Learning English with CBC
Listening Lessons for Intermediate Students
Based on CBC Manitoba Radio Broadcasts
February 26, 2013
Lesson 87: Self Study Edition
Topic:
Blood, Tissue and Organ Donation
Level:
CLB 6 and up
Language Skills and Functions:
Listening – listening to a short interview for
inference
Speaking – expressing opinions
Reading – reading a text for detail; reading a letter
for tone
Writing
– filling in a form
Language Competencies:
Language Tasks:
Vocabulary, Pronunciation, Listening and Speaking
Strategies, Socio-cultural/sociolinguistic Competence
Express opinions, ideas and reservations on the topic of blood and
organ donation
Use new vocabulary in context to tell a story
Listen to a radio interview with the father of a young girl who needs a
stem cell transplant and predict how the public will respond and the
story will end
Read information about stem cell donation and answer detail questions
Read a letter from the family asking people to be stem cell donors for
tone
Fill out an organ donor card
Essential Skills: Reading text, oral communication, writing
Appendices:
Transcript of the podcast
Learn about Stem Cell Donation
Sign Up for Life Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to Worksheets
Self Study: Blood, Tissue and Organ Donation
Learning English with CBC
Page 1 of 20
Manitoba Memo
Although the first blood transfusions date back to the 1600’s, it wasn’t until the 1800’s
that human blood was used instead of animal blood. It was 1907 before scientists figured
out the basics of blood typing and matching. The first successful bone marrow
transplants were completed in 1968 and it took an additional twenty years for stem cell
transplants to begin.
Blood transfusions, bone marrow and stem cells transplants are common in countries
around the world today. Although part of standard medical practice, these procedures
can also be controversial.
For example, Jehovah Witnesses do not believe in blood transfusion, even to save a life.
This belief has put them at odds with the medical community and the law, particularly
when the patient is a child. There have been cases where the courts have over-ruled the
family’s wishes and ordered a transfusion to save a child’s life.
Organ transplants do not have as long a history as blood transfusions. The first
successful organ transplant was when a kidney was transplanted from one identical twin
to another in 1954. In 1962, the first successful transplant from a dead donor was
completed. Today, there are far more people waiting to receive organs than there are
organs available for transplant.
The concept of organ donation at the time of imminent death or after death can be difficult
for members of certain faiths. For example, people of Jewish and Muslim faith believe in
quick burials. Some members of these faiths may be concerned that organ donation
could delay burial. Another reason members of certain faiths may oppose organ donation
is because they see it as a violation of the human body. This is contrary to their beliefs.
Organ donation practices in some countries can be very controversial. Until recently,
organ transplants in China relied on the availability of organs from executed prisoners.
This policy was criticized internationally and is being phased out.
In other parts of the world, there is a black market for organs. According to the World
Health Organization, an organ is sold on the black market every hour of every day.
Kidneys are frequently sold on the black market in some countries. There are cases
where wealthy people have paid large sums of money to gangs in China, India and
Pakistan to harvest kidneys from poor and desperate people. The organ donors receive
only a small amount of the money and often suffer a lack of proper medical care both
during and after the operation.
Most countries, including Canada, have strict legal rules around organ donation. These
rules include a “double veto system.” This means that even if you sign up to donate an
organ, if your death is imminent and your family is opposed to donating your organs, they
can veto your decision and go against your wishes. That’s why it’s important not only to
sign up to donate on the online registry, but also to discuss your wishes with your family
in advance.
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Background
1. Can you express your opinions and reservations about a sensitive topic?
How would you answer the following questions about blood, tissue and organ donation?




What is your opinion of organ transplants? What about blood transfusions?
Would you ever consider donating an organ or blood? Why or why not?
Would you have any reservations about being the recipient of an organ, bone marrow or a
blood transfusion? Explain your answer.
How would you react if a family member signed a donor card saying that they would want
as many organs as possible harvested from their body if they died?
2. Vocabulary definitions
Here are some words you need to know to understand the CBC interview.
to donate blood
When someone volunteers to donate blood in
Canada, it is removed from their body through a
needle and stored so it can be used in a hospital to
help someone who is ill or injured.
stem cells
Stem cells are a special type of cell in the body.
