Canada’s maple syrup reserve, which is the only one of its kind in the world, is currently at its lowest level in 16 years. This is causing some concerns about the future of maple syrup because of climate change. The reserve, located in Quebec, is meant to hold 133 million pounds of maple syrup, but right now it only has 6.9 million pounds. Experts say that this shortage is because more people want maple syrup and the weather is getting warmer, which is making it harder to produce enough syrup. However, they say that for now, the amount of maple syrup available and the price will not be affected.

Canada’s maple syrup industry is worth a lot of money and makes 75% of the world’s maple syrup. Most of this comes from Quebec, where the reserve was set up 24 years ago. The amount of syrup in the reserve has gone down a lot since 2020, and now it’s only 7% of what it was four years ago. This is because the harvests in recent years have not been very good.

Making maple syrup depends on having cold temperatures at night and warmer temperatures during the day. This helps the maple trees take in water and make sap. But because the spring temperatures have been warmer in 2021 and 2023, there has been 21% less maple syrup made. Even with this, the reserve has been able to make sure there is enough syrup for people to buy.

Besides the bad harvests, more and more people want maple syrup. In 2021, Canada sent 161 million pounds of syrup to 71 different countries, which is 19% more than the year before. This is because Quebec has been working hard to tell other countries about Canadian maple syrup and why it’s good. With the reserve getting smaller and more people wanting syrup, people will be watching closely to see how much syrup is made this year.

Original news source: Canada’s maple syrup reserve hits 16-year low (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Have them read the article together and then summarize the main points in their own words. After a few minutes, have pairs share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write the following question on the board: “Do you think the decreasing maple syrup reserve is a cause for concern? Why or why not?” Have students discuss their opinions in small groups and write down their responses. Then, have each group share their opinions with the class and facilitate a class discussion.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board (e.g. reserve, shortage, harvest, syrup). Divide the class into teams and give each team a piece of paper and a marker. One student from each team will come to the front of the class, choose a word from the list, and draw a picture to represent the word. The rest of their team must guess the word based on the drawing. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. Continue until all the words have been drawn.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a headline template (e.g. “Maple Syrup Reserve Reaches Record Low Due to…”). In their groups, students must come up with creative and attention-grabbing headlines related to the article. After a few minutes, have each group share their headline with the class and explain their reasoning behind it.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students work individually. Ask them to think about the future of maple syrup production based on the information in the article. Have them write a short paragraph predicting what they think will happen to the maple syrup reserve and the industry in the coming years. After they finish writing, encourage students to share their predictions with a partner and discuss their reasoning.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the current state of Canada’s maple syrup reserve?
2. How does climate change affect the production of maple syrup?
3. Why is the amount of maple syrup in the reserve decreasing?
4. Where does most of Canada’s maple syrup come from?
5. Why has there been a decrease in maple syrup production in recent years?
6. How has the demand for maple syrup changed in the past year?
7. What efforts have been made to promote Canadian maple syrup internationally?
8. Why are people concerned about the future of maple syrup production?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Canada’s (1)______ syrup (2)______, which is the only one of its kind in the world, is currently at its lowest level in 16 years. This is (3)______ some concerns about the future of maple syrup because of climate (4)______. The reserve, located in Quebec, is meant to hold 133 million pounds of maple syrup, but right now it only has 6.9 million pounds. Experts say that this shortage is because more people want maple syrup and the weather is getting warmer, which is (5)______ it harder to produce enough syrup. However, they say that for now, the amount of maple syrup available and the (6)______ will not be (7)______.

Canada’s maple syrup industry is worth a lot of money and makes 75% of the world’s maple syrup. Most of this (8)______ from Quebec, where the reserve was set up 24 years ago. The amount of syrup in the reserve has gone down a lot since 2020, and now it’s only 7% of what it was four years ago. This is because the (9)______ in recent years have not been very good.

Making maple syrup depends on (10)______ cold (11)______ at (12)______ and warmer temperatures during the day. This helps the maple trees take in water and make sap. But because the spring temperatures have been warmer in 2021 and 2023, there has been 21% less maple syrup made. Even with this, the reserve has been able to make sure there is enough syrup for people to buy.

