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Elc231 Mid Sem Feb 2017
Elc231 Mid Sem Feb 2017
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
PART : _________________________________________
4. Do not bring any material into the examination room unless permission is given by the invigilator.
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
III However, strong belief in that view eroded when scientists discovered the link 25
between the Varicella zoster virus and shingles. Both chicken pox and shingles
are caused by the same virus. In fact, shingles is a far more serious, harmful,
and longer-lasting disease in older adults that impacts the nervous system. They
reached the conclusion that the Varicella zoster virus remains dormant inside
the body, making it significantly more likely for someone to develop shingles. In 30
light of this, the medical community in the U.S. encouraged the development,
adoption, and use of a vaccine against chickenpox to the public. Although the
appearance of chickenpox and shingles within one person can be many years
apart, there is increased risk in developing shingles as a younger adult. This
proved to be enough to convince the public on the importance of having 35
immunisation.
IV Another reason that the chickenpox vaccine was not immediately accepted and
used by parents in the U.S. is due to observations made by scientists that the
vaccine did not confer a lifetime immunity. In other words, scientists considered
the benefits of the vaccine to be temporary when given to young children. They 40
also feared giving the vaccination at an early age could increase the odds of a
person becoming infected with chickenpox later as a young adult, when the rash
is more painful and prevalent and could last up to three or four weeks. Hence,
allowing young children to develop chickenpox rather than taking a vaccine
against it was believed to be the ‘lesser of two evils.’ This idea changed over 45
time as booster shots of the vaccine elongated immunity and countered the
perceived limits on the strength of the vaccine itself.
V Today, the use of the chickenpox vaccine is common throughout the world.
Pediatricians suggest an initial vaccination shot after a child turns one year old
and booster shots after the child turns eight. The vaccine is estimated to be up to 50
90% effective and has reduced worldwide cases of chickenpox infection to
400,000 cases per year from over 4,000,000 cases before vaccination became
widespread.
VI In light of such statistics, most doctors insist that the potential risks of developing
shingles outweigh the benefits of avoiding rare complications associated with
vaccinations. Of course, many parents continue to think of the disease as a 55
harmless ailment, refusing to take preventive steps against it. Thus parents have
failed to completely halt the decline of chickenpox among the most vulnerable
populations.
QUESTION 1
State whether the following statements are TRUE (T) or FALSE (F).
a) Sufferers of chicken pox develop itchy rashes for more than 14 days.
b) Parents started to give their children the chicken pox vaccination in 1995.
d) There are still parents who do not take their children for chicken
pox vaccination.
(2 marks)
QUESTION 2
What do the following words mean as used in the passage?
(2 marks)
QUESTION 3
Why was there a change of view by parents regarding chicken pox vaccinations?
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(1 mark)
QUESTION 4
Why were parents in the U.S. reluctant to vaccinate their children against chicken pox when
the vaccine was made available in 1995?
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(1 mark)
QUESTION 5
‘However, strong belief in that view eroded when scientists discovered the link between the
Varicella zoster virus and shingles’ (lines 25-26). What is the result of this notion?
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(1 mark)
QUESTION 6
‘Hence, allowing young children to develop chickenpox rather than taking a vaccine against
it was believed to be the lesser of two evils’ (lines 44-45). What does the phrase ‘lesser of
two evils’ mean?
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(1 mark)
QUESTION 7
In your opinion, should parents change their perception on the issue of chicken pox
vaccination of their children?
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(2 marks)
A survey was conducted on smartphone users’ Internet usage and the reasons for its use.
Using the information provided, write a short report about the results of the survey. Your
paragraph should be about 150 - 200 words.
Age Group
(years) Younger
25-34 35-44 45 or older
than 25
Reasons
Use social media 4 3 2 2
Find information 2 4 4 3
Educational purposes 3 1 1 1
Purchase products online 1 2 3 4
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(10 marks)