A company in the United States called Berkeley Yeast changes the building blocks of yeast to make beer taste different. They can make the yeast give the beer special flavors like passion fruit and guava. Some beer makers like to use this new kind of yeast because it makes their beer taste the same every time. But in many places, people can’t use this kind of yeast because the rules say no to changing the parts of living things that make them grow and change.

Another big beer company, Carlsberg, doesn’t want to change yeast like Berkeley Yeast does. Carlsberg likes to mix different kinds of plants to make new ones that make their beer better. They have a special place in Denmark where they do this work. They mix plants to make them stronger and keep the beer tasting fresh for a longer time without using the science that changes the building blocks of living things.

In America, some beer makers like to use the changed yeast, but others don’t. The ones who use it say it makes their beer taste the same all the time and last longer before going bad. But some beer makers don’t want to use this science. They want to keep making beer the old way, without changing the yeast.

Original news source: Would you drink genetically modified beer? (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Write down words related to the article such as “yeast,” “flavor,” “beer,” “science,” “plants,” “fresh,” and “change” on individual slips of paper. One student from a team picks a slip and draws the word on the board without speaking or writing letters or numbers. Their team has to guess the word within a set time limit. If they guess correctly, they earn a point. Then, it’s the other team’s turn.

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Split the class into groups of three. One student is a news reporter, the other is a representative from Berkeley Yeast, and the third is from Carlsberg. The reporter interviews the representatives about their different methods of beer production based on the article. After the role-play, each group presents their interview to the class, and the rest of the students can ask additional questions.

– Synonym Challenge
Instructions: Write down key words from the article such as “special,” “change,” “mix,” “stronger,” “fresh,” “science,” and “old.” Students work in pairs to come up with synonyms for these words. They can use a thesaurus if needed. Pairs share their synonyms with the class, and the teacher discusses which synonyms are the most accurate in the context of the article.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements about the article, such as “Changing the yeast in beer production is a good idea” or “Beer should be made using traditional methods.” Students walk around the classroom and ask their peers whether they agree or disagree with each statement, tallying the results. Share and discuss the poll results with the class to see which opinions are most common and why.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask students to individually write down their predictions about the future of beer production based on the article. Will the science of changing yeast become more popular, or will traditional methods prevail? After writing, students share their predictions with a partner, discussing the reasons for their thoughts. Finally, have a few students present their predictions to the class and encourage a group discussion on the topic.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What does Berkeley Yeast do to make beer taste different?
2. What special flavors can Berkeley Yeast make the beer have?
3. Why do some beer makers like using the new kind of yeast from Berkeley Yeast?
4. Why can’t people in many places use the kind of yeast that Berkeley Yeast makes?
5. What does Carlsberg do instead of changing yeast to improve their beer?
6. Where does Carlsberg do their work to mix different plants?
7. What are two reasons some beer makers in America like to use the changed yeast?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A company in the United States called Berkeley (1)______ changes the building blocks of (2)______ to make beer taste different. They can make the yeast give the beer special flavors (3)______ passion fruit and guava. Some beer makers like to use this new kind of yeast because it makes their beer taste the same every time. But in many places, people can’t use this kind of yeast because the rules say no to changing the parts of living things that make them (4)______ and (5)______.

Another big beer company, Carlsberg, doesn’t (6)______ to change yeast like Berkeley Yeast does. Carlsberg likes to mix different kinds of plants to make new (7)______ that make their beer better. They have a special place in Denmark where they do this work. They mix plants to make them (8)______ and keep the beer tasting fresh for a longer time without using the science that (9)______ the building blocks of living things.

In America, some (10)______ makers like to use the changed yeast, but others don’t. The ones who use it say it makes their beer taste the same all the (11)______ and last longer before going bad. But some beer makers don’t want to use this (12)______. They want to keep making beer the old way, without changing the yeast.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your favorite flavor of juice or fruit?
2. How would you feel if your favorite drink tasted different every time you drank it?
3. Do you like to try new flavors in food and drinks? Why or why not?
4. What is a rule in your school or home that you have to follow?
5. How do you think a scientist can change a tiny thing like yeast to make flavors?
6. Do you think it’s a good idea to make food taste the same every time? Why or why not?
7. What is something special from your country that you like to eat or drink?
8. If you could make a new flavor for a drink, what would it be?
9. Do you think it’s important to keep old ways of making food and drinks? Why or why not?
10. What do you think about mixing plants to make them stronger?
11. Have you ever tasted beer or seen adults drink it? What did you think about it?
12. Do you think scientists should change the parts of living things? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. yeast
2. beer
3. flavors
4. rules
5. Carlsberg
6. Denmark
7. America
8. science

Meanings:
(a) A bubbly drink made from hops and barley
(b) The study of the natural world and how things work
(c) A big company that makes beer
(d) Things you have to follow
(e) A country in North America
(f) A country in Europe
(g) Different types of tastes, like fruit or chocolate
(h) Tiny living thing used to make bread and beer
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What does Berkeley Yeast do to change the taste of beer?
(a) Change the color of yeast
(b) Change the temperature of yeast
(c) Change the shape of yeast
(d) Change the building blocks of yeast

2. Why do some beer makers like to use the new kind of yeast from Berkeley Yeast?
(a) It changes the color of the beer
(b) It makes their beer taste the same every time
(c) It makes the beer smell like flowers
(d) It makes the beer cheaper to produce

3. Where is Carlsberg’s special place for mixing plants to make new ones for their beer?
(a) Denmark
(b) United States
(c) Germany
(d) England

