Some people have a problem where they can’t burp, and it makes them feel bad. This problem can make their stomachs hurt, make funny noises, and make them pass gas a lot. Because of this, they might feel shy or worried, and sometimes even sad. Doctors don’t always know about this problem, so the people who have it don’t get the help they need.

There’s a doctor who helps people with this burping problem by giving them a special shot called Botox. This shot makes it easier for them to burp and makes them feel much better. But not many people can get this shot because not enough doctors know about it. The doctor who gives the shot thinks more research and money should be spent to help these people.

Some researchers in Texas asked 199 people who can’t burp about their lives. They found out that not many doctors know about this burping problem. If more doctors knew about it, they could help more people. The study also showed that when people have problems that are hard for doctors to find, they can feel really stressed, so it’s important to think about how they feel inside, too.

Original news source: Non-burping can damage quality of life, researchers say (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out a word or phrase related to the article, such as “burp,” “stomachache,” or “Botox.” The other groups will guess what the word or phrase is. Encourage students to use gestures and body language to convey the meaning without speaking.

– News Summary
Instructions: Ask students to individually write a summary of the article in their own words. They should focus on the main points and key information. After a few minutes, have students pair up and share their summaries with each other. Then, ask a few students to share their partner’s summary with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of questions related to the article, such as “Do you think doctors should learn more about the burping problem?”, “Should more research and money be spent to help these people?”, and “Have you ever experienced a health problem that was difficult to diagnose?” Have students answer the questions individually, and then pair up to discuss their answers. Finally, hold a class discussion where students can share their opinions.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate slips of paper or index cards. Divide the class into small groups. One student from each group will pick a slip of paper and draw a picture representing the word without speaking. The other group members must guess the word based on the drawing. Rotate the roles within the group so that each student has a chance to draw.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Pose a question related to the article, such as “Why is it important for doctors to know about the burping problem?” Give students a few minutes to think about their answer individually. Then, have them pair up with a partner and share their thoughts. Finally, ask a few students to share their partner’s response with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the problem that some people have where they can’t burp?
2. How does this problem make them feel?
3. What is the special shot called that helps people with this problem?
4. Why can’t many people get the special shot?
5. What do the researchers in Texas want to do to help these people?
6. Why is it important for more doctors to know about this burping problem?
7. Why is it important to think about how these people feel inside?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Some people (1)______ a problem where they can’t burp, and it makes them feel bad. This problem can make their stomachs (2)______, make funny noises, and make them pass gas a lot. Because of this, they might feel shy or worried, and sometimes even sad. Doctors don’t always (3)______ about this problem, so the people who have it don’t get the help they need.

There’s a (4)______ who helps people with this burping problem by giving them a (5)______ (6)______ called Botox. This shot makes it easier for them to burp and makes them feel much better. But not many people can get this shot because not enough doctors know about it. The doctor who gives the shot thinks (7)______ research and money should be (8)______ to help these people.

Some (9)______ in Texas asked 199 people who can’t burp about their lives. They found out that not many doctors know about this (10)______ problem. If more doctors knew about it, they could help more (11)______. The study also showed that when people have problems that are hard for doctors to find, they can (12)______ really stressed, so it’s important to think about how they feel inside, too.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a burp?
2. How would you feel if you couldn’t burp?
3. Do you think it’s important for doctors to know about this burping problem? Why or why not?
4. What are some things that can happen if you can’t burp?
5. How do you think people with this problem might feel?
6. Do you think it’s fair that not many doctors know about this problem? Why or why not?
7. How do you think the special shot called Botox helps people who can’t burp?
8. Do you think more research and money should be spent to help people with this problem? Why or why not?
9. What did the researchers find out about doctors and this burping problem?
10. How do you think people feel when doctors can’t find their problems?
11. Why do you think it’s important to think about how people feel inside, even if their problems are hard to find?
12. Do you know anyone who has a problem like this? How do they feel about it?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. problem
2. stomachs
3. noises
4. pass gas
5. shy
6. worried
7. sad
8. Botox
9. research
10. stressed
11. researchers
12. important

Meanings:
(A) The part inside your body where food goes after you eat
(B) Sounds
(C) When air comes out from your body from the backside
(D) Something that is not right and can cause trouble or difficulty
(E) Thinking that something bad might happen
(F) Feeling unhappy
(G) Feeling a lot of pressure or worry
(H) Feeling nervous or embarrassed around other people
(I) Something that matters a lot or is very valuable
(J) Looking for new information about something by studying it
(K) A special medicine that doctors can use to help some people with their health
(L) People who study things to learn new facts
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What problem do some people have where they can’t burp?
(a) They can’t stop burping
(b) They can’t burp
(c) They can’t sneeze
(d) They can’t sleep

2. How does the burping problem make people feel?
(a) Happy
(b) Excited
(c) Bad
(d) Angry

3. What can the burping problem do to people’s stomachs?
(a) Make them hurt
(b) Make them grow bigger
(c) Make them disappear
(d) Make them turn green

