The Reading / Listening - Diet Soda - Level 3

Many people drink diet sodas as part of their diet. They believe these drinks are healthier than fizzy drinks. However, according to a new study, "diet" versions of sugary drinks can be as bad for our heart as fizzy drinks that are loaded with sugar. The researchers who conducted the study said people should avoid diet sodas and other artificially sweetened beverages if they want to look after their health. They said the artificial sweeteners in diet drinks are not healthy. Dr Guy Mintz, a heart specialist, said: "The belief that artificial sweeteners are a safe substitute for sugar is fake news." He added: "Artificial sweeteners have been associated with weight gain, insulin resistance, and diabetes."

The research is published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Researchers looked at health data from over 100,000 people in France. Participants in the study recorded their diet, activity level, and health status every six months. The researchers said: "Higher intakes of...artificially sweetened beverages were associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, suggesting that artificially sweetened beverages might not be a healthy substitute for sugary drinks." They added: "Water, water, and more water should be the beverage of choice. Given childhood obesity, no sweetened or artificially sweetened beverage should be a staple in children's diets."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Diet Soda - Level 0,  Diet Soda - Level 1   or  Diet Soda - Level 2

Sources
    https://www.healthline.com/health-news/diet-soda-no-better-than-regular-soda-for-heart-health#The-bottom-line https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-10-artificially-sweetened-heart-healthier-sugary.html https://metro.co.uk/2020/10/28/diet-drinks-may-be-just-as-bad-for-your-heart-as-sugary-ones-13492832/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. DIET SODA: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about diet soda. 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?
       diet / soda / study / heart / sugar / researchers / artificially sweetened / specialist /
       journal / health data / activity / status / intake / disease / water / obesity / staple
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BAN: Students A strongly believe all artificially sweetened drinks should be banned; Students B strongly believe they are OK. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SUBSTITUTES: What healthy substitutes are there to these things? Which do you prefer? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Substitute

Which You Prefer?

Why?

Coke

 

 

 

Big Mac

 

 

 

Chocolate

 

 

 

Ice cream

 

 

 

French fries

 

 

 

White bread

 

 

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

  • Be a vegetarian
  • Drink more water
  • Use smaller plates
  • Cycle everywhere
  • No white bread or rice
  • No cakes of chocolate
  • Daily exercise
  • Skip lunch

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. diet a. A type of something that is different from an earlier type or other types of the same type of thing.
      2. fizzy b. A disease in which the body cannot produce insulin and so puts too much sugar in the blood.
      3. according to c. A special course of food to lose weight or for medical reasons.
      4. version d. As said or written by or in.
      5. avoid e. Of a drink containing bubbles of gas.
      6. artificial f. Keep away from or stop oneself from doing something.
      7. diabetes g. Made or produced by human beings rather than naturally.

    Paragraph 2

      8. published h. A person who takes part in something.
      9. participant i. The official classification given to something.
      10. status j. A person or thing acting or serving in place of another.
      11. beverage k. Of an author or company printing a book, journal, piece of music, or other work for public sale.
      12. cardiovascular l. A main part of something, especially of a diet.
      13. substitute m. Relating to the heart and blood vessels.
      14. staple n. A drink, especially one other than water.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. People believe fizzy drinks are healthier than diet drinks.     T / F
  2. Researchers said we should avoid artificially sweetened drinks.     T / F
  3. A doctor said sweeteners being a good replacement for sugar is fake news. T / F
  4. The doctor said artificial sweeteners can cause weight gain.     T / F
  5. Researchers looked at the data of over 100,000 people.     T / F
  6. Researchers found sweeteners can cause heart problems.     T / F
  7. Researchers advised not to drink too much water.     T / F
  8. Researchers said it's OK for children to have sweeteners.     T / F

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

  1. believe
  2. study
  3. conducted
  4. artificial
  5. associated
  6. data
  7. beverages
  8. substitute
  9. obesity
  10. diet
  1. information
  2. synthetic
  3. replacement
  4. drinks
  5. research
  6. food
  7. think
  8. fatness
  9. did
  10. linked

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

  1. They believe these drinks are healthier
  2. sugary drinks can be as
  3. fizzy drinks that
  4. if they want to look
  5. fake
  6. health data from
  7. participants in
  8. artificially sweetened
  9. a healthy substitute
  10. childhood
  1. beverages
  2. after their health
  3. obesity
  4. bad for our heart
  5. the study
  6. news
  7. than fizzy drinks
  8. for sugary drinks
  9. over 100,000 people
  10. are loaded with sugar

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
avoid
fizzy
diabetes
look
part
fake
loaded
specialist

