Consumer safety officials in the USA have warned Americans against using toothpaste made in China because it may be poisonous. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared that Chinese toothpaste may contain a toxic chemical commonly used in antifreeze, a substance that protects car engines from freezing in cold weather. The FDA said that while there have so far been no reports of toothpaste poisoning in the US, contamination has been reported in Mexico. It has also found traces of the chemical, diethylene glycol (DEG), at retail stores in Florida and Puerto Rico.
DEG is actually found in other foods. It is used in low-cost sweeteners and as a thickening agent in cooking. The FDA’s concerns are that it should not be included in the ingredients of toothpaste. Officials say the chemical is dangerous to children and to those with kidney or liver disease. The FDA’s Deborah Autor expressed her fear over the substance, saying: “Our concern today is potentially about all toothpaste that comes in from China” .She added that DEG has been improperly added to a variety of other Chinese products, including sedatives and cough syrups. In Panama, last September, over 40 people died after taking a cough syrup containing DEG.
China has consistently topped the list of countries whose products are refused by the FDA – and that list includes many countries, including Mexico and Canada, which export products to the U.S.
A)comprehension
1.Say whether the following statements true or false according to the text. (1.5pts)
a.Chinese-made tooth paste may contain a poisonous chemical according to US health officials.
b.The chemical(DEG) is usually found in some foods.
c.The chemical is not harmful to children and to those with kidney or liver disease.
2.Answer the following questions according to the text.(4.5pts)
a. Why have US consumer safety officials warned Americans against using the tooth paste made in China?
b. Did the use of the Chinese tooth paste cause poisoning in the US?
c. What did the consumption of the cough syrup that contained DEG cause last September in Panama?
3.In which paragraph is it mentioned that China is first on the list of countries whose products are rejected by the Food and Drug Administration?
4.Who or what do the underlined words in the text refer to?
a) It §2 b) whose §3
B. TEXT EXPLORATION :
1. Find in the text words or phrases that are closet in meaning to the following :
a) cheap §2 =……….. b) illness §2 = ……..
2. Combine the pairs of sentences below with the correct connector in brackets.Make changes where necessary:
a)Health officials in the US confirmed that the use of the Chinese tooth paste is dangerous.They didn’t report any poisoning case.(though)
b)Many Americans showed their anger at the food safety laws. They are the victims of uncontrolled products imported from China.(because)
3.Complete sentence( b )so that it means the same as sentence (a).
1. a. He warned me not to use the Chinese tooth paste.
b. “......................…!”he warned me.
2. a. Many people regret having used Chinese tooth paste.
b.They wish……………………………………………..
4.Fill in each gap in the passage with one word from the list below : effort -unlicensed- poisoned- poisoning. number
In 2007 Panamanian health investigators reported that at least 174 people were ……..by counterfeit cold medicine linked to an……… Chinese chemical plant. The report was the government’s first …….to offer a precise toll of those killed and disabled in the ………But the head of the agency who prepared the report said the …….of victims was bound to be much higher because many in remote areas of the country didn’t report their cases to the government.
5.Underline the stressed syllable in each word :
contamination- catastrophic
PART TWO: WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Topic:The story you have read (reading text) is a vivid example of some companies’ non respect of health safety standards .What is your opinion about such practices? Make suggestions on what should be done to stop these wrongdoings. You may use the following notes:
DEG is actually found in other foods. It is used in low-cost sweeteners and as a thickening agent in cooking. The FDA’s concerns are that it should not be included in the ingredients of toothpaste. Officials say the chemical is dangerous to children and to those with kidney or liver disease. The FDA’s Deborah Autor expressed her fear over the substance, saying: “Our concern today is potentially about all toothpaste that comes in from China” .She added that DEG has been improperly added to a variety of other Chinese products, including sedatives and cough syrups. In Panama, last September, over 40 people died after taking a cough syrup containing DEG.
China has consistently topped the list of countries whose products are refused by the FDA – and that list includes many countries, including Mexico and Canada, which export products to the U.S.
A)comprehension
1.Say whether the following statements true or false according to the text. (1.5pts)
a.Chinese-made tooth paste may contain a poisonous chemical according to US health officials.
b.The chemical(DEG) is usually found in some foods.
c.The chemical is not harmful to children and to those with kidney or liver disease.
2.Answer the following questions according to the text.(4.5pts)
a. Why have US consumer safety officials warned Americans against using the tooth paste made in China?
b. Did the use of the Chinese tooth paste cause poisoning in the US?
c. What did the consumption of the cough syrup that contained DEG cause last September in Panama?
3.In which paragraph is it mentioned that China is first on the list of countries whose products are rejected by the Food and Drug Administration?
4.Who or what do the underlined words in the text refer to?
a) It §2 b) whose §3
B. TEXT EXPLORATION :
1. Find in the text words or phrases that are closet in meaning to the following :
a) cheap §2 =……….. b) illness §2 = ……..
2. Combine the pairs of sentences below with the correct connector in brackets.Make changes where necessary:
a)Health officials in the US confirmed that the use of the Chinese tooth paste is dangerous.They didn’t report any poisoning case.(though)
b)Many Americans showed their anger at the food safety laws. They are the victims of uncontrolled products imported from China.(because)
3.Complete sentence( b )so that it means the same as sentence (a).
1. a. He warned me not to use the Chinese tooth paste.
b. “......................…!”he warned me.
2. a. Many people regret having used Chinese tooth paste.
b.They wish……………………………………………..
4.Fill in each gap in the passage with one word from the list below : effort -unlicensed- poisoned- poisoning. number
In 2007 Panamanian health investigators reported that at least 174 people were ……..by counterfeit cold medicine linked to an……… Chinese chemical plant. The report was the government’s first …….to offer a precise toll of those killed and disabled in the ………But the head of the agency who prepared the report said the …….of victims was bound to be much higher because many in remote areas of the country didn’t report their cases to the government.
5.Underline the stressed syllable in each word :
contamination- catastrophic
PART TWO: WRITTEN EXPRESSION
Topic:The story you have read (reading text) is a vivid example of some companies’ non respect of health safety standards .What is your opinion about such practices? Make suggestions on what should be done to stop these wrongdoings. You may use the following notes: