More and more people are eating insects   (27th September, 2021)

In the past decade, bugs have become a familiar sight on dinner tables. One reason for this is they are a great source of protein. Another reason is that people are concerned about the environment. Traditional livestock farming is detrimental to the environment as it is generally unsustainable. Raising insects is much more environmentally friendly. One kilogram of insect protein needs about 10 per cent of the feed, water and land used to produce the same amount of beef. Experts say farming insects is better for the environment than raising livestock. A final reason we may have to eat insects is because of the rise in the world's population. By 2050 this is expected to be 9.8 billion, up from the current 7.7 billion.

The insect farming industry is growing quickly. There are hundreds of companies worldwide creating meals made from bugs. Many supermarkets around the world now stock food made from insects. There are vending machines in Tokyo, Japan where you can purchase a can of insect snacks. The menu includes dried tarantula and scorpions. However, not everyone is excited by the idea of insects as food. An Israeli insect farmer, Dror Tamir, says there is a "yuck factor" to the thought of eating insects. He said people will get used to the idea and will find insects tasty. He said: "I am convinced it will soon be widely accepted, just like eating raw fish in sushi was embraced."

 

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

1.	decade	a.	Substances we eat to strengthen our muscles.
2.	familiar	b.	Existing in or as part of a tradition; long-established.
3.	protein	c.	A period of ten years.
4.	feed	d.	Well known from long or close association.
5.	livestock	e.	Food for domestic, zoo or farm animals.
6.	traditional	f.	Farm animals regarded as an asset.
7.	expected	g.	Regarded something as likely to happen.

    Paragraph 2

8.	industry	h.	Used to express strong distaste or disgust.
9.	stock	i.	Economic activity around an area of business.
10.	vending machine	j.	Acquire something by paying for it.
11.	purchase	k.	Completely certain about something.
12.	yuck	l.	Have or keep a supply of a particular product or type or product available for sale.
13.	convinced	m.	Accepted a belief, theory, or change willingly and enthusiastically.
14.	embraced	n.	Something that sells small articles such as food, drinks, cigarettes, etc.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

1.     The article says more insects are crawling across dinner tables.     T / F

2.     Insect farming requires just 10% of the resources needed for beef.     T / F

3.     Traditional livestock is more environmentally friendly than insects.     T / F

4.     The global population will be over 10 billion by 2050.     T / F

5.     The article says hundreds of companies are making food from insects.     T / F

6.     You can buy tarantula snacks from vending machines in Tokyo.     T / F

7.     An Israeli insect farmer said there is a "yuck factor" to eating insects.     T / F

8.     The insect farmer said insects are tastier than sushi.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.     decade

2.     concerned

3.     detrimental

4.     raising

5.     current

6.     growing

7.     stock

8.     purchase

9.     convinced

10.                       embraced

a.     harmful

b.     certain

c.      rearing

d.     present

e.      supply

f.       10 years

g.     buy

h.     accepted

i.       worried

j.       expanding

k.    Multiple choice quiz

l.       1)  Where have bugs become a familiar sight?
a) in gardens
b) on dinner tables
c) in restaurants
d) on farms
2)  What does the article say insects are a great source of?
a) amusement
b) fun
c) CO2
d) protein
3) What does raising insects need 90% less of compared to beef?
a) feed, water and land
b) pesticide
c) love, care and attention
d) grass
4) What does the article say insect farming is better for?
a) farmers
b) profits
c) the environment
d) business
5) How big is the world's population expected to be by 2050?
a) 9.9 billion
b) 9.8 billion
c) 9.6 billion
d) 9.7 billion

m.  6) What does the article say is growing quickly?
a) the insect farming industry
b) worms
c) the appetite for insects
d) the meat industry
7) Where can people buy tarantula snacks from in Tokyo?
a) train stations
b) convenience stores
c) vending machines
d) zoos
8) What kind of factor did an Israeli farmer say there was with insects?
a) a "yuck factor"
b) an "X" factor
c) an unknown factor
d) a factor of 10
9) What is a farmer convinced people will get used to?
a) eating insects
b) a changed environment
c) worm chocolate
d) not eating meat

n.     10) What did the farmer say was eventually embraced?
a) insect farming
b) not eating meat
c) killing insects humanely
d) eating raw fish in sushi