The Reading / Listening - Chili Peppers - Level 6

There is good news for lovers of hot and spicy food – the chili inside it can help you live longer. Researchers from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in the US have discovered that capsaicin, the active ingredient in hot red chili peppers, may boost the metabolism, strengthen the cardiovascular system and help reduce high blood pressure and obesity. They said people who regularly ate hot red chili peppers had a 13 per cent reduced risk of premature death compared with those who did not eat them. They concluded that: "The consumption of hot red chili pepper was associated with reduced mortality. Hot red chili peppers may be a beneficial component of the diet."

The researchers surveyed a total of 16,179 adults over a period of six years. Survey participants answered questions on their health, lifestyle, income and eating habits. The researchers analysed the deaths that occurred in the 18 years following the survey. A total of 4,946 of the participants died. Of these, 21.6 per cent regularly consumed chili compared with 33.6 per cent who did not. This led the researchers to believe hot red chili peppers helped prolong life. Britain's National Health Service urged people not to rely on one "superfood" like chili to stay healthier. It said: "Eat a balanced diet high in a variety of fruit and vegetables, limit salt, sugar and saturated fat, stay active [and] avoid smoking."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Chili Peppers - Level 4  or  Chili Peppers - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.nhs.uk/news/2017/01January/Pages/Hot-red-chilli-peppers-linked-to-longer-lifespan.aspx
  • http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315262.php
  • http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0169876


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. CHILI PEPPERS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about chili peppers. 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?

       good news / lovers / live longer / blood pressure / risk / premature death / mortality /
       adults / lifestyle / income / health service / superfood / balanced diet / saturated fat

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

3. SUPERFOODS: Students A strongly believe we should only eat superfoods; Students B strongly disagree.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. DIET: How good for us are these foods? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good things

Bad things

Pizza

 

 

Chocolate

 

 

Avocado

 

 

Banana

 

 

Toast

 

 

Ice cream

 

 
MY e-BOOK
See a sample

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

6. SPICY: Rank these spicy things with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • potato chips
  • chili con carne
  • pasta
  • soup
  • pizza
  • curry
  • kimchi
  • samosa

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says there is good news for romantic couples who like hot food.  T / F
  2. The researchers were from the Chili University of Vietnam.     T / F
  3. People who ate chili often reduced their risk of premature death by 13%. T / F
  4. Researchers said chili consumption was linked with increased mortality.   T / F
  5. Researchers surveyed over 16,000 adults.     T / F
  6. Just under 5,000 of those surveyed died within 18 years of the survey.    T / F
  7. Britain's National Health Service recommended a chili a day.     T / F
  8. Britain's National Health Service recommended we eat more fat.     T / F

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

  1. lovers
  2. boost
  3. premature
  4. associated
  5. component
  6. surveyed
  7. occurred
  8. consumed
  9. rely
  10. avoid
  1. linked
  2. polled
  3. part
  4. ate
  5. fans
  6. keep away from
  7. untimely
  8. depend
  9. improve
  10. happened

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

  1. good news for lovers
  2. active
  3. a 13 per cent reduced risk of premature
  4. chili pepper was associated with reduced
  5. a beneficial component of
  6. over a period
  7. urged people not to rely
  8. Eat a
  9. saturated
  10. stay
  1. death
  2. the diet
  3. balanced diet
  4. of six years
  5. fat
  6. mortality
  7. active
  8. of hot and spicy food
  9. on one "superfood"
  10. ingredient

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
premature
lovers
discovered
diet
pressure
associated
regularly
ingredient

There is good news for (1) ____________ of hot and spicy food – the chili inside it can help you live longer. Researchers from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in the US have (2) ____________ that capsaicin, the active (3) ____________ in hot red chili peppers, may boost the metabolism, strengthen the cardiovascular system and help reduce high blood (4) ____________ and obesity. They said people who (5) ____________ ate hot red chili peppers had a 13 per cent reduced risk of (6) ____________ death compared with those who did not eat them. They concluded that: "The consumption of hot red chili pepper was (7) ____________ with reduced mortality. Hot red chili peppers may be a beneficial component of the (8) ____________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
habits
rely
consumed
fat
total
balanced
occurred
prolong

