Unit 5: Food and Science

1. How has science changed the food we eat?

 Key Vocabulary: Biotechnology, genetic modification, preservation, nutrition
enhancement.
 Sample Answer: Science has dramatically altered our food through biotechnology, from
genetic modification for better yield and pest resistance to improved preservation
techniques that extend shelf life and even fortifying foods with additional nutrients for
better health.
2. What is more important in your food: flavor, cost, or nutrition? Why?
 Key Vocabulary: Taste, affordability, health benefits.
 Sample Answer: While all three are important, I prioritize nutrition because maintaining
health is essential. Although I enjoy tasty food and consider cost, the nutritional value
ultimately guides my choices.
3. What is Genetically Modified (GM) Food? Do you know any GM plants?
 Key Vocabulary: Genetic engineering, DNA alteration, crops like corn and soy.
 Sample Answer: GM foods have DNA altered for certain traits like pest resistance or
increased productivity. Common examples include GM corn and soybeans, which are
prevalent in many products.
4. Would you prefer to eat fish raised in a farm or fish caught from the sea?
 Key Vocabulary: Aquaculture, wild-caught, sustainability, taste.
 Sample Answer: I prefer sea-caught fish for their natural flavor and texture, though I
recognize farm-raised fish's sustainability and environmental benefits.
5. Do you think packaged food is healthy or not? Why?
 Key Vocabulary: Processed foods, additives, convenience, nutritional value.
 Sample Answer: Packaged foods are often less healthy due to additives and processing
that can reduce nutritional value. However, they offer convenience; some can be part of a
balanced diet if chosen wisely.
6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having bigger food?
 Key Vocabulary: Portion control, overeating, value for money.
 Sample Answer: Larger food portions can provide better value and satisfy larger
appetites, but they also risk encouraging overeating and can contribute to health issues
like obesity.
7. How concerned are you about additives in your food? Do you avoid food that has additives?

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  Key Vocabulary: Health concerns, artificial ingredients, label reading.
 Sample Answer: I am moderately concerned about additives and try to limit them, but I
don't strictly avoid all foods with additives. I focus more on balanced eating and reading
labels to make informed choices.
8. What are the advantages and disadvantages of food additives?
 Key Vocabulary: Preservation, taste enhancement, potential health risks.
 Sample Answer: Food additives help preserve food, enhance taste, and improve
appearance. However, they can also pose health risks and may lead to allergic reactions in
some people.
9. Should there be stricter rules for food additives on advertisements or food for children? Why
and why not?
 Key Vocabulary: Child health, advertising ethics, regulatory policies.
 Sample Answer: Yes, stricter regulations are needed for food additives in children's
products and their advertisements, as children are more vulnerable to potential health
risks, and misleading advertising can affect their dietary choices.
10. Do you think genetically engineered plants or food is good? Why or why not?
 Key Vocabulary: Genetic engineering, food security, ethical concerns.
 Sample Answer: Genetically engineered food has its benefits in addressing food security
and improving crop resilience. However, ethical and long-term health impact concerns
need thorough investigation.
Unit 6: Paths to Success
1. What does success mean to you?
 Key Vocabulary: Personal goals, fulfillment, career achievement.
 Sample Answer: To me, success means achieving personal and professional goals, finding
fulfillment in my activities, and making a positive impact in my community.
2. What are some roads to success that you know?
 Key Vocabulary: Hard work, education, perseverance, networking.
 Sample Answer: Roads to success include hard work, continuous education, perseverance
through challenges, and building a strong network of supportive peers and mentors.
3. What are some benefits of taking a year off school or work?
 Key Vocabulary: Personal growth, new experiences, mental health.

