The Reading / Listening - Freakshake Milkshakes - Level 6

There are calls in the UK to ban the latest phenomenon to shock health and nutrition experts. The campaign group Action on Sugar wants to ban the "freakshake" - a "monstrous" milkshake packed with "grotesque" levels of sugar. Action on Sugar said the shake should be banned from restaurants and cafes as it can contain up to 1,280 calories. An adult would have to go jogging for three hours to burn off those calories. Freakshakes are usually full of sweetened whipped cream, chocolate bars, mini-doughnuts and even slices of cake. One freakshake tested contained 39 teaspoons of sugar. This is more than six times the recommended daily amount of sugar for a 10-year-old, and the equivalent of four cans of Coke.

Freakshakes originated in Australia and spread around the world on social media. Two restaurants mentioned in the Action on Sugar report fought back and said they took nutrition seriously. One said it was adhering to a national sugar-reduction programme and was not targeting children with excessively high-calorie shakes. A restaurant spokesperson said: "Freakshakes only feature on our main menu and are not targeted at children. We share our nutritional information online for guests to access....We regularly work with our suppliers to explore ways we can reduce sugar levels in our dishes." A public health spokesman said the government needed to put a limit of 300kcal per serving on all shakes.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Freakshake Milkshakes - Level 4  or  Freakshake Milkshakes - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/freakshake-ban-pushed-because-monstrous-13582337
  • https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/7726420/sugar-milkshake-possible-ban-toby-carvery-pizza-hut-mcdonalds/
  • https://metro.co.uk/2018/11/13/milkshakes-containing-39-tablespoons-of-sugar-should-be-banned-campaigners-say-8133706/?ito=cbshare


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. FREAKSHAKES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about freakshakes. 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?
       ban / phenomenon / monstrous / milkshake / banned / jogging / cream / chocolate /
       Australia / social media / nutrition / calories / menu / information / public health
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. LIMIT: Students A strongly believe there should be a limit on calories for restaurant food; Students B strongly believe there shouldn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. NUTRITION: How nutritious are these? How could they be healthier? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How nutritious?

Making it healthier

Milkshakes

 

 

Ice cream

 

 

Pizza

 

 

French fries

 

 

Hamburgers

 

 

Donuts

 

 
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. HEALTH: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "health". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SUGARY STUFF: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • apple pie
  • cheesecake
  • tiramisu
  • cookies
  • ice cream
  • milkshake
  • chocolate brownie
  • cotton candy

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. phenomenon a. A person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.
      2. nutrition b. Extremely and crazily large.
      3. monstrous c. Everything in food and drink that is necessary for our growth and good health.
      4. grotesque d. Having the same or a similar effect as.
      5. experts e. A remarkable person, thing, or event.
      6. recommended f. Inappropriate to a shocking degree.
      7. equivalent g. Advised or suggested something as a course of action.

 

    Paragraph 2

      8. originated h. To a greater degree or in greater amounts than is necessary, normal, or desirable.
      9. mentioned i. Get, obtain, or examine information, data or a file.
      10. adhering j. Be a significant characteristic of or take an important part in.
      11. excessively k. Referred to something briefly and without going into detail.
      12. feature l. A person or organization that provides something needed such as a product or service.
      13. access m. Created or started.
      14. suppliers n. Believe in and follow the practices of something.

 

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. A group called Action on Sugar is campaigning against a "freakshake".     T / F
  2. One freakshake had 1,280 calories.     T / F
  3. The freakshake has the equivalent of 39 tablespoons of sugar.     T / F
  4. The freakshake has the same amount of sugar as four cans of Coke.     T / F
  5. The freakshake originally came from Austria.     T / F
  6. A restaurant said it was not targeting children with its freakshake.     T / F
  7. The restaurant is trying to reduce the sugar in its food.     T / F
  8. A public health spokesman wants a limit of 300kcal on milkshakes.     T / F

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

  1. calls
  2. shock
  3. grotesque
  4. contain
  5. amount
  6. originated
  7. adhering
  8. feature
  9. explore
  10. serving
  1. portion
  2. quantity
  3. started
  4. outrage
  5. sticking
  6. outrageous
  7. look into
  8. include
  9. appeals
  10. characteristic