The researchers surveyed a (9) ____________ of 16,179 adults over a period of six years. Survey participants answered questions on their health, lifestyle, income and eating (10) ____________. The researchers analysed the deaths that (11) ____________ in the 18 years following the survey. A total of 4,946 of the participants died. Of these, 21.6 per cent regularly (12) ____________ chili compared with 33.6 per cent who did not. This led the researchers to believe hot red chili peppers helped (13) ____________ life. Britain's National Health Service urged people not to (14) ____________ on one "superfood" like chili to stay healthier. It said: "Eat a (15) ____________ diet high in a variety of fruit and vegetables, limit salt, sugar and saturated (16) ____________, stay active [and] avoid smoking."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Vermont College of Medicine in the US have discovered that capsaicin, the ______
     a.  actively ingredient
     b.  activate ingredient
     c.  active ingredient
     d.  active ingredients

2)  chili peppers, may boost the metabolism, strengthen the ______
     a.  cardio-vacillate system
     b.  cardio-muscular system
     c.  cardigan-vascular system
     d.  cardiovascular system

3)  people who regularly ate hot red chili peppers had a 13% reduced risk of ______
     a.  prematurely death
     b.  premature deathly
     c.  premature death
     d.  prematurely deathly

4)  The consumption of hot red chili pepper was associated with ______
     a.  reduction mortality
     b.  reduced mortal a tea
     c.  reduced more totality
     d.  reduced mortality

5)  Hot red chili peppers may be a beneficial component of ______
     a.  the die at
     b.  the dine at
     c.  the dye it
     d.  the diet

6)  answered questions on their health, lifestyle, income and ______
     a.  eating habits
     b.  eat-in habits
     c.  eating habit
     d.  eating rabbits

7)  A total of 4,946 of the participants died. Of these, 21.6 per cent regularly ______
     a.  consume chili
     b.  cons fumed chili
     c.  consumes chili
     d.  consumed chili

8)  This led the researchers to believe hot red chili peppers helped ______
     a.  prolong life
     b.  prolong live
     c.  prologue life
     d.  prologue live

9)  Britain's National Health Service urged people not to ______
     a.  rely on once
     b.  rely on one
     c.  rely on one's
     d.  rely on ones

10)  limit salt, sugar and saturated fat, stay active and ______
     a.  avoid smoking
     b.  evade smoking
     c.  avid smoking
     d.  abide smoking

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

There is good news (1) ___________________ hot and spicy food – the chili inside it can help you live longer. Researchers from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in the US have discovered that capsaicin, the (2) ___________________ in hot red chili peppers, may boost the metabolism, strengthen the cardiovascular system (3) _________________ high blood pressure and obesity. They said people who regularly ate hot red chili peppers had a 13 per cent (4) ___________________ premature death compared with those who did not eat them. They concluded that: "The consumption of hot red chili pepper was (5) ___________________ reduced mortality. Hot red chili peppers may be a (6) ___________________ of the diet."

The researchers (7) ___________________ of 16,179 adults over a period of six years. Survey participants answered questions on their health, lifestyle, income (8) ___________________. The researchers analysed the deaths that occurred in the 18 years (9) ___________________. A total of 4,946 of the participants died. Of these, 21.6 per cent regularly consumed chili compared with 33.6 per cent who did not. This led the researchers to believe hot red chili peppers (10) ___________________. Britain's National Health Service urged people not to rely on one "superfood" like chili to stay healthier. It said: "Eat a balanced (11) ___________________ variety of fruit and vegetables, limit salt, sugar (12) ___________________, stay active [and] avoid smoking."

Comprehension questions

    1. For whom is there good news?
    2. What did researchers say the active ingredient capsaicin can boost?
    3. What was the reduced risk of premature death for chili eaters?
    4. What did researchers associate hot red chili pepper consumption with?
    5. What kind of dietary component did researchers say chilis were?
    6. What was the timeframe in which researchers surveyed participants?
    7. For how many years did researchers follow participants after the survey?
    8. What percentage of those who died regularly ate chili?
    9. What did researchers say eating hot red chili peppers prolonged?
    10. What kind of fat did a health service recommend limiting?

Multiple choice quiz

1) For whom is there good news?
a) chilli farmers
b) romantic lovers
c) Thai restaurants
d) lovers of spicy and hot food

2) What did researchers say the active ingredient capsaicin can boost?
a) one's love life
b) metabolism
c) economic growth
d) hair growth

3) What was the reduced risk of premature death for chili eaters?
a) high blood pressure
b) a slight headache
c) slight
d) 13%

4) What did researchers associate hot red chili pepper consumption with?
a) a burning tongue
b) curry
c) reduced mortality
d) premature death

5) What kind of dietary component did researchers say chilis were?
a) a tasty one
b) an inexpensive one
c) a complex one
d) a beneficial one

6) What was the timeframe in which researchers surveyed participants?
a) a total
b) blue
c) 6 years
d) 16,179 days

7) For how many years did researchers follow participants after the survey?
a) 18
b) 12
c) 6
d) 24

8) What percentage of those who died regularly ate chili?
a) 36.3
b) 33.6
c) 21.6
d) 26.1

9) What did researchers say eating hot red chili peppers prolonged?
a) the health service
b) life
c) taste
d) experience

10) What kind of fat did a health service recommend limiting?
a) saturated fat
b) wobbly fat
c) active fat
d) sugary fat

Role play

Role A — Potato Chips

You think potato chips are the best thing to be very spicy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these to be spicy (and why): pasta, chicken curry or soup.

