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Sugar could be harmful to our health (12 January, 2016)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Governments in the United States and United Kingdom are waging a war on sugar in the interests of public health. Both countries claim that the overconsumption of sugar by much of the population is detrimental to people's well-being. On Thursday, the U.S. government issued new dietary guidelines that strongly recommend people receive less than 10 per cent of their daily calorie intake from added sugar. On the same day, British Prime Minister David Cameron said he has not ruled out the idea of a tax on sugar to encourage consumers to buy food with reduced levels of the sweet stuff. Politicians in the U.K. are debating how a reduction in the intake of sugar could help alleviate Britain's rising rates of obesity.

The American and British governments both cite a study conducted in Mexico that showed a tax on sugary, carbonated drinks led to a reduction in consumption. The tax was implemented on January 1, 2014 and purchases of the taxed beverages went down by 12 per cent by December of that year. Sales of mineral water increased by four per cent over the same period. An alternative to taxing sugared drinks is to reduce the level of sugar in them. Researchers at Queen Mary University in London say that reducing the sugar content in sugar-sweetened drinks by 40 per cent over five years could prevent one million cases of obesity in the U.K. Researchers say people might not even notice the changes.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/01/sugar-is-the-new-public-health-enemy-1/423207/
http://www.sciencealert.com/gradually-reducing-sugar-in-sweet-drinks-could-prevent-1-million-cases-of-obesity-in-the-uk-study-finds
http://www.lfpress.com/2016/01/08/Sugar could be harmful to our health

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. SUGAR: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about sugar. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

war / sugar / public health / population / well-being / encourage / consumers / obesity / study / sugary / carbonated drinks / mineral water / one million / obesity / changes

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. PUBLIC HEALTH: How can we protect people from these health issues? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Potential damage to health	How to limit the problems
Sugar
Fast food
Cigarettes
Pollution
Global warming
Poor sanitation

4. SUGAR TAX: Students A strongly believe there should be a tax on goods that contain sugar; Students B strongly believe this would be silly. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. SUGARY: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• carbonated drinks

• chocolate

• candy floss / cotton candy

• jam

• cereal

• ice cream

• donuts

• lollipops

6. CALORIES: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "calories". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	Governments from two countries are fighting a war on sugar.	T / F
b.	Both countries say all citizens consume too much sugar.	T / F
c.	The USA said sugar makes up 10% of the average citizen's calories.	T / F
d.	Britain's leader has agreed to a tax on sugar.	T / F
e.	A tax on sugary drinks in Mexico led to an increase in consumption.	T / F
f.	Sales of mineral water in Mexico increased by 4% in 2014.	T / F
g.	A London university recommends cutting the amount of sugar in drinks.	T / F
h.	Researchers say people might not notice a reduction in sugar levels.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	waging	a.	substitute
2.	claim	b.	reduce
3.	detrimental	c.	assert
4.	recommend	d.	instances
5.	alleviate	e.	quote
6.	cite	f.	engaging in
7.	implemented	g.	amount
8.	alternative	h.	urge
9.	content	i.	put into effect
10.	cases	j.	harmful

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	waging a war	a.	well-being
2.	in the interests	b.	sweetened drinks
3.	detrimental to people's	c.	the same period
4.	Cameron said he has not ruled	d.	rates of obesity
5.	alleviate Britain's rising	e.	notice the changes
6.	The tax was implemented	f.	cases of obesity
7.	increased by four per cent over	g.	on sugar
8.	reducing the sugar content in sugar-	h.	on January 1, 2014
9.	prevent one million	i.	of public health
10.	people might not even	j.	out the idea of a tax on sugar

