The Reading / Listening - Babies - Level 3

The world's smallest baby has left hospital after 13 months. Baby Kwek Yu Xuan weighed just 212 grams when she was born at the Singapore National University Hospital on June the 9th, 2020. She was born prematurely at around 25 weeks. This is a lot earlier than the standard 40 weeks. She measured just 24 centimeters. When she was born, doctors gave her a "limited chance of survival". She spent over a year in hospital. Expert baby doctors did everything they could to keep Yu Xuan alive. Her doctors said: "We are happy for the little fighter and her family, and proud of the care provided by our team. Our best wishes to little Yu Xuan as she continues to grow, thrive and beat the odds every day."

Yu Xuan's mother thanked hospital staff for keeping her daughter alive. She gave birth to Yu Xuan early because she had dangerously high blood pressure. She said: "We are very grateful to the doctors and nurses of the hospital neonatal intensive care unit team for the attentive and wonderful medical care and treatment of Yu Xuan." There is a long journey ahead for Yu Xuan as she recovers. She has a serious lung disease and other medical problems. She has a special machine at home to help her breathe. Her doctors said she would slowly get better with time. They added: "She has inspired people around her with her perseverance." They called her "an extraordinary 'Covid-19' baby" and "a ray of hope".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Babies - Level 0,  Babies - Level 1   or  Babies - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.newsweek.com/smallest-baby-ever-weigh-apple-hospital-singapore-1617455
  • https://www.foxnews.com/health/worlds-smallest-infant-discharged-hospital-13-months
  • https://metro.co.uk/2021/08/09/smallest-ever-newborn-is-allowed-home-after-13-months-in-hospital-15061335/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. BABIES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about babies. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       baby / hospital / prematurely / standard / chance / survival / year / doctors / team /
       staff / early / grateful / intensive care / treatment / lung / breathe / time / ray of hope
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. CUTEST: Students A strongly believe there is nothing on Earth cuter than a baby; Students B strongly believe there are many things. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SURVIVAL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "survival". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

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5. BABIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about babies at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • their laugh
  • their smile
  • sleeping
  • first steps
  • first words
  • when they cry
  • play time
  • food time

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. weighed a. An idea or thing used as a measure, norm, or model.
      2. prematurely b. How heavy or light someone or something is in grams, kilograms, tons, etc.
      3. standard c. Found out the size, amount, or degree of something.
      4. measured d. Restricted in size, amount, or extent.
      5. limited e. Happening before it was time to happen.
      6. survival f. Do very well and grow and do better.
      7. thrive g. Being able to live or exist, usually after accident, ordeal, or other difficult things.

    Paragraph 2

      8. blood pressure h. Happy or thankful to or for something or someone.
      9. grateful i. Become well after an illness or injury.
      10. attentive j. How fast or slow blood moves around the body.
      11. treatment k. Paying close attention to something.
      12. recover l. Take air into the lungs and then let it out.
      13. breathe m. Medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury.
      14. perseverance n. Keep going 100% in doing something despite difficulty or delay.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The world's smallest baby weighed less than 250 grams at birth.     T / F
  2. The baby was born prematurely during week 35.     T / F
  3. The baby measured less than 25cm when she was born.     T / F
  4. Doctors said the baby beat the odds on a daily basis.     T / F
  5. The baby's mother suffered from seriously low blood pressure.     T / F
  6. The baby is going on a long journey with her parents.     T / F
  7. The baby needs a machine to help her to breathe.     T / F
  8. Her doctors nicknamed the baby "ray of sunshine".     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. smallest
  2. prematurely
  3. standard
  4. limited
  5. thrive
  6. dangerously
  7. attentive
  8. recovers
  9. inspired
  10. extraordinary
  1. do well
  2. poor
  3. before time
  4. gets better
  5. focused
  6. encouraged
  7. tiniest
  8. remarkable
  9. perilously
  10. usual

