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Read the following story by Arusa Pisuthipan from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.
New York City recently banned the use of activated charcoal as a food additive. Should Thailand do the same?
PAINT IT BLACK
Black food - food blackened by the ingredient known as activated charcoal - has taken social media by storm over the last few years. It has been used in all kinds of food, from charcoal ice cream to charcoal croissants and everything in between.
But it looks to be the end for the craze - at least in New York City, where the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) recently announced a ban on the use of activated charcoal as a food additive and colouring agent.
The announcement, according to the DOHMH, is the result of a rule instituted by the United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The reason, they said, is that activated charcoal has a negative effect on medicine absorption, reducing its efficacy.
BACK IN BLACK
Although the ban hasn’t yet affected the food industry in Thailand, many may start turning away from black food over fears that it could be harmful to their health. But since the new ban comes so soon after another ban, on industrially-produced trans-fat, consumers may feel confused over what they should and shouldn’t be eating. Many may choose to dismiss the New York announcement entirely.
But lecturer and researcher Thunnalin Winuprasith of Mahidol University’s Institute of Nutrition suggests that the New York ban is worth paying attention to. She says that although activated charcoal is known to help break down toxins in the body, it can also cause adverse consequences if consumed in large quantities.
“What nutritionists fear is that when people believe certain foods are good for their health, they eat them often and in large amounts. This is the case with activated charcoal,” she said.
BLACK AND BLUE
Activated charcoal, she explains, is a type of carbon produced by burning materials like bamboo, coconut husk, wood or tree bark at temperatures of over 1,000 degrees Celsius. The result is ash particles that are very small and porous - so much so that they have the ability to absorb poisons and chemicals, including medication and vitamins.
Activated charcoal is widely used in the making of dishes like ice cream, pastries and burger buns. Unsurprisingly, the New York ban on black food has already had a dramatic effect. Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream, the city’s top charcoal ice cream establishment, was reported to have dumped nearly US$3,000 (about 100,000 baht) worth of black ice cream. Likewise, Round K’s Matte Black Latte, which hit the market in 2017, is no longer on sale after the health department visited the café in May, confiscating two bags of activated charcoal and demanding that the shop stop selling the popular drink.
Section 1
Read through the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. What is the article about?
a. The benefits of activated charcoal.
b. A recent ban on a food ingredient.
c. Why colouring agents are bad for your health.
2. According to the article, why has the ban been introduced?
a. Activated charcoal is poisonous.
b. Activated charcoal has a negative effect on the taste of food.
c. Activated charcoal can prevent the body from absorbing drugs.
3. The article suggests which of the following?
a. Some Thai consumers might reconsider whether to eat black food.
b. Thai consumers are less health-conscious than those in the New York.
c. Some Thai tourists will decide not to visit New York.
4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the article?
a. Health properties of activated charcoal.
b. The use of charcoal as an ingredient.
c. A possible future ban on activated charcoal in Thailand.
5. What happened as a result of the ban on activated charcoal?
a. Many restaurants were shut down.
b. One establishment had to throw out a large amount of stock.
c. Thailand introduced a ban on trans-fat.
6. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the article?
a. Activated charcoal can absorb poisons and chemicals.
b. Activated charcoal is made by burning materials at temperatures of over 100 degrees Celsius.
c. Both a and b are correct.
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true, according to the article?
a. Thunnalin is a lecturer and researcher.
b. Thunnalin studied in New York.
c. Thunnalin said activated charcoal helps to absorb toxins.
Section 2
Underline one grammatically incorrect word in each of the following sentences. Then, write down the grammatically correct word in the space given.
8. People start to question whether they should continue eat charcoal-black foods.
……………
9. In medical, activated charcoal is used for absorbing toxins.
……………
10. A portion of charcoal bread once in a while are fine.
……………
11. Nutrition expert do not believe Thailand will issue a similar ban.
……………
12. The absorption take place in the gastrointestinal system.
……………
13. Trans-fat is prohibited in Thailand because it is harmful in people’s health.
……………
Section 3
Read the following passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.
…..14….. the effects of the ban on New York eateries may …..15….. harsh, the health department says they had been warned. …..16….. has been sending orders to restaurants to stop preparing food with activated charcoal …..17….. March 2016. According to these orders, activated charcoal is not …..18….. to be used as a food additive or colouring agent and restaurants should throw out anything that …..19….. considered to be adulterated food.
14.
a. Although
b. Despite
c. Nevertheless
15.
a. appearing
b. appears
c. appear
16.
a. It
b. One
c. They
17.
a. since
b. on
c. before
18.
a. allowing
b. allowed
c. allow
19.
a. are
b. has
c. is
Section 4
Write down the noun forms of the following words used in the story in the space given.
20. activated
…………………………
21. announced
…………………………
22. social
…………………………
23. visited
…………………………
24. explained
…………………………
Answers
Section 1
1. b
2. c.
3. a.
4. c.
5. b.
6. a.
7. b.
Section 2
8. eat; eating
9. medical; medicine
10. are; is
11. expert; experts
12. take place; takes place
13. in; to
Section 3
14. a.
15. c.
16. a.
17. a.
18. b.
19. c.
Section 4
20. Activation.
21. Announcement.
22. Society.
23. Visit/visitation.
24. Explanation.
SCORE
21-24: Excellent!
17-20: Good.
13-16: Fair.
12 or fewer: You'll do better next time!