GAP FILL

Governments in the United States and United Kingdom are (1) ____________ a war on sugar in the interests of public health. Both countries claim that the overconsumption of sugar by much of the population is (2) ____________ to people's well-being. On Thursday, the U.S. government issued new (3) ____________ guidelines that strongly recommend people receive less than 10 per cent of their daily calorie (4) ____________ from added sugar. On the same day, British Prime Minister David Cameron said he has not (5) ____________ out the idea of a tax on sugar to encourage (6) ____________ to buy food with reduced levels of the sweet (7) ____________. Politicians in the U.K. are debating how a reduction in the intake of sugar could help alleviate Britain's rising rates of (8) ____________.

intake
waging
stuff
dietary
ruled
obesity
detrimental
consumers

The American and British governments both (9) ____________ a study conducted in Mexico that showed a tax on (10) ____________, carbonated drinks led to a (11) ____________ in consumption. The tax was implemented on January 1, 2014 and purchases of the taxed (12) ____________ went down by 12 per cent by December of that year. Sales of mineral water increased by four per cent over the same (13) ____________. An alternative to taxing sugared drinks is to reduce the level of sugar in them. Researchers at Queen Mary University in London say that reducing the sugar (14) ____________ in sugar-sweetened drinks by 40 per cent over five years could prevent one million (15) ____________ of obesity in the U.K. Researchers say people might not even (16) ____________ the changes.

beverages
cite
content
reduction
notice
sugary
cases
period

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Governments in the United States and United Kingdom are waging ______
	a. a war in sugar b. a war on sugar c. a war of sugar d. a war an sugar
2)	the overconsumption of sugar by much of the population is detrimental to ______
	a. people's wellness-being b. people's good-being c. people's better-being d. people's well-being
3)	British Prime Minister David Cameron said he has not ruled out the idea of ______
	a. a tax in sugar b. a tax on sugar c. a tax of sugar d. a tax an sugar
4)	encourage consumers to buy food with reduced levels of ______
	a. the sweets stuff b. the sweetie stuff c. the sweetness stuff d. the sweet stuff
5)	how a reduction in the intake of sugar could help alleviate Britain's rising ______
	a. rates of obesity b. rates of obese c. rates of obesogenic d. rates of oh bees
6)	a tax on sugary, carbonated drinks led to a reduction ______
	a. in contraption b. in consumption c. in condemnation d. in condition
7)	Sales of mineral water increased by four per cent over ______
	a. the same periodical b. the same periods c. the same period d. the same periodically
8)	An alternative to taxing sugared drinks is to reduce the level ______
	a. of sugar in these b. of sugar on them c. of sugar in those d. of sugar in them
9)	reducing the sugar content in sugar-sweetened drinks by 40 per cent ______
	a. overly five years b. over five years c. under five years d. underling five years
10)	Researchers say people might not even ______
	a. notice the change b. notice the change is c. notice the changeless d. notice the changes

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Governments in the United States and United Kingdom (1) ___________________ on sugar in the interests of public health. Both countries claim that the overconsumption (2) ___________________ of the population is detrimental to people's well-being. On Thursday, the U.S. government (3) ___________________ guidelines that strongly recommend people receive less than 10 per cent of their daily calorie intake from added sugar. On the same day, British Prime Minister David Cameron said he has (4) ___________________ idea of a tax on sugar to encourage consumers to buy food with reduced levels (5) ___________________. Politicians in the U.K. are debating how a reduction in the intake of sugar could help alleviate Britain's rising (6) ___________________.