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. She was born prematurely
  2. doctors gave her a limited chance
  3. proud of the care provided
  4. Our best wishes
  5. beat the
  6. thanked hospital staff for keeping
  7. she had dangerously high
  8. medical
  9. She has a special machine at home
  10. a ray
  1. of survival
  2. of hope
  3. her daughter alive
  4. at around 25 weeks
  5. care
  6. to little Yu Xuan
  7. by our team
  8. to help her breathe
  9. odds
  10. blood pressure

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
prematurely
alive
left
odds
measured
just
proud
survival

The world's smallest baby has (1) _____________________ hospital after 13 months. Baby Kwek Yu Xuan weighed (2) _____________________ 212 grams when she was born at the Singapore National University Hospital on June the 9th, 2020. She was born (3) _____________________ at around 25 weeks. This is a lot earlier than the standard 40 weeks. She (4) _____________________ just 24 centimeters. When she was born, doctors gave her a "limited chance of (5) _____________________ ". She spent over a year in hospital. Expert baby doctors did everything they could to keep Yu Xuan (6) _____________________. Her doctors said: "We are happy for the little fighter and her family, and (7) _____________________ of the care provided by our team. Our best wishes to little Yu Xuan as she continues to grow, thrive and beat the (8) _____________________ every day."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
medical
care
thanked
inspired
pressure
breathe
ray
journey

Yu Xuan's mother (9) _____________________ hospital staff for keeping her daughter alive. She gave birth to Yu Xuan early because she had dangerously high blood (10) _____________________. She said: "We are very grateful to the doctors and nurses of the hospital neonatal intensive (11) _____________________ unit team for the attentive and wonderful medical care and treatment of Yu Xuan." There is a long (12) _____________________ ahead for Yu Xuan as she recovers. She has a serious lung disease and other (13) _____________________ problems. She has a special machine at home to help her (14) _____________________. Her doctors said she would slowly get better with time. They added: "She has (15) _____________________ people around her with her perseverance." They called her "an extraordinary 'Covid-19' baby" and "a (16) _____________________ of hope".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Baby Kwek Yu Xuan weighed just 212 grams when ______
     a.  she was birth
     b.  she was age
     c.  she was arrived
     d.  she was born
2)  born prematurely at around 25 weeks. This is a lot earlier than the ______
     a.  stand aid 40 weeks
     b.  standing 40 weeks
     c.  standard 40 weeks
     d.  stands did 40 weeks
3)  When she was born, doctors gave her a "limited ______"
     a.  chanced of survival
     b.  chance of survival
     c.  chance off survival
     d.  chanced off survival
4)  and her family, and proud of the care provided ______
     a.  buy our team
     b.  by our teamed
     c.  by our team
     d.  by our teaming
5) Our best wishes to little Yu Xuan as she continues to grow, thrive and beat the ______
     a.  odd every day
     b.  odds ever day
     c.  odds ever the day
     d.  odds every day

6)  Yu Xuan's mother thanked hospital staff for keeping ______
     a.  her daughter alive
     b.  her daughter live
     c.  her daughter lively
     d.  her daughter arrive
7)  She gave birth to Yu Xuan early because she had dangerously ______
     a.  high bloody pressure
     b.  height blood pressure
     c.  highly blood pressure
     d.  high blood pressure
8)  grateful to the doctors and nurses of the hospital neonatal ______
     a.  intensive care unit
     b.  intensively care unit
     c.  in tents sieve care unit
     d.  intense sieve care unit
9)  There is a long journey ahead for Yu Xuan ______
     a.  as he recovers
     b.  and she recovers
     c.  as she recovers
     d.  as she recover
10)  They called her "an extraordinary 'Covid-19' baby" and "a ______"
     a.  ray off hope
     b.  rate of hope
     c.  lay off hope
     d.  ray of hope

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The world's smallest baby (1) ____________________ after 13 months. Baby Kwek Yu Xuan weighed just 212 (2) ____________________ was born at the Singapore National University Hospital on June the 9th, 2020. She was born prematurely at around 25 weeks. This is (3) ____________________ than the standard 40 weeks. She measured just 24 centimeters. When she was born, doctors gave her a "limited (4) ____________________". She spent over a year in hospital. Expert baby doctors did everything they could to keep Yu Xuan alive. Her doctors said: "We are happy for (5) ____________________ and her family, and proud of the care provided by our team. Our best wishes to little Yu Xuan as she continues to grow, (6) ____________________ the odds every day."

