Question

Mexican people have a tradition of greeting each other with handshakes and kisses on the cheek. But recently, government officials asked people to stop doing this. They have also closed schools and museums and advised people to stay at home.

    This is to prevent people from catching an infectious（傳染性的）disease，swine flu（豬流感）．The disease has spread（傳布、蔓延）over the country  in the past month．It has killed l59 people and caused 4，000 to become sick．

    Swine flu is a disease that causes respiratory illness in pigs．It spreads to people in two ways．They catch the virus（病毒）after being with infected pigs，or they get it from an infected person．

People who have caught swine flue will have fever，a cough a sore throat and body aches．In most cases，the infection make people unwell but their lives will not be in danger．

Since swine flu started in Mexico about a month ago，it has spread to a few other countries．The US has reported 65 cases and Canada has reported 13 cases．Other countries arc checking for possible cases．

Last week，the World Health Organization said the flu is a“public health emergency（緊急情況）”．

A few governments around the world have advised their people not to visit Mexico．Some countries have begun checking air travelers for the disease and have set up quarantines（隔離）for people who might be infected．Russia, China and other countries have stopped buying pork from Mexico，though the flu can not be caught by eating the meat．

1．Why are Mexican people stopped greeting each other in the traditional ways?

                                                                  

2．When did the disease start?

                                                                 

3．Usually, people’s lives won’t be in danger if they have caught the disease，will they?

                                                                  

4．How many cases have been reported in the world?

                                                                 

5．What has China done with the disease?

                                                                 

Answer 1

1．It is to prevent people from catching an infectious disease, swine flu / Because of an infectious disease, swine flu 

2．About a month ago       3．No, they won’t          4．4237 

5．China has topped buying pork from Mexico