©(AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What do you think happens when many people want the same natural product?
- If you could help protect nature in your town, what would you do first?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- production /pruh-DUHK-shuhn/
- industry /IN-duh-stree/
- rural /ROOR-uhl/
- grind /grahynd/
- cooperative /koh-OP-er-uh-tiv/
[noun] – the process of making or creating something
The production of electric cars is increasing every year.
[noun] – a group of businesses that produce a certain product or service
The fashion industry creates many jobs around the world.
[adjective] – related to the countryside, not the city
Many people in rural areas work on farms.
[verb] – to break something into small pieces or powder using force
Workers use machines to grind coffee beans at the factory.
[noun] – an organization that is owned and managed by a group of people who also work in it
Some farmers joined a cooperative to sell their fruit at better prices.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
The production of argan oil in Morocco has grown from a local activity to a major global industry. While still important in Moroccan cooking and medicine, argan oil is now also used in expensive cosmetics around the world. Most of the oil is made by women in rural areas near Essaouira. They grind the argan kernels by hand. It takes nearly two days to produce one kilogram of oil, which sells locally for around $3. However, the demand for argan oil is increasing, and this has caused environmental problems. The argan forests, which once covered over 14,000 square kilometers, have lost 40 percent of their area. Experts say that climate change, overharvesting, and changing land use are the main reasons. These problems are harming biodiversity and the lives of people in rural communities.
To address this, the Moroccan government started a conservation project in 2018. It includes planting argan trees with capers to save water and improve soil quality. But drought has slowed the growth of the new trees. At the same time, many cooperatives must sell oil at low prices to intermediaries. These middlemen sell it at higher prices to international companies. As a result, producers earn less. Some cooperatives have tried using storage centers to negotiate better prices, but success is limited. A new support plan is set for 2026.
To address this, the Moroccan government started a conservation project in 2018. It includes planting argan trees with capers to save water and improve soil quality. But drought has slowed the growth of the new trees. At the same time, many cooperatives must sell oil at low prices to intermediaries. These middlemen sell it at higher prices to international companies. As a result, producers earn less. Some cooperatives have tried using storage centers to negotiate better prices, but success is limited. A new support plan is set for 2026.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What is argan oil used for in Moroccan cooking and medicine?
- Where do most women make argan oil?
- How do the women make the argan oil?
- How long does it take to make one kilogram of argan oil?
- Why are the argan forests getting smaller?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever used oil in your food or on your skin? If yes, what kind of oil did you use? If not, would you like to try something like argan oil? Why or why not?
- Have you ever made something by hand? If yes, what did you make, and how long did it take? If not, what is something you would like to try making by hand?
- Do you agree that protecting the forest is important for the future?
- Why do you think companies sell argan oil at high prices but pay workers little?
- How can the government help workers in rural areas earn more money?