The Reading / Listening - Wasabi - Level 6

A woman ended up in hospital after eating a large amount of the spicy condiment wasabi by mistake. The 60-year-old woman was attending a wedding reception in Israel. She mistakenly ate around a teaspoon of the spicy green paste, believing it to be an avocado-based dip. Her taste buds got the shock of their lives when the spices in the wasabi started working on her tongue and nose. The woman said that within minutes she felt pressure in her chest and tingling all over her arms. She went to hospital the following day, where she was diagnosed with "broken-heart syndrome". This is a term for symptoms that are similar to a heart attack following physical or emotional distress.

Doctors said the woman was struck with a condition known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, which typically affects older women. It is also called "broken-heart syndrome". The heart's main pumping chamber weakens and suffers a "temporary disruption" so that it cannot pump blood properly. It is usually brought on by life-altering and shocking events such as financial troubles, serious traffic accidents or bad news. The syndrome is not as serious as a real heart attack. Most patients fully recover within a month. Doctors said: "To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of takotsubo cardiomyopathy triggered by wasabi consumption." They reassured sushi lovers that wasabi is not dangerous.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Wasabi - Level 4  or  Wasabi - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.foxnews.com/health/wasabi-avocado-broken-heart-syndrome
  • https://www.livescience.com/wasabi-triggers-broken-heart-syndrome.html
  • https://www.aol.com/article/news/2019/09/25/broken-heart-syndrome-woman-hospitalized-wasabi-avocado-bmj-case/23820053/


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. WASABI: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about wasabi. 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?
       hospital / spicy / condiment / wedding / avocado / dip / taste buds / pressure / distress
       condition / broken heart / blood / pump / traffic accident / recover / sushi / wasabi
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. CONDIMENT: Students A strongly believe wasabi is the best condiment; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. TASTE BUDS: How important are these tastes to you? What are the best foods for each one Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How important?

Best Foods

Sweet

 

 

Sour

 

 

Bitter

 

 

Spicy

 

 

Umami

 

 

Salty

 

 
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. MISTAKE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "mistake". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. CONDIMENTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best condiments at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • wasabi
  • salt
  • garlic sauce
  • ketchup
  • mustard
  • salsa
  • sour cream
  • vinegar

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. condiment a. A thick sauce in which pieces of food are dunked before eating.
      2. paste b. Identified the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.
      3. dip c. A substance such as salt or ketchup that is used to add flavor to food.
      4. taste buds d. A thick, soft, moist substance or sauce.
      5. tingling e. The nerve endings on the tongue that tell us if food is salty, sweet, sour, tasty, etc.
      6. diagnosed f. A slight prickling, electricity or stinging sensation.
      7. distress g. Extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

    Paragraph 2

      8. condition h. Caused by a particular action, process, or situation.
      9. typically i. An illness or other medical problem.
      10. syndrome j. Lasting for only a limited period of time; not permanent.
      11. temporary k. The eating, drinking, or ingesting of something.
      12. triggered l. In most cases; usually.
      13. consumption m. Said or did something to remove the doubts and fears of someone.
      14. reassured n. A group of symptoms which consistently occur together, or a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. A woman ate a large amount of wasabi as a joke.     T / F
  2. The woman ate around a teaspoon of wasabi.     T / F
  3. The woman felt pressure in her legs and her chest tingled.     T / F
  4. The woman was rushed to hospital five minutes after eating the wasabi.  T / F
  5. The woman's condition usually affects women in their twenties.     T / F
  6. Broken-heart syndrome affects the way the heart pumps the blood.     T / F
  7. Broken-heart syndrome patients usually get better within a month.     T / F
  8. Doctors told people who love sushi that wasabi is not dangerous.     T / F

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

  1. amount
  2. shock
  3. syndrome
  4. term
  5. distress
  6. typically
  7. chamber
  8. troubles
  9. recover
  10. triggered
  1. complex
  2. set off
  3. anguish
  4. normally
  5. ventricle
  6. volume
  7. recuperate
  8. phrase
  9. difficulties
  10. surprise

