The Reading / Listening - Wooden Knives - Level 6

In the near future, the world's top chefs may be using knives made from wood. This may seem somewhat counter-intuitive, but materials scientists have created a wooden knife that is three times sharper than the stainless steel knives we use for dinner. The scientists are from the University of Maryland in the USA. Researcher Teng Li said wooden knives would complement the assortment of wooden utensils currently found in kitchens across the world. He said: "In our kitchen, we have many wooden things that we use for a very long time, like a cutting board, chopsticks, or a rolling pin. These new knives can also be used many times if you resurface them, sharpen them and perform the same regular upkeep."

Traditionally, knives have been made of steel or ceramics. The scientists improved the strength of the wood in their knives by enhancing the cellulose it contains. Cellulose is the main constituent of wood. It has a higher ratio of strength to density than most engineered materials, like steel and ceramics. Teng Li said the new cutting material is hardened to the extent that it can effortlessly slice through the toughest steak. There is an added advantage of wooden knives – they are environmentally friendly. They could end our dependence on plastic cutlery. The scientists have also developed wooden nails, which could be a boon to the building industry as they will not rust and weaken like conventional nails.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Wooden Knives - Level 4  or  Wooden Knives - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.cnet.com/news/scientists-made-a-wooden-knife-thats-three-times-sharper-than-steel-blades/
  • https://www.slashgear.com/hardened-wood-knife-boasts-three-times-the-sharpness-of-stainless-steel-21696201/
  • https://www.iflscience.com/technology/hardened-wood-steak-knife-is-three-times-as-sharp-as-a-steel-one/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. WOOD: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about wood. 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?
       future / chefs / wood / knives / dinner / kitchens / chopsticks / rolling pin / sharpen /
       steel / ceramics / strength / cellulose / density / ratio / steak / plastic / cutlery / rust
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. END OF STEEL: Students A strongly believe wooden knives will mean the end of steel knives; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. WOODEN THINGS: How practical or good are these wooden things? Would they have a future? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Practical / Good

A Future

Knives

 

 

Cars

 

 

Smartphones

 

 

Cups

 

 

Bath tubs

 

 

Bicycles

 

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

  • Knife
  • Chopsticks
  • Colander
  • Spoon
  • Egg slicer
  • Corkscrew
  • Can opener
  • Potato peeler

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. counter-intuitive a. A varied set or collection of things or people.
      2. stainless steel b. Going against our common-sense expectations (but often nevertheless true).
      3. complement c. Add to something in a way that improves it; make perfect.
      4. assortment d. A solid cylinder used to flatten or shape pastry or dough.
      5. utensil e. The process of keeping something in good condition.
      6. rolling pin f. A form of metal that is resistant to tarnishing and rust.
      7. upkeep g. A container, tool, or other article, especially for household use.

    Paragraph 2

      8. ceramics h. A part of something.
      9. enhancing i. Based on or in accordance with what is generally done.
      10. cellulose j. The degree of compactness of a substance.
      11. constituent k. A substance which is the main constituent of plant cell walls and of vegetable fibers such as cotton and wood.
      12. ratio l. The relation between two amounts showing the number of times one value contains or is contained within the other.
      13. density m. Pots and other articles made from clay that is hardened by heat.
      14. conventional n. Increasing, or further improving the quality, value, or extent of.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. All chefs will be using wooden knives from later this year.     T / F
  2. A new wooden knife is three times sharper than steel knives.     T / F
  3. A researcher said all kitchen utensils will be made from wood.     T / F
  4. The researcher said wooden knives would not last a long time.     T / F
  5. Knives are usually made of steel or ceramics.     T / F
  6. The main constituent of wood is something called cellulose.     T / F
  7. Wooden knives are not environmentally friendly.     T / F
  8. The researchers have also developed wooden nails.     T / F

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

  1. top
  2. counter
  3. complement
  4. utensils
  5. upkeep
  6. enhancing
  7. density
  8. dependence
  9. rust
  10. conventional
  1. tools
  2. increasing
  3. maintenance
  4. contrary to
  5. traditional
  6. reliance
  7. leading
  8. corrode
  9. accompany
  10. solidity

