Spicy food linked to higher testosterone levels

Spicy food linked to higher testosterone levels (17th December, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Scientists have found a link between spicy food and testosterone in men. Testosterone is a chemical in our body that controls sexual development. Men produce up to 20 times more of it. Higher levels of testosterone usually make men more sexually active, brave and bigger risk takers. The co-author of the report said the study matched a lot of research that linked testosterone with financial, sexual and behavioural risk-taking.

The study looked at how 114 men liked spicy food. The men put a hot pepper sauce on mashed potatoes. They then evaluated its spiciness. The researchers tested the men's saliva. The men who put more hot sauce on their potatoes had higher levels of testosterone. The study is too small to prove the link between spice and testosterone. Other things could make people like spicy food. These include genetics, culture and psychology.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/men-who-like-spicier-foods-have-higher-levels-of-testosterone-9926423.html
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2014/12December/Pages/Spicy-food-curries-favour-with-alpha-males.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testosterone

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.	a link between spicy food	a.	takers
2.	Testosterone is a chemical	b.	sexually active
3.	sexual	c.	and testosterone
4.	Men produce up to 20 times	d.	risk-taking
5.	make men more	e.	in our body
6.	bigger risk	f.	lot of research
7.	the study matched a	g.	development
8.	sexual and behavioural	h.	more of it

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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.	The study looked at how 114	a.	psychology
2.	a hot	b.	potatoes
3.	mashed	c.	prove the link
4.	They then evaluated its	d.	men liked spicy food
5.	The researchers tested the men's	e.	like spicy food
6.	The study is too small to	f.	pepper sauce
7.	Other things could make people	g.	spiciness
8.	These include genetics, culture and	h.	saliva

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Scientists (1) ___________________ between spicy food and testosterone in men. Testosterone is a chemical (2) ___________________ controls sexual development. Men produce up to 20 (3) ___________________. Higher levels of testosterone usually (4) ___________________ sexually active, brave and bigger risk takers. The (5) ___________________ said the study matched a lot of research that linked testosterone with financial, sexual and behavioural (6) ___________________.

The study looked at how 114 men (7) ___________________. The men put a hot pepper sauce on mashed potatoes. They (8) ___________________ spiciness. The researchers tested (9) ___________________. The men who put more hot sauce on their potatoes (10) ___________________ of testosterone. The study is too small (11) ___________________ between spice and testosterone. Other things could make people like spicy food. These include (12) ___________________ and psychology.

SPICY FOOD SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about spicy food 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.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

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

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

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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