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

  1. A woman ended
  2. She mistakenly ate around
  3. taste
  4. she felt pressure
  5. physical or emotional
  6. it cannot pump
  7. traffic
  8. Most patients fully recover
  9. To the best
  10. They reassured sushi lovers that
  1. accidents
  2. in her chest
  3. distress
  4. of our knowledge
  5. wasabi is not dangerous
  6. buds
  7. up in hospital
  8. blood properly
  9. within a month
  10. a teaspoon

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
paste
following
ended
distress
mistake
pressure
term
tongue

A woman (1) ____________ up in hospital after eating a large amount of the spicy condiment wasabi by (2) ____________. The 60-year-old woman was attending a wedding reception in Israel. She mistakenly ate around a teaspoon of the spicy green (3) ____________, believing it to be an avocado-based dip. Her taste buds got the shock of their lives when the spices in the wasabi started working on her (4) ____________ and nose. The woman said that within minutes she felt (5) ____________ in her chest and tingling all over her arms. She went to hospital the (6) ____________ day, where she was diagnosed with "broken-heart syndrome". This is a (7) ____________ for symptoms that are similar to a heart attack following physical or emotional (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
recover
weakens
condition
lovers
typically
knowledge
troubles
properly

Doctors said the woman was struck with a (9) ____________ known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, which (10) ____________ affects older women. It is also called "broken-heart syndrome". The heart's main pumping chamber (11) ____________ and suffers a "temporary disruption" so that it cannot pump blood (12) ____________. It is usually brought on by life-altering and shocking events such as financial (13) ____________, serious traffic accidents or bad news. The syndrome is not as serious as a real heart attack. Most patients fully (14) ____________ within a month. Doctors said: "To the best of our (15) ____________, this is the first report of takotsubo cardiomyopathy triggered by wasabi consumption." They reassured sushi (16) ____________ that wasabi is not dangerous.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A woman ended up in hospital after eating a large amount of ______ wasabi...
     a.  the spice condiment
     b.  the spicy condiment
     c.  the spiced condiment
     d.  the spices condiment
2) around a teaspoon of the spicy green paste, believing it to be an ______
     a.  avocado-based dip
     b.  avocado-based clip
     c.  avocado-based blip
     d.  avocado-based drip
3)  The woman said that within minutes she felt pressure in her ______
     a.  chest and tingling
     b.  chest and mingling
     c.  chest and tinkling
     d.  chest and sprinkling
4)  She went to hospital the following day, where she ______
     a.  was diagnose
     b.  was diagnosis
     c.  was diagnoses
     d.  was diagnosed
5)  that are similar to a heart attack following physical or ______
     a.  emotionally distress
     b.  emotional this stress
     c.  emotion all distress
     d.  emotional distress

6)  a condition known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, which typically ______ women
     a.  affects older
     b.  effects older
     c.  infects older
     d.  reflects older
7)  The heart's main pumping chamber weakens and suffers a ______
     a.  temporary distraction
     b.  temporary this eruption
     c.  temporary eruption
     d.  temporary disruption
8)  It is usually brought on by life-altering and shocking events such as ______
     a.  financial travels
     b.  financial rubbles
     c.  financial trebles
     d.  financial troubles
9)  The syndrome is not as serious as a real heart attack. Most patients ______
     a.  fully recovered
     b.  fully recover
     c.  fully recovers
     d.  fully recoverable
10)  Doctors said: To the best of our knowledge, this is ______
     a.  the first reported
     b.  the first reports
     c.  the first report
     d.  the first reporter

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A woman (1) ___________________ hospital after eating a large amount of the spicy condiment wasabi by mistake. The 60-year-old woman was (2) ___________________ reception in Israel. She mistakenly ate around a teaspoon of the (3) ___________________, believing it to be an avocado-based dip. Her taste buds got the shock of their lives when the spices in the wasabi started working on her (4) ___________________. The woman said that within minutes she felt pressure in her chest and tingling all over her arms. She went to hospital (5) ___________________, where she was diagnosed with "broken-heart syndrome". This is a term for symptoms that are similar to a heart (6) ___________________ or emotional distress.

