The price of olive oil in Spain has gone way up because there hasn’t been enough rain. Spain makes the most olive oil in the world, so this is a big deal. The dry weather has made it hard for olive trees to produce a lot of oil, so there’s not as much to go around. Because of this, the price of olive oil has gone up by more than 70% this year. The biggest olive oil factory in the world, called Nuestra Señora del Pilar, has had a really bad harvest because of the drought. The price increase is also because it costs more to make olive oil, like for fuel and electricity, and because there’s not enough rain.
The drought is getting worse because of climate change. In the Mediterranean region, where Spain is, temperatures are going up faster than in other places. Before, people thought that if there was a bad harvest, the next one would be good. But now, that’s not true anymore. Some parts of Spain, like Andalusia, are trying to use less water, but more needs to be done. The president of the big olive oil factory wants more money to be spent on irrigation systems to help with the drought.
The price of olive oil has also gone up in other European countries, but not as much. Some people in Spain who live near Portugal are going there to buy cheaper oil. The price of olive oil in the UK and Ireland is lower than in Spain, but that’s because they bought it when it was cheaper. In Spain, people really like olive oil, so it gets sold quickly. But now, people are buying less because it’s too expensive and they’re choosing cheaper oils instead, like sunflower oil.
Experts say it’s not a good idea to replace olive oil with cheaper oils because olive oil is really good for you. It’s a big part of the Mediterranean diet and it helps keep your heart healthy. You don’t need to use a lot of olive oil to get the benefits. Right now, though, how much olive oil people can have is being decided by how much it rains, not by what’s good for their health.
So, because of the drought in Spain, olive oil is getting more expensive. There’s less oil being made because of the dry weather. Climate change is making the drought worse, and we need to do something about it. The price of olive oil has also gone up in other European countries, but not as much. People are being told not to use cheaper oils instead of olive oil because it’s really good for you.
Original news source: Olive oil price skyrockets as Spanish drought bites (BBC)
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Vocabulary:
| 1 | olive oil | A type of oil made from olives that is used in cooking |
| 2 | drought | A long period of time with little or no rain |
| 3 | climate change | The long-term change in weather patterns caused by human activity |
| 4 | harvest | The process of gathering crops from the fields |
| 5 | irrigation systems | Systems that provide water to plants in dry areas |
| 6 | Mediterranean diet | A way of eating that includes lots of fruits, vegetables, and olive oil |
| 7 | benefits | The good things that come from using or doing something |
| 8 | replace | To use something else instead of the original thing |
| 9 | expensive | Costing a lot of money |
| 10 | factory | A building or place where things are made or produced |
| 11 | rain | Water that falls from the sky in drops |
| 12 | temperatures | The measurement of how hot or cold something is |
| 13 | region | A particular area or part of a country or the world |
| 14 | electricity | The form of energy that is carried through wires and is used to power machines and devices |
| 15 | cheaper | Costing less money than something else |
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the students into pairs or small groups.
2. Give each group a copy of the article.
3. Ask the students to read the article and summarize the main points in their own words.
4. Each group will then present their summary to the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Divide the students into pairs or small groups.
2. Ask the students to discuss their opinions on the following statement: “Should more money be spent on irrigation systems to help with the drought in Spain?”
3. Give each group a few minutes to discuss and come up with their opinions.
4. Then, conduct a class poll by having each group share their opinion and tallying the responses on the board.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Create a list of key vocabulary words from the article (e.g. olive oil, drought, climate change, Mediterranean diet).
2. Divide the students into pairs.
3. Give each pair a vocabulary word from the list.
4. Ask the pairs to draw a picture that represents the word without using any letters or numbers.
5. Once all pairs have finished, have them take turns showing their picture to the class and asking their classmates to guess the word.
– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions:
1. Ask the students to think about how the increase in the price of olive oil might affect different groups of people (e.g. farmers, consumers, restaurant owners).
