Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What do you think makes a meal healthy?
- If you could change one thing about the meals served at schools or workplaces, what would it be? Why?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- proposal /pruh-POH-zuhl/
- prevalence /PREV-uh-luhns/
- feasibility /fee-zuh-BIL-i-tee/
- cultural /KUHL-cher-uhl/
- economic /ek-uh-NOM-ik/
[noun] – a plan or suggestion, especially a formal or written one, put forward for consideration
The teacher shared her proposal to start a new reading program.
[noun] – the fact of being common or widespread
The prevalence of smartphones has changed how people communicate daily.
[noun] – the possibility of something being achieved or carried out
The feasibility of building a new school depends on funding.
[adjective] – relating to the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a society
The festival is a celebration of cultural traditions in the region.
[adjective] – relating to trade, industry, and money
The government introduced economic policies to help small businesses grow.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Recent health reform proposals in the United States have focused on improving dietary habits to tackle public health challenges. These proposals, announced recently, aim to enhance school lunch programs, ban specific food additives, and reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods. Advocates for public health have long linked diets high in salt, sugar, and fat to the growing prevalence of obesity and diabetes. Research underscores that minimizing harmful substances in food can lower health risks substantially. Experts believe these measures could improve the overall quality of nutrition nationwide, though concerns have been raised about the feasibility of implementing such reforms. Decades of advocacy by public health organizations have led to these initiatives, which prioritize creating a healthier population and reducing diet-related illnesses.
Implementing these reforms presents significant challenges, including opposition from industry groups and the difficulty of revising regulatory frameworks. Enhancing school lunch programs, for example, would require cooperation among federal agencies, state governments, and schools, alongside considerable financial resources. Banning harmful food additives would necessitate updating long-established safety guidelines while ensuring industry compliance. Analysts have highlighted cultural and economic obstacles to changing food consumption habits nationwide. Despite these hurdles, supporters assert that these efforts could greatly reduce diet-related health conditions, leading to lower healthcare costs and a healthier population. Observers have described the proposals as ambitious yet vital steps toward addressing persistent public health issues.
Implementing these reforms presents significant challenges, including opposition from industry groups and the difficulty of revising regulatory frameworks. Enhancing school lunch programs, for example, would require cooperation among federal agencies, state governments, and schools, alongside considerable financial resources. Banning harmful food additives would necessitate updating long-established safety guidelines while ensuring industry compliance. Analysts have highlighted cultural and economic obstacles to changing food consumption habits nationwide. Despite these hurdles, supporters assert that these efforts could greatly reduce diet-related health conditions, leading to lower healthcare costs and a healthier population. Observers have described the proposals as ambitious yet vital steps toward addressing persistent public health issues.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What are the main goals of recent health reform proposals in the United States?
- Why are diets high in salt, sugar, and fat a concern for public health advocates?
- What do public health advocates believe these reforms could achieve?
- Why is banning harmful food additives considered difficult?
- What are two obstacles mentioned in changing food consumption habits?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever participated in a program to improve health in your school? If so, what did you do? If not, would you like to join one?
- Do you know about any government programs that help people eat healthier? If so, how do they work? If not, would you like to learn about them?
- Do you agree that banning harmful food additives is necessary?
- What could governments do to overcome cultural obstacles to healthier eating?
- What are the long-term benefits of improving public health through better food choices?