Doctors said the woman was struck with (7) ___________________ as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, which typically affects older women. It is also called "broken-heart syndrome". The heart's main pumping chamber (8) ___________________ a "temporary disruption" so that it cannot pump blood properly. It is usually brought on by life-(9) ___________________ events such as financial troubles, serious traffic accidents or bad news. The (10) ___________________ as serious as a real heart attack. Most patients fully recover within a month. Doctors said: "To the best (11) ___________________, this is the first report of takotsubo cardiomyopathy triggered by wasabi consumption." They reassured (12) ___________________ wasabi is not dangerous.

Comprehension questions

  1. Where did the article say a woman ended up?
  2. How old was the woman?
  3. What did the article say got the shock of their lives?
  4. Where did the woman feel pressure?
  5. When did the woman go to hospital?
  6. Who does broken-heart syndrome usually affect?
  7. What part of the heart does broken-heart syndrome affect?
  8. How long does it usually take to recover from broken-heart syndrome?
  9. How many times before did doctors say wasabi caused this syndrome?
  10. Who did doctors reassure about wasabi not being dangerous?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where did the article say a woman ended up?
a) at the end
b) in another city
c) in hospital
d) in a panic
2) How old was the woman?
a) 60
b) 62
c) 58
d) 52
3) What did the article say got the shock of their lives?
a) the doctors
b) the woman's taste buds
c) waiters at a Japanese restaurant
d) the woman's nostrils
4) Where did the woman feel pressure?
a) on her tongue
b) at work
c) in bed
d) in her chest
5) When did the woman go to hospital?
a) immediately
b) five minutes later
c) the day after eating the wasabi
d) after an hour

6) Who does broken-heart syndrome usually affect?
a) Japanese people
b) older women
c) younger men
d) sushi lovers
7) What part of the heart does broken-heart syndrome affect?
a) the part where the blood comes out
b) the top part
c) the part where the blood goes in
d) the main pumping chamber
8) How long does it usually take to recover from broken-heart syndrome?
a) three days
b) a month or less
c) years
d) a lifetime
9) How many times before did doctors say wasabi caused this syndrome?
a) once
b) none
c) three times
d) twice
10) Who did doctors reassure about wasabi not being dangerous?
a) sushi lovers
b) wasabi farmers
c) wedding guests
d) Japanese people

Role play

Role  A – Wasabi
You think wasabi is the best condiment. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their condiments. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): salt, ketchup or sour cream.

Role  B – Salt
You think salt is the best condiment. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their condiments. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): wasabi, ketchup or sour cream.

Role  C – Ketchup
You think ketchup is the best condiment. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their condiments. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): salt, wasabi or sour cream.

Role  D – Sour Cream
You think sour cream is the best condiment. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their condiments. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): salt, ketchup or wasabi.

After reading / listening

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

'broken'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'heart'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • affects
    • main
    • brought
    • serious
    • fully
    • lovers
    • ended
    • reception
    • dip
    • nose
    • following
    • similar

    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 - Wasabi gives woman broken-heart syndrome

    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 phrase 'broken heart'?
    3. How often have you had a broken heart?
    4. What is the best way to get over a broken heart?
    5. What do you know about wasabi?
    6. What do you think of wasabi?
    7. What is your favorite condiment?
    8. What things excite your taste buds?
    9. How can you keep your heart in good condition?
    10. What advice do you have for the woman?

    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 'wasabi'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What food that you eat could be harmful?
    5. What troubles have you had in your life?
    6. How do you look after your heart?
    7. What three adjectives best describe this story?
    8. What can you do with wasabi?
    9. What do you think of sushi?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a wasabi expert?