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

  1. nutrition
  2. three hours to burn
  3. One freakshake tested contained 39
  4. more than six times the recommended
  5. the equivalent of
  6. Freakshakes originated
  7. it was adhering to a national sugar-
  8. targeting
  9. We regularly work
  10. put a limit of 300kcal per
  1. children
  2. daily amount
  3. reduction programme
  4. off those calories
  5. serving on all shakes
  6. experts
  7. with our suppliers
  8. in Australia
  9. four cans of Coke
  10. teaspoons of sugar

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
burn
levels
equivalent
sweetened
latest
daily
contain
packed

There are calls in the UK to ban the (1) ____________ phenomenon to shock health and nutrition experts. The campaign group Action on Sugar wants to ban the "freakshake" - a "monstrous" milkshake (2) ____________ with "grotesque" (3) ____________ of sugar. Action on Sugar said the shake should be banned from restaurants and cafes as it can (4) ____________ up to 1,280 calories. An adult would have to go jogging for three hours to (5) ____________ off those calories. Freakshakes are usually full of (6) ____________ whipped cream, chocolate bars, mini-doughnuts and even slices of cake. One freakshake tested contained 39 teaspoons of sugar. This is more than six times the recommended (7) ____________ amount of sugar for a 10-year-old, and the (8) ____________ of four cans of Coke.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
excessively
nutrition
dishes
feature
limit
originated
adhering
guests

Freakshakes (9) ____________ in Australia and spread around the world on social media. Two restaurants mentioned in the Action on Sugar report fought back and said they took (10) ____________ seriously. One said it was (11) ____________ to a national sugar-reduction programme and was not targeting children with (12) ____________ high-calorie shakes. A restaurant spokesperson said: "Freakshakes only (13) ____________ on our main menu and are not targeted at children. We share our nutritional information online for (14) ____________ to access....We regularly work with our suppliers to explore ways we can reduce sugar levels in our (15) ____________." A public health spokesman said the government needed to put a (16) ____________ of 300kcal per serving on all shakes.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  ban the latest phenomenon to shock health and ______
     a.  nutritional experts
     b.  nutrition expertise
     c.  nutrition expert
     d.  nutrition experts
2)  the "freakshake" - a "monstrous" milkshake packed with ______ of sugar
     a.  "grotesquely" levels
     b.  "grotesque" levels
     c.  "grotesque" level
     d.  "grotesquely" level
3)  An adult would have to go jogging for three hours to ______ calories
     a.  burnt off those
     b.  burns off those
     c.  burned off those
     d.  burn off those
4) doughnuts and even slices of cake. One freakshake tested contained ______ sugar
     a.  39 tease spoons of
     b.  39 T-spoons of
     c.  39 teas spoons of
     d.  39 teaspoons of
5) daily amount of sugar for a 10-year-old, and the ______ cans of Coke
     a.  equivalent of four
     b.  equivalence of four
     c.  equivalency of four
     d.  equivalents of four

6) mentioned in the Action on Sugar report fought back and said they took ______
     a.  nutrition serious see
     b.  nutrition series see
     c.  nutrition cereals see
     d.  nutrition seriously
7) sugar-reduction programme and was not targeting children with ______-calorie shakes
     a.  excessively highs
     b.  excessively height
     c.  excessively high
     d.  excessively highly
8)  Freakshakes only feature on our main menu and are ______ children
     a.  not target it at
     b.  not target at it
     c.  not targeted at
     d.  not target that
9)  We share our nutritional information online for ______
     a.  guest to access
     b.  guessed to excess
     c.  gusts to assess
     d.  guests to access
10)  We regularly work with our suppliers to explore ways we can reduce sugar levels _____
     a.  in our dishes
     b.  inner dishes
     c.  in hour dishes
     d.  in hour dish is

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

There are calls in the UK to ban (1) ___________________ to shock health and nutrition experts. The campaign group Action on Sugar wants to ban the "freakshake" - a "monstrous" milkshake packed (2) ___________________ of sugar. Action on Sugar said the shake should be banned from restaurants and cafes as it can (3) ___________________ 1,280 calories. An adult would have to go jogging for three hours to burn off those calories. Freakshakes are usually (4) ___________________ whipped cream, chocolate bars, mini-doughnuts and even slices of cake. One freakshake tested contained 39        (5) ___________________. This is more than six times the recommended daily amount of sugar for a 10-year-old, and (6) ___________________ four cans of Coke.