Besides the bad harvests, more and more (13)______ want maple (14)______. In 2021, Canada sent 161 million pounds of syrup to 71 (15)______ countries, which is 19% more than the year before. This is because (16)______ has been working hard to tell other countries about Canadian maple syrup and why it’s good. With the reserve getting smaller and more people wanting syrup, people will be watching closely to see how much syrup is made this year.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. Have you ever tried maple syrup? If so, did you like it? Why or why not?
2. How would you feel if there was a shortage of maple syrup in your country?
3. Do you think climate change is affecting the production of maple syrup? Why or why not?
4. What is a maple syrup reserve? Why is it important?
5. Have you ever visited Quebec? If so, did you try any maple syrup while you were there?
6. How do you think the decrease in the maple syrup reserve will affect the price of maple syrup in the future?
7. Do you think it’s important for Quebec to promote Canadian maple syrup to other countries? Why or why not?
8. What do you think can be done to increase the production of maple syrup despite the effects of climate change?
9. How does the process of making maple syrup depend on the weather?
10. What other products do you know that come from trees? How are they affected by climate change?
11. Have you ever seen maple trees in person? If so, what did they look like?
12. How would you feel if you had to pay more for maple syrup because of the shortage?
13. Do you think it’s important for Canada to maintain its position as the largest producer of maple syrup? Why or why not?
14. What other sweeteners do you use besides maple syrup? Why do you prefer them?
15. How do you think the decrease in the maple syrup reserve will impact the economy of Quebec and Canada as a whole?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. reserve
2. concerns
3. climate
4. shortage
5. experts
6. industry
7. harvests
8. temperatures
9. sap
10. countries
11. promote
12. significant
13. fluctuate
14. sustainable
15. innovation

Meanings:
(A) A liquid that plants, especially trees, produce
(B) A supply of something that is kept to be used in the future
(C) How hot or cold something is
(D) Different places around the world that are recognized as separate entities
(E) Worries or feelings of anxiety about something
(F) To change or vary, often between certain limits
(G) When there is not enough of something that is needed
(H) Very important or noticeable
(I) All the businesses and activities involved in making a particular product
(J) To encourage people to like, buy, use, do, or support something
(K) The process of gathering crops
(L) The usual weather conditions in a particular area
(M) People who have a lot of knowledge about a particular subject
(N) A new method, idea, or product
(O) Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level without harming the environment
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where is Canada’s maple syrup reserve located?
(a) Ontario
(b) Quebec
(c) British Columbia
(d) Alberta

2. How many pounds of maple syrup is the reserve meant to hold?
(a) 75 million
(b) 133 million
(c) 50 million
(d) 25 million

3. Why is the maple syrup reserve currently at its lowest level in 16 years?
(a) Lack of maple trees
(b) Poor management of the reserve
(c) Decreased interest in maple syrup
(d) Climate change and increased demand

4. What percentage of the world’s maple syrup does Canada produce?
(a) 75%
(b) 50%
(c) 25%
(d) 10%

5. How much maple syrup did Canada send to other countries in 2021?
(a) 100 million pounds
(b) 50 million pounds
(c) 161 million pounds
(d) 25 million pounds

6. What has been the impact of warmer spring temperatures on maple syrup production?
(a) 50% less syrup made
(b) No impact on syrup production
(c) 21% less syrup made
(d) Increased syrup production

7. Why has the amount of syrup in the reserve decreased in recent years?
(a) Increased demand
(b) Climate change
(c) Lack of maple trees
(d) Poor harvests

8. Will the availability and price of maple syrup be affected by the current reserve shortage?
(a) No
(b) Yes, availability will be affected but not the price
(c) Yes, the price will be affected but not availability
(d) Yes, both availability and price will be affected

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Canada has a maple syrup reserve that is currently at its highest level in 16 years.
2. The amount of syrup in the reserve has increased significantly since 2020 and is now only 7% of what it was four years ago.
3. Most of Canada’s maple syrup comes from Quebec, where the reserve was established 5 years ago.
4. Canada’s maple syrup industry is worth a lot of money and produces 75% of the world’s maple syrup.
5. Despite the low reserve, experts say that the availability and price of maple syrup will not be affected for now.
6. The decrease in the reserve is due to a combination of increased demand for maple syrup and warmer weather caused by climate change.
7. The reserve is located in Ontario and is meant to hold 133 million pounds of maple syrup.
8. Currently, the reserve only has 6.9 million pounds of maple syrup.
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 concern about the future of maple syrup?
2. Where is Canada’s maple syrup reserve located?
3. How much maple syrup is currently in the reserve?
4. What are the reasons for the decrease in the amount of maple syrup available?
5. Why has the demand for maple syrup increased in recent years?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the current state of Canada’s maple syrup reserve?
The current state of Canada’s maple syrup reserve is at its lowest level in 16 years, with only 6.9 million pounds of syrup compared to the intended 133 million pounds.

2. How does climate change affect the production of maple syrup?
Climate change affects the production of maple syrup by causing warmer temperatures, which makes it harder for maple trees to produce sap. The trees need cold nights and warm days to take in water and make sap.

