Chocolate Bars from Birmingham

(Pre-Intermediate level)

Read this article and answer the questions below.

The first chocolate was enjoyed by Mayan and Aztec people in Central and South America hundreds of years ago. In those days, the people did not really eat chocolate; the cocoa bean was used to make a chocolate drink that the people enjoyed very much. Much later, the cocoa bean was brought across to Europe, and people there also came to love the taste of chocolate.

In 1824, John Cadbury opened a small shop in Birmingham. One of the items he sold was cocoa powder to make into drinks. In 1831, he opened a small factory to make cocoa powder from cocoa beans. John Cadbury believed that alcohol was an important cause of poverty and he wanted to encourage people to drink chocolate instead. A few years later a man called Joseph Fry invented a way to make chocolate bars, and so for the first time people had the chance to eat chocolate instead of only drinking it. At first, chocolate was a luxury and only the rich people could afford it. Later, as more and more chocolate bars were produced and sold, it became cheaper.

However, at first only plain chocolate was produced. Milk chocolate came later and this was made by adding milk or milk powder to the chocolate. Cadbury introduced their first milk chocolate bar in 1897. Their most famous chocolate, Cadbury’s Milk Bar, was introduced in 1905. It has been a best seller in Britain and around the world for nearly 100 years. The Cadbury factory is still in Birmingham and the chocolate produced there is eaten all over the world. Every year, thousands of visitors visit the factory to see how chocolate is made.

Multiple choice questions – choose the best answer:

1. Mayan and Aztec people used to:

  •  Drink the chocolate
  •  Eat and drink the chocolate
  •  Eat the chocolate
  •  Enjoy the chocolate every day

2. John Cadbury wanted people to:

  •  Drink more alcohol and chocolate.
  •  Drink less chocolate and more alcohol
  •  Drink more chocolate and less alcohol.
  •  Drink chocolate instead of alcohol.

3. People started to eat chocolate when:

  •  John Cadbury started to make chocolate bars.
  •  More and more chocolate was manufactured.
  •  Chocolate became cheaper.
  •  Joseph Fry discovered a way to make chocolate bars.

4. Cadbury’s Milk Bar has been:

  •  sold around the world for about 100 years.
  •  sold very successfully around the world.
  •  a best seller in Britain for about 100 years.
  •  selling very successfully all over the world for over 100 years.

Writing: replacing the verbs

Selected verbs have been removed from the passage and listed below. Try to choose a suitable verb for each gap.

The first chocolate   –  enjoy enjoyed was enjoyed was enjoying  by Mayan and Aztec people in Central and South America hundreds of years ago. In those days, the people did not really eat chocolate; the cocoa bean   –  use used was used was using  to make a chocolate drink that the people enjoyed very much. Much later, the cocoa bean   –  bring brought was brought bringing  across to Europe, and people there also came to love the taste of chocolate.

In 1824, John Cadbury   –  open opened was opened opening  a small shop in Birmingham. One of the items he   –  sell sold was sold selling  was cocoa powder to make into drinks. In 1831, he   –  open opened was opened was opening  a small factory to make cocoa powder from cocoa beans. John Cadbury   –  belief believe believed was believed  that alcohol was an important cause of poverty and he   –  want wanted was wanting wanting  to encourage people to drink chocolate instead. A few years later a man called Joseph Fry   –  invent invented inventing was inventing  a way to make chocolate bars, and so for the first time people had the chance to eat chocolate instead of only drinking it. At first, chocolate was a luxury and only the rich people could afford it. Later, as more and more chocolate bars   –  produce produced was produced were produced  and sold, it became cheaper.

However, at first only plain chocolate   –  produce produced was produced were produced  . Milk chocolate   –  come came coming was coming  later and this was made by adding milk or milk powder to the chocolate. Cadbury’s   –  introduction introduce introduced was introduced  their first milk chocolate bar in 1897. Their most famous chocolate, Cadbury’s Milk Bar,   –  introduction introduce introduced was introduced  in 1905. It   –  be been has been being  a best seller in Britain and around the world for nearly 100 years. The Cadbury factory is still in Birmingham and the chocolate produced there is eaten all over the world. Every year, thousands of visitors   –  visit visited visiting had visitng  the factory to see how chocolate   –  make made is made is making