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Curry spice may help repair brain cells (28th September, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Scientists think turmeric could help our brain to heal. This is good news for people with brain diseases. Neuroscientists in Germany examined the effects of turmeric on rats. They injected rats with chemicals from the spice and found increased nerve cell growth. They say the spice could lead to drugs for strokes and brain diseases. A researcher said turmeric could "boost the effectiveness" of our brain cells, and help repair our brain.

More research and trials are needed. An Alzheimer's specialist told the BBC it was too early to know if the research will help us. She said: "It is not clear whether the results of this research would translate to people." She added that doctors would need to see more studies to understand how turmeric might help the brain. She said there was no need for people to "stock up on supplies of turmeric for the spice rack".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29361351
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-09-turmeric-compound-boosts-regeneration-brain.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2770380/Eating-curry-help-beat-dementia-Ingredient-turmeric-hold-key-repairing-brains-people-condition.html

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

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. CURRY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about curry. 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?

spice / encouraging / neuroscience / compound / scanning / cell growth / boost / potential / charity / groundbreaking / translate / complex / supplies / spice rack

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

3. GOOD FOR US: Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What is it good for?	What does it do?
Chocolate
Milk
Bananas
Yoghurt
Spinach
Salmon

4. BRAIN DISEASES: Students A strongly believe scientists will cure all brain diseases one day; Students B strongly believe that will never happen. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

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

See a sample

5. HEALTHIEST: Rank these with your partner. Put the healthiest things at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• spices

• milk

• fish

• oranges

• spinach

• water

• walnuts

• avocado

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

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	Scientists say turmeric will prevent brain diseases from starting.	T / F
b.	The research is from neuroscientists in the USA.	T / F
c.	Researchers found turmeric prompted active brain cell regrowth in rats.	T / F
d.	A scientist said turmeric could help in the treatment of stroke victims.	T / F
e.	Research is currently being conducted on infants.	T / F
f.	A doctor told the BBC that the research was groundbreaking.	T / F
g.	The doctor said it was unclear if the research could help humans.	T / F
h.	The doctor said people didn't need to go shopping for turmeric.	T / F

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

1.	heal	a.	characteristics
2.	degenerative	b.	early days
3.	properties	c.	complicated
4.	treating	d.	cure
5.	boost	e.	innovative
6.	infancy	f.	improve
7.	groundbreaking	g.	debilitating
8.	context	h.	squirrel away
9.	complex	i.	dealing with
10.	stock up on	j.	circumstances

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

1.	turmeric could help the brain to heal	a.	infancy
2.	those affected by degenerative	b.	treating strokes
3.	the effects of properties	c.	disease like Alzheimer's
4.	new drugs for	d.	brain diseases
5.	the compound could "boost the effectiveness"	e.	groundbreaking
6.	Research is still in its	f.	found in turmeric
7.	the research will be	g.	for the spice rack
8.	the ability to generate	h.	itself
9.	a complex	i.	new brain cells
10.	stock up on supplies of turmeric	j.	of our brain cells

GAP FILL

Scientists believe the spice turmeric could help the brain to (1) ____________ itself. This is encouraging news for those (2) ____________ by degenerative brain diseases. Researchers from the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in Germany (3) ____________ the effects of (4) ____________ found in turmeric on rats. The researchers injected rats with a (5) ____________ from turmeric. After scanning the rodents' brains, they found that parts of the brain known for nerve cell (6) ____________ were more active. They say the spice could lead to new drugs for (7) ____________ strokes, Alzheimer's and other diseases. Lead scientist Dr Adele Rueger said it was possible the compound could "(8) ____________ the effectiveness" of our brain cells, and "help boost repair in the brain".

compound
affected
treating
heal
boost
properties
growth
examined

Research is still in its (9) ____________ and more trials are needed to see what (10) ____________ it has for humans. Dr Laura Phipps, from the charity Alzheimer's Research UK, told the BBC that it was too early to decide (11) ____________ or not the research will be groundbreaking. She said: "It is not clear whether the results of this research would translate to people, or whether the (12) ____________ to generate new brain cells in this way would (13) ____________ people with Alzheimer's disease." She added: "We'd need to see further studies to (14) ____________ understand this compound's effects in the context of a (15) ____________ disease like Alzheimer's. Until then, people shouldn't take this as a sign to stock up on supplies of turmeric for the spice (16) ____________."

