The Reading / Listening - Skinny Genes - Level 6

New research suggests that people's genes are key to helping them stay slim. A study from Cambridge University in the U.K. discovered that thin people had DNA that contained variants which helped them stay slim and fewer variants linked to being overweight. Researcher Sadaf Farooqi, professor of metabolism and medicine, said: "We've found that there are genes associated with thinness." She added: "Genes play at least 40 per cent of a role in people's weight. It's much more than people realize." This might help explain why some people are naturally skinny while others have big problems with keeping their weight down and seem to pile on the pounds so easily.

The study is published in the journal PLOS Genetics. The researchers said they undertook the study to find out why so many people struggle with their weight. Over 30 per cent of American adults are obese, while a staggering 94.5 per cent of adults on the South Pacific island of Nauru are overweight. Professor Farooqi said she wanted to help people who are struggling with their weight. She said: "It's easy to rush to judgment and criticize people for their weight, but the science shows that things are far more complex." She added: "Healthy, thin people are generally thin because they have a lower burden of genes that increase a person's chances of being overweight and not because they are morally superior."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Skinny Genes - Level 4  or  Skinny Genes - Level 5

Sources
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/25/health/thinness-and-obesity-due-to-genes-study-intl/index.html
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/health-46976031
  • https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-01-slim-people-genetic-advantage-weight.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. STAYING SLIM: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about staying slim. 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?
       research / genes / slim / overweight / study / metabolism / medicine / skinny /
       journal / struggle / easy / rush / judgment / science / complex / healthy / superior
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. DNA: Students A strongly believe our DNA should be changed to keep us at a healthy weight; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. WEIGHT: How can people control their weight? What are the difficulties in doing this? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How to control weight

Problems

Food

 

 

Exercise

 

 

Hobbies

 

 

Transport

 

 

Drinks

 

 

TV / Computers

 

 

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. OVERWEIGHT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "overweight". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. GENES: Rank these with your partner. Put the DNA you would like to change at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • illnesses
  • energy levels
  • aging process
  • complexion
  • eye color
  • hair color
  • weight
  • intelligence

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. suggests a. A form or version of something that is different in some way from other forms of the same thing.
      2. key b. Very thin (about someone's body).
      3. variant c. Causes one to think that something exists or is the case.
      4. metabolism d. Of major or crucial importance.
      5. realize e. The chemical processes that occur inside a living thing in order to maintain life.
      6. skinny f. Understand clearly.
      7. pile on g. Add to something quickly.

    Paragraph 2

      8. journal h. Show the faults of someone or something in a disapproving way.
      9. struggle i. A newspaper or magazine that deals with a particular subject or professional activity.
      10. obese j. Astonishing or shocking.
      11. staggering k. Not easy to analyze or understand.
      12. criticize l. Have difficulty handling or coping with something.
      13. complex m. Higher in rank, status, or quality.
      14. superior n. Unhealthily overweight.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Researchers found a key to help people lose weight.     T / F
  2. A professor of metabolism and medicine was one of the researchers.     T / F
  3. Genes play at least a 40% role in people's weight.     T / F
  4. The article said some people seem to easily pile on the pounds.     T / F
  5. The article said over 40% of American adults are obese.     T / F
  6. Over 94% of adults on the island of Nauru are overweight.     T / F
  7. The professor didn't want to help people who struggle with their weight.  T / F
  8. The professor said thinner people are morally superior.     T / F

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

  1. key
  2. discovered
  3. associated
  4. realize
  5. pile on
  6. undertook
  7. staggering
  8. complex
  9. chances
  10. superior
  1. increase
  2. likelihood
  3. understand
  4. complicated
  5. found
  6. better
  7. linked
  8. did
  9. amazing
  10. instrumental

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

  1. people's genes are key to
  2. professor of metabolism
  3. there are genes associated
  4. some people are
  5. pile on
  6. so many people struggle
  7. It's easy to rush
  8. science shows that things are far
  9. increase a person's chances
  10. they are morally
  1. of being overweight
  2. the pounds
  3. superior
  4. to judgment
  5. with thinness
  6. more complex
  7. naturally skinny
  8. with their weight
  9. and medicine
  10. helping them stay slim

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
contained
realize
metabolism
pile
key
naturally
fewer
least

New research suggests that people's genes are (1) ____________ to helping them stay slim. A study from Cambridge University in the U.K. discovered that thin people had DNA that (2) ____________ variants which helped them stay slim and (3) ____________ variants linked to being overweight. Researcher Sadaf Farooqi, professor of (4) ____________ and medicine, said: "We've found that there are genes associated with thinness." She added: "Genes play at (5) ____________ 40 per cent of a role in people's weight. It's much more than people (6) ____________." This might help explain why some people are (7) ____________ skinny while others have big problems with keeping their weight down and seem to (8) ____________ on the pounds so easily.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
complex
overweight
journal
morally
struggle
lower
rush
staggering

The study is published in the (9) ____________ PLOS Genetics. The researchers said they undertook the study to find out why so many people (10) ____________ with their weight. Over 30 per cent of American adults are obese, while a (11) ____________ 94.5 per cent of adults on the South Pacific island of Nauru are (12) ____________. Professor Farooqi said she wanted to help people who are struggling with their weight. She said: "It's easy to (13) ____________ to judgment and criticize people for their weight, but the science shows that things are far more (14) ____________." She added: "Healthy, thin people are generally thin because they have a (15) ____________ burden of genes that increase a person's chances of being overweight and not because they are (16) ____________ superior."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  New research suggests that people's genes are key to helping ______
     a.  them stay slims
     b.  them stay slimmer
     c.  them stay slimmed
     d.  them stay slim
2)  the U.K. discovered that thin people had DNA that ______
     a.  containing variants
     b.  contented variants
     c.  contained variants
     d.  constrained variants
3)  She added: "Genes play at least 40 per cent of ______ people's weight."
     a.  a roll in
     b.  a role in
     c.  are role in
     d.  our role in
4)  This might help explain why some people are ______
     a.  naturally skinned
     b.  naturally skinny
     c.  naturally skin knee
     d.  naturally skinny knee
5)  problems with keeping their weight down and seem to pile on the ______
     a.  pounds sown easily
     b.  pounds sew easily
     c.  pound so easily
     d.  pounds so easily

6)  Over 30% of American adults are obese, while a ______ of adults...
     a.  staggering 94.5%
     b.  stagger in 94.5%
     c.  stag gathering 94.5%
     d.  stage gathering 94.5%
7)  Farooqi said she wanted to help people who are ______ their weight
     a.  struggling with
     b.  struggle in with
     c.  struggling within
     d.  struggles in with
8)  criticize people for their weight, but the science shows that things are far ______
     a.  mire complex
     b.  mare complex
     c.  moor complex
     d.  more complex
9)  Healthy, thin people are generally thin because they have a lower ______
     a.  bird on of genes
     b.  bard on of genes
     c.  burden of genes
     d.  board on of genes
10)  a person's chances of being overweight and not because they are ______
     a.  morally superiors
     b.  morally superior
     c.  morally superiority
     d.  morally super rear

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

New research suggests that people's (1) ___________________ to helping them stay slim. A study from Cambridge University in the U.K. discovered that thin people had DNA that contained (2) ___________________ them stay slim and fewer variants linked to being overweight. Researcher Sadaf Farooqi, professor (3) ___________________ medicine, said: "We've found that there (4) ___________________ with thinness." She added: "Genes play at least 40 per cent of a role in people's weight. It's much more than people realize." This might help explain why some people (5) ___________________ while others have big problems with keeping their weight down and seem to pile on the (6) ___________________.

The study is published (7) ___________________ PLOS Genetics. The researchers said they undertook the study to find out why so many people (8) ___________________ weight. Over 30 per cent of American adults are obese, while a staggering 94.5 per cent (9) ___________________ the South Pacific island of Nauru are overweight. Professor Farooqi said she wanted to help people who are struggling with their weight. She said: "It's easy to rush to judgment (10) ___________________ for their weight, but the science shows that things are far more complex." She added: "Healthy, thin people are generally thin because they have (11) ___________________ of genes that increase a person's chances of being overweight and not because they (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. What university are the researchers from?
  2. What is one of the researchers a professor of?
  3. What did the professor find that genes are associated with?
  4. How much of a role do genes play in people's weight?
  5. What did the article say overweight people pile on?
  6. What is the name of the journal the research is published in?
  7. How many American adults did the article say were obese?
  8. Where are 94.5 per cent of people overweight?
  9. What did the professor say science showed?
  10. What did the professor say thinner people have a lower burden of?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What university are the researchers from?
a) MIT
b) Sydney University
c) Oxford University
d) Cambridge University
2) What is one of the researchers a professor of?
a) metabolism and nutrition
b) metabolism and medicine
c) nutrition and medicine
d) physics and chemistry
3) What did the professor find that genes are associated with?
a) nutrition
b) obesity
c) thinness
d) happiness
4) How much of a role do genes play in people's weight?
a) at least a 40% role
b) at least a 50% role
c) at least a 60% role
d) at least a 70% role
5) What did the article say overweight people pile on?
a) the action
b) pressure
c) the pounds
d) the pain