    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)

    A woman ended (1) ____ in hospital after eating a large amount of the spicy condiment wasabi (2) ____ mistake. The 60-year-old woman was attending a wedding reception in Israel. She mistakenly ate around a teaspoon of the spicy green (3) ____, believing it to be an avocado-based dip. Her taste (4) ____ got the shock of their lives when the spices in the wasabi started working on her tongue and nose. The woman said that within minutes she felt pressure in her chest and (5) ____ all over her arms. She went to hospital the following day, where she was diagnosed with "broken-heart syndrome". This is a (6) ____ for symptoms that are similar to a heart attack following physical or emotional distress.

    Doctors said the woman was struck with a condition known (7) ____ takotsubo cardiomyopathy, which typically affects older women. It is also called "broken-heart syndrome". The heart's main (8) ____ chamber weakens and suffers a "temporary disruption" so that it cannot pump blood properly. It is usually brought (9) ____ by life-altering and shocking events such as financial troubles, serious traffic accidents or bad news. The syndrome is not as serious as a (10) ____ heart attack. Most patients fully recover within a month. Doctors said: "To the (11) ____ of our knowledge, this is the first report of takotsubo cardiomyopathy triggered by wasabi consumption." They reassured sushi (12) ____ that wasabi is not dangerous.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     up     (b)     down     (c)     over     (d)     across    
    2. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     by     (d)     of    
    3. (a)     bust     (b)     baste     (c)     piste     (d)     paste    
    4. (a)     bids     (b)     buds     (c)     bods     (d)     beds    
    5. (a)     mingling     (b)     shirking     (c)     dangling     (d)     tingling    
    6. (a)     semester     (b)     trimester     (c)     term     (d)     period    
    7. (a)     has     (b)     as     (c)     was     (d)     ease    
    8. (a)     pumping     (b)     sampling     (c)     crimping     (d)     ramming    
    9. (a)     on     (b)     in     (c)     at     (d)     to    
    10. (a)     really     (b)     realistic     (c)     real     (d)     reality    
    11. (a)     vast     (b)     all     (c)     real     (d)     best    
    12. (a)     love-ins     (b)     lovers     (c)     lovelies     (d)     loves

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the spicy codninemt wasabi
    2. attending a wedding recpntieo
    3. ninlggti all over her arms
    4. she was dasedngio
    5. pmtyssom that are similar
    6. physical or emotional idssters

    Paragraph 2

    1. tpicllyay affects older women
    2. a temporary dnopstruii
    3. life-etaglirn and shocking events
    4. serious frcafti accidents
    5. triggered by wasabi tounoismnpc
    6. They asresurde sushi lovers

    Put the text back together

    (...)  our knowledge, this is the first report of takotsubo cardiomyopathy triggered
    (...)  heart attack. Most patients fully recover within a month. Doctors said: "To the best of
    (...)  affects older women. It is also called "broken-heart syndrome". The heart's main pumping chamber weakens and suffers a "temporary
    (...)  to hospital the following day, where she was diagnosed with "broken-heart syndrome". This is a term
    (...)  nose. The woman said that within minutes she felt pressure in her chest and tingling all over her arms. She went
    (...)  buds got the shock of their lives when the spices in the wasabi started working on her tongue and
    (...)  events such as financial troubles, serious traffic accidents or bad news. The syndrome is not as serious as a real
    (...)  Doctors said the woman was struck with a condition known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, which typically
    (...)  teaspoon of the spicy green paste, believing it to be an avocado-based dip. Her taste
    (...)  mistake. The 60-year-old woman was attending a wedding reception in Israel. She mistakenly ate around a
    (...)  disruption" so that it cannot pump blood properly. It is usually brought on by life-altering and shocking
    (...)  by wasabi consumption." They reassured sushi lovers that wasabi is not dangerous.
    (...)  for symptoms that are similar to a heart attack following physical or emotional distress.
    (  1  ) A woman ended up in hospital after eating a large amount of the spicy condiment wasabi by

