Why read this: This short story is about food rules in America. It is a good way for new readers to learn about a real news topic. The story tells you what the rules say. It also tells you what doctors think. You will see simple ideas about meat, butter, and your heart. The story uses easy words and short sentences. It is a good first step before you read longer news stories.
What to notice: Look for two ideas in the story. First, what do the new American food rules say? They say to eat more meat and butter. Second, what do many doctors say? They say too much animal fat is bad for your heart. Notice how the story uses the word "but." The word "but" shows that two groups of people do not agree. Try to find this word in the story.
Skills practised: You will read for the main idea. You will look for facts in a short news story. You will see new food words like "meat," "butter," "oil," and "vegetable." Two phrases use a side note: "dietary guidelines" and "balanced diet." Click them to see what they mean. After reading, try the questions. They will help you check what you understood.
"New American Food Rules: More Meat, More Butter?"
"The new rules say to eat more meat and butter, but many health experts do not agree."
Tap any green word in the article to see its meaning.
On January 7th, the American governmentgovernment: The group of people who run a country. — 政府 shared new dietary guidelines: official government rules about what is healthy to eat — 饮食指南. These are the officialofficial: approved by the government or a person in authority; formal — 官方的；正式的 rules about food. They tell people what is good to eat. They also tell people what to eat less of. Some doctors like the new rules. But many health expertsexpert: A person who knows a lot about a subject — 专家 are not happy with them.
The new rules say to eat more meat. They also say to eat more butter and beefbeef: The meat from a cow, used as food. — 牛肉 fat. The rules call these foods "healthy fats." There is a picture with the new rules. The picture shows a big steaksteak: Beefsteak, a slice of beef, broiled or cut for broiling — 牛排 at the toptop: The highest point or part of something. — 顶部；最高处. It also shows cheese, wholewhole: Entire, undivided — 整个的 milk, and a piece of butter. Bread and rice are at the bottombottom: The lowest part of something. — 底部；最下面. This means the rules want people to eat less bread and rice.
Many health experts do not agree with this idea. They say too much animal fat is bad for your heartheart: The organ in your chest that pumps blood around your body. — 心脏；内心. Animal fat puts more fat in your bloodblood: The red liquid that flows through the body of a person or animal. — 血液；血. This blood fat can blockblock: To fill (something) so that it is not possible to pass — 堵塞 your blood pathspath: A trail for the use of, or worn by, pedestrians — 小路. Then a person can have a heart attack. Doctors have said this for many years.
Experts say a balanced diet: eating different kinds of food in the right amounts — 均衡饮食 is better for you. People should eat more fresh vegetables and fruit. They should also use plant oilsoil: A thick liquid used for cooking or as fuel. — 油；石油 for cooking. These oils come from olivesolive: The small oval fruit of this tree, eaten ripe (usually black) or unripe (usually green) — 橄榄, sunflowerssunflower: Any plant of the genus Helianthus, so called probably from the form and color of its floral head, having the form of a large disk surrounded by yellow ray flowers — 向日葵, and other seeds. Plant oils are kinder to your heart than butter is. This advice is not new at all.
Robert F. Kennedy juniorjunior: Of lower rank or status; relating to young or younger people. — 初级的；年资较浅的 is the new American health chiefchief: The leader or head of a group, organisation, or tribe — 首领. He says that seed oils are not safesafe: Free from risk — 无风险的. But most scientists do not agree with him. There is no strong proofproof: Evidence or argument establishing a fact or the truth of a statement. — 证据；证明 that seed oils hurthurt: To cause pain to someone or to feel pain. — 伤害；疼痛 people. The simple advice from doctors is still the same. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables every day. Do not eat too much butter or red meat.
On January 7th, the American governmentgovernment: The group of people who run a country. — 政府 shared new dietary guidelines: official government rules about what is healthy to eat — 饮食指南. These are the officialofficial: approved by the government or a person in authority; formal — 官方的；正式的 rules about food. They tell people what is good to eat. They also tell people what to eat less of. Some doctors like the new rules. But many health expertsexpert: A person who knows a lot about a subject — 专家 are not happy with them.
The new rules say to eat more meat. They also say to eat more butter and beefbeef: The meat from a cow, used as food. — 牛肉 fat. The rules call these foods "healthy fats." There is a picture with the new rules. The picture shows a big steaksteak: Beefsteak, a slice of beef, broiled or cut for broiling — 牛排 at the toptop: The highest point or part of something. — 顶部；最高处. It also shows cheese, wholewhole: Entire, undivided — 整个的 milk, and a piece of butter. Bread and rice are at the bottombottom: The lowest part of something. — 底部；最下面. This means the rules want people to eat less bread and rice.
Many health experts do not agree with this idea. They say too much animal fat is bad for your heartheart: The organ in your chest that pumps blood around your body. — 心脏；内心. Animal fat puts more fat in your bloodblood: The red liquid that flows through the body of a person or animal. — 血液；血. This blood fat can blockblock: To fill (something) so that it is not possible to pass — 堵塞 your blood pathspath: A trail for the use of, or worn by, pedestrians — 小路. Then a person can have a heart attack. Doctors have said this for many years.
Experts say a balanced diet: eating different kinds of food in the right amounts — 均衡饮食 is better for you. People should eat more fresh vegetables and fruit. They should also use plant oilsoil: A thick liquid used for cooking or as fuel. — 油；石油 for cooking. These oils come from olivesolive: The small oval fruit of this tree, eaten ripe (usually black) or unripe (usually green) — 橄榄, sunflowerssunflower: Any plant of the genus Helianthus, so called probably from the form and color of its floral head, having the form of a large disk surrounded by yellow ray flowers — 向日葵, and other seeds. Plant oils are kinder to your heart than butter is. This advice is not new at all.
Robert F. Kennedy juniorjunior: Of lower rank or status; relating to young or younger people. — 初级的；年资较浅的 is the new American health chiefchief: The leader or head of a group, organisation, or tribe — 首领. He says that seed oils are not safesafe: Free from risk — 无风险的. But most scientists do not agree with him. There is no strong proofproof: Evidence or argument establishing a fact or the truth of a statement. — 证据；证明 that seed oils hurthurt: To cause pain to someone or to feel pain. — 伤害；疼痛 people. The simple advice from doctors is still the same. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables every day. Do not eat too much butter or red meat.
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
What do the new American food rules tell people to eat more of?
- 02
Why do many health experts not agree with the new rules?
- 03
What do experts say is better than butter for cooking?
- 04
Describe what the new American food rules tell people to eat.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
List three things health experts say people should eat or use instead of lots of butter.
Suggested length: ~50 words
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
What do the new American food rules tell people to eat more of?
- 02
Why do many health experts not agree with the new rules?
- 03
What do experts say is better than butter for cooking?
- 04
Describe what the new American food rules tell people to eat.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
List three things health experts say people should eat or use instead of lots of butter.
Suggested length: ~50 words