Stem cells have the potential to develop into
multiple types of cells that the body needs.
bone marrow
The soft substance in the hollow centre of human
bones is called bone marrow.
an organ donor
An organ donor is someone who gives an organ
(e.g. a kidney) to be used in an organ transplant to
another human being.
Sign Up for Life
Sign Up for Life is the name of a website
Manitobans can use to register as organ and
tissue donors.
leukemia
Leukemia is a type of cancer of the blood.
a transplant
A transplant is a medical operation where an organ
or tissue (e.g. skin) is moved from one person’s
body to another person’s body.
chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to control/cure
cancer.
to knock down an immune system
Patients who are going to receive a transplanted
organ or tissue are given drugs to reduce the
likelihood that their own immune system will reject
/ attack the transplanted organ or tissue. Their own
immune system is “knocked down” so that it won’t
attack the transplanted organ or tissue.
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Page 3 of 20
to re-inject
A re-injection is when a substance is taken from
the body and later returned to the body. Needles
are used for this procedure. For example, with
leukemia, a patient’s stem cells can be removed
before chemotherapy and then re-injected back
into their body after treatment is completed.
a donor registry
A donor registry is a list or data bank of people
who have agreed to donate something from their
body, e.g. stem cells, an organ.
a match
In a transplant situation, someone is considered a
match or potential donor for a recipient if specific
proteins within their blood match those of the
recipient (the person receiving the transplant).
an antigen
Examples of antigens in the body are toxins,
bacteria, foreign blood cells, and the cells of
transplanted organs.
a needle in a haystack
This idiom is used to talk about situations where
something is very rare or hard to find. For
example: Alex has a rare blood type. Finding a
stem cell donor for her is like looking for a needle
in a haystack because it will be very difficult for to
find a match.
to put out an appeal
If you put out an appeal for something, you make a
public request. For example, you might ask the
public for money, information or for assistance.
Canadian Blood Services
Canadian Blood Services is a charitable
organization. The organization’s job is to manage
the blood and blood products supply for Canadians.
to be astonishing
If something is described as astonishing, it is very
surprising and unexpected.
a ton of something
A ton of something is a lot of something. For
example: Winnipeg has a ton of snow this winter.
There’s a lot more snow than there was last year.
a kit
A kit is a set of tools or equipment that you use for
a particular purpose, e.g. a first aid kit.
a swab
A swab is a small piece of material or cotton (like a
Q-tip) that is used to take a small amount of a
substance (e.g. saliva) from someone’s body so it
can be tested.
to be registered for something
If you are registered for something, it means you
have your name on an official list. For example:
Joelle is registered for an English class that starts
in April. She signed up for the class last week.
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Page 4 of 20
3. Can you match the vocabulary words with the correct meaning?
Learning vocabulary before you listen helps you understand the podcast. Can you match
each vocabulary word or phrase with its meaning? You can use an English Language
Learner’s Dictionary to help you. The first one is completed for you as an example.
Vocabulary Word
Meaning
1. _d stem cells
a)
what we call toxins, bacteria or foreign blood
cells in the body
2. __ bone marrow
b)
the name of the organization that manages
blood donations/ blood products for Canadians
3. __ an organ donor
c)
a list or data bank of people who are willing to
donate something from their body, e.g. stem
cells
4. __ leukemia
d)
special cells in the body that can develop into
multiple types of cells
5. __ a transplant
e)
a set of tools or equipment that is used for a
particular purpose
6. __ chemotherapy
f)
someone who agrees to donate an organ for
transplant purposes
7. __ a donor registry
g)
a small piece of material (e.g. like that on the
end of a Q-tip) that is used for a particular
purpose
8. __ to be a match
h)
a procedure where drugs are used to treat/cure
cancer
9. __ an antigen
i)
the soft substance in the hollow centre of
human bones
10. __ to put out an appeal
j)
to have your name on an official list for
something
11. __ Canadian Blood
Services
k)
a lot of something
12. __ to be astonishing
l)
to be very surprising or unexpected
13. __ a ton of something
m)
a type of cancer of the blood
14. __ a kit
n)
when a donor’s blood type is the same as the
recipients’ blood type in a transplant situation
15. __ a swab
o)
to ask the public to do something for you
16. __ to be registered for
something
p)
a medical operation where an organ or tissue
(e.g. skin) is removed from one person’s body
to another person’s body
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Page 5 of 20
4. Predict what the interview is about
In this interview, Marcy Markusa interviews Stuart Blake. Stuart’s daughter Alex has
leukemia. She needs a bone marrow transplant and has a very rare blood type. Her
family is appealing to the public to help. Can you predict how the family is asking the
public to help?
