The Reading / Listening - Cheese - Level 6

China has reversed an import ban on several types of cheese that get their flavor (and distinctive smell) from bacteria. Chinese health officials placed a ban on the cheeses in September after authorities discovered that the bacteria used to make the cheeses were not officially approved by the health department. The cheeses now approved for sale in China include Brie, Camembert, Roquefort and Stilton. The ban was lifted following meetings between representatives from the European Commission and Chinese quarantine and health officials. China's National Health and Family Planning Commission stated that the bacteria used for the production of these cheeses were not harmful to consumers' health.

Cheese lovers in China were very happy that they can once again enjoy eating their favourite dairy product. Cheese is becoming increasingly popular in China. Dairy products are not a typical part of the Chinese diet but tastes are changing as more western food is influencing Chinese tastes. More Chinese people have acquired a taste for cheese because of the influx of pizza restaurants that have opened in recent years. Vincent Marion, a leading cheese importer based in Shanghai, said: "It's a real relief. It is now written in black and white that this category of cheese is legally importable." Cheese sales in China will be worth $820 million this year. This is an increase of nearly 25 per cent from last year.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Cheese - Level 4  or  Cheese - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/business-41717848
  • http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/brie-trade-agreement-china-lifts-soft-cheese-ban-9335524
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/china-smelly-cheese-ban-lift-imports-camembert-stilton-roquefort-a8015681.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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. CHEESE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about cheese. 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?

       import ban / flavor / smell / bacteria / health department / representatives / planning
       happy / dairy product / typical / tastes / pizza / relief / recent years / category / sales

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

3. DIET: Students A strongly believe cheese should be part of everyone's diet; Students B strongly believe it shouldn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. DAIRY PRODUCTS: What do you know about these dairy products? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How it is made

How healthy it is

How versatile it is

Cheese

 

 

 

Milk

 

 

 

Butter

 

 

 

Yoghurt

 

 

 

Ice cream

 

 

 

Cream

 

 

 

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

6. CHEESE DISHES: Rank these with your partner. Put the tastiest at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • cheese on toast
  • macaroni cheese
  • cauliflower cheese
  • palak paneer
  • cheesecake
  • cheeseburger
  • cheese sandwich
  • cheese fondue

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. China reversed an import ban on all of the world's cheeses.     T / F
  2. China started its ban against cheese 15 years ago.     T / F
  3. China removed the ban after talks with American cheese makers.     T / F
  4. China's health authority said bacteria in the cheeses weren't harmful.     T / F
  5. More and more Chinese people are starting to eat cheese.     T / F
  6. A rise in pizza restaurants has led to Chinese people liking cheese more.  T / F
  7. A cheese importer will soon start importing black and white cheese.     T / F
  8. Cheese sales in China increased by 25 per cent in the past year.     T / F

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

  1. reversed
  2. distinctive
  3. approved
  4. stated
  5. harmful
  6. lovers
  7. increasingly
  8. acquired
  9. relief
  10. increase
  1. adopted
  2. announced
  3. damaging
  4. overturned
  5. rise
  6. more and more
  7. particular
  8. comfort
  9. enthusiasts
  10. rubber-stamped

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

  1. distinctive
  2. not officially approved
  3. The ban was
  4. the bacteria used for the production
  5. harmful to
  6. cheese
  7. dairy
  8. a typical part of the
  9. because of the influx
  10. Cheese sales in China will be
  1. lovers in China
  2. of these cheeses
  3. of pizza restaurants
  4. smell
  5. lifted
  6. Chinese diet
  7. worth $820 million
  8. consumers' health
  9. products
  10. by the health department

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
bacteria
distinctive
harmful
authorities
following
quarantine
reversed
approved

China has (1) ____________ an import ban on several types of cheese that get their flavor and (2) ____________ smell from bacteria. Chinese health officials placed a ban on the cheeses in September after (3) ____________ discovered that the bacteria used to make the cheeses were not officially approved by the health department. The cheeses now (4) ____________ for sale in China include Brie, Camembert, Roquefort and Stilton. The ban was lifted (5) ____________ meetings between representatives from the European Commission and Chinese (6) ____________ and health officials. China's National Health and Family Planning Commission stated that the (7) ____________ used for the production of these cheeses were not (8) ____________ to consumers' health.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
category
increasingly
taste
once
sales
relief
influencing
importer

