Link video 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PpXz4LBpYwm94e2zoV0Cn8K9ffzd5V5b/view?usp=drive_link

Reading Passage

This is the new one-dose Covid-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson. In early March, more than 6,000 doses were supposed to be shipped to the city of Detroit, Michigan. But the mayor said, no thanks. “Moderna and Pfizer are the best. And I am going to do everything I can to make sure the residents of the city of Detroit get the best.” He was referring to these numbers: the vaccines’ “efficacy rates.” The vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna have super high efficacy rates: 95 and 94 percent. But Johnson & Johnson? Just 66%.

And if you only look at these numbers, it’s natural to think that these vaccines are worse than these. But that assumption is wrong. These numbers are arguably not even the most important measure of how effective these vaccines are. To understand what is, you first have to understand what vaccines are even supposed to do. A vaccine’s efficacy rate is calculated in large clinical trials, when the vaccine is tested on tens of thousands of people. Those people are broken into two groups: half get the vaccine, and half get a placebo. Then, they’re sent out to live their lives, while scientists monitor whether or not they get Covid-19 over several months.

In the trial for Pfizer/BioNTech, for example, there were 43,000 participants. In the end, 170 people were infected with Covid-19. And how those people fall into each of these groups determines a vaccine’s efficacy. If the 170 were evenly split, that would mean you’re just as likely to get sick with the vaccine as without it. So it would have a 0% efficacy. If all 170 were in the placebo group, and zero people who got the vaccine were sick, the vaccine would have an efficacy of 100%. With this particular trial, there were 162 in the placebo group, and just eight in the vaccine group. It means those who had the vaccine were 95% less likely to get Covid-19: The vaccine had a 95% efficacy.

Now, this doesn’t mean that if 100 people are vaccinated, 5 of them will get sick. Instead, that 95% number applies to the individual. So, each vaccinated person is 95% less likely than a person without a vaccine to get sick, each time they’re exposed to Covid-19. And every vaccine’s efficacy rate is calculated in the same way. But each vaccine’s trial might be done in very different circumstances.

“So, one of the biggest considerations here, when we look at these numbers, is the timing in which these clinical trials were performed.” This is the number of daily Covid-19 cases in the US since the pandemic began. The Moderna trial was done completely in the US, here, in the summer. The Pfizer/BioNTech trial was primarily based in the US, too, and at the same time. Johnson & Johnson, however, held their US trial at this time, when there were more opportunities for participants to be exposed to infections. And most of their trial took place in other countries, primarily South Africa and Brazil. And in these other countries, not only were case rates high, but the virus itself was different.

The trials took place as variants of Covid-19 emerged, and became the dominant infections in these countries; variants that are more likely to get participants sick. In South Africa, most of the cases in the Johnson & Johnson trial were that of the variant, not the original strain that was in the US over the summer. And despite that, it still significantly reduced infections.

“If you’re trying to make one-to-one, head-to-head comparisons between vaccines, they need to have been studied in the same trial, with the same inclusion criteria, in the same parts of the world, at the same time.” “If we were to take Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines, and redo their clinical trial at the same time that we saw J&J’s clinical trial, we might see quite different efficacy numbers for those.” These efficacy numbers really just tell you what happened in each vaccine’s trial, not exactly what will happen in the real world. But many experts argue this isn’t even the best number to judge a vaccine by anyway.

Because preventing any infection at all is not always the point of a vaccine. “The goal of a vaccine program for Covid-19 is not necessarily to get to ‘Covid zero,’ but it’s to tame this virus, to defang it, to remove its ability to cause serious disease, hospitalization, and death.” It helps to look at the different outcomes of an exposure to Covid-19 like this: The best-case scenario is, you don’t get sick at all. The worst case is death. In between, there’s being hospitalized, severe-to-moderate symptoms, or having no symptoms at all. In the absolute best circumstances, vaccines give you protection all the way to here.