4. What does the special shot called Botox do?
(a) Makes it harder to burp
(b) Makes people taller
(c) Makes people smarter
(d) Makes it easier to burp

5. Why can’t many people get the Botox shot?
(a) It’s too expensive
(b) Not enough doctors know about it
(c) It’s too painful
(d) It doesn’t work

6. What did the researchers in Texas find out about doctors and the burping problem?
(a) Not many doctors know about it
(b) All doctors know about it
(c) Doctors don’t care about it
(d) Doctors can’t help with it

7. How did the people in the study feel when doctors couldn’t find their problem?
(a) Relaxed
(b) Excited
(c) Bored
(d) Stressed

8. What does the doctor think should happen to help people with the burping problem?
(a) Nothing should be done
(b) People should just learn to live with it
(c) More research and money should be spent
(d) People should stop going to the doctor

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. A doctor can help people with this burping problem by giving them a special shot called Botox.
2. The doctor who gives the shot believes more research and money should be spent to help these people.
3. People with this problem might feel shy, worried, or even sad.
4. A study in Texas showed that not many doctors know about this burping problem, but if they did, they could help more people.
5. Fortunately, many people can get this shot because enough doctors know about it.
6. Some people have a benefit where they can’t burp, and it can make them feel good.
7. All doctors know about this problem, so people who have it always get the help they need.
8. This problem can cause stomach pleasure, normal noises, and minimal gas.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is the problem that some people have where they can’t burp?
2. How does this problem make people feel?
3. How does the special shot called Botox help people with this problem?
4. Why can’t many people get the Botox shot?
5. What did the researchers in Texas find out about this burping problem?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the problem that some people have where they can’t burp?
Some people have a problem where they can’t burp.

2. How does this problem make them feel?
This problem can make them feel bad. It can make their stomachs hurt, make funny noises, and make them pass gas a lot. They might feel shy, worried, or sad.

3. What is the special shot called that helps people with this problem?
The special shot is called Botox.

4. Why can’t many people get the special shot?
Not many people can get the special shot because not enough doctors know about it.

5. What do the researchers in Texas want to do to help these people?
The researchers in Texas want to help these people by making more doctors know about this burping problem.

6. Why is it important for more doctors to know about this burping problem?
It is important for more doctors to know about this burping problem so they can help more people who have this problem.

7. Why is it important to think about how these people feel inside?
It is important to think about how these people feel inside because when people have problems that are hard for doctors to find, they can feel really stressed. It’s important to consider their feelings and help them feel better.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) have
(2) hurt
(3) know
(4) doctor
(5) special
(6) shot
(7) more
(8) spent
(9) researchers
(10) burping
(11) people
(12) feel
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. problem
Answer: (D) Something that is not right and can cause trouble or difficulty

2. stomachs
Answer: (A) The part inside your body where food goes after you eat

3. noises
Answer: (B) Sounds

4. pass gas
Answer: (C) When air comes out from your body from the backside

5. shy
Answer: (H) Feeling nervous or embarrassed around other people

6. worried
Answer: (E) Thinking that something bad might happen

7. sad
Answer: (F) Feeling unhappy

8. Botox
Answer: (K) A special medicine that doctors can use to help some people with their health

9. research
Answer: (J) Looking for new information about something by studying it

10. stressed
Answer: (G) Feeling a lot of pressure or worry

11. researchers
Answer: (L) People who study things to learn new facts

12. important
Answer: (I) Something that matters a lot or is very valuable
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What problem do some people have where they can’t burp?
Answer: (b) They can’t burp

2. How does the burping problem make people feel?
Answer: (c) Bad

3. What can the burping problem do to people’s stomachs?
Answer: (a) Make them hurt

4. What does the special shot called Botox do?
Answer: (d) Makes it easier to burp

5. Why can’t many people get the Botox shot?
Answer: (b) Not enough doctors know about it

6. What did the researchers in Texas find out about doctors and the burping problem?
Answer: (a) Not many doctors know about it

7. How did the people in the study feel when doctors couldn’t find their problem?
Answer: (d) Stressed

8. What does the doctor think should happen to help people with the burping problem?
Answer: (c) More research and money should be spent
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. A doctor can help people with this burping problem by giving them a special shot called Botox. (Answer: True)
2. The doctor who gives the shot believes more research and money should be spent to help these people. (Answer: True)
3. People with this problem might feel shy, worried, or even sad. (Answer: True)
4. A study in Texas showed that not many doctors know about this burping problem, but if they did, they could help more people. (Answer: True)
5. Fortunately, many people can get this shot because enough doctors know about it. (Answer: False)
6. Some people have a benefit where they can’t burp, and it can make them feel good. (Answer: False)
7. All doctors know about this problem, so people who have it always get the help they need. (Answer: False)
8. This problem can cause stomach pleasure, normal noises, and minimal gas. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