Many people drink diet sodas as (1) _____________________ of their diet. They believe these drinks are healthier than (2) _____________________ drinks. However, according to a new study, "diet" versions of sugary drinks can be as bad for our heart as fizzy drinks that are (3) _____________________ with sugar. The researchers who conducted the study said people should (4) _____________________ diet sodas and other artificially sweetened beverages if they want to (5) _____________________ after their health. They said the artificial sweeteners in diet drinks are not healthy. Dr Guy Mintz, a heart (6) _____________________, said: "The belief that artificial sweeteners are a safe substitute for sugar is (7) _____________________ news." He added: "Artificial sweeteners have been associated with weight gain, insulin resistance, and (8) _____________________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
status
data
choice
risk
published
staple
recorded
substitute

The research is (9) _____________________ in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Researchers looked at health (10) _____________________ from over 100,000 people in France. Participants in the study (11) _____________________ their diet, activity level, and health (12) _____________________ every six months. The researchers said: "Higher intakes of...artificially sweetened beverages were associated with a higher (13) _____________________ of cardiovascular disease, suggesting that artificially sweetened beverages might not be a healthy (14) _____________________ for sugary drinks." They added: "Water, water, and more water should be the beverage of (15) _____________________. Given childhood obesity, no sweetened or artificially sweetened beverage should be a (16) _____________________ in children's diets."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Many people drink diet sodas as part ______
     a.  of their dietary
     b.  of their dietician
     c.  of their dieted
     d.  of their diet
2)  according to a new study, "diet" versions of sugary drinks can ______
     a.  be as bad
     b.  be was bad
     c.  be has bad
     d.  be is bad
3)  for our heart as fizzy drinks that are ______
     a.  load it with sugar
     b.  ladled with sugar
     c.  laddered with sugar
     d.  loaded with sugar
4)  The belief that artificial sweeteners are a safe substitute for sugar ______
     a.  is flake news
     b.  is freak news
     c.  is fork news
     d.  is fake news
5) sweeteners have been associated with weight gain, insulin resistance, ______
     a.  and debates
     b.  and debacles
     c.  and diabetes
     d.  and diatribes

6)  The research is published in the Journal of the American ______
     a.  College of Radiology
     b.  College of Cardiology
     c.  College of Immunology
     d.  College of Psychology
7)  Participants in the study recorded their diet, activity level, ______
     a.  and healthy statues
     b.  and health status
     c.  and healthy statutes
     d.  and health stay test
8)  artificially sweetened beverages were associated with ______
     a.  a higher brisk
     b.  a higher frisk
     c.  a higher risk
     d.  a higher wrist
9)  sweetened beverages might not be a healthy substitute ______
     a.  for sugary drinks
     b.  four sugary drinks
     c.  form sugary drinks
     d.  force sugary drinks
10)  Water, water, and more water should be the ______
     a.  beverage of choice
     b.  beverage of choose
     c.  beverage of chosen
     d.  beverage of chose

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Many people drink diet sodas (1) ____________________ their diet. They believe these drinks are healthier than fizzy drinks. However, according to a new study, (2) ____________________ sugary drinks can be as bad for our heart as fizzy drinks that are (3) ____________________. The researchers who conducted the study said people should avoid diet sodas and other artificially sweetened beverages if they want (4) ____________________ their health. They said the artificial sweeteners in diet drinks are not healthy. Dr Guy Mintz, (5) ____________________, said: "The belief that artificial sweeteners are a safe substitute for sugar is fake news." He added: "Artificial sweeteners have been (6) ____________________ gain, insulin resistance, and diabetes."

The research is published (7) ____________________ of the American College of Cardiology. Researchers looked at health data from over 100,000 people in France. Participants in the study (8) ____________________, activity level, and health status every six months. The researchers said: "Higher intakes of...artificially sweetened beverages (9) ____________________ a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, suggesting that artificially sweetened beverages might not be (10) ____________________ for sugary drinks." They added: "Water, water, and more water should be the (11) ____________________. Given childhood obesity, no sweetened or artificially sweetened beverage should (12) ____________________ in children's diets."

