Comprehension: Syria Drug Shortages Threaten Health Catastrophe

A shortage of vital medicines has been one of the effects of the war raging in Syria, and has been described by the World Health organization as "a very critical situation." While Syrian pharmaceutical manufacturers struggle to produce under difficult circumstances, Syrians are struggling to gain access to critical medicines.

Watch the video and answer the questions below.  Decide if the statements are True or False.

1. Before the crisis began, Syria was able to produce more medicine than it needed for the entire population.

a. True

b. False

2. There are 22 less pharmaceutical factories in Syria now than there were before the crisis.

a. True

b. False

3. Bansel Aljendi from the Avenzor factory says that they will continue to produce medicines even if they are losing money.

a. True

b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers:

Katia is running a regular errand, trying to secure insulin from this pharmacy in Damascus for her diabetic mother. 

"My mother has diabetes, we were getting insulin from state Pharmacies for free, but for more than a month they haven't had any." 

Katia must now buy the medicine from private pharmacies who are either importing them at high cost or are getting them from smugglers that may not be able to ensure their quality. She now spends 35-40 USD every month on insulin, in a country where the average monthly income is around 300USD. And that's if she's lucky enough to get hold it. A shortage of vital medicines has been one of the effects of the war raging in Syria, and has been described by the World Health organization as "a very critical situation." Before the crisis began, Syria was able to produce enough medicine to almost cover the needs of the entire population. Many of those factories have had to close because of damage from fighting and the increased difficulty in transporting materials to them. Habib Abbud is the lab director of the Ministry of Health in Syria 

"The number of pharmaceutical factories in Syria before the crisis was 77, now there are 55 factories producing medicine." 

Western sanctions have also made it difficult for pharmacies to import the materials needed to manufacture medicine. Many Syrians have no choice but to buy smuggled medicines which may not have been transported properly for their safe use.   That's why some factories, like this one, are still desperately trying to produce medicine amid the crisis. 

"We are committed to this country and we are committed to the people and producing medicine at a reasonable price, we will keep producing medicine even if we are losing money, but we, like any other factory, have a limit as to how far we can go." 

And if that limit is reached, Syrians in need of vital medicines will be leaving pharmacies empty-handed. 

Answers:

1. b
2. a
3. a

For information about eflex languages go to: http://www.eflexlanguages.com/

For a demonstration of our courses go to: http://www.eflexenglish.com/demo

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eflexlanguages

Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/eflexlanguages

Comprehension: The Africans Making It Big in China

African entrepreneurs are increasingly enticed to southern China by riches made from trading low-cost goods back home via the financial hub of Hong Kong. 

Watch the video and answer the questions below.  Decide if the statements are True or False.

1. Chungking Mansions is a very high quality area.

a. True

b. False

2. About 20% of mobile phones used in Africa come from China.

a. True

b. False

3. Lamine needs his wife to survive in China.

a. True

b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers:

Across the harbour from Hong Kong's glittering financial district stands a lesser-known hub of global trade. A building famed for budget hotels and no-frills Indian restaurants. But venture deeper inside and Chungking Mansions is also home to deals worth millions of dollars. Ali is an entrepreneur thriving on the export of low-cost Chinese goods to Africa. 

"We felt Chungking is very important for us because it represents the other side of the bridge, linking Hong Kong and the rest of the world, mainly Africa." 

According to one estimate, up to a fifth of the mobile phones used in Africa in recent years have been traded through these corridors. But if Chungking Mansions is the global clearing house, the engines behind this trade are in south China. Ali's warehouse is only two hours away in the mainland city of Guangzhou. 

"In China there are opportunities for people who can start from scratch and build up their own business. Obviously not in one day but through hard work and networking you can do it." 

He's not the only one who's migrated in pursuit of the Chinese dream. At least 20,000 Africans have moved to Guangzhou as trade between their nations and China soars. Many live in this neighbourhood dubbed "Little Africa" or "Chocolate City" by local media. Being an African entrepreneur can be challenging in a country where prejudices sometimes run strong. But traders who bring their skills and capital are helping to dispel stereotypes. 

"You've got these African entrepreneurs who are ethical and who also are successful. And the role they play is of enormous importance. Your average Chinese still thinks that the typical African in Guangzhou is a thief or a heroin seller or something like that. That's not true. And looking at these guys they're definitely confirmation of it." 

Church brings this group of migrants together, but they’re also united in their goal to succeed. 

"We need finance to move this project forward. And our prayer is that you will prosper." 