6) What is the name of the journal the research is published in?
a) Genes and Nutrition
b) PLOS Genetics
c) Weight and DNA
d) Genetics and Obesity
7) How many American adults did the article say were obese?
a) exactly 30 per cent
b) around 30 per cent
c) under 30 per cent
d) over 30 per cent
8) Where are 94.5 per cent of people overweight?
a) Nauru
b) Samoa
c) Hawaii
d) Belize
9) What did the professor say science showed?
a) progress
b) our weight
c) things are far more complex
d) things are straightforward
10) What did the professor say thinner people have a lower burden of?
a) debt
b) genes that increase chances of being overweight
c) fat
d) genes that make us thin

Role play

Role  A – Eye Color
You think eye color is the best thing to change your DNA for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): hair color, complexion or weight.

Role  B – Hair Color
You think hair color is the best thing to change your DNA for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): eye color, complexion or weight.

Role  C – Complexion
You think complexion is the best thing to change your DNA for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): hair color, eye color or weight.

Role  D – Weight
You think weight is the best thing to change your DNA for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): hair color, complexion or eye color.

After reading / listening

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

'genes'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'slim'.

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

    • journal
    • adults
    • struggling
    • rush
    • lower
    • morally
    • key
    • helped
    • medicine
    • role
    • explain
    • pile

    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 - Slim people's genes help them stay slim

    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 'gene'?
    3. What do you know about genes?
    4. What do you think of your weight?
    5. Do you think it's OK to alter genes?
    6. Should we alter our genes to keep us slim?
    7. How can people keep from being overweight?
    8. What is the best way to stay slim?
    9. What advice do you have for overweight people?
    10. Can you eat what you want without piling on the pounds?

    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 'slim'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why are so many people overweight on the island of Nauru?
    5. Why do people 'rush' to criticize people who are overweight?
    6. Should we all be vegetarian to be a healthier weight?
    7. Will we all be a healthy weight in the future?
    8. Why did the researcher suggest thin people might be 'morally superior'?
    9. What are your experiences of dieting?
    10. 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)

    (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)

    New research suggests that people's genes are (1) ____ to helping them stay slim. A study from Cambridge University in the U.K. discovered that thin people had DNA that contained (2) ____ which helped them stay slim and fewer variants linked to (3) ____ overweight. Researcher Sadaf Farooqi, professor of metabolism and medicine, said: "We've found that there are genes associated (4) ____ thinness." She added: "Genes play at least 40 per cent of a role (5) ____ people's weight. It's much more than people realize." This might help explain why some people are naturally skinny while others have big problems with keeping their weight down and seem to (6) ____ on the pounds so easily.

    The study is (7) ____ in the journal PLOS Genetics. The researchers said they undertook the study to find out why so many people struggle (8) ____ their weight. Over 30 per cent of American adults are obese, while a (9) ____ 94.5 per cent of adults on the South Pacific island of Nauru are overweight. Professor Farooqi said she wanted to help people who are struggling with their weight. She said: "It's easy to (10) ____ to judgment and criticize people for their weight, but the science shows that things are far more complex." She added: "Healthy, thin people are (11) ____ thin because they have a lower burden of genes that increase a person's chances of being overweight and not because they are (12) ____ superior."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     key     (b)     lock     (c)     instrument     (d)     royal    
    2. (a)     vacancies     (b)     vagaries     (c)     variants     (d)     validates    
    3. (a)     been     (b)     be     (c)     being     (d)     begin    
    4. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     by     (d)     with    
    5. (a)     in     (b)     on     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    6. (a)     rile     (b)     pile     (c)     bile     (d)     tile    
    7. (a)     publishes     (b)     publishing     (c)     publication     (d)     published    
    8. (a)     by     (b)     with     (c)     of     (d)     in    
    9. (a)     stagger     (b)     staggered     (c)     staggering     (d)     staggers    
    10. (a)     mush     (b)     rush     (c)     push     (d)     gush    
    11. (a)     generalize     (b)     generality     (c)     general     (d)     generally    
    12. (a)     morality     (b)     morally     (c)     morals     (d)     moral

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. DNA that contained vrntaasi
    2. professor of ibmtsmaleo and medicine
    3. genes edaiastcso with thinness
    4. much more than people reieazl
    5. some people are tluraylna skinny
    6. pile on the dopnus