Comprehension questions

  1. What word did the article use instead of soda?
  2. What did a researcher say people should look after?
  3. What is the job of Guy Mintz?
  4. What did a doctor say about sweeteners being replacements for sugar?
  5. What has been associated with weight gain?
  6. How many people did researchers look at the data of?
  7. How often did research participants record their health status?
  8. What do artificial sweeteners increase the risk of?
  9. What did a doctor say should be the beverage of choice?
  10. What should sweetened beverages not be in children's diets?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What word did the article use instead of soda?
a) bubbles
b) lemonade
c) fizzy drinks
d) pop
2) What did a researcher say people should look after?
a) their health
b) their children
c) their heart
d) their drinks
3) What is the job of Guy Mintz?
a) a drinks company CEO
b) a sugar grower
c) a GM food expert
d) a heart specialist
4) What did a doctor say about sweeteners being replacements for sugar?
a) they have potential
b) it's fake news
c) they are better
d) we need more research
5) What has been associated with weight gain?
a) sugar
b) fructose syrup
c) artificial sweeteners
d) avocados

6) How many people did researchers look at the data of?
a) exactly 100,000
b) over 100,000
c) around 100,000
d) just fewer than 100,000
7) How often did research participants record their health status?
a) every week
b) every month
c) every day
d) every six months
8) What do artificial sweeteners increase the risk of?
a) memory loss
b) cardiovascular disease
c) bad skin
d) sleeplessness
9) What did a doctor say should be the beverage of choice?
a) water
b) green tea
c) apple juice
d) milk
10) What should sweetened beverages not be in children's diets?
a) a fastener
b) a bracket
c) a hinge
d) a staple

Role play

Role  A – Being a Vegetarian
You think being a vegetarian is the best way to diet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): cycling everywhere, skipping lunch or using smaller plates.

Role  B – Cycling Everywhere
You think cycling everywhere is the best way to diet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): being a vegetarian, skipping lunch or using smaller plates.

Role  C – Skipping Lunch
You think skipping lunch is the best way to diet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): cycling everywhere, being a vegetarian or using smaller plates.

Role  D – Using Smaller Plates
You think using smaller plates is the best way to diet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): cycling everywhere, skipping lunch or being a vegetarian.

After reading / listening

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

'diet'

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

    • and 'soda'.

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

    • • 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:

    • part
    • bad
    • conducted
    • look
    • belief
    • gain
    • journal
    • recorded
    • higher
    • substitute
    • choice
    • staple

    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 - Diet Soda

    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 'diet'?
    3. How good or bad is your daily diet?
    4. What would you like to cut out from your diet?
    5. What do you think of fizzy drinks?
    6. Do you prefer the word 'fizzy drink' or 'soda'?
    7. Which are better, diet sodas or regular sodas?
    8. What do you think of artificial sweeteners?
    9. Should we be eating or drinking anything artificial?
    10. What do you think of sugar?

    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 'soda'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How much do you like reading about health issues?
    5. Have you ever taken part in research?
    6. What is your activity level like?
    7. How can we keep out cardiovascular system healthy?
    8. What do you think of sugary drinks?
    9. What can we do to reduce childhood obesity?
    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)

    Many people drink diet sodas (1) ____ part of their diet. They believe these drinks are healthier than fizzy drinks. However, according to a new study, "diet" versions of sugary drinks can be as (2) ____ for our heart as fizzy drinks that are loaded with sugar. The researchers who (3) ____ the study said people should avoid diet sodas and other artificially sweetened beverages if they want to look (4) ____ their health. They said the artificial sweeteners in diet drinks are not healthy. Dr Guy Mintz, a heart specialist, said: "The (5) ____ that artificial sweeteners are a safe substitute for sugar is fake news." He added: "Artificial sweeteners have been associated (6) ____ weight gain, insulin resistance, and diabetes."

    The research is published in the Journal of the American College of (7) ____. Researchers looked at health data from over 100,000 people in France. Participants in the study recorded their diet, activity level, and health (8) ____ every six months. The researchers said: "Higher intakes of...artificially sweetened beverages were associated with a higher (9) ____ of cardiovascular disease, suggesting that artificially sweetened beverages might not be a healthy substitute (10) ____ sugary drinks." They added: "Water, water, and more (11) ____ should be the beverage of choice. Given childhood obesity, no sweetened or artificially sweetened beverage should be a (12) ____ in children's diets."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     was     (b)     is     (c)     as     (d)     has    
    (a)     bad     (b)     unwell     (c)     ill     (d)     disease    
    (a)     conducted     (b)     replied     (c)     served     (d)     fizzed    
    (a)     after     (b)     post     (c)     before     (d)     then    
    (a)     bailiff     (b)     belief     (c)     believe     (d)     believer    
    (a)     in     (b)     at     (c)     to     (d)     with    
    (a)     Cardigan     (b)     Cardamon     (c)     Cardiology     (d)     Cardinal    
    (a)     stat     (b)     statutes     (c)     statues     (d)     status    
    (a)     risk     (b)     opportunity     (c)     pressure     (d)     poison    
    (a)     for     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     in    
    (a)     watered     (b)     water     (c)     waters     (d)     watery    
    (a)     patch     (b)     bracket     (c)     staple     (d)     hinge