Lamine moved to Guangzhou nine years ago in search of this prosperity. He struggled to trade without speaking any Chinese. But now with the help of his wife, he's opened his own factory hiring 43 local workers. 

"For communicate with the Chinese people, if you wanna do another things, she can do it. Okay for my, also I buy my car, she is there, I open my own factory, she is there. So if I no have wife it's not easy. Because only me I cannot do it." 

Back at Chungking Mansions in Hong Kong, Ali welcomes a new delivery from mainland China. With another product to be launched later this year, the future for traders like him lies firmly in the east. 

Answers:

1. b
2. a
3. a

For information about eflex languages go to: http://www.eflexlanguages.com/

For a demonstration of our courses go to: http://www.eflexenglish.com/demo

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eflexlanguages

Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/eflexlanguages

Phrasal Verbs with Answers: to grow

This week,'to grow' is the verb used to make our phrasal verbs. Do you know what they mean?

For information about eflex languages go to: http://www.eflexlanguages.com/
For a demonstration of our courses go to: http://www.eflexenglish.com/demo
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eflexlanguages
Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/eflexlanguages

Comprehension: Mexico Wants to Tax Surgary Drinks to Fight Obesity

The Mexican government wants to tax sugary drinks to curb Mexico's obesity epidemic. President Pena Nieto wants Mexicans to pay an extra peso (almost 8 US cents) for every litre of sweetened drink in a country that guzzles more soft drinks than any other and rivals the United States as one of the world's most obese nation. 

Watch the video and answer the questions below.  Decide if the statements are True or False.

1. 30% of Mexico’s population is not overweight.

a. True

b. False

2. Water is more expensive than fizzy drinks in Mexico.

a. True

b. False

3. The Mexican government believe that sodas are one of the causes of obesity.

a. True

b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers:

Mexico’s waistline just keeps getting bigger. 70% of the population is now overweight or obese, rivaling the United States as one of the world’s most obese nations. And it’s all because of a love of sugary drinks. They gulp down an average of 163 litres per year and per person, making Mexico the biggest consumer of sodas in the world. The government is tackling the epidemic head-on and wants to tax sugary drinks. Mexicans would have to pay an extra 8 US cents for every litre of sweetened drink. Soda producers are up in arms. 

“It is impossible to point out one particular factor, a particular product as being the main cause of overweight and obesity. We therefore believe there’s no ground on which such a tax can be justified.” 

But some scientists disagree. They say the link between obesity and excessive consumption of soda is obvious. 

“It’s not hard to make the link in a country which not only has the biggest consumption of sugary drinks but also the highest levels of obesity.” 

In Mexico, 14% of the population is diabetic and half a million people have died of the disease since 2006. A time bomb for the country’s health system. 

“On one side the health system has neither the resources nor the infrastructure to face the complications linked to overweight and obesity. On the other side, the financial cost for families can be very worrisome.” 

Many point the finger at Coca-Cola. The brand’s biggest factory in the world is located in Mexico and you can buy the drink even in the most isolated places. And it’s accused of dubious commercial methods. 

“Coca Cola is sold at a lower price than water. They do that because they know that soda is addictive. You can drink water from different brands, you can filter water but if you are used to Coca Cola, you won’t want to drink Pepsi, only Coca-Cola.” 

The industry is using its huge lobbying power to fight the soda tax so the fizz doesn’t go out of their business. 

Answers:

1. a

2. a

3. a

For information about eflex languages go to: http://www.eflexlanguages.com/

For a demonstration of our courses go to: http://www.eflexenglish.com/demo

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eflexlanguages

Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/eflexlanguages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehension: Soy: Argentina's Dangerous Savior

Soy has revolutionized the economies of South American countries like Brazil, Argentina Uruguay and Paraguay. Argentina is the world's number 3 soybean supplier and its top exporter of soymeal, used to feed cattle, and soyoil, used in the booming biofuels sector. As a result, the Argentine Pampa looks nothing like it did 20 years ago; soybean plantations have now replaced the fruit trees and cattle farming of previous years.

Watch the video and answer the questions below.  Decide if the statements are True or False.

1. Gustavo Marini still owns the land that belonged to his father.

a. True

b. False

2. The production of soy is nearly four times greater than it was fifteen years ago.

a. True

b. False

3. Corn and wheat are as profitable as soy.

a. True

b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers:

Until 7 years ago Gustavo Marini owned land with lemons trees near Rosario in Argentina. Inherited from his father, he spent his holidays there as a child and remembers it as a small paradise. 

 “There you had animals, your own little cow, your own pig, your chicken. It was a very different life from the one we have now because you could live with nature a lot more easily than my kids do now.” 

