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GENERAL ENGLISH · ENGLISH IN VIDEO · ADVANCED (C1-C2)

By. Cristina Peña & Eliana Vargas

THE SCIENCE
OF
SPICINESS
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1 Warm up
In pairs, look at the following facts about chilli peppers. One of them is not true. Decide which one.

1. Birds are immune to the heat of chilli peppers.

2. Mexico is the largest exporter of chilli peppers in the world.
3. There is more vitamin C in a chilli pepper than there is in an orange.
4. The largest amount of ghost peppers eaten in one minute is 97g by Canadian, Mike Jack.

Discuss
• What do you think of spicy food?
• What is your favourite spicy dish? How do you make it?
• What spices are good for our health?

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2 Vocabulary

Part A: Match the vocabulary from the video you will watch to the definitions.

1. elicit a. a group of atoms bonded together (it is the smallest unit of a

chemical compound) (5) molecules
2. receptor b. a micro-organism e.g. bacteria causing disease (7) microbe

3. fight-or-flight response c. an organ or cell which responds to light, heat and other sensations

(2) receptor

4. compounds d. a primitive reaction to stress, causing an increase in adrenaline (it

prepares you to attack, or to run away) (3) fight-or-flight response
5. molecules e. cause physical or mental suffering (8) torment

6. diluted f. get a reaction or an answer from someone (1) elicit

7. microbe g. make something weaker e.g. by adding water or another weaker

element (6) diluted

8. torment h. something which consists of two or more separate elements

(4) compounds

Part B: Now look at these examples and write the words from Part A in the gaps in the correct form.

1. The sudden gust of cold wind ELICITED a sharp gasp for breath from Lucas.
2. The kitchen was cleaned thoroughly with bleach to prevent the accumulation of any harmful
MICROBES .
3. With the desert sun high in the sky and miles to go before he reached home, Ali was
TORMENTED by visions of an ice cold drink of water.
4. Water is a _COMPOUND made up of one _MOLECULE of oxygen to two molecules of
hydrogen (H2O).
5. When vinegar is_DILUTED with water, it makes an effective cleaning solution for windows
and other surfaces.
6. As the intruder entered the dining room, he heard a low growl from a large dog he had not seen
before. This triggered his __ FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT RESPONSE . He wisely chose the
latter.

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THE SCIENCE OF SPICINESS

Part C: In pairs, discuss the following:

1. Describe a situation when you felt your fight-or-flight response kick in.

We feel that feeling of flight, and we even feel it when we see amphibian animals like frogs and toads,
they are terrifying.
2. Can you name anything that you first need to dilute in order to use it?
We need to dilute instant coffee when we need to drink it.
3. What would you need to do to elicit an angry response from your friends? Your family? What
would you need to do to elicit a happy response from them?

To elicit an angry response it is necessary to offend and talk about defects and to elicit
happiness from others it is necessary to highlight their qualities.
4. What precautions do you take in day-to-day life to guard against microbes?
The constant use of disinfectants, insecticides and especially alcohol.
5. Can you give an example of a compound?
Stearic acid [CH3(CH2)16COOH]: 18 carbon atoms C, 2 oxygen atoms O and 36 hydrogen atoms H.
Ethyl ether [CH3CH2OCH2CH3]: 4 carbon atoms C, 10 hydrogen atoms H, 1 oxygen atom O.
6. What dreams, ideas or situations torment you?
What will we dedicate ourselves to in the future, will we, with God's favor, achieve the American
dream?

3 Understanding details

In pairs, discuss the following question.

Why does spicy food like wasabi and mustard burn your nose, but chilli peppers burn your
mouth?

Part A: Now, look at these sentences taken from the video. Put them in the correct order to create a
complete paragraph.

A) Mustard, horseradish, and wasabi are made up of smaller molecules, called isothiocyanate,

B) those mostly stay in your mouth.

C) This is why chilli peppers burn your mouth, and wasabi burns your nose.

D) The capsaicin and piperine, found in black pepper and chilli peppers, are made up of larger, heavier
molecules called alkylamides, and

E) that easily float up into your sinuses.

F) You may have noticed that not all spicy foods are spicy in the same way. And the difference lies in
the types of compounds involved.
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ANSWERS

1.D
2. C
3. F
4. B
5. E
6. A

PARAGRAPH

The capsaicin and piperine, found in black pepper and chilli peppers, are made up of larger, heavier
molecules called alkylamides. This is why chilli peppers burn your mouth, and wasabi burns your
nose You may have noticed that not all spicy foods are spicy in the same way. And the difference
lies inthe types of compounds involved, and those mostly stay in your mouth that easily float up into
your sinuses. Mustard, horseradish, and wasabi are made up of smaller molecules, called
isothiocyanate,

Part B: Underline the correct word in the following sentences.

1. Isothiocyanates/alkylamides are very small molecules that can access your sinuses and nose.
2. Capsaicin and wasabi/piperine are elements found in different kinds of peppers.
3. Isothiocyanates/alkylamides are large molecules that remain in your mouth.
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4 Watching for general understanding

Now watch the whole video and complete the summary by underlining the correct word.

When a food is spicy, it’s not a 1 taste/burn/spice, but the result of compounds in the food
activating 2 sensitivity/sensory neurons/taste buds in your mouth and nose. Your body
thinks it is in danger and has a 3 threatening/ fight-or-flight/risky response, which is why
your heart beats faster and you sweat. The amount of spice in a food can be measured on
the Scoville 4 chart/measure/scale. Two chilli peppers are usually identified as being the 5
most delicious/worst/hottest: the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion and the Carolina Reaper. No
one is sure why humans enjoy eating spicy food, but we have found evidence of humans
eating food as far back as 6 23,000/6,000/2,400 years ago. One idea is that the spice helps
to 7 cure disease/kill off microbes/reducepain, as spicy food is more often found in warmer
climates where bacteria are more likely to flourish. However, it is thought that many people
enjoy eating hot chillis for the thrill and may well enjoy other activities which give a surge of
adrenaline, such as 8 sky-diving/gambling/base jumping. The pain caused by eating a hot
chilli pepper is never reduced, but the ability to tolerate the pain does increase.

5 Talking point

In groups or pairs, look at the following foods. Can you name them? Which would you be most likely
to choose to eat in a restaurant?

1._CHICKEN CURRY 2. GROUND BEEF 3. EGGS, BEANS AND FRIES 4. THAI SALAD
WITH CHILI

1. Do people in your culture like spicy food? What kind of food are you most likely to use spices in?
The people of the city really like spicy food because they are delicious and make them feel spicy
in their mouths. In soups it is very likely to find all kinds of natural spices such as oregano .

2. Do you like to add spice or hot sauce to your food? If so, what kind do you use?
Yes, for example to the fried ones that they sell on the streets, it is richer with guacamole, pepper
spices and paprika.
3. What is the hottest food you have ever eaten? What was it? What was your reaction? Would you
eat it again?

Beans with chili is another of the most typical foods of Mexican cuisine. the reaction was
desperate, it was very strong in the spicy part but delicious at the end and yes, I would repeat it
again.
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4. What do you eat or drink if you have eaten something that is too hot for you?
I go to drink plenty of water or soda

5. Would you eat more spicy food if it made you braver/stronger?

Of course yes, I will continue to eat spicy food if I am going to receive those strengths in my life.

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