(Photos – Fairtrade Foundation)

Students may be interested in exploring the links between chocolate and development in under-funded countries, such as those in Africa that grow cocoa beans.

There are numerous relevant websites such as:

• Fairtrade (www.fairtrade.org.uk)
• Oxfam (www.oxfam.org.uk)
• The Co-operative (www.co-op.co.uk)
• The Guardian (www.guardian.co.uk)
• The Independent (www.independent.co.uk)

The sites will lead on to other sites which the students can search if they wish. Some of the sites (e.g. Oxfam) have pages that have been prepared for school children and these may be useful for students with lower language skills.

Possible areas to consider:

• the prices paid to the growers
• the percentage of the cost of a chocolate bar that goes to the growers
• support for farmers from the multinationals
• slavery

On the next few pages, there are some useful articles (slightly edited); alternatively, the unedited versions can be found through the websites.

Having visited the websites, you can write reports on these topics and prepare to give a 5-10 minute presentation to other students on a particular topic.

Intermediate level

The Cadburys were pioneers in employee welfare and labour relations, setting standards which other enlightened employers adopted. George Cadbury believed that if each man has his own home, a garden to cultivate and peaceful surroundings then there was a better opportunity for a long healthy happy life for him and his family, and in providing his workforce with these benefits he believed this would boost the moral of workforce to the benefit of both the company and the individual.

Cadbury Brothers was the first firm to introduce the Saturday half-day holiday, and also pioneered in closing the factory on bank holidays.

In 1918, Cadbury Brothers established democratically elected Works Councils, one for men and one for women. Departments elected representatives to these Councils by secret ballot. The Councils dealt with working conditions, health, safety, education, training, and the social life of the workers. Conditions and benefits were superior to those workers generally knew in the Victorian era.

Young employees were encouraged to attend night school and were allowed to leave work an hour early twice a week.

When the Bournville factory opened in 1879, it featured heated dressing rooms, kitchens for heating food, gardens, and extensive sports fields.

Management negotiated special workers’ fares with the railway company.

The Cadburys even provided swimming pools for employees.

The Cadburys established medical and dental departments for their employees.

In 1901 George Cadbury purchased the Daily News and used it to campaign for old age pensions and against sweated labour. He paid £60,000 into a pension fund for his own workers to make sure his own employees were looked after in retirement.

Pre-reading discussion

If George Cadbury was an employer who cared about the conditions of the workers at the factory, what things do you think he might have done to provide good working conditions 100 years ago? If possible, work with a partner or small group and compile a list.

What benefits might a reasonable employer provide today?

Reading activity

Compare / contrast you list with the provisions made by George Cadbury.

What provisions are made by many employers today?

Look at examples of job adverts. Check on the benefits. If possible, prepare a letter asking for further details. Design a job advertisement for a post with Cadbury’s and include the benefits available.

(Pre-intermediate / intermediate.)

If used with pre-intermediate students, the paragraphs could be dealt with in pairs rather than presenting the students with a long passage of text.

The Cadbury family manufactured high-quality chocolate, but this was not their only ambition. They were also a family who wanted to improve the lives of the people who worked for the company. George Cadbury was the eldest of John Cadbury’s sons. He was born in 1839 and he was very busy in the manufacture of chocolate for the whole of his life. However, he was more than just the owner of a chocolate factory. He was also a man who believed in justice, equality and the importance of good working conditions.

In 1879, George made an important decision. He had seen many workers in Birmingham living in very poor conditions without clean water and good houses. He did not want the men and women in his factory to live like that. He decided to move the factory from the centre of Birmingham to a new site several miles south of the city. In 1900, he founded the Bournville Village Trust on the edge of the city of Birmingham. His aim was to provide good quality housing in a natural green environment for all of the people who worked at the Cadbury chocolate factory. It was one of the very first attempts to design a model village where all of the workers could live happily.