Cheese lovers in China were very happy that they can (9) ____________ again enjoy eating their favourite dairy product. Cheese is becoming (10) ____________ popular in China. Dairy products are not a typical part of the Chinese diet but tastes are changing as more western food is (11) ____________ Chinese tastes. More Chinese people have acquired a (12) ____________ for cheese because of the influx of pizza restaurants that have opened in recent years. Vincent Marion, a leading cheese (13) ____________ based in Shanghai, said: "It's a real (14) ____________. It is now written in black and white that this (15) ____________ of cheese is legally importable." Cheese (16) ____________ in the China will be worth $820 million this year. This is an increase of nearly 25 per cent from last year.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  China has reversed an import ban on several types of cheese that ______
     a.  get their favor
     b.  get there flavor
     c.  get they favor
     d.  get their flavor

2)  the bacteria used to make the cheeses were not ______
     a.  official approved
     b.  officially approval
     c.  officially approved
     d.  officially approving

3)  The cheeses now approved for sale in China ______
     a.  includes Brie
     b.  including Brie
     c.  inclusive Brie
     d.  include Brie

4)  representatives from the European Commission and Chinese quarantine and ______
     a.  healthy officials
     b.  health officials
     c.  health official
     d.  healthy official

5)  production of these cheeses were not ______ health
     a.  harmful to consumers'
     b.  harmfully to consumers'
     c.  harmful too consumers'
     d.  harmful two consumers'

6)  happy that they can once again enjoy eating their favourite ______
     a.  daily product
     b.  dairy product
     c.  dairy productive
     d.  dairy production

7)  Cheese is becoming increasingly ______
     a.  popular in China
     b.  populace in China
     c.  populate in China
     d.  popularity in China

8)  Dairy products are not a ______ the Chinese diet
     a.  typically part of
     b.  typical party of
     c.  typical part of
     d.  typify part of

9)  More Chinese people have ______ for cheese
     a.  acquired a taste
     b.  required a taste
     c.  acquired a tasty
     d.  required a tasty

10)  Cheese sales in China will be ______ million
     a.  worthless $820
     b.  worthwhile $820
     c.  worthy $820
     d.  worth $820

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

China has reversed an import ban (1) ___________________ of cheese that get their flavor (2) ___________________ from bacteria. Chinese health officials placed a ban on the cheeses in September after authorities discovered that (3) ___________________ to make the cheeses (4) ___________________ approved by the health department. The cheeses now approved for sale in China include Brie, Camembert, Roquefort and Stilton. The ban (5) ___________________ meetings between representatives from the European Commission and Chinese quarantine and health officials. China's National Health and Family Planning Commission stated that the bacteria used for the production of these cheeses were not harmful (6) ___________________.

Cheese lovers in China were very happy that they (7) ___________________ enjoy eating their favourite dairy product. Cheese is becoming increasingly popular in China. Dairy products are not a (8) ___________________ the Chinese diet but tastes are changing as more western food is influencing Chinese tastes. More Chinese people have (9) ___________________ for cheese because of (10) ___________________ pizza restaurants that have opened in recent years. Vincent Marion, a leading cheese importer based in Shanghai, said: "It's a real relief. It is now (11) ___________________ and white that this category of cheese is legally importable." Cheese sales in the China will be worth $820 million this year. This is (12) ___________________ nearly 25 per cent from last year.

Comprehension questions

  1. How many types of cheese were included in the overturned ban?
  2. When was the ban initially put in place?
  3. How many cheeses were mentioned as being approved for sale in China?
  4. What representatives did Chinese quarantine officials meet?
  5. What did Chinese health officials say was not harmful?
  6. Who did the article say would be happy?
  7. What is cheese not a typical part of in China?
  8. What has there been an influx of in China?
  9. Who is Vincent Marion?
  10. By how much have cheese sales risen in China in the past year?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How many types of cheese were included in the overturned ban?
a) 700
b) seventy
c) several
d) seventeen

2) When was the ban initially put in place?
a) September
b) 3 years ago
c) 2011
d) a long, long time ago

3) How many cheeses were mentioned as being approved for sale in China?
a) 7
b) 6
c) 5
d) 4

4) What representatives did Chinese quarantine officials meet?
a) cheese makers
b) European Commission representatives
c) import representatives
d) health representatives

5) What did Chinese health officials say was not harmful?
a) cheese on toast
b) European food
c) bacteria
d) trade

6) Who did the article say would be happy?
a) pizza restaurant owners
b) cheese lovers
c) health officials
d) European Commission representatives

7) What is cheese not a typical part of in China?
a) literature
b) weddings
c) history
d) the diet

8) What has there been an influx of in China?
a) bad quality cheese
b) pizza restaurants
c) black and white cheese
d) European Commission representatives

9) Who is Vincent Marion?
a) a cheese importer
b) a cheese maker
c) a European Commission representative
d) a pizza restaurant owner

10) By how much have cheese sales risen in China in the past year?
a) 175%
b) 85%
c) 35%
d) 25%

Role play

Role  A – Cheesecake

You think cheesecake is the tastiest cheese dish. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dishes. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): a cheese sandwich, macaroni cheese or cheese fondue.