potential
benefit
complex
infancy
rack
ability
whether
fully

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Scientists believe the spice turmeric could help the brain ______
	a. to feel itself b. to heal itself c. to heel itself d. to fail itself
2)	encouraging news for those affected by ______ diseases
	a. regenerative brain b. degenerating brain c. regenerating brain d. degenerative brain
3)	The researchers injected rats with ______ turmeric
	a. a confound from b. a con pound from c. a comb pound from d. a compound from
4)	They say the spice could lead to new drugs ______
	a. of treat in strokes b. for treating strokes c. for tree thing strokes d. of treating strokes
5)	it was possible the compound could "boost ______ our brain cells
	a. the effectiveness of b. the affectiveness of c. the defective mess of d. the reflectiveness of
6)	Research is still ______
	a. in its infants see b. in its infant's sea c. in its infancy d. in its in fancies
7)	it was too early to decide whether or not the research ______
	a. will be heartbreaking b. will be groundbreaking c. will be record-breaking d. will be backbreaking
8)	She said: "It is not clear whether the results of this research would ______ …"
	a. translate two people b. translate too people c. translate for people d. translate to people
9)	understand this compound's effects in the context of ______ like Alzheimer's
	a. a complex disease b. this complex disease c. the complex disease d. complex disease
10)	stock up on supplies of turmeric ______
	a. for the spice lack b. for the spice ruck c. for the spice luck d. for the spice rack

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists believe the spice turmeric could help the (1) ___________________. This is encouraging news for those affected (2) ___________________ brain diseases. Researchers from the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in Germany examined the (3) ___________________ found in turmeric on rats. The researchers injected rats with a compound from turmeric. After scanning the rodents' brains, they found that parts of the brain known for (4) ___________________ were more active. They say the spice could lead to new drugs (5) ___________________, Alzheimer's and other diseases. Lead scientist Dr Adele Rueger said it was possible the compound could "boost the effectiveness" of our brain cells, and "(6) ___________________ the brain".

Research is (7) ___________________ and more trials are needed to see what potential it has for humans. Dr Laura Phipps, from the charity Alzheimer's Research UK, told the BBC that (8) ___________________ decide whether or not the research will (9) ___________________. She said: "It is not clear whether the results of this research would translate to people, (10) ___________________ to generate new brain cells in this way would benefit people with Alzheimer's disease." She added: "We'd need to see further studies to fully understand this compound's (11) ___________________ of a complex disease like Alzheimer's. Until then, people shouldn't take this as a sign (12) ___________________ supplies of turmeric for the spice rack."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	For whom is this news encouraging?
2.	In what country was this research carried out?
3.	What animals did researchers conduct tests on?
4.	What did researchers say their work could lead to?
5.	What could turmeric help boost the effectiveness of?
6.	What is still needed to see the potential turmeric has?
7.	What did a doctor say it was too early for?
8.	What did a doctor say wasn't clear?
9.	What did a doctor say she'd like to see?
10.	What did a doctor say people needn't stock up on?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	For whom is this news encouraging?	6.	What is still needed to see the potential turmeric has?
	a) turmeric growers b) curry lovers c) researchers and neuroscientists d) people with degenerative brain diseases		a) more funding b) more volunteers c) more trials d) tastier curries
2.	In what country was this research carried out?	7.	What did a doctor say it was too early for?
	a) India b) Germany c) Bolivia d) New Zealand		a) to call the research groundbreaking b) curry c) new drugs d) testing on humans
3.	What animals did researchers conduct tests on?	8.	What did a doctor say wasn't clear?
	a) guinea pigs b) chimpanzees c) rhesus monkeys d) rats		a) the future of testing b) green curry c) if turmeric could help humans d) who's in charge
4.	What did researchers say their work could lead to?	9.	What did a doctor say she'd like to see?
	a) hotter curries b) the end of brain diseases c) new drugs d) more research		a) tests done on cinnamon and cumin b) further studies c) brain food d) a spice market in India
5.	What could turmeric help boost the effectiveness of?	10.	What did a doctor say people needn't stock up on?
	a) our intelligence b) research c) spicy food d) brain cells		a) turmeric b) racks c) drugs d) vitamins

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Milk

You think milk is best for our body. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): spices, fish or water.

Role B – Spices

You think spices are best for our body. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): milk, fish or water.

Role C – Fish

You think fish is best for our body. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): spices, milk or water.

