The Reading / Listening - Level 2

The U.S.A. has said a new GM potato is OK to eat, but McDonald's will not use it for French fries or hash browns. A potato company said it changed the DNA of potatoes to make them better. The new potato has less sugar and fewer things that can give people cancer. It also said the potatoes are stronger. It said people would buy the new potato in supermarkets. McDonald's said: "McDonald's USA does not source GMO potatoes, nor do we have current plans to change our [sources]." The company did not say what it thought of McDonald's decision.

French fries are one of the most popular foods in the world, especially in fast food restaurants. The expression ‘French Fried Potatoes’ was first used in a cookery book in 1856. In the early 20th century, 'French fried' was used to mean 'deep-fried'. People say French fries come from Belgium and not France. Both countries say they were the first country to cook French fries. Belgians say the word 'French fries' is used because France has an image for good food. Some people think the term 'French' was used when U.S. soldiers went to Europe during World War I.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.foodworldnews.com/articles/8918/20141115/what-does-mcdonalds-say-to-gmo-potatoes.htm
  • http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/not-lovin-it-mcdonalds-says-no-simplots-gmo-potato-n249391
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries


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 :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

The U.S.A. has said a new GM

a.

sugar

2.

it changed the

b.

not say

3.

The new potato has less

c.

give people cancer

4.

fewer things that can

d.

of McDonald's decision

5.

the potatoes

e.

DNA of potatoes

6.

nor do we have current

f.

potato is OK to eat

7.

The company did

g.

are stronger

8.

what it thought

h.

plans to change


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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

one of the most popular

a.

French fries

2.

especially in fast

b.

century

3.

used in a cookery

c.

during World War I

4.

In the early 20th

d.

foods in the world

5.

'French fried' was used to

e.

for good food

6.

the first country to cook

f.

mean 'deep-fried'

7.

France has an image

g.

food restaurants

8.

soldiers went to Europe

h.

book

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The U.S.A. has (1) ___________________ potato is OK to eat, but McDonald's will not use it for French (2) ___________________. A potato company said it changed the DNA of potatoes to make them better. The new potato (3) ___________________ fewer things that can give people cancer. It also said the potatoes are stronger. It said people would buy the new potato in supermarkets. McDonald's said: "McDonald's USA (4) ___________________ GMO potatoes, nor do we (5) ___________________ to change our [sources]." The company did not say (6) ___________________ McDonald's decision.

French fries are one of the (7) ___________________ the world, especially in fast food restaurants. The expression 'French Fried Potatoes' was first (8) ___________________ in 1856. In the early 20th century, 'French fried' was used to mean 'deep-fried'. People say French (9) ___________________ Belgium and not France. Both countries say they were (10) ___________________ cook French fries. Belgians say the word 'French fries' is used because France has (11) ___________________ food. Some people think the term 'French' was used when U.S. soldiers (12) ___________________ World War I.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheU.S.A.hassaidanewGMpotatoisOKtoeat,butMcDonald'swillnotus
eitforFrenchfriesorhashbrowns.ApotatocompanysaiditchangedtheD
NAofpotatoestomakethembetter.Thenewpotatohaslesssugarandfe
werthingsthatcangivepeoplecancer.Italsosaidthepotatoesarestrong
er.Itsaidpeoplewouldbuythenewpotatoinsupermarkets.McDonald's
said:"McDonald'sUSAdoesnotsourceGMOpotatoes,nordowehavecur
rentplanstochangeour[sources]."Thecompanydidnotsaywhatitthou
ghtofMcDonald'sdecision.Frenchfriesareoneofthemostpopularfoods
intheworld,especiallyinfastfoodrestaurants.Theexpression'FrenchF
riedPotatoes'wasfirstusedinacookerybookin1856.Intheearly20thce
ntury,'Frenchfried'wasusedtomean'deep-fried'.PeoplesayFre
nchfriescomefromBelgiumandnotFrance.Bothcountriessaytheywer
ethefirstcountrytocookFrenchfries.Belgianssaytheword'Frenchfries'
isusedbecauseFrancehasanimageforgoodfood.Somepeoplethinkthe
term'French'wasusedwhenU.S.soldierswenttoEuropeduringWorldW
arI.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

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Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about French fries for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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