Freakshakes originated in Australia (7) ___________________ the world on social media. Two restaurants mentioned in the Action on Sugar report         (8) ___________________ said they took nutrition seriously. One said it was adhering to a national sugar-reduction programme and was not targeting children with excessively (9) ___________________. A restaurant spokesperson said: "Freakshakes only feature on our main menu and are not targeted at children. We share our nutritional information                           (10) ___________________ to access....We regularly work with our suppliers to explore ways we can reduce sugar levels (11) ___________________." A public health spokesman said the government needed to put a limit of 300kcal (12) ___________________ all shakes.

Comprehension questions

  1. What is the name of the campaign group mentioned in the article?
  2. What did the campaign group call the level of sugar in the freakshake?
  3. How many calories were in one freakshake?
  4. How many teaspoons of sugar are in the freakshake?
  5. How many cans of Coke is the freakshake the equivalent of in sugar?
  6. Where did freakshakes originate?
  7. What kind of programme was a restaurant sticking to?
  8. Who did a restaurant say it was not targeting?
  9. What did the restaurant say it was trying to reduce in its dishes?
  10. What calorie limit did a health spokesman suggest for freakshakes?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What is the name of the campaign group mentioned in the article?
a) Sweet Tooth
b) Action on Sugar
c) Sugary War
d) War on Sugar
2)  What did the campaign group call the level of sugar in the freakshake?
a) high
b) sweet
c) sugary
d) grotesque
3) How many calories were in one freakshake?
a) 1,280
b) 1,380
c) 1,180
d) 1,480
4) How many teaspoons of sugar are in the freakshake?
a) 20
b) 28
c) 39
d) 59
5) How many cans of Coke is the freakshake the equivalent of in sugar?
a) 3
b) 4
c) 5
d) 6

6) Where did freakshakes originate?
a) Australia
b) England
c) USA
d) Brazil
7) What kind of programme was a restaurant sticking to?
a) its plans
b) its recipes
c) a sugar-reduction programme
d) its menus
8) Who did a restaurant say it was not targeting?
a) children
b) dentists
c) sugar growers
d) cake shops
9) What did the restaurant say it was trying to reduce in its dishes?
a) sugar levels
b) weight
c) sweetness
d) calories
10) What calorie limit did a health spokesman suggest for freakshakes?
a) 400kcal
b) 200kcal
c) 600kcal
d) 300kcal

Role play

Role  A – Milkshakes
You think milkshakes are the best sweet things. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sweet things. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): brownies, apple pie or tiramisu.

Role  B – Brownies
You think brownies are the best sweet things. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sweet things. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): milkshakes, apple pie or tiramisu.

Role  C – Apple Pie
You think apple pie is the best sweet thing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sweet things. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): brownies, milkshakes or tiramisu.

Role  D – Tiramisu
You think tiramisu is the best sweet thing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sweet things. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): brownies, apple pie or milkshakes.

After reading / listening

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

'freak'

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

    • and 'shake'.

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

    • • 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:

    • spread
    • fought
    • national
    • main
    • explore
    • 300
    • experts
    • packed
    • cafes
    • usually
    • even
    • four

    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 - Calls for ban on sugary 'freakshake' milkshakes

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'freak'?
    3. What do you think of milkshakes?
    4. Would you like to try a freakshake?
    5. How nutritious are milkshakes?
    6. Should the freakshakes be banned?
    7. Why do people "invent" things like freakshakes?
    8. How tasty might a freakshake be?
    9. How bad is eating 30 teaspoons of sugar?
    10. What do you think of the words "freak" and "freakshake"?

    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 'milkshake'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Do restaurants have a duty not to sell high-calorie food?
    5. Have people become addicted to unhealthy food?
    6. How often would you buy your child a freakshake?
    7. Should calorie information be on restaurant menus?
    8. Do you believe the restaurant that said it was reducing sugar levels?
    9. How bad is it to target freakshakes at children?
    10. What questions would you like to ask freakshake restaurants?