Yu Xuan's mother thanked hospital staff for (7) ____________________ alive. She gave birth to Yu Xuan early because she had dangerously (8) ____________________. She said: "We are very grateful to the doctors and nurses of the hospital neonatal intensive (9) ____________________ for the attentive and wonderful medical care and treatment of Yu Xuan." There is a long journey ahead for Yu Xuan (10) ____________________. She has a serious lung disease and other medical problems. She has a special machine at home to (11) ____________________. Her doctors said she would slowly get better with time. They added: "She has inspired people around her with her perseverance." They called her "an extraordinary 'Covid-19' baby" and "a (12) ____________________".

Comprehension questions

  1. What was the baby's birth weight?
  2. When was the baby born?
  3. How long was she when she was born?
  4. What chance did doctors giver her to survive?
  5. What did a doctor say the baby beat every day?
  6. What was the mother's blood pressure like when the baby was born?
  7. What kind of journey does the baby have ahead of her?
  8. What does the baby have at home to help her breathe?
  9. Who did doctors say the baby inspired?
  10. What did doctors call the baby, besides extraordinary?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What was the baby's birth weight?
a) 211 grams
b) 212 grams
c) 213 grams
d) 214 grams
2) When was the baby born?
a) June the 6th, 2020
b) June the 7th, 2020
c) June the 8th, 2020
d) June the 9th, 2020
3) How long was she when she was born?
a) 24 centimeters
b) 23 centimeters
c) 22 centimeters
d) 25 centimeters
4) What chance did doctors giver her to survive?
a) fifty-fifty
b) a good chance
c) a limited chance
d) almost no chance
5) What did a doctor say the baby beat every day?
a) her heart
b) the odds
c) a drum
d) the bed

6) What was the mother's blood pressure like when the baby was born?
a) 115/70
b) very low
c) dangerously high
d) normal
7) What kind of journey does the baby have ahead of her?
a) a healthy one
b) an exciting one
c) a bumpy one
d) a long one
8) What does the baby have at home to help her breathe?
a) a special machine
b) oxygen cylinders
c) an inhaler
d) a special tent
9) Who did doctors say the baby inspired?
a) people around her
b) other babies
c) nurses
d) other patients
10) What did doctors call the baby, besides extraordinary?
a) a wonder
b) a ray of hope
c) magical
d) a miracle

Role play

Role  A – Laughter
You think laughter is the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): sleeping, first words or play time.

Role  B – Sleeping
You think sleeping is the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): laughter, first words or play time.

Role  C – First Words
You think first words is the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): sleeping, laughter or play time.

Role  D – Play Time
You think play time is the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why):  sleeping, first words or laughter.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'baby'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'hospital'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • left
    • just
    • 40
    • over
    • happy
    • odds
    • alive
    • high
    • unit
    • long
    • machine
    • ray

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Babies

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'baby'?
    3. What do you think of babies?
    4. How much of a miracle story is this?
    5. What kind of baby were you?
    6. How hard is it to look after a baby?
    7. What would it be like to be a baby doctor?
    8. Would you like to be a baby doctor?
    9. Have you ever beaten the odds?
    10. What advice do you have for the baby's mother?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'hospital'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What dangers to newborn babies experience?
    5. What do you know about high blood pressure?
    6. How is the medical care in your country?
    7. How inspirational is the baby?
    8. What three adjectives best describe this story?
    9. What do you think of doctors and nurses?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the parents?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The world's smallest baby has left hospital (1) ____ 13 months. Baby Kwek Yu Xuan weighed just 212 grams when she was born at the Singapore National University Hospital on June the 9th, 2020. She was born (2) ____ at around 25 weeks. This is a lot earlier than the standard 40 weeks. She (3) ____ just 24 centimeters. When she was born, doctors gave her a "limited chance (4) ____ survival". She spent over a year in hospital. Expert baby doctors did everything they could to keep Yu Xuan alive. Her doctors said: "We are happy for the little fighter and her family, and (5) ____ of the care provided by our team. Our best wishes to little Yu Xuan as she continues to grow, thrive and beat the (6) ____ every day."

