Speed Reading — Level 3 — 300 wpm 

Now do this put-the-text-back-together activity.

This is the text (if you need help).

Four scientists have won the 2016 World Food Prize. The scientists are from the global agricultural research group the International Potato Center. They won the prize for enriching sweet potatoes. This has resulted in health benefits for millions of people across the world. The scientists developed a way to grow sweet potatoes that have extra amounts of Vitamin A in them. More Vitamin A means the sweet potato contains extra nutrition. One researcher said it was difficult to get farmers to help him with his work. Many farmers did not think it was a good idea. The researcher said: "They told me it was a bad idea. Their job was to increase yields, pest resistance and reduce poverty; it wasn't to improve nutrition."

The sweet potato could change the lives of many people across the globe. People without food can die of malnutrition – not having enough to eat. A lack of Vitamin A is one of the most harmful examples of malnutrition. Scientists say malnutrition affects more than 140 million children up to the age of four in 118 countries. It also affects more than seven million pregnant women. Scientists also say it is a big reason for children becoming blind in developing countries. Jan Low, from the International Potato Center, said the prize-winning sweet potatoes could make a big difference in making sure hungry people get enough Vitamin A. She hopes more scientists will focus on increasing nutrition in vegetables.

Comprehension questions
  1. How many scientists won the World Food Award?
  2. What did the scientists enrich?
  3. What do the new sweet potatoes contain more of?
  4. Who didn't think growing the new sweet potatoes was a good idea?
  5. What did farmers want to reduce?
  6. Where could the sweet potato change people's lives?
  7. How many small children does malnutrition affect?
  8. How many pregnant women does malnutrition affect?
  9. What kind of difference did Jan Low say the sweet potatoes could make?
  10. What did Jan Low want scientists to focus on increasing in vegetables?

Back to the sweet potato lesson.

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