A growing library of level-graded English lessons for classroom or self-study, with reading, listening, vocabulary, activities, and discussion practice from A1 to B2.
Lesson Info
In this lesson:
- Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
- Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
- Reading Read the main text.
- Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
- True or False Check understanding.
- Put Events in Order Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
- Vocab Match Connect words to meanings.
- Sentence Completion Think about tense, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions to complete sentences.
- Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
- Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.
Think Ahead: Why might nuts help people eat fewer sweets?
a) They make sweet food disappear.
b) They help people feel full.
c) They taste exactly like candy.
Ask: (1) Do you try to eat healthy food? (2) Do you eat snacks between meals?
VOCAB LIST
Reading
A new study has found that a daily nut snack may cut cravings for sweets and fast food. It may also help people choose healthier foods.
The journal Nutrients published the study on December 2. The researchers followed young adults who had a higher risk of health problems. These problems can include high blood pressure, belly fat, and abnormal cholesterol. They can raise the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
For 16 weeks, the young adults ate mixed tree nuts every day between meals. After the study, they reported fewer urges for sugary and salty snacks. They also wanted fast food less often. They ate more protein-rich foods, and their overall diet improved.
Kezia Joy, a food expert, said nuts have fat, protein, and fiber. These nutrients digest slowly, so blood sugar stays more steady. Many people feel full longer, so cravings can drop.
Public health professor Jacqueline A. Vernarelli suggested about a quarter cup of nuts. Almonds, cashews, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and macadamia nuts are good choices. She said people should choose whole nuts that are raw or dry-roasted. She also recommended unsalted nuts because salted nuts can have a lot of salt.
Allergic to tree nuts? Vernarelli said seeds can be a good option too. She suggested sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. They also have healthy fat, protein, and fiber.
Nuts May Cut Cravings for Sweets and Fast Food
Warm-up ā Read & Listen ā Check Understanding ā Language ā Use It
Think Ahead: Why might nuts help people eat fewer sweets?
a) They make sweet food disappear.
b) They help people feel full.
c) They taste exactly like candy.
Ask: (1) Do you try to eat healthy food? (2) Do you eat snacks between meals?
-
Craving (n.)
-
Urge (n.)
-
Abnormal (adj.)
-
Cholesterol (n.)
-
Fiber (n.)
-
Steady (adj.)
-
Unsalted (adj.)
-
Option (n.)
-
Cravings (n.)
A new study has found that a daily nut snack may cut cravings for sweets and fast food. It may also help people choose healthier foods.
The journal Nutrients published the study on December 2. The researchers followed young adults who had a higher risk of health problems. These problems can include high blood pressure, belly fat, and abnormal cholesterol. They can raise the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
For 16 weeks, the young adults ate mixed tree nuts every day between meals. After the study, they reported fewer urges for sugary and salty snacks. They also wanted fast food less often. They ate more protein-rich foods, and their overall diet improved.
Kezia Joy, a food expert, said nuts have fat, protein, and fiber. These nutrients digest slowly, so blood sugar stays more steady. Many people feel full longer, so cravings can drop.
Public health professor Jacqueline A. Vernarelli suggested about a quarter cup of nuts. Almonds, cashews, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and macadamia nuts are good choices. She said people should choose whole nuts that are raw or dry-roasted. She also recommended unsalted nuts because salted nuts can have a lot of salt.
Allergic to tree nuts? Vernarelli said seeds can be a good option too. She suggested sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. They also have healthy fat, protein, and fiber.
Two ways to use this audio:
- Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
- Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
Loading listening activity...
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
A new study has found that a daily nut snack may cut (1) for sweets and fast food. It may also help people choose healthier foods.
The journal Nutrients published the study on December 2. The researchers followed young adults who had a higher risk of health problems. These problems can include high blood pressure, belly fat, and abnormal (2) . They can raise the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
For 16 weeks, the young adults ate (3) tree nuts every day between meals. After the study, they reported fewer urges for sugary and salty snacks. They also wanted fast food less often. They ate more (4) foods, and their overall diet improved.
Kezia Joy, a food expert, said nuts have fat, protein, and fiber. These nutrients digest slowly, so blood sugar stays more (5) . Many people feel full longer, so cravings can drop.
Public health professor Jacqueline A. Vernarelli suggested about a quarter cup of nuts. Almonds, cashews, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and macadamia nuts are good choices. She said people should choose whole nuts that are raw or dry-roasted. She also recommended unsalted nuts because salted nuts can have a lot of salt.