Role  B – Cheese Sandwich

You think a cheese sandwich is the tastiest cheese dish. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dishes. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): cheesecake, macaroni cheese or cheese fondue.

Role  C – Macaroni Cheese

You think macaroni cheese is the tastiest cheese dish. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dishes. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): a cheese sandwich, cheesecake or cheese fondue.

Role  D – Cheese Fondue

You think cheese fondue is the tastiest cheese dish. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dishes. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why):  a cheese sandwich, macaroni cheese or cheesecake.

After reading / listening

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

'ban'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'cheese'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • happy
    • typical
    • taste
    • recent
    • written
    • 25
    • several
    • September
    • include
    • following
    • planning
    • harmful

    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 - China ends ban on smelly cheese

    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 'smelly'?
    3. What do you think of cheese?
    4. What do you know about cheese?
    5. How healthy is cheese?
    6. What do you think of bacteria in cheese?
    7. Why might the smelliest cheese taste the best?
    8. What's your favourite kind of cheese?
    9. How dangerous might cheese be?
    10. What does quarantine involve?

    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 'cheese'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What's the best way to cook cheese?
    5. What's your favourite dairy product?
    6. What's a typical part of your diet?
    7. What do you think of pizza?
    8. How do you make cheese?
    9. What dishes do you know that use cheese?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a cheese lover?

    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)

    China has reversed an import ban on (1) ____ types of cheese that get their flavor (and distinctive smell) from bacteria. Chinese health officials (2) ____ a ban on the cheeses in September after authorities discovered that the bacteria used to make the cheeses were not (3) ____ approved by the health department. The cheeses now approved for (4) ____ in China include Brie, Camembert, Roquefort and Stilton. The ban was lifted following meetings between representatives from the European Commission and Chinese quarantine and health officials. China's National Health and Family Planning Commission (5) ____ that the bacteria used for the production of these cheeses were not harmful (6) ____ consumers' health.

    Cheese lovers in China were very happy that they can (7) ____ again enjoy eating their favourite dairy product. Cheese is becoming increasingly popular in China. Dairy products are not a (8) ____ part of the Chinese diet but tastes are changing (9) ____ more western food is influencing Chinese tastes. More Chinese people have acquired a (10) ____ for cheese because of the influx of pizza restaurants that have opened in recent years. Vincent Marion, a leading cheese importer based in Shanghai, said: "It's a real (11) ____. It is now written in black and white that this category of cheese is legally importable." Cheese sales in the China will be (12) ____ $820 million this year. This is an increase of nearly 25 per cent from last year.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     several     (b)     sever     (c)     severe     (d)     severance    
    2. (a)     placated     (b)     placard     (c)     placed     (d)     placidly    
    3. (a)     officiate     (b)     officials     (c)     officially     (d)     officialdom    
    4. (a)     seldom     (b)     sold     (c)     sell     (d)     sale    
    5. (a)     stated     (b)     started     (c)     situated     (d)     strutted    
    6. (a)     of     (b)     to     (c)     by     (d)     at    
    7. (a)     onset     (b)     onus     (c)     only     (d)     once    
    8. (a)     typify     (b)     typical     (c)     typeface     (d)     typo    
    9. (a)     was     (b)     has     (c)     as     (d)     ease    
    10. (a)     paste     (b)     baste     (c)     haste     (d)     taste    
    11. (a)     reliable     (b)     relish     (c)     relic     (d)     relief    
    12. (a)     worthy     (b)     worth     (c)     worthwhile     (d)     worthless

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. China has eseredrv an import ban
    2. vearels types of cheese
    3. icnitistevd smell
    4. ariabtce used to make the cheeses
    5. Chinese rnnietuaaq
    6. not harmful to urnscemos

    Paragraph 2

    1. their favourite drayi product
    2. not a yalpict part of the Chinese diet
    3. aueqdrci a taste for cheese
    4. the nfluxi of pizza restaurants
    5. It's a real freile
    6. this otgcyrea of cheese

    Put the text back together

    1  )     China has reversed an import ban on several types of cheese that get their flavor (and distinctive smell)    

    (    )     diet but tastes are changing as more western food is influencing Chinese tastes. More Chinese people have

    (    )     discovered that the bacteria used to make the cheeses were not officially approved by the health

    (    )     that the bacteria used for the production of these cheeses were not harmful to consumers' health.