Role B — Pasta

You think pasta is the best thing to be very spicy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these to be spicy (and why): potato chips, chicken curry or soup.

Role C — Chicken Curry

You think chicken curry is the best thing to be very spicy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these to be spicy (and why): pasta, potato chips or soup.

Role D — Soup

You think soup is the best thing to be very spicy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these to be spicy (and why):  pasta, chicken curry or potato chips.

After reading / listening

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

'chili'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'pepper'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • total
    • answered
    • 18
    • 21.6
    • believe
    • limit
    • lovers
    • active
    • high
    • 13
    • concluded
    • diet

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Eating chili peppers helps you live longer

    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 'chili'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of hot and spicy food?
    5. What is the difference between 'hot' and 'spicy'?
    6. What do eat or drink for your health?
    7. Will you now eat more hot red chili peppers?
    8. What things can you eat hot red chili with?
    9. How spicy is the food in your country?
    10. How hot (spicy hot) is the hottest food you can eat?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'pepper'?
    3. What do you know about chili peppers?
    4. What impact does your lifestyle have on your health?
    5. How healthy are your eating habits?
    6. What can we do to prolong our life?
    7. What are 'superfoods' and why are they called that?
    8. How balanced is your diet?
    9. How healthy do you think you are?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    There is good news for (1) ____ of hot and spicy food – the chili inside it can help you live longer. Researchers from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in the US have discovered that capsaicin, the (2) ____ ingredient in hot red chili peppers, may boost (3) ____ metabolism, strengthen the cardiovascular system and help reduce high blood (4) ____ and obesity. They said people who regularly ate hot red chili peppers had a 13 per cent reduced risk (5) ____ premature death compared with those who did not eat them. They concluded that: "The consumption of hot red chili pepper was associated (6) ____ reduced mortality. Hot red chili peppers may be a beneficial component of the diet."

    The researchers surveyed (7) ____ total of 16,179 adults over a period of six years. Survey participants answered questions (8) ____ their health, lifestyle, income and eating habits. The researchers analysed the deaths that occurred in the 18 years (9) ____ the survey. A total of 4,946 of the participants died. Of these, 21.6 per cent regularly (10) ____ chili compared with 33.6 per cent who did not. This led the researchers to believe hot red chili peppers helped (11) ____ life. Britain's National Health Service urged people not to rely on one "superfood" like chili to stay healthier. It said: "Eat a balanced diet high in a (12) ____ of fruit and vegetables, limit salt, sugar and saturated fat, stay active [and] avoid smoking."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     loves     (b)     lovers     (c)     lovelies     (d)     love-ins    
    2. (a)     lively     (b)     active     (c)     moving     (d)     dynamo    
    3. (a)     whole     (b)     all     (c)     a     (d)     the    
    4. (a)     pressures     (b)     pressure     (c)     pressuring     (d)     pressured    
    5. (a)     by     (b)     to     (c)     at     (d)     of    
    6. (a)     at     (b)     by     (c)     with     (d)     on    
    7. (a)     a     (b)     in     (c)     the     (d)     at    
    8. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     by    
    9. (a)     pursuing     (b)     chasing     (c)     post     (d)     following    
    10. (a)     consumed     (b)     consumption     (c)     consuming     (d)     consumer    
    11. (a)     prolong     (b)     elongate     (c)     elasticated     (d)     drag out    
    12. (a)     variety     (b)     varied     (c)     various     (d)     vary

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the active inegertdni in hot red chili
    2. may btoso the metabolism
    3. high blood pressure and iybsote
    4. reduced risk of emartupre death
    5. associated with reduced lmroaityt
    6. a eliinafbce component

    Paragraph 2

    1. researchers deysveru a total of 16,179 adults
    2. Survey incrastaptpi
    3. deaths that uceocrdr in the 18 years
    4. regularly mcnsuoed chili
    5. Eat a lcdaaneb diet
    6. salt, sugar and tusatrade fat

    Put the text back together

    (    )     that: "The consumption of hot red chili pepper was associated with reduced

    (    )     The researchers surveyed a total of 16,179 adults over a period of six years. Survey participants answered

    (    )     blood pressure and obesity. They said people who regularly ate hot red chili peppers had a 13 per cent reduced

    (    )     mortality. Hot red chili peppers may be a beneficial component of the diet."

