APIEIELTS Writing: Malaria and Mosquito Control
Malaria and mosquito control
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
Malaria & Mosquito Control
Module 1: Vocabulary expansion, collocation mastery, essay transitions, and focus phrases.
How to use this lesson
👩🏫 For Teachers:
Allocate 15 minutes for this build-up module to establish topic vocabulary and focus grammar before students write the task.
Monitor completion using automated checks to give targeted feedback on word forms and stance phrases.
👨🎓 For Learners:
Start with the word form and collocation exercises to master key vocabulary about malaria control.
Next, complete the essay phrase and paraphrasing practice before attempting the quick grammar recap.
Build-up practice: Master key words, collocations, and linking structures before writing your essay.
Grammar Focus: Weighing up views & setting focus
Use these phrases to introduce specific angles, zoom in on a particular group, or express a clear position in your essay:
A Part (a): Word Forms of Unit Words (5 items)
Complete each sentence using the correct form of the Unit word provided in brackets.
1. Malaria is caused by a tiny single-celled parasite that attacks human red blood cells, leading to severe ____ infections in affected patients. (parasite)
Hint: Transform the noun 'parasite' into its adjective form.
2. Individuals who survive repeated mosquito bites over several years may gradually acquire partial ____ against severe symptoms. (immune)
Hint: Transform the adjective 'immune' into a noun meaning protection against disease.
3. When seasonal rains flood low-lying areas, mosquito populations explode and trigger several ____ across entire rural districts. (epidemic)
Hint: Use the plural noun form of a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease.
4. Chemical sprays contain active ____ compounds designed to eliminate adult mosquitoes inside houses. (insecticide)
Hint: Change the noun 'insecticide' to an adjective modifying 'compounds'.
5. Topical sprays act as effective ____ that deter mosquitoes from landing on exposed skin. (repellent)
Hint: Use the plural noun form for chemical substances applied to skin to drive insects away.
B Part (b): Topic Collocations (5 items)
Select the natural Unit word that completes each standard collocation.
6. Shallow pools of standing water in a muddy _____ form an ideal breeding site for mosquitoes.
7. Mosquito larvae thrive along the quiet banks of a slow-moving freshwater _____ near human settlements.
8. Overusing antimalarial medication can lead to dangerous _____ resistance in parasite populations.
9. Installing fine window netting made of durable insect _____ keeps mosquitoes out of sleeping areas.
10. Once injected by a mosquito bite, parasites quickly enter the human _____ and travel straight to the liver.
C Part (c): Common Essay Phrases (5 items)
Fill in each blank using each phrase from the Word Bank exactly once.
11. Vaccines give long-term protection against the disease. ____, bed nets protect people only while they sleep under them.
12. Indoor spraying reduces mosquito numbers inside residential homes quickly. ____, the number of malaria cases falls quickly.
13. There are many ways to fight malaria. ____, nets are the best choice for most families.
14. Mosquitoes can breed in very small amounts of water. ____, a bucket left out in the rain is enough.
15. Fitting fine window mesh blocks mosquitoes from entering bedrooms. ____, applying chemical repellent offers personal protection outdoors.
D Part (d): Paraphrasing Practice (3 items)
Complete the rewritten sentences by inserting the missing key word or phrase so the original meaning is preserved.
Original Sentence:
"Governments should spend money on bed nets because they protect people cheaply."
Rewrite: Governments ought to allocate public funds to bed nets because they give people protection at a very low ____.
Original Sentence:
"Mosquitoes multiply quickly in wet places near rural villages."
Rewrite: Insects breed rapidly in ____ environments surrounding local communities.
Original Sentence:
"Many medical experts support mass vaccination programs for young children."
Rewrite: A large number of health specialists are in ____ of mass vaccination campaigns for infants.
E Part (e): Grammar Recap: Stance & Focus Phrases (3 items)
Select the correct focus structure according to the context of each statement.
19. _____ young children, a parasitic infection can be very serious.
20. _____ lives saved per dollar spent, bed nets are one of the best ways to protect families.
21. Many experts are strongly _____ spraying the walls of houses with insecticide.
Module 2: Put your skills into practice by writing a full Task 2 essay.
"Some people think that governments should spend most of their health money on nets and spraying to stop mosquitoes, while others believe that it is better to spend it on vaccines, and on medicines for people who are already ill. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion."
📝 Writing Requirements
- 1. Write at least 250 words.
- 2. Use at least 3 stance and focus phrases learned in Unit 1 (e.g., As for..., As far as... is concerned, When it comes to..., In terms of..., From the point of view of..., In favour of / against...).
- 3. Include at least 5 Unit words (parasite, immune, epidemic, bloodstream, marsh, creek, insecticide, repellent, mesh, drug).
📌 4-Paragraph Plan
Use these paragraph starters to structure your essay clearly before writing:
"In this essay I will discuss ..."
"Some people believe ..."
"However, others argue ..."
"In conclusion, ..."
Self-Check List
Before submitting your work, tick off each requirement to make sure your essay meets all criteria:
✍️ Free-Writing Essay Space
Write your complete Task 2 response in the box below.
Evaluation Criteria:
Read this sample essay to see how to organize your ideas and use the unit grammar naturally.
Model Essay Showcase
In this essay I will discuss whether governments should spend most of their health budget on preventive measures such as bed nets and spraying or on medical treatments like vaccines and medicines for sick patients. In terms of public health budgets, deciding how to distribute money is a crucial decision for preventing a deadly malaria epidemic in vulnerable communities.
Some people believe that purchasing physical prevention tools is the most effective approach. As far as rural villages are concerned, installing fine window mesh and spraying walls with insecticide can stop mosquitoes before they bite residents. In wet regions near a marsh or a creek, mosquitoes multiply very quickly, so applying chemical repellent and sleeping under nets keeps families safe throughout the night. In terms of lives saved, these simple preventive methods offer fast and affordable protection against infected insects.
However, others argue that investing money in medical research and hospital treatment is much better. When it comes to patients who are already infected, protective bed nets cannot cure their illness. The dangerous malaria parasite travels through the bloodstream rapidly, which means patients require immediate drug treatments to recover completely. Furthermore, many health experts are in favour of developing advanced vaccines because a reliable vaccine helps the human body become immune and prevents future health crises.
In conclusion, both mosquito control and medical care play essential roles in protecting public health. As for the best answer, I believe governments ought to balance their financial resources by supporting net distribution for quick prevention while also providing necessary medicines for people who fall ill.
3 Model Essay Analysis Questions (3 items)
Answer these quick check questions based on the structure and language of the model essay above.
1. Which stance phrase did the writer use in Paragraph 2 to focus specifically on the situation in rural communities?
2. In Paragraph 3, which Unit word describes where the malaria parasite moves inside a patient's body?
3. How does the writer present their own opinion in the final paragraph?
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