All 4 Graded Readings
French fries will be 3cm shorter
PRINT ALL READINGS (PDF)Potato Shortage - Level 0
Europe didn't grow many potatoes this summer. This means French fries will be 3cm shorter than usual. Europe had a very hot summer and there was very little rain, so farmers grew 25 per cent fewer potatoes. This increased potato prices. It also made potatoes smaller. Smaller potatoes means shorter French fries.
The potato shortage is big news in Belgium. Fries are Belgium's national dish. Many shops sell fries. Belgians call them "Belgian fries" because they say the fries were invented in Belgium. A farmer explained that long fries of 8 to 9 cm need big potatoes. This summer's smaller potatoes means fries will be shorter.
SPEED READING
MORE
11 online activities | 8-page printable (PDF)
Potato Shortage - Level 1
Europe grew a lot fewer potatoes this summer. This means French fries will be up to 3cm shorter than usual. Europe had a very hot summer. It had a long heatwave, record high temperatures and very little rain, so farmers grew 25 per cent fewer potatoes. A potato growers' spokesman in Belgium said this increased potato prices. It also made the average size of potatoes smaller. Smaller potatoes means French fries will be shorter.
The potato shortage is a hot topic in Belgium. Fries are Belgium's national dish. There are over 5,000 shops there that sell fries. Belgians call them "Belgian fries" because they say the fry was invented in Belgium. Belgium exports lots of frozen fries. The spokesman explained why fries would be shorter. He said long fries of 8 to 9 cm need potatoes with a diameter of more than 50mm. This summer's smaller potatoes means fries will be shorter.
SPEED READING
MORE
11 online activities | 8-page printable (PDF)
Potato Shortage - Level 2
Slowest
Europe's poor potato harvest this summer could mean French fries are three centimeters shorter than usual. The poor harvest is because of the very hot summer. Europe had record temperatures. This heatwave caused a lack of rain, so farmers produced a lot fewer potatoes than normal. A spokesman from a potato growers' association in Belgium said farmers grew 25 per cent fewer potatoes this summer. This increased potato prices and made the average size of potatoes smaller. Smaller potatoes will mean French fries are shorter.
The potato shortage is a big talking point in Belgium. Fries are the national dish there. The country has over 5,000 shops that specialize in fries. Belgians love their fries. There is a campaign to rename them "Belgian fries" because Belgians say the fry was invented in Belgium. Belgium is one of the largest exporters of frozen fries in the world. The spokesman explained why fries would be shorter. He said: "To have long fries, we work with potatoes with a diameter of more than 50mm. Then you get fries of 8 to 9 cm. This time, as the potatoes are smaller, the fries will be shorter."
SPEED READING
MORE
11 online activities | 8-page printable (PDF)
Potato Shortage - Level 3
A poor potato harvest in Europe this summer could mean French fries are up to three centimeters shorter than usual. The poor harvest is because of the very hot summer Europe had. There were record hot temperatures in many countries. The heatwave caused a lack of rain, which meant farmers produced a lot fewer potatoes than they normally do. Pierre Lebrun, a spokesman from a potato growers' association in Belgium, said farmers grew 25 per cent fewer potatoes than normal. The effect of this is that potato prices are up and the average size of potatoes is smaller. Mr Lebrun said: "Because the potatoes are smaller at the moment, we will all be eating smaller chips."
Belgium is one country where the potato shortage is a big talking point. Fries are the national dish in Belgium. The country has over 5,000 eateries specializing in fries. Belgians love their fries so much that there is a campaign to rename them "Belgian fries" instead of "French fries" because Belgians say the fry was invented in their country. Belgium is one of the largest exporters of frozen fries in the world. It exports around 2.3 million tons of them every year. Mr Lebron explained why fries would be shorter. He said: "Generally, to have long fries, we work with potatoes with a diameter of more than 50mm. Then you get fries of 8 to 9 cm. This time, as the potatoes are smaller, the fries will be shorter."
SPEED READING
MORE
25 online activities | 27-page printable | 2-page mini-lesson
MY e-BOOK
See a sample
This useful resource has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for …
and a whole lot more.