    Yu Xuan's mother thanked hospital staff (7) ____ keeping her daughter alive. She gave birth to Yu Xuan early because she had dangerously high blood pressure. She said: "We are very (8) ____ to the doctors and nurses of the hospital neonatal intensive care unit team for the attentive and wonderful medical care and treatment of Yu Xuan." There is a long journey (9) ____ for Yu Xuan as she recovers. She has a serious lung disease and other medical problems. She has a special machine at home to help her (10) ____. Her doctors said she would slowly get better with time. They added: "She has (11) ____ people around her with her perseverance." They called her "an extraordinary 'Covid-19' baby" and "a ray (12) ____ hope".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     then     (b)     following     (c)     post     (d)     after    
    2. (a)     mature     (b)     maturely     (c)     premature     (d)     prematurely    
    3. (a)     long     (b)     measured     (c)     length     (d)     average    
    4. (a)     for     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     on    
    5. (a)     proud     (b)     pride     (c)     prod     (d)     proudly    
    6. (a)     odds     (b)     strange     (c)     evens     (d)     fights    
    7. (a)     at     (b)     on     (c)     of     (d)     for    
    8. (a)     grateful     (b)     great     (c)     greatly     (d)     gratefully    
    9. (a)     heading     (b)     ahead     (c)     headed     (d)     header    
    10. (a)     breathless     (b)     breathy     (c)     breathe     (d)     breather     
    11. (a)     inspiration     (b)     inspiring     (c)     inspired     (d)     inspirational    
    12. (a)     lay     (b)     ray     (c)     bay     (d)     day

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. She was born reamyretplu at around 25 weeks
    2. a lot earlier than the drdaatns 40 weeks
    3. She aredsemu just 24 centimeters
    4. doctors gave her a limited chance of iasvvlur
    5. proud of the care oiervddp by our team
    6. grow, erthvi and beat the odds

    Paragraph 2

    1. keeping her drgaehtu alive
    2. dangerously high blood ueseprrs
    3. We are very luftgear to the doctors
    4. wonderful medical care and temrtntae
    5. There is a long uyjeonr ahead
    6. She has nrsiepdi people around her

    Put the text back together

    (...)  nurses of the hospital neonatal intensive care unit team for the attentive and wonderful medical care and
    (  1  ) The world's smallest baby has left hospital after 13 months. Baby Kwek Yu Xuan weighed just 212
    (...)  treatment of Yu Xuan." There is a long journey ahead for Yu Xuan as she recovers. She has a serious lung
    (...)  grams when she was born at the Singapore National University Hospital on June the 9th, 2020. She was born
    (...)  happy for the little fighter and her family, and proud of the care provided by our team. Our best
    (...)  wishes to little Yu Xuan as she continues to grow, thrive and beat the odds every day."
    (...)  24 centimeters. When she was born, doctors gave her a "limited chance of survival". She spent over
    (...)  disease and other medical problems. She has a special machine at home to help her breathe. Her doctors said she would
    (...)  perseverance." They called her "an extraordinary 'Covid-19' baby" and "a ray of hope".
    (...)  a year in hospital. Expert baby doctors did everything they could to keep Yu Xuan alive. Her doctors said: "We are
    (...)  slowly get better with time. They added: "She has inspired people around her with her
    (...)  prematurely at around 25 weeks. This is a lot earlier than the standard 40 weeks. She measured just
    (...)  Yu Xuan's mother thanked hospital staff for keeping her daughter alive. She gave birth to Yu Xuan
    (...)  early because she had dangerously high blood pressure. She said: "We are very grateful to the doctors and