    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 are calls in the UK to ban the (1) ____ phenomenon to shock health and nutrition experts. The campaign group Action on Sugar wants to ban the "freakshake" - a "monstrous" milkshake (2) ____ with "grotesque" levels of sugar. Action on Sugar said the shake should be banned from restaurants and cafes as it can contain up to 1,280 calories. An adult would have to go jogging for three hours to (3) ____ off those calories. Freakshakes are usually full of (4) ____ whipped cream, chocolate bars, mini-doughnuts and (5) ____ slices of cake. One freakshake tested contained 39 teaspoons of sugar. This is more than six times the recommended daily amount of sugar for a 10-year-old, and the (6) ____ of four cans of Coke.

    Freakshakes (7) ____ in Australia and spread around the world on social media. Two restaurants mentioned in the Action on Sugar report fought (8) ____ and said they took nutrition seriously. One said it was (9) ____ to a national sugar-reduction programme and was not targeting children with excessively high-calorie shakes. A restaurant spokesperson said: "Freakshakes only (10) ____ on our main menu and are not targeted at children. We share our nutritional information online for guests to access....We regularly work with our suppliers to (11) ____ ways we can reduce sugar levels in our dishes." A public health spokesman said the government needed to put a limit of 300kcal per (12) ____ on all shakes.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     latest     (b)     lately     (c)     late     (d)     later    
    2. (a)     picked     (b)     pecked     (c)     packed     (d)     pocked    
    3. (a)     shake     (b)     eat     (c)     burn     (d)     whip    
    4. (a)     sweetener     (b)     sweets     (c)     sweetie     (d)     sweetened    
    5. (a)     even     (b)     ever     (c)     every     (d)     event    
    6. (a)     equals     (b)     equivalent     (c)     equality     (d)     equivalence    
    7. (a)     founded     (b)     born     (c)     invented     (d)     originated    
    8. (a)     in     (b)     back     (c)     on     (d)     up    
    9. (a)     tacking     (b)     gluing     (c)     adhering     (d)     plastering    
    10. (a)     function     (b)     feature     (c)     nutrients     (d)     picture    
    11. (a)     venture     (b)     gear     (c)     seeking     (d)     explore    
    12. (a)     servant     (b)     serving     (c)     server     (d)     service

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. ban the latest noehomnepn
    2. health and nutrition eeptxsr
    3. packed with "etogrsuqe" levels of sugar
    4. burn off those lcaeoisr
    5. six times the cdeommrened daily amount
    6. the teluanqive of four cans of Coke

    Paragraph 2

    1. freakshakes aingdrotie in Australia
    2. One said it was erhndiga
    3. ivsesleyecx high-calorie shakes
    4. uaterfe on our main menu
    5. pxeeorl ways we can reduce sugar levels
    6. 300kcal per nsgervi on all shakes

    Put the text back together

    (...)  menu and are not targeted at children. We share our nutritional information online for guests
    (...)  to access....We regularly work with our suppliers to explore ways we can reduce sugar levels in our dishes." A public
    (...)  of sugar. Action on Sugar said the shake should be banned from restaurants and cafes as it can contain up
    (...)  excessively high-calorie shakes. A restaurant spokesperson said: "Freakshakes only feature on our main
    (...)  for a 10-year-old, and the equivalent of four cans of Coke.
    (...)  adhering to a national sugar-reduction programme and was not targeting children with
    (...)  Freakshakes originated in Australia and spread around the world on social media. Two restaurants mentioned
    (...)  in the Action on Sugar report fought back and said they took nutrition seriously. One said it was
    (...)  39 teaspoons of sugar. This is more than six times the recommended daily amount of sugar
    (...)  to 1,280 calories. An adult would have to go jogging for three hours to burn off those calories. Freakshakes are usually full
    (...)  health spokesman said the government needed to put a limit of 300kcal per serving on all shakes.
    (...)  of sweetened whipped cream, chocolate bars, mini-doughnuts and even slices of cake. One freakshake tested contained
    (...)  group Action on Sugar wants to ban the "freakshake" - a "monstrous" milkshake packed with "grotesque" levels
    (  1  ) There are calls in the UK to ban the latest phenomenon to shock health and nutrition experts. The campaign

