You are going to read a magazine article about genetically modified foods. Choose the most suitable summary sentence from the
list A-H for each part (1-6) of the article. There is one extra summary sentence which you do not need to use. There is an
example at the beginning (0).
A We may see a range of new products in the future.
B New techniques can improve the nature of crops.
C Many consumers want to be able to choose.
D There is a variety of products aimed at children.
E One company has responded to consumer demand.
F Scientists are convinced of the advantages of genetic manipulation.
G Some people are worried about the consequences of genetic manipulation.
H Science is using extreme methods for a good cause.
IT’S JUST NOT NATURAL
Genetic modification can give us easy-peel oranges, cancer-fighting strawberries and blue potatoes. But if you don't want
your food fiddled about with, can you avoid it?
0
H
When you bite into an apple, do you ever wish it was a pineapple instead? Well, now you can have the best of both worlds.
Australian scientists have created a fruit with the convenience of an apple and the taste of a pineapple. The aim of the Snack
Apple is to persuade children to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables and it's just one illustration of how far science is prepared to
go in pursuit of this worthy ideal.
1
First on the scene was frozen-food company Iceland which came up with chocolate-flavoured carrots, made by freezing the
vegetables with granules of chocolate sauce. And plant breeders have a range of mini-vegetables such as carrots, broccoli and
cauliflower, which they hope will make them popular snack foods with youngsters and healthier alternative to crisps.
2
But science can now do much more than this and create new types of foods by means of genetic manipulation. A gene may be
transferred from a different species in order to increase the nutritional value of the plant, or to make it more resistant to pests and
disease. Incredibly, scientists have used a gene from a fish to give antifreeze properties to tomatoes and so increase their growing
season.
3
Despite the benefits, however, not everyone is in favour of genetically modified (GM) foods or 'Frankenfoods', as the media calls
them. Because there are no long-term studies to prove the safety of GM foods, their long-term effect on human health is
unknown. There is also a great deal of concern for the environment, with fears that GM crops might spread their genes by
pollination to other plants growing nearby. This kind of genetic pollution would be very difficult to clean up.
4
There is particular controversy surrounding soya, a common ingredient in processed foodstuffs. One of the problems is that
imports of soya from the US contain both GM and non-GM beans because it's not thought practical to separate them at their
source. It is therefore difficult to avoid GM soya because we don’t know which products contain it and which don’t. A large
number of consumers object to this and have called for clearer labelling of GM products.
5
As a result, a spokesperson for Iceland recently announced that the company would buy soya for its own-brand products only
from Brazil, where the GM crop isn’t grown. Iceland's Michelle Gray explained that this was for reasons of both safety and
consumer choice. “We realize that scientific opinion is divided on the safety of GM soya, so we thought it best to be on the
cautious side and ensure our customers can have products without GM soya if they want them.”
6
But should we reject all GM foods? There are plans to introduce more appealing products: peas which contain more vitamin C
and broccoli, strawberries and tomatoes with more of the anti-cancer compound, sulphophane. We could also have blue potatoes.
The genes that make one natural blue dye have recently been transferred from bacteria to flowers, so why not to food plants?
Scientists are already working on blue roses using this technology. And if your main objection to fruit is the unpeelable orange,
there are also plans for an orange that will practically peel itself.
KEYS: 1D 2B 3G 4C 5E 6A
You going to read an article about convenience food. Choose from the list A-I the sentence which best
summarizes each part (1-7) of the article. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. There
is an example at the beginning (0).
A) It Is worth paying more for less fat.
B) Convenience food is often not as good as food cooked at home.
C) Added ingredients may improve convenience products.
D Convenience food has some advantages
E Convenience food is usually an expensive alternative.
F) Convenience products are now available which are claimed to be healthier.
G) You may often need to serve additional food.
H) Some convenience products need careful storage and cooking.
I) There is now a greater choice of convenience food.
CONVENIENCE FOOD
0
I
Technological advances have dramatically increased the quality and range of convenience meals that are now
available. Vacuum-packed or frozen pre-cooked meals ready for the microwave, packets of soup, cake and sauce
mixes, instant mashed potato and frozen peas are just a few of the timesaving foods that many people now rely on.
1
Although pre-prepared meals save time, they may not always be as nutritious as those prepared in your own kitchen.
This is because each time they are heated they lose some of their vitamins, and many 'heat-and-eat' meals have
already been cooked before they are reheated. Convenience food also tends to contain more sugar, salt and fat than
most other food.
2
However, there are increasing numbers of so-called 'healthy' meals, usually identified by 'healthy eating' symbols or
the manufacturer's own brand name for their low-calorie products. Some labels mention 'reduced' or 'controlled'
sodium, but these may still contain considerable amounts of salt.
3
A meal in a packet is a useful standby, especially in families who like to eat different things at different times, and for
people who work late. It is often cheaper than a takeaway and a convenient alternative to cooking from scratch. And
it saves on washing up.
4
The 'healthy' versions of most pre-prepared dishes are more expensive than their standard equivalents, but may be a
better choice if they are lower in fat. Levels of other ingredients in the standard and 'healthy' varieties are usually
similar.
5
Although some ready-made foods are sold as 'complete' meals, they are rarely a good source of vegetables or starchy
foods. It is a good idea, therefore, to add extra vegetables or a salad along with a starchy food, such as brown rice or a
wholemeal roll.
6
Despite the fact that food manufacturers and retailers have improved hygiene and food safety at many stages of the
food chain, pre-cooked foods found in chill cabinets may still be a source of food poisoning. Consumers should keep
and prepare these foods with great care to prevent the spread of bacteria. This means bringing food home as soon as
possible after purchase, keeping it in a refrigerator or freezer, following microwave guidelines and making sure food
is really hot before eating.
7
Although many people view additives with suspicion, they have their advantages. Their presence is often vital if food
is not to spoil, and many result in better taste, texture or colour. All additives are the subject of strict safety checks
and allergic reactions are very rare.
KEYS: 1B 2F 3D 4A 5G 6H 7C