Human Guinea Pigs

Lower-Intermediate
the ARTICLE (for teachers)

Human Guinea Pigs

It takes about twelve years for a drug to be researched, developed, tested, and proven safe.
Many drugs which start in the laboratory don't reach your medicine cabinet. They may not
work well, or may even be dangerous.

The initial clinical trials are an important step in drug development. During these trials,
perfectly healthy people take the new drug for the first time. The pharmaceutical companies
need to identify safe amounts and possible side effects. Volunteers can earn several
thousand dollars in just a few weeks, or make even more money if the risk increases. These
people are called "human guinea pigs."

Some people become human guinea pigs because they cannot find other jobs. Others are
lured by easy money without much hard work or a lot of time.

Because no one knows how the human body will react to the new drugs, there might be
severe side effects or even death. For example, in 2016, five volunteers were hospitalized
and one volunteer died during drug tests in France.

Teacher's Notes:

* Underlined words in red typeface are the recommended vocabulary for this lesson.

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 Human Guinea Pigs
Lower-Intermediate
WARM-UPS
Select one or all of the following warm-up activities.

1: Define: What does "myth" mean? Can you use it in a sentence? Can you give
examples?

2: Brainstorm: Brainstorm with a partner words and ideas for "sleep" for two minutes. Next,
talk about the words and ideas for five minutes.

3: Title: Today's article is: "Myths about Sleep." What will you read about?

4: Do you agree or disagree? Why?

a. I am someone who takes risks.
b. I would take a big risk for a lot of money.
c. People often do dangerous or stupid things for money.
d. New drugs and medicines are always perfectly safe.
e. I have almost died.

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 Human Guinea Pigs
Lower-Intermediate
VOCABULARY
Select one of the following vocabulary acquisition activities.

1: Vocabulary match: Individually or in pairs/groups, match the words in column A (from

the article) with the best choice in column B.
a. develop u. first
b. initial v. attract
c. identify w. create
d. lure x. terrible
e. react y. find
f. severe z. behave

2: Fill in the Blanks: Fill in the blank with the correct word.
identify developed react
severe lured initial
a. It takes about twelve years for a drug to be ( ) and proven safe.
b. The ( ) clinical trials are an important step in drug development.
c. The pharmaceutical companies need to ( ) safe amounts.
d. Other people are ( ) by easy money without much hard work.
e. No one knows how the human body will ( ) to the new drugs
f. There might be ( ) side effects or even death.

3: Define: Look in your dictionary for each word. Write the definition, correctly pronounce
the word, and give an example sentence to the class.

a. develop:

b. initial:

c. identify:

d. lure:

e. react:

f. terrible:

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 Human Guinea Pigs
Lower-Intermediate
WORD RECOGNITION
These activities are optional. They reinforce vocabulary and increase reading speed.

1: Word Search: Find only the target words (in bold). Time yourself, and see how long it
takes to find all the words.
identify developed react
severe lured initial

X I B D A X O L E Y B D Q C D
Q J D S E N E W B C S O B B F
B X O E R P W W H H D C T P J
X B W E N H E I N I T A I L O
H T A E J T L L R G U K E M H
P C U C J A F P E T L Y Y T T
T E O U I J N Y J V F T F S J
X L S T Z W Q J P R E H I E C
L A I R A Z Y P G F P D T V T
W N D E R U L O D R W S N E V
I P T H U M F B Y A S J E R Y
N C Z C D D V I T R P D D E D
D L D D E P O L E V E D I T Q
B C X P I A A Z A H T A E B U
H Q F C H D R K O Y G E L C T

2: Target Word Pool: Find only the target words (in bold) with their exact match. Time
yourself, and see how long it takes to find all the words.
identify developed react
severe lured initial

development reaction lurid

seven reacted
identify
initials identifying
allured severe initially
initial
several
undeveloped lure reacting
react lured
developed unidentified
initializes
severity seventy
identified
identity developing reactor
initialize lures
developer

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 Human Guinea Pigs
Lower-Intermediate
pre- or post-COMPREHENSION
Select one or more activity to direct students before the article is read, or to check
understanding after the article is read.

1: Brainstorm Questions: Brainstorm questions that you would like to ask about today's
topic. Answer a partner the questions. He shouldn't look at the article when he answers.

2: True or False?: Guess (before the article) or answer (after the article) if the sentence is
true or false. If false, correct the sentence.
a. Although it takes many years, many drugs get approved. T/F
b. Human guinea pigs are addicted to drugs. T/F
c. If the drugs carries a lot of risk, then human guinea pigs earn more money. T/F
d. Some people like the idea of easy money, so they become human guinea pigs. T/F
e. There is always a chance of illness and death when taking these new drugs. T/F

3: Questions: Answer the questions to check comprehension.

a. How long does it take for a new drug to reach your medicine cabinet?
b. According to the article, what is a human guinea pig?
c. What are some reasons that people become human guinea pigs?
d. Why is a human guinea pig risky?
e. Why does the article give an example about clinical trials in France?

4: Fragments: Remember how the fragments were used, and complete the sentence.

a. Many drugs which start in the laboratory...

b. During these trials, perfectly healthy people...

c. Others are lured by easy money...

d. For example, in 2016, five volunteers were...