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  Sample Answer: Taking a year off can provide personal growth opportunities, exposure to
new experiences, and a much-needed mental health break to recharge and refocus.
4. What are some disadvantages of a gap year?
 Key Vocabulary: Career delay, financial cost, loss of academic momentum.
 Sample Answer: A gap year can lead to delays in academic or career progression, incur
additional costs, and sometimes result in losing academic momentum or focus.
5. If you could take a year off from school, what kinds of experiences would you seek? Why?
 Key Vocabulary: Travel, volunteering, skill development.
 Sample Answer: I would seek travel experiences to learn about different cultures,
volunteer to give back to the community, and take courses to develop new skills, all of
which contribute to personal growth and broader perspectives.
6. Do you want to work in a company for many years or to change companies often to make
progress in your profession?
 Key Vocabulary: Career stability, growth opportunities, job satisfaction.
 Sample Answer: I prefer working in a company for many years if it offers growth
opportunities and job satisfaction. However, I'm open to changing companies if it's
necessary for career advancement.
7. If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?
 Key Vocabulary: Cultural exploration, adventure, relaxation.
 Sample Answer: I would travel to Japan for its rich culture, unique traditions, and
beautiful landscapes. It offers a mix of historical sights and modern technology, providing
a fascinating travel experience.
8. If a close friend is considering taking a year off, what would you tell your friend?
 Key Vocabulary: Careful planning, goal-setting, open-mindedness.
 Sample Answer: I would advise careful planning and setting clear goals for the year off.
It's important to stay open-minded and flexible to make the most of the experience.
9. What types of gap year activities could help prepare someone for a career in education? Why?
 Key Vocabulary: Teaching, volunteering, cultural immersion.
 Sample Answer: Volunteering in educational programs, teaching in underprivileged areas,
and immersing oneself in different cultures can provide invaluable experience and
perspective for a career in education.
10. Do you know anyone who took/have taken a gap year?

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  Key Vocabulary: Personal experience, life choices, learning outcomes.
 Sample Answer: Yes, a friend took a gap year to volunteer abroad. They gained a new
perspective on life, learned a new language, and returned more focused and determined in
their career path.

Unit 7: Discovery and Chance

1. Have you ever discovered something important by accident? If so, what was it?
 Key Vocabulary: Serendipity, unexpected findings, personal experience.
 Sample Answer: Yes, I once discovered my passion for photography accidentally when I
borrowed a friend's camera. This incident opened up a new hobby and a way of seeing
the world for me.
2. If you discover something by accident, how do you know if the discovery is important?
 Key Vocabulary: Significance, impact, personal relevance.
 Sample Answer: The importance of an accidental discovery can be gauged by its impact
on your life or others', its potential to bring about change, and how much it resonates with
your personal interests or values.
3. What are the roles of chance discoveries in science?
 Key Vocabulary: Innovation, breakthroughs, scientific progress.
 Sample Answer: Chance discoveries have played a crucial role in science, leading to
major breakthroughs and innovations. They often provide unexpected insights and open
new avenues for research and understanding.
4. Do you know any accidental scientists? If yes, what can you learn from them?
 Key Vocabulary: Famous discoveries, adaptability, curiosity.
 Sample Answer: Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin accidentally, is a prime
example. From him, we learn the importance of curiosity, adaptability, and being open to
unexpected results in scientific endeavors.
5. If two siblings were separated as babies and then met many years later, do you think they
would still feel an emotional connection? Why or why not?
 Key Vocabulary: Biological connections, emotional bonds, nature vs. nurture.
 Sample Answer: They might feel an underlying biological connection, but the strength
of their emotional bond would depend on their individual experiences and personalities.
It's a complex interplay of nature and nurture.
6. What are some accidental inventions that changed human life?

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  Key Vocabulary: Penicillin, microwave, post-it notes.
 Sample Answer: Accidental inventions like penicillin, the microwave oven, and post-it
notes have significantly impacted daily life, showing how unexpected discoveries can
lead to practical and widely used innovations.
7. Where could be the good places for an accidental discovery?
 Key Vocabulary: Laboratories, outdoor adventures, daily life.
 Sample Answer: Laboratories are hotspots for accidental discoveries due to the nature of
experimentation. However, outdoor adventures and even everyday life situations can also
lead to significant findings.
8. Some accidental discoveries could be very negative? What are they?
 Key Vocabulary: Unintended consequences, harmful effects, environmental impact.
 Sample Answer: Accidental discoveries like CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) initially
seemed beneficial but later showed harmful environmental impacts, depleting the ozone
layer and contributing to global warming.
9. What might be the disadvantages to relying on serendipity to help us understand the human
brain?
 Key Vocabulary: Unpredictability, lack of direction, scientific rigor.
 Sample Answer: Relying solely on serendipity lacks scientific rigor and direction,
making research unpredictable and possibly overlooking systematic approaches necessary
for comprehensive understanding.
10. Is it ever good to leave things undiscovered? For example, isolated tribes of people, new
species of animals, or natural resources?
 Key Vocabulary: Ethical considerations, preservation, cultural respect.
 Sample Answer: In some cases, leaving things undiscovered, like isolated tribes or
certain natural resources, is important for ethical reasons, to preserve natural habitats and
respect cultural autonomy.
Unit 8: Sports and Competition
1. Did you play sports or games as a child? If so, what are they?
 Key Vocabulary: Childhood activities, team sports, individual games.
 Sample Answer: Yes, I played basketball and chess as a child. Basketball helped me
develop teamwork skills, while chess taught me strategic thinking.
2. What are the pros and cons of competition?
 Key Vocabulary: Motivation, stress, skill development, rivalry.