The American and British governments (7) ___________________ conducted in Mexico that showed a tax on sugary, carbonated drinks led to a reduction in consumption. The tax (8) ___________________ on January 1, 2014 and purchases of the taxed beverages went down by 12 per cent by December of that year. Sales of mineral (9) ___________________ four per cent over the same period. An alternative to taxing sugared drinks (10) ___________________ level of sugar in them. Researchers at Queen Mary University in London say that reducing the sugar content in sugar-sweetened drinks by 40 per cent over five years (11) ___________________ million cases of obesity in the U.K. Researchers say people (12) ___________________ notice the changes.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What are the US and UK governments waging a war on?
2.	What do governments say sugar is detrimental to?
3.	What kind of guidelines did the US government issue?
4.	What has the British leader not ruled out?
5.	Who is debating a reduction in the levels of sugar people consume?
6.	Which country reduced consumption of sugary drinks following a tax?
7.	How much did sales of mineral water rise after a tax on sugary drinks?
8.	What could be an alternative to taxing sugary drinks?
9.	How many cases of obesity did researchers say could be prevented?
10.	What did researchers say people might not notice?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What are the US and UK governments waging a war on?	6.	Which country reduced consumption of sugary drinks following a tax?
	a) tax b) well-being c) sugar d) calories		a) India b) Mexico c) the UK d) the USA
2.	What do governments say sugar is detrimental to?	7.	How much did sales of mineral water rise after a tax on sugary drinks?
	a) people's well-being b) calories c) tax d) diet		a) 10% b) 8% c) 6% d) 4%
3.	What kind of guidelines did the US government issue?	8.	What could be an alternative to taxing sugary drinks?
	a) sensible ones b) dietary guidelines c) online guidelines d) free guidelines		a) education b) reducing levels of sugar c) sweeteners d) honey
4.	What has the British leader not ruled out?	9.	How many cases of obesity did researchers say could be prevented?
	a) forced diets b) banning sugar c) replacing sugar with sweeteners d) a tax on sugar		a) 896,622 b) one million c) 100,000 d) a billion
5.	Who is debating a reduction in the levels of sugar people consume?	10.	What did researchers say people might not notice?
	a) the U.S. government b) sugar company CEOs c) British politicians d) consumers		a) changes (in sugar levels) b) a ban on sugar c) a tax on sugar d) sugar replaced by honey

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Carbonated drinks

You think carbonated drinks are the worst thing for your health. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): chocolate, cotton candy or lollipops.

Role B – Chocolate

You think chocolate is the worst thing for your health. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): carbonated drinks, cotton candy or lollipops.

Role C – Cotton candy

You think cotton candy is the worst thing for your health. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): chocolate, carbonated drinks or lollipops.

Role D – Lollipops

You think lollipops are the worst thing for your health. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): chocolate, cotton candy or carbonated drinks.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'public' and 'health'.

public

health

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

war
well
less
10
idea
debating

study
January
four
alternative
content
notice

SUGAR SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about sugar in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

SUGAR DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'sugar'?
3)	Is your sugar intake too high?
4)	How healthy or unhealthy is sugar?
5)	How important are carbonated drinks to you?
6)	What can governments do to educate people about sugar?
7)	Could you easily reduce your sugar intake?
8)	Should parents stop giving babies sweet things?
9)	What do you think of a sugar tax?
10)	How can we reduce rates of obesity?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	Why are carbonated drinks so popular?
13)	Should governments put a health warning on sugary drinks?
14)	How addictive do you think sugar is?
15)	What’s the difference between white and brown sugar?
16)	What do you think of artificial sweeteners and other sugar substitutes?
17)	Would you notice if there was less sugar in food?
18)	How would food taste if sugar was completely banned?
19)	Could you live without sugar or do you have a sweet tooth?
20)	What would you like to ask the boss of a sugar company?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Governments in the United States and United Kingdom are (1) ____ a war on sugar (2) ____ the interests of public health. Both countries claim that the overconsumption of sugar by much of the population is detrimental to people's (3) ____-being. On Thursday, the U.S. government issued new dietary guidelines that strongly (4) ____ people receive less than 10 per cent of their daily calorie intake from added sugar. On the same day, British Prime Minister David Cameron said he has not (5) ____ out the idea of a tax on sugar to encourage consumers to buy food with reduced levels of the sweet stuff. Politicians in the U.K. are debating how a reduction in the intake of sugar could help (6) ____ Britain's rising rates of obesity.