    Put the words in the right order

    1. phenomenon   latest   The   experts   .   nutrition   shock   to
    2. with   grotesque   milkshake   packed   A   of   levels   sugar   .
    3. calories   .   off   for   Go   hours   burn   to   jogging
    4. tested   freakshake   39   One   of   contained   teaspoons   sugar   .
    5. sugar   .   times   Six   of   the   daily   recommended   amount
    6. they   restaurants   took   said   Two   nutrition   seriously   .
    7. menu   .   Freakshakes   only   feature   our   on   main
    8. share   guests   .   online   nutritional   information   our   We   for
    9. can   our   sugar   reduce   in   We   levels   dishes   .
    10. limit   300kcal   on   shakes   .   serving   of   per   A

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    There are calls in the UK to ban the last / latest phenomenon to shock health and nutrition experts. The campaign group Action on Sugar wants to bin / ban the "freakshake" - a "monstrous" milkshake packed / peaked with "grotesque" levels of sugar. Action on Sugar said the shake should be banned from restaurants and cafes as it can contents / contain up to 1,280 calories. An adult would have to go jogging for three hours to burnt / burn off those calories. Freakshakes are usually full of sweetie / sweetened whipped cream, chocolate bars, mini-doughnuts and even sliced / slices of cake. One freakshake tested / testing contained 39 teaspoons of sugar. This is more than six times the recommendation / recommended daily amount of sugar for a 10-year-old, and the equal / equivalent of four cans of Coke.

    Freakshakes originated / origins in Australia and spread around the world on social media. Two restaurants mentioned / mentioning in the Action on Sugar report fought back and said they took nutrition serious / seriously. One said it was adhering to a national sugar-reduction programme and was not targeting / aiming children with excessively high-calorie shakes / stakes. A restaurant spokesperson said: "Freakshakes only feature / future on our main menu and are not targeted on / at children. We share our nutritional information online for guests to access....We regularly work with our suppliers to expire / explore ways we can reduce sugar levels in our dishes." A public healthy / health spokesman said the government needed to put a limit of 300kcal per serving / serve on all shakes.

    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)

    T h_r_ _r_ c_l l s _n t h_ U K t_ b_n t h_ l_t_s t p h_n_m_n_ t_ s h_c k h__ l t h _n d n_t r_t__ n _x p_r t s . T h_ c_m p__ g n g r__ p A c t__ n _n S_g_r w_n t s t_ b_n t h_ " f r__ k s h_k_" - _ " m_n s t r__ s " m_l k s h_k_ p_c k_d w_t h " g r_t_s q__ " l_v_l s _f s_g_r . A c t__ n _n S_g_r s__ d t h_ s h_k_ s h__ l d b_ b_n n_d f r_m r_s t__ r_n t s _n d c_f_s _s _t c_n c_n t__ n _p t_ 1 , 2 8 0 c_l_r__ s . A n _d_l t w__ l d h_v_ t_ g_ j_g g_n g f_r t h r__ h__ r s t_ b_r n _f f t h_s_ c_l_r__ s . F r__ k s h_k_s _r_ _s__ l l y f_l l _f s w__ t_n_d w h_p p_d c r__ m , c h_c_l_t_ b_r s , m_n_- d__ g h n_t s _n d _v_n s l_c_s _f c_k_. O n_ f r__ k s h_k_ t_s t_d c_n t__ n_d 3 9 t__ s p__ n s _f s_g_r . T h_s _s m_r_ t h_n s_x t_m_s t h_ r_c_m m_n d_d d__ l y _m__ n t _f s_g_r f_r _ 1 0 - y__ r -_l d , _n d t h_ _q__ v_l_n t _f f__ r c_n s _f C_k_.