    Put the words in the right order

    1. has   world's   smallest   baby   The   hospital   .   left
    2. around   was   at   She   25   weeks   .   prematurely   born
    3. than   40   earlier   standard   lot   weeks   .   A   the
    4. limited   Doctors   survival   .   gave   a   her   of   chance
    5. of   team   .   the   by   our   Proud   care   provided
    6. staff   keeping   alive   .   her   daughter   Thanked   for   hospital
    7. are   very   We   to   the   grateful   doctors   .
    8. is   There   long   a   her   .   journey   for   ahead
    9. has   home   special   help   at   a   She   machine   to
    10. has   her   .   They   inspired   people   she   around   said

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The world's smallest baby has leaving / left hospital after 13 months. Baby Kwek Yu Xuan weighed just 212 grams when she was birth / born at the Singapore National University Hospital on June the 9th, 2020. She was born prematurely at around 25 weeks. This is a lot / loads earlier than the standard 40 weeks. She measurement / measured just 24 centimeters. When she was born, doctors gave / giving her a "limited chance of / to survival". She spent / spends over a year in hospital. Expert baby doctors did everything they could to / for keep Yu Xuan alive. Her doctors said: "We are happy for the little fighter and her family, and proud / pride of the care provided by our team. Our best wishes to little Yu Xuan as she continues to grow, thrive and beat the evens / odds every day."

    Yu Xuan's mother thanked hospital staff for / to keeping her daughter alive. She gave birth to Yu Xuan early / fast because she had dangerously high blood pressuring / pressure. She said: "We are very grateful to the doctors and nurses of the hospital neonatal intensive care unit team for the attention / attentive and wonderful medical care and treatment of Yu Xuan." There is a long journey ahead / heading for Yu Xuan as she recovers. She has a serious lung disease and other medical problems / problematic. She has a special machine in / at home to help her breathe. Her doctors said she would slowly get better / best with time. They added: "She has inspiration / inspired people around her with her perseverance." They naming / called her "an extraordinary 'Covid-19' baby" and "a ray of hope / hopeful".

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_  w_rld's  sm_ll_st  b_by  h_s  l_ft  h_sp_t_l  _ft_r  13  m_nths.  B_by  Kw_k  Y_  X__n  w__gh_d  j_st  212  gr_ms  wh_n  sh_  w_s  b_rn  _t  th_  S_ng_p_r_  N_t__n_l  _n_v_rs_ty  H_sp_t_l  _n  J_n_  th_  9th  2020.  Sh_  w_s  b_rn  pr_m_t_r_ly  _t  _r__nd  25  w__ks.  Th_s  _s  _  l_t  __rl__r  th_n  th_  st_nd_rd  40  w__ks.  Sh_  m__s_r_d  j_st  24  c_nt_m_t_rs.  Wh_n  sh_  w_s  b_rn,  d_ct_rs  g_v_  h_r  _  "l_m_t_d  ch_nc_  _f  s_rv_v_l".  Sh_  sp_nt  _v_r  _  y__r  _n  h_sp_t_l.  _xp_rt  b_by  d_ct_rs  d_d  _v_ryth_ng  th_y  c__ld  t_  k__p  Y_  X__n  _l_v_.  H_r  d_ct_rs  s__d:  "W_  _r_  h_ppy  f_r  th_  l_ttl_  f_ght_r  _nd  h_r  f_m_ly,  _nd  pr__d  _f  th_  c_r_  pr_v_d_d  by  __r  t__m.  __r  b_st  w_sh_s  t_  l_ttl_  Y_  X__n  _s  sh_  c_nt_n__s  t_  gr_w,  thr_v_  _nd  b__t  th_  _dds  _v_ry  d_y."

