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Lesson Info

Post Type
Article
Level
Level 3 / B1
Published
Title
Argentine Families Buy Less Beef
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-05-16-argentine-families-buy-less-meat/

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.
  • Main Idea Choose the overall message of the text.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Multiple Choice Check understanding.
  • Words That Go Together Connect words and collocated phrases from the lesson.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Sentence Unscramble Reorder mixed phrases into correct sentences.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?

a) Many families in Argentina start buying more chicken and pork.

b) The government adds new subsidies that make beef cheaper right away.

c) Argentina stops exporting beef to other countries.

An Argentine family compares beef, chicken, and pork prices at a warm neighborhood butcher shop in Buenos Aires while the parent looks concerned about the cost of beef.
At a butcher shop.

Ask: (1) What foods are popular in your country? (2) Do you eat meat? If so, what is your favorite meat?

VOCAB LIST

consumption (n.) — The amount of something people use or eat.
tradition (n.) — A custom or way of life that has continued for a long time.
wages (n.) — Money that workers earn for their jobs.
cattle (n.) — Cows and bulls kept on a farm for meat or milk.
subsidies (n.) — Money support from a government to help keep costs lower.
supply (n.) — The amount of something that is available.
budget (n.) — The amount of money a person or family has to spend.
exports (n.) — Products sold to other countries.
afford (v.) — To have enough money to buy something.

Reading

Argentina is famous for beef, and many Argentines still want it. However, beef is now too expensive for many families. In April 2026, average beef consumption fell to 44.5 kilos per person, the lowest level in 20 years. A year earlier, it was 49.5 kilos. This change shows how rising prices are changing what many families eat.

Beef prices rose by more than 60 percent over the past year. At the same time, wages did not rise as fast. The government has also cut subsidies for electricity, gas, water, and transport. Because families now pay more for basic services, they have less money left for food.

Many Argentines are now choosing cheaper meats when they shop. Butchers in Buenos Aires say this change became clear during the past year. As customers bought less beef, many shops began selling more chicken and pork. For families with tight budgets, these meats are easier to afford.

This shift is surprising in a country with a strong beef tradition. For years, beef was a common food for families across much of the country. Experts say a smaller cattle supply and higher exports also pushed prices up. As a result, beef is no longer a regular choice for many families.

Argentine Families Buy Less Beef

Level 3 Source: apnews.com

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

An Argentine family compares beef, chicken, and pork prices at a warm neighborhood butcher shop in Buenos Aires while the parent looks concerned about the cost of beef.
At a butcher shop.

Argentina is famous for beef, and many Argentines still want it. However, beef is now too expensive for many families. In April 2026, average beef consumption fell to 44.5 kilos per person, the lowest level in 20 years. A year earlier, it was 49.5 kilos. This change shows how rising prices are changing what many families eat.

Beef prices rose by more than 60 percent over the past year. At the same time, wages did not rise as fast. The government has also cut subsidies for electricity, gas, water, and transport. Because families now pay more for basic services, they have less money left for food.

Many Argentines are now choosing cheaper meats when they shop. Butchers in Buenos Aires say this change became clear during the past year. As customers bought less beef, many shops began selling more chicken and pork. For families with tight budgets, these meats are easier to afford.

This shift is surprising in a country with a strong beef tradition. For years, beef was a common food for families across much of the country. Experts say a smaller cattle supply and higher exports also pushed prices up. As a result, beef is no longer a regular choice for many families.

Speaker: American Male  Duration: 1:40  Watch on YouTube

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 on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

Argentina is famous for beef, and many Argentines still want it. However, beef is now too expensive for many families. In April 2026, average beef consumption fell to (1) kilos per person, the lowest level in 20 years. A year earlier, it was 49.5 kilos. This change shows how rising prices are changing what many families eat.

Beef prices rose by more than 60 percent over the past year. At the same time, (2) did not rise as fast. The government has also cut (3) for electricity, gas, water, and transport. Because families now pay more for basic services, they have less money left for food.

Many Argentines are now choosing cheaper meats when they shop. (4) in Buenos Aires say this change became clear during the past year. As customers bought less beef, many shops began selling more chicken and pork. For families with tight budgets, these meats are easier to (5) .

This shift is surprising in a country with a strong beef tradition. For years, beef was a common food for families across much of the country. Experts say a smaller cattle supply and higher (6) also pushed prices up. As a result, beef is no longer a regular choice for many families.

Main Idea

Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.