But Argentina’s economic reality ultimately caught up with him. Lemon trees just weren’t profitable so he was forced to sell up and buy another plot where he grows soy, the world’s green gold. 

 “I was basically the last one in this southern zone of the Santa Fe province who had lemons and then decided to change. The fact is that this land had a sentimental value to me so I tried to keep it until the very end.” 

Gustavo’s story is similar to many other cattle breeders or fruit growers in the Santa Fe region where many have either turned to soy or have been forced off the most fertile land. 

 “Economically, soy production is Argentina’s most important crop. Argentina has increased its production of soy in the past 15 years; it’s something that has two sub products which is oil and vegetable proteins. According to various studies, it represents about 10% of the country’s GDP.” 

Soy production has increased nearly fourfold in the past 15 years to reach 49 million tons this last year. The boom is mainly due to huge demand from rising powers like China and India. As their middle class grows, so does their consumption of meat and protein-rich soybean meal is a main staple in cattle feed. International soy prices on Rosario’s stock exchange have soared from about 150 dollars a ton a decade ago to more than 500 dollars today. Even though soy helped Argentina emerge from the economic crash in 2000, over-reliance on one main crop has risks. It depletes the land and exposes crops to a greater risk of disease. 

“We need rotation, specifically we need to combine cereals and oleaginous crops and I think that’s going to be one of the challenges that Argentina will have to meet in the future, through specific policies.” 

Gustavo rotates soybean with corn, to preserve his land’s productivity. But with corn and wheat considerably less profitable, many farmers focus solely on soy in a bid to maximize profits. But short term gain could potentially spell long term dangers for Argentina’s food security and its still struggling economy. 

Answers:

1. b

2. a

3. b

For information about eflex languages go to: http://www.eflexlanguages.com/

For a demonstration of our courses go to: http://www.eflexenglish.com/demo

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eflexlanguages

Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/eflexlanguages

Comprehension: Clockwork Precision on the Tokyo Subway

Tokyo's vast underground rail system might not be the prettiest in the world, but it is the busiest and almost certainly the most efficient. Everyday eight million people are transported around this vast subterranean jungle on a system that runs like a finely crafted Swiss watch.

Watch the video and answer the questions below.  Decide if the statements are True or False.


1. The employees of the underground system describe everything they are doing out loud.
a. True
b. False

2. All the train lines are owned by the state.
a. True
b. False

3. 2.6 million people use the trains every day.
a. True
b. False
  For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers:

White gloves, caps and carefully choreographed moves. Employees of the Tokyo Metro run this vast underground network with the precision of a musical conductor. Their unusual style consists of pointing and describing out loud every task they carry out, leaving no room for error. 

“Here in the Tokyo Metro, we have a five second margin for being on time. If we’re just a little late, we have to make up for it straight away. In this job, you have to have a mental clock ticking all the time.” 

Running this behemoth is no easy feat. Two metro systems sprawl underneath the Japanese capital. To complicate things, on the surface, private train lines wind their way in and out of the network. Overall around 26 million passengers use this transport web every day. 

“In between Toei, Tokyo Metro, Keio.., there are a lot of train operators. When you take the metro in Tokyo, you have to juggle between the different train companies and it’s hard to find your way around.” 

Every operator takes into account the other timetables to make sure commuters make their connections. A delay on one line can have a huge knock-on effect on the whole network of packed trains. 

“Every carriage is meant to take 150 passengers, which includes those sitting and standing. But at rush hour, we push capacity to 180 percent.” 

It might be a tight squeeze at times, but the Tokyo Metro is a well-oiled machine. For its employees, it’s obvious - the key to its success is simply Japanese work ethic. 

Answers:
1. a
2. b
3. b

For information about eflex languages go to: http://www.eflexlanguages.com/
For a demonstration of our courses go to: http://www.eflexenglish.com/demo
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eflexlanguages
Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/eflexlanguages

Idioms: Colour with answers

This week 'colour' is the theme of our idioms. Do you know what they mean?

 

 

For information about eflex languages go to: http://www.eflexlanguages.com/
For a demonstration of our courses go to: http://www.eflexenglish.com/demo
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eflexlanguages
Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/eflexlanguages

Comprehension: Sochi Aims to Improve Disabled Access for Olympics

Five months ahead of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, a major effort is underway to end Russia's image as a country unfriendly to people with limited mobility. 

Watch the video and answer the questions below.  Decide if the statements are True or False.