The American and British governments both (7) ____ a study conducted in Mexico that showed a tax on sugary, carbonated drinks led to a reduction (8) ____ consumption. The tax was implemented on January 1, 2014 and purchases of the taxed beverages (9) ____ down by 12 per cent by December of that year. Sales of mineral water increased by four per cent (10) ____ the same period. An alternative to taxing sugared drinks is to reduce the level of sugar in them. Researchers at Queen Mary University in London say that reducing the sugar (11) ____ in sugar-sweetened drinks by 40 per cent over five years could prevent one million (12) ____ of obesity in the U.K. Researchers say people might not even notice the changes.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	raging	(b)	engaging	(c)	waging	(d)	purging
2.	(a)	in	(b)	of	(c)	by	(d)	at
3.	(a)	well	(b)	good	(c)	nice	(d)	healthy
4.	(a)	recommend	(b)	recommendation	(c)	recommends	(d)	recommending
5.	(a)	leveled	(b)	ruled	(c)	erased	(d)	straightened
6.	(a)	punish	(b)	direct	(c)	concur	(d)	alleviate
7.	(a)	sight	(b)	site	(c)	cite	(d)	sit
8.	(a)	at	(b)	by	(c)	on	(d)	in
9.	(a)	went	(b)	crashed	(c)	fell	(d)	hovered
10.	(a)	around	(b)	over	(c)	about	(d)	up
11.	(a)	index	(b)	content	(c)	bibliography	(d)	title
12.	(a)	boxes	(b)	bags	(c)	cases	(d)	files

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	edttmrelain to people's well-being
2.	new ritdyea guidelines
3.	strongly eommedcnr people receive less
4.	caenogure consumers to buy food
5.	a rtniedocu in the intake of sugar
6.	llviaeeta Britain's rising rates of obesity
Paragraph 2
7.	adotbcenar drinks
8.	The tax was meneltpmied on January 1
9.	purchases of the taxed agrveeesb
10.	An eltavtriena to taxing sugared drinks
11.	sugar-tseweende drinks
12.	people might not even oneitc the changes

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	content in sugar-sweetened drinks by 40 per cent over five years could prevent one million
( )	on sugary, carbonated drinks led to a reduction in consumption. The tax was implemented on January 1, 2014 and purchases
( )	Prime Minister David Cameron said he has not ruled out the idea of a tax on sugar to encourage consumers to buy
( )	to reduce the level of sugar in them. Researchers at Queen Mary University in London say that reducing the sugar
( )	to people's well-being. On Thursday, the U.S. government issued new dietary guidelines that strongly
( )	in the intake of sugar could help alleviate Britain's rising rates of obesity.
( 1 )	Governments in the United States and United Kingdom are waging a war on sugar in the interests of public
( )	recommend people receive less than 10 per cent of their daily calorie intake from added sugar. On the same day, British
( )	food with reduced levels of the sweet stuff. Politicians in the U.K. are debating how a reduction
( )	The American and British governments both cite a study conducted in Mexico that showed a tax
( )	by four per cent over the same period. An alternative to taxing sugared drinks is
( )	cases of obesity in the U.K. Researchers say people might not even notice the changes.
( )	of the taxed beverages went down by 12 per cent by December of that year. Sales of mineral water increased
( )	health. Both countries claim that the overconsumption of sugar by much of the population is detrimental

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	the in sugar on war a Waging health public of interests .
2.	dietary new issued government US The guidelines .
3.	said of he a has tax not on ruled sugar out the Cameron idea .
4.	the with of stuff food levels sweet Buy reduced .
5.	Britain's alleviate Help obesity of rates rising .
6.	a to led drinks carbonated , sugary on tax A reduction .
7.	the went 12% of beverages by Purchases taxed down .
8.	4% water Sales same increased of period over by mineral the .
9.	alternative taxing drinks An to sugared .
10.	the Researchers might notice people even changes say not .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Governments in the United States and United Kingdom are waging / warring a war on sugar on / in the interests of public health. Both countries claim that the overconsumption of sugar by much of the population is detrimentally / detrimental to people's well-being. On Thursday, the U.S. government issued / issuance new dietary guidelines that strengthen / strongly recommend people receive fewer / less than 10 per cent of their daily calorie intake from added sugar. On / In the same day, British Prime Minister David Cameron said he has not ruled / rules out the idea of a tax on sugar to encourage consumers to buy food with reduced levels of the sweet stuff / staff. Politicians in the U.K. are debating how a reduction in the intake of sugar could help alleviate Britain's rising ratings / rates of obesity.