Allergic to tree nuts? Vernarelli said seeds can be a good option too. She suggested (6) seeds and pumpkin seeds. They also have healthy fat, protein, and fiber.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. The study followed young adults for 16 weeks. TRUEFALSE True
2. The article says the nut snack may increase cravings for sweets. TRUEFALSE False
3. Vernarelli suggested eating about a quarter cup of nuts. TRUEFALSE True
4. Seeds can be a choice for people with nut allergies. TRUEFALSE True
Put Events in Order
Put the events in the order they happened, from first to last.
- 1 Researchers followed young adults with a higher risk of health problems.
- 2 The group ate mixed tree nuts every day for 16 weeks.
- 3 After the study, many people reported fewer cravings for sugary snacks.
- 4 Experts suggested a quarter cup of whole, unsalted nuts.
Put Events in Order
Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (4):
- After the study, many people reported fewer cravings for sugary snacks.
- Researchers followed young adults with a higher risk of health problems.
- Experts suggested a quarter cup of whole, unsalted nuts.
- The group ate mixed tree nuts every day for 16 weeks.
- Researchers followed young adults with a higher risk of health problems.
- The group ate mixed tree nuts every day for 16 weeks.
- After the study, many people reported fewer cravings for sugary snacks.
- Experts suggested a quarter cup of whole, unsalted nuts.
Vocab Match
Drag each vocabulary word to its matching definition:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Vocab Match
Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.
1. Cravinge) A strong wish to eat or have something.
2. Cholesterold) A fat-like substance in your blood. Too much can be bad for your heart.
3. Fiberc) A part of plant food that helps digestion.
4. Steadyb) Not changing much; staying stable.
5. Unsalteda) With no salt added.
a) With no salt added.
b) Not changing much; staying stable.
c) A part of plant food that helps digestion.
d) A fat-like substance in your blood. Too much can be bad for your heart.
e) A strong wish to eat or have something.
Sentence Completion
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Use the past simple tense.
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Use the present simple and choose the correct preposition.
Sentence Completion
Choose the correct word for each gap:
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The researchers A) the group for 16 weeks.
Use the past simple tense.
The researchers followed the group for 16 weeks.
-
Nuts B) fat, protein, and fiber, so aim C) about a quarter cup.
Use the present simple and choose the correct preposition.
Nuts contain fat, protein, and fiber, so aim for about a quarter cup.
Discussion Questions
- Did you learn anything while reading this article?
- Do you get cravings for foods? What food do you crave most often?
- What is a good snack to bring to work or school?
- How often do you eat fast food?
- What's your favorite nut?
- Do you think nuts are better than chips? Why?
- Do you look at food labels? Why or why not?
- The article mentions fiber. What foods with fiber do you eat?
- Are you allergic to any foods? How do you stay safe?
- Have you tried sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds? What do you think?
Discussion Questions
- Did you learn anything while reading this article?
- Do you get cravings for foods? What food do you crave most often?
- What is a good snack to bring to work or school?
- How often do you eat fast food?
- What's your favorite nut?
- Do you think nuts are better than chips? Why?
- Do you look at food labels? Why or why not?
- The article mentions fiber. What foods with fiber do you eat?
- Are you allergic to any foods? How do you stay safe?
- Have you tried sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds? What do you think?
Answers
Think Ahead: b
Listening: (1) cravings, (2) cholesterol, (3) mixed, (4) protein-rich, (5) steady, (6) sunflower
True or False:
- True. The article says the young adults ate nuts daily for 16 weeks.
- False. The article says nuts may cut cravings for sweets and fast food.
- True. The article gives a suggested amount of about a quarter cup.
- True. The article suggests seeds for people who cannot eat tree nuts.
Put Events in Order:
- Researchers followed young adults with a higher risk of health problems.
- The group ate mixed tree nuts every day for 16 weeks.
- After the study, many people reported fewer cravings for sugary snacks.
- Experts suggested a quarter cup of whole, unsalted nuts.
Vocabulary:
- Craving: A strong wish to eat or have something.
- Cholesterol: A fat-like substance in your blood. Too much can be bad for your heart.
- Fiber: A part of plant food that helps digestion.
- Steady: Not changing much; staying stable.
- Unsalted: With no salt added.
Sentence Completion:
- A) followed
- B) contain; C) for