    Y_  X__n's  m_th_r  th_nk_d  h_sp_t_l  st_ff  f_r  k__p_ng  h_r  d__ght_r  _l_v_.  Sh_  g_v_  b_rth  t_  Y_  X__n  __rly  b_c__s_  sh_  h_d  d_ng_r__sly  h_gh  bl__d  pr_ss_r_.  Sh_  s__d:  "W_  _r_  v_ry  gr_t_f_l  t_  th_  d_ct_rs  _nd  n_rs_s  _f  th_  h_sp_t_l  n__n_t_l  _nt_ns_v_  c_r_  _n_t  t__m  f_r  th_  _tt_nt_v_  _nd  w_nd_rf_l  m_d_c_l  c_r_  _nd  tr__tm_nt  _f  Y_  X__n."  Th_r_  _s  _  l_ng  j__rn_y  _h__d  f_r  Y_  X__n  _s  sh_  r_c_v_rs.  Sh_  h_s  _  s_r___s  l_ng  d_s__s_  _nd  _th_r  m_d_c_l  pr_bl_ms.  Sh_  h_s  _  sp_c__l  m_ch_n_  _t  h_m_  t_  h_lp  h_r  br__th_.  H_r  d_ct_rs  s__d  sh_  w__ld  sl_wly  g_t  b_tt_r  w_th  t_m_.  Th_y  _dd_d:  "Sh_  h_s  _nsp_r_d  p__pl_  _r__nd  h_r  w_th  h_r  p_rs_v_r_nc_."  Th_y  c_ll_d  h_r  "_n  _xtr__rd_n_ry  'C_v_d-19'  b_by"  _nd  "_  r_y  _f  h_p_".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the world's smallest baby has left hospital after 13 months. baby kwek yu xuan weighed just 212 grams when she was born at the singapore national university hospital on june the 9th, 2020. she was born prematurely at around 25 weeks. this is a lot earlier than the standard 40 weeks. she measured just 24 centimeters. when she was born, doctors gave her a "limited chance of survival". she spent over a year in hospital. expert baby doctors did everything they could to keep yu xuan alive. her doctors said: "we are happy for the little fighter and her family, and proud of the care provided by our team. our best wishes to little yu xuan as she continues to grow, thrive and beat the odds every day."

    yu xuan's mother thanked hospital staff for keeping her daughter alive. she gave birth to yu xuan early because she had dangerously high blood pressure. she said: "we are very grateful to the doctors and nurses of the hospital neonatal intensive care unit team for the attentive and wonderful medical care and treatment of yu xuan." there is a long journey ahead for yu xuan as she recovers. she has a serious lung disease and other medical problems. she has a special machine at home to help her breathe. her doctors said she would slowly get better with time. they added: "she has inspired people around her with her perseverance." they called her "an extraordinary 'covid-19' baby" and "a ray of hope".

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Theworld'ssmallestbabyhaslefthospitalafter13months.BabyKwekY
    uXuanweighedjust212gramswhenshewasbornattheSingaporeNatio
    nalUniversityHospitalonJunethe9th2020.Shewasbornprematurelya
    taround25weeks.Thisisalotearlierthanthestandard40weeks.Sheme
    asuredjust24centimeters.Whenshewasborn,doctorsgavehera"limit
    edchanceofsurvival".Shespentoverayearinhospital.Expertbabydoct
    orsdideverythingtheycouldtokeepYuXuanalive.Herdoctorssaid:"We
    arehappyforthelittlefighterandherfamily,andproudofthecareprovide
    dbyourteam.OurbestwishestolittleYuXuanasshecontinuestogrow,th
    riveandbeattheoddseveryday."YuXuan'smotherthankedhospitalsta
    ffforkeepingherdaughteralive.ShegavebirthtoYuXuanearlybecause
    shehaddangerouslyhighbloodpressure.Shesaid:"Weareverygratefu
    ltothedoctorsandnursesofthehospitalneonatalintensivecareunittea
    mfortheattentiveandwonderfulmedicalcareandtreatmentofYuXuan.
    "ThereisalongjourneyaheadforYuXuanassherecovers.Shehasaserio
    uslungdiseaseandothermedicalproblems.Shehasaspecialmachineat
    hometohelpherbreathe.Herdoctorssaidshewouldslowlygetbetterwit
    htime.Theyadded:"Shehasinspiredpeoplearoundherwithherpersev
    erance."Theycalledher"anextraordinary'Covid-19'baby"and"arayofhope".

    Free writing

    Write about babies for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    There is nothing cuter on Earth than a baby. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. BABIES: Make a poster about babies. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    5. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on babies. Ask him/her three questions about babies. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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