Are you seeing more and more "vegan" products in the store? Why is this lifestyle choice becoming so popular? And is it just a trend? Read on to find out more and practice your English.
CITIZEN'S REPORT
ISSUE #12 | LEVEL B1 | Lifestyle
VOCABULARY
Are you familiar with these words?
A) Make sure you understand some keywords in the text first with this vocabulary exercise!
eco-friendly (adj.)
deforestation (n.)
advantages (n.)
mainstream (adj.)
consume (verb)
B) Rephrase it! ā”ļø Now, can you rephrase or complete these sentences with the target vocabulary.
eco-friendly (adj.)
deforestation (n.)
advantages (n.)
mainstream (adj.)
consume (verb)
The most famous IT company Apple has recently announced several product features that are not harmful to the environment.
One positive point of regular exercise is improved cardiovascular or heart health.
People often eat too much sugar without realising it; if you read the food labels, you can see how much sugar is in different products.
Eating plant-based foods has become very popular with health-conscious people.
Unfortunately the ongoing removal of forests is a normal part of modern food production.
C) Use it ā”ļø Discuss these questions with the target vocabulary.
Do you think you have any eco-friendly practices in your daily life? If so, what are they? If not, would you like to have any eco-friendly practice (and what)?
What would you say are the advantages of working at a large corporation vs. a small company?
Do you regularly think about what you consume in terms of food, clothing, or other products?
Do you notice any mainstream trends related to people being aware of the environment in your community or country?
Discuss your thoughts on deforestation and its impact on the environment.
READING
Veganism: It's Everywhere! Why??!
Read the text aloud and focus on your pronunciation.
Vegetarianism and veganism are dietary and lifestyle choices that don't include meat, but they have differences in the animal products they don't eat. Vegetarians don't consume meat like beef, poultry, or fish, but they might still have dairy products and eggs. Vegans, on the other hand, avoid all foods that come from animals, including dairy, eggs, and even honey. Another part of veganism includes the clothes that you wear. Vegan fashion means that any
clothes made of animal leather, fur, or wool aren't worn.
Itās pretty obvious that veganism is on the rise around the world. According to data from Google Trends a worldwide increase in the interest in veganism was seen from 2004 to 2022. Top search results were in countries including Israel, Australia, the United Kingdom, Austria, and New Zealand. But why has there been an increase in the interest and what are the reasons for becoming a vegan? Various surveys have found several reasons for the lifestyle change, but one of the top reasons seems to be that more people care about how animals are treated; in other words people have become more concerned with animal welfare in the food industry.
In addition to animal welfare, concerns about the environment have also made veganism more popular. People are now more aware of how large-scale animal farming affects the environment, causing problems like deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and water
pollution. Veganism is seen as a more eco-friendly choice because it usually has a smaller impact on the environment.
Health is another reason why more people are choosing to be vegan. Studies show that a well-balanced vegan diet can have health advantages, like lowering the risk of heart disease and some cancers. Even mainstream US health organizations are recommending a plant-based diet. For example, Kaiser Permanente, the largest healthcare organization in the US has recommended a plant-based diet as a way to improve overall health.
In summary, while both vegetarians and vegans don't consume meat, vegans take it a step further by not having any animal products at all. The increase in veganism over the past ten years seems to be because people are more aware of animal rights, care about the environment, and believe in the health advantages of a vegan diet. The growing trend shows that more people want to make ethical, sustainable, and health-conscious food choices. It is predicted that veganism will rise significantly in the future and that by 2031, 1 in 10 people will be vegans.
Might you be one of them?
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
A Answer the questions according to the text.
Based on the text, what are the three main reasons people choose to be vegans?
How is veganism better for the enviroment, according to the text?
According to the text, between 2004 - 2022, there was a noticeable increase in
(choose the correct answer)
vegan product sales
interest in veganism
the number of people becoming vegans
4. What are some of the negative impacts of animal farming, according to the text:
(choose all that apply)
water pollution
green house gases
extinction
deforestation
5. According to the text, which concern seems to be the main reason people become
vegans? The environment, animal welfare, or health?
DICUSSION QUESTIONS
Discuss the following questions with a tutor.
How do you see the future of meat consumption? Will more people choose plant-based diets, become vegetarians, or continue to eat meat as they do now?
Do you think governments should promote more sustainable and eco-friendly eating habits in the future?
What role do you believe cultural traditions and customs will play in changing future diet habits, especially regarding meat consumption?
Are there any personal changes you would like to make in your diet habits to fit with a more sustainable and ethical food consumption?
Being a complete vegan means not using or wearing any animal materials such as fur, leather, and wool. Have you seen any vegan clothes? Do you know anyone who wears them?
Do you think you could change your dietary lifestyle (eg. become a vegan or become a meat-eater)?
Yes! Bring on the tofu! š„š½
Maybe.... could I try it for a week?š¤·š½āāļø
No! Not in a million years! I need meat in my life! š š¼āāš„©
No! It's not about meat! How will I live without š§š§š§š§
Tell your tutor why you voted the way you did!
Book a session with a tutor and start practicing your conversation skills.
Comments