Role D – Water

You think water is best for our body. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): spices, fish or milk.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

brain

cell

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:

believe
examined
injected
parts
drugs
boost

still
early
translate
benefit
fully
rack

CURRY SURVEY

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

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

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

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

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

CURRY DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'spice'?
3)	What are your favourite spices, and why?
4)	What do you think of the research?
5)	What do you know about the healing power of spices?
6)	Will you eat more things that contain turmeric from now?
7)	Why do researchers test things on rats?
8)	How active is your brain? Is it overactive or underused?
9)	What would you do with more brain power?
10)	What effect could this research have on society?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	How and where do you think the research will go?
13)	What undiscovered potential do you think there is in spices?
14)	How are spices used in your national cuisine?
15)	Are you worried about your brain losing its functions?
16)	What can we do to keep out brain healthy?
17)	What are the differences between spices and herbs?
18)	Do you agree with the saying that "variety is the spice of life"?
19)	What other uses are there for spices?
20)	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)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

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

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

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Scientists (1) ____ the spice turmeric could help the brain to heal itself. This is encouraging news for those (2) ____ by degenerative brain diseases. Researchers from the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in Germany examined the effects of properties found in turmeric (3) ____ rats. The researchers injected rats with a compound from turmeric. After scanning the rodents' brains, they found that parts of the brain (4) ____ for nerve cell growth were more active. They say the spice could lead to new drugs for (5) ____ strokes, Alzheimer's and other diseases. Lead scientist Dr Adele Rueger said it was possible the compound could "boost the (6) ____ " of our brain cells, and "help boost repair in the brain".

Research is still in its (7) ____ and more trials are needed to see what potential it has for humans. Dr Laura Phipps, from the charity Alzheimer's Research UK, told the BBC that it was too early to decide (8) ____ or not the research will be groundbreaking. She said: "It is not clear whether the results of this research would translate (9) ____ people, or whether the ability to generate new brain cells in this way would benefit people with Alzheimer's disease." She added: "We'd need to see (10) ____ studies to fully understand this compound's effects (11) ____ the context of a complex disease like Alzheimer's. Until then, people shouldn't take this as a sign to stock (12) ____ on supplies of turmeric for the spice rack."

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

1.	(a)	believe	(b)	belief	(c)	belie	(d)	belike
2.	(a)	effected	(b)	affective	(c)	affected	(d)	effective
3.	(a)	of	(b)	to	(c)	by	(d)	on
4.	(a)	knew	(b)	known	(c)	knows	(d)	know
5.	(a)	treatment	(b)	treated	(c)	treats	(d)	treating
6.	(a)	affectiveness	(b)	reflectiveness	(c)	effectiveness	(d)	infectiveness
7.	(a)	primary	(b)	infancy	(c)	childhood	(d)	newborn
8.	(a)	whether	(b)	if	(c)	so	(d)	how
9.	(a)	to	(b)	as	(c)	of	(d)	at
10.	(a)	farther	(b)	longer	(c)	further	(d)	distant
11.	(a)	on	(b)	by	(c)	of	(d)	in
12.	(a)	out	(b)	up	(c)	away	(d)	in

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	cgnoagiuner news
2.	the Institute of eerusiccNone and Medicine
3.	injected rats with a cnpmoduo from turmeric
4.	known for reenv cell growth
5.	lead to new drugs for atneritg strokes
6.	boost the ntvesfeifeesc of our brain cells
Paragraph 2
7.	Research is still in its afnicny
8.	see what nplttaoie it has
9.	the research will be grbenugkrandoi
10.	this research would tlersntaa to people
11.	raengtee new brain cells
12.	a sign to stock up on sipuespl of turmeric

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	results of this research would translate to people, or whether the ability to generate new brain
( )	in turmeric on rats. The researchers injected rats with a compound from turmeric. After scanning
( 1 )	Scientists believe the spice turmeric could help the brain to heal itself. This is encouraging
( )	Research is still in its infancy and more trials are needed to see what potential it has
( )	for humans. Dr Laura Phipps, from the charity Alzheimer's Research UK, told the BBC that it was too
( )	Dr Adele Rueger said it was possible the compound could "boost the effectiveness" of our brain cells, and "help boost repair in the brain".
( )	news for those affected by degenerative brain diseases. Researchers from the Institute
( )	early to decide whether or not the research will be groundbreaking. She said: "It is not clear whether the
( )	the rodents' brains, they found that parts of the brain known for nerve cell growth were more
( )	active. They say the spice could lead to new drugs for treating strokes, Alzheimer's and other diseases. Lead scientist
( )	then, people shouldn't take this as a sign to stock up on supplies of turmeric for the spice rack."
( )	of Neuroscience and Medicine in Germany examined the effects of properties found
( )	cells in this way would benefit people with Alzheimer's disease." She added: "We'd need to see further
( )	studies to fully understand this compound's effects in the context of a complex disease like Alzheimer's. Until

