Black Death / Bubonic Plague – Reading Comprehension THE BLACK DEATH The Black Death was a devastating global epidemic of bubonic plague that struck Europe and Asia in the mid-1300s. The plague arrived in Europe in October 1347, when 12 ships from the Black Sea docked at the Sicilian port of Messina. People gathered on the docks were met with a horrifying surprise: Most sailors aboard the ships were dead, and those still alive were gravely ill and covered in black boils that oozed blood and pus. Sicilian authorities hastily ordered the fleet of “death ships” out of the harbour, but it was too late: Over the next five years, the Black Death would kill more than 20 million people in Europe—almost one-third of the continent’s population. How Did the Black Plague Start? Even before the “death ships” pulled into port at Messina, many Europeans had heard rumours about a “Great Pestilence” that was carving a deadly path across the trade routes of the Near and Far East. Indeed, in the early 1340s, the disease had struck China, India, Persia, Syria and Egypt. The plague is thought to have originated in Asia over 2,000 years ago and was likely spread by trading ships, though recent research has indicated the pathogen responsible for the Black Death may have existed in Europe as early as 3000 B.C. Symptoms of the Black Plague Europeans were scarcely equipped for the horrible reality of the Black Death. “In men and women alike,” the Italian poet Giovanni Boccaccio wrote, “at the beginning of the malady, certain swellings, either on the groin or under the armpits…waxed to the bigness of a common apple, others to the size of an egg, some more and some less, and these the vulgar named plague-boils.” Blood and pus seeped out of these strange swellings, which were followed by a host of other unpleasant symptoms—fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhoea, terrible aches and pains— and then, in short order, death. The Bubonic Plague attacks the lymphatic system, causing swelling in the lymph nodes. If untreated, the infection can spread to the blood or lungs. How Did the Black Death Spread? The Black Death was terrifyingly, indiscriminately contagious: “the mere touching of the clothes,” wrote Boccaccio, “appeared to itself to communicate the malady to the toucher.” The disease was also terrifyingly efficient. People who were perfectly healthy when they went to bed at night could be dead by morning. Answer the following questions: 1. Word Meaning Look at the first section: Find a word which shows that people reacted to the discovery of Black Death on the ships with excessive speed and urgency. The word that shows people reacted to the discovery of Black Death on the ships with excessive speed and urgency is "hastily." 2. Look at the section headed: How Did the Black Plague Start Complete the sentence below. The plague is thought to have originated in Asia over 2,000 years ago and was likely spread by … Tick one. sailors trading ships fleas flagellants 3- Summarising Which section of the document above is written to explain how the Plague is transmitted? Write the name of the heading. The section of the document written to explain how the Plague is transmitted is titled "How Did the Black Death Spread?” 4- Inference Using information from the text, tick one box in each row to show whether each statement is a fact or an opinion. Fact Opinion The plague originated in Asia over 2,000 years ago. Even before the “death ships” pulled into port at Messina, many Europeans had heard rumours about a “Great Pestilence”. The pathogen responsible for the Black Death existed in Europe as early as 3000 B.C. 5- In a short paragraph, describe the symptoms of Black Death. The symptoms of the Black Death included swellings on the groin or under the armpits that grew to the size of an apple or an egg. These swellings, known as plague-boils, oozed blood and pus. Other symptoms included fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe aches and pains. If left untreated, the infection could spread to the blood or lungs, leading to death. 6- In your opinion, if Black Death hit any country in these days, how are governments going to solve this pandemic? If the Black Death were to occur in modern times, governments would likely take swift action to contain the pandemic. They would implement strict quarantine measures, enforce travel restrictions, and prioritize the development and distribution of vaccines or treatments. Public health campaigns would be launched to educate the population about preventive measures, such as proper hygiene practices and social distancing. Governments would also coordinate with international organizations and experts to share information, resources, and expertise in order to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. 7. What would you do if you were living at Medieval Times when the plague spread? If I were living during Medieval Times when the plague spread, I would prioritize personal hygiene and cleanliness. I would try to avoid crowded places and limit my interactions with others to reduce the risk of infection. I would also follow any instructions or guidelines provided by local authorities or medical professionals. Additionally, I would stay informed about the latest developments regarding the plague and follow any recommended treatments or precautions to the best of my ability. 8. Write a short paragraph that explains briefly what the Black Death was and what effects did it have on people and countries. The Black Death was a devastating global epidemic of bubonic plague that occurred in the mid-1300s. It originated in Asia over 2,000 years ago and is believed to have been spread by trading ships. The plague arrived in Europe in 1347 when ships from the Black Sea docked at the Sicilian port of Messina. The disease spread rapidly, causing large-scale mortality. The symptoms included swollen plague-boils, fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe pain. The Black Death had a profound effect on people and countries. It caused immense suffering and death, wiping out a significant portion of the population in Europe, killing approximately 20 million people, which was nearly one-third of the continent's population. The social and economic consequences were severe, leading to labor shortages, economic disruption, and social upheaval. The Black Death also had long-term impacts on religious and cultural beliefs, as people sought explanations and remedies for the devastating disease.
