common cold, or it could be something as serious as the avian flu.

Because of all these germs out there, some people worry about them a lot. They wash their hands obsessively, wear face masks, and carry hand sanitizer wherever they go. Other people try to be more relaxed. They try to stay healthy, but realize that there is no way of avoiding germs completely. Find out whether Marni or Lily is more afraid of germs in this health English lesson.

你可能不太愿意想起它,但是细菌无处不在。只要你去公共场所,你就有接触致病物的危险。疾病可以像普通感冒一样无害,也可以像禽流感一样严重。

因为大量细菌的存在,有些人忧心忡忡。他们采取了大量措施。他们勤洗手,带口罩,随身携带着洗手液。其他人尝试让自己更放松。他们试着保持健康,但是意识到无法彻底杜绝细菌。在本节以健康为主题的英语课中,看看玛尼和莉莉是否更加害怕细菌。

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Lily

Lily

Marni

Marni

Lily:  I’ve gotten to be really afraid of germs.

Marni:  Oh, really?

Lily:  I wash my hands all the time.

Marni:  Hmm. Are you one of those people that uses hand sanitizer obsessively, when you can’t wash your hands?

Lily:  Yeah. I’ve gotten to that point. I carry around anti-bacterial stuff in my purse. Some people would call me germophobic, but I think, you know, I’m being perfectly reasonable about this.

Marni:  Well yeah, there’s a lot of contagious things out there. I mean, the flu is really bad this year, but are you now taking it to the level where you’re wearing masks on public transportation, per se?

Lily:  Not yet. I would only do that if I heard about something on the news that was kind of scary.

Marni:  But you would do that.

Lily:  I want to be protected, right?

Marni:  OK, alright.

Lily:  I have a very weak immune system.

Marni:  OK. Are there things that you do to help your immune system? Or are you just so freaked out by germs that you just…

Lily:  I take Vitamin C every day. I drink a lot of orange juice, antioxidants, and so forth. Stay away from anybody who’s contagious.

Marni:  Well, those are all perfectly good things to do. I just think, you know, life is too short. You can’t just be worried about getting sick all the time that you just obsess over washing your hands and using hand sanitizer all the time, but… to each his own.

 

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Discussion

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Marni and Lily have some differences when it comes to germs. Lily has a weak immune system, and is very afraid of getting sick. She washes her hands all the time, and uses hand sanitizer. She also takes vitamins, drinks juice, and stays away from sick people. She’s really afraid of germs.

Marni, on the other hand, thinks that Lily is taking things a bit too far. She knows the flu is bad, and that germs can be dangerous, but she thinks that worrying too much about germs can distract you from living your life.

Given their different responses to germs, it will be interesting to see whether Marni or Lily gets sick more this season!

How do you feel about germs? Do you spend a lot of time making sure you don’t get sick, or are you less worried about it? What do you think is the best way to avoid germs?

 

Comments

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masoudhsn

masoudhsn

Canada

Germs are everywhere that we can imagine. Even though there are some germs which are threatening for our life, many of them are harmless and in other words are necessary for us. There are millions of germs in our intestine system that are helpful for our digestion and absorbtion of food and some of them make essential vitamins for our body. However, in some occasions, when some epidemic diseases like flu or others are out there, we should use anti sanitizer and anti-bacterial to reduce possibilty of getting those sicknesses. Obsession about those or being germophobic aren’t a good way to get rid of them, but we shoud stay away from those germs. Also, we have to aware that getting involved with different germs will strengthen our immune system too.

06:48 AM Mar 02 2013 |

1 person likes this

NISHANT MOHANTY

India

Germs is any wehere, but i think exersice is a very good oportunity to fight to germs…

05:53 AM Mar 02 2013 |

glassy heart

Saudi Arabia

Well germs are everywhere why should i be afread of it.Since im following what prophet Muhammad peac be on him said,that we should brush our mouths,wash our hands befor & after eating,befor sleeping ,clean ourselfes after toeilt, putting our hands on mouth in case we gona couph ,not breathing inside  acup while drinking,etc ..after all all muslims make (Wudu) ablution five times aday..so, why worring about getting sick.i do my effort to stay protective and if i become sike then its from Allah distiny and i will be patince person until i get over it… :)

08:31 PM Mar 01 2013 |

ali behzad

ali behzad

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

well, Germs r needed in some ways, forexample encountering the germs help our immune system to become stronger and the rate of autoimmune diseases and allergy comes down.

07:01 PM Mar 01 2013 |

I M P E R I V M

United States

The Germs are really evil! if it wasnt because The US entered World War 2 who knows where we would be now!

05:43 PM Mar 01 2013 |

Ngubo Sixtus

South Africa

keeping yourself clean and clean your place as well as the places around you.visit clinics to get advise about healthy living,follow all that advices the nurses and doctors are give you.

04:05 PM Mar 01 2013 |

1 person likes this

katerine33

katerine33

Guadeloupe

Given I’m a doctor,I remember my first years at the medicine university where I became germophobic and I was seeing germs everywhere,but now it’s ok,I know how to deal with germs while we know how to treat them or how to prevent being infected.

01:42 PM Mar 01 2013 |

ryusia98

South Korea

I know that germs are bad and maybe it can be dangerous to us. But I don’t worry about it too much. I think if we are careful of everything and do the small things like washing hands or doing sports, we will not be infected by germs


(Actually, I think like this because I never infected before and realize the importance of doing something to avoid germs.)

01:09 PM Mar 01 2013 |

1 person likes this

 julito

julito

Argentina

Those who like to watch the american comedy ” the theory of the big bang” know that Sheldon Cooper  is the weirdest  among all the friends who play a part in this comedy, and not surprisingly  he is sickly afraid of germs that wouldn´t dare to shake hands and worst, to kiss  his girfriend-- Poor Amy-lol..   


About germs . Is it Lily´s  weakness real or a pathological disease ? I also  Agree with Marni, Lily is not living her life .  I am not afraid of germs , washing my hands  after going to the toilet  is a must and that´s all. I   use  to travel in crowded buses and it never crosses my mind that afterwards i should  desinfect my hands ,what about all the germs that i am breathing in  and out , thanks to my immune system !!!

pirate006

pirate006

Turkey

if person’s immune system  strong and well-fed,and  compliance  the rules of general cleaning, however, should germs afraid of her/his….

08:35 AM Mar 01 2013 |

1 person likes this

hot-cabbage

China

washing hands is necessary,but use too many stuff to prevent from germs maybe not good,i mean our body need meet germs for oneself sometimes,so that makes immune system stronger. 

07:00 AM Mar 01 2013 |

seungmanlee68

South Korea

It is not easy to avoid germs in daily life. But I usually try my best not to be contaminated with flu. If I’m not mistaken, It is reported that Flu can be prevented by hand sanitizers about 40~50% after coming back from public places. In my opinion, the best way to avoid germs are washing our hand with hand sanitizers. I hope everyone getting well with washing habits.

02:19 AM Mar 01 2013 |

kiti110

kiti110

China

i feel like eating healthy,do more out sports, not up late, be more positive,these are the best way to avoid germs…:)

01:50 AM Mar 01 2013 |

1 person likes this

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