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	help the brain to heal itself The spice turmeric could .
2.	diseases affected by News degenerative for brain those .
3.	turmeric of in rats effects found on The properties .
4.	brain nerve the for growth of known cell Parts .
5.	could lead to new drugs for treating strokes The spice .
6.	potential it has More trials are needed to see what .
7.	research groundbreaking whether the be Decide not will or .
8.	cells way people brain this benefit New in would .
9.	to to studies understand need further fully We'd see .
10.	on supplies of turmeric for the spice rack . Stock

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Scientists believe / belief the spice turmeric could help the brain to healing / heal itself. This is encouraging news for those effected / affected by degenerative brain diseases. Researchers from the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in Germany examined the affects / effects of properties found in turmeric on rats. The researchers injected / inflicted rats with a compound from turmeric. After scanning the rodents' brains, they found that part / parts of the brain known for nerve cell growth were more active / actively. They say the spice could lead to new drugs for treatment / treating strokes, Alzheimer's and other diseases. Lead scientist Dr Adele Rueger said it was possibility / possible the compound could "boost the effectiveness" of our brain cells, and "help boost repair in / on the brain".

Research is still in its infants / infancy and more trials are needed to see what potential / potency it has for humans. Dr Laura Phipps, from the charity Alzheimer's Research UK, told the BBC that it was too early to decide whether / if or not the research will be groundbreaking. She said: "It is not clarity / clear whether the results of this research would translate for / to people, or whether the capable / ability to generate new brain cells in this way would beneficial / benefit people with Alzheimer's disease." She added: "We'd need to see further studies to fully / full understand this compound's effects in the context / pretext of a complex disease like Alzheimer's. Until then, people shouldn't take this as a sign to stock up / in on supplies of turmeric for the spice rack."

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)

Sc__nt_sts b_l__v_ th_ sp_c_ t_rm_r_c c__ld h_lp th_ br__n t_ h__l _ts_lf. Th_s _s _nc__r_g_ng n_ws f_r th_s_ _ff_ct_d by d_g_n_r_t_v_ br__n d_s__s_s. R_s__rch_rs fr_m th_ _nst_t_t_ _f N__r_sc__nc_ _nd M_d_c_n_ _n G_rm_ny _x_m_n_d th_ _ff_cts _f pr_p_rt__s f__nd _n t_rm_r_c _n r_ts. Th_ r_s__rch_rs _nj_ct_d r_ts w_th _ c_mp__nd fr_m t_rm_r_c. _ft_r sc_nn_ng th_ r_d_nts' br__ns, th_y f__nd th_t p_rts _f th_ br__n kn_wn f_r n_rv_ c_ll gr_wth w_r_ m_r_ _ct_v_. Th_y s_y th_ sp_c_ c__ld l__d t_ n_w dr_gs f_r tr__t_ng str_k_s, _lzh__m_r's _nd _th_r d_s__s_s. L__d sc__nt_st Dr _d_l_ R__g_r s__d _t w_s p_ss_bl_ th_ c_mp__nd c__ld "b__st th_ _ff_ct_v_n_ss" _f __r br__n c_lls, _nd "h_lp b__st r_p__r _n th_ br__n".

R_s__rch _s st_ll _n _ts _nf_ncy _nd m_r_ tr__ls _r_ n__d_d t_ s__ wh_t p_t_nt__l _t h_s f_r h_m_ns. Dr L__r_ Ph_pps, fr_m th_ ch_r_ty _lzh__m_r's R_s__rch _K, t_ld th_ BBC th_t _t w_s t__ __rly t_ d_c_d_ wh_th_r _r n_t th_ r_s__rch w_ll b_ gr__ndbr__k_ng. Sh_ s__d: "_t _s n_t cl__r wh_th_r th_ r_s_lts _f th_s r_s__rch w__ld tr_nsl_t_ t_ p__pl_, _r wh_th_r th_ _b_l_ty t_ g_n_r_t_ n_w br__n c_lls _n th_s w_y w__ld b_n_f_t p__pl_ w_th _lzh__m_r's d_s__s_." Sh_ _dd_d: "W_'d n__d t_ s__ f_rth_r st_d__s t_ f_lly _nd_rst_nd th_s c_mp__nd's _ff_cts _n th_ c_nt_xt _f _ c_mpl_x d_s__s_ l_k_ _lzh__m_r's. _nt_l th_n, p__pl_ sh__ldn't t_k_ th_s _s _ s_gn t_ st_ck _p _n s_ppl__s _f t_rm_r_c f_r th_ sp_c_ r_ck."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

