Making chocolate

You probably like chocolate, but do you

know how it is made? Chocolate comes
WRITING from the beans of the cacao tree. There are
TASK two main stages in its production:
· harvesting cacao and drying the beans;
· making the chocolate in a factory.

In Section D you are going to write 150 words describing how chocolate is made when
the beans reach the factory. Sections A-C will help you practise the tense and linking
words that you need.

A Style
These two paragraphs describe the harvesting of cacao beans. Complete the table below
to show how the two versions are different. Which one do you think is more suitable?

1 Harvesters remove the ripe pods from

2 First, the ripe pods are removed from
the trees. Gatherers collect the pods
the trees. Then the pods are collected
in baskets and transport them to the
in baskets and transported to the edge
edge of the field. Breakers split open
of the field. There the pods are split
the pods with machetes and discard
open with a machete and the husks and
the husk and inner membranes.
inner membranes are discarded.

Doer of the action mentioned? Linking words used?

Tense used?
Put a tick (with an example) or a cross
Par 1
Par 2

B Using passive verbs

When describing an agricultural or manufacturing process, we often use the present
passive tense. Here are the next few steps in the process of making chocolate. Write
the present passive form of the verbs in brackets. The first one has been done for you.

After harvesting, the beans are packed (pack) into boxes and (cover).
Then they (leave) to heat up and ferment for several days.
When the fermentation is complete, the beans (dry) outside in
the sun on bamboo mats, or inside by hot air pipes. During the drying process, the
beans (turn) frequently until they are thoroughly dry. Next, they
(prepare) for shipping and (store) in shipping
centres in sacks. After that, they (inspect) by buyers. Finally, if
the quality is satisfactory, they (ship) to factories in other countries.

C Sequencing ideas
All processes involve a number of steps. We need sequence expressions and time words
to show the order in which these steps occur. Circle the sequence and time words used
in the extract above. One has been done for you.

G a t e wa y t o E n g lis h 3 E xte nde d Wr iti ng

Copyright text C The Curriculum Development Department, Ministry of Education, Brunei Darussalam and
Macmillan Publishers Limited 2008, Copyright design and illustration C Macmillan Publishers Limited 2008
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Can be downloaded from website
D In the chocolate factory
The pictures and notes below show how chocolate is manufactured. Use the information
to write at least 150 words describing the process. Remember to use the present passive
for some of the verbs. Use sequencing and time expressions to show the sequence of steps.
You can begin with the following sentence:

The manufacturing of chocolate in a factory consists of several steps …

winnower
1 2 3 heavy
metal
discs

oven mill

- seeds cleaned to - shells cracked - nibs turned to

remove pulp and husks - giant fans blow broken shells away ‘chocolate liquor’
- roasted 2 hours (= thick paste)
- leaves ‘nibs’ (= soft centre of seeds)

5
4 steel
rollers

Sugar
Milk

- other ingredients (condensed - passed several times

milk, sugar, cocoa butter) through machine
- liquor churned 6 hours - becomes smooth &
brown dough) shiny

6 7 8
moulds

tempering
machine

- heated & cooled several - liquid chocolate - removed from mould

times (30o-40oC) moulds - wrapped & packed
- makes chocolate even - makes 100s of
smoother bars/minute

E Checking your work

Wrote a title. Checked punctuation.
Met the word count (150). Used capital letters for sentences.
Wrote in paragraphs. Used the present passive.
Checked spelling. Used sequencing and time expressions.

G a t e wa y t o E n g lis h 3 E xte nde d Wr iti ng

Copyright text C The Curriculum Development Department, Ministry of Education, Brunei Darussalam and
Macmillan Publishers Limited 2008, Copyright design and illustration C Macmillan Publishers Limited 2008
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Can be downloaded from website
 ipresentsimplepassive01.pdf

GrammarNet.com
Gramática da Língua Inglesa Present Simple Passive

Write the verbs in the Present Simple Passive.

Example: Someone cleans the room every day.

The room is cleaned every day.

1. We receive a lot of phone calls every day.

A lot of phone calls ………………………… every day.

2. My wife waters the plants.

The plants ………………………… by my wife.

3. The kids do the washing-up.

The washing-up ………………………… by the kids.

4. Someone sends me a letter.

A letter ………………………… to me.

5. They don't deliver the goods on Sundays.

The goods ……………………………… on Sundays.

6. They don't sell fresh produce every day.

Fresh produce ……………………………… every day.

7. They don't print these books anymore.

These books ……………………………… anymore.

8. Mrs Smith doesn't do the cooking.

The cooking ……………………………… by Mrs Smith.

9. Do they sell vegetables at the market?

…………… vegetables …………… at the market?

10. Do they make these shoes in Portugal?

…………… these shoes …………… in Portugal?

11. Do they deliver the milk to your house every morning?

…………… the milk …………… to your house every morning?

12. Do you do the ironing?

…………… the ironing …………… by you?

12

© E.S.Ping 2011 1 of 2 ipresentsimplepassive01.pdf