Try the same news story at these easier levels:
Late-night Eating - Level 0, Late-night Eating - Level 1 or Late-night Eating - Level 2 Eating late at night is bad for us. We could get sick. A study says it increases the risk of obesity. Researchers said eating late makes us feel two times hungrier, so we eat more. When we eat earlier, we are less hungry, so we eat less. Later eaters eat unhealthier food. They also move around less, so they do not burn off calories.
Researchers looked at the eating habits of 16 overweight people. They were healthy. They ate regularly and exercised. They did not drink coffee or alcohol. They did not smoke, or take medicine or drugs. They kept a sleep diary so researchers knew their sleeping times. A researcher said it is better to stop eating at night.
Eating late at night is bad for us. We could get sick. A study says it increases the risk of obesity. Researchers said eating late makes us feel two times hungrier, so we eat more. When we eat earlier, we are less hungry, so we eat less. Later eaters eat unhealthier food. They also move around less, so they do not burn off calories.
Researchers looked at the eating habits of 16 overweight people. They were healthy. They ate regularly and exercised. They did not drink coffee or alcohol. They did not smoke, or take medicine or drugs. They kept a sleep diary so researchers knew their sleeping times. A researcher said it is better to stop eating at night.
Eating late at night is bad for us. We could get sick. A study says it increases the risk of obesity. Researchers said eating late makes us feel two times hungrier, so we eat more. When we eat earlier, we are less hungry, so we eat less. Later eaters eat unhealthier food. They also move around less, so they do not burn off calories.
Researchers looked at the eating habits of 16 overweight people. They were healthy. They ate regularly and exercised. They did not drink coffee or alcohol. They did not smoke, or take medicine or drugs. They kept a sleep diary so researchers knew their sleeping times. A researcher said it is better to stop eating at night.
Many of us know that eating late is bad. A new study says that eating late at night could make us sick. Researchers say that eating a few hours before bed means there is a higher risk of obesity. The researchers are from Brigham and Women's Hospital, which is a teaching university linked to Harvard Medical School in the USA. The research team looked into why eating late increased the risk of gaining weight. It found that eating late increases hunger by as much as two times, so we eat more. When we eat earlier, we are less hungry, so we eat less food. Later eaters also eat unhealthier food, especially fast food. Finally, late eaters move around less before sleeping. This means they do not burn off calories.
The study was a small scale one. The researchers looked at the eating habits of five women and 11 men between the ages of 25 and 59. All of the participants had a high body mass index (BMI). They were all in the overweight or obesity BMI range. All of the people were in good health. They ate breakfast regularly and exercised a little. For two weeks before each test, the participants did not drink coffee or alcohol. They also did not smoke or take any medicine or drugs. They all had to keep a sleep diary so researchers knew their sleeping and waking times. Researcher Professor Kelly C. Allison said: "I think what the study is telling us is that it probably really is beneficial to stop eating late into the night."
Warm-ups
1. LATE-NIGHT EATING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about late-night eating. 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?
eating / late night / bed / risk / obesity / gaining weight / hunger / fast food / calories study / researchers / habits / BMI / breakfast / test / alcohol / coffee / sleep / diary Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. DINNER DEADLINE: Students A strongly believe there should be a deadline of 7 pm for eating dinner; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. OBESITY: How can these things help people with obesity? Do you think they work?
Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.
How It Helps Does It Work?
Education Exercise Smartphones Diet
Sleep Surgery
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. FOOD: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst food at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.
Chocolate
Burgers
French fries
Pizza
Cream cake
Doughnuts
Potato chips
Hot dogs
Vocabulary
Paragraph 1
1.risk a. The energy value of food.
2.obesity b. A situation where there is danger.
3.linked c. Increasing the amount or rate of something, often weight or speed.
4.increased d. The state of being really fat or overweight.
5.gaining e. Became or make greater in size, amount, or degree.
6.hunger f. A relationship or connection between two things or situations.
7.calories g. An uncomfortable feeling because of having no food, and the strong desire to eat.
Paragraph 2
8. scale h. The relative size of something.
9. habit i. Resulting in good things happening.
10 .
participant j. The regular pattern of the things you do every day.
11 .
index k. At similar breaks of time.
12 .
range l. A person who takes part in something.
13 .
regularly m. A number system that shows how big, cold, important, etc. something is.