I think the family will ask the public to…sign up to donate their bone marrow.
Maybe they’ll ask the public to…spread the word about bone marrow
donation to everyone they know.
Perhaps they’ll appeal to the public…to donate money for leukemia research.
5. Get ready to listen
In this podcast, you will hear two speakers. You will hear:
Marcy Markusa – host and interviewer
Stuart Blake – father of a young girl with leukemia
After-listening activities
1. Review pre-listening predictions
Were you able to predict how the family is asking the public to help?
2. Use inference to predict how the story might end
Listen to the interview with Alex’s father again. Do you have the vocabulary you need
to predict how Alex’s story might end? Are there clues in the interview that you can use
to help you make your prediction?
Think about Alex and her family. There are so many factors involved in their situation.
Do think it is likely that a stem cell match will be found for Alex? Do you feel
optimistic or pessimistic about how the public will respond in a situation like this
one? Why do you think members of the public respond the way they do? For
example, some may respond passionately and others may be indifferent to a case
like Alex’s.
Sometimes how we think a story will end is different from how we hope a story will
end. Is there a difference in how you think Alex’s story will end and how you hope her
story will end?
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3. Can you use vocabulary in context to re-tell a story?
Think about the story you heard in the interview. Use the vocabulary that you
practised to re-tell the story of Alex. By reading the sentence you will get clues that will
help you to choose the correct words to complete the sentences.
This is the story of Alex, a young girl who is suffering from a disease called
[a] leukemia. To help Alex, doctors are frantically trying to find someone who can
be a [b]_______ _________ donor. The stem cells from the donor’s bone marrow
will be used to create a new immune system for Alex. This is very difficult, because
Alex has a very [c] ______ type of blood which is hard to match. There are 20
million people on the donor list or [d] __________, but so far there is no match.
Alex’s family is appealing to the community and they are happy that the response
has been [e] __________________. It is unbelievable how many people have
registered. If you want [f] ___ _______, just go online to www.blood.ca and they
will send you everything that you need packed in a [g] _______. Maybe you are the
[h] ___________ that Alex is waiting for.
donor
leukemia
kit
bone marrow
astonishing
Self Study: Libraries Are More than Books
to register
rare
registry
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4. Read about stem cell donation and answer detail questions
The text in Appendix 2 is adapted from the Canadian Blood Services website. It provides
basic information about the stem cell donation registry that Stuart Blake talks about in the CBC
interview. Read the questions below to get a sense of what information you are looking for.
Then read Appendix 2. Can you find the details you need to correctly answer the following
questions?
1. The name of the stem cell donation program is OneMatch.
True
False
2. Over seventy percent of patients who need a stem cell transplant
are unable to find a match from their own family.
True
False
3. Canadian patients can receive stem cells from around the world
because the registry is international.
True
False
4. Anyone can be a OneMatch donor.
True
False
5. Ethnicity is not a significant factor in finding a matching stem cell
donor.
True
False
6. OneMatch likes its donors to be well-informed.
True
False
7. If you want to be a donor, the first steps to take are to complete an
on-line knowledge test and consent form.
True
False
8. Potential donors send in a swab from their cheek.
True
False
9. There is no cost to you if you are selected to donate stem cells.
True
False
10. There are two ways stem cells can be donated.
True
False
11. Both donation procedures involve surgery that is performed under
general anaesthesia.
True
False
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4. Read a letter from Alex’s family and find examples of tone
Alex’s family wrote a letter to their friends, families and colleagues to encourage them to
donate stem cells to Canadian Blood Services. Can you read the letter and infer the tone the
family is using to make this appeal? Follow these steps:
1. Read the email letter on the next page. Think about the language and tone the family uses
to make their appeal.
