Breaking News English Lesson: Intermittent Fasting

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Intermittent fasting could lead to heart problems (8th September 2025)

The Reading / Listening - Intermittent Fasting - Level 6

The Internet abounds with all manner of diets and dietary advice. In recent years, much has been written about the benefits of intermittent fasting. This is confining daily eating to an 8-hour window, leaving a 16-hour gap without any food. Proponents of this dietary regimen say it improves metabolism and assists in cellular repair. However, a new long-term study has cast doubt on its merits. Researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China concluded that people who restricted their eating to fewer than eight hours a day faced a 91 per cent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases than those who ate over 12 to 16 hours.

The researchers analyzed data from about 20,000 adults over a six-year period. Lead researcher Dr Victor Wenze Zhong said he was taken aback by his findings. He said: "We were surprised to find that people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease." He added: "Our study's findings encourage a cautious, personalized approach to dietary recommendations, ensuring they are aligned with an individual's health status and the latest scientific evidence." The Mayo Clinic observed that fasting has been popular for over 1,500 years. It advised that "Intermittent fasting can be safer with supervision from your healthcare team."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Intermittent Fasting - Level 4 or Intermittent Fasting - Level 5

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0l6ye6xe12o
https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/intermittent-fasting-may-be-effective-for-weight-loss-cardiometabolic-health/
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-is-intermittent-fasting-a-helpful-practice-or-health-risk/

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. FASTING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about fasting. 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?
diets / dietary advice / intermittent fasting / metabolism / doubt / cardiovascular /
researcher / eating / surprised / health / scientific evidence / clinic / healthcare
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FASTING: Students A strongly believe fasting is healthy; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DIETS: What do you know about these diets? What do you think of them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Know	What I Think
Intermittent fasting
Vegetarian diet
Vegan diet
Gluten-free diet
Raw-food diet
Low-carb diet

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

Italian
Thai
Mexican
Lebanese
Indian
French
Chinese
Japanese

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	abound	a.	About the heart and blood vessels.
2.	fasting	b.	Keeping someone or something in a small or limited space.
3.	confining	c.	The way the body uses food to make energy.
4.	proponents	d.	Be in very large numbers.
5.	metabolism	e.	Good or useful qualities of something.
6.	merits	f.	Not eating food for a period of time.
7.	cardiovascular	g.	People who support an idea or plan.

Paragraph 2

8.	taken aback	h.	Making sure something happens.
9.	restricted	i.	Put (things) into correct or appropriate relative positions.
10.	cautious	j.	Watching and guiding someone to make sure they do things correctly.
11.	ensuring	k.	Put a limit on; kept under control.
12.	aligned	l.	Facts or information that show something is true.
13.	evidence	m.	Careful to avoid danger or mistakes.
14.	supervision	n.	Surprised in a sudden way.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says there is a dearth of information about diets online. T / F
A lot has been written about intermittent fasting in recent years. T / F
Supporters of intermittent fasting say it's good for the metabolism. T / F
People who do not eat for 16-hour periods are at risk of heart diseases. T / F
Data from than 20,000 adults were used in this study. T / F
The lead researcher was not at all surprised by his findings. T / F
Intermittent fasting started in the late 20th century. T / F
The Mayo Clinic suggested intermittent fasting wasn't safe. T / F

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

abounds
all manner of
confining
doubt
risk
taken aback
cautious
approach
observed
supervision

careful
chance
surprised
noticed
restricting
is full of
guidance
uncertainty
attitude
various

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

The Internet abounds
Proponents
it improves
a new long-term study has cast
a 91 per cent
he was taken
encourage a cautious, personalized
dietary
the latest scientific
supervision from

metabolism
evidence
doubt on its merits
aback by his findings
of this dietary regimen
recommendations
with all manner of diets
your healthcare team
approach
higher risk of dying

