The common cold

 

The common cold

 

The common cold, also known simply as the cold, is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the nose. It is also possible that the throat, sinuses, and voice box get also affected. It is the most frequent infectious disease in humans. The average adult gets two to four colds a year, while the average child may get six to eight. They occur more commonly during the winter. These infections have been with humanity throughout history.

 

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms may begin less than two days following exposure. They include coughing, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, headache, and fever. People usually recover in seven to ten days. Some symptoms may last up to three weeks. In those with other health problems, pneumonia may occasionally develop.

Cause

Well over 200 virus strains are implicated in the cause of the common cold; the rhinoviruses are the most common. They spread through the air during close contact with infected people and indirectly through contact with infected objects. Risk factors include going to daycare, not sleeping well, and psychological stress. Symptoms are mostly due to the body's immune response to the infection rather than to tissue destruction by the viruses themselves.

Influenza versus the common cold

In the early stages of infection, it can be difficult to distinguish between the common cold and influenza. The latter is commonly referred to as the flu and is usually a more severe disease than the cold. In fact, influenza is a mixture of symptoms of common cold and pneumonia. Influenza patients may suffer from fever, body aches, headache, diarrhea, sore throat, runny nose, vomiting, and fatigue.

Treatment of the common cold

There is no vaccine for the common cold. The primary methods of prevention are the following: hand washing; not touching the eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands; and staying away from other sick people. Some evidence supports the importance of using face masks.

 

No cure for the common cold exists, but the symptoms can be treated. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen may help with pain. Antibiotics should not be used. In addition, evidence from research does not support any benefit from cough medicines.

Source: https://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/reading-the-common-cold.php

Reading A2: Study skills tips – 1

 

Reading A2: Study skills tips – 1

 

Many studies about language learning ask the question: What makes a good language learner? There are some things that good language learners do and some things they don’t do. Here are some of the most useful suggestions from studies.

·         Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. People often get things wrong. Good language learners notice their mistakes and learn from them.

·         Do group activities. People use language to communicate with other people. A good language learner always looks for opportunities to talk with other students.

·         Make notes during every class. Notes help you to remember new language. Look at your notes when you do your homework.

·         Use a dictionary. Good language learners often use dictionaries to check the meaning of words they don’t know. They also make their own vocabulary lists.

·         Think in the language you’re learning outside the classroom. When you’re shopping or walking down the street, remember useful words and phrases. Sometimes, when you’re at home, say new words to practice your pronunciation.

·         Do extra practice. Test and improve your language, reading and listening skills with self-study material. You can find a lot of this online.

·         Imagine yourself speaking in the language. Many good language learners can see and hear themselves speaking in the language. This helps their motivation.

·         Enjoy the process. Good language learners have fun with the language. Watch a TV series or film, listen to songs, play video games or read a book. It’s never too late to become a good language learner.

 

Source: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading/pre-intermediate-a2/study-skills-tips