The new housing estate was carefully planned and was designed to continue so that the children of the workers could have comfortable homes. George Cadbury did not accept the general view at that time that workers could be mistreated and poorly paid. He showed that when workers are provided with a fair salary and good living conditions, they enjoy their jobs and help to build a fairer and more peaceful society.

When they built the Bournville factory in 1879, they built 16 houses for senior employees. In 1895, George Cadbury bought an additional 120 acres and began to build more houses in the garden city. He sought to provide affordable housing for wage earners in a healthy environment. The community was not limited to Cadbury workers, and was designed to be mixed in both class and occupation. Cottages were grouped and set back from tree-lined roads. Each plot had space for gardens, and building was restricted so the gardens were not overshadowed. In 1897, Richard Cadbury built a quadrangle of houses for pensioners.

To preserve the character of the Bournville Village for future generations, George Cadbury founded the Bournville Village Trust in 1900. The Trust was always separate from the company. Several Cadbury family members are still trustees today. The Trust continues to follow the original principles, including the preservation of parks and open spaces. The Trust has established 12 different kinds of special-needs housing, diversifying the population even more than in the early days. Self-build co-partnerships, where members do the work themselves under expert direction, built 400 homes.

Today, the Bournville Village is still there, and it still follows the principles of George Cadbury. The houses still look attractive and well designed. They are well maintained and clean. The area has no pubs and gives the visitor a feeling of quiet confidence and peace. Many people in the area still work at the Cadbury factory. Even today, the Bournville Village is seen as being an important step forward in social change in Britain.

Activity 1

List the improvements that George Cadbury wanted to bring to his workers’ lives.

Re-ordering the paragraphs – read the passage quickly and then re-order the paragraphs correctly. If possible, compare with your partners’ work and discuss.

Words and meaning: find words in the passage that mean the opposite to these words or expressions:

• working people (pensioners)
• insecurity (confidence)
• destruction (preservation)
• standardising / making more similar in nature (diversifying)
• injustice (justice)
• badly looked after (well maintained)
• warlike (peaceful)
• unobtainable / too expensive (affordable)
• inequality (equality)
• poorly constructed buildings (good quality housing)
• natural (unnatural)
• treated well (mistreated)
• in sunlight (overshadowed)
• unlimited (restricted)
• to destroy (to preserve)

Changing the meaning of words

Preferably working with a partner think about how many different prefixes there are, and give examples. For example: happy/unhappy.

Possible suggestions:

• un- (unhappy)
• in- (inexhaustible)
• a- (amoral)
• dis- (dislike)
• im- (improper)
• de- (decontamination)
• re- (reconstruction)
• im- (impossible)
• post- (postwar)

also:

• downsize, downturn, downtrodden
• endanger, enslave, enrich
• extraordinary, extra-curricular, extravagant
• handbag, handkerchief, hand-held
• illegitimate, illegible, illiterate
• lowlife, low-grade, low-level
• midnight, mid-term, mid-life
• misunderstood, misjudge, misplace
• newsworthy, newspaper, newsagent
• off-shoot, off-hand, off-colour
• outside, outrun, outclass

Plus there are quite a few others!

After pair work, let them make their suggestions and list them on the board. When the students have suggested as many as they can, add others that they have not mentioned. Tell the students to think of other words for each type (5 minutes) and then list these also on the board.

Writing practice

In the passage below, the adjectives have been removed and listed underneath; can you replace them correctly? You can work individually and then compare their work with another student.

The Cadbury family manufactured ………… chocolate, but this was not their only ambition. They were also a family who wanted to improve the lives of the people who worked for the company. George Cadbury was the eldest of John Cadbury’s sons. He was born in 1839 and he was very busy in the manufacture of chocolate for the whole of his ……… life. However, he was more than just the owner of a ……… factory. He was also a man who believed in justice, equality and the importance of good working conditions.

In 1879, George made an ……… decision. He had seen many workers in Birmingham living in very ……… conditions without ……… water and good houses. He did not want the men and women in his factory to live like that. He decided to move the factory from the centre of Birmingham to a ……… site several miles south of the city. In 1900, he founded the Bournville Village Trust on the edge of the city of Birmingham. His aim was to provide good quality housing in a ……… green environment for all of the people who worked at the Cadbury chocolate factory. It was one of the very ……… attempts to design a ……… village where all of the workers could live happily.