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. healthier than yzfzi drinks
    2. cognracdi to a new study
    3. artificially sweetened eeevrbga
    4. Dr Guy Mintz, a heart scpsieital
    5. a safe bsuttiteus for sugar
    6. insulin resistance, and sedbitea

    Paragraph 2

    1. The research is elihsbdpu in the journal
    2. niartatpicsp in the study
    3. a higher risk of cardiovascular iasedes
    4. argusy drinks
    5. childhood oiesbty
    6. a ealpts in children's diets

    Put the text back together

    (...)  The research is published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Researchers looked at health data from
    (...)  look after their health. They said the artificial sweeteners in diet drinks are not healthy. Dr Guy Mintz, a heart
    (  1  ) Many people drink diet sodas as part of their diet. They believe these drinks are healthier than
    (...)  fizzy drinks. However, according to a new study, "diet" versions of sugary drinks can be as bad for
    (...)  over 100,000 people in France. Participants in the study recorded their diet, activity level, and health
    (...)  our heart as fizzy drinks that are loaded with sugar. The researchers who conducted the
    (...)  "Water, water, and more water should be the beverage of choice. Given childhood obesity, no sweetened
    (...)  or artificially sweetened beverage should be a staple in children's diets."
    (...)  status every six months. The researchers said: "Higher intakes of...artificially sweetened
    (...)  specialist, said: "The belief that artificial sweeteners are a safe substitute for sugar is fake
    (...)  news." He added: "Artificial sweeteners have been associated with weight gain, insulin resistance, and diabetes."
    (...)  sweetened beverages might not be a healthy substitute for sugary drinks." They added:
    (...)  study said people should avoid diet sodas and other artificially sweetened beverages if they want to
    (...)  beverages were associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, suggesting that artificially

    Put the words in the right order

    1. sodas as part Drink diet their diet. of
    2. with drinks loaded sugar. are that Fizzy
    3. health. after If want to their they look
    4. for are safe Artificial sweeteners substitute sugar. a
    5. weight been associated Artificial with have gain. sweeteners
    6. health over at data Looked from 100,000 people.
    7. their the Participants study recorded in diet.
    8. cardiovascular a higher Associated disease. of with risk
    9. healthy substitute. might beverages be Sweetened a not
    10. choice. of be should Water the beverage

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Many people drink diet sodas as partner / part of their diet. They believe these drinks are healthier than fizzed / fizzy drinks. However, according to a new study, "diet" visions / versions of sugary drinks can be as bad for our heart was / as fizzy drinks that are loaded with sugar. The researchers who conducted the study said people should avoid / evade diet sodas and other artificially sweetened beverages / beverage if they want to look after their health. They said the artificial sweeteners in diet drinks are not healthily / healthy. Dr Guy Mintz, a heart specialist, said: "The believe / belief that artificial sweeteners are a safe substitute for sugar is flake / fake news." He added: "Artificial sweeteners have been associated with weight gain / again, insulin resistance, and diabetes."

    The research is published on / in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Researchers looked to / at health data from over 100,000 people in France. Participants in the study recorded their / there diet, activity level, and health status / statues every six months. The researchers said: "Higher intakes of...artificially sweetened beverage / beverages were associated with a higher risk / risky of cardiovascular disease, suggesting that artificially sweetened beverages might not been / be a healthy substitute for sugary drinks." They added: "Water, water, and more water should be the beverage of choose / choice. Given childhood obesity, no sweetened or artificially sweetened beverage should be a staple / stubble in children's diets."

    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)

    Many p _ _pl _ dr _nk d _ _t s _das _s part _f th _ _r d _ _t. Th _y b _l _ _v _ th _s _ dr _nks _r _ h _alth _ _r than f _zzy dr _nks. H _w _v _r, _cc _rd _ng t _ _ n _w st _dy, "d _ _t" v _rs _ _ns _f s _gary dr _nks can b _ _s bad f _r _ _r h _art _s f _zzy dr _nks that _r _ l _ad _d w _th s _gar. Th _ r _s _arch _rs wh _ c _nd _ct _d th _ st _dy sa _d p _ _pl _ sh _ _ld _v _ _d d _ _t s _das _nd _th _r _rt _f _c _ally sw _ _t _n _d b _v _rag _s _f th _y want t _ l _ _k _ft _r th _ _r h _alth. Th _y sa _d th _ _rt _f _c _al sw _ _t _n _rs _n d _ _t dr _nks _r _ n _t h _althy. Dr G _y M _ntz, _ h _art sp _c _al _st, sa _d: "Th _ b _l _ _f that _rt _f _c _al sw _ _t _n _rs _r _ _ saf _ s _bst _t _t _ f _r s _gar _s fak _ n _ws." H _ _dd _d: "Art _f _c _al sw _ _t _n _rs hav _ b _ _n _ss _c _at _d w _th w _ _ght ga _n, _ns _l _n r _s _stanc _, _nd d _ab _t _s."

