Answer key: Comforting People During Covid-19

Lesson Plan: How to Comfort People During Covid-19

II. While Reading Activities

Word Inference

  1. *lift their spirits lift (one’s) spirits -idiom To make one feel happier or more carefree.The purpose of this charity is to lift children’s spirits this holiday season.
  2. aching  |ˈākiNG| adjective -feeling intense or wistful sadness; sorrowful: an aching feeling of nostalgia.
  3. vulnerability  noun (plural vulnerabilities) the quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally: conservation authorities have realized the vulnerability of the local population |
  4. distress dəˈstres| noun extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain: to his distress he saw that she was trembling.
  5. empathetic |ˌempəˈTHedik| adjective showing an ability to understand and share the feelings of another: she’s compassionate and empathetic towards her daughter | I have been touched by the empathetic response to my bad luck.
  6. tweak |twēk| verb [with object] – informal improve (a mechanism or system) by making fine adjustments to it: engineers tweak the car’s operating systems during the race.
  7. positivity |ˌpäzəˈtivədē| noun  the practice of being or tendency to be positive or optimistic in attitude: pupils draw power from the positivity of their teachers | we like to project positivity and a message of hope.
  8. minimize|ˈminəˌmīz| verb [with object] reduce (something, especially something unwanted or unpleasant) to the smallest possible amount or degree: the aim is to minimize costs.
  9. unsolicited  |ˌənsəˈlisidəd| adjective not asked for; given or done voluntarily: unsolicited junk mail.
  10. Nix  |niks| informal  verb [with object] chiefly North American put an end to; cancel: he nixed the deal just before it was to be signed.

Sources:

New Oxford American Dictionary   

*Source: Idioms, The Free Dictionary By Farlex

Grammar Focus: Word -Recognition

Try not to give unsolicited advice. Unless the other person explicitly asks you for suggestions on managing his or her concerns, you shouldn’t offer your two cents. Most likely, people are just looking for an ear, Dr. Abrams said. “They’re looking for a heart, somebody who can meet them in the experience and then they can better figure it out on their own.

Reading Comprehension: Identify The  Speakers

  1. Whitney Goodman, psychotherapist: “Responding to someone’s expression of distress with an unhelpful, cheerful attitude is dismissive, or toxic, positivity.”
  2. Nicolle Osequeda, a psychotherapist: “At its root, dismissive positivity is a response from someone who feels uncomfortable in the situation.”
  3. Ayanna Abrams, a licensed clinical psychologist: “That’s not how the world works. That’s not how our brain works.”
  4. Sonia Fregoso, a licensed marriage and family therapist: “Offering counsel like, ‘You should just practice self-care’ or ‘You shouldn’t be so negative,’ is not helpful.”