2. Pair up the students and ask them to discuss their thoughts with their partner.
3. After a few minutes, bring the class back together and have each pair share their ideas with the whole group.
– Future Predictions
Instructions:
1. Divide the students into small groups.
2. Ask each group to make predictions about the future of olive oil production and prices in Spain.
3. Encourage the groups to consider factors such as climate change, drought, and consumer demand.
4. After a few minutes, have each group present their predictions to the class and discuss the reasons behind their predictions.
Comprehension Questions:
1. Why has the price of olive oil in Spain increased?
2. What has made it difficult for olive trees to produce a lot of oil?
3. How much has the price of olive oil gone up by this year?
4. Why has the biggest olive oil factory in the world had a bad harvest?
5. Why is the drought in Spain getting worse?
6. What are some parts of Spain doing to conserve water?
7. Why are people in Spain going to Portugal to buy olive oil?
8. Why is it not a good idea to replace olive oil with cheaper oils?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
The price of (1)______ oil in Spain has gone way up because there hasn’t been enough rain. Spain (2)______ the most olive oil in the world, so this is a big deal. The dry weather has made it hard for olive trees to produce a lot of oil, so there’s not as much to go around. Because of this, the price of olive oil has gone up by more than 70% this year. The biggest olive oil factory in the world, (3)______ Nuestra Señora del Pilar, has had a really bad harvest because of the drought. The price increase is also because it (4)______ more to make olive oil, like for fuel and electricity, and because there’s not enough rain.
The drought is getting worse because of climate change. In the Mediterranean region, where Spain is, temperatures are (5)______ up faster than in other places. Before, people thought that if there was a bad (6)______, the next one would be good. But now, that’s not true anymore. Some parts of Spain, like (7)______, are trying to use less water, but more needs to be done. The president of the big olive oil factory wants more (8)______ to be spent on irrigation systems to help with the drought.
The price of olive oil has also gone up in other European countries, but not as much. Some (9)______ in (10)______ who live near Portugal are going there to buy cheaper oil. The price of olive oil in the UK and Ireland is lower than in Spain, but that’s because they bought it when it was cheaper. In Spain, people really like olive oil, so it gets sold quickly. But now, people are buying less because it’s too expensive and they’re choosing cheaper oils instead, like (11)______ oil.
Experts say it’s not a good idea to replace olive oil with cheaper oils because olive oil is really good for you. It’s a big part of the Mediterranean diet and it helps keep your (12)______ healthy. You don’t need to use a lot of olive oil to get the benefits. Right now, though, how much olive oil people can have is being decided by how much it rains, not by what’s good for their health.
So, because of the drought in Spain, olive oil is (13)______ more expensive. There’s less oil being made because of the dry weather. (14)______ change is making the drought worse, and we need to do something about it. The price of olive oil has also gone up in other (15)______ countries, but not as much. (16)______ are being told not to use cheaper oils instead of olive oil because it’s really good for you.
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 in Spain?
2. How do you think the increase in the price of olive oil will affect people in Spain?
3. Do you like olive oil? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if the price of your favorite food increased by 70%?
