The First Line of Defense Against Germs Think about all of the things that you touched today — from the telephone to the toilet. Whatever you did, you came into contact with germs and it's easy for germs on your hand to end up in your mouth. Hand washing is a powerful way to (31) ………….. the spread of disease. Millions of lives could be saved each year if people washed their hands with soap often. Hand washing with soap could be among the most (32) ………….. ways to reduce (33) ………….. diseases. Hand washing destroys germs from other people, animals or objects a person has touched. When people get (34) ………….. on their hands, they can infect themselves by touching their eyes, nose or mouth. It’s especially easy for a germ on your hand to end up in your mouth. Think about how much food you eat with your hands. But the worst thing is these people can infect other people. For example, the easiest way to catch cold is to touch your nose or eyes after someone nearby has (35) ………….. or coughed. Another way to become sick is to eat food (36) ………….. by someone whose hands were not clean. It is especially a good idea to wash your hands after (37) ………….. money. Good hand washing is your first line of (38) ………….. against the (39) ………….. of many illnesses—and not just the common cold. So never forget to (40) ………….. your hands with water and dry them. A spread B defense C bacteria D effective E prevent F disease G infectious H touching I prepared J rinse K diagnose L sneezed A. 31 B. 32 C. 33 D. 34 E. 35 F. 36 G. 37 H. 38 I. 39 J. 40