    Th _ r _s _arch _s p _bl _sh _d _n th _ J _ _rnal _f th _ _m _r _can C _ll _g _ _f Card _ _l _gy. R _s _arch _rs l _ _k _d _t h _alth data fr _m _v _r 100,000 p _ _pl _ _n Franc _. Part _c _pants _n th _ st _dy r _c _rd _d th _ _r d _ _t, _ct _v _ty l _v _l, _nd h _alth stat _s _v _ry s _x m _nths. Th _ r _s _arch _rs sa _d: "H _gh _r _ntak _s _f...art _f _c _ally sw _ _t _n _d b _v _rag _s w _r _ _ss _c _at _d w _th _ h _gh _r r _sk _f card _ _vasc _lar d _s _as _, s _gg _st _ng that _rt _f _c _ally sw _ _t _n _d b _v _rag _s m _ght n _t b _ _ h _althy s _bst _t _t _ f _r s _gary dr _nks." Th _y _dd _d: "Wat _r, wat _r, _nd m _r _ wat _r sh _ _ld b _ th _ b _v _rag _ _f ch _ _c _. G _v _n ch _ldh _ _d _b _s _ty, n _ sw _ _t _n _d _r _rt _f _c _ally sw _ _t _n _d b _v _rag _ sh _ _ld b _ _ stapl _ _n ch _ldr _n's d _ _ts."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    many people drink diet sodas as part of their diet they believe these drinks are healthier than fizzy drinks however according to a new study diet versions of sugary drinks can be as bad for our heart as fizzy drinks that are loaded with sugar the researchers who conducted the study said people should avoid diet sodas and other artificially sweetened beverages if they want to look after their health they said the artificial sweeteners in diet drinks are not healthy dr guy mintz a heart specialist said the belief that artificial sweeteners are a safe substitute for sugar is fake news he added artificial sweeteners have been associated with weight gain insulin resistance and diabetes

    the research is published in the journal of the american college of cardiology researchers looked at health data from over 100000 people in france participants in the study recorded their diet activity level and health status every six months the researchers said higher intakes ofartificially sweetened beverages were associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease suggesting that artificially sweetened beverages might not be a healthy substitute for sugary drinks they added water water and more water should be the beverage of choice given childhood obesity no sweetened or artificially sweetened beverage should be a staple in childrens diets

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Manypeopledrinkdietsodasaspartoftheirdiet.Theybelievethesedrink
    sarehealthierthanfizzydrinks.However,accordingtoanewstudy,"diet
    "versionsofsugarydrinkscanbeasbadforourheartasfizzydrinksthatar
    eloadedwithsugar.Theresearcherswhoconductedthestudysaidpeopl
    eshouldavoiddietsodasandotherartificiallysweetenedbeveragesifth
    eywanttolookaftertheirhealth.Theysaidtheartificialsweetenersindie
    tdrinksarenothealthy.DrGuyMintz,aheartspecialist,said:"Thebelieft
    hatartificialsweetenersareasafesubstituteforsugarisfakenews."Hea
    dded:"Artificialsweetenershavebeenassociatedwithweightgain,insu
    linresistance,anddiabetes."TheresearchispublishedintheJournaloft
    heAmericanCollegeofCardiology.Researcherslookedathealthdatafro
    mover100,000peopleinFrance.Participantsinthestudyrecordedtheir
    diet,activitylevel,andhealthstatuseverysixmonths.Theresearcherss
    aid:"Higherintakesof...artificiallysweetenedbeverageswereassociat
    edwithahigherriskofcardiovasculardisease,suggestingthatartificiall
    ysweetenedbeveragesmightnotbeahealthysubstituteforsugarydrin
    ks."Theyadded:"Water,water,andmorewatershouldbethebeverage
    ofchoice.Givenchildhoodobesity,nosweetenedorartificiallysweetene
    dbeverageshouldbeastapleinchildren'sdiets."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    All soda is a danger to our health and should be banned. 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. DIET SODA: Make a poster about diet soda. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. BAN: Write a magazine article about banning all sodas. 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 diet soda. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on sodas. 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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