14 .
beneficial n. The area of difference between upper and lower limits.
Before reading / listening
1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).
1. The article says we all know that eating late at night is bad for us. T / F 2. Eating before bedtime could increase the risk of obesity. T / F
3. We are three times hungrier late at night. T / F 4. People who eat late at night move around less. T / F
5. Researchers did tests on 60 people aged between 25 and 59. T / F
6. All of the people in the research were average weight or slim. T / F 7. Some of the participants smoked and drank alcohol. T / F
8. A professor advised people to think about not eating late at night. T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
1. sick 2. risk 3. linked 4. gaining 5. especially 6. habits 7. drink 8. diary 9. probably 10.beneficial a. routines b. consume c. putting on d. likely e. chance f. useful g. particularly h. ill
i. journal j. connected
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.) 1. there is a higher
2. eating late increased the risk 3. increases hunger by as much as 4. When we eat earlier,
5. This means they do not burn 6. The study was a small
7. researchers looked at the eating 8. a high body mass
9. the participants did not
10.it probably really is beneficial a. two times
b. index c. off calories
d. habits of five women e. scale one
f. drink coffee g. risk of obesity
h. to stop
i. of gaining weight j. we are less hungry Gap fill
Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
linked hungry calories know times few risk fast
Many of us (1) _____________________ that eating late is bad. A new study says that eating late at night could make us sick. Researchers say that eating a (2) _____________________
hours before bed means there is a higher risk of obesity. The researchers are from Brigham and Women's Hospital, which is a teaching university (3) _____________________ to Harvard Medical School in the USA. The research team looked into why eating late increased the (4) _____________________ of gaining weight. It found that eating late increases hunger by as much as two (5) _____________________, so we eat more. When we eat earlier, we are less (6) _____________________, so we eat less food. Later eaters also eat unhealthier food, especially (7) _____________________ food. Finally, late eaters move around less before sleeping. This means they do not burn off (8) _____________________.
Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
index test habits beneficial range diary one smoke
The study was a small scale (9) _____________________. The researchers looked at the eating (10) _____________________ of five women and 11 men between the ages of 25 and 59. All of the participants had a high body mass (11) _____________________ (BMI). They were all in the overweight or obesity BMI (12) _____________________. All of the people were in good health. They ate breakfast regularly and exercised a little. For two weeks before each (13) _____________________, the participants did not drink coffee or alcohol. They also did not (14) _____________________ or take any medicine or drugs. They all had to keep a sleep (15) _____________________ so researchers knew their sleeping and waking times. Researcher Professor Kelly C. Allison said: "I think what the study is telling us is that it probably really is (16) _____________________ to stop eating late into the night."
Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.
1) eating a few hours before bed means there is a higher ______
a. risk of O.B city b. risk of obese city c. risk of obese d. risk of obesity
2) The research team looked into why eating late increased the risk ______
a. of gain in weight b. of gaining wait c. of gaining weight d. of gaining waif
3) It found that eating late increases hunger by as much ______
a. as tomb times b. as toot times c. as too time d. as two times
4) Later eaters also eat unhealthier food, ______
a. especially fast food b. especially past food c. especially last food d. especially haste food 5) This means they do not ______
a. burnt off calories b. burns off calories c. burn off calories d. burr off calories
6) The study was a small scale one. The researchers looked at ______
a. the eating habits b. the eating rabbits c. the eating cabbage d. the eating hazards
7) All of the participants had a high ______
a. body mass index b. body mast index c. body amass index d. body mace index
8) They also did not smoke or take any ______
a. medicine or drugs b. medicinal or drugs c. medicinal drugs d. medic seen or drugs
9) They all had to keep a sleep diary so researchers knew their sleeping ______
a. and awaking times b. and waking times c. and awaken times d. and wake in times
10) I think what the study is telling us is that it probably ______
a. really is beneficiary b. really is benefits all c. really is beneficial d. really is beneficially
Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps
Many (1) ____________________ that eating late is bad. A new study says that eating late at night could make us sick. Researchers say that eating a few hours before bed means there is a (2) ____________________ obesity. The researchers are from Brigham and Women's Hospital, (3) ____________________ teaching university linked to Harvard Medical School in the USA. The research team looked into why eating late increased the risk of gaining weight. It found that eating late increases (4) ____________________ much as two times, so we eat more. When we eat earlier, we are less hungry, so we eat less food. Later (5)
____________________ unhealthier food, especially fast food. Finally, late eaters move around less before sleeping. This means they do not (6) ____________________.