4. What does Carlsberg do to make their beer taste fresh for a longer time?
(a) Change the yeast’s building blocks
(b) Use special chemicals
(c) Mix different kinds of plants
(d) Add more water to the beer

5. Why do some American beer makers like to use the changed yeast?
(a) It makes their beer taste different every time
(b) It makes their beer cheaper to produce
(c) It makes their beer taste the same all the time and last longer
(d) It makes their beer look more colorful

6. What do some beer makers not want to use in their beer making process?
(a) Different kinds of plants
(b) Special chemicals
(c) More water in the beer
(d) The science that changes the building blocks of living things

7. What do some beer makers want to keep doing?
(a) Using the new kind of yeast
(b) Making beer the old way, without changing the yeast
(c) Changing the color of the beer
(d) Using more water in the beer

8. What is the main reason some beer makers don’t want to use the changed yeast?
(a) They want to keep making beer the old way
(b) They want to make their beer taste different every time
(c) They want to save money
(d) They want to follow the rules about changing living things

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Carlsberg, a big beer company, prefers to mix different plants to make their beer better, instead of changing yeast.
2. Some beer makers dislike using Berkeley Yeast’s yeast because it makes their beer taste different every time.
3. Carlsberg’s approach to improving their beer is the same as Berkeley Yeast’s approach.
4. Berkeley Yeast in the United States changes yeast to make beer taste different, with flavors like passion fruit and guava.
5. Carlsberg has a regular place in Denmark where they mix plants to make them weaker and make the beer spoil faster.
6. In America, some beer makers like using the changed yeast because it makes their beer taste the same all the time and last longer.
7. However, rules in many places allow the use of this kind of yeast that changes living things.
8. But other beer makers prefer to keep making beer the old way, without changing the yeast.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What does Berkeley Yeast do to make beer taste different?
2. Why do some beer makers like to use the new kind of yeast from Berkeley Yeast?
3. What rule stops people in many places from using the yeast that Berkeley Yeast makes?
4. What does Carlsberg do instead of changing yeast to improve their beer?
5. Why do some beer makers in America choose not to use the changed yeast?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What does Berkeley Yeast do to make beer taste different?
Berkeley Yeast changes the parts inside yeast to make beer have different tastes.

2. What special flavors can Berkeley Yeast make the beer have?
Berkeley Yeast can make beer taste like passion fruit and guava.

3. Why do some beer makers like using the new kind of yeast from Berkeley Yeast?
Some beer makers like the new yeast because it makes their beer taste the same every time.

4. Why can’t people in many places use the kind of yeast that Berkeley Yeast makes?
People in many places can’t use this yeast because rules don’t allow changing the parts of living things.

5. What does Carlsberg do instead of changing yeast to improve their beer?
Carlsberg mixes different kinds of plants to make new ones that make their beer better.

6. Where does Carlsberg do their work to mix different plants?
Carlsberg mixes plants in a special place in Denmark.

7. What are two reasons some beer makers in America like to use the changed yeast?
Some beer makers like the changed yeast because it keeps the beer taste the same and it lasts longer before going bad.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Yeast
(2) yeast
(3) like
(4) grow
(5) change
(6) want
(7) ones
(8) stronger
(9) changes
(10) beer
(11) time
(12) science
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. yeast
Answer: (h) Tiny living thing used to make bread and beer

2. beer
Answer: (a) A bubbly drink made from hops and barley

3. flavors
Answer: (g) Different types of tastes, like fruit or chocolate

4. rules
Answer: (d) Things you have to follow

5. Carlsberg
Answer: (c) A big company that makes beer

6. Denmark
Answer: (f) A country in Europe

7. America
Answer: (e) A country in North America

8. science
Answer: (b) The study of the natural world and how things work
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What does Berkeley Yeast do to change the taste of beer?
Answer: (d) Change the building blocks of yeast

2. Why do some beer makers like to use the new kind of yeast from Berkeley Yeast?
Answer: (b) It makes their beer taste the same every time

3. Where is Carlsberg’s special place for mixing plants to make new ones for their beer?
Answer: (a) Denmark

4. What does Carlsberg do to make their beer taste fresh for a longer time?
Answer: (c) Mix different kinds of plants

5. Why do some American beer makers like to use the changed yeast?
Answer: (c) It makes their beer taste the same all the time and last longer

6. What do some beer makers not want to use in their beer making process?
Answer: (d) The science that changes the building blocks of living things

7. What do some beer makers want to keep doing?
Answer: (b) Making beer the old way, without changing the yeast

8. What is the main reason some beer makers don’t want to use the changed yeast?
Answer: (a) They want to keep making beer the old way
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Carlsberg, a big beer company, prefers to mix different plants to make their beer better, instead of changing yeast. (Answer: True)
2. Some beer makers dislike using Berkeley Yeast’s yeast because it makes their beer taste different every time. (Answer: False)
3. Carlsberg’s approach to improving their beer is the same as Berkeley Yeast’s approach. (Answer: False)
4. Berkeley Yeast in the United States changes yeast to make beer taste different, with flavors like passion fruit and guava. (Answer: True)
5. Carlsberg has a regular place in Denmark where they mix plants to make them weaker and make the beer spoil faster. (Answer: False)
6. In America, some beer makers like using the changed yeast because it makes their beer taste the same all the time and last longer. (Answer: True)
7. However, rules in many places allow the use of this kind of yeast that changes living things. (Answer: False)
8. But other beer makers prefer to keep making beer the old way, without changing the yeast. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