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

  1. In the
  2. This may seem somewhat counter-
  3. complement the assortment
  4. a rolling
  5. perform the same regular
  6. There is an added
  7. they are environmentally
  8. end our dependence
  9. a boon to
  10. rust and
  1. the building industry
  2. of wooden utensils
  3. upkeep
  4. weaken
  5. intuitive
  6. friendly
  7. near future
  8. advantage
  9. on plastic cutlery
  10. pin

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
sharper
cutting
near
utensils
upkeep
counter
pin
complement

In the (1) _____________________ future, the world's top chefs may be using knives made from wood. This may seem somewhat (2) _____________________ -intuitive, but materials scientists have created a wooden knife that is three times (3) _____________________ than the stainless steel knives we use for dinner. The scientists are from the University of Maryland in the USA. Researcher Teng Li said wooden knives would (4) _____________________ the assortment of wooden (5) _____________________ currently found in kitchens across the world. He said: "In our kitchen, we have many wooden things that we use for a very long time, like a (6) _____________________ board, chopsticks, or a rolling (7) _____________________. These new knives can also be used many times if you resurface them, sharpen them and perform the same regular (8) _____________________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
ratio
boon
hardened
ceramics
dependence
strength
rust
advantage

Traditionally, knives have been made of steel or (9) _____________________. The scientists improved the (10) _____________________ of the wood in their knives by enhancing the cellulose it contains. Cellulose is the main constituent of wood. It has a higher (11) _____________________ of strength to density than most engineered materials, like steel and ceramics. Teng Li said the new cutting material is (12) _____________________ to the extent that it can effortlessly slice through the toughest steak. There is an added (13) _____________________ of wooden knives – they are environmentally friendly. They could end our (14) _____________________ on plastic cutlery. The scientists have also developed wooden nails, which could be a (15) _____________________ to the building industry as they will not (16) _____________________ and weaken like conventional nails.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  chefs may be using knives made from wood. This may seem ______
     a.  somewhat country-intuitive
     b.  somewhat counter-intuitive
     c.  somewhat counters-intuitive
     d.  somewhat countered-intuitive
2)  created a wooden knife that is three times sharper than the ______
     a.  stain less steely knives
     b.  stained steal knives
     c.  stainless steel knife
     d.  stainless steel knives
3)  wooden knives would complement the assortment ______
     a.  of wooden your tonsils
     b.  of wooden your tensile
     c.  of wooden utensils
     d.  of wooden your ten sills
4)  things that we use for a very long time, like a cutting board, chopsticks, or ______
     a.  a rolling pin
     b.  a rolling bin
     c.  a rolling sin
     d.  a rolling din
5)  if you resurface them, sharpen them and perform the ______
     a.  same regular at keep
     b.  same regular upper keep
     c.  same regular upkeep
     d.  same regular keep

6)  Traditionally, knives have been made of ______
     a.  steel nor ceramics
     b.  steel of ceramics
     c.  steel or ceramics
     d.  steel law ceramics
7)  It has a higher ratio of strength to density than most ______
     a.  engineers' materials
     b.  engineering materials
     c.  engineered materials
     d.  engineer materials
8)  hardened to the extent that it can effortlessly slice through ______
     a.  the toughest steak
     b.  the toughies steak
     c.  the tough fest steak
     d.  the tar fest steak
9)  They could end our dependence ______
     a.  in plastic cutlery
     b.  at plastic cutlery
     c.  on plastic cutlery
     d.  off plastic cutlery
10)  developed wooden nails, which could be a boon to the building industry as they ______
     a.  will not rust
     b.  will not adjust
     c.  will not trust
     d.  will not lust

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

In the near future, the world's (1) ____________________ be using knives made from wood. This may seem somewhat counter-intuitive, but materials scientists have created a wooden knife that is (2) ____________________ than the stainless steel knives we use for dinner. The scientists are from the University of Maryland in the USA. Researcher Teng Li said wooden knives would complement (3) ____________________ wooden utensils currently found in kitchens across the world. He said: "In our kitchen, we have many wooden things that we use for a (4) ____________________, like a cutting board, chopsticks, or (5) ____________________. These new knives can also be used many times if you resurface them, sharpen them and perform the (6) ____________________."