The study was a (7) ____________________. The researchers looked at the eating habits of five women and 11 men between the ages of 25 and 59. All of the participants (8)
____________________ body mass index (BMI). They were all in the overweight or obesity BMI range. All of the people (9) ____________________ health. They ate breakfast
regularly and exercised a little. For two weeks before each test, the participants did not drink coffee or alcohol. They also did not smoke (10) ____________________ medicine or drugs.
They all had to (11) ____________________ diary so researchers knew their sleeping and waking times. Researcher Professor Kelly C. Allison said: "I think what the study is telling us is that it probably really (12) ____________________ stop eating late into the night."
Comprehension questions
1. Who knows that eating late at night is bad for us?
2. What school is Brigham and Women's Hospital linked to?
3. How much hungrier are people late at night?
4. What kind of food do people eat late at night?
5. What is it difficult to burn off late at night?
6. How big was the study?
7. How old were the participants?
8. How often did the participants eat breakfast?
9. What kind of diary did the participants have to keep?
10.What did a professor say it was beneficial to do?
Multiple choice quiz
1) Who knows that eating late at night is bad for us?
a) healthier people
b) obese people c) everyone d) most of us
2) What school is Brigham and Women's Hospital linked to?
a) MIT
b) Harvard Medical School c) London School of Economics d) high school
3) How much hungrier are people late at night?
a) a little b) a lot
c) two times hungrier d) 10 times hungrier
4) What kind of food do people eat late at night?
a) unhealthy food (or fast food) b) cakes
c) pizza and hot dogs d) cereal
5) What is it difficult to burn off late at night?
a) sweat b) sleep c) calories d) fat
6) How big was the study?
a) huge b) a small one c) the biggest ever d) medium sized
7) How old were the participants?
a) between 26 and 59 years old b) between 25 and 58 years old c) between 24 and 57 years old d) between 25 and 59 years old
8) How often did the participants eat breakfast?
a) regularly b) occasionally
c) once in a blue moon d) every now and then
9) What kind of diary did the participants have to keep?
a) a secret diary b) a daily diary c) a sleep diary d) a dietary diary
10) What did a professor say it was beneficial to do?
a) eat salad for lunch b) stop eating late at night
c) sleep before 9 pm d) exercise in the afternoon
Role play
Role A – Chocolate
You think chocolate is the worst food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their food. Also, tell the others which is the least bad of these (and why): French fries, doughnuts or potato chips.
Role B – French Fries
You think French fries are the worst food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their food. Also, tell the others which is the least bad of these (and why):
chocolate, doughnuts or potato chips.
Role C – Doughnuts (Donuts)
You think doughnuts are the worst food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their food. Also, tell the others which is the least bad of these (and why): French fries, chocolate or potato chips.
Role D – Potato Chips (Crisps)
You think potato chips are the worst food. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their food. Also, tell the others which is the least bad of these (and why):
French fries, doughnuts or chocolate.
After reading / listening
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...
'eat' and 'night'.
________________ ________________
________________ ________________
________________ ________________
________________ ________________
________________ ________________
________________ ________________
________________ ________________
________________ ________________
• 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:
many
before
linked
times
fast
burn
small
59
little
drink
keep
probably 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 - Late-night Eating
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B) 1. What did you think when you read the headline?
2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'eat'?
3. What do you think of eating late at night?
4. What is the best time to have dinner?
5. Are your meal times always regular?
6. What's the healthiest thing to eat at night?
7. What's wrong with eating before sleeping?
8. How can people stop becoming obese?
9. What do you think of fast food?
10.Why do people eat late at night?
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A) 11.Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12.What do you think of when you hear the word 'sick'?
13.What do you think about what you read?
14.What do you know about the BMI?
15.Do you ever have problems with your weight?
16.Do you have good sleeping habits?
17.What advice do you have for people who eat late?
18.What do you think of never eating after 6 pm?
19.Do you have a favourite late-night snack?