1. Sochi is making around 2,000 facilities suitable for disabled people.
a. True
b. False

2. The aim is to have all facilities for the winter Paralympics ready by December.
a. True
b. False

3. According to the authorities, the work is nearly finished.
a. True
b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers:

This is a big moment for Yevgeny.  Since falling from the 4th floor of a building, he has been wheelchair-bound and this is the first time he's visited the beach since his accident.

"After the accident I couldn't swim in the sea for 4 years. This year, thanks to this wheelchair, I'm able to swim like everyone else"

Ahead of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics which will take place in Sochi, Russia is keen to appear more disabled-friendly than it has been in the past.  Around 2,000 facilities - including hospitals, hotels and ATM's should be adapted by December to accommodate people with disabilities.  But 4 months ahead of the deadline and 6 months before the opening of the games, the Sochi authorities admit that only half of the work has been done and frustrations remain.

"Getting around the city is no different for me. Maybe it'll be fixed for the Olympics, but there's no barrier free environment here yet"

13 million disabled people live in Russia and many are largely confined to their homes as a result of inaccessible buildings and a lack of wheelchairs ramps.
After Russia’s ratification of the 2012 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities some NGOs hope the situation will improve throughout the country.

"When they say that everything's great in Sochi now, I say I agree, but it's only good for now, and it's not over yet and it must be better. And not only in Sochi, it should happen in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ivanovo, Arkhangelsk, Vladivostok - all over Russia. There should be no "oasis’" where everything's good"

While strides have been made by the Sochi authorities to make the city hospitable for disabled people, there's still a long way to go before all the necessary changes are in place - and remain in place -long after the Winter Olympic crowds have gone home.

Answers:
1. a
2. a
3. b

For information about eflex languages go to: http://www.eflexlanguages.com/
For a demonstration of our courses go to: http://www.eflexenglish.com/demo
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eflexlanguages
Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/eflexlanguages

Common Mistakes: 12

For information about eflex languages go to: http://www.eflexlanguages.com/
For a demonstration of our courses go to: http://www.eflexenglish.com/demo
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eflexlanguages

Comprehension: Sun, Sand, Surf and Radiation in Shadow of Fukushima

Pristine golden sands and towering waves, this Japanese beach resembles a surfers' paradise, but along the coast lurks Fukushima's crippled nuclear power plant.

Watch the video and answer the questions below.  Decide if the statements are True or False.

1. Toyoma is fifteen kilometres from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
a. True
b. False

2. TEPCO releases regular data on the contamination of the sea.
a. True
b. False

3. Before the disaster, Toyoma used to attract surfers from all over the world to compete in events.
a. True
b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers:

Pristine golden sands and towering waves, this Japanese beach resembles a surfers’ paradise. But along the coast lurks a silent danger. Toyoma lies just 50 kilometres from Fukushima’s crippled nuclear power plant. Yet, despite lingering fears of radiation, surfers still come, seeking to catch the latest swell. 

"I’m worried, but not enough to stop surfing. If I had to worry about what I ate or where I lived all the time I’d be too stressed. I just try not to think about it.” 

The plant went into meltdown in March 2011 after it was hit by a huge earthquake-generated tsunami. Operator TEPCO has faced repeated criticisms that it can’t cope with the vast volume of radioactive water at the site. 300 tonnes of toxic liquid escaped in a leak this month. TEPCO says some of that liquid may have flowed into the Pacific Ocean. 

"We, as an NGO, can get measurements of caesium done, but we have no access to the equipment for measuring the levels of tritium and strontium. It’s vital that TEPCO or the government releases regular and reliable data on the contamination by these isotopes." 

Before the disaster, surfers from around the world travelled to Toyoma to compete in events. Today, only a few locals frequent the beach and youngsters don’t tend to surf here anymore. The local economy’s been badly hit as a result. 

 “Since last year, surfers have begun to return little by little. But compared to three years ago my sales are down between 30 and 50 percent.” 

Of those that still surf here, some say they’ll stop if the situation at the plant worsens. But for others, the draw of the waves will always prove too strong. 

Answers:
1. b
2. b
3. a

For information about eflex languages go to: http://www.eflexlanguages.com/
For a demonstration of our courses go to: http://www.eflexenglish.com/demo
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eflexlanguages
Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/eflexlanguages

Phrasal Verbs with Answers: to grind

This week,'to grind' is the verb used to make our phrasal verbs. Do you know what they mean?

For information about eflex languages go to: http://www.eflexlanguages.com/
For a demonstration of our courses go to: http://www.eflexenglish.com/demo
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eflexlanguages
Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/eflexlanguages