The Reading / Listening - Level 1

The U.S.A. said a new GM potato is OK to eat. McDonald's will not use it for French fries. A potato company said it changed the DNA of potatoes so they have less sugar. They also have fewer things that give people cancer. It said the potatoes are stronger. McDonald's said: "McDonald's USA does not source GMO potatoes, nor do we have current plans to change [that]." The company did not say anything about McDonald's decision.

French fries are very popular around the world, especially in fast food restaurants. French fried potatoes were in a cookery book in 1856. A little later, 'French fried' meant 'deep-fried'. People say French fries come from Belgium and not France. Belgians say the word 'French fries' is popular because France has an image for good food. Some people think the word 'French' was used after U.S. soldiers went to Europe during World War I.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.foodworldnews.com/articles/8918/20141115/what-does-mcdonalds-say-to-gmo-potatoes.htm
  • http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/not-lovin-it-mcdonalds-says-no-simplots-gmo-potato-n249391
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries


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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

it changed the DNA

a.

plans to change

2.

they have less

b.

say anything

3.

fewer things that give

c.

sugar

4.

It said the potatoes

d.

decision

5.

source GMO

e.

of potatoes

6.

nor do we have current

f.

potatoes

7.

The company did not

g.

are stronger

8.

about McDonald's

h.

people cancer


MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

French fries are

a.

come from Belgium

2.

around the

b.

book

3.

especially in fast

c.

'deep-fried'

4.

a cookery

d.

world

5.

French fried' meant

e.

for good food

6.

People say French fries

f.

food restaurants

7.

France has an image

g.

during World War I

8.

soldiers went to Europe

h.

very popular

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The U.S.A. said a new GM potato (1) ___________________. McDonald's (2) ___________________ French fries. A potato company said it changed the DNA of potatoes so they have less sugar. They also (3) ___________________ that give people cancer. It said the (4) ___________________. McDonald's said: "McDonald's USA (5) ___________________ GMO potatoes, nor do we have current plans to change [that]." The company did not (6) ___________________ McDonald's decision.

French fries are very (7) ___________________ world, especially in fast food restaurants. French fried potatoes were (8) ___________________ in 1856. A little later, 'French fried' meant 'deep-fried'. People say French (9) ___________________ Belgium and not France. Belgians say the word 'French fries' is popular because France (10) ___________________ good food. Some (11) ___________________ word 'French' was used after U.S. soldiers went to Europe (12) ___________________.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheU.S.A.saidanewGMpotatoisOKtoeat.McDonald'swillnotuseitforF
renchfries.ApotatocompanysaiditchangedtheDNAofpotatoessothey
havelesssugar.Theyalsohavefewerthingsthatgivepeoplecancer.Itsa
idthepotatoesarestronger.McDonald'ssaid:"McDonald'sUSAdoesnot
sourceGMOpotatoes,nordowehavecurrentplanstochange[that]."Th
ecompanydidnotsayanythingaboutMcDonald'sdecision.Frenchfries
areverypopulararoundtheworld,especiallyinfastfoodrestaurants.Fre
nchfriedpotatoeswereinacookerybookin1856.Alittlelater,'Frenchfrie
d'meant'deep-fried'.PeoplesayFrenchfriescomefromBelgiumand
notFrance.Belgianssaytheword'Frenchfries'ispopularbecauseFranc
ehasanimageforgoodfood.Somepeoplethinktheword'French'wasus
edafterU.S.soldierswenttoEuropeduringWorldWarI.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

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g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

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Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

 

WRITING

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

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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