    (    )     product. Cheese is becoming increasingly popular in China. Dairy products are not a typical part of the Chinese

    (    )     department. The cheeses now approved for sale in China include Brie, Camembert, Roquefort and Stilton. The ban was

    (    )     years. Vincent Marion, a leading cheese importer based in Shanghai, said: "It's a real relief. It is now written

    (    )     and Chinese quarantine and health officials. China's National Health and Family Planning Commission stated

    (    )     $820 million this year. This is an increase of nearly 25 per cent from last year.

    (    )     Cheese lovers in China were very happy that they can once again enjoy eating their favourite dairy

    (    )     lifted following meetings between representatives from the European Commission

    (    )     in black and white that this category of cheese is legally importable." Cheese sales in China will be worth

    (    )     from bacteria. Chinese health officials placed a ban on the cheeses in September after authorities

    (    )     acquired a taste for cheese because of the influx of pizza restaurants that have opened in recent

    Put the words in the right order

    1. an  China  import   several  cheese  reversed  on   of  has  ban  types   .
    2. ban   cheeses   Health  a   the   September   placed   on   in   officials   .
    3. were   to   not   make   approved   the   Bacteria   cheeses   used   .
    4. approved   in   Brie   now   sale   include   cheeses   for   China   The   .
    5. to   harmful   not   were   cheeses   These   health   consumers'   .
    6. They   their   can   favourite   again   dairy   enjoy   product   eating   .
    7. the   part   are   Chinese   not   diet   a   Dairy   typical   products   of   .
    8. More   a   Chinese   taste   people   for   have   cheese   acquired   .
    9. The   opened   have   that   restaurants   pizza   of   influx   .
    10. sales   Cheese  year   this   million   $820  worth   be  will   China   in   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    China has reversed / severed an import ban on several types of cheese that get their favor / flavor (and distinctive smell) from bacteria. Chinese health officials placed a ban in / on the cheeses in September after authorities / authority discovered that the bacteria used to make the cheeses were not officially / official approved by the health department. The cheeses now approved for sale in China inclusive / include Brie, Camembert, Roquefort and Stilton. The ban was lifted followed / following meetings between representatives from the European Commission and Chinese quarrelsome / quarantine and health officials. China's National Health and Family Planning Commission started / stated that the bacteria used for the production of these cheeses were not harmful / harmed to consumers' health.

    Cheese lovelies / lovers in China were very happy that they can once / twice again enjoy eating their favourite daily / dairy product. Cheese is becoming increasingly popular / populate in China. Dairy products are not a typically / typical part of the Chinese diet but tastes are changing as more western food is influencing Chinese tastes. More Chinese people have acquiesced / acquired a taste for cheese because of the influx / reflux of pizza restaurants that have opened in recently / recent years. Vincent Marion, a leading cheese importer based in Shanghai, said: "It's a real / really relief. It is now written in black and white that this category of cheese is legally importable." Cheese sales in the China will be worthwhile / worth $820 million this year. This is an increase of nearly 25 per cent from last year.

    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)

    Ch_n_ h_s r_v_rs_d _n _mp_rt b_n _n s_v_r_l typ_s _f ch__s_ th_t g_t th__r fl_v_r (_nd d_st_nct_v_ sm_ll) fr_m b_ct_r__. Ch_n_s_ h__lth _ff_c__ls pl_c_d _ b_n _n th_ ch__s_s _n S_pt_mb_r _ft_r __th_r_t__s d_sc_v_r_d th_t th_ b_ct_r__ _s_d t_ m_k_ th_ ch__s_s w_r_ n_t _ff_c__lly _ppr_v_d by th_ h__lth d_p_rtm_nt. Th_ ch__s_s n_w _ppr_v_d f_r s_l_ _n Ch_n_ _ncl_d_ Br__, C_m_mb_rt, R_q__f_rt _nd St_lt_n. Th_ b_n w_s l_ft_d f_ll_w_ng m__t_ngs b_tw__n r_pr_s_nt_t_v_s fr_m th_ __r_p__n C_mm_ss__n _nd Ch_n_s_ q__r_nt_n_ _nd h__lth _ff_c__ls. Ch_n_'s N_t__n_l H__lth _nd F_m_ly Pl_nn_ng C_mm_ss__n st_t_d th_t th_ b_ct_r__ _s_d f_r th_ pr_d_ct__n _f th_s_ ch__s_s w_r_ n_t h_rmf_l t_ c_ns_m_rs' h__lth.