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

metabolism
much
faced
concluded
those
abounds
doubt
gap

The Internet (1) _________________________________ with all manner of diets and dietary advice. In recent years, (2) _________________________________ has been written about the benefits of intermittent fasting. This is confining daily eating to an 8-hour window, leaving a 16-hour (3) _________________________________ without any food. Proponents of this dietary regimen say it improves (4) _________________________________ and assists in cellular repair. However, a new long-term study has cast (5) _________________________________ on its merits. Researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China (6) _________________________________ that people who restricted their eating to fewer than eight hours a day (7) _________________________________ a 91 per cent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases than (8) _________________________________ who ate over 12 to 16 hours.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

likely
supervision
cautious
popular
period
ensuring
status
aback

The researchers analyzed data from about 20,000 adults over a six-year (9) _________________________________. Lead researcher Dr Victor Wenze Zhong said he was taken (10) _________________________________ by his findings. He said: "We were surprised to find that people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were more (11) _________________________________ to die from cardiovascular disease." He added: "Our study's findings encourage a (12) _________________________________, personalized approach to dietary recommendations, (13) _________________________________ they are aligned with an individual's health (14) _________________________________ and the latest scientific evidence." The Mayo Clinic observed that fasting has been (15) _________________________________ for over 1,500 years. It advised that "Intermittent fasting can be safer with (16) _________________________________ from your healthcare team."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The Internet abounds with all ______
     a. manner of diet
     b. manners of diets
     c. manner off diets
     d. manner of diets
2) This is confining daily eating to an 8-hour window, leaving ______
     a. a 16-hour gap
     b. a 16-hour gaps
     c. a 16-hour gapped
     d. a 16-hour gasp
3) it improves metabolism and assists ______
     a. at cellular repair
     b. in cellular repair
     c. in cellular repaired
     d. in cellular prepare
4) However, a new long-term study has cast doubt ______
     a. on this merits
     b. onus merits
     c. on it's merits
     d. on its merits
5) faced a 91 per cent higher risk of dying ______
     a. frame cardiovascular diseases
     b. from cardio-muscular diseases
     c. from cardiovascular diseases
     d. from cardiovascular diseased

6) Lead researcher Dr Victor Wenze Zhong said he ______
     a. was taken back
     b. was taken aback
     c. was taken a back
     d. was taken backing
7) people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were more ______
     a. likely to dye
     b. likely to dead
     c. likely to death
     d. likely to die
8) encourage a cautious, personalized approach ______
     a. two dietary recommendations
     b. too dietary recommendations
     c. to dietary recommendation
     d. to dietary recommendations
9) they are aligned with an individual's health status and the ______
     a. latest scientific evidence
     b. latest scientific evidential
     c. late test scientific evidence
     d. late test scientifically evidence
10) It advised that intermittent fasting can be ______
     a. safer at supervision
     b. safer of supervision
     c. safer with supervision
     d. safer on supervision

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The Internet (1) _______________________________________________ manner of diets and dietary advice. In recent years, much has been written about the benefits of intermittent fasting. This (2) _______________________________________________ eating to an 8-hour window, leaving a 16-hour gap without any food. Proponents of this dietary regimen say it (3) _______________________________________________ assists in cellular repair. However, a new long-term study has (4) _______________________________________________ its merits. Researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China concluded that people (5) _______________________________________________ eating to fewer than eight hours a day faced a 91 per cent (6) _______________________________________________ dying from cardiovascular diseases than those who ate over 12 to 16 hours.

The researchers (7) _______________________________________________ about 20,000 adults over a six-year period. Lead researcher Dr Victor Wenze Zhong said he was (8) _______________________________________________ his findings. He said: "We were surprised to find that people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were (9) _______________________________________________ die from cardiovascular disease." He added: "Our study's findings (10) _______________________________________________, personalized approach to dietary recommendations, ensuring they are aligned with an individual's health status and the (11) _______________________________________________." The Mayo Clinic observed that fasting has been popular for over 1,500 years. It advised that "Intermittent fasting can be (12) _______________________________________________ from your healthcare team."

Comprehension questions

What does the internet abound in?
What do proponents of intermittent fasting say it improves?
What do proponents of intermittent fasting say it repairs?
What has cast doubt on the merits of intermittent fasting?
How much greater risk of heart disease might intermittent fasters face?
How long did researchers spend on the study?
What were the lead researcher's feelings towards his research findings?
What kind of approach did the researcher recommend towards fasting?
For how long have people been fasting intermittently?
Who did the Mayo Clinic say people should get supervision from?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the internet abound in?
a) advice about how to repair cells
b) advice about metabolism
c) a range of recipes
d) all manner of diets and dietary advice
2) What do proponents of intermittent fasting say it improves?
a) intelligence
b) metabolism
c) longevity
d) cooking skills
3) What do proponents of intermittent fasting say it repairs?
a) hair loss
b) cholesterol build-up
c) cells
d) memory loss
4) What has cast doubt on the merits of intermittent fasting?
a) a new long-term study
b) intermittent fasters
c) expert chefs
d) a journalist

