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Understanding the End of Pandemics An Insightful Discussion

By Mochi / May 8, 2025

Understanding the End of Pandemics: An Insightful Discussion

In this episode of ‘6 Minute English’ from BBC Learning English, the hosts Sam and Neil discuss the end of pandemics, drawing parallels with the Covid-19 situation and historical pandemics. They explore the concept of a pandemic’s social ending and how societies adapt to live with diseases.

Today’s movie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyC762eWXzo

Listening Quiz

Let’s test your understanding of the discussion with some questions.

Q1: Which disease was eradicated in 1977?

Cholera
Polio
Smallpox
None of the above

Smallpox was the disease that was eradicated in 1977. It no longer occurs naturally.

Q2: What does ‘declare victory’ mean?

To win a battle
To announce something is finished before it actually is
To celebrate a win
To accept defeat

‘Declare victory’ means to announce something to be finished before it actually is. It’s often used when something looks ‘good enough’.

Q3: What does ‘bury your head in the sand’ mean?

To ignore the situation
To accept the truth
To refuse to accept or look at a situation you don’t like
To find a solution

The idiom ‘bury your head in the sand’ means to refuse to accept or look at a situation you don’t like.

Q4: What does ‘death sentence’ mean in the context of pandemics?

An incurable disease
The punishment for a crime
A chronic disease
A disease that can be controlled

In the context of pandemics, ‘death sentence’ refers to an incurable disease.

Q5: What is a chronic disease?

A disease that lasts for a long time
A disease that can be cured
A disease that is fatal
A disease that is contagious

A chronic disease is one which lasts for a long time, often a lifetime.

Vocabulary

Here are some of the key vocabulary used in the episode.

Eradicate

Eradicate: To completely get rid of something, such as a disease.
The goal is to eradicate malaria from the world.

Declare victory

Declare victory: To announce something to be finished before it actually is.
The company declared victory after launching its new product.

Prematurely

Prematurely: Doing something too soon, before it’s the best time to do it.
He announced his retirement prematurely due to health issues.

Bury your head in the sand

Bury your head in the sand: To refuse to accept or look at a situation you don’t like.
You can’t just bury your head in the sand and ignore the problem.

Chronic

Chronic: Lasting for a long time or constantly recurring.
Diabetes is a chronic disease.