    Ch__s_ l_v_rs _n Ch_n_ w_r_ v_ry h_ppy th_t th_y c_n _nc_ _g__n _nj_y __t_ng th__r f_v__r_t_ d__ry pr_d_ct. Ch__s_ _s b_c_m_ng _ncr__s_ngly p_p_l_r _n Ch_n_. D__ry pr_d_cts _r_ n_t _ typ_c_l p_rt _f th_ Ch_n_s_ d__t b_t t_st_s _r_ ch_ng_ng _s m_r_ w_st_rn f__d _s _nfl__nc_ng Ch_n_s_ t_st_s. M_r_ Ch_n_s_ p__pl_ h_v_ _cq__r_d _ t_st_ f_r ch__s_ b_c__s_ _f th_ _nfl_x _f p_zz_ r_st__r_nts th_t h_v_ _p_n_d _n r_c_nt y__rs. V_nc_nt M_r__n, _ l__d_ng ch__s_ _mp_rt_r b_s_d _n Sh_ngh__, s__d: "_t's _ r__l r_l__f. _t _s n_w wr_tt_n _n bl_ck _nd wh_t_ th_t th_s c_t_g_ry _f ch__s_ _s l_g_lly _mp_rt_bl_." Ch__s_ s_l_s _n th_ Ch_n_ w_ll b_ w_rth $820 m_ll__n th_s y__r. Th_s _s _n _ncr__s_ _f n__rly 25 p_r c_nt fr_m l_st y__r.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    china has reversed an import ban on several types of cheese that get their flavor (and distinctive smell) from bacteria chinese health officials placed a ban on the cheeses in september after authorities discovered that the bacteria used to make the cheeses were not officially approved by the health department the cheeses now approved for sale in china include brie camembert roquefort and stilton the ban was lifted following meetings between representatives from the european commission and chinese quarantine and health officials china's national health and family planning commission stated that the bacteria used for the production of these cheeses were not harmful to consumers' health

    cheese lovers in china were very happy that they can once again enjoy eating their favourite dairy product cheese is becoming increasingly popular in china dairy products are not a typical part of the chinese diet but tastes are changing as more western food is influencing chinese tastes more chinese people have acquired a taste for cheese because of the influx of pizza restaurants that have opened in recent years vincent marion a leading cheese importer based in shanghai said "it's a real relief it is now written in black and white that this category of cheese is legally importable" cheese sales in the china will be worth $820 million this year this is an increase of nearly 25 per cent from last year

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Chinahasreversedanimportbanonseveraltypesofcheesethatgettheir
    flavor(anddistinctivesmell)frombacteria.Chinesehealthofficialsplac
    edabanonthecheesesinSeptemberafterauthoritiesdiscoveredthatth
    ebacteriausedtomakethecheeseswerenotofficiallyapprovedbythehe
    althdepartment.ThecheesesnowapprovedforsaleinChinaincludeBrie
    ,Camembert,RoquefortandStilton.Thebanwasliftedfollowingmeetin
    gsbetweenrepresentativesfromtheEuropeanCommissionandChines
    equarantineandhealthofficials.China'sNationalHealthandFamilyPlan
    ningCommissionstatedthatthebacteriausedfortheproductionofthes
    echeeseswerenotharmfultoconsumers'health.CheeseloversinChina
    wereveryhappythattheycanonceagainenjoyeatingtheirfavouritedair
    yproduct.CheeseisbecomingincreasinglypopularinChina.Dairyprod
    uctsarenotatypicalpartoftheChinesedietbuttastesarechangingasmo
    rewesternfoodisinfluencingChinesetastes.MoreChinesepeoplehave
    acquiredatasteforcheesebecauseoftheinfluxofpizzarestaurantsthat
    haveopenedinrecentyears.VincentMarion,aleadingcheeseimporterb
    asedinShanghai,said:"It'sarealrelief.Itisnowwritteninblackandwhit
    ethatthiscategoryofcheeseislegallyimportable."CheesesalesinChina
    willbeworth$820millionthisyear.Thisisanincreaseofnearly25percent
    fromlastyear.

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    Academic writing

    Everyone should eat more cheese. 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. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. CHEESE: Make a poster about cheese. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. WORLD FOOD: Write a magazine article about all national cuisines blending into one world food. 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 cheese. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make cheese more popular around the world. 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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