BBC LEARNING ENGLISH
6 Minute English worksheet
How the world learned to love
fast food
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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BBC LEARNING ENGLISH
6 Minute English worksheet
How the world learned to love
fast food
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 did fast food become popular in the USA?
a) the 1980s
b) 2008/2009
c) the 1950s
2. If someone has _______, it means they show determination and confidence
to work hard and achieve results?
a) a can-do attitude
b) a devil-may-care attitude
c) a bad attitude
3. 'Have you tried bubble tea yet? It's a delicious new _______ iced tea."
a) take off
b) take on
c) take over
4. Which European capital city currently has no McDonald's restaurants?
a) London
b) Reykjavik
c) Madrid
5. Which phrase describes 'the idea that everyone in the USA has the chance
to be successful and happy if they work hard'?
a) American idol
b) America pie
c) American dream
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BBC LEARNING ENGLISH
6 Minute English worksheet
How the world learned to love
fast food
6. Which idiom refers to 'an event that causes the failure of something that
had already started to go wrong'?
a) the final nail in the coffin
b) the final curtain
c) the final score
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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BBC LEARNING ENGLISH
6 Minute English worksheet
How the world learned to love
fast food
Answers
3.
a. at the heart of – to be the most important part, or main cause, of
something
b. can-do attitude – showing determination and confidence to take action
and achieve results
c. The American dream – the idea that everyone in the United States of
America has the chance to be successful and happy if they work hard
d. long-standing - having existed for a long time
e. a take on (something) - a variation of, or new way of presenting, something
which already exists
f. the final nail in the coffin – (idiom) an event that causes the final end of
something that had already started to fail
5. 1c, 2a, 3b, 4b, 5c, 6a
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BBC LEARNING ENGLISH
6 Minute English worksheet
How the world learned to love
fast food
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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