The American and British governments both sight / cite a study conducted in Mexico that showed a tax on / in sugary, carbonated drinks led to a reduction / reduce in consumption. The tax was complemented / implemented on January 1, 2014 and purchases of the taxed beverages went down by 12 per cent by December of that / then year. Sales of mineral water increased by four per cent under / over the same period. An alternative to taxing sugared drinks is to reduce the level of sugar in these / them. Researchers at Queen Mary University in London say that reducing the sugar content in sugar-sweetened drinks up / by 40 per cent over five years could prevent one million cases / bags of obesity in the U.K. Researchers say people might not even notice / noticing the changes.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

G_v_rnm_nts _n th_ _n_t_d St_t_s _nd _n_t_d K_ngd_m _r_ w_g_ng _ w_r _n s_g_r _n th_ _nt_r_sts _f p_bl_c h__lth. B_th c__ntr__s cl__m th_t th_ _v_rc_ns_mpt__n _f s_g_r by m_ch _f th_ p_p_l_t__n _s d_tr_m_nt_l t_ p__pl_'s w_ll-b__ng. _n Th_rsd_y, th_ _.S. g_v_rnm_nt _ss__d n_w d__t_ry g__d_l_n_s th_t str_ngly r_c_mm_nd p__pl_ r_c__v_ l_ss th_n 10 p_r c_nt _f th__r d__ly c_l_r__ _nt_k_ fr_m _dd_d s_g_r. _n th_ s_m_ d_y, Br_t_sh Pr_m_ M_n_st_r D_v_d C_m_r_n s__d h_ h_s n_t r_l_d __t th_ _d__ _f _ t_x _n s_g_r t_ _nc__r_g_ c_ns_m_rs t_ b_y f__d w_th r_d_c_d l_v_ls _f th_ sw__t st_ff. P_l_t_c__ns _n th_ _.K. _r_ d_b_t_ng h_w _ r_d_ct__n _n th_ _nt_k_ _f s_g_r c__ld h_lp _ll_v__t_ Br_t__n's r_s_ng r_t_s _f _b_s_ty.

Th_ _m_r_c_n _nd Br_t_sh g_v_rnm_nts b_th c_t_ _ st_dy c_nd_ct_d _n M_x_c_ th_t sh_w_d _ t_x _n s_g_ry, c_rb_n_t_d dr_nks l_d t_ _ r_d_ct__n _n c_ns_mpt__n. Th_ t_x w_s _mpl_m_nt_d _n J_n__ry 1, 2014 _nd p_rch_s_s _f th_ t_x_d b_v_r_g_s w_nt d_wn by 12 p_r c_nt by D_c_mb_r _f th_t y__r. S_l_s _f m_n_r_l w_t_r _ncr__s_d by f__r p_r c_nt _v_r th_ s_m_ p_r__d. _n _lt_rn_t_v_ t_ t_x_ng s_g_r_d dr_nks _s t_ r_d_c_ th_ l_v_l _f s_g_r _n th_m. R_s__rch_rs _t Q___n M_ry _n_v_rs_ty _n L_nd_n s_y th_t r_d_c_ng th_ s_g_r c_nt_nt _n s_g_r-sw__t_n_d dr_nks by 40 p_r c_nt _v_r f_v_ y__rs c__ld pr_v_nt _n_ m_ll__n c_s_s _f _b_s_ty _n th_ _.K. R_s__rch_rs s_y p__pl_ m_ght n_t _v_n n_t_c_ th_ ch_ng_s.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

