Health Matters

Chocolate
Everyone wants to know the truth about chocolate.
Is it good for you or not? Dark chocolate does have
health benefits. But guess what? Most people don’t
eat dark chocolate! The majority of chocolate products
are full of sugar and fat. In this lesson, you will read
6 Myths about Chocolate and learn the truth once and
for all. Sorry, chocoholics. Some myths will never die.

Pre-Reading
A. Brainstorming

How many different types of chocolate

products can your class name in two minutes?

• chocolate-covered raisins • •

• hot chocolate • •

• chocolate chip cookies • •

• • •

• • •

• • •

• • •

B. Warm-Up Questions

1. What does “once and for all” mean?

2. Do you think chocolate is good for you?

3. What is a “chocoholic”?

4. Is chocolate good for dogs?

Copyright 2018, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( I N T / V E R S I O N 2 . 0) 1
 Chocolate
Health Matters

Pre-Reading cont.
C. Vocabulary Preview

Match up as many words and meanings as you can.

Check this exercise again after seeing the words in context on page 3.

1. in moderation a)  to have a strong feeling of wanting something

2. obesity b)  found in coffee and tea, helps people wake up

3. acne c)  in small amounts, balanced with other things

4. hormone d)  a natural substance in the body that regulates cells and organs

5. genetic e)  poisonous to the body

6. caffeine f)  to cause a related thing to be unnecessary

7. toxic g)  causing one to always want a substance

8. addictive h)  a health condition caused by overeating

9. crave i)  related to the cells you inherit

10. cancel out j)  small bumps on the skin caused by hormone changes, pimples

Copyright 2018, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( I N T / V E R S I O N 2 . 0) 2
 Chocolate
Health Matters

Reading
6 MYTHS ABOUT CHOCOLATE

1. Chocolate is a health food.

This depends on the chocolate. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants*. *Note:

These may provide health benefits when eaten in moderation.
Antioxidants are substances
Milk chocolate is high in sugar and low in antioxidants. that protect human cells.
White chocolate has no antioxidants. Choose wisely!

2. Chocolate keeps you thin.

Sorry, chocolate lovers. Too much chocolate can cause obesity.

Most chocolate is high in sugar and fat. Chocolate bars are high in
calories. Grab chocolate for an occasional treat, not a regular snack.

3. Chocolate causes pimples.

Food is not directly linked to acne. Pimples occur 

when there is oil on the skin. This is often due to
hormone changes. Skin blemishes can also be genetic.

4. Chocolate is high in caffeine.

A piece of chocolate contains a small amount of caffeine.

There is a similar amount in a cup of decaf coffee. This is not why
chocolate is dangerous for dogs. Chocolate contains a chemical called
theobromine. Like caffeine, theobromine is toxic to many dogs.

5. Chocolate is addictive.

Chocolate is not physically addictive. This is hard for

chocoholics to believe. Many people crave chocolate.
Doctors say this craving is emotional, not physical.

6. Chocolate prevents disease.

Candy companies want you to believe this. The same

is sometimes said of red wine. Unfortunately, the sugar
and fat in most chocolate cancel out the nutrients.
If chocolate makes you happy, that’s a different story.

Copyright 2018, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( I N T / V E R S I O N 2 . 0) 3
 Chocolate
Health Matters

Comprehension
A. True or False?

Read the statements below. If the statement is true based

on the reading, write T beside the sentence. If it is false,
write F and correct the information in your notebook.

1. White chocolate has antioxidants.

2. Obese is the opposite of thin.

3. People with lots of pimples have acne.

4. Chocolate and decaf coffee contain a small amount of caffeine.

5. Doctors warn that chocolate is highly addictive.

B. Questions & Answers

Show what you’ve learned in the reading by

answering “Yes” or “No” to the following questions.
Do you disagree with any of the information presented in the article?