5. Do you think it’s fair for people to have to pay more for olive oil because of the drought? Why or why not?
6. What do you think can be done to help with the drought in Spain?
7. Have you ever experienced a drought in your country? If so, how did it affect you?
8. Do you think climate change is a serious problem? Why or why not?
9. How do you think the increase in the price of olive oil will impact the economy in Spain?
10. What are some alternative oils that people can use instead of olive oil? Do you think they are as healthy?
11. How important is it for you to eat healthy food? Why or why not?
12. How do you think the increase in the price of olive oil will affect the Mediterranean diet?
13. Have you ever tried the Mediterranean diet? If so, what did you think of it?
14. Do you think it’s worth spending more money on irrigation systems to help with the drought? Why or why not?
15. What can individuals do to help conserve water and combat climate change in their daily lives?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. olive oil
2. drought
3. climate change
4. harvest
5. irrigation systems
6. Mediterranean diet
7. benefits
8. replace
9. expensive
10. factory
11. rain
12. temperatures
13. region
14. electricity
15. cheaper
Meanings:
(A) The long-term change in weather patterns caused by human activity
(B) A type of oil made from olives that is used in cooking
(C) The form of energy that is carried through wires and is used to power machines and devices
(D) Water that falls from the sky in drops
(E) The measurement of how hot or cold something is
(F) A long period of time with little or no rain
(G) A particular area or part of a country or the world
(H) Systems that provide water to plants in dry areas
(I) The process of gathering crops from the fields
(J) Costing less money than something else
(K) A building or place where things are made or produced
(L) The good things that come from using or doing something
(M) To use something else instead of the original thing
(N) Costing a lot of money
(O) A way of eating that includes lots of fruits, vegetables, and olive oil
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Why has the price of olive oil gone up in Spain?
(a) There is too much rain
(b) The olive trees are producing too much oil
(c) There hasn’t been enough rain
(d) The cost of making olive oil has decreased
2. Which country produces the most olive oil in the world?
(a) Italy
(b) Spain
(c) Greece
(d) Portugal
3. What is causing the drought in Spain to get worse?
(a) Climate change
(b) Excessive rainfall
(c) Lack of irrigation systems
(d) Increase in olive oil consumption
4. Why are some people in Spain going to Portugal to buy olive oil?
(a) It is cheaper in Portugal
(b) The quality of olive oil is better in Portugal
(c) There is a shortage of olive oil in Spain
(d) The price of olive oil in Spain is too high
5. Why is the price of olive oil lower in the UK and Ireland compared to Spain?
(a) The quality of olive oil is lower in the UK and Ireland
(b) They bought it when it was cheaper
(c) The demand for olive oil is lower in the UK and Ireland
(d) The cost of making olive oil is lower in the UK and Ireland
6. What is the main reason people in Spain are buying less olive oil?
(a) They prefer the taste of sunflower oil
(b) They are concerned about the health benefits of olive oil
(c) It has become too expensive
(d) The quality of olive oil has decreased
7. Why are experts advising against replacing olive oil with cheaper oils?
(a) Cheaper oils are not as readily available
(b) Cheaper oils are not as healthy
(c) Olive oil is more expensive in other countries
(d) Olive oil is an important part of the Mediterranean diet
8. What is the main cause of the increase in the price of olive oil in Spain?
(a) The decrease in demand for olive oil
(b) The increase in production costs
(c) The lack of irrigation systems
(d) The drought and dry weather
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. The worsening drought in Spain is not attributed to climate change, with temperatures decreasing faster in the Mediterranean region.
2. The largest olive oil factory in the world, Nuestra Señora del Pilar, has experienced a poor harvest due to the drought.
3. While no efforts to conserve water have been made in Spain, more action is unnecessary to combat the drought, including investing in irrigation systems.
4. Previous expectations of a good harvest following a bad one are no longer valid, causing concern for future olive oil production.
5. Spain is the largest producer of olive oil in the world, making this price increase a major concern.
6. The price of olive oil in Spain has increased significantly due to a lack of rain.
7. The price of olive oil has not risen by over 70% this year due to various factors, including decreased production costs and the drought.
8. The dry weather has positively affected the production of olive oil, resulting in an abundant supply.
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 has the price of olive oil gone up in Spain?
2. What is the biggest olive oil factory in the world called?
3. Why is the drought getting worse in Spain?
4. Why are some people in Spain going to Portugal to buy olive oil?
5. Why are experts saying it’s not a good idea to replace olive oil with cheaper oils?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. Why has the price of olive oil in Spain increased?
The price of olive oil in Spain has increased because there hasn’t been enough rain, which has made it difficult for olive trees to produce a lot of oil.
2. What has made it difficult for olive trees to produce a lot of oil?
The lack of rain has made it difficult for olive trees to produce a lot of oil.
3. How much has the price of olive oil gone up by this year?
The price of olive oil has gone up by more than 70% this year.