5) How much greater risk of heart disease might intermittent fasters face?
a) 89%
b) 90%
c) 91%
d) 92%

6) How long did researchers spend on the study?
a) five years
b) six years
c) seven years
d) eight years
7) What were the lead researcher's feelings towards his research findings?
a) confusion
b) horror
c) happiness
d) surprise
8) What kind of approach did the researcher recommend towards fasting?
a) a cautious approach
b) a gung-ho approach
c) a planned approach
d) a healthy approach
9) For how long have people been fasting intermittently?
a) just under 1,500 years
b) exactly 1,500 years
c) over 1,500 years
d) around 1,500 years

10) Who did the Mayo Clinic say people should get supervision from?
a) clinics
b) a healthcare team
c) a chef
d) a nutritionist

Role play

Role A – Italian
You think Chinese cuisine is the best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their cuisine isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): Thai, Mexican or Lebanese.

Role B – Thai
You think Thai cuisine is the best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their cuisine isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): Chinese, Mexican or Lebanese.

Role C – Mexican
You think Mexican cuisine is the best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their cuisine isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): Thai, Chinese or Lebanese.

Role D – Lebanese
You think Lebanese cuisine is the best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their cuisine isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): Thai, Mexican or Chinese.

After reading / listening

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

'diet'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'fasting'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

Internet

recent

improves

merits

concluded

12

20,000

taken

surprised

added

status

safer

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 - Intermittent Fasting

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'diet'?
What diets have you tried?
What are the dangers of diets?
What do you think of fasting?
Is it easy for you to go without food for 16 hours?
What dietary advice would you give to people?
Which is best for health, a diet or exercise?
What do you know about cardiovascular diseases?
What advice do you have for someone wanting to lose weight?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'fasting'?
What do you think about what you read?
How healthy is the food you eat every day?
What changes would you like to make to your diet?
What do you think of the expression 'You are what you eat'?
Do you ever worry about what you eat?
How much do you know about nutrition?
Why has fasting been popular for 1,500 years?
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)

The Internet (1) ____ with all manner of diets and dietary advice. In recent years, (2) ____ has been written about the benefits of intermittent fasting. This is confining daily eating to an 8-hour window, (3) ____ a 16-hour gap without any food. Proponents of this dietary regimen say it improves (4) ____ and assists in cellular repair. However, a new long-term study has cast doubt (5) ____ its merits. Researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China concluded that people who restricted their eating to fewer than eight hours a day (6) ____ a 91 per cent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases than those who ate over 12 to 16 hours.

The researchers analyzed (7) ____ from about 20,000 adults over a six-year period. Lead researcher Dr Victor Wenze Zhong said he was taken (8) ____ by his findings. He said: "We were surprised to find that people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were more (9) ____ to die from cardiovascular disease." He added: "Our study's findings encourage a cautious, personalized approach to dietary recommendations, ensuring they are aligned (10) ____ an individual's health status and the latest scientific evidence." The Mayo Clinic (11) ____ that fasting has been popular for over 1,500 years. It advised that "Intermittent fasting can be safer with supervision (12) ____ your healthcare team."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a)     astounds     (b)     abounds     (c)     aground     (d)     bounds
(a)     many     (b)     much     (c)     some     (d)     any
(a)     left     (b)     leave     (c)     leaves     (d)     leaving
(a)     embolism     (b)     metabolism     (c)     symbolism     (d)     cannibalism
(a)     of     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     to
(a)     headed     (b)     skulled     (c)     faced     (d)     backed
(a)     dative     (b)     datum     (c)     data     (d)     datable
(a)     back     (b)     backing     (c)     aback     (d)     backing
(a)     likes     (b)     liking     (c)     likelihood     (d)     likely
(a)     with     (b)     up     (c)     of     (d)     as
(a)     observed     (b)     watched     (c)     looked     (d)     viewed
(a)     up     (b)     down     (c)     from     (d)     along

