PRE-READING:

Look at the title and predict the main ideas of the article. Then, write down three (3) Wh-questions about the text.

Ex: Why are the watermelons exploding?

WHILE READING:

Set a time limit to read this article. An average reader can read at the speed of 250 words per minute. Note down your reading speed regularly to check your progress.

SKIMMING:

Within the time limit, read and summarize the main ideas of the paragraphs with your own words. Do not worry about unfamiliar vocabulary.

EXPLODING WATERMELONS NO LAUGHING MATTER

News from China that farmers are seeing their watermelons explode before they can pick them is no laughing matter, according to Australian growers lobby group, Ausveg.

The melon explosions are due to over-application of growth chemicals.

William Churchill, from Ausveg, says many Chinese farmers are very poor, and add extra chemicals to try and get their crop to market faster for a quicker return.

He says this incident is yet another example of the misuse of chemicals in China, which he says poses a threat to human safety.

"Recently we've seen the heavy metal cadmium in rice, toxic melamine in milk, arsenic in soy sauce, bleach in mushrooms and the detergent borax in pork," he said.

"It's really adding to the argument that is product coming out of China really safe for consumption?"

Word count: 138 words

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201105/s3220983.htm

SCANNING:

Use your notes to identify where you can find the answers to the questions you have made in the pre-reading stage.

POST-READING:

Glossary:

Pay attention to how the word is combined with other words in context. Do not learn the meaning of the word without sentences. Vietnamese should be the last resort after you have tried all the learning strategies.

• To explode (verb): to burst violently as the result of internal pressure (Nổ tung)

• Over-application (of chemicals) (noun): the act of applying or adding too many chemicals or substances (Việc lạm dụng (hóa chất))

• Growth chemical: a chemical substance used to make cattle or agricultural products get bigger in a short time (Chất kích thích tăng trưởng)

• Return (noun): a profit or yield from selling goods (Lợi nhuận)

• Incident (noun): an event; something that happened (Sự việc, sự kiện)

• Threat (noun): an expression of intention to harm, endanger or punish someone (Mối đe dọa)

• Toxic (adj.): poisonous (Độc hại)

• Bleach (noun): a chemical substance used to make something become white or colorless (Chất tẩy)

• Detergent (noun): a cleansing substance like soap but with chemicals (Chất tẩy rửa)

• Consumption (noun): the act of consuming or eating (Tiêu thụ, tiêu dùng)

GRAMMAR:

Look at the way this direct speech is transformed to reported speech: William Churchill: “Chinese farmers are very poor.”

William Churchill said that Chinese farmers were very poor.

Revise the rules in transforming direct speech into reported speech. Compare your thoughts with the summary below.

Transform these direct speech statements to reported speech. Be guided by the table above.

1. Ausveg: “Farmers’ seeing their watermelons explode before they can pick them is no laughing matter.”

Ausveg said that ...

2. William Churchill: “Chinese farmers add extra chemicals to try and get their crop to market faster for a quicker return.”

William Churchill said that ... 3. William Churchill: “This incident is yet another example of the misuse of chemicals in China which poses a threat to human safety.”

William Churchill said that ...

4. William Churchill: "Recently we've seen the heavy metal cadmium in rice, toxic melamine in milk, arsenic in soy sauce, bleach in mushrooms and the detergent borax in pork."

William Churchill said that ...

5. William Churchill: "It's really adding to the argument that, is product coming out of China really safe for consumption?"

William Churchill asked if ...Discussion:

Find a study friend and talk about the different agricultural products (fruit, vegetable and crops) in your country. Write down what you think about the ways these are grown in Vietnam. Try to use some of the vocabulary learned in the article in speaking and writing your summary.

ANSWERS:

1. Ausveg said that farmers’ seeing their watermelons explode before they can pick them was no laughing matter.

2. William Churchill said that Chinese farmers added extra chemicals to try and get their crop to market faster for a quicker return.

3. William Churchill said that that incident was yet another example of the misuse of chemicals in China which posed a threat to human safety.

4. William Churchill said that recently they had seen the heavy metal cadmium in rice, toxic melamine in milk, arsenic in soy sauce, bleach in mushrooms and the detergent borax in pork.

5. William Churchill said that it was really adding to the argument about whether product coming out of China was really safe for consumption.

This material is provided by the Australian Centre for Education and Training (ACET).