Unit 2
Health in Jordan: a report
student's book page 18, exercises 3+4
3 What do the words in bold from the report mean? Work in pairs.
sanitation: the systems which supply water and deal with human waste
dental: relating to teeth
immunisation: giving a substance to a person (often by needle) to prevent them from getting a particular disease
infant mortality: deaths amongst babies or very young children
work force: the people who are able to work
Academic skills: Writing a report
4 Read the report again and answer these questions.
1. What is the title of the report?
Health in Jordan: A report
2. What is the purpose of the sub-headings before different sections?
They tell the reader what the section will be about. If it is a very long report, they are very useful in helping the reader to find particular pieces of information and making the text easier to read.
3. What is the link between the introduction and the conclusion?
‘Health conditions are among the best in the Middle East’ and ‘Advances … have made our community healthier’ links with ‘excellent healthcare system’ and ‘contributing factors to Jordan’s healthy population growth’.
4. Is the language formal or informal? How can you tell?
The language is formal. There are no contractions; the sentences are quite long, with relative pronouns, etc.; the vocabulary is formal; there are linking expressions such as As a result of, According to and Although; the statistics included add to the formality.
Quotation Student's book page 19
Read the quotation. Do you agree with it? Why/Why not?
"He who has health has hope; and he who has hope, has everything." Thomas Carlyle (1795 CE-1881 CE)
من يتمتع بالصحة يحدوه الأمل, ومن يحدوه الأمل لا ينقصه أي شيء يمتلك كل شيء
The quotation is stressing the importance of health through emphasising that it is possible to feel optimistic about the future when one is healthy. Hope for the future and a positive attitude are seen as, overall, the most important things in life.
I partly agree that he who has hope has everything because health is a blessing to enjoy. However, disabled people with hope proved that hope is prior to other things, thus, it is a matter of individual attitude.