Spelling

Paragraph 1

The Internet bnsouda with all manner of diets
This is cngnniofi daily eating
pnotospenr of this
it improves smiltmoeba
assists in elrlcula repair
people who ttiederrcs their eating

Paragraph 2

he was taken aabck
a caiusotu, personalized approach
dityrea recommendations
ingalde with an individual's health status
the latest scientific icenvede
safer with nssorpieviu

Put the text back together

(    )   1,500 years. It advised that "Intermittent fasting can be safer with supervision from your healthcare team."
(    )   about the benefits of intermittent fasting. This is confining daily eating to an 8-hour window, leaving a 16-hour
(    )   approach to dietary recommendations, ensuring they are aligned with an individual's health status and the latest
(    )   from cardiovascular diseases than those who ate over 12 to 16 hours.
(    )   gap without any food. Proponents of this dietary regimen say it improves metabolism and assists in cellular
(    )   likely to die from cardiovascular disease." He added: "Our study's findings encourage a cautious, personalized
(    )   repair. However, a new long-term study has cast doubt on its merits. Researchers at the
(    )   researcher Dr Victor Wenze Zhong said he was taken aback by his findings. He said: "We were surprised
(    )   scientific evidence." The Mayo Clinic observed that fasting has been popular for over
(    )   Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China concluded that people who restricted
( 1 ) The Internet abounds with all manner of diets and dietary advice. In recent years, much has been written
(    )   The researchers analyzed data from about 20,000 adults over a six-year period. Lead
(    )   their eating to fewer than eight hours a day faced a 91 per cent higher risk of dying
(    )   to find that people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were more

Put the words in the right order

The abounds Internet manner with all of diets .
This 8-hour to confining an window eating is .
Proponents metabolism improves it this say of .
A merits doubt study cast on long-term its .
A diseases risk dying cardiovascular from higher of .
He findings his was aback by taken .
Our personalized findings cautious, a approach study's encourage .
They individual's aligned are status health with an .
Fasting been for years over has popular 1,500 .
Intermittent safer be with supervision fasting can .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The Internet abets / abounds with all manner of diets and dietary advice. In recent years, much has been written about the benefits of intermittent fasting. This is refining / confining daily eating to an 8-hour window, leaving a 16-hour gap / crevice without any food. Opponents / Proponents of this dietary regimen say it improves metabolism and assists in cellular disrepair / repair. However, a new long-term study has caste / cast doubt on its merits. Researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China concluded that people whom / who restricted their eating as / to fewer than eight hours a day faced / headed a 91 per cent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases than those / them who ate over 12 to 16 hours.

The researchers analyzed datum / data from about 20,000 adults over a six-year period. Lead researcher Dr Victor Wenze Zhong said he was taken aback / back by his findings. He said: "We were surprising / surprised to find that people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eaten / eating schedule were more likely / likelihood to die from cardiovascular disease." He added: "Our study's findings discourage / encourage a cautious, personalized approach to dietary recommendations, ensuring they are aligned up / with an individual's health status and the latest scientific evidence / evidential." The Mayo Clinic observed that / what fasting has been popular for over 1,500 years. It advised that "Intermittent fasting can be safer with supervision from your healthcare / healthy team."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ _nt_rn_t _b__nds w_th _ll m_nn_r _f d__ts _nd d__t_ry _dv_c_. _n r_c_nt y__rs, m_ch h_s b__n wr_tt_n _b__t th_ b_n_f_ts _f _nt_rm_tt_nt f_st_ng. Th_s _s c_nf_n_ng d__ly __t_ng t_ _n 8-h__r w_nd_w, l__v_ng _ 16-h__r g_p w_th__t _ny f__d. Pr_p_n_nts _f th_s d__t_ry r_g_m_n s_y _t _mpr_v_s m_t_b_l_sm _nd _ss_sts _n c_ll_l_r r_p__r. H_w_v_r, _ n_w l_ng-t_rm st_dy h_s c_st d__bt _n _ts m_r_ts. R_s__rch_rs _t th_ Sh_ngh__ J___ T_ng _n_v_rs_ty Sch__l _f M_d_c_n_ _n Ch_n_ c_ncl_d_d th_t p__pl_ wh_ r_str_ct_d th__r __t_ng t_ f_w_r th_n __ght h__rs _ d_y f_c_d _ 91 p_r c_nt h_gh_r r_sk _f dy_ng fr_m c_rd__v_sc_l_r d_s__s_s th_n th_s_ wh_ _t_ _v_r 12 t_ 16 h__rs.

