The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the novel coronavirus (冠状病毒) outbreak a global public health emergency (突发事件) after the spread of the disease across the world. WHO made the decision in its third meeting about the coronavirus, after it decided not to take such a step in the first two meetings. It is considered to be a public health risk through the international spread of disease. It suggests a serious, sudden and unusual situation in which the world must act quickly. Since 2009, there have been a few global health emergencies, including the 2009 swine flu pandemic(猪流感) and the 2014 outbreak of ebola in West Africa.
The novel coronavirus has got attention because of its similarity to SARS which killed about 800 people across the world in 2002-2003. So far, the novel coronavirus does not seem to be as deadly as SARS, but there have been more cases. Its declaration could cause trade and travel restrictions (限制). Those who have made holiday plans might have their plans influenced in some parts of the world. The WHO said its greatest worry was the potential (潜在性) for the virus to spread to counties with weaker health systems, who might not be able to deal with it. “We are all in this together and we can only stop it together,” said the WHO’s Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
When the virus hit China, many companies that make cars, smartphones and clothes started making face masks, too. Daddy Baby is a baby care company. It can make 700,000 masks each day. “We believe each mask we produce may save one more person,” said Lin Yangting. He is a manager at the company. When fighting the novel coronavirus, time is important. To save more lives, thousands of people work day and night. They build hospitals quickly, as well as make and transport medical things at a high speed. The surprising speed is a result of China’s unique system (独特的角度). With the Chinese speed, China has saved many patients.
1.What does the underlined phrase “take such a step” mean in the first paragraph?
A.Spread the coronavirus across the world.
B.Announce the coronavirus a global public health emergency.
C.Hold the third meeting about the coronavirus.
D.Restrict trade and travel across the world.
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.The 2009 swine flu pandemic was a global public health emergency,
B.SARS killed about 800 people across the world in 2009.
C.The new coronavirus has fewer cases than SARS.
D.The spread of the coronavirus has no risk.
3.What could the declaration of global public health emergency cause?
A.Bigger outbreak of the coronavirus. B.Trade and travel restrictions.
C.A weaker health system. D.Immediate stop of the coronavirus.
4.Why does WHO worry about the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems?
A.Because these countries don’t have the ability to deal with it.
B.Because these countries are not brave enough.
C.Because these countries won’t pay attention to it.
D.Because these countries have too many people.
5.Which of the following things is NOT done by Chinese in the passage?
A.Making face masks. B.Thousands of people work day and night.
C.Building hospitals quickly. D.People travel everywhere.