Traditionally, knives have been made of steel or ceramics. The scientists (7) ____________________ of the wood in their knives by enhancing the cellulose it contains. Cellulose is the (8) ____________________ wood. It has a higher ratio of strength (9) ____________________ most engineered materials, like steel and ceramics. Teng Li said the new cutting material is hardened to the extent that it (10) ____________________ through the toughest steak. There is an added advantage of wooden knives – they are environmentally friendly. They could end our dependence on plastic cutlery. The scientists have also developed wooden nails, which could (11) ____________________ to the building industry as they will not (12) ____________________ like conventional nails.

Comprehension questions

  1. When might many top chefs be using knives made from wood?
  2. How many times sharper than steel knives are the wooden knives?
  3. What did a researcher say the wooden knives would complement?
  4. What kind of pin did the researcher talk about?
  5. How many times can the wooden knives be used?
  6. What is the main constituent of wood?
  7. What can the wooden knives cut without effort?
  8. What could wooden knives end our reliance on?
  9. What could wooden nails be a boon to?
  10. What does the article say wooden nails do not do?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  When might many top chefs be using knives made from wood?
a) next week
b) in the near future
c) later this decade
d) within 20 years
2)  How many times sharper than steel knives are the wooden knives?
a) 6
b) 5
c) 4
d) 3
3) What did a researcher say the wooden knives would complement?
a) our kitchen utensils
b) our dinner tables
c) the taste of food
d) the chef
4) What kind of pin did the researcher talk about?
a) a hair pin
b) a bowling pin
c) a rolling pin
d) a sewing pin
5) How many times can the wooden knives be used?
a) a few times
b) many times
c) countless times
d) over 1,000 times

6) What is the main constituent of wood?
a) cellulose
b) pulp
c) bark
d) photosynthesis
7) What can the wooden knives cut without effort?
a) pumpkin
b) steel
c) steak
d) coconuts
8) What could wooden knives end our reliance on?
a) plastic cutlery
b) fossil fuels
c) trees
d) fast food
9) What could wooden nails be a boon to?
a) the building industry
b) chefs
c) restaurants
d) forests
10) What does the article say wooden nails do not do?
a) buckle
b) bend and break
c) change colour
d) rust and weaken

Role play

Role  A – Knife
You think a knife is the most essential utensil. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their utensils. Also, tell the others which is the least essential of these (and why): chopsticks, a corkscrew or a can opener.

Role  B – Chopsticks
You think chopsticks are the most essential utensil. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their utensils. Also, tell the others which is the least essential of these (and why): a knife, a corkscrew or a can opener.

Role  C – Corkscrew
You think a corkscrew is the most essential utensil. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their utensils. Also, tell the others which is the least essential of these (and why): chopsticks, a knife or a can opener.

Role  D – Can Opener
You think a can opener is the most essential utensil. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their utensils. Also, tell the others which is the least essential of these (and why): chopsticks, a corkscrew or a knife.

After reading / listening

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

'wood'

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

    • and 'knife'.

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

    • • 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:

    • near
    • three
    • utensils
    • long
    • pin
    • upkeep
    • improved
    • main
    • ratio
    • slice
    • end
    • rust

    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 - Wooden Knives

    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 'wood'?
    3. What do you think of wooden knives?
    4. Would you prefer to use a wooden or a steel knife?
    5. What do you think of wooden knives being sharper than steel ones?
    6. What kinds of kitchen utensils do you have?
    7. How often do you use a cutting board or rolling pin?
    8. How do you look after your knives?
    9. How important is a sharp kitchen knife?
    10. Which is better - chopsticks or a knife and fork?