4. Why has the biggest olive oil factory in the world had a bad harvest?
The biggest olive oil factory in the world, Nuestra Señora del Pilar, has had a bad harvest because of the drought and the dry weather.
5. Why is the drought in Spain getting worse?
The drought in Spain is getting worse because of climate change, which is causing temperatures to rise faster in the Mediterranean region.
6. What are some parts of Spain doing to conserve water?
Some parts of Spain, like Andalusia, are trying to use less water to conserve it.
7. Why are people in Spain going to Portugal to buy olive oil?
People in Spain are going to Portugal to buy olive oil because it is cheaper there.
8. Why is it not a good idea to replace olive oil with cheaper oils?
It is not a good idea to replace olive oil with cheaper oils because olive oil is really good for you and a big part of the Mediterranean diet. It helps keep your heart healthy, and you don’t need to use a lot to get the benefits.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) olive
(2) makes
(3) called
(4) costs
(5) going
(6) harvest
(7) Andalusia
(8) money
(9) people
(10) Spain
(11) sunflower
(12) heart
(13) getting
(14) Climate
(15) European
(16) People
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. olive oil
Answer: (B) A type of oil made from olives that is used in cooking
2. drought
Answer: (F) A long period of time with little or no rain
3. climate change
Answer: (A) The long-term change in weather patterns caused by human activity
4. harvest
Answer: (I) The process of gathering crops from the fields
5. irrigation systems
Answer: (H) Systems that provide water to plants in dry areas
6. Mediterranean diet
Answer: (O) A way of eating that includes lots of fruits, vegetables, and olive oil
7. benefits
Answer: (L) The good things that come from using or doing something
8. replace
Answer: (M) To use something else instead of the original thing
9. expensive
Answer: (N) Costing a lot of money
10. factory
Answer: (K) A building or place where things are made or produced
11. rain
Answer: (D) Water that falls from the sky in drops
12. temperatures
Answer: (E) The measurement of how hot or cold something is
13. region
Answer: (G) A particular area or part of a country or the world
14. electricity
Answer: (C) The form of energy that is carried through wires and is used to power machines and devices
15. cheaper
Answer: (J) Costing less money than something else
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. Why has the price of olive oil gone up in Spain?
Answer: (c) There hasn’t been enough rain
2. Which country produces the most olive oil in the world?
Answer: (b) Spain
3. What is causing the drought in Spain to get worse?
Answer: (a) Climate change
4. Why are some people in Spain going to Portugal to buy olive oil?
Answer: (a) It is cheaper in Portugal
5. Why is the price of olive oil lower in the UK and Ireland compared to Spain?
Answer: (b) They bought it when it was cheaper
6. What is the main reason people in Spain are buying less olive oil?
Answer: (c) It has become too expensive
7. Why are experts advising against replacing olive oil with cheaper oils?
Answer: (d) Olive oil is an important part of the Mediterranean diet
8. What is the main cause of the increase in the price of olive oil in Spain?
Answer: (d) The drought and dry weather
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. The worsening drought in Spain is not attributed to climate change, with temperatures decreasing faster in the Mediterranean region. (Answer: False)
2. The largest olive oil factory in the world, Nuestra Señora del Pilar, has experienced a poor harvest due to the drought. (Answer: True)
3. While no efforts to conserve water have been made in Spain, more action is unnecessary to combat the drought, including investing in irrigation systems. (Answer: False)
4. Previous expectations of a good harvest following a bad one are no longer valid, causing concern for future olive oil production. (Answer: True)
5. Spain is the largest producer of olive oil in the world, making this price increase a major concern. (Answer: True)
6. The price of olive oil in Spain has increased significantly due to a lack of rain. (Answer: True)
7. The price of olive oil has not risen by over 70% this year due to various factors, including decreased production costs and the drought. (Answer: False)
8. The dry weather has positively affected the production of olive oil, resulting in an abundant supply. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧
