Speaking Boost · A2 · Lesson 15 of 50
Speaking Boost A2 · Block 3: Food

Where do people live the longest?

In five "Blue Zones" around the world, many people live to 100. What do they eat? Talk about healthy food and fast food, give food advice, and give your final talk of Block 3.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Healthy eating

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Do you think you eat healthily?
  2. How often do you eat fast food?
  3. What is your favourite healthy food?
  4. What is your favourite unhealthy food?
  5. Do you cook with fresh vegetables?
  6. Who in your family eats the healthiest?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say if you eat this often.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. Fruit and vegetables are very .
  2. Burgers and fries are typical .
  3. Crisps, sweets and cola are .
  4. I buy bread every morning.
  5. My grandmother's jam is delicious.
  6. Cola and lemonade are .
  7. I'm sugar — I only have one cake a week now.
  8. Chocolate is OK, .
2.3

Healthy or not?

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. healthy ↔
  2. fresh ↔
  3. homemade ↔
  4. to eat less = to cut down
  5. not too much = in
  6. Walking is good
    you.
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to give food advice.

  • You should eat more...Тобі варто їсти більше...You should eat more vegetables.
  • You shouldn't eat so much...Тобі не варто їсти так багато...You shouldn't eat so much fast food.
  • It's good / bad for you.Це корисно / шкідливо.Fresh fruit is good for you.
  • I try to...Я намагаюся...I try to drink two litres of water a day.
  • I'm cutting down on...Я зменшую...I'm cutting down on sweets.
  • Why don't you try...?Чому б тобі не спробувати...?Why don't you try porridge for breakfast?
  • Everything in moderation.Усе в міру.I eat cake sometimes. Everything in moderation!
  • An apple a day keeps the doctor away.Яблуко на день — і лікар не потрібен.My grandma always says, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

The Blue Zones

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Where do people live the longest?

In some places in the world, many people live to 90 or even 100 years old. A writer called Dan Buettner and a team of scientists visited these places and called them "Blue Zones".

There are five Blue Zones: Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy, Ikaria in Greece, Nicoya in Costa Rica, and Loma Linda in the USA. The people there are very different, but they have some things in common.

First, they eat a lot of plants: vegetables, fruit, beans and whole grains. They eat meat, but not much. They don't eat a lot of processed food or sugar.

Second, they don't usually go to the gym. They walk a lot, work in their gardens and do housework every day. Third, they often eat with their family and friends, and they have a strong community.

Of course, genes are important too. But the Blue Zones show that simple food, moving every day and good friends can help us live longer and happier lives.

3.2

True or false?

  1. In Blue Zones, many people live to 90 or 100.
  2. There are ten Blue Zones.
  3. People in Blue Zones eat a lot of plants and beans.
  4. People in Blue Zones go to the gym every day.
  5. They often eat with family and friends.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Which Blue Zone habit do you already have?
  2. Which habit would be the easiest for you to start?
  3. Do old people in your family eat like the Blue Zones?
  4. Is it easy to eat healthily in your city?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

should / shouldn't + verb

Advice: a good idea / a bad idea.

You should eat more fruit. You shouldn't drink so much cola.

Questions

Should I...? What should I...?

Should I eat breakfast? What should I eat before sport?

Block 3 review

Use the grammar from this block.

much / many (L11) · Can I have / I'd like (L12) · imperatives (L13) · Past Simple (L14)

Softer advice: Why don't you...? / Try to... / It's a good idea to.... Careful: ✗ You should to eat → You should eat. ✗ You don't should → You shouldn't.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. You
    drink more water.
  2. You
    eat so many sweets.
  3. eat breakfast every day?
  4. How
    sugar do you eat?
  5. a salad, please?
  6. the vegetables and add some oil.
  7. Yesterday I
    a big burger.
  8. try green tea?
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. You should to eat more vegetables. →
  2. You don't should drink cola. →
  3. How many sugar do you eat? →
  4. Last week I eat a lot of fast food. →
  5. Why you don't cook at home? →
  6. Do I should eat less? →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use should / shouldn't and Block 3 grammar.

  1. What should people eat for a healthy breakfast?
  2. Give advice to someone who eats fast food every day.
  3. What did you eat yesterday? Was it healthy?
  4. What food is good for you and what is bad for you?
  5. What should children eat and not eat?
  6. What would you like to change in your diet?
5

Healthy advice and a final talk

8 min
5.1

Give them advice

Give each person advice: what should they eat and do? What shouldn't they eat? Use ideas from the Blue Zones.

Person 1

Taras, 35

  • Eats fast food for lunch every day
  • Drinks three cans of cola
  • Never eats vegetables
  • Always tired
Person 2

Ania, 28

  • Skips breakfast
  • Eats a lot of sweets at work
  • Dinner at 11 p.m.
  • Doesn't drink water
Person 3

Pavlo, 16

  • Loves crisps and pizza
  • Plays computer games all day
  • Never walks
  • Hates fruit
5.2

Mini-talk: food and me

This is the final speaking task of Block 3. Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: what you usually eat and drink (countable / uncountable).
  3. Part 2: a food tradition in your family and a celebration you remember (Past Simple).
  4. Part 3: advice for a healthy diet (should / shouldn't).
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. How often do you eat fruit and vegetables?
  2. How much water do you drink a day?
  3. Do you eat a lot of sweets?
  4. Do you cook healthy food at home?
  5. What is your favourite fast food?
  6. Do you eat with your family?
  7. Do you read food labels?
  8. What healthy food do you hate?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family eats very healthily?
  2. What do children in your family eat?
  3. Do your friends eat a lot of fast food?
  4. What did your grandparents eat when they were young?
  5. Who is the oldest person you know? What do they eat?
  6. What do people at your work eat for lunch?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is healthy food too expensive?
  2. Should schools sell junk food?
  3. Is fast food always unhealthy?
  4. Do people eat healthier now than 50 years ago?
  5. Is it easy to eat healthily when you are busy?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

The food doctor

You

Nutrition adviser

A client (your teacher) wants to eat healthier. Ask questions and give advice:
  • ask what they eat on a normal day
  • tell them what is good and bad in their diet
  • give them advice (should / shouldn't)
  • plan a healthy day of food for them
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use should / shouldn't and food vocabulary.
Your teacher

Client

Says things like:
  1. I love pizza and cola.
  2. I don't have time for breakfast.
  3. Should I stop eating bread?
  4. I hate vegetables!
7.2

The healthy café

You

Café owner

You want to open a healthy café in your town. Present your idea to a friend (your teacher):
  • what food and drinks you will sell
  • why it is healthy (Blue Zones ideas)
  • how much it will cost
  • why people will like it
You do most of the talking. Use: We'll have... · It's good for you because... · People should... · It's not more expensive than...
Your teacher

Friend

Asks short questions, for example:
  1. Will you sell coffee?
  2. What about desserts?
  3. Will young people come?
  4. Is healthy food tasty?
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

healthyfast foodjunk foodfreshhomemadefizzy drinkscutting down onin moderation
  1. Vegetables are very .
  2. I don't eat very often.
  3. Crisps are .
  4. I buy fruit at the market.
  5. This bread is delicious.
  6. have a lot of sugar.
  7. I'm coffee.
  8. Sweets are OK .
H2

Block 3 review: choose the correct form

  1. You eat more fruit.
  2. You drink so much cola.
  3. How water do you drink?
  4. the menu?
  5. the potatoes.
  6. Last Christmas, we twelve dishes.
  7. How eggs do you need?
  8. I'd a cup of tea.
H3

Correct or incorrect? (Block 3 review)

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. You should eat more vegetables.
  2. You should to drink water.
  3. How much sugar do you eat?
  4. Can I having a coffee?
  5. Chop the onion.
  6. Yesterday I eat pizza.
  7. Why don't you try green tea?
H4

Match the two halves

  1. You should eat more
  2. You shouldn't eat so much
  3. Fresh fruit
  4. I try to drink
  5. Why don't you try
  6. I eat cake sometimes.
  7. An apple a day

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