2. How would you describe the overall tone of the letter? How does the family talk about the
challenges they face? What is their attitude toward the audience they are writing to?
3. Do you think the letter is effective? Do you think it will encourage people to register as
donors? Why / why not?
4. Can you find examples of words, phrases or sentences in the letter from Alex’s family that
express or convey the following:
urgency
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
candidness / straightforwardness:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
appreciation:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
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Page 9 of 20
The Letter
Dear Friends, Colleagues and Family
Alex needs your help.
As most of you already know, our daughter Alex has recently been diagnosed
with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. This is a fairly rare side effect from one of the
drugs Alex needed in order to help her successfully beat Ewing's Sarcoma last
year. Treatment is now underway and Alex has already had 5 days of
chemotherapy in hospital. The plan is to get the disease into remission and then
proceed with a stem cell transplant. Alex has to have the transplant for long
term survival.
A suitable matching donor will be needed. Alex's doctor has told us this week
that this may be difficult as she has a fairly rare HLA-A type.
Please sign up to be a stem cell donor. Send this email to your friends and family
and urge them to do likewise. It involves nothing more than a mouth swab and
you may be the one to assist Alex or another child who is battling cancer. In
Canada, go to www.blood.ca. Follow the link under What Can I Donate-Stem
Cells.
We have had amazing support from all of you over the past year. Many of you
have asked, "What can I do?" This is the biggest gift you can give Alex. Donate
your bone marrow.
The time is NOW as decisions need to be made over the next week.
Thank you so much.
With love from,
Lois, Stuart and Alex
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5. Read information on organ donations and respond to scenarios
Most health information websites have a question and answer section. It lists questions that people
commonly or frequently ask about the topic and answers those questions. Can you read the
questions and answers from the Manitoba Sign Up for Life website in Appendix 3 and use the
information to solve the problems in the following scenarios?
Scenario 1
Maxwell is considering filling in a donor card to donate his organs. However, he is worried that if
he is critically ill and the staff knows about an emergency need for organs, he may not get as
much medical care as possible. Is his concern valid?
Scenario 2
Maxwell’s family disagrees with his decision to sign a donor card. They have told him that they
would not give their consent. What will the hospital do if Maxwell dies and his family refuses to
give their consent even if he signed the card and made his wishes known?
Scenario 3
Josephine has had many chronic health problems. She is worried that her organs may not be
suitable for transplants. Will the hospital still use her organs in some way?
Scenario 4
Leonard is gay and people have told him that this fact alone may preclude his chance of
becoming a donor. Will the hospital refuse someone’s offer to donate because of their sexual
orientation?
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6. Fill in a donor card
Until recently, Manitobans who wished to donate organs or other parts of their body completed
and signed a donor card. The donor card was wallet-sized and kept with the person’s driver’s
license. While these donor cards continue to be used by many Manitobans (they are available
at the offices of Autopac agents), donors are now being strongly encouraged to register their
intent to donate online, on the website Sign Up for Life. This database will make it easier for
hospitals and families to be sure of the wishes of potential donors.
Do you have the language skills you need to complete a donor card?
DONOR CARD
Consent under The Human Tissue Gift Act C.C.S.M. c.H1801
I, ________________________________________________
consent to the use, after my death: (please check )
 any needed organs or parts of my body; or
 the following specified organs or parts of my body, namely;
for the following purposes
 transplant and other therapeutic purposes;
 medical education;
 scientific research
Donor Signature
Co-signature of parent or guardian where donor is under 18 years
of age
C.C.S.M. is the acronym for “Continuing Consolidation of the Statutes of Manitoba”. A statute is a law. This
legal information is on the donor card to show that consent is given under a specific Manitoba law called The
Human Tissue Gift Act.
1
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Want to know more….