scientists believe the spice turmeric could help the brain to heal itself this is encouraging news for those affected by degenerative brain diseases researchers from the institute of neuroscience and medicine in germany examined the effects of properties found in turmeric on rats the researchers injected rats with a compound from turmeric after scanning the rodents' brains they found that parts of the brain known for nerve cell growth were more active they say the spice could lead to new drugs for treating strokes alzheimer's and other diseases lead scientist dr adele rueger said it was possible the compound could "boost the effectiveness" of our brain cells and "help boost repair in the brain"

research is still in its infancy and more trials are needed to see what potential it has for humans dr laura phipps from the charity alzheimer's research uk told the bbc that it was too early to decide whether or not the research will be groundbreaking she said "it is not clear whether the results of this research would translate to people or whether the ability to generate new brain cells in this way would benefit people with alzheimer's disease" she added "we'd need to see further studies to fully understand this compound's effects in the context of a complex disease like alzheimer's until then people shouldn't take this as a sign to stock up on supplies of turmeric for the spice rack"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Scientistsbelievethespiceturmericcouldhelpthebraintohealitself.Thi
sisencouragingnewsforthoseaffectedbydegenerativebraindiseases.
ResearchersfromtheInstituteofNeuroscienceandMedicineinGerman
yexaminedtheeffectsofpropertiesfoundinturmericonrats.Theresear
chersinjectedratswithacompoundfromturmeric.Afterscanningthero
dents'brains,theyfoundthatpartsofthebrainknownfornervecellgrowt
hweremoreactive.Theysaythespicecouldleadtonewdrugsfortreating
strokes,Alzheimer'sandotherdiseases.LeadscientistDrAdeleRueger
saiditwaspossiblethecompoundcould"boosttheeffectiveness"ofourb
raincells,and"helpboostrepairinthebrain".Researchisstillinitsinfancy
andmoretrialsareneededtoseewhatpotentialithasforhumans.DrLaur
aPhipps,fromthecharityAlzheimer'sResearchUK,toldtheBBCthatitw
astooearlytodecidewhetherornottheresearchwillbegroundbreaking.
Shesaid:"Itisnotclearwhethertheresultsofthisresearchwouldtransla
tetopeople,orwhethertheabilitytogeneratenewbraincellsinthiswayw
ouldbenefitpeoplewithAlzheimer'sdisease."Sheadded:"We'dneedto
seefurtherstudiestofullyunderstandthiscompound'seffectsinthecont
extofacomplexdiseaselikeAlzheimer's.Untilthen,peopleshouldn'ttak
ethisasasigntostockuponsuppliesofturmericforthespicerack."

FREE WRITING

Write about curry for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Compare and contrast spicy, hot curry and mild curry. Which is best? Why?

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 the health benefits of curry. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. CURRY: Make a poster about curry around the world. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. 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.

5. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on spices. Ask him/her three questions about them. Tell him/her three ways you use spices. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Also...

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

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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

F

g

T

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	heal	a.	cure
2.	degenerative	b.	debilitating
3.	properties	c.	characteristics
4.	treating	d.	dealing with
5.	boost	e.	improve
6.	infancy	f.	early days
7.	groundbreaking	g.	innovative
8.	context	h.	circumstances
9.	complex	i.	complicated
10.	stock up on	j.	squirrel away

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	People with degenerative brain diseases
2.	Germany
3.	Rats
4.	New drugs
5.	Our brain cells
6.	More trials
7.	To say the research is groundbreaking
8.	If the research would help humans
9.	Further studies
10.	Turmeric

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

d

4.

c

5.

d

6.

c

7.

a

8.

c

9.

b

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

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

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Curry spice may help repair brain cells (28th September, 2014)

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