Babies need special milk called formula, but it’s getting more expensive. A mom named Emma Davies wants to buy the best milk for her baby, even if it costs more. Two big companies make most of the baby milk, and prices have gone up a lot. People say parents can save money if they buy different brands, but some parents worry the cheaper milk isn’t as good.

People who know a lot about baby milk say all kinds are safe and good for babies. A teacher named Professor Amy Brown says expensive milk isn’t better than cheap milk. But parents think if something costs more, it must be better. In the UK, you can’t put ads on TV for baby milk for little babies. This rule is to help moms breastfeed. Also, stores can’t have sales on baby milk, so parents can’t save money that way.

Many families don’t have enough money and need help to buy baby milk. A lady who helps families, Sophie Livingstone, says parents are having a hard time. They give their babies less milk or use fewer diapers to save money. People are looking into why baby milk costs so much, but we won’t know more until 2024. Some people say stores should make their own baby milk to help parents pay less.

Original news source: Baby formula soaring costs: ‘I struggle, but I won’t buy a cheaper brand’ (BBC)

Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Assign each group a different section of the article to read and summarize.
3. Give the groups a few minutes to discuss and come up with a summary of their section.
4. Have each group present their summary to the class.

– Sketch It
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs.
2. Give each pair a different sentence or phrase from the article.
3. One student must draw a picture to represent the sentence or phrase, while the other student guesses what it is.
4. After a set amount of time, have the pairs switch roles and repeat the activity.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Write down a list of vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper.
2. Divide the class into two teams.
3. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and choose a word.
4. They must then draw a picture to represent the word, while their team tries to guess what it is.
5. The team that guesses correctly gets a point, and the game continues with the next students from each team.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Assign each group a different topic related to the article, such as “expensive baby milk” or “store-made baby milk.”
3. Have each group discuss the pros and cons of their assigned topic and write them down.
4. After a set amount of time, have each group present their pros and cons to the class and facilitate a class discussion.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions:
1. Have the class read the article individually.
2. After reading, ask the students to think about one question they have or one thing they found interesting from the article.
3. Pair the students up and have them share their question or interesting point with their partner.
4. Finally, have a class discussion where students can share their questions and interesting points with the whole class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the special milk that babies need called?
2. Why is the special milk getting more expensive?
3. What do some parents worry about when buying cheaper milk?
4. What do people who know a lot about baby milk say about different brands?
5. Why can’t there be ads on TV for baby milk in the UK?
6. How do some parents try to save money on baby milk?
7. What are some people suggesting stores do to help parents pay less for baby milk?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Babies need special milk (1)______ formula, but it’s getting more expensive. A mom named Emma (2)______ wants to buy the best milk for her baby, even if it costs more. Two big companies make most of the baby milk, and prices have gone up a lot. People say parents can save (3)______ if they buy different brands, but some parents worry the (4)______ milk isn’t as good.

(5)______ who know a lot about baby milk say all kinds are safe and good for babies. A teacher (6)______ Professor Amy Brown says expensive milk isn’t better than cheap milk. But parents think if something costs more, it must be better. In the UK, you can’t put ads on TV for baby milk for little (7)______. This rule is to help moms breastfeed. Also, stores can’t have sales on baby milk, so (8)______ can’t save money that way.

Many (9)______ don’t have enough money and need help to buy baby milk. A lady who helps families, Sophie Livingstone, says parents are having a hard time. They give their babies less (10)______ or use fewer diapers to save money. People are looking into why (11)______ milk costs so much, but we won’t know more until 2024. Some people say (12)______ should make their own baby milk to help parents pay less.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is baby formula?
2. How would you feel if the price of baby formula went up a lot?
3. Do you think expensive baby formula is better than cheap baby formula? Why or why not?
4. Why do you think there are rules in the UK about advertising baby formula on TV?
5. How do you think parents who can’t afford baby formula feel?
6. What do you think parents might do if they can’t afford to buy enough baby formula?
7. Why do you think some people think stores should make their own baby formula?
8. Do you think it’s important for parents to buy the best milk for their baby? Why or why not?
9. What would you do if you couldn’t afford to buy baby formula for your baby?
10. How do you think it feels for parents who have to choose between buying enough baby formula or buying diapers?
11. Do you think it’s fair that some families can’t afford to buy baby formula? Why or why not?
12. What do you think could be done to help parents who can’t afford to buy baby formula?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. formula
2. expensive
3. brands
4. safe
5. professor
6. ads
7. sales
8. families
9. diapers
10. investigate
11. stores
12. pay

Meanings:
(A) A teacher who knows a lot about something
(B) Commercials on TV
(C) Find out more information about something
(D) Special milk for babies
(E) Things that babies wear to catch their pee and poop
(F) Places where you can buy things
(G) Not causing harm or danger
(H) Special discounts or promotions
(I) Groups of people who live together
(J) Costing a lot of money
(K) Give money for something
(L) Different types or kinds
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the special milk called that babies need?
(a) Juice
(b) Water
(c) Formula
(d) Soda

2. Who wants to buy the best milk for her baby, even if it costs more?
(a) Sophie Livingstone
(b) Professor Amy Brown
(c) None of the above
(d) Emma Davies

