Learning English

Supercharged antibiotics

Scientists from the USA have upgraded an old antibiotic making it 1000 times more powerful!

Language challenge

American scientists have developed a ground-breaking antibiotic to use against bacterial infections. But what does ground-breaking mean?

a) causing the ground to crack
b) a new development with significant consequences
c) the result of many hours of hard work

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The story

Scientists say they’ve created a ground-breaking new version of a life-saving antibiotic. They say the discovery will boost their battle against infections that are resistant to antibiotics, one of the biggest threats to global health.

The researchers in the United States modified an existing medicine, vancomycin, making it about a thousand times more powerful.

Key words and phrases

hail
publicly praise

supercharge
make more powerful

packs a punch
has great effect or power

To do

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Downloads

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Language challenge - answer

b) a new development with significant consequences

End of Session 2

Join us in Session 3 for Pronunciation in the News - our video which teaches you pronunciation using the latest BBC World News bulletins.