20.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)
Many of us know (1) ____ eating late is bad. A new study says that eating late at night could make us sick. Researchers say that eating a (2) ____ hours before bed means there is a higher risk of obesity. The researchers are from Brigham and Women's Hospital, which is a teaching university linked (3) ____ Harvard Medical School in the USA. The research team looked into why eating late increased the risk of (4) ____ weight. It found that eating late increases hunger by as much as two (5) ____, so we eat more. When we eat earlier, we are less hungry, so we eat less food. Later eaters also eat unhealthier food, especially fast food. Finally, late eaters move around less before sleeping. This means they do not burn (6) ____ calories.
The study was a small scale (7) ____. The researchers looked at the eating habits of five women and 11 men between the ages of 25 and 59. All of the participants had a high body mass (8) ____ (BMI). They were all in the overweight or obesity BMI range. All of the people were in good health. They ate breakfast (9) ____ and exercised a little. For two weeks before each test, the participants did not drink coffee (10) ____ alcohol. They also did not smoke or take any medicine or drugs. They all had to keep a sleep (11) ____ so researchers knew their sleeping and waking times. Researcher Professor Kelly C. Allison said: "I think what the study is telling us is that it probably really is beneficial to stop eating late (12) ____
the night."
Which of these words go in the above text?
1. (a) what (b) this (c) that (d) them 2. (a) few (b) several (c) some (d) many 3. (a) to (b) in (c) on (d) of
4. (a) gaining (b) grinning (c) grainy (d) groaning 5. (a) pluses (b) times (c) multiplies (d) divides 6. (a) under (b) on (c) over (d) off
7. (a) once (b) only (c) one (d) ones
8. (a) imbalance (b) illness (c) inner (d) index 9. (a) regularly (b) regular (c) regulars (d) regulate 10.(a) with (b) or (c) in (d) nor
11.(a) day (b) diary (c) dairy (d) daily 12.(a) onto (b) unto (c) into (d) as to Spelling
Paragraph 1
1. a higher risk of besioty 2. eating late ciaersned the risk 3. gaining eiwhgt
4. we are less uhgnry
5. eat lheunhtaier food
6. they do not burn off aocirles Paragraph 2
7. The study was a small sacle one 8. All of the crtpaapinits
9. a high body mass dniex 10.They ate breakfast eglrrauly 11.dmcieine or drugs
12.neifbceail to stop eating late
Put the text back together
(...) food. Finally, late eaters move around less before sleeping. This means they do not burn off calories.
(...) The study was a small scale one. The researchers looked at the eating habits of five women and 11 men
(...) increases hunger by as much as two times, so we eat more. When we eat earlier, we are less
(...) hungry, so we eat less food. Later eaters also eat unhealthier food, especially fast
( 1 ) Many of us know that eating late is bad. A new study says that eating late at night could make us sick. Researchers
(...) say that eating a few hours before bed means there is a higher risk of obesity. The researchers are
(...) what the study is telling us is that it probably really is beneficial to stop eating late into the night."
(...) regularly and exercised a little. For two weeks before each test, the participants did not drink coffee or alcohol. They also
(...) overweight or obesity BMI range. All of the people were in good health. They ate breakfast
(...) between the ages of 25 and 59. All of the participants had a high body mass index (BMI). They were all in the
(...) team looked into why eating late increased the risk of gaining weight. It found that eating late
(...) so researchers knew their sleeping and waking times. Researcher Professor Kelly C.
Allison said: "I think
(...) did not smoke or take any medicine or drugs. They all had to keep a sleep diary
(...) from Brigham and Women's Hospital, which is a teaching university linked to Harvard Medical School in the USA. The research
Put the words in the right order
1. is We late bad . eating that know all
2. eat earlier, less hungry . When we we are
3. food, eat also like Later eaters unhealthier fast food . 4. late move Finally, less around eaters before sleeping . 5. do they This not means off burn calories .
6. at Researchers eating the looked habits of women . 7. of the people were in All good health .
8. participants drink not did coffee The or alcohol . 9. all to They a keep had sleep diary .
10.eating stop Beneficial late to the into night
Circle the correct word (20 pairs)
Many of us know that eating lately / late is bad. A new study says that eating late at night could make us sick. Researchers say that eating a few hours before bed means there is a higher risky / risk of obesity. The researchers are from Brigham and Women's Hospital, which is a taught / teaching university linked to Harvard Medical School in the USA. The research team looked into why / what eating late increased the risk of gaining / gain weight. It found that eating late increases hunger by that / as much as two times, so we eat more / many.
