Learnenglish elementary podcast support materials - 2-
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/magazine/food
Introduction
This support pack accompanies the video magazine article:Food.
To read or listen to the article online, go to:
This support pack contains the following materials:
• a pre-watching vocabulary activity; • the article; • a comprehension task
Before you read / listen
Match the words and phrases in the table to their definitions.
Definitions:
b. Relating to thinking or mental activity
d. Beans with tomato sauce, spices and sugar sold in cans
f. A small argument with a very close friend or partner
The British Council, 2010 The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/magazine/food
Article: Food
Do we live to eat or eat to live? That is the
your brain – and caffeine which will temporarily
boost your mood and alertness but send you crashing back down as soon as its effect starts
I remember as a child growing up in Britain
having fish and chips or baked beans on toast at least twice a week on my lap while watching
Does this mean snacking is a bad idea when
my favourite cartoon. Of course I enjoyed my
you’re feeling down? Not at all. You just have to
food but it wasn’t something I often talked
do it wisely. In place of a chocolate bar, have a
about. Now, I’m not blaming my culture for my
slice of toast with chunky marmalade. Then
lack of interest in food at an early age. Perhaps
instead of fat and caffeine you’ve just given
my silence was due to the fact that I didn’t know
yourself a dose of vitamin C that has been
anything about food. How many children know
that prawns only turn pink when they are
marmalade is loaded with the type of sugar that
cooked and that tuna does not come from a
spurs the release of mood-lifting chemicals in
Europe, Asia and Australia I find myself talking about food all the time. The world has seduced
In fact you can manage your mood and boost
your brainpower, metabolism, even your sex life, by eating the right food. Whatever your
Food that’s plain and simple is often the best
goals, you can custom-design a diet to help you
but not always so. For many of us food is a
meet them. Here’s how taking control of your
need. For others, food is a friend. Yet to some
food can help you take control of your life.
others food is an enemy. Cravings grip us at all the wrong times while we struggle to follow a
The next time you have an important meeting
strict diet that turned all our favourite desserts
that requires mental processing, try some brain
into mortal sins. There are others who regard
processing food that looks like this: tuna salad
food as an investment. To them, food has some
kind of special powers that can control their
tomatoes, a handful of nuts, bananas, a glass of
lives, for better or for worse. If that’s the case,
skimmed milk. Tuna, bananas, nuts and whole
it’s time to change and make food work for us.
wheat bread are high in vitamin B6, which has been scientifically proven to help preserve
Let’s start by using food the way you would use
cognitive skills. Protein-rich food contains a
a pencil or a pair of scissors. We begin using
nutrient called Tyrosine, which studies have
food as a tool. Like tools, some food works well
for some tasks and some is specially designed
alertness. Greens such as broccoli and spinach
naturally contain loads of vitamins and iron. Lack of these nutrients can lead to fatigue and
Let’s say you’re feeling down. You had a tough
day or a tiff with a best friend that drove you round the bend. You decide to treat yourself to
Having said all that, let’s not be too stressed
a bar of chocolate –nothing like chocolate to
about what we eat. Many scientists these days
perk you up. Unfortunately you’re setting
believe that indulging in life’s little pleasures
yourself up for a higher dose of the blues.
may actually help improve your health because
That’s because chocolate bars have a hefty
of the psychological lift it gives you. There is a
amount of fat and sugar – which takes a long
lot of truth in the old saying that ‘a little of what
time to digest and can draw energy away from
The British Council, 2010 The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/magazine/food
Comprehension task Multiple choice Read the following sentence beginnings and select the right endings.
a. …knew a lot about food when he was a child. b. …believes travelling has helped him to understand food more. c. …talked about food all the time when he was a child.
2. In his childhood the writer used to eat fish and chips or baked beans on toast…
a. …regularly with his family at the table. b. …and watch television at the same time. c. …less than twice a week.
3. The writer believes that chocolate…
a. …gives energy to the brain. b. …makes you more intelligent. c. …takes energy away from the brain.
a. …makes you depressed. b. …is better than eating a full meal. c. …is not always bad for you.
5. The writer believes managing your own food can…
a. …help you to control other people. b. …control your life. c. …help you achieve your goals.
a. …found in rich food. b. …found in food with a lot of protein. c. …a kind of nut.
a. …can help you to become more alert throughout the day. b. …makes you immediately depressed. c. …is a short term measure to make you feel good.
8. The writer mentions that scientists believe that…
a. …we should always be concerned about what we eat. b. …eating the wrong food can cause stress. c. …the pleasure we get from eating food may help you to feel better.
The British Council, 2010 The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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