There hasn’t been enough rain in Spain, and it’s causing big problems for olive oil. Spain makes a lot of the world’s olive oil, but because it’s so dry, they can’t make as much as they usually do. This means that the price of olive oil has gone up a lot, by more than 70% this year. A really big olive oil factory in Spain had a very bad year and didn’t get many olives.

People in other countries in Europe are also paying more for olive oil, but not as much as in Spain. In places like the UK and Ireland, olive oil is cheaper because they bought it before the price went up. But if people choose other oils that cost less, they won’t get the good things that olive oil has for their health. The weather is getting hotter and there’s not enough rain, which is making it hard to make enough olive oil.

Some people in Spain are going to Portugal to buy olive oil because it’s a little cheaper there. But even in Spain, people are buying less olive oil than before. Spanish farmers are selling less olive oil to other countries too. The Spanish government is trying to save water, but farmers say they need better ways to water their olive trees so they can handle dry times better in the future.

Original news source: Olive oil price skyrockets as Spanish drought bites (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will read the article and then summarize the main points in their own words. They can take turns sharing their summaries with the class.

– Word Association
Instructions: Students will brainstorm words or phrases that come to mind when they think of olive oil. They can share their responses with a partner or in small groups, and then discuss why they made those associations.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Give each student a vocabulary word from the article (e.g. rain, olive oil, price, health). Students will draw a picture that represents the word and then try to guess each other’s drawings. They can use the article to help explain the word if needed.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. One group will discuss the pros of using olive oil, while the other group will discuss the cons. After a few minutes, have each group share their arguments with the class and encourage a class discussion on the topic.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In small groups, students will discuss and make predictions about the future of olive oil production in Spain. They can consider factors such as climate change, water scarcity, and consumer demand. Each group will then present their predictions to the class and explain their reasoning.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Why is there a problem with olive oil in Spain?
2. What has happened to the price of olive oil this year?
3. Why is olive oil cheaper in the UK and Ireland?
4. What are some of the good things that olive oil has for our health?
5. Where are some people in Spain going to buy olive oil?
6. Are Spanish farmers selling more or less olive oil to other countries?
7. What are Spanish farmers asking the government for to help with the dry weather?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

There hasn’t been enough rain in Spain, and it’s (1)______ big problems for (2)______ oil. Spain makes a lot of the world’s olive oil, but because it’s so dry, they can’t make as much as they usually do. This means that the price of olive oil has gone up a lot, by more than 70% this (3)______. A really big olive oil factory in Spain had a very bad year and didn’t get many olives.

People in other countries in (4)______ are also paying more for olive oil, but not as much as in Spain. In places like the UK and Ireland, olive oil is (5)______ because they bought it before the price (6)______ up. But if people choose other oils that cost less, they won’t get the good things that olive oil has for their (7)______. The weather is getting (8)______ and there’s not enough (9)______, which is making it hard to make enough olive oil.

Some people in Spain are going to Portugal to buy olive oil because it’s a little cheaper there. But even in Spain, people are buying (10)______ olive oil than before. Spanish farmers are selling less olive oil to (11)______ countries too. The Spanish government is trying to save water, but farmers say they need (12)______ ways to water their olive trees so they can handle dry times better in the future.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is olive oil and why is it important?
2. How do you think the price of olive oil going up affects people who use it?
3. Do you like using olive oil in your cooking? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you couldn’t afford to buy olive oil anymore?
5. What are some other types of oil that people can use instead of olive oil?
6. Do you think it’s important to buy olive oil even if it’s more expensive? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever tried olive oil? What did you think of it?
8. How do you think the weather affects the production of olive oil?
9. Do you think the Spanish government is doing enough to help the farmers? Why or why not?
10. How would you feel if you were a farmer in Spain and couldn’t sell your olive oil?
11. What are some ways that farmers could water their olive trees better?
12. Do you think the problem of not enough rain will get better in the future? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. olive oil
2. factory
3. drought
4. price
5. health
6. weather
7. farmers
8. water
9. handle
10. save
11. Portugal
12. future

Meanings:
(A) To keep something for later and not use it all now
(B) A country next to Spain
(C) A big building where things are made or produced
(D) How good your body is
(E) The time that will come after now
(F) How much money something costs
(G) A long period of time without rain
(H) People who grow crops and take care of animals
(I) A type of oil made from olives that is used in cooking
(J) What the air and temperature is like outside
(K) A clear liquid that we need to drink and use to grow plants
(L) To deal with or manage something difficult
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why is there a problem with olive oil in Spain?
(a) There hasn’t been enough rain
(b) There are too many olives
(c) The price is too low
(d) The factory is closed

2. How much has the price of olive oil gone up this year?
(a) Less than 70%
(b) More than 70%
(c) About 50%
(d) About 30%

3. Why is olive oil cheaper in the UK and Ireland?
(a) They have more olives
(b) They have more rain
(c) They bought it before the price went up
(d) They don’t like olive oil