    (    )     questions on their health, lifestyle, income and eating habits. The researchers analysed the

    (    )     ingredient in hot red chili peppers, may boost the metabolism, strengthen the cardiovascular system and help reduce high

    (    )     researchers to believe hot red chili peppers helped prolong life. Britain's National Health Service urged people

    (    )     deaths that occurred in the 18 years following the survey. A total of 4,946 of the participants died. Of

    (    )     not to rely on one "superfood" like chili to stay healthier. It said: "Eat a balanced diet high in a

    (  1  )     There is good news for lovers of hot and spicy food – the chili inside it can help you live

    (    )     these, 21.6 per cent regularly consumed chili compared with 33.6 per cent who did not. This led the

    (    )     risk of premature death compared with those who did not eat them. They concluded

    (    )     longer. Researchers from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in the US have discovered that capsaicin, the active

    (    )     variety of fruit and vegetables, limit salt, sugar and saturated fat, stay active [and] avoid smoking."

    Put the words in the right order

    1. lovers   of   hot   and   spicy   food   There   is   good   news   for   .
    2. peppers   chili   red   Hot   metabolism   the   boost   may   .
    3. death   reduced   A   risk   13   of   per   premature   cent   .
    4. pepper   chili   Red   mortality   reduced   with   associated   was   .
    5. component   may   of   be   the   a   diet   beneficial   Peppers   .
    6. of   years   period   adults   A   of   over   total   six   a   16,179   .
    7. researchers   the   that   The   analysed   deaths   occurred   .
    8. 21.6   Of   chili   consumed   regularly   cent   per   these,   .
    9. chili   like   'superfood'   one   on   rely   to   not   people   Urged   .
    10. in  high  diet  balanced   a   Eat  vegetables   and  fruit   of  variety  a   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    There is good / well news for lovers / lovelies of hot and spicy food – the chili inside it can help you live / life longer. Researchers from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in the US have discovery / discovered that capsaicin, the active / actively ingredient in hot red chili peppers, may boost the metabolism, strengthen the cardiovascular system and help reduce high blood pressure and obese / obesity. They said people who regularly ate hot red chili peppers had a 13 per cent reduced / reduction risk of premature death compared with those who did not eat them / this. They concluded that: "The consumption of hot red chili pepper was associated at / with reduced mortality. Hot red chili peppers may be a beneficial component of / at the diet."

    The researchers surveyed a total for / of 16,179 adults over a period of six years. Survey participates / participants answered questions in / on their health, lifestyle, income and eating habits. The researchers analysed the deaths that occurred in the 18 years following / followed the survey. A total of 4,946 of the participants died. Of these, 21.6 per cent regulated / regularly consumed chili compared with 33.6 per cent who did not. This led the researchers to believe / belief hot red chili peppers helped prolong life. Britain's National Health Service urged people not to rely / relay on one "superfood" like chili to stay healthier. It said: "Eat a balancing / balanced diet high in / of a variety of fruit and vegetables, limit salt / salty, sugar and saturated fat, stay active [and] avoid smoking."

    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)

    Th_r_ _s g__d n_ws f_r l_v_rs _f h_t _nd sp_cy f__d – th_ ch_l_ _ns_d_ _t c_n h_lp y__ l_v_ l_ng_r. R_s__rch_rs fr_m th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f V_rm_nt C_ll_g_ _f M_d_c_n_ _n th_ _S h_v_ d_sc_v_r_d th_t c_ps__c_n, th_ _ct_v_ _ngr_d__nt _n h_t r_d ch_l_ p_pp_rs, m_y b__st th_ m_t_b_l_sm, str_ngth_n th_ c_rd__v_sc_l_r syst_m _nd h_lp r_d_c_ h_gh bl__d pr_ss_r_ _nd _b_s_ty. Th_y s__d p__pl_ wh_ r_g_l_rly _t_ h_t r_d ch_l_ p_pp_rs h_d _ 13 p_r c_nt r_d_c_d r_sk _f pr_m_t_r_ d__th c_mp_r_d w_th th_s_ wh_ d_d n_t __t th_m. Th_y c_ncl_d_d th_t: "Th_ c_ns_mpt__n _f h_t r_d ch_l_ p_pp_r w_s _ss_c__t_d w_th r_d_c_d m_rt_l_ty. H_t r_d ch_l_ p_pp_rs m_y b_ _ b_n_f_c__l c_mp_n_nt _f th_ d__t."