But realistically, that isn’t the main objective of Covid-19 vaccines. The real purpose is to give your body enough protection to cover these possibilities, so if you do get an infection, it feels more like a cold than something you’d be hospitalized for. And this is one thing that every one of these Covid-19 vaccines do well. In all these trials, while some people in the placebo groups were hospitalized, or even died from Covid-19, not one fully vaccinated person, in any of these trials, was hospitalized or died from Covid-19.

“One thing that I wish that mayor would have understood, was that all three vaccines have essentially 100% effectiveness in protecting from death.” The mayor of Detroit did backtrack, and said he’d start taking Johnson & Johnson doses, because it’s still “highly effective against what we care about most.” Efficacy matters. But it doesn’t matter the most. The question isn’t which vaccine will protect you from any Covid infection, but which one will keep you alive? Or out of the hospital? Which one will help end the pandemic? And that’s any of them. “The best vaccine right now for you is the one that you’re offered.” “With each shot that goes into someone’s arm, we get closer to the end of this pandemic.”

Questions 1-5

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE      if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE   if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

1. The mayor of Detroit believed the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines were inferior to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

2. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine trial had fewer participants than the Johnson & Johnson trial.

3. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine trial in the US took place during a period of decreasing Covid-19 cases.

4. The primary goal of Covid-19 vaccines is to ensure no vaccinated person gets infected.

5. No participants in the vaccine groups of any of the trials were hospitalized or died from Covid-19.

Questions 6-10

Answer the questions below. 

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer. 

Write your answers in boxes 6-10 on your answer sheet.

6. How many total Covid-19 infections were recorded in the Pfizer/BioNTech trial?

7. What percentage efficacy did the Johnson & Johnson vaccine demonstrate?

8. Name one country where Johnson & Johnson’s trial was primarily conducted.

9. What season did the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech trials overlap?

10. What is the primary objective of Covid-19 vaccines according to the passage?

Questions 11-15

Choose the appropriate letters A, B, C or D.

Write your answers in boxes 10-12 on your answer sheet.

11. In the context of the passage, why are the efficacy rates of different vaccines not directly comparable?

A) Different manufacturing processes

B) Variations in trial timing and location

C) Differing ingredients in the vaccines

12. What does an efficacy rate of 95% indicate?

A) 95 out of 100 vaccinated people will not get sick

B) Each vaccinated person is 95% less likely to get sick compared to an unvaccinated person

C) The vaccine is 95% effective in all conditions

13. What significant factor differed in the Johnson & Johnson trial compared to the others?

A) Trial conducted in multiple countries

B) Use of a different virus strain

C) Higher number of participants

14. Why is achieving ‘Covid zero’ not the main goal of Covid-19 vaccines?

A) It’s impossible to achieve with current vaccines

B) The main aim is to reduce severity and prevent death

C) Vaccines are only effective for certain variants

15. What was the main reason for the mayor of Detroit’s initial refusal of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?

A) Logistics issues

B) Lower efficacy rate

C) Lack of FDA approval

Answer key

True/False/Not Given Answers

1. False. The mayor believed Moderna and Pfizer were the best, implying he thought they were superior to Johnson & Johnson.

2. Not Given. The passage does not compare the number of participants in the Pfizer/BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson trials.

3. False. The Johnson & Johnson trial in the US took place when there were more opportunities for exposure, implying an increase in cases.

4. False. The primary goal of the vaccines is to reduce the severity of the disease, not necessarily to prevent all infections.