# Question Answer

1 Is milk chocolate a health food?

2 Does chocolate make you gain weight?

3 Does chocolate cause pimples?

4 Is chocolate low in caffeine?

5 Is chocolate addictive?

6 Does chocolate prevent disease?

Copyright 2018, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( I N T / V E R S I O N 2 . 0) 4
 Chocolate
Health Matters

Vocabulary Review
A. Summarize

Get into pairs. Student A will reread myths 1–3 on page 3, while Student
B will reread myths 4–6. Then, without looking at page 3, summarize the
myths in your own words. Be sure to use each word from your list below
in your summary. Cross off each word as you or your partner uses it.

Student A: Myths 1–3 Student B: Myths 4–6

• obesity • caffeine
• in moderation • toxic
• acne • addictive
• hormone • crave
• genetic • cancel out

B. Choose the Correct Word

Choose the word or phrase with the closest meaning to

the underlined word or phrase in the following sentences.

1. Eating too much of one fatty 3. People often suffer from 5. Is hair loss genetic?
food will lead to obesity. acne in their teenage years. I’ve heard that it comes
from the mother’s side.
a) heaviness a) pimples
b) addiction b) anxiety a) hormonal
c) cravings c) addictions b) dangerous
c) inherited
2. The lack of vitamins 4. My doctor says I can eat
cancels out the health benefits. anything as long as I do
it in moderation.
a) eliminates
b) increases a) for pleasure
c) moderates b) at a convenient time
c) in small amounts

Copyright 2018, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( I N T / V E R S I O N 2 . 0) 5
 Chocolate
Health Matters

Writing
Create your own “list of 6” using “chocolate” as your subject.

Example Topics:

• 6 ways to cook with a chocolate bar

• 6 chocolate bars you should try (with reasons)
• 6 reasons to keep a chocolate bar in your car

Title:

1. 4.

2. 5.

3. 6.

Role-Play Discussion
DOCTOR’S ORDERS 1. When do you crave chocolate?

2. Will you eat less chocolate after reading about these myths?
Get together with a partner.
Act out a scene between a doctor 3. Which of these myths would you like to “challenge,” and why?
and a chocoholic. The chocolate
4. Which health foods do you eat? What health benefits do they provide?
lover will ask the doctor if
chocolate is healthy or not.  5. Do you consider yourself a chocoholic? Why or why not?
Try to use vocabulary
6. Is happiness more important than health?
from the reading.

Copyright 2018, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( I N T / V E R S I O N 2 . 0) 6
 Chocolate
Health Matters

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: LEVEL: Int

In this lesson, students learn six myths about chocolate. TIME: 1.5–2 hours
They discuss these myths using related vocabulary,
TAGS:  chocolate, health, sugar, caffeine, health matters
and come up with a “list of 6” of their own.

Pre-Reading Vocabulary Review

A. BR AINSTORMING A. SUMMARIZE

Discuss as a class. Answers will vary. Answers will vary. Students will retell the myths in their
own words using the vocabulary provided in the lists.
B. WARM-UP QUESTIONS
B. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Discuss as a class. Answers will vary.
1. a 2. a 3. a 4. c 5. c

C. VOCABULARY PREVIEW
Writing 
1. c 3. j 5. i 7. e 9. a
2. h 4. d 6. b 8. g 10. f
Individual answers.

Reading
Role-Play
Have students read the article out loud or to themselves.
Put students in pairs and have them come up with a short skit.
Review any difficult vocabulary.
Invite students to present their skits in front of the class.
Encourage students to use new vocabulary from the reading.
Comprehension

A. TRUE OR FALSE? Discussion

1. F – White chocolate has no antioxidants.
Discuss as a class, in small groups, or in pairs. Answers will vary.
2–4. T
5. F – There is no indication that chocolate is physically addictive.

B. QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. No.
2. Yes.
3. No.
4. Yes.
5. No.
6. No.

Copyright 2018, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( I N T / V E R S I O N 2 . 0) 7