The website for Canadian Blood Services is: www.bloodservices.ca
The Sign Up for Life website is: www.signupforlife.ca/
The Transplant Manitoba website is: www.transplantmanitoba.ca/resources
Background for the Manitoba Memo is from:
www.ndt.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2010/10/20/ndt.gfq628.full
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2150932/An-organ-sold-hour-WHO-warnsBrutal-black-market-rise-thanks-diseases-affluence.html
CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external websites
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Appendix 1: Transcript
February 12, 2013 (broadcast date)
Speaker
Podcast
Line
Marcy
Hi I'm Marcy Markusa and you're listening to Learning English
with CBC. Have you ever donated blood? What about stem
cells or bone marrow? Have you signed up as an organ donor
on your driver’s license or through the website Sign Up for
Life? Any or all of these actions can help save a life. In
5
today’s interview, we hear about a young girl with leukemia
who needs a stem cell transplant. As her father, Stuart Blake,
explains to me, the family is spreading the word far and wide to
try and find a match for Alex’s rare type.
Marcy
So many people still probably don’t know much about stem cell
10
transplants. What’s involved?
Stuart
Um well it’s a variety of different things, but the most common
is that you someone’s bone marrow from a donor and then you
essentially, using chemotherapy, knock down one’s immune
system, then re-inject new bone marrow which will essentially
15
ah create ah for the patient a new immune system which will
fight off future cancer.
Marcy
And everyone has bone marrow to give, isn’t that correct?
Stuart
Correct, um, everyone has bone marrow, um there’s a
currently about 20 million people on the donor registry um and
20
the searches that we’ve done to date on that registry have
failed to come up with a match for Alex because she has one
type of antigen that’s very rare, ah so that’s why we are just
looking for that needle in a haystack, to get people into register
and and you never know it may be someone across the street
whose got the same type of blood as her.
Marcy
Since you put the appeal out and you’ve been ah in earnest
trying to find, you know the match and the donor, what
response have you had back from the community?
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25
Stuart
Canadian Blood Services has indicated to me that their
30
response, they’ve heard is astonishing, ah the number of
people who have reached out um through my work and
through friends so it’s been very good but we literally need a
ton of people to register. It’s a simple process. You go on line,
ah, to www.blood.ca, you click on How do I donate?, you go to
35
Stem Cell and you follow the links and ah you put in your
information, OneMatch and Canadian Blood Services will send
you a kit and ah you complete the kit just with a simple swab of
your mouth, return it and then you are registered. And ah you
know, it’s important for people not just to do this for Alex but to
do it, but for you know thousands of other people who are also
waiting for ah stem cells and bone marrow from people.
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40
Appendix 2: Learn about Stem Cell Donation2
1. What is OneMatch all about?
OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network is responsible for finding and matching volunteer
donors to patients who require stem cell transplants. Fewer than 30 per cent of patients who
need stem cell transplants find a compatible donor within their own family. The rest rely on
those who have volunteered to donate stem cells to anyone in need.
There are more than 11 million donors around the world. International registries have
significantly increased the odds of being able to find a matching donor for any patient,
anywhere in the world.
2. Who is eligible to join OneMatch?
You may be eligible to join if you are between 17 and 50 years old and meet certain health
criteria.
Some health problems could make you ineligible. There are also height and weight restrictions
in place to protect both donors and recipients.
A person's best chance of finding a matching donor is within his or her own ethnic group, As
such, it is important that the donors on OneMatch reflect Canada's rich ethnic diversity. It is
also important for the future of OneMatch to attract young donors. Right now, there is a
special need for ethnic males aged 17 to 35.
3. How do I join OneMatch?

Step 1: Complete the OneMatch Knowledge Test
Being an informed donor is a vital part of the donation process. It is important that you
have read the online Donor Information Package and completed the Knowledge Test
before deciding to join. You will be asked to answer 10 True or False questions to
ensure that you have a basic understanding of stem cell donation.

Step 2: Online Health Assessment and Consent form
Once you have submitted your Health Assessment and consent form online, you will
receive an email confirming that we have received your information. We will then call
you within 8-10 working days to discuss your eligibility to receive a buccal swab kit and
proceed with your enrolment.

Step 3: Swab your cheek and mail back the kit. The swab identifies DNA and whether
you would be a match for someone. (There is a link to a video which shows you how to
do this correctly on the website.) You are then fully registered!
