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Lesson Info

Post Type
Article
Level
Level 2 / A2
Published
Title
Alzheimer's Drug Helps Mice
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-02-10-alzheimers-drug-helps-mice/

In this lesson:

  • Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
  • Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
  • Reading Read the main text.
  • Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Put Events in Order Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
  • Multiple Choice Check understanding.
  • Vocab Match Connect words to meanings.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: What do you think scientists need to learn next?

a) Whether mice can remember human faces.

b) Whether the drug may also help people.

c) Whether Alzheimer's can be spread between animals.

A brown mouse sitting in the gloved hand of a researcher.
Scientists were able to help mice.

Ask: (1) Do you have a good memory? (2) Have you ever heard of Alzheimer's disease?

VOCAB LIST

Disease (n.) ā€” A sickness that affects the body or mind.
Affect (v.) ā€” To change or have an effect on something.
Drug (n.) ā€” A medicine used to treat a sickness.
Function (n.) ā€” The way something works.
Memory (n.) ā€” The ability to remember things.
Energy (n.) ā€” The power your body needs to work and move.
Treatment (n.) ā€” Something done to make a sick person better.
Dementia (n.) ā€” When the brain stops working well.

Reading

Scientists say they brought back brain function in mice with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is a brain disease. It slowly takes away a person's memory and thinking. It mostly affects people over 65. It is the main cause of dementia (when the brain stops working well). More than 150 million people could have dementia by 2050.

The scientists tested a new drug on sick mice. The drug helped the mice's brains get energy again. Even very sick mice got better after the treatment. Their brains started working normally again.

The scientists tested the drug on two different groups of mice. In both groups, the drug stopped the disease or brought back brain function. The scientists now think that even very bad Alzheimer's can get better.

But the drug is not ready for people. Scientists still have to test it on humans. This is going to take many years. But for the first time, scientists believe they can do more than just slow Alzheimer's. They think they can bring back what the disease takes away.

Alzheimer's Drug Helps Mice

Level 2 Source: vice.com

Warm-up ā†’ Read & Listen ā†’ Check Understanding ā†’ Language ā†’ Use It

A brown mouse sitting in the gloved hand of a researcher.
Scientists were able to help mice.

Scientists say they brought back brain function in mice with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is a brain disease. It slowly takes away a person's memory and thinking. It mostly affects people over 65. It is the main cause of dementia (when the brain stops working well). More than 150 million people could have dementia by 2050.

The scientists tested a new drug on sick mice. The drug helped the mice's brains get energy again. Even very sick mice got better after the treatment. Their brains started working normally again.

The scientists tested the drug on two different groups of mice. In both groups, the drug stopped the disease or brought back brain function. The scientists now think that even very bad Alzheimer's can get better.

But the drug is not ready for people. Scientists still have to test it on humans. This is going to take many years. But for the first time, scientists believe they can do more than just slow Alzheimer's. They think they can bring back what the disease takes away.

Speaker: American Male  Duration: 1:28  Watch on YouTube

Two ways to use this audio:

  • Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
  • Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

Scientists say they brought back brain function in mice with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is a brain disease. It slowly takes away a person's (1) and thinking. It mostly affects people over 65. It is the main (2) of dementia (when the brain stops working well). More than 150 million people could have dementia by 2050.

The scientists tested a new drug on sick mice. The drug helped the mice's brains get (3) again. Even very sick mice got better after the treatment. Their brains started working normally again.

The scientists tested the drug on two different (4) of mice. In both groups, the drug stopped the disease or brought back brain function. The scientists now think that even very bad Alzheimer's can get better.

But the drug is not ready for people. Scientists still have to test it on humans. This is going to take many years. But for the first time, scientists believe they can do more than just (5) Alzheimer's. They think they can bring back what the disease takes away.

True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • Alzheimer's disease mostly affects people over 65.
    The article says it mostly affects people over 65.
  • The scientists tested the drug on humans.
    The article says the drug is not ready for people and scientists still have to test it on humans.
  • The drug is ready for people now.
    The article says the drug is not ready for people and testing on humans is going to take many years.

True or False

1. Alzheimer's disease mostly affects people over 65. TRUEFALSE True

2. The scientists tested the drug on humans. TRUEFALSE False

3. The drug is ready for people now. TRUEFALSE False

Put Events in Order

Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (4):

  • Scientists will test the drug on humans.
  • Scientists tested a new drug on sick mice.
  • In 2050, more than 150 million people could have dementia.
  • The drug helped the mice's brains get energy again.
  1. Scientists tested a new drug on sick mice.
  2. The drug helped the mice's brains get energy again.
  3. Scientists will test the drug on humans.
  4. In 2050, more than 150 million people could have dementia.

Multiple Choice

1. What did the new drug help the mice's brains do?

   a) Get energy againCorrect

   b) Grow bigger

   c) Make new cells

   d) Sleep better

2. How many people could have dementia by 2050?

   a) About 50 million

   b) About 100 million

   c) More than 150 millionCorrect

   d) More than 200 million

3. What do the scientists now believe they can do?

   a) Stop all brain diseases

   b) Help only young mice

   c) Slow Alzheimer's only

   d) Bring back what the disease takes awayCorrect

Vocab Match

Loading vocabulary activity...

Vocab Match

Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.

1. Diseasee) A sickness that affects the body or mind.

2. Memoryd) The ability to remember things.

3. Treatmentc) Something done to make a sick person better.

4. Functionb) The way something works.

5. Dementiaa) When the brain stops working well.

a) When the brain stops working well.

b) The way something works.

c) Something done to make a sick person better.

d) The ability to remember things.

e) A sickness that affects the body or mind.

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. More than 150 million people could have dementia by 2050. that is a very big number.

    I think, / But, / So,

    More than 150 million people could have dementia by 2050. I think, that is a very big number.

  2. Scientists need more time the drug is not ready for people.

    because / and / but

    Scientists need more time because the drug is not ready for people.

  3. The drug worked on very sick mice. scientists are very happy about the results.

    For example, / But, / So,

    The drug worked on very sick mice. So, scientists are very happy about the results.

Discussion Questions

  1. How does this article make you feel? Why?
  2. What things do you remember well?
  3. What kinds of things do you often forget?
  4. Are you worried about getting old?
  5. Who is the oldest person you know? How are they different from you?
  6. What do you do to keep your brain healthy?
  7. Have you ever taken care of a sick person? What was it like?
  8. Why do you think scientists test drugs on mice first?
  9. What other diseases do you think need more research?

Answers Alzheimer's Drug Helps Mice / Level 2

Think Ahead: b

Listening: (1) memory, (2) cause, (3) energy, (4) groups, (5) slow

True or False:

  1. True. The article says it mostly affects people over 65.
  2. False. The article says the drug is not ready for people and scientists still have to test it on humans.
  3. False. The article says the drug is not ready for people and testing on humans is going to take many years.

Multiple Choice: a, c, d

Put Events in Order:

  1. Scientists tested a new drug on sick mice.
  2. The drug helped the mice's brains get energy again.
  3. Scientists will test the drug on humans.
  4. In 2050, more than 150 million people could have dementia.

Vocabulary:

  1. Disease: A sickness that affects the body or mind.
  2. Memory: The ability to remember things.
  3. Treatment: Something done to make a sick person better.
  1. Function: The way something works.
  2. Dementia: When the brain stops working well.

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Opinion. 2) Reason. 3) Result.

  1. I think,
  2. because
  3. So,

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