governments in the united states and united kingdom are waging a war on sugar in the interests of public health both countries claim that the overconsumption of sugar by much of the population is detrimental to people's well-being on thursday the us government issued new dietary guidelines that strongly recommend people receive less than 10 per cent of their daily calorie intake from added sugar on the same day british prime minister david cameron said he has not ruled out the idea of a tax on sugar to encourage consumers to buy food with reduced levels of the sweet stuff politicians in the uk are debating how a reduction in the intake of sugar could help alleviate britain's rising rates of obesity

the american and british governments both cite a study conducted in mexico that showed a tax on sugary carbonated drinks led to a reduction in consumption the tax was implemented on january 1 2014 and purchases of the taxed beverages went down by 12 per cent by december of that year sales of mineral water increased by four per cent over the same period an alternative to taxing sugared drinks is to reduce the level of sugar in them researchers at queen mary university in london say that reducing the sugar content in sugar-sweetened drinks by 40 per cent over five years could prevent one million cases of obesity in the uk researchers say people might not even notice the changes

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

GovernmentsintheUnitedStatesandUnitedKingdomarewagingawar
onsugarintheinterestsofpublichealth.Bothcountriesclaimthattheove
rconsumptionofsugarbymuchofthepopulationisdetrimentaltopeople
'swell-being.OnThursday,theU.S.governmentissuednewdietarygui
delinesthatstronglyrecommendpeoplereceivelessthan10percentoft
heirdailycalorieintakefromaddedsugar.Onthesameday,BritishPrime
MinisterDavidCameronsaidhehasnotruledouttheideaofataxonsugar
toencourageconsumerstobuyfoodwithreducedlevelsofthesweetstuf
f.PoliticiansintheU.K.aredebatinghowareductionintheintakeofsugar
couldhelpalleviateBritain'srisingratesofobesity.TheAmericanandBri
tishgovernmentsbothciteastudyconductedinMexicothatshowedatax
onsugary,carbonateddrinksledtoareductioninconsumption.Thetax
wasimplementedonJanuary1,2014andpurchasesofthetaxedbevera
geswentdownby12percentbyDecemberofthatyear.Salesofmineralw
aterincreasedbyfourpercentoverthesameperiod.Analternativetotax
ingsugareddrinksistoreducethelevelofsugarinthem.ResearchersatQ
ueenMaryUniversityinLondonsaythatreducingthesugarcontentinsu
gar-sweeteneddrinksby40percentoverfiveyearscouldpreventon
emillioncasesofobesityintheU.K.Researcherssaypeoplemightnoteve
nnoticethechanges.

FREE WRITING

Write about sugar for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

There should be a health tax on all food with sugar. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about health and sugar. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. SUGAR: Make a poster about sugar. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. SUGAR TAX: Write a magazine article about a tax on sugar. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on sugar. Ask him/her three questions about sugar. Give him/her three of your ideas on how people can reduce their intake of sugar. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

F

c

F

d

F

e

F

f

T

g

T

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	waging	a.	engaging in
2	claim	b.	assert
3.	detrimental	c.	harmful
4.	recommend	d.	urge
5.	alleviate	e.	reduce
6.	cite	f.	quote
7.	implemented	g.	put into effect
8.	alternative	h.	substitute
9.	content	i.	amount
10.	cases	j.	instances

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Sugar
2.	People’s well-being
3.	Dietary guidelines
4.	A tax on sugar
5.	British politicians
6.	Mexico
7.	4%
8.	Reducing levels of sugar
9.	One million
10.	Changes (in sugar levels)

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

b

4.

d

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

b

9.

b

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Breaking News English Lesson on Sugar

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Sugar could be harmful to our health (12 January, 2016)

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