When we eat earlier, we are less hungry / hunger, so we eat less food. Later eaters also eat unhealthier food, especially fast / faster food. Finally, late eaters move around less before sleeping. This means they do not burn on / off calories.
The study was a small scale once / one. The researchers looked at the eating habits / habitual of five women and 11 men between the ages of 25 and 59. All of the participants had a high body mass / massive index (BMI). They were all in the overweight or obesity BMI range. All of them / the people were in good health. They ate breakfast regularly /
regular and exercised a little. For two weeks before each / all test, the participants did not drink coffee or alcohol. They also did not smooch / smoke or take any medicine or drugs.
They all had to keep a sleepy / sleep diary so researchers knew their sleeping and waking times. Researcher Professor Kelly C. Allison said: "I think what the study is telling us is what / that it probably really is beneficial to stop eating late into / onto the night."
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)
M_ny _f _s kn_w th_t __t_ng l_t_ _s b_d. _ n_w st_dy s_ys th_t __t_ng l_t_ _t n_ght c__ld m_k_ _s s_ck. R_s__rch_rs s_y th_t __t_ng _ f_w h__rs b_f_r_ b_d m__ns th_r_ _s _ h_gh_r r_sk _f _b_s_ty. Th_ r_s__rch_rs _r_ fr_m Br_gh_m _nd
W_m_n's H_sp_t_l, wh_ch _s _ t__ch_ng _n_v_rs_ty l_nk_d t_ H_rv_rd M_d_c_l Sch__l _n th_ _S_. Th_ r_s__rch t__m l__k_d _nt_ why __t_ng l_t_ _ncr__s_d th_
r_sk _f g__n_ng w__ght. _t f__nd th_t __t_ng l_t_ _ncr__s_s h_ng_r by _s m_ch _s tw_ t_m_s, s_ w_ __t m_r_. Wh_n w_ __t __rl__r, w_ _r_ l_ss h_ngry, s_ w_ __t l_ss f__d. L_t_r __t_rs _ls_ __t _nh__lth__r f__d, _sp_c__lly f_st f__d. F_n_lly, l_t_
__t_rs m_v_ _r__nd l_ss b_f_r_ sl__p_ng. Th_s m__ns th_y d_ n_t b_rn _ff c_l_r__s.
Th_ st_dy w_s _ sm_ll sc_l_ _n_. Th_ r_s__rch_rs l__k_d _t th_ __t_ng h_b_ts _f f_v_ w_m_n _nd 11 m_n b_tw__n th_ _g_s _f 25 _nd 59. _ll _f th_ p_rt_c_p_nts h_d _ h_gh b_dy m_ss _nd_x (BM_). Th_y w_r_ _ll _n th_ _v_rw__ght _r _b_s_ty BM_ r_ng_. _ll _f th_ p__pl_ w_r_ _n g__d h__lth. Th_y _t_ br__kf_st r_g_l_rly _nd _x_rc_s_d _ l_ttl_. F_r tw_ w__ks b_f_r_ __ch t_st, th_ p_rt_c_p_nts d_d n_t dr_nk c_ff__ _r _lc_h_l. Th_y _ls_ d_d n_t sm_k_ _r t_k_ _ny m_d_c_n_ _r dr_gs.
Th_y _ll h_d t_ k__p _ sl__p d__ry s_ r_s__rch_rs kn_w th__r sl__p_ng _nd
w_k_ng t_m_s. R_s__rch_r Pr_f_ss_r K_lly C. _ll_s_n s__d: "_ th_nk wh_t th_ st_dy _s t_ll_ng _s _s th_t _t pr_b_bly r__lly _s b_n_f_c__l t_ st_p __t_ng l_t_ _nt_ th_
n_ght."
Punctuate the text and add capitals
many of us know that eating late is bad a new study says that eating late at night could make us sick researchers say that eating a few hours before bed means there is a higher risk of obesity the researchers are from brigham and womens hospital which is a teaching university linked to harvard medical school in the usa the research team looked into why eating late increased the risk of gaining weight it found that eating late increases hunger by as much as two times so we eat more when we eat earlier we are less hungry so we eat less food later eaters also eat unhealthier food especially fast food finally late eaters move around less before sleeping this means they do not burn off calories
the study was a small scale one the researchers looked at the eating habits of five women and 11 men between the ages of 25 and 59 all of the participants had a high body mass index bmi they were all in the overweight or obesity bmi range all of the people were in good health they ate breakfast regularly and exercised a little for two weeks before each test the
participants did not drink coffee or alcohol they also did not smoke or take any medicine or drugs they all had to keep a sleep diary so researchers knew their sleeping and waking times researcher professor kelly c allison said i think what the study is telling us is that it probably really is beneficial to stop eating late into the night
Put a slash (/) where the spaces are
Manyofusknowthateatinglateisbad.Anewstudysaysthateatinglateat nightcouldmakeussick.Researcherssaythateatingafewhoursbeforeb
edmeansthereisahigherriskofobesity.TheresearchersarefromBrigh amandWomen'sHospital,whichisateachinguniversitylinkedtoHarvar dMedicalSchoolintheUSA.Theresearchteamlookedintowhyeatinglat eincreasedtheriskofgainingweight.Itfoundthateatinglateincreasesh ungerbyasmuchastwotimes,soweeatmore.Whenweeatearlier,wear elesshungry,soweeatlessfood.Latereatersalsoeatunhealthierfood,e speciallyfastfood.Finally,lateeatersmovearoundlessbeforesleeping.
Thismeanstheydonotburnoffcalories.Thestudywasasmallscaleone.T heresearcherslookedattheeatinghabitsoffivewomenand11menbetw eentheagesof25and59.Alloftheparticipantshadahighbodymassinde x(BMI).TheywereallintheoverweightorobesityBMIrange.Allofthepeo plewereingoodhealth.Theyatebreakfastregularlyandexercisedalittle .Fortwoweeksbeforeeachtest,theparticipantsdidnotdrinkcoffeeoralc ohol.Theyalsodidnotsmokeortakeanymedicineordrugs.Theyallhadt okeepasleepdiarysoresearchersknewtheirsleepingandwakingtimes.
ResearcherProfessorKellyC.Allisonsaid:"Ithinkwhatthestudyistellin gusisthatitprobablyreallyisbeneficialtostopeatinglateintothenight."
Free writing
Write about eating late at night for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.
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Academic writing
No one should eat after 8 pm. Discuss.
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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. LATE-NIGHT EATING: Make a poster about late-night eating. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. EARLY-CLOSING RESTAURANTS: Write a magazine article about restaurants closing earlier so people are healthier. 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 late-night eating. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can all eat earlier. 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
THE ARTICLE
Internet helps families stay more in touch
Much has been said about how anti-social the Internet and mobile phones are. The truth is however, according to new research, communication technology is bringing people closer together. A study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found family members were keeping in regular contact today more than ever before. And this is all down to e-mail, chat, our cellphones and SMS messaging. It makes sense. Years ago, it took a long time to write a letter, then find an envelope and go to the post office to buy a stamp and post it. Today we write mails while we wait for our change in the convenience store and they’re sent in an instant. Having free Internet telephone calls also helps us to stay in touch more often and for longer. Everyone’s at it, from five-year-olds to tech-savvy grandparents.
According to the Pew survey, technology has a very positive effect on communication within families. Researchers asked 2,252 adults whether new technologies had increased the quality of communication with their family. Fifty-three percent said it increased communication with family members they did not live with, two per cent said technology decreased this. Numbers were similar for those living in the same house as their family. The project director Lee Rainey said: "There's a new kind of connectedness being built inside of families with these technologies”. Survey co-author Barry Wellman agreed: "It used to be [that] husbands went off to work, wives went off to a different job or else stayed home…and the kids went off to school…and not until 5:30, 6 o'clock did they ever connect," he said.
WARM-UPS
1. FAMILY: Walk around the class and talk to other students about family. Change partners often. After you finish, sit with your partner(s) and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.
anti-social / communication technology / keeping in contact / SMS / envelopes / positive effects / family communication / connectedness / wives staying at home
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. CONNECTED?: Are you connected? Are you in regular contact with people? Complete the table below. Share what you wrote with your partner(s).
Who? How often? How? Why?
Best friend
Parents
Siblings
Partner
Teacher
Anyone else ____
4. TECHNOLOGY: Students A strongly believe communication technology will bring peace to the world; Students B strongly believe communication technology will make us all strangers and we’ll end up fighting. Change partners again and talk about your roles and conversations.
5. COULDN’T DO WITHOUT IT: Which of these things are most important to you? Rank them in order. Talk about your rankings with your partner(s).
_____ envelopes and stamps _____ mobile phone
_____ fax _____ SMS _____ chat
_____ e-mail
_____ telephone answering machine _____ web cam
6. SMS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the abbreviation ‘SMS’. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
BEFORE READING / LISTENING
1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):
a. Communication technology is reuniting people separated at birth. T / F
b. Family members are in more regular contact today than ever before. T / F
c. You often needed a stamp to keep in contact years ago. T / F
d. Many of our parents’ parents now keep up with technology. T / F
e. Technology has had a very negative effect on family communication. T / F
f. 2% of a survey said technology worsened family communication. T / F
g. Families are building network connections inside their homes. T / F
h. A researcher said families only used to communicate in the evenings. T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
1. much a. quickly
2 according to b. writer
3. down to c. inside
4. in an instant d. almost identical
5. savvy e. as stated by
6. within f. linking
7. decreased g. a lot
8. similar h. know-how
9. connectedness i. lowered
10. author j. because of
3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one. combination is possible):
1. technology is bringing people a. sense
2 keeping in b. being built
3. It makes c. instant
4. sent in an d. the Pew survey
5. Everyone’s at e. families
6. According to f. closer together
7. communication within g. they ever connect
8. family members they h. it
9. There's a new kind of connectedness i. regular contact
10. not until 5:30, 6 o'clock did j. did not live with WHILE READING / LISTENING
GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Much has been __________ about how anti-social the Internet and mobile phones are. The truth is however, according to new research,
communication technology is bringing people __________ together. A study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found family members were keeping in __________ contact today more than ever before. And this is all __________ to e-mail, chat, our cellphones and SMS messaging. It makes __________. Years ago, it took a long time to write a letter, then find an envelope and go to the post office to buy a stamp and post it. Today we write mails while we wait for our __________ in the convenience store and they’re sent in an instant.
Having free Internet telephone calls also __________ us to stay in touch more often and for longer. Everyone’s __________ it, from five-year-olds to tech-savvy grandparents.
change regular at down said helps sense closer
According to the Pew survey, technology has a very positive __________
on communication within families. Researchers asked 2,252 adults whether new technologies had increased the __________ of
communication with their family. Fifty-three __________ said it increased communication with family members they did not live with, two per cent said technology __________ this. Numbers were __________ for those living in the same house as their family. The project director Lee Rainey said: "There's a new __________ of connectedness being built inside of families with these technologies”. Survey co-author Barry Wellman agreed: "It used to be [that] husbands went __________ to work, wives went off to a different job or else stayed home…and the kids went off to school…and not until 5:30, 6 o'clock did they ever __________," he said
decreased connect quality kind similar effect off percent
.
LISTENING: Listen and fill in the spaces.
Much __________________ how anti-social the Internet and mobile phones are. The truth is however, according to new research, communication technology __________________
closer together. A study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found family members were keeping in regular __________________ than ever before. And this
_______________ e-mail, chat, our cellphones and SMS messaging. It makes sense. Years ago, it took a long time to write a letter, then find an envelope and go to the post office to buy a stamp and post it. Today we write mails _________________ our change in the
convenience store and they’re sent in an instant. Having free Internet telephone calls also __________________ in touch more often and for longer. __________________, from five- year-olds to tech-savvy grandparents.
According to the Pew survey, technology __________________ effect on communication within families. Researchers asked 2,252 adults whether new technologies had
__________________ of communication with their family. Fifty-three percent said it increased communication with family members __________________, two per cent said technology decreased this. Numbers were similar __________________ the same house as their family. The project director Lee Rainey said: "There's a new kind of connectedness __________________ of families with these technologies”. Survey co-author Barry Wellman agreed: "It used to be [that] husbands went off to work, wives went off to a different job or else stayed home…and the kids went off to school…and not until 5:30, 6 o'clock
__________________ connect," he said.
AFTER READING / LISTENING
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘anti’ and ‘social’.
anti social
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:
truth
closer
regular
stamp
change
savvy
positive
increased
2%
similar
built
kids
STUDENT FAMILY SURVEY
Write five GOOD questions about family 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.
STUDENT 1 _____________
STUDENT 2 _____________
STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.
Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out.
Change partners often.
Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
a) What did you think when you read the headline?
b) What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘technology’?
c) Do you think communication technology is making us more anti-social?
d) How does the Internet bring you closer to people?
e) How would your life change without the Internet and mobile phones?
f) Do you like the idea of writing letters with a pen and then mailing them?
g) How many mails or SMS messages do you write a day?
h) The article says “Everyone’s at it”. Do you know anyone who doesn’t use the latest technology to communicate?
i) Are your grandparents tech-savvy?
j) Are you good at keeping in touch?
--- STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
a) Did you like reading this article?
b) Who is the biggest user of technology in your family?
c) Do you think technology has increased the quality of communication in your family?
d) How might technology decrease the quality of communication?
e) How could families become even more connected?
f) Do you sometimes wish you weren’t so connected?
g) What will be the next big thing that will connect us all?
h) Would you like a permanent, open connection to anyone you choose?
i) Is your family good at staying in touch?
j) What questions would you like to ask project director Lee Rainey?
LANGUAGE
(1) ____ has been said about how anti-social the Internet and mobile phones are. The (2) ____ is however, according to new research, communication technology is bringing people closer together. A study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found family
members were keeping in (3) ____ contact today more than ever before. And this is all down to e-mail, chat, our cellphones and SMS messaging. It makes (4) ____. Years ago, it took a long time to write a letter, then find an envelope and go to the post office to buy a stamp and post it. Today we write mails while we wait for our (5) ____ in the convenience store and they’re sent in an instant. Having free Internet telephone calls also helps us to stay in touch more often and for longer. Everyone’s at (6) ____, from five-year-olds to tech-savvy grandparents.
According to the Pew survey, technology has a very positive (7) ____ on communication within families. Researchers asked 2,252 adults whether new technologies had (8) ____ the quality of communication with their family. Fifty-three percent said it increased
communication with family members they did not live with, two per cent said technology decreased this. Numbers were similar for (9) ____ living in the same house as their family.
The project director Lee Rainey said: "There's a new kind of connectedness being (10) ____
inside of families with these technologies”. Survey co-author Barry Wellman agreed: "It used to (11) ____ [that] husbands went off to work, wives went off to a different job or else stayed home…and the kids went off to school…and not (12) ____ 5:30, 6 o'clock did they ever connect," he said.
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
1. (a) Most (b) Many (c) Lot (d) Much
2. (a) true (b) truth (c) truly (d) truthful
3. (a) regular (b) regularly (c) regulation (d) regulations
4. (a) sensation (b) senses (c) sense (d) senseless
5. (a) changed (b) changing (c) change (d) changes
6. (a) them (b) it (c) that (d) these
7. (a) effect (b) affect (c) affection (d) ill effect
8. (a) increases (b) increasing (c) increase (d) increased
9. (a) them (b) those (c) ones (d) these
10. (a) building (b) builder (c) build (d) built
11. (a) been (b) being (c) be (d) was
12. (a) until (b) yet (c) since (d) as WRITING:
Write about family contact for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.
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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 the Pew report in this article.
Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. TECHNOLOGY: Make a poster about the types of communication technologies you use.
Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. CONNECTED: Write a magazine article about how connected people are nowadays.
Include imaginary interviews with an ordinary person and the boss of a communication technology company.
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. DIARY / JOURNAL: Write about the different times you communicate using technology in one day in your life. Read your entry to your classmates in the next lesson.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to Lee Rainey. Ask him three questions about his research. Give him three suggestions on what aspects of society he should study next. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.
ANSWERS TRUE / FALSE:
a. F b. T c. T d. T e. F f. T g. F h. T
SYNONYM MATCH:
1. much a. a lot
2 according to b. as stated by
3. down to c. because of
4. in an instant d. quickly
5. savvy e. know-how
6. within f. inside
7. decreased g. lowered
8. similar h. almost identical
9. connectedness i. linking
10. author j. writer
PHRASE MATCH:
1. technology is bringing people a. closer together
2 keeping in b. regular contact
3. It makes c. sense
4. sent in an d. instant
5. Everyone’s at e. it
6. According to f. the Pew survey
7. communication within g. families
8. family members they h. did not live with
9. There's a new kind of connectedness i. being built
10. not until 5:30, 6 o'clock did j. they ever connect
GAP FILL:
