Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, gives a convincing argument of why we all should start doing something to protect ourselves from an epidemic.  Listen and judge for yourself.

Preview the vocabulary below, and then do the exercise by first reading a single question and then listening for the answer.  When you hear the answer, pause the video and answer the question.  Then read the next question and do the same thing.

Vocabulary:

hunker down: stay underground
global: worldwide
catastrophe: action that kills many people
virus: microscopic life that can kill
missiles: rockets that can deliver bombs
microbes: very small life forms
deterents: things that stop something from happening
epidemic: a widespread disease
polio: a childhood disease that causes muscle weakness
eradication: destruction, thorough killing
Medecins Sans Frontiers: Doctors Without Borders
diagnostics: tools to find out about the disease
plasma: the liquid part of blood
devastating: destroying, killing
contagious: able to pass from one person to another
urban areas: cities
infectious: able to make people sick
vaccines: treatments that prevent people from getting a disease
pathogen: microorganism that kills
reserves: regular people who are all ready to fight
expertise: expert knowledge
logistics: moving things to where they’re needed
simulations: actions that are like the real thing
equity: quality of being fair and equal