B2 – Upper Intermediate
Though they are neither plant nor animal, mushrooms never fail to fascinate and strike with wonder.
Aside from being a great ingredient for cooking, mushrooms have also long been considered best for human health. Perhaps the key factor in the medicinal mushroom industry’s boom in the recent years.
Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the benefits of mushrooms as medicine.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2023/ep-231012
Vocabulary Questions:
- Explain what ”have a moment” means. “I think these mushrooms are very much having a moment right now, they’re kind of labelled as ‘super brain drugs’, so things are gonna potentially help with lessening anxiety, improving potentially depression.” Give 2 similar expressions and use this idiom in a sentence.
- What does the word “overblown” mean? “Dr. Leeming thinks some of the claims made about mushrooms are overblown.” Give 2 similar expressions and use this word in a sentence.
- What does “a fair amount” mean, “Lots of people absolutely want there to be scientific proof for health claims on food and drink because there still is a fair amount of scepticism, distrust, and general confusion around functionality.”? Give 2 similar expressions and use this phrase in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What might be the reasons mushrooms are having a moment right now?
- Are medicinal mushrooms becoming more and more common in your country too? Why do you think this is the case?
- Cite some benefits of medicinal mushrooms.
- What are your thoughts on the health claims on mushrooms?
- Would you give medicinal mushrooms a go? Why or why not?
- Should ancient knowledge about medicinal plants be kept alive? Explain your stance.
- Share your thoughts on this, “Some trust this [ancient knowledge about medicinal plants] wisdom more than modern medicine.”.