    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 'knife'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about cellulose?
    5. Do you think we will stop using stainless steel in the future?
    6. Are wooden knives environmentally friendly?
    7. Do you need a very sharp knife when you eat?
    8. What do you think of plastic cutlery?
    9. Would you trust wooden nails?
    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)

    In the (1) ____ future, the world's top chefs may be using knives made from wood. This may seem somewhat (2) ____-intuitive, but materials scientists have created a wooden knife that is three times sharper than the stainless steel knives we use for dinner. The scientists are from the University of Maryland in the USA. Researcher Teng Li said wooden knives would complement the (3) ____ of wooden (4) ____ currently found in kitchens across the world. He said: "In our kitchen, we have many wooden things that we use for a very long time, like a cutting board, chopsticks, or a rolling (5) ____. These new knives can also be used many times if you resurface them, sharpen them and perform the same regular (6) ____."

    Traditionally, knives have been made of steel or ceramics. The scientists improved the strength of the wood in their knives by (7) ____ the cellulose it contains. Cellulose is the main constituent of wood. It has a higher ratio (8) ____ strength to density than most engineered materials, like steel and ceramics. Teng Li said the new cutting material is hardened to the (9) ____ that it can effortlessly slice through the toughest steak. There is an (10) ____ advantage of wooden knives – they are environmentally friendly. They could end our dependence (11) ____ plastic cutlery. The scientists have also developed wooden nails, which could be a (12) ____ to the building industry as they will not rust and weaken like conventional nails.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     nears     (b)     near     (c)     nearly     (d)     neared    
    (a)     counting     (b)     counter     (c)     counts     (d)     count    
    (a)     regiment     (b)     full     (c)     division     (d)     assortment    
    (a)     usefulness     (b)     utensils     (c)     utility     (d)     utter    
    (a)     badge     (b)     skittle     (c)     needle     (d)     pin    
    (a)     oncoming     (b)     upbeat     (c)     upkeep     (d)     downbeat    
    (a)     enhancing     (b)     calculating     (c)     catching     (d)     overhauling    
    (a)     to     (b)     on     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    (a)     toughen     (b)     hard     (c)     volume     (d)     extent    
    (a)     added     (b)     additionally     (c)     add     (d)     adds    
    (a)     on     (b)     of     (c)     up     (d)     by    
    (a)     boon     (b)     boom     (c)     boot     (d)     book

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. This may seem somewhat counter-tveintiui
    2. sstesalni steel knives
    3. complement the sanotmsret
    4. wooden sneilsut
    5. if you uesarcefr them
    6. perform the same regular epekup

    Paragraph 2

    1. made of steel or arcsecmi
    2. enhancing the oeleulcls it contains
    3. a higher ratio of strength to dytisen
    4. They could end our npnddeeeec
    5. plastic tucreyl
    6. weaken like ietcoanonvln nails

    Put the text back together

    (...)  sharper than the stainless steel knives we use for dinner. The scientists are from the University of Maryland
    (...)  and ceramics. Teng Li said the new cutting material is hardened to the extent that it can effortlessly slice
    (...)  can also be used many times if you resurface them, sharpen them and perform the same regular upkeep."
    (...)  very long time, like a cutting board, chopsticks, or a rolling pin. These new knives
    (  1  ) In the near future, the world's top chefs may be using knives made from wood. This may seem
    (...)  be a boon to the building industry as they will not rust and weaken like conventional nails.
    (...)  through the toughest steak. There is an added advantage of wooden knives – they are environmentally
    (...)  of the wood in their knives by enhancing the cellulose it contains. Cellulose is the main
    (...)  somewhat counter-intuitive, but materials scientists have created a wooden knife that is three times
    (...)  constituent of wood. It has a higher ratio of strength to density than most engineered materials, like steel
    (...)  in the USA. Researcher Teng Li said wooden knives would complement the assortment of wooden utensils currently
    (...)  found in kitchens across the world. He said: "In our kitchen, we have many wooden things that we use for a
    (...)  friendly. They could end our dependence on plastic cutlery. The scientists have also developed wooden nails, which could
    (  )  Traditionally, knives have been made of steel or ceramics. The scientists improved the strength

    Put the words in the right order

    1. knives   Chefs   from   be   using   may   wood   .   made
    2. scientists   knife   .   created   a   Materials   wooden   have
    3. knives   the   would   complement  of   Wooden  assortment   utensils   .
    4. things   we   have   that   many   We   wooden   use   .
    5. new   can   many   These   knives   used   times   .   be
    6. have   knives   of   Traditionally,   steel   .   made   been
    7. a   has   higher   It   strength   density   to   ratio   .
    8. end   They   could   plastic   our   on   cutlery   .   dependence
    9. a   building   the   boon   to   This   is   industry   .
    10. like   Rust   conventional   nails   .   and   many   weaken

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    In the near / nearly future, the world's top chefs may be using knives made from wood. This may seem something / somewhat counter-intuitive, but materialistic / materials scientists have created a wooden knife that is three times sharper / sharpened than the stainless steel knives we use for dinner. The scientists are from the University of Maryland in the USA. Researcher Teng Li said wooden knives would complement / compliment the assortment of wooden utensils currently found in kitchens crossing / across the world. He said: "In our kitchen, we have many woody / wooden things that we use for a very long time, like a cutting board, chopsticks, or a strolling / rolling pin. These new knives can also be used many times if you suffice / resurface them, sharpen them and perform the same regular uptake / upkeep."

    Traditionally, knives have been made of steel or ceramics. The scientists improved the strengthen / strength of the wood in their knives by enhancing the cellulose it containing / contains. Cellulose is the main constituent / constituency of wood. It has a higher ratio of strength to dense / density than most engineered materials, like steel and ceramics. Teng Li said the new cutting / cut material is hardened to the extent that it can effortlessly sluice / slice through the toughest steak. There is an added / addition advantage of wooden knives – they are environmentally friendly. They could end our independence / dependence on plastic cutlery. The scientists have also developed wooden nails, which could be a boon / boom to the building industry as they will not rust / lust and weaken like conventional nails.

    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  th_  n__r  f_t_r_,  th_  w_rld's  t_p  ch_fs  m_y  b_  _s_ng  kn_v_s  m_d_  fr_m  w__d.  Th_s  m_y  s__m  s_m_wh_t  c__nt_r-_nt__t_v_,  b_t  m_t_r__ls  sc__nt_sts  h_v_  cr__t_d  _  w__d_n  kn_f_  th_t  _s  thr__  t_m_s  sh_rp_r  th_n  th_  st__nl_ss  st__l  kn_v_s  w_  _s_  f_r  d_nn_r.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  _r_  fr_m  th_  _n_v_rs_ty  _f  M_ryl_nd  _n  th_  _S_.  R_s__rch_r  T_ng  L_  s__d  w__d_n  kn_v_s  w__ld  c_mpl_m_nt  th_  _ss_rtm_nt  _f  w__d_n  _t_ns_ls  c_rr_ntly  f__nd  _n  k_tch_ns  _cr_ss  th_  w_rld.  H_  s__d:  "_n  __r  k_tch_n,  w_  h_v_  m_ny  w__d_n  th_ngs  th_t  w_  _s_  f_r  _  v_ry  l_ng  t_m_,  l_k_  _  c_tt_ng  b__rd,  ch_pst_cks,  _r  _  r_ll_ng  p_n.  Th_s_  n_w  kn_v_s  c_n  _ls_  b_  _s_d  m_ny  t_m_s  _f  y__  r_s_rf_c_  th_m,  sh_rp_n  th_m  _nd  p_rf_rm  th_  s_m_  r_g_l_r  _pk__p."