    F r__ k s h_k_s _r_g_n_t_d _n A_s t r_l__ _n d s p r__ d _r__ n d t h_ w_r l d _n s_c__ l m_d__ . T w_ r_s t__ r_n t s m_n t__ n_d _n t h_ A c t__ n _n S_g_r r_p_r t f__ g h t b_c k _n d s__ d t h_y t__ k n_t r_t__ n s_r___s l y . O n_ s__ d _t w_s _d h_r_n g t_ _ n_t__ n_l s_g_r - r_d_c t__ n p r_g r_m m_ _n d w_s n_t t_r g_t_n g c h_l d r_n w_t h _x c_s s_v_l y h_g h - c_l_r__ s h_k_s . A r_s t__ r_n t s p_k_s p_r s_n s__ d : " F r__ k s h_k_s _n l y f__ t_r_ _n __ r m__ n m_n_ _n d _r_ n_t t_r g_t_d _t c h_l d r_n . W_ s h_r_ __ r n_t r_t__ n_l _n f_r m_t__ n _n l_n_ f_r g__ s t s t_ _c c_s s . . . . W_ r_g_l_r l y w_r k w_t h __ r s_p p l__ r s t_ _x p l_r_ w_y s w_ c_n r_d_c_ s_g_r l_v_l s _n __ r d_s h_s . " A p_b l_c h__ l t h s p_k_s m_n s__ d t h_ g_v_r n m_n t n__ d_d t_ p_t _ l_m_t _f 3 0 0 k c_l p_r s_r v_n g _n _l l s h_k_s .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    there are calls in the uk to ban the latest phenomenon to shock health and nutrition experts the campaign group action on sugar wants to ban the freakshake  a monstrous milkshake packed with grotesque levels of sugar action on sugar said the shake should be banned from restaurants and cafes as it can contain up to 1280 calories an adult would have to go jogging for three hours to burn off those calories freakshakes are usually full of sweetened whipped cream chocolate bars minidoughnuts and even slices of cake one freakshake tested contained 39 teaspoons of sugar this is more than six times the recommended daily amount of sugar for a 10yearold and the equivalent of four cans of coke

    freakshakes originated in australia and spread around the world on social media two restaurants mentioned in the action on sugar report fought back and said they took nutrition seriously one said it was adhering to a national sugar reduction programme and was not targeting children with excessively high calorie shakes a restaurant spokesperson said freakshakes only feature on our main menu and are not targeted at children we share our nutritional information online for guests to access we regularly work with our suppliers to explore ways we can reduce sugar levels in our dishes a public health spokesman said the government needed to put a limit of 300kcal per serving on all shakes.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TherearecallsintheUKtobanthelatestphenomenontoshockhealthand
    nutritionexperts.ThecampaigngroupActiononSugarwantstobanthe"
    freakshake"-a"monstrous"milkshakepackedwith"grotesque"leve
    lsofsugar.ActiononSugarsaidtheshakeshouldbebannedfromrestaur
    antsandcafesasitcancontainupto1,280calories.Anadultwouldhaveto
    gojoggingforthreehourstoburnoffthosecalories.Freakshakesareusu
    allyfullofsweetenedwhippedcream,chocolatebars,mini-doughnutsa
    ndevenslicesofcake.Onefreakshaketestedcontained39teaspoonsofs
    ugar.Thisismorethansixtimestherecommendeddailyamountofsugar
    fora10-year-old,andtheequivalentoffourcansofCoke.Freakshakesor
    iginatedinAustraliaandspreadaroundtheworldonsocialmedia.Twore
    staurantsmentionedintheActiononSugarreportfoughtbackandsaidt
    heytooknutritionseriously.Onesaiditwasadheringtoanationalsugar-
    reductionprogrammeandwasnottargetingchildrenwithexcessivelyhi
    gh-calorieshakes.Arestaurantspokespersonsaid:"Freakshakesonl
    yfeatureonourmainmenuandarenottargetedatchildren.Weshareour
    nutritionalinformationonlineforgueststoaccess....Weregularlywork
    withoursupplierstoexplorewayswecanreducesugarlevelsinourdishe
    s."Apublichealthspokesmansaidthegovernmentneededtoputalimito
    f300kcalperservingonallshakes.

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    Academic writing

    Governments have responsibility to limit the number of calories in food. 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 story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. FREAKSHAKES: Make a poster about freakshakes. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. CALORIES: Write a magazine article about governments limiting the number of calories in food. 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 freakshakes. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on freakshakes. 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

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    Answers

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

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