The new housing estate was carefully planned and was designed to continue so that the children of the workers could have ………… homes. George Cadbury did not accept the …….. view at that time that workers could be mistreated and poorly paid. He showed that when workers are provided with a ……… salary and good living conditions, they enjoy their jobs and help to build a fairer and more …….. society. When they built the Bournville factory in 1879, they built 16 houses for …….. employees. In 1895, George Cadbury bought an additional 120 acres and began to build more houses in the garden city. He sought to provide …….. housing for …….. earners in a healthy environment. The community was not limited to Cadbury workers, and was designed to be mixed in both class and occupation. Cottages were grouped and set back from …….. roads. Each plot had space for gardens, and building was restricted so the gardens were not overshadowed. In 1897, Richard Cadbury built a quadrangle of houses for pensioners.

To preserve the character of the Bournville Village for future generations, George Cadbury founded the Bournville Village Trust in 1900. The Trust was always separate from the company. Several Cadbury family members are still trustees today. The Trust continues to follow the ………… principles, including the preservation of parks and ………… spaces. The Trust has established 12 different kinds of …….. housing, diversifying the population even more than in the early days. Self-build co-partnerships, where members do the work themselves under ………… direction, built 400 homes.

Today, the Bournville Village is still there, and it still follows the principles of George Cadbury. The houses still look attractive and well designed. They are well maintained and clean. The area has no pubs and gives the visitor a feeling of ………… confidence and peace. Many people in the area still work at the Cadbury factory. Even today, the Bournville Village is seen as being an ………… step forward in ………… change in Britain.

• affordable
• model
• important
• new
• high-quality
• tree-lined
• peaceful
• social
• comfortable
• first
• important
• clean
• general
• open
• natural
• chocolate
• eventful
• poor
• fair
• senior
• wage
• original
• special-needs
• expert
• quiet

(Intermediate level.)

For a considerable time, the Cadbury family were prominent both in the life of the city of Birmingham, England, and in the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). They tried to put Quaker beliefs into practice, such as that of human equality before God.

Even the choice of chocolate as a line of business related to their Quaker beliefs. John Cadbury, the founder of the Cadbury chocolate business, was active all his life in the temperance society. He felt alcohol was a major cause of poverty and other ills among working people. He saw cocoa and chocolate as an alternative to alcohol.

The Cadburys were involved in social reforms far beyond those directly impacting their own business. John Cadbury led a campaign to ban the use of climbing boys to sweep chimneys. He was also a leader in the struggle against animal cruelty, forming the Animals Friend Society, a forerunner of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Members of the Cadbury family, particularly George Cadbury, were actively involved as teachers in the adult school movement to provide education to the working classes.

George Cadbury’s home was Northfield Manor and he had a new building constructed in the grounds to hold 700 people. Every year in the summer months, in this building, he provided entertainment and food for deprived children from all areas of Birmingham . Disillusioned with the government for its involvement and behaviour during the First World War, he switched his financial support to the anti-war Independent Labour Party. George Cadbury then joined with critics of the government’s foreign policy to form the Union of Democratic Control (UDC). The UDC became the leading anti-war organisation in Britain . George Cadbury died at his home, Northfield Manor, on 24th October 1922 .

Questions for reflection and discussion

Why do you think that alcohol was such a social problem in the nineteenth century?

Questions for understanding

• What was/is a temperance society?
• Why did boys have to climb chimneys?
• What type of cruelty against animals do you think they tried to stop?
• Why do you think the adult school movement tried to achieve?
• Why was there an anti-war movement at that time?

Writing task

Remove the articles and ask the students to replace them working individually, and then comparing in pairs. The gaps will be replaced by either a, an, the or — (no article).

