Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. deli (n.) [del-ee] – shortened form of delicatessen, which is a shop that sells ready-to-eat food such as cooked meat and salad
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. deli (n.) [del-ee] – shortened form of delicatessen, which is a shop that sells ready-to-eat food such as cooked meat and salad
Example: The deli is full of people buying cooked
turkey for Thanksgiving celebration.
2. upsize (v.) [uhp-sahyz] – to make something larger
Example: The customer has his drink upsized because he was really thirsty.
3. beverage (n.) [bev-er-ij, bev-rij] – a liquid used for drinking
Example: People love drinking
cold beverages when the weather is
hot.
4. proposition (n.) [shoog-uh-ree] – a suggested plan of action
Example: The mayor’s proposition is to ban smoking in public
places.
5. sugary (adj.) [shoog-uh-ree] – sweet or filled with sugar
Example: Consuming too much sugary drinks might cause diabetes and
other health problems.
Article
Read the text below.
New Yorkers will
not be able to buy large-sized soft drinks if Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposed
law comes into effect next year.
According to the
suggested rule, restaurants, delis and
other food shops will be disallowed from selling sweetened drinks that are
larger than one pint (500ml). In addition, customers cannot upsize their drinks. These conditions
will only apply to beverages that
contain more than 25 calories for every 8oz.
Bloomberg
recommends the ban because obesity is becoming a state-wide problem. Based on
a recent research, more than half of New York’s adult population is overweight
or obese.
However, the New
York City Beverage Association is not in favor of the proposition. Spokesperson Stefan Friedman says sodas are not the
cause of obesity and the city will not be solving the problem by prohibiting sugary drinks.
Soda companies and soda
drinkers who have normal weight are also campaigning on the importance of
choice for buyers.
City officials,
however, are defending the planned ban. They cited a 2006 study which suggests
that sodas are the main cause of rising obesity rates. According to the New
York City Department of Health’s website, drinking a 590ml bottle of soft
drink each day is equivalent to eating 22.6 kg of sugar in a year.
The proposal will still
have to undergo a final screening at the Board of Health of New York before
it becomes a law. But Mayor Bloomberg has already received a number of
criticisms. His health-conscious laws—which include banning cigarettes and requiring
restaurants to put calorie counts on menus—have earned him the nickname “Nanny
Bloomberg.”
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Do you think the
mayor's plan will be effective in solving the weight problem in his city? Why
or why not?
·
Should people
have the right to choose and to buy as much as what they want to eat or drink? Please
explain your answer.
Discussion B
·
Why do you think
people face weight problems like obesity?
· How can people maintain a
healthy weight?