3. Why have the prices of baby milk gone up a lot?
(a) Two big companies make most of the baby milk
(b) Parents are buying different brands
(c) The government is raising the prices
(d) None of the above

4. What do people who know a lot about baby milk say?
(a) Expensive milk is better than cheap milk
(b) Cheap milk is better than expensive milk
(c) All kinds are safe and good for babies
(d) None of the above

5. Why can’t you put ads on TV for baby milk for little babies in the UK?
(a) To make baby milk more expensive
(b) To help moms breastfeed
(c) To promote different brands of baby milk
(d) None of the above

6. Why can’t stores have sales on baby milk in the UK?
(a) To make baby milk more expensive
(b) To promote different brands of baby milk
(c) None of the above
(d) To help parents save money

7. What do some parents do to save money on baby milk?
(a) Give their babies less milk or use fewer diapers
(b) Buy more expensive milk
(c) Buy different brands of baby milk
(d) None of the above

8. When will we know more about why baby milk costs so much?
(a) 2020
(b) 2024
(c) 2022
(d) None of the above

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Many families are financially stable and do not need assistance to afford formula milk, leading to them providing adequate amounts to their babies and using enough diapers.
2. Stores are allowed to offer sales on baby milk, making it easier for parents to save money.
3. Some people suggest that parents can save money by buying different brands of formula milk, but others worry about the quality of cheaper options.
4. Two small companies dominate the baby milk market and have decreased prices significantly.
5. Experts in baby milk say that all types of formula are safe and good for babies, regardless of price.
6. Formula milk for babies is becoming more expensive, causing concerns for parents.
7. A teacher named Professor Amy Brown states that expensive formula milk is not necessarily better than cheaper alternatives.
8. In the UK, advertisements for baby milk for newborns are allowed on TV to promote breastfeeding.
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 is the special milk that babies need called?
2. Why is the special milk getting more expensive?
3. What do some parents worry about when it comes to buying cheaper milk?
4. According to Professor Amy Brown, is expensive milk better than cheap milk?
5. Why can’t stores have sales on baby milk in the UK?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the special milk that babies need called?
The special milk that babies need is called formula.

2. Why is the special milk getting more expensive?
The special milk is getting more expensive because the prices have gone up a lot.

3. What do some parents worry about when buying cheaper milk?
Some parents worry that the cheaper milk may not be as good for their babies.

4. What do people who know a lot about baby milk say about different brands?
People who know a lot about baby milk say that all kinds of baby milk are safe and good for babies, whether they are expensive or cheap.

5. Why can’t there be ads on TV for baby milk in the UK?
There can’t be ads on TV for baby milk in the UK to encourage moms to breastfeed their babies.

6. How do some parents try to save money on baby milk?
Some parents try to save money on baby milk by buying different brands or using fewer diapers.

7. What are some people suggesting stores do to help parents pay less for baby milk?
Some people suggest that stores should make their own baby milk to help parents pay less.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) called
(2) Davies
(3) money
(4) cheaper
(5) People
(6) named
(7) babies
(8) parents
(9) families
(10) milk
(11) baby
(12) stores
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. formula
Answer: (D) Special milk for babies

2. expensive
Answer: (J) Costing a lot of money

3. brands
Answer: (L) Different types or kinds

4. safe
Answer: (G) Not causing harm or danger

5. professor
Answer: (A) A teacher who knows a lot about something

6. ads
Answer: (B) Commercials on TV

7. sales
Answer: (H) Special discounts or promotions

8. families
Answer: (I) Groups of people who live together

9. diapers
Answer: (E) Things that babies wear to catch their pee and poop

10. investigate
Answer: (C) Find out more information about something

11. stores
Answer: (F) Places where you can buy things

12. pay
Answer: (K) Give money for something
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the special milk called that babies need?
Answer: (c) Formula

2. Who wants to buy the best milk for her baby, even if it costs more?
Answer: (d) Emma Davies

3. Why have the prices of baby milk gone up a lot?
Answer: (a) Two big companies make most of the baby milk

4. What do people who know a lot about baby milk say?
Answer: (c) All kinds are safe and good for babies

5. Why can’t you put ads on TV for baby milk for little babies in the UK?
Answer: (b) To help moms breastfeed

6. Why can’t stores have sales on baby milk in the UK?
Answer: (d) To help parents save money

7. What do some parents do to save money on baby milk?
Answer: (a) Give their babies less milk or use fewer diapers

8. When will we know more about why baby milk costs so much?
Answer: (b) 2024
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Many families are financially stable and do not need assistance to afford formula milk, leading to them providing adequate amounts to their babies and using enough diapers. (Answer: False)
2. Stores are allowed to offer sales on baby milk, making it easier for parents to save money. (Answer: False)
3. Some people suggest that parents can save money by buying different brands of formula milk, but others worry about the quality of cheaper options. (Answer: True)
4. Two small companies dominate the baby milk market and have decreased prices significantly. (Answer: False)
5. Experts in baby milk say that all types of formula are safe and good for babies, regardless of price. (Answer: True)
6. Formula milk for babies is becoming more expensive, causing concerns for parents. (Answer: True)
7. A teacher named Professor Amy Brown states that expensive formula milk is not necessarily better than cheaper alternatives. (Answer: True)
8. In the UK, advertisements for baby milk for newborns are allowed on TV to promote breastfeeding. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