For a considerable time, ……… Cadbury family were prominent both in ……… life of the city of Birmingham, England, and in ……… Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). They tried to put ……… Quaker beliefs into practice, such as that of ……… human equality before God.

Even ……… choice of chocolate as ……… line of business related to their Quaker beliefs. John Cadbury, ……… founder of the Cadbury chocolate business, was active all his life in ……… temperance society. He felt alcohol was ……… major cause of poverty and other ills among working people. He saw ……… cocoa and ……… chocolate as ……… alternative to alcohol.

The Cadburys were involved in ……… social reforms far beyond those directly impacting their own business. John Cadbury led ……… campaign to ban ……… use of climbing boys to sweep chimneys. He was also ……… leader in the struggle against animal cruelty, forming ……… Animals Friend Society, ……… forerunner of the Royal Society for ……… Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Members of ……… Cadbury family, particularly George Cadbury, were actively involved as teachers in ……… adult school movement to provide education to ……… working classes.

George Cadbury’s home was Northfield Manor and he had ……… new building constructed in ……… grounds to hold 700 people. Every year in ……… summer months, in this building, he provided ……… entertainment and ……… food for deprived children from all areas of Birmingham. Disillusioned with ……… government for its involvement and behaviour during ……… First World War, he switched his financial support to ……… anti-war Independent Labour Party. George Cadbury then joined with critics of ……… government’s foreign policy to form ………. Union of Democratic Control (UDC). The UDC became ………. leading anti-war organisation in Britain. George Cadbury died at his home, Northfield Manor, on 24th October 1922.

Further research

Search the Internet for information and write report on “The Cadburys and the Slave Trade”.

(Intermediate level passage and exercises.)

By the turn of the century, the new factory employed some 2,500 workers. Cadbury’s was not just an ordinary factory. Far ahead of its time, and under the direction of George Cadbury, the workers were provided with housing, education and training. Pension schemes for employees and medical facilities ensured a healthy and dedicated work force. George Cadbury regarded the employees as part of his family and treated them well, and with recognition for their services.

Cadbury’s Dairy Milk became a household name. After the First World War (1914-18), the factory was redeveloped and mass production began in earnest. A merger with J S Fry and Sons in 1919 saw the integration of well-known brands such as Fry’s Chocolate Cream and Fry’s Turkish Delight, which is still sold today. In 1915, Cadbury’s Milk Tray followed and became a resounding success. The brand known as Roses commenced in 1938. These products became market leaders and placed Cadbury’s at the forefront of world chocolate manufacture.

During the war years, chocolate was regarded as an essential food and placed under the supervision of the government. After the war, normal production resumed and Cadbury’s went from strength to strength. More factories opened, new products and new technology improved production and the insatiable demand for chocolate just grew and grew.

Reading and listening

Read the passage (or listen to a recording) and answer the following questions.

1. How many workers did the company employ?
2. What five advantages did the Cadbury workers have?
3. What product became a household name?
4. Which company did Cadbury’s merge with?
5. Which three products have been very popular?
6. What was introduced in 1938?
7. Why was chocolate taken under government control?
8. Which word is used to describe the constant increase in chocolate sales?

Discussion and reflection

Make a list of the services or support that a good employer would provide for its employees.

What support did Cadbury’s provide for its workers?

What is the current position today with large companies in your part of the world?

Vocabulary in context

Working with a partner, if possible, try to decide on the meaning of the following words from the context.

• dedicated
• recognition
• household name
• mass production
• in earnest
• merger
• integration
• resounding
• commenced
• market leader
• forefront
• resumed
• insatiable

Writing task

Complete the passage by filling in the missing phrases:

………………, the new factory employed some 2,500 workers. Cadbury’s was not just an ordinary factory. …………………, and under the direction of George Cadbury the workers were provided with housing, education and training. Pension schemes for employees and medical facilities ensured a healthy and dedicated work force. George Cadbury regarded the employees as part of his family and treated them well, and with recognition for their services.