    Paragraph 2

    1. The study is published in the onaujlr
    2. people rsgulgte with their weight
    3. 30% of American adults are oebse
    4. iitrecicz people
    5. they have a lower runbed
    6. they are morally uoisprer

    Put the text back together

    (...)  in the U.K. discovered that thin people had DNA that contained variants which
    (...)  with thinness." She added: "Genes play at least 40 per cent of a role in people's weight. It's much more than people
    (...)  metabolism and medicine, said: "We've found that there are genes associated
    (...)  The study is published in the journal PLOS Genetics. The researchers said they undertook the
    1  ) New research suggests that people's genes are key to helping them stay slim. A study from Cambridge University
    (...)  94.5 per cent of adults on the South Pacific island of Nauru are overweight. Professor Farooqi said she wanted
    (...)  study to find out why so many people struggle with their weight. Over 30 per cent of American adults are obese, while a staggering
    (...)  problems with keeping their weight down and seem to pile on the pounds so easily.
    (...)  helped them stay slim and fewer variants linked to being overweight. Researcher Sadaf Farooqi, professor of
    (...)  generally thin because they have a lower burden of genes that increase a person's
    (...)  realize." This might help explain why some people are naturally skinny while others have big
    (...)  people for their weight, but the science shows that things are far more complex." She added: "Healthy, thin people are
    (...)  chances of being overweight and not because they are morally superior."
    (...)  to help people who are struggling with their weight. She said: "It's easy to rush to judgment and criticize

    Put the words in the right order

    1. them   .   genes   are   key   helping   to   People's
    2. helped   variants   contained   that   DNA   which   stay   .   them
    3. are   that   associated   genes   there   Found   thinness   .   with
    4. people   explain   are   why   some   naturally   Help   skinny   .
    5. their   big   problems   with   weight   down   .   keeping   Have
    6. Why   so   many   their   people   with   struggle   weight   .
    7. 30%   Over   adults   of   are   obese   .   American
    8. struggling   people   who   Help   are   with   weight   .   their
    9. more   Science   things   that   far   shows   are   complex   .
    10. increase   Genes   chances   people's   overweight   .   of   being

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    New research suggests that people's genes are lock / key to helping them stay slim. A study from Cambridge University in the U.K. discovery / discovered that thin people had DNA that contained variants / variations which helped them stay slim and fewer variants linked to been / being overweight. Researcher Sadaf Farooqi, professor of metabolic / metabolism and medicine, said: "We've found that there are genes associated / associate with thinness." She added: "Genes play at last / least 40 per cent of a role in people's weight. It's much more than people realize / reality." This might help explain why some people are naturally skinny / skinned while others have big problems with keeping their weight down and seem to pile on the pounds so easy / easily.

    The study is published in the journal PLOS Genetics. The researchers said they undertook the study to find out why / what so many people struggle with their weight. Over 30 per cent of American adults are obesity / obese, while a staggering 94.5 per cent of adults on the South Pacific island at / of Nauru are overweight. Professor Farooqi said she wanted to help people whom / who are struggling with their weight. She said: "It's easy to rush / brush to judgment and criticize / critical people for their weight, but the science shows that things are far / for more complex." She added: "Healthy, thin people are generality / generally thin because they have a lower burden of genes that increase a / the person's chances of being overweight and not because they are morally / morality superior."

    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)

    N_w r_s__ r c h s_g g_s t s t h_t p__ p l_' s g_n_s _r_ k_y t_ h_l p_n g t h_m s t_y s l_m . A s t_d y f r_m C_m b r_d g_ U n_v_r s_t y _n t h_ U . K . d_s c_v_r_d t h_t t h_n p__ p l_ h_d D N A t h_t c_n t__ n_d v_r__ n t s w h_c h h_l p_d t h_m s t_y s l_m _n d f_w_r v_r__ n t s l_n k_d t_ b__ n g _v_r w__ g h t . R_s__ r c h_r S_d_f F_r__ q_, p r_f_s s_r _f m_t_b_l_s m _n d m_d_c_n_, s__ d : " W_' v_ f__ n d t h_t t h_r_ _r_ g_n_s _s s_c__ t_d w_t h t h_n n_s s . " S h_ _d d_d : " G_n_s p l_y _t l__ s t 4 0 p_r c_n t _f _ r_l_ _n p__ p l_' s w__ g h t . I t ' s m_c h m_r_ t h_n p__ p l_ r__ l_z_. " T h_s m_g h t h_l p _x p l__ n w h y s_m_ p__ p l_ _r_ n_t_r_l l y s k_n n y w h_l_ _t h_r s h_v_ b_g p r_b l_m s w_t h k__ p_n g t h__ r w__ g h t d_w n _n d s__ m t_ p_l_ _n t h_ p__ n d s s_ __ s_l y .