2
Information adapted from Canadian Blood Services website:
www.blood.ca/CentreApps/Internet/UW_V502_MainEngine.nsf/page/E_ubmdrPKG-intro?OpenDocument&p=OMFormE
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4. Does joining OneMatch cost me anything?
No. Joining OneMatch is free and you won't be charged for any part of the testing or donation
process.
5. How do I donate stem cells?

One way to donate stem cells is through your circulating blood. The stem cells are
collected using a procedure where your blood is drawn through a needle. The stem cells
are then separated from the rest of your blood, and the remaining blood is returned
back into your body through another needle. This is a non-surgical procedure and the
risks to the donor are very minimal.

The second way is through bone marrow stem cell donation. This is a surgical
procedure performed under anesthesia. A doctor uses special, hollow needles to
withdraw liquid marrow from the back of your pelvic bones. The procedure usually lasts
from 45-90 minutes. It is a safe procedure but there are some potential risks you can
discuss with the doctor undertaking the procedure.
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Appendix 3: Sign Up for Life Frequently Asked Questions3
 If I have indicated my intent to be an organ and tissue donor, will medical
staff still do everything possible to save my life?
The first and foremost concern for healthcare professionals caring for critically ill
patients is to do everything possible to save lives. The possibility of donation is
only considered when all lifesaving efforts have failed.
 Will my family be asked about my intent to donate?
If you become a candidate for organ donation, Transplant Manitoba – Gift of Life
will ask your next of kin to give their consent to donation on your behalf. Once in
hospital, there is usually no chance to discuss donation with the potential donor,
which leaves the decision to the family. It is much easier for the family to make
the decision if they know the wishes of their loved one beforehand.
 Can my family overrule my wishes to be a donor?
It is the common practice of Manitoba's human tissue gift agencies to reaffirm an
individual's consent to donate with the family. In almost all cases, families honour
and respect their loved ones' donation decision if they have evidence that it's
what they wanted. Therefore, it's important to register your consent to donate so
that your family can be advised of your decision and feel confident about giving
consent to donation on your behalf. Donation will not take place without your
family's consent.
 How do you know if organs and/or tissues are suitable to donate?
The health of the organs and tissues of a potential donor are all evaluated by
medical professionals and must comply with Health Canada and if appropriate,
FDA regulations in the United States. The suitability of an organ is not certain
until the doctor sees it in the procurement surgery. Tissue suitability is assessed
by a medical screening procedure (i.e., medical record review, medical and social
history questionnaire) in accordance with policies and procedures within 24 hours
of the death.
 Does my age, ethnicity, pre-existing medical condition or sexual orientation
prevent me from being a donor?
Everyone can register to be a donor regardless of age, medical condition or
sexual orientation. Your decision to register should not be based on whether you
think you would be eligible or not. A donor's eligibility is determined by the health
care team upon their death.
3
You can find this information at: www.signupforlife.ca/faq.html
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Answers to Worksheets
Vocabulary Match
1. d
2.
i
3.
f
4.
m
5.
p
6.
h
7.
c
8.
n
9.
a
10. o
11. b
12. l
13. k
14. e
15. g
16. j
Use Vocabulary in Context to Re-tell a Story
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
leukemia
bone marrow
rare
registry
astonishing
to register
kit
donor
Read about Stem Cell Donation and Answer Detail Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
T
T
T
F
F
T
T
T
T
T
F
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Find Examples of Tone
Answers will vary.
urgency
Alex needs your help.
The time is now.
candidness / straightforwardness
Alex has to have the transplant for long term survival.
This may be difficult.
appreciation
We have had amazing support from all of you.
Thank you so much.
Respond to Scenarios
1. No, his concern is not valid. The hospital will only consider organ donation after all
lifesaving efforts have failed.
2. If the family refuses to give their consent, Maxwell’s organs will not be donated.
3. Whether someone’s organs are used for transplant is decided at the time, by medical
professionals.
4. Sexual orientation is not a factor when a hospital determines whether an organ is
acceptable for transplant.
Self Study: Blood, Tissue and Organ Donation
Learning English with CBC
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