3. Why is the amount of maple syrup in the reserve decreasing?
The amount of maple syrup in the reserve is decreasing due to several factors. Firstly, climate change is causing warmer temperatures, which reduces sap production. Secondly, there has been an increase in demand for maple syrup, leading to more syrup being sold and less being stored in the reserve. Lastly, recent harvests have not been very good, resulting in lower syrup production overall.

4. Where does most of Canada’s maple syrup come from?
Most of Canada’s maple syrup comes from Quebec, where the reserve was set up 24 years ago. Quebec is known for its large maple syrup industry and produces 75% of the world’s maple syrup.

5. Why has there been a decrease in maple syrup production in recent years?
There has been a decrease in maple syrup production in recent years due to warmer spring temperatures caused by climate change. These warmer temperatures have resulted in a 21% decrease in maple syrup production as the maple trees struggle to produce enough sap.

6. How has the demand for maple syrup changed in the past year?
The demand for maple syrup has increased in the past year. Canada sent 161 million pounds of syrup to 71 different countries in 2021, which is a 19% increase compared to the previous year. This indicates that more and more people around the world are wanting maple syrup.

7. What efforts have been made to promote Canadian maple syrup internationally?
Quebec has been working hard to promote Canadian maple syrup internationally. They have been telling other countries about the high quality and delicious taste of Canadian maple syrup, which has led to an increase in demand and exports.

8. Why are people concerned about the future of maple syrup production?
People are concerned about the future of maple syrup production because of the decreasing amount of syrup in the reserve and the challenges posed by climate change. With the reserve at its lowest level in 16 years and climate change affecting syrup production, there is uncertainty about whether there will be enough maple syrup in the future to meet the increasing demand.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) maple
(2) reserve
(3) causing
(4) change
(5) making
(6) price
(7) affected
(8) comes
(9) harvests
(10) having
(11) temperatures
(12) night
(13) people
(14) syrup
(15) different
(16) Quebec
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. reserve
Answer: (B) A supply of something that is kept to be used in the future

2. concerns
Answer: (E) Worries or feelings of anxiety about something

3. climate
Answer: (L) The usual weather conditions in a particular area

4. shortage
Answer: (G) When there is not enough of something that is needed

5. experts
Answer: (M) People who have a lot of knowledge about a particular subject

6. industry
Answer: (I) All the businesses and activities involved in making a particular product

7. harvests
Answer: (K) The process of gathering crops

8. temperatures
Answer: (C) How hot or cold something is

9. sap
Answer: (A) A liquid that plants, especially trees, produce

10. countries
Answer: (D) Different places around the world that are recognized as separate entities

11. promote
Answer: (J) To encourage people to like, buy, use, do, or support something

12. significant
Answer: (H) Very important or noticeable

13. fluctuate
Answer: (F) To change or vary, often between certain limits

14. sustainable
Answer: (O) Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level without harming the environment

15. innovation
Answer: (N) A new method, idea, or product
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where is Canada’s maple syrup reserve located?
Answer: (b) Quebec

2. How many pounds of maple syrup is the reserve meant to hold?
Answer: (b) 133 million

3. Why is the maple syrup reserve currently at its lowest level in 16 years?
Answer: (d) Climate change and increased demand

4. What percentage of the world’s maple syrup does Canada produce?
Answer: (a) 75%

5. How much maple syrup did Canada send to other countries in 2021?
Answer: (c) 161 million pounds

6. What has been the impact of warmer spring temperatures on maple syrup production?
Answer: (c) 21% less syrup made

7. Why has the amount of syrup in the reserve decreased in recent years?
Answer: (d) Poor harvests

8. Will the availability and price of maple syrup be affected by the current reserve shortage?
Answer: (a) No
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Canada has a maple syrup reserve that is currently at its highest level in 16 years. (Answer: False)
2. The amount of syrup in the reserve has increased significantly since 2020 and is now only 7% of what it was four years ago. (Answer: False)
3. Most of Canada’s maple syrup comes from Quebec, where the reserve was established 5 years ago. (Answer: False)
4. Canada’s maple syrup industry is worth a lot of money and produces 75% of the world’s maple syrup. (Answer: True)
5. Despite the low reserve, experts say that the availability and price of maple syrup will not be affected for now. (Answer: True)
6. The decrease in the reserve is due to a combination of increased demand for maple syrup and warmer weather caused by climate change. (Answer: True)
7. The reserve is located in Ontario and is meant to hold 133 million pounds of maple syrup. (Answer: False)
8. Currently, the reserve only has 6.9 million pounds of maple syrup. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