Cadbury’s Dairy Milk became a household name. ……………………, the factory was re-developed and mass production began in earnest. A merger with J S Fry and Sons in 1919 saw the integration of well-known brands such as Fry’s Chocolate Cream and Fry’s Turkish Delight, which is still sold today. ………………, Cadbury’s Milk Tray followed and became a resounding success. The brand known as Roses commenced in 1938. These products became market leaders and placed Cadbury’s at the forefront of world chocolate manufacture.

………………, chocolate was regarded as an essential food and placed under the supervision of the government. ………………, normal production resumed and Cadbury’s went from strength to strength. More factories opened, new products and new technology improved production and the insatiable demand for chocolate just grew and grew.

• In 1915, …
• Far ahead of its time, …
• After the war, …
• After the First World War, …
• By the turn of the century, …
• During the war years, …

(Pre-Intermediate level)

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
   A drink the chocolate.
   B eat and drink the chocolate.
   C eat the chocolate.
   D enjoy the chocolate every day.
2. 2. John Cadbury wanted people toA drink more alcohol and chocolate.B drink less chocolate and more alcohol.C drink more chocolate and less alcohol.D drink chocolate instead of alcohol.
3. People started to eat chocolate whenA John Cadbury started to make chocolate bars.B more and more chocolate was manufactured.C chocolate became cheaper.D Joseph Fry discovered a way to make chocolate bars.
4. Cadbury’s Milk Bar has beenA sold around the world for about 100 years.B sold very successfully around the world.C a best seller in Britain for about 100 years.D selling very successfully all over the world for over 100 years.

Sentence completion

Complete the following sentences and, if possible, compare your answers with a friend.

1. Mayan and Aztec people didn’t eat chocolate, they …

2. When John Cadbury first opened his ship in Birmingham , he sold …

3. At first, chocolate was very expensive so that only …

4. Only plain chocolate was manufactured at first but later …

5. Every year thousands of people see how Cadbury’s Milk Bar is made when they …

Discussion

Think about these questions and, if possible, discuss them with a partner:

• Why didn’t the Mayan and Aztec people eat chocolate?
• Why did John Cadbury think that some people became poor?
• Why did chocolate gradually become cheaper?

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 ……………… 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 ……………. to make a chocolate drink that the people enjoyed very much. Much later, the cocoa bean …………… across to Europe, and people there also came to love the taste of chocolate.

In 1824, John Cadbury ………… a small shop in Birmingham. One of the items he ………… was cocoa powder to make into drinks. In 1831, he ……………… a small factory to make cocoa powder from cocoa beans. John Cadbury …………… that alcohol was an important cause of poverty and he …………… to encourage people to drink chocolate instead. A few years later a man called Joseph Fry ……………… 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 ………………… and sold, it became cheaper.

However, at first only plain chocolate ……………………. Milk chocolate …………… later and this was made by adding milk or milk powder to the chocolate. Cadbury’s …………………… their first milk chocolate bar in 1897. Their most famous chocolate, Cadbury’s Milk Bar, …………………… in 1905. It ……………… 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 …………… the factory to see how chocolate ……………….

• visit
• is made
• came
• was used
• opened
• sold
• was enjoyed
• introduced
• believed
• were produced
• wanted
• opened
• was introduced
• invented
• was produced
• was brought
• has been

Pre-intermediate / Intermediate level reading text

Cadbury’s as we know it today started from small beginnings in Bull Street, Birmingham. A shop was opened by John Cadbury in 1824. It did not start as a confectionery shop but sold tea and coffee and home made drinking chocolate or cocoa which he made himself for his customers.

In those days cocoa and chocolate was a luxury and affordable by only the wealthy. John’s experiments with chocolate and a strong marketing campaign soon made him a leading trader in Birmingham. The shop did very well and became more and more popular.

John Cadbury moved into the manufacturing of drinking chocolate and cocoa. By the early 1840’s Cadbury operated from a factory in Bridge Street. The chocolate industry was given a boost in the 1850’s when the government reduced the high import taxes on cocoa. Chocolate was now within reach of the masses. Cadbury’s was given a Royal Warrant in 1854 as manufacturers of chocolate for Queen Victoria.