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 Human Guinea Pigs
Lower-Intermediate
post-COMPREHENSION
Select one or more activity to discuss the contents of the article.

1: Vocabulary: Circle any other unknown words/phrases in the article. In pairs/groups, use
your dictionaries to understand these words. Write an example sentence for each one.

2: Class Questions: Read through the article once more, and write down any questions
that you would like to talk about in pairs/groups or as a class. Answer the questions.

3: Summarize: Work with a partner to summarize the article in your own words.

4: Discuss: Talk about the following questions in pairs/groups. Remember to support your
answers and ask more questions with your partner.
a. Did you like this article? Why/not?
b. Do you think testing new drugs sounds dangerous? Why/not?
c. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done? Please explain.
d. Have you ever thought your life was in jeopardy? If yes, what happened?
e. What would you do for several thousand dollars? What wouldn't you do? Why?
f. Would you ever want to become a human guinea pig? Why/not?

5: Discuss: All jobs have some dangers. Brainstorm with a partner what dangers exist for
the following jobs. Be sure to explain your answers.
Job Danger

CEO

doctor

student

travel writer

waiter / waitress

6: Google Search: Type "human guinea pigs" into Google news and read additional
articles on this topic. Discuss or write an essay about your findings.

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 Human Guinea Pigs
Lower-Intermediate
STUDENT HANDOUT (the article)

Human Guinea Pigs

It takes about twelve years for a drug to be researched, developed, tested, and proven safe.
Many drugs which start in the laboratory don't reach your medicine cabinet. They may not
work well, or may even be dangerous.

The initial clinical trials are an important step in drug development. During these trials,
perfectly healthy people take the new drug for the first time. The pharmaceutical companies
need to identify safe amounts and possible side effects. Volunteers can earn several
thousand dollars in just a few weeks, or make even more money if the risk increases. These
people are called "human guinea pigs."

Some people become human guinea pigs because they cannot find other jobs. Others are
lured by easy money without much hard work or a lot of time.

Because no one knows how the human body will react to the new drugs, there might be
severe side effects or even death. For example, in 2016, five volunteers were hospitalized
and one volunteer died during drug tests in France.

Notes:

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 Human Guinea Pigs
Lower-Intermediate
STUDENT HANDOUT (fill in the blank)
Fill in the blank with the correct word.
severe developed perfectly several identify
lured volunteers react initial laboratory
Human Guinea Pigs
It takes about twelve years for a drug to be researched, (a. _______________), tested,
and proven safe. Many drugs which start in the (b. _______________) don't reach your
medicine cabinet. They may not work well, or may even be dangerous.

The (c. _______________) clinical trials are an important step in drug development.
During these trials, (d. _______________) healthy people take the new drug for the first
time. The pharmaceutical companies need to (e. _______________) safe amounts and
possible side effects. Volunteers can earn (f. _______________) thousand dollars in
just a few weeks, or make even more money if the risk increases. These people are
called "human guinea pigs."

Some people become human guinea pigs because they cannot find other jobs. Others
are (g. _______________) by easy money without much hard work or a lot of time.

Because no one knows how the human body will (h. _______________) to the new
drugs, there might be (i. _______________) side effects or even death. For example, in
2016, five (j. _______________) were hospitalized and one volunteer died during drug
tests in France.

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 Human Guinea Pigs
Lower-Intermediate
STUDENT HANDOUT (extended listening)
Listen and fill in the missing sentences. Compare your answers with a partner, and
then listen once more.

Human Guinea Pigs

It takes about twelve years for a drug to be researched, developed, tested, and proven safe.
Many drugs which start in the laboratory don't reach your medicine cabinet. They may not
work well, or may even be dangerous.

a) _______________________________________________________. During these trials,

perfectly healthy people take the new drug for the first time. The pharmaceutical companies
need to identify safe amounts and possible side effects. b) __________________________
___________________________, or make even more money if the risk increases. These
people are called "human guinea pigs."

Some people become human guinea pigs because they cannot find other jobs. Others are
lured by easy money without much hard work or a lot of time.

c) _______________________________________________________, there might be

severe side effects or even death. For example, in 2016, five volunteers were hospitalized
and one volunteer died during drug tests in France.

Sentence #1:

Sentence #2:

Sentence #3:

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 Human Guinea Pigs
Lower-Intermediate
ANSWER KEY

Vocabulary
1: Vocabulary Match: 2: Fill in the Blanks:
a. w a. developed
b. u b. initial
c. y c. identify
d. v d. lured
e. z e. react
f. x f. severe

pre- or post-Comprehension
1. True or False: 2. Fragments:
a. F a. don't reach your medicine cabinet.
b. F b. take the new drug for the first time.
c. T c. without much hard work or a lot of time.
d. T d. hospitalized and one volunteer died during drug tests in France.
e. T

Student Handout
1: Fill in the Blanks:
a. developed f. several
b. laboratory g. lured
c. initial h. react
d. perfectly i. volunteers
e. identify j. severe

2: Extended Listening:
a.
b.
c.

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