Level: Intermediate

Reading:

Too Much Sugar in Bread

Subway is a US restaurant chain that sells mainly sandwiches and salads. Last week, a court in Ireland
decided that there was too much sugar in Subway´s bread.

In Ireland, bread belongs to food with 0% tax. However, according to Irish law, bread must have less
than 2% of sugar of the weight of flour in it. In Subway´s bread is 10% of sugar, which means that it is
legally not bread, and it belongs to the same group of products as cookies. Subway´s 6-inch white bread
has as much sugar as an Oreo cookie.

In 2018, Subway closed more than 1,000 restaurants in the US. Some customers started to ask for
healthier food; however, Subway was not able to react to the demand.

Vocabulary:

1. Tax (noun) /tæks/ – money that goes to the state when someone buys or sells something
Example: They're increasing the tax on cigarettes.

2. Flour (noun) /flaʊər/ – a white or brown powder that we use to make bread and cakes
Example: Gently work the butter into the flour until there are no lumps left.

3. Demand (noun) /dɪˈmɑːnd/ – what people want

Example: Colourful Ceramics hope to tap into the demand for products made out of recycled
materials.

4. Court (noun)  /kɔːt/  - a place where trials and other legal cases happen, or the people present in
such a place, especially the officials and those deciding if someone is guilty
 Example: Protestors gathered outside the court to await the verdict.

5. Restaurant (noun) /ˈres.trɒnt/  - a place where meals are prepared and served to customers
Example: A lot of new restaurants have started up in the region.

6. Legally (adverb)  /ˈliː.ɡəl.i/ - as stated by the law

Example: Children under 16 are not legally allowed to buy cigarettes.

7. Irish (adjective) /ˈaɪə.rɪʃ/ - belonging to or relating to Ireland, its people, or its language
Example: The Irish contingent sang loudest at the show.

8. Sugar (noun)  /ˈʃʊɡ.ər/ - sweet substance especially from the plants sugar cane and sugar beet,
used to make food and drinks sweet
Example: I don't take sugar in my coffee, thanks.

9. React (verb)  /riˈækt/ - to act in a particular way as a direct result of something else
Example: She slapped him and called him names, but he didn't react.

10. Cookie (noun) /ˈkʊk.i/ - a small, flat, sweet food made from flour and sugar
Example: This recipe makes three dozen cookies.

Speaking:

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is Subway?
2. What does Subway sell?
3. What was the decision of the court in Ireland regarding bread of Subway?
4. In Ireland, bread is classified as what?
5. Because of sugar content of Subway’s bread, what food group does it belong?

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you like bread?

2. What kind of bread do you like most?
3. Do you like candy, too?
4. How is sugar bad for the health?
5. Why are consumers more health conscious now?

Grammar:

Much (determiner) a large amount or to a large degree

Example: I don't earn much money.