Monthly Archive: March 2017

Vegemite brand back in Australian ownership

Business - I

Pre-reading questions: Do you know any foreign food brand? Do you purchase from foreign food brands? Do you know Vegemite? Vegemite brand is under Australian management once again after Bega Cheese acquired it from Mondelez International. Including ZoOSH mayonnaise and Bonox beef extract, the deal was closed at A$460 million. On the other hand, Mondelez International said they would prioritize main brands in New Zealand and Australia, such as Cadbury and Oreos. Bega Executive Chairman Barry Irvin said the brand Vegemite upholds the wonderful heritage of Australian culture which makes this investment exciting. Australians lost the brand to American food company Kraft in 1935, though its manufacturing process stayed in…
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Vegemite brand back in Australian ownership

Business - B

Pre-reading questions: What’s your favorite Japanese food spread? What’s the most famous food spread in your country? Vegemite spread brand is now owned by an Australian company again. Bega cheese company bought Vegemite brand from Mondelez International for A$460 million. Mondelez International said they will focus on their main products like Cadbury and Oreos instead. Vegemite is made of yeast. It is rich in Vitamin B. It has a dark color and it tastes bitter. This is a famous spread in Australia that is already part of their culture. Vocabulary: vegemite – [noun] a popular spread made in Australia yeast – [noun] a commercial product containing living yeast cells that…
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Italy’s rarest pasta revealed

Lifestyle

Pre-reading questions: What Italian food is famous in your country? Do you like Italian food? Do you know how to cook any Italian dish? The rarest pasta in the world is at risk of becoming extinct. Su filindeu’s recipe is well kept in the Abraini family and is passed down from generation to generation. At present, only 3 women from the clan know how to make it. The preparation is so difficult that in the last 200 years, the dish has only been served to people who finish a 33km-pilgrimage in their area for the Feast of San Francesco. Semolina wheat, water and salt are the ingredients to making su…
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Italy’s rarest pasta revealed

Lifestyle

Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite pasta? What is your favorite Italian food? Su filindeu, the world’s rarest pasta is only made in Sardinia, Italy. Its recipe is well kept in Paula Abraini’s family. Today, only three women in Abraini’s family can make it. At present, the pasta is only served to pilgrims that visit a holy mountain in their place. The family revealed that the recipe consists of 3 ingredients. People need hard work to make it. Vocabulary: rare [adjective] – unusual; uncommon; unique recipe [noun] – a set of instructions for making or preparing food. pilgrim [noun] – a person who journeys to a holy place ingredient [noun]…
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Cancer drugs may threaten the heart

Health - Intermediate

A set of drugs that fight off cancer is linked to heart complications, a study warns. These medicines called checkpoint inhibitors, caused a few of their takers to develop heart trouble by triggering the body’s immune system to attack the heart. The drugs are a form of immunotherapy that trains the body to counter malignant cells and they have been proven to be very effective for many as they resulted to longer remissions even to those who are suffering from advanced cancer. Although the adverse effect has only been observed to less than a percent of the patients, doctors need to conduct cardiac testings prior to taking the said drugs….
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Cancer drugs may threaten the heart

Health - Beginner

Pre-reading questions: What came to mind when you read the title above? Do you think medicines are always effective? Medicines that can treat cancer can result to heart damage. They are known as checkpoint inhibitors. There are currently four checkpoint inhibitors in the market. They are used to treat six types of cancer. Checkpoint inhibitors are sometimes mixed with one another for better results. They are lifesaving drugs that can lead to deaths in rare cases. Less than 1 percent of cancer patients taking them have suffered heart failures. They somehow destroy the immune system and the heart. Doctors are still researching for treatment for heart problems caused by these…
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Cancer drugs may threaten the heart

Health - Beg

Pre-reading questions: Do you often read about health in the newspaper? What is the best way to stay healthy? Medicines used to fight cancer can also cause heart problems. Less than one percent of patients taking them have experienced heart problems. They cause damages to the body and the heart. Doctors are still working to find a cure for those heart problems caused by cancer drugs. Vocabulary: cancer – [noun] a serious disease caused by cells that are not normal and that can spread to one or many parts of the body cure – [noun] something that stops the disease drug – [noun] a medicine True or False: Medicines used…
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Parents to be penalized if children are always late for school

Education - E

  In the most recent newsletter of Winter Gardens Academy in United Kingdom, parents are told that they may be fined for their children’s habitual tardiness from school. Catherine Staltham, the primary school head teacher, announced that any pupils arriving after the 9:00 am bell will be considered late starting April 1. Parents could be penalized as much as £60, which can rise up to £120 if not paid within 21 days. Parents and guardians of late comers may also be prosecuted in court if not paid within 28 days. This policy is in line with the local Department of Education’s school guidance which seeks to undermine tardiness. The school…
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