5. True. The passage states that in all trials, no fully vaccinated person was hospitalized or died from Covid-19.

Short Answer Questions Answers

6. 170. (The total number of infections in the Pfizer/BioNTech trial)

7. 66%. (Efficacy rate of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine)

8. South Africa. (One of the primary countries for the Johnson & Johnson trial)

9. Summer. (The season when the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech trials overlapped in the US)

10. To reduce severity/prevent death. (Primary objective of Covid-19 vaccines according to the passage)

Multiple Choice Questions Answers

11. B) Variations in trial timing and location.

12. B) Each vaccinated person is 95% less likely to get sick compared to an unvaccinated person.

13. A) Trial conducted in multiple countries.

14. B) The main aim is to reduce severity and prevent death.

15. B) Lower efficacy rate.

Giải nghĩa từ vựng

• Doses (Noun – plural)
  • Định nghĩa: Liều lượng; số lượng cụ thể của một loại thuốc hoặc vắc-xin được đưa vào cơ thể.
  • Example: The vaccine requires two doses for full effectiveness.
• Efficacy (Noun)
  • Định nghĩa: Hiệu quả; khả năng tạo ra kết quả mong muốn hoặc có tác dụng như mong đợi.
  • Example: The efficacy of the new drug is being studied in clinical trials.
• Rates (Noun – plural)
  • Định nghĩa: Tỉ lệ; số lượng hoặc mức độ của một sự kiện trong một nhóm hoặc thời gian cụ thể.
  • Example: The rates of infection have decreased significantly.
• Assumption (Noun)
  • Định nghĩa: Giả định; việc tin hoặc chấp nhận điều gì đó là đúng mà không cần chứng minh.
  • Example: The research was based on the assumption that the vaccine would be effective.
• Arguably (Adverb)
  • Định nghĩa: Có thể nói; một cách có thể chứng minh hoặc bảo vệ.
  • Example: He is arguably the best player on the team.
• Clinical Trials (Noun phrase)
  • Định nghĩa: Thử nghiệm lâm sàng; các nghiên cứu thực nghiệm để kiểm tra hiệu quả và an toàn của thuốc mới hoặc phương pháp điều trị.
  • Example: The vaccine underwent rigorous clinical trials before approval.
• Participants (Noun – plural)
  • Định nghĩa: Người tham gia; những người tham gia vào một sự kiện, chương trình, hoặc nghiên cứu.
  • Example: All participants in the study gave informed consent.
• Determines (Verb – present tense)
  • Định nghĩa: Xác định; quyết định hoặc tìm ra bản chất, giá trị, hoặc nghĩa của cái gì đó.
  • Example: The test determines the presence of the virus in the body.
• Placebo (Noun)
  • Định nghĩa: Thuốc giả dược; một chất không có tác dụng dược lý được sử dụng trong thử nghiệm lâm sàng.
  • Example: The effects of the medication were compared to a placebo.
• Vaccinated (Verb – past participle)
  • Định nghĩa: Được tiêm chủng; đã nhận vắc-xin để ngăn chặn hoặc giảm nguy cơ nhiễm bệnh.
  • Example: The majority of the population has been vaccinated against the virus.
• Circumstances (Noun – plural)
  • Định nghĩa: Hoàn cảnh; các tình huống hoặc điều kiện xung quanh và ảnh hưởng đến sự kiện hoặc hành động.
  • Example: The decision was made under difficult circumstances.
• Considerations (Noun – plural)
  • Định nghĩa: Các yếu tố cần xem xét; các điểm hoặc yếu tố cần được cân nhắc khi đưa ra quyết định.
  • Example: Safety considerations are paramount in the design of the new car.
• Pandemic (Noun)
  • Định nghĩa: Đại dịch; bệnh dịch lan rộng trên diện rộng, thường là quốc tế hoặc toàn cầu.
  • Example: The COVID-19 pandemic affected millions of people worldwide.
• Primarily (Adverb)
  • Định nghĩa: Chủ yếu; chính yếu hoặc là quan trọng nhất.