    T h_ s t_d y _s p_b l_s h_d _n t h_ j__ r n_l P L O S G_n_t_c s . T h_ r_s__ r c h_r s s__ d t h_y _n d_r t__ k t h_ s t_d y t_ f_n d __ t w h y s_ m_n y p__ p l_ s t r_g g l_ w_t h t h__ r w__ g h t . O v_r 3 0 p_r c_n t _f A m_r_c_n _d_l t s _r_ _b_s_, w h_l_ _ s t_g g_r_n g 9 4 . 5 p_r c_n t _f _d_l t s _n t h_ S__ t h P_c_f_c _s l_n d _f N__ r_ _r_ _v_r w__ g h t . P r_f_s s_r F_r__ q_ s__ d s h_ w_n t_d t_ h_l p p__ p l_ w h_ _r_ s t r_g g l_n g w_t h t h__ r w__ g h t . S h_ s__ d : " I t ' s __ s y t_ r_s h t_ j_d g m_n t _n d c r_t_c_z_ p__ p l_ f_r t h__ r w__ g h t , b_t t h_ s c__ n c_ s h_w s t h_t t h_n g s _r_ f_r m_r_ c_m p l_x . " S h_ _d d_d : " H__ l t h y , t h_n p__ p l_ _r_ g_n_r_l l y t h_n b_c__ s_ t h_y h_v_ _ l_w_r b_r d_n _f g_n_s t h_t _n c r__ s_ _ p_r s_n ' s c h_n c_s _f b__ n g _v_r w__ g h t _n d n_t b_c__ s_ t h_y _r_ m_r_l l y s_p_r__ r . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    new research suggests that peoples genes are key to helping them stay slim a study from cambridge university in the uk discovered that thin people had dna that contained variants which helped them stay slim and fewer variants linked to being overweight researcher sadaf farooqi professor of metabolism and medicine said weve found that there are genes associated with thinness she added genes play at least 40 per cent of a role in peoples weight its much more than people realize this might help explain why some people are naturally skinny while others have big problems with keeping their weight down and seem to pile on the pounds so easily

    the study is published in the journal plos genetics the researchers said they undertook the study to find out why so many people struggle with their weight over 30 per cent of american adults are obese while a staggering 945 per cent of adults on the south pacific island of nauru are overweight professor farooqi said she wanted to help people who are struggling with their weight she said its easy to rush to judgment and criticize people for their weight but the science shows that things are far more complex she added healthy thin people are generally thin because they have a lower burden of genes that increase a persons chances of being overweight and not because they are morally superior

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Newresearchsuggeststhatpeople'sgenesarekeytohelpingthemstays
    lim.AstudyfromCambridgeUniversityintheU.K.discoveredthatthinpe
    oplehadDNAthatcontainedvariantswhichhelpedthemstayslimandfe
    wervariantslinkedtobeingoverweight.ResearcherSadafFarooqi,prof
    essorofmetabolismandmedicine,said:"We'vefoundthattherearegen
    esassociatedwiththinness."Sheadded:"Genesplayatleast40percent
    ofaroleinpeople'sweight.It'smuchmorethanpeoplerealize."Thismigh
    thelpexplainwhysomepeoplearenaturallyskinnywhileothershavebig
    problemswithkeepingtheirweightdownandseemtopileonthepoundss
    oeasily.ThestudyispublishedinthejournalPLOSGenetics.Theresearc
    herssaidtheyundertookthestudytofindoutwhysomanypeoplestruggl
    ewiththeirweight.Over30percentofAmericanadultsareobese,whilea
    staggering94.5percentofadultsontheSouthPacificislandofNauruare
    overweight.ProfessorFarooqisaidshewantedtohelppeoplewhoarestr
    ugglingwiththeirweight.Shesaid:"It'seasytorushtojudgmentandcriti
    cizepeoplefortheirweight,butthescienceshowsthatthingsarefarmore
    complex."Sheadded:"Healthy,thinpeoplearegenerallythinbecauset
    heyhavealowerburdenofgenesthatincreaseaperson'schancesofbein
    goverweightandnotbecausetheyaremorallysuperior."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Obesity is one of the biggest dangers in the world. 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 story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. STAYING SLIM: Make a poster about staying slim. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. GENETIC ENGINEERING: Write a magazine article about engineering genes so we can all stay slim. 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 staying slim. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to stay slim. 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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