Th_ r_s__rch_rs _n_lyz_d d_t_ fr_m _b__t 20,000 _d_lts _v_r _ s_x-y__r p_r__d. L__d r_s__rch_r Dr V_ct_r W_nz_ Zh_ng s__d h_ w_s t_k_n _b_ck by h_s f_nd_ngs. H_ s__d: "W_ w_r_ s_rpr_s_d t_ f_nd th_t p__pl_ wh_ f_ll_w_d _n __ght-h__r, t_m_-r_str_ct_d __t_ng sch_d_l_ w_r_ m_r_ l_k_ly t_ d__ fr_m c_rd__v_sc_l_r d_s__s_." H_ _dd_d: "__r st_dy's f_nd_ngs _nc__r_g_ _ c__t___s, p_rs_n_l_z_d _ppr__ch t_ d__t_ry r_c_mm_nd_t__ns, _ns_r_ng th_y _r_ _l_gn_d w_th _n _nd_v_d__l's h__lth st_t_s _nd th_ l_t_st sc__nt_f_c _v_d_nc_." Th_ M_y_ Cl_n_c _bs_rv_d th_t f_st_ng h_s b__n p_p_l_r f_r _v_r 1,500 y__rs. _t _dv_s_d th_t "_nt_rm_tt_nt f_st_ng c_n b_ s_f_r w_th s_p_rv_s__n fr_m y__r h__lthc_r_ t__m."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the internet abounds with all manner of diets and dietary advice in recent years much has been written about the benefits of intermittent fasting this is confining daily eating to an 8hour window leaving a 16hour gap without any food proponents of this dietary regimen say it improves metabolism and assists in cellular repair however a new longterm study has cast doubt on its merits researchers at the shanghai jiao tong university school of medicine in china concluded that people who restricted their eating to fewer than eight hours a day faced a 91 per cent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases than those who ate over 12 to 16 hours

the researchers analyzed data from about 20000 adults over a sixyear period lead researcher dr victor wenze zhong said he was taken aback by his findings he said we were surprised to find that people who followed an eighthour timerestricted eating schedule were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease he added our studys findings encourage a cautious personalized approach to dietary recommendations ensuring they are aligned with an individuals health status and the latest scientific evidence the mayo clinic observed that fasting has been popular for over 1500 years it advised that intermittent fasting can be safer with supervision from your healthcare team

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TheInternetaboundswithallmannerofdietsanddietaryadvice.Inrece
ntyears,muchhasbeenwrittenaboutthebenefitsofintermittentfastin
g.Thisisconfiningdailyeatingtoan8-hourwindow,leavinga16-hourg
apwithoutanyfood.Proponentsofthisdietaryregimensayitimprovesm
etabolismandassistsincellularrepair.However,anewlong-termstud
yhascastdoubtonitsmerits.ResearchersattheShanghaiJiaoTongUniv
ersitySchoolofMedicineinChinaconcludedthatpeoplewhorestrictedth
eireatingtofewerthaneighthoursadayfaceda91percenthigherriskofd
yingfromcardiovasculardiseasesthanthosewhoateover12to16hours
.Theresearchersanalyzeddatafromabout20,000adultsoverasix-yea
rperiod.LeadresearcherDrVictorWenzeZhongsaidhewastakenaback
byhisfindings.Hesaid:"Weweresurprisedtofindthatpeoplewhofollow
edaneight-hour,time-restrictedeatingscheduleweremorelikelytodie
fromcardiovasculardisease."Headded:"Ourstudy'sfindingsencoura
geacautious,personalizedapproachtodietaryrecommendations,ens
uringtheyarealignedwithanindividual'shealthstatusandthelatestscie
ntificevidence."TheMayoClinicobservedthatfastinghasbeenpopularf
orover1,500years.Itadvisedthat"Intermittentfastingcanbesaferwit
hsupervisionfromyourhealthcareteam."

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Fasting is good for us. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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. DIETS: Make a poster about diets. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. FASTING: Write a magazine article about fasting. 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 fasting. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. 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

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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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