  • Example: The organization’s work is primarily focused on environmental conservation.
• Exposed (Verb – past participle)
  • Định nghĩa: Bị phơi bày; bị đưa ra trước nguy cơ hoặc tình huống cụ thể.
  • Example: He was exposed to the virus during his travels.
• Infections (Noun – plural)
  • Định nghĩa: Các ca nhiễm; tình trạng bị nhiễm bệnh do vi khuẩn, virus, hoặc vi sinh vật khác.
  • Example: The hospital reported an increase in respiratory infections.
• Emerged (Verb – past tense)
  • Định nghĩa: Nổi lên; xuất hiện hoặc phát triển từ một tình trạng hoặc quá trình.
  • Example: A new variant of the virus emerged in the region.
• Dominant Infections (Noun phrase)
  • Định nghĩa: Các ca nhiễm chiếm ưu thế; loại nhiễm trùng hoặc bệnh phổ biến nhất trong một thời gian hoặc khu vực.
  • Example: The dominant infections during the winter were flu-like illnesses.
• Original Strain (Noun phrase)
  • Định nghĩa: Chủng nguyên bản; dạng ban đầu của một vi khuẩn hoặc virus trước khi nó thay đổi hoặc biến thể.
  • Example: The vaccine was designed to target the original strain of the virus.
• Criteria (Noun – plural)
  • Định nghĩa: Tiêu chí; các nguyên tắc hoặc tiêu chuẩn dùng để đánh giá hoặc ra quyết định.
  • Example: The selection criteria for the scholarship include academic performance and community involvement.
• Judge (Verb)
  • Định nghĩa: Đánh giá; xem xét và đưa ra ý kiến về giá trị hoặc chất lượng của cái gì đó.
  • Example: It’s difficult to judge the outcome of the competition at this stage.
• Tame (Verb)
  • Định nghĩa: Thuần hóa; làm cho động vật hoặc cái gì đó mạnh mẽ trở nên dễ quản lý hoặc kiểm soát.
  • Example: The wild horse was eventually tamed by the experienced trainer.
• Defang (Verb)
  • Định nghĩa: Làm mất nguy hiểm; loại bỏ tính chất nguy hiểm hoặc sức mạnh của cái gì đó.
  • Example: The new policy aims to defang the threat of cyber attacks.
• Hospitalization (Noun)
  • Định nghĩa: Sự nhập viện; trạng thái bị đưa vào bệnh viện để điều trị.
  • Example: The accident resulted in the hospitalization of two individuals.
• Exposure (Noun)
  • Định nghĩa: Sự tiếp xúc; tình trạng bị tiếp xúc với điều kiện, chất độc hại, hoặc trải nghiệm mới.
  • Example: Prolonged exposure to the sun can be harmful to your skin.
• Severe (Adjective)
  • Định nghĩa: Nghiêm trọng; rất nghiêm khắc hoặc nghiêm trọng.
  • Example: The city faced severe weather conditions last winter.
• Moderate (Adjective)
  • Định nghĩa: Vừa phải; không quá lớn, khó khăn, hoặc mạnh mẽ.
  • Example: The doctor advised moderate exercise for better health.
• Realistically (Adverb)
  • Định nghĩa: Một cách thực tế; dựa trên những gì có thể thực hiện được hoặc thực sự tồn tại.
  • Example: Realistically, we can only complete the project by next month.
• Objective (Adjective)
  • Định nghĩa: Khách quan; dựa trên sự thật và không bị ảnh hưởng bởi cảm xúc hoặc ý kiến cá nhân.
  • Example: The research aims to provide an objective analysis of the data.
• Possibilities (Noun – plural)
  • Định nghĩa: Khả năng; các sự kiện hoặc kết quả có thể xảy ra.
  • Example: We explored all possibilities before making a decision.
• Essentially (Adverb)
  • Định nghĩa: Cơ bản; ở mức cơ bản hoặc quan trọng nhất.
  • Example: Essentially, the two concepts are quite similar.
• Effectiveness (Noun)
  • Định nghĩa: Hiệu quả; mức độ thành công hoặc kết quả của một hành động hoặc phương pháp.
  • Example: The effectiveness of the new policy will be evaluated after one year.
• Backtrack (Verb)
  • Định nghĩa: Lùi bước; thay đổi ý kiến hoặc quyết định sau khi đã tuyên bố hoặc bắt đầu.
  • Example: The company had to backtrack on its plans due to public outcry.

Dịch