Word List
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v. To certify something means to confirm that its results are true.The photograph on her passport certified that she was indeed Jolene Sawyer.
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adj. The parts of a coherent plan fit well together.This was a coherent program for solving the flooding problem.
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v. To collaborate means to work together on something.When they collaborated, they managed to finish their chores early.
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v. To compile things means to collect a variety of them into a group.She compiled a list of people who she wanted to attend her birthday party.
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v. To curb something means to prevent it from happening or increasing.She curbed her anger by listening to a relaxing song.
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v. To diagnose someone means to identify the medical condition they have.Several of the children were diagnosed with the flu.
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v. To enact something means to make it into a law.The council enacted a law that would only allow buses to drive downtown.
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n. A federation is a group of states or businesses working for a common cause.The United Nations is a federation designed to prevent war, disease, and famine.
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adj. If something is gross, then it is disgusting.The food was so gross that the dog couldn't eat it without feeling sick.
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adj. If something is humane, then it is good and kind.Helping build homes for poor people is very humane.
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adj. If someone is needy, they are very poor.After he lost his job, he became very needy.
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n. The onset of something unpleasant is the beginning of it.At the onset of the battle, the enemy wasn't prepared for such a large attack.
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v. To pledge means to make a promise to do something.Her mother pledged that she would find her daughter's lost kitten.
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v. To prohibit something means to not allow it.She prohibited the students from speaking until their work was done.
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v. To render something means to make it become something else.His report was rendered unimportant by the release of new information.
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n. Smallpox is a disease that causes tiny bumps on the skin and high fevers.When she saw the tiny bumps, she thought her son might have smallpox.
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v. To transform something is to change it in a very significant way.The education system has been completely transformed.
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v. To transmit something means to pass it from one person or place to another.The radio tower transmits a signal to all the radios in a 20-kilometer radius.
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v. To vow means to make a promise to do something.Before they are allowed to work, all senators must vow to never accept bribes.
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adj. Something that is widespread is spread widely across the world.It is a widespread belief that colds are caused by cold weather.
Exercise
A ‣ Circle the one that is similar in meaning to the given word.
- federation
- a. motion
- b. union
- c. suction
- d. tension
- render
- a. stop
- b. tear
- c. rent
- d. make
- smallpox
- a. disease
- b. match
- c. arrive
- d. hide
- curb
- a. drain
- b. excuse
- c. prevent
- d. breathe
- diagnose
- a. smell
- b. continue
- c. extend
- d. identify
- certify
- a. apply
- b. reduce
- c. confirm
- d. listen
- coherent
- a. well used
- b. well planned
- c. difficult
- d. easy
- needy
- a. poor
- b. sweet
- c. moist
- d. short
- onset
- a. fork
- b. show
- c. light
- d. start
- collaborate
- a. cooperate
- b. estimate
- c. understand
- d. determine
B ‣ Circle the one that is opposite in meaning to the given word.
- enact
- a. open
- b. travel
- c. cancel
- d. recline
- widespread
- a. common
- b. washable
- c. local
- d. honorable
- pledge
- a. lie
- b. write
- c. throw
- d. fall
- transform
- a. pretend
- b. arrange
- c. maintain
- d. repair
- vow
- a. command
- b. gather
- c. elect
- d. deceive
- prohibit
- a. examine
- b. undo
- c. allow
- d. chew
- transmit
- a. ride
- b. hold
- c. dig
- d. burn
- gross
- a. little
- b. similar
- c. powerful
- d. pretty
- compile
- a. tower
- b. scatter
- c. mound
- d. dinner
- humane
- a. hairy
- b. kind
- c. close
- d. cruel
C ‣ Write a word that is similar in meaning to the underlined part.
- The new law will make the schools less effective at teaching certain subjects. _____
- Some countries have a larger population of poor citizens than other countries do. _____
- The teachers collected the names of all the students who passed the test in her book. _____
- If you touch that plant, you might get a sore and infected area of skin that itches badly. _____
- The doctor identified her illness as being only a mild stomach flu. _____
- I don't like those kinds of movies because they have scenes that are really disgusting. _____
- Many diseases are passed from one person to another when they shake hands. _____
- The companies agreed that it would be cheaper to ship the fruit if they formed a group. _____
- Her treatment of the patients was good and kind, and they seemed to heal much faster. _____
- The two artists decided to work together on their next series of sculptures. _____
The End of Smallpox
Smallpox was once the most deadly widespread disease in the world. During the 1800s, more than 20 million people got the disease every year. Of those, nearly half died. At the onset of smallpox, people suffered from high fevers, headaches, vomiting, and aching muscles. Yet, the worst symptom of all was the irritation over the entire body. Those who survived the disease were often rendered blind or left with gross scars on their face and body.
Today, however, cases of smallpox are very rare due to the work of many countries during the late 1900s. This federation of countries collaborated to completely destroy smallpox. Early in the century, wealthy countries in Europe and North America had developed a substance that made the body immune to smallpox. They had required all their citizens to get this vaccine to fight the disease. Hence, the people of these countries no longer had to worry about smallpox.
However, many of the needy people in poorer parts of the world still suffered from the disease. Their countries could not afford the vaccine nor supply enough doctors to curb the spread of smallpox.
In 1950, the wealthier countries of the world vowed to rid the world of the disease. They worked out a coherent strategy to do this. They pledged to supply the vaccine to any country that could not afford it. Scientists compiled lists of areas where the disease still thrived. Then doctors diagnosed people who had the disease in these areas. They enacted laws that prohibited people with smallpox from mixing with those who did not. In this way, they could not transmit the disease to others. Then the doctors gave all of them the vaccine.
It took a long time and a lot of work. But nearly thirty years later, on December 9, 1979, a group of scientists certified that smallpox had been successfully stopped. The humane efforts of people from all over the world had accomplished a great task and transformed people's lives.
Reading Comprehension
Part A: Mark each statement T for true or F for false. Rewrite the false statements to make them true.
- _____ In the 1800s, more than 20 million people were diagnosed with smallpox each year.
__________ - _____ Smallpox rendered people bald and left gross scars.
__________ - _____ Laws were enacted to prohibit sick people from mixing with healthy people.
__________ - _____ The wealthier countries pledged to give North America a vaccine to fight smallpox.
__________ - _____ The humane efforts of people everywhere helped to successfully stop smallpox.
__________
Part B: Answer the questions.
- What is the passage about?
- a. Dying from a disease
- b. Giving medicine to poor countries
- c. Getting rid of a disease
- d. Traveling the world
- What did the federation of countries collaborate in order to do?
_____ - Why couldn't the needy peoples' countries curb the spread of smallpox?
_____
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