    Put the words in the right order

    1. the   wasabi   .   condiment   A   spicy   amount   large   of
    2. spicy   the   of   Around   green   teaspoon   paste   .   a
    3. the   their   lives   .   Taste   buds   shock   got   of
    4. her   chest   .   in   felt   pressure   minutes   Within   she
    5. are   that   attack   .   similar   Symptoms   a   to   heart
    6. blood   cannot   that   it   So   pump   properly   .
    7. troubles   .   events   financial   such   shocking   and   Life-altering   as
    8. as   as   Not   heart   attack   .   a   real   serious
    9. fully   within   recover   Most   month   .   a   patients
    10. dangerous   .   that   They   lovers   reassured   wasabi   isn't   sushi

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A woman ended down / up in hospital after eating a large amount of the spicy condiment wasabi by mistaken / mistake. The 60-year-old woman was attending a wedding reception / receiving in Israel. She mistakenly ate around a / the teaspoon of the spicy green paste / baste, believing it to be an avocado-based dip. Her taste bids / buds got the shock of their lives when the spices in the wasabi started working on her tongue and nose. The woman said that wither / within minutes she felt pressure in her chest and tingling every / all over her arms. She went to hospital the following day, where she was diagnosed with "broken-heart syndrome". This is a term / semester for symptoms that are similar to a heart attack follows / following physical or emotional distress.

    Doctors said the woman was struck / stick with a condition known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, which typical / typically affects older women. It is also called "broken-heart syndrome". The heart's mainly / main pumping chamber weakens and suffers a "temporary distraction / disruption" so that it cannot pump blood properly / proper. It is usually brought on by life-altering and shocking events such has / as financial troubles, serious traffic accidents or bad news. The syndrome is not as serious as a real / really heart attack. Most patients fully recover within a month. Doctors said: "To the best of our knowledgeable / knowledge, this is the first report of takotsubo cardiomyopathy triggered by / at wasabi consumption." They reassured sushi lovers / loves that wasabi is not dangerous.

    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)

    A w_m_n _n d_d _p _n h_s p_t_l _f t_r __ t_n g _ l_r g_ _m__ n t _f t h_ s p_c y c_n d_m_n t w_s_b_ b y m_s t_k_. T h_ 6 0 - y__ r -_l d w_m_n w_s _t t_n d_n g _ w_d d_n g r_c_p t__ n _n I s r__ l . S h_ m_s t_k_n l y _t_ _r__ n d _ t__ s p__ n _f t h_ s p_c y g r__ n p_s t_, b_l__ v_n g _t t_ b_ _n _v_c_d_- b_s_d d_p . H_r t_s t_ b_d s g_t t h_ s h_c k _f t h__ r l_v_s w h_n t h_ s p_c_s _n t h_ w_s_b_ s t_r t_d w_r k_n g _n h_r t_n g__ _n d n_s_. T h_ w_m_n s__ d t h_t w_t h_n m_n_t_s s h_ f_l t p r_s s_r_ _n h_r c h_s t _n d t_n g l_n g _l l _v_r h_r _r m s . S h_ w_n t t_ h_s p_t_l t h_ f_l l_w_n g d_y , w h_r_ s h_ w_s d__ g n_s_d w_t h " b r_k_n - h__ r t s y n d r_m_" . T h_s _s _ t_r m f_r s y m p t_m s t h_t _r_ s_m_l_r t_ _ h__ r t _t t_c k f_l l_w_n g p h y s_c_l _r _m_t__ n_l d_s t r_s s .

