BBC LEARNING ENGLISH
6 Minute English worksheet
What decides our taste?
1. Look at the cover image and title of the episode. What do you think this
episode is about? What do you know about this topic already? What
vocabulary do you associate with this topic?
2. Now listen to the first two minutes of the episode.
• What do the presenters say the episode is about?
• What is this week's question? What do you think the answer is?
3. Now listen to the whole episode. As you listen, write down the six items
of vocabulary. What do they mean?
a) Word/phrase:_______________________
It means: ___________________________________________________________.
b) Word/phrase:_______________________
It means: ___________________________________________________________.
c) Word/phrase:_______________________
It means: ___________________________________________________________.
d) Word/phrase:_______________________
It means: ___________________________________________________________.
e) Word/phrase:_______________________
It means: ___________________________________________________________.
f) Word/phrase:_______________________
It means: ___________________________________________________________.
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4. What did you learn that was surprising or new in this episode?
5. Answer the quiz questions. Listen again or use the transcript to help you.
1. When were taste receptors discovered?
a) 25 years ago
b) 20 years ago
c) 15 years ago
2. Which verb means 'to strongly punish or criticise'?
a) cherish
b) characterise
c) chastise
3. Which word describes something which is 'based on personal opinions and
feelings rather than on objective facts'?
a) emotional
b) objective
c) subjective
4. "The meeting lasted over 3 hours and we still couldn't make a decision - it
was totally ______!"
a) productive
b) postponed
c) pointless
5. What is largely responsible for our sense of taste?
a) expert opinion
b) genetics
c) life experience
6. Which word or phrase describes people who 'cannot distinguish certain
colours, especially green and red'?
a) colour-blind
b) blind to chrome
c) hearing impaired
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6. Write your own sentences using the vocabulary.
7. Answer the following questions.
• What are three things you have learnt from this episode?
• How does this topic make you feel?
• Give three examples relevant to your life using the vocabulary.
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Answers
3.
a) broaden (or expand) your horizons
investigate something in a new way in order to increase the range of your
knowledge, understanding or experience
b) chastise
strongly punish or criticise
c) colour-blind
unable to see the difference between certain colours, especially green and red
d) pointless
without purpose or meaning, and a waste of time
e) I would say that, wouldn't I?
'of course I would say that'; used to imply there's some reason that what the
speaker is saying is obviously biased towards them
f) subjective
based on personal opinions and feelings rather than on objective facts
5. 1a, 2c, 3c, 4c, 5b, 6a
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Teacher's notes
This worksheet is standardised so that you can amend and use it as appropriate
with your classes.
Some topics may be difficult for learners, especially those which could be
upsetting or cause offence. Please be mindful of this when using this worksheet,
and adapt it as necessary.
Expansion activities
• Role-play an interview with an 'interviewer' and an 'expert' on this topic.
• Write a short story or article using the vocabulary from this episode.
• Read original articles on this topic.
• For homework: If it is available in your country, download and listen to the
original podcast these extracts were taken from.
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