    Th_ r_s__rch_rs s_rv_y_d _ t_t_l _f 16,179 _d_lts _v_r _ p_r__d _f s_x y__rs. S_rv_y p_rt_c_p_nts _nsw_r_d q__st__ns _n th__r h__lth, l_f_styl_, _nc_m_ _nd __t_ng h_b_ts. Th_ r_s__rch_rs _n_lys_d th_ d__ths th_t _cc_rr_d _n th_ 18 y__rs f_ll_w_ng th_ s_rv_y. _ t_t_l _f 4,946 _f th_ p_rt_c_p_nts d__d. _f th_s_, 21.6 p_r c_nt r_g_l_rly c_ns_m_d ch_l_ c_mp_r_d w_th 33.6 p_r c_nt wh_ d_d n_t. Th_s l_d th_ r_s__rch_rs t_ b_l__v_ h_t r_d ch_l_ p_pp_rs h_lp_d pr_l_ng l_f_. Br_t__n's N_t__n_l H__lth S_rv_c_ _rg_d p__pl_ n_t t_ r_ly _n _n_ "s_p_rf__d" l_k_ ch_l_ t_ st_y h__lth__r. _t s__d: "__t _ b_l_nc_d d__t h_gh _n _ v_r__ty _f fr__t _nd v_g_t_bl_s, l_m_t s_lt, s_g_r _nd s_t_r_t_d f_t, st_y _ct_v_ [_nd] _v__d sm_k_ng."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    there is good news for lovers of hot and spicy food – the chili inside it can help you live longer researchers from the university of vermont college of medicine in the us have discovered that capsaicin the active ingredient in hot red chili peppers may boost the metabolism strengthen the cardiovascular system and help reduce high blood pressure and obesity they said people who regularly ate hot red chili peppers had a 13 per cent reduced risk of premature death compared with those who did not eat them they concluded that "the consumption of hot red chili pepper was associated with reduced mortality hot red chili peppers may be a beneficial component of the diet"

    the researchers surveyed a total of 16179 adults over a period of six years survey participants answered questions on their health lifestyle income and eating habits the researchers analysed the deaths that occurred in the 18 years following the survey a total of 4946 of the participants died of these 216 per cent regularly consumed chili compared with 336 per cent who did not this led the researchers to believe hot red chili peppers helped prolong life britain's national health service urged people not to rely on one "superfood" like chili to stay healthier it said "eat a balanced diet high in a variety of fruit and vegetables limit salt sugar and saturated fat stay active [and] avoid smoking"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Thereisgoodnewsforloversofhotandspicyfood–thechiliinsideitcanh
    elpyoulivelonger.ResearchersfromtheUniversityofVermontCollegeo
    fMedicineintheUShavediscoveredthatcapsaicin,theactiveingredienti
    nhotredchilipeppers,mayboostthemetabolism,strengthenthecardio
    vascularsystemandhelpreducehighbloodpressureandobesity.Theys
    aidpeoplewhoregularlyatehotredchilipeppershada13percentreduce
    driskofprematuredeathcomparedwiththosewhodidnoteatthem.The
    yconcludedthat:"Theconsumptionofhotredchilipepperwasassociate
    dwithreducedmortality.Hotredchilipeppersmaybeabeneficialcompo
    nentofthediet."Theresearcherssurveyedatotalof16,179adultsovera
    periodofsixyears.Surveyparticipantsansweredquestionsontheirheal
    th,lifestyle,incomeandeatinghabits.Theresearchersanalysedthedea
    thsthatoccurredinthe18yearsfollowingthesurvey.Atotalof4,946ofth
    eparticipantsdied.Ofthese,21.6percentregularlyconsumedchilicom
    paredwith33.6percentwhodidnot.Thisledtheresearcherstobelieveh
    otredchilipeppershelpedprolonglife.Britain'sNationalHealthServiceu
    rgedpeoplenottorelyonone"superfood"likechilitostayhealthier.Itsai
    d:"Eatabalanceddiethighinavarietyoffruitandvegetables,limitsalt,s
    ugarandsaturatedfat,stayactive[and]avoidsmoking."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    People should only eat the healthier "superfoods". Discuss.

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    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 this news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. CHILI PEPPERS: Make a poster about chili peppers. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. SUPERFOODS: Write a magazine article about superfoods. Argue why we should include mainly superfoods in out diet. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

    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 chili peppers. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on what we can eat to prolong our health. 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

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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