After such a successful start the business fell upon hard times. John Cadbury’s sons Richard and George struggled with the business after their father retired in 1861. However, new processes and new products helped the business improve. By the turn of the decade they were able to move from the Bridge Street factory to what is now Bournville.

Activity 1

Questions to think about

• What do you know about Cadbury’s chocolate?
• Have you heard of Bournville?
• What do you know about Bournville?

Activity 2

Find a word or phrase in the passage that means the same as:

1. something special and probably a bit expensive (a luxury)
2. the general, working population (the masses)
3. tried hard (struggled)
4. a difficult period in someone’s life or perhaps the development of a company (hard times)
5. like a ‘push’ that is helpful and leads to an improvement (a boost)
6. small, simple, plain, ordinary (humble)
7. someone or something attractive to many people (popular)

Activity 3

What happened on the following dates:

• 1824
• in the 1840’s
• in the 1850’s
• 1854
• 1861

Activity 4

Put the following paragraphs into the correct order.

In those days cocoa and chocolate was a luxury and affordable by only the wealthy. John’s experiments with chocolate and a strong marketing campaign soon made him a leading trader in Birmingham. The shop did very well and became more and more popular.

After such a successful start the business fell upon hard times. John Cadbury’s sons Richard and George struggled with the business after their father retired in 1861. However, new processes and new products helped the business improve. By the turn of the decade they were able to move from the Bridge Street factory to what is now Bournville.

John Cadbury moved into the manufacturing of drinking chocolate and cocoa. By the early 1840’s Cadbury operated from a factory in Bridge Street. The chocolate industry was given a boost in the 1850’s when the government reduced the high import taxes on cocoa. Chocolate was now within reach of the masses. Cadbury’s was given a Royal Warrant in 1854 as manufacturers of chocolate for Queen Victoria.

Cadbury’s as we know it today started from humble beginnings in Bull Street, Birmingham. A shop was opened by John Cadbury in 1824. It did not start as a confectionery shop but sold tea and coffee and home made drinking chocolate or cocoa which he made himself for his customers.

Activity 5

Put the sentences in each paragraph into the correct order

A shop was opened by John Cadbury in 1824. Cadbury’s as we know it today started from humble beginnings in Bull Street, Birmingham. It did not start as a confectionery shop but sold tea and coffee and home made drinking chocolate or cocoa which he made himself for his customers.

The shop did very well and became more and more popular. In those days cocoa and chocolate was a luxury and affordable by only the wealthy. John’s experiments with chocolate and a strong marketing campaign soon made him a leading trader in Birmingham.

Cadbury’s was given a Royal Warrant in 1854 as manufacturers of chocolate for Queen Victoria. By the early 1840’s Cadbury operated from a factory in Bridge Street. The chocolate industry was given a boost in the 1850’s when the government reduced the high import taxes on cocoa. John Cadbury moved into the manufacturing of drinking chocolate and cocoa. Chocolate was now within reach of the masses.

However, new processes and new products helped the business improve. By the turn of the decade they were able to move from the Bridge Street factory to what is now Bournville. After such a successful start the business fell upon hard times. John Cadbury’s sons Richard and George struggled with the business after their father retired in 1861.

Activity 7 – writing task

Complete the passage replacing the infinitive with the correct form.

Cadbury’s as we know it today ………… (start) from humble beginnings in Bull Street, Birmingham. A shop ……………… (be opened) by John Cadbury in 1824. It …………… (do) not start as a confectionery shop but ……………… (sell) tea and coffee and home made drinking chocolate or cocoa which he made himself for his customers.

In those days cocoa and chocolate …………… (be) a luxury and affordable by only the wealthy. John’s experiments with chocolate and a strong marketing campaign soon …………… (make) him a leading trader in Birmingham. The shop ……… (do) very well and ………… (become) more and more popular.

John Cadbury …………… (move) into the manufacturing of drinking chocolate and cocoa. By the early 1840s Cadbury …………… (operate) from