Main Idea

Choose one:

  • Rising costs are changing what many families in Argentina can afford to eat. Correct answer
  • More butcher shops are adjusting to changing customer habits as beef becomes harder to sell.
  • Government subsidy cuts are increasing pressure on household spending across Argentina.
True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • In April 2026, average beef consumption in Argentina fell to 44.5 kilos per person.
    The first paragraph says average beef consumption fell to 44.5 kilos per person in April 2026.
  • Wages rose faster than beef prices over the past year.
    The story says beef prices rose by more than 60 percent, but wages did not rise as fast.
  • Families have less money for food because they now pay more for basic services.
    The second paragraph says families pay more for electricity, gas, water, and transport, so less money is left for food.
  • Experts say lower exports helped push beef prices up.
    The last paragraph says higher exports, not lower exports, also pushed prices up.

True or False

1. In April 2026, average beef consumption in Argentina fell to 44.5 kilos per person. TRUEFALSE True

2. Wages rose faster than beef prices over the past year. TRUEFALSE False

3. Families have less money for food because they now pay more for basic services. TRUEFALSE True

4. Experts say lower exports helped push beef prices up. TRUEFALSE False

Multiple Choice

1. What happened to average beef consumption in April 2026?

   a) It fell to 44.5 kilos per person.Correct

   b) It rose to 49.5 kilos per person.

   c) It stayed the same as the year before.

   d) It stayed below 45 kilos per person.

2. Why do many families have less money left for food?

   a) Wages did not rise as fast as prices.

   b) They now pay more for basic services.Correct

   c) Beef exports became more common during the year.

   d) Beef supply became smaller during the year.

3. What did many shops begin selling more of as customers bought less beef?

   a) Chicken and lamb

   b) Pork and lamb

   c) Chicken and porkCorrect

   d) Beef and pork

4. According to experts, what also pushed beef prices up?

   a) Wages did not rise as fast as prices.

   b) Families had less money left for food.

   c) The government cut subsidies for basic services.

   d) A smaller cattle supply and higher exportsCorrect

Words That Go Together

Loading vocabulary activity...

Words That Go Together

Match each word with the words it goes with:

1. Buyf) less beef

2. Cute) subsidies

3. Choosed) cheaper meats

4. Payc) more for basic services

5. Fallb) to 44.5 kilos

6. Pusha) prices up

a) prices up

b) to 44.5 kilos

c) more for basic services

d) cheaper meats

e) subsidies

f) less beef

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Basic services cost more now families have less money left for food.

    because / and / so / but

    Basic services cost more now so families have less money left for food.

  2. I would still buy my favorite food sometimes I would eat it less often.

    so / because / but / and

    I would still buy my favorite food sometimes but I would eat it less often.

  3. People may stop buying a traditional food when it gets too expensive. a culture can change little by little.

    For example, / Also, / Because of that, / To me,

    People may stop buying a traditional food when it gets too expensive. Because of that, a culture can change little by little.

Sentence Unscramble

  1. A. cheap B. to find. C. and easy D. In my country, E. because F. are common foods G. rice and noodles H. they are

    In my country, rice and noodles are common foods because they are cheap and easy to find.

  2. A. my country B. food, clothes, C. countries. D. For example, E. exports F. and cars G. to other

    For example, my country exports food, clothes, and cars to other countries.

  3. A. I make B. avoid C. a simple budget D. because E. it helps me F. money problems.

    I make a simple budget because it helps me avoid money problems.

Discussion Questions

  1. How did this story make you feel? Why?
  2. If your favorite food became more expensive, what would you do? What if the price doubled?
  3. How do higher costs for electricity, gas, water, and transport affect food choices?
  4. What foods are traditional in your country?
  5. What are some exports from your country?
  6. Do you think high prices can change culture over time? How?
  7. Think about a time you considered the cost of something. What did you do?
  8. Do you make a regular budget to plan how you will spend? Why or why not?

Answers Argentine Families Buy Less Beef / Level 3

Think Ahead: a

Listening: (1) 44.5, (2) wages, (3) subsidies, (4) Butchers, (5) afford, (6) exports

Main Idea: Rising costs are changing what many families in Argentina can afford to eat.

True or False:

  1. True. The first paragraph says average beef consumption fell to 44.5 kilos per person in April 2026.
  2. False. The story says beef prices rose by more than 60 percent, but wages did not rise as fast.
  3. True. The second paragraph says families pay more for electricity, gas, water, and transport, so less money is left for food.
  4. False. The last paragraph says higher exports, not lower exports, also pushed prices up.

Multiple Choice: a, b, c, d

Vocabulary:

  1. Buy: less beef
  2. Cut: subsidies
  3. Choose: cheaper meats
  1. Pay: more for basic services
  2. Fall: to 44.5 kilos
  3. Push: prices up

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Result. 2) Contrast. 3) Result.

  1. so
  2. but
  3. Because of that,

Sentence Unscramble:

  1. In my country, rice and noodles are common foods because they are cheap and easy to find.
  2. For example, my country exports food, clothes, and cars to other countries.
  3. I make a simple budget because it helps me avoid money problems.

eslnewsstories.com