    Tr_d_t__n_lly,  kn_v_s  h_v_  b__n  m_d_  _f  st__l  _r  c_r_m_cs.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  _mpr_v_d  th_  str_ngth  _f  th_  w__d  _n  th__r  kn_v_s  by  _nh_nc_ng  th_  c_ll_l_s_  _t  c_nt__ns.  C_ll_l_s_  _s  th_  m__n  c_nst_t_ _nt  _f  w__d.  _t  h_s  _  h_gh_r  r_t__  _f  str_ngth  t_  d_ns_ty  th_n  m_st  _ng_n__r_d  m_t_r__ls,  l_k_  st__l  _nd  c_r_m_cs.  T_ng  L_  s__d  th_  n_w  c_tt_ng  m_t_r__l  _s  h_rd_n_d  t_  th_  _xt_nt  th_t  _t  c_n  _ff_rtl_ssly  sl_c_  thr__gh  th_  t__gh_st  st__k.  Th_r_  _s  _n  _dd_d  _dv_nt_g_  _f  w__d_n  kn_v_s  –  th_y  _r_  _nv_r_nm_nt_lly  fr__ndly.  Th_y  c__ld  _nd  __r  d_p_nd_nc_  _n  pl_st_c  c_tl_ry.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  h_v_  _ls_  d_v_l_p_d  w__d_n  n__ls,  wh_ch  c__ld  b_  _  b__n  t_  th_  b__ld_ng  _nd_stry  _s  th_y  w_ll  n_t  r_st  _nd  w__k_n  l_k_  c_nv_nt__n_l  n__ls.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    in the near future the worlds top chefs may be using knives made from wood this may seem somewhat counterintuitive but materials scientists have created a wooden knife that is three times sharper than the stainless steel knives we use for dinner the scientists are from the university of maryland in the usa researcher teng li said wooden knives would complement the assortment of wooden utensils currently found in kitchens across the world he said in our kitchen we have many wooden things that we use for a very long time like a cutting board chopsticks or a rolling pin these new knives can also be used many times if you resurface them sharpen them and perform the same regular upkeep

    traditionally knives have been made of steel or ceramics the scientists improved the strength of the wood in their knives by enhancing the cellulose it contains cellulose is the main constituent of wood it has a higher ratio of strength to density than most engineered materials like steel and ceramics teng li said the new cutting material is hardened to the extent that it can effortlessly slice through the toughest steak there is an added advantage of wooden knives  they are environmentally friendly they could end our dependence on plastic cutlery the scientists have also developed wooden nails which could be a boon to the building industry as they will not rust and weaken like conventional nails

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Inthenearfuture,theworld'stopchefsmaybeusingknivesmadefromw
    ood.Thismayseemsomewhatcounter-intuitive,butmaterialsscienti
    stshavecreatedawoodenknifethatisthreetimessharperthanthestainl
    esssteelknivesweusefordinner.ThescientistsarefromtheUniversityof
    MarylandintheUSA.ResearcherTengLisaidwoodenkniveswouldcomp
    lementtheassortmentofwoodenutensilscurrentlyfoundinkitchensacr
    osstheworld.Hesaid:"Inourkitchen,wehavemanywoodenthingsthat
    weuseforaverylongtime,likeacuttingboard,chopsticks,orarollingpin.
    Thesenewknivescanalsobeusedmanytimesifyouresurfacethem,shar
    penthemandperformthesameregularupkeep."Traditionally,knivesh
    avebeenmadeofsteelorceramics.Thescientistsimprovedthestrength
    ofthewoodintheirknivesbyenhancingthecelluloseitcontains.Cellulos
    eisthemainconstituentofwood.Ithasahigherratioofstrengthtodensit
    ythanmostengineeredmaterials,likesteelandceramics.TengLisaidth
    enewcuttingmaterialishardenedtotheextentthatitcaneffortlesslyslic
    ethroughthetougheststeak.Thereisanaddedadvantageofwoodenkni
    ves–theyareenvironmentallyfriendly.Theycouldendourdependen
    ceonplasticcutlery.Thescientistshavealsodevelopedwoodennails,wh
    ichcouldbeaboontothebuildingindustryastheywillnotrustandweaken
    likeconventionalnails.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Wooden knives are better than steel knives. 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. WOOD: Make a poster about wood. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. WOODEN UTENSILS: Write a magazine article about replacing steel utensils with wooden ones. 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 wood. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can use it more. 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

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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