Should we try to “cure” autism? This week, Donald Trump claimed to have found a possible cause and a possible treatment for autism. Scientists say he has got it all wrong.
Trump blames painkiller for autism rise
Rates rising: There is no blood test or scan that can determine if a person has autism. Instead, a diagnosis is based on a doctor's observations. Comprehension quiz
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The word “sceptical” most nearly means:
A: Believing everything you are told
B: Having doubts or not being easily convinced
C: Feeling angry and upset
D: Being an expert in a subject
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Which word is the closest synonym for complicates?
A: Simplifies
B: Answers
C: Makes more difficult
D: Ignores
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Add the correct punctuation to the sentence below:
on monday donald trump and his health secretary rfk jr released a new report on the possible causes of autism
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According to the article, what did the report released by Donald Trump and RFK Jr claim?
A: That vaccines have no link to autism
B: That paracetamol might increase the risk of autism in children
C: That awareness of autism has grown
D: That people with milder autism need more rules
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According to the article, give one reason why autism diagnoses might be on the rise.
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Why do many people with milder cases of autism reject the idea of a “cure”?
Answers
Tap to reveal
1. B 2. C 3. On Monday, Donald Trump and his health secretary, RFK Jr, released a new report on the possible causes of autism. 4. B 5. One reason from the following: As awareness of autism has grown, more people have come forward for diagnosis. / Doctors have also come to recognise that autism can present in quite different ways. 6. They reject the idea that there is something "wrong" with them that needs to be "fixed".
1. B 2. C 3. On Monday, Donald Trump and his health secretary, RFK Jr, released a new report on the possible causes of autism. 4. B 5. One reason from the following: As awareness of autism has grown, more people have come forward for diagnosis. / Doctors have also come to recognise that autism can present in quite different ways. 6. They reject the idea that there is something "wrong" with them that needs to be "fixed".
Glossary
Health secretary - A senior politician who is responsible for health and often social care.
RFK Jr - Robert F. Kennedy Jr. An American politician and conspiracy theorist. He is currently the US secretary of health under Donald Trump and is known for promoting vaccine misinformation.
Paracetamol - A common painkiller known as acetaminophen, and often solved under the brand name Tylenol, in the USA.
Autism - A condition characterised by difficulty in social interaction and communication. According to the World Health Organisation, 1 in 160 children has an autism disorder.
Vaccines - A substance given to a person to stop a disease from making them ill in the future.