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  Sample Answer: Competition can be motivating and drive skill development, but it can
also cause stress and unhealthy rivalry. It's important to balance competitive spirit with
sportsmanship and personal growth.
3. Do you think athletic competition teaches “self-discipline”?
 Key Vocabulary: Discipline, training, self-control.
 Sample Answer: Yes, athletic competition teaches self-discipline. The rigorous training,
adherence to rules, and the need for self-control in high-pressure situations all contribute
to this learning.
4. How do organized sports affect children?
 Key Vocabulary: Physical health, social skills, teamwork, pressure.
 Sample Answer: Organized sports positively affect children by improving physical
health, teaching teamwork and social skills, but they can also bring pressure to perform
and win.

Unit 8: Sports and Games

1. Did you play sports or games as a child? If so, what are they?
 Key Vocabulary: Childhood activities, physical engagement, team sports.
 Sample Answer: As a child, I played soccer and basketball, which taught me the
importance of teamwork, physical fitness, and strategic thinking.
2. What are the pros and cons of competition?
 Key Vocabulary: Motivation, stress, skill development.
 Sample Answer: Competition can motivate and foster skill development, but it can also
cause stress and an unhealthy focus on winning over personal growth.
3. Do you think athletic competition teaches “self-discipline”?
 Key Vocabulary: Discipline, commitment, self-control.
 Sample Answer: Yes, athletic competition can teach self-discipline through the need for
regular practice, commitment, and self-control in both victories and losses.
4. How do organized sports affect children?
 Key Vocabulary: Physical health, social skills, pressure.
 Sample Answer: Organized sports benefit children by improving physical health, social
skills, and discipline, but they can also bring pressure to perform and an overly
competitive mindset.

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5. What are the important qualities for a champion athlete?
 Key Vocabulary: Determination, skill, teamwork, mental strength.
 Sample Answer: A champion athlete needs determination, exceptional skill, the ability to
work well in a team, and mental strength to handle pressure and setbacks.
6. Should sports be the major focus of a child’s life? Why or why not?
 Key Vocabulary: Balance, well-rounded development, personal interests.
 Sample Answer: While sports are beneficial, they shouldn't be the sole focus. A balanced
approach to life, including academics and other interests, leads to well-rounded
development.
7. Why do you think parents get their children involved in competitive sports at as young as four
or five years old? Do you think they should wait until their children are older?
 Key Vocabulary: Early development, skill building, parental expectations.
 Sample Answer: Parents might involve children in sports early for skill development and
socialization, but it's important to balance this with the child's interests and not impose
undue pressure.
8. How can you encourage a child who isn’t succeeding in a particular sport?
 Key Vocabulary: Positive reinforcement, exploring other interests, perseverance.
 Sample Answer: Encouraging a child can involve positive reinforcement, helping them
find other sports or activities they enjoy, and teaching the value of perseverance and
effort over immediate success.
9. What are the benefits of team sports? How about individual sports?
 Key Vocabulary: Teamwork, individual achievement, social skills, self-reliance.
 Sample Answer: Team sports teach teamwork and social skills, while individual sports
foster self-reliance and personal goal-setting. Both offer physical and mental health
benefits.
10. Did you prefer team sports or individual sports as a child? Why?
 Key Vocabulary: Personal preference, skills development, social interaction.
 Sample Answer: As a child, I preferred team sports because they offered a sense of
camaraderie and taught me valuable social interaction and cooperation skills.

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