Task 1 Listen to the monologue to fill the blanks! Why Is Hand Washing so Important? It's a message worth repeating - hand (1).... is by far the best way to keep people from getting sick and prevent the (2) .... of germs. Good hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of many illnesses-from the common (3) to more serious infections, such as meningitis, bronchiolitis, the flu, hepatitis A, and many (4) .... of diarrhea. EXUE When people come into contact with germs, they can become infected just by touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. And once they're (5) ...., it's usually just a matter of time before the whole family comes down with the same (6).. The background behind this message was initiated to (7).... child mortality where more than 5,000 children under five with diarrhea die every day worldwide as a result of lack of access to (8) .... water and sanitation facilities and (9) education. The suffering and costs of being sick can be reduced by making simple behavioral changes such as hand washing, which (10) .... shows can reduce diarrhea-related mortality by almost 50 (11)..... So don't underestimate the power of hand washing! The time you (12) .... at the sink could save you trips to the doctor's office.​