The question is: how could a mink farm increase the risk of a dangerous flu, and how should officials weigh that risk against a farmer’s livelihood?

Here, “weigh” means carefully compare the risk with the farmer’s way of earning a living.

Grace, how do you weigh the farmer’s livelihood against the possible public danger?

Here, “weigh” means carefully compare the farmer’s way of earning a living with the possible danger to the public.

The Guardian says officials had not shut the farm or killed the mink.

Here, “shut the farm” means stop the farm from operating.

The columnist says public officials had not shut the farm or culled the mink.

Here, “shut the farm” means stop the farm from operating.

Mink can host both bird flu viruses and human flu viruses, according to the account in The Guardian.

Here, “host” means provide a place where the viruses can live or grow.

The risk is that mink can host both kinds of flu virus, which could exchange genetic material.

Here, “host” means provide a place where both kinds of flu virus can live or grow.

The columnist says new viral variants often develop in chickens, cows and other farm animals, and mink can host both bird and human flu viruses.

Here, “host” means provide a place where both kinds of flu virus can live or grow.

The columnist says mink can host bird and human flu viruses, which may exchange genetic material.

Here, “host” means provide a place where both kinds of flu virus can live or grow.

If viruses meet in the same animal, they can exchange genetic material.

It means the viruses can mix or swap parts that carry their inherited information.

The column says the two viruses can exchange genetic material in mink, but it does not explain what traits a new virus might gain.

It means the viruses can mix or swap parts that carry their inherited information.

The risk is that mink can host both kinds of flu virus, which could exchange genetic material.

It means the viruses can mix or swap parts that carry their inherited information.

The columnist says mink can host bird and human flu viruses, which may exchange genetic material.

It means the viruses can mix or swap parts that carry their inherited information.

The column also describes mink as having high zoonotic potential.

This means mink may be able to pass infections to other kinds of animals, including people.

The Guardian columnist says a mink-farm virus would pose a grave danger if it were both highly lethal and more easily spread between people.

It means the virus would create a very serious danger.

The question is: how could a mink farm increase the risk of a dangerous flu, and how should officials weigh that risk against a farmer’s livelihood?

A “livelihood” is the work or business a person depends on to earn money.

Grace, how do you weigh the farmer’s livelihood against the possible public danger?

A “livelihood” is the work or business a person depends on to earn money.

The columnist says the farmer should be compensated if the mink are killed.

Here, it means the farmer should receive money to help make up for the loss.

Mink are fed offcuts from chickens, cows and other farm animals.

“Offcuts” are pieces left over when an animal is cut up for food.

He says livestock industries can create conditions in which a low-pathogenic strain can mutate into a more pathogenic variety.

Here, it means able to cause disease.

The column refers to a more pathogenic strain, meaning one that can cause more disease.

Here, it means able to cause disease.

The columnist warns that a variant that is both highly lethal and more transmissible could pose a wider danger.

Here, “more transmissible” means easier to pass from one person to another.