    D_c t_r s s__ d t h_ w_m_n w_s s t r_c k w_t h _ c_n d_t__ n k n_w n _s t_k_t s_b_ c_r d__ m y_p_t h y , w h_c h t y p_c_l l y _f f_c t s _l d_r w_m_n . I t _s _l s_ c_l l_d " b r_k_n - h__ r t s y n d r_m_" . T h_ h__ r t ' s m__ n p_m p_n g c h_m b_r w__ k_n s _n d s_f f_r s _ " t_m p_r_r y d_s r_p t__ n " s_ t h_t _t c_n n_t p_m p b l__ d p r_p_r l y . I t _s _s__ l l y b r__ g h t _n b y l_f_-_l t_r_n g _n d s h_c k_n g _v_n t s s_c h _s f_n_n c__ l t r__ b l_s , s_r___s t r_f f_c _c c_d_n t s _r b_d n_w s . T h_ s y n d r_m_ _s n_t _s s_r___s _s _ r__ l h__ r t _t t_c k . M_s t p_t__ n t s f_l l y r_c_v_r w_t h_n _ m_n t h . D_c t_r s s__ d : " T_ t h_ b_s t _f __ r k n_w l_d g_, t h_s _s t h_ f_r s t r_p_r t _f t_k_t s_b_ c_r d__ m y_p_t h y t r_g g_r_d b y w_s_b_ c_n s_m p t__ n . " T h_y r__ s s_r_d s_s h_ l_v_r s t h_t w_s_b_ _s n_t d_n g_r__ s .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a woman ended up in hospital after eating a large amount of the spicy condiment wasabi by mistake the 60yearold woman was attending a wedding reception in israel she mistakenly ate around a teaspoon of the spicy green paste believing it to be an avocadobased dip her taste buds got the shock of their lives when the spices in the wasabi started working on her tongue and nose the woman said that within minutes she felt pressure in her chest and tingling all over her arms she went to hospital the following day where she was diagnosed with brokenheart syndrome this is a term for symptoms that are similar to a heart attack following physical or emotional distress

    doctors said the woman was struck with a condition known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy which typically affects older women it is also called brokenheart syndrome the hearts main pumping chamber weakens and suffers a temporary disruption so that it cannot pump blood properly it is usually brought on by lifealtering and shocking events such as financial troubles serious traffic accidents or bad news the syndrome is not as serious as a real heart attack most patients fully recover within a month doctors said to the best of our knowledge this is the first report of takotsubo cardiomyopathy triggered by wasabi consumption they reassured sushi lovers that wasabi is not dangerous

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Awomanendedupinhospitalaftereatingalargeamountofthespicycond
    imentwasabibymistake.The60-year-oldwomanwasattendingawedd
    ingreceptioninIsrael.Shemistakenlyatearoundateaspoonofthespicy
    greenpaste,believingittobeanavocado-baseddip.Hertastebudsgotth
    eshockoftheirliveswhenthespicesinthewasabistartedworkingonhert
    ongueandnose.Thewomansaidthatwithinminutesshefeltpressurein
    herchestandtinglingalloverherarms.Shewenttohospitalthefollowing
    day,whereshewasdiagnosedwith"broken-heartsyndrome".Thisisat
    ermforsymptomsthataresimilartoaheartattackfollowingphysicalore
    motionaldistress.Doctorssaidthewomanwasstruckwithaconditionkn
    ownastakotsubocardiomyopathy,whichtypicallyaffectsolderwomen
    .Itisalsocalled"broken-heartsyndrome".Theheart'smainpumpingc
    hamberweakensandsuffersa"temporarydisruption"sothatitcannotp
    umpbloodproperly.Itisusuallybroughtonbylife-alteringandshockin
    geventssuchasfinancialtroubles,serioustrafficaccidentsorbadnews.
    Thesyndromeisnotasseriousasarealheartattack.Mostpatientsfullyre
    coverwithinamonth.Doctorssaid:"Tothebestofourknowledge,thisist
    hefirstreportoftakotsubocardiomyopathytriggeredbywasabiconsum
    ption."Theyreassuredsushiloversthatwasabiisnotdangerous.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Wasabi is the best condiment we can eat. 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. WASABI: Make a poster about wasabi. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. BROKEN HEART: Write a magazine article about schools teaching us how to mend a broken heart. 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 wasabi. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on wasabi. 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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