4. What happens if people choose other oils that cost less?
(a) They won’t get the good things that olive oil has for their health
(b) They will get more olives
(c) The price of olive oil will go down
(d) The weather will get hotter

5. Why are some people going to Portugal to buy olive oil?
(a) They want to support Portuguese farmers
(b) They like Portuguese olive oil better
(c) It’s a little cheaper there
(d) They want to try different types of olive oil

6. Are Spanish farmers selling less olive oil to other countries?
(a) No
(b) They are selling more
(c) They are selling the same amount
(d) Yes

7. What is the Spanish government trying to save?
(a) Olive oil
(b) Money
(c) Olives
(d) Water

8. What do Spanish farmers need to water their olive trees better?
(a) More olives
(b) Better ways
(c) More rain
(d) More money

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Other European countries are also paying less for olive oil, but not as much as Spain.
2. Spain produces a little of the world’s olive oil, but the dry weather is enabling them to make as much as usual.
3. Choosing cheaper oils means missing out on the health benefits of olive oil.
4. The price of olive oil has increased by more than 70% this year due to the low production.
5. In the UK and Ireland, olive oil is cheaper because they bought it before the price increase.
6. Spain is experiencing an excess of rain, which is causing problems for olive oil production.
7. Spanish farmers are selling less olive oil to other countries, and the government is trying to conserve water to help with future olive oil production.
8. A minor olive oil factory in Spain had a bad year and didn’t harvest many olives.
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. Why is there a problem with olive oil in Spain?
2. What has happened to the price of olive oil this year?
3. Why is olive oil cheaper in the UK and Ireland?
4. Where are some people in Spain going to buy olive oil?
5. What are Spanish farmers asking the government for to help with the dry weather?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why is there a problem with olive oil in Spain?
There hasn’t been enough rain in Spain, which makes it hard to make enough olive oil.

2. What has happened to the price of olive oil this year?
The price of olive oil has gone up a lot, by more than 70% this year.

3. Why is olive oil cheaper in the UK and Ireland?
Olive oil is cheaper in the UK and Ireland because they bought it before the price went up.

4. What are some of the good things that olive oil has for our health?
Olive oil is good for our health because it has good fats that are good for our heart and it can help lower cholesterol.

5. Where are some people in Spain going to buy olive oil?
Some people in Spain are going to Portugal to buy olive oil because it’s a little cheaper there.

6. Are Spanish farmers selling more or less olive oil to other countries?
Spanish farmers are selling less olive oil to other countries.

7. What are Spanish farmers asking the government for to help with the dry weather?
Spanish farmers are asking the government for better ways to water their olive trees so they can handle dry times better in the future.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) causing
(2) olive
(3) year
(4) Europe
(5) cheaper
(6) went
(7) health
(8) hotter
(9) rain
(10) less
(11) other
(12) better
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. olive oil
Answer: (I) A type of oil made from olives that is used in cooking

2. factory
Answer: (C) A big building where things are made or produced

3. drought
Answer: (G) A long period of time without rain

4. price
Answer: (F) How much money something costs

5. health
Answer: (D) How good your body is

6. weather
Answer: (J) What the air and temperature is like outside

7. farmers
Answer: (H) People who grow crops and take care of animals

8. water
Answer: (K) A clear liquid that we need to drink and use to grow plants

9. handle
Answer: (L) To deal with or manage something difficult

10. save
Answer: (A) To keep something for later and not use it all now

11. Portugal
Answer: (B) A country next to Spain

12. future
Answer: (E) The time that will come after now
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why is there a problem with olive oil in Spain?
Answer: (a) There hasn’t been enough rain

2. How much has the price of olive oil gone up this year?
Answer: (b) More than 70%

3. Why is olive oil cheaper in the UK and Ireland?
Answer: (c) They bought it before the price went up

4. What happens if people choose other oils that cost less?
Answer: (a) They won’t get the good things that olive oil has for their health

5. Why are some people going to Portugal to buy olive oil?
Answer: (c) It’s a little cheaper there

6. Are Spanish farmers selling less olive oil to other countries?
Answer: (d) Yes

7. What is the Spanish government trying to save?
Answer: (d) Water

8. What do Spanish farmers need to water their olive trees better?
Answer: (b) Better ways
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Other European countries are also paying less for olive oil, but not as much as Spain. (Answer: False)
2. Spain produces a little of the world’s olive oil, but the dry weather is enabling them to make as much as usual. (Answer: False)
3. Choosing cheaper oils means missing out on the health benefits of olive oil. (Answer: True)
4. The price of olive oil has increased by more than 70% this year due to the low production. (Answer: True)
5. In the UK and Ireland, olive oil is cheaper because they bought it before the price increase. (Answer: True)
6. Spain is experiencing an excess of rain, which is causing problems for olive oil production. (Answer: False)
7. Spanish farmers are selling less olive oil to other countries, and the government is trying to conserve water to help with future olive oil production. (Answer: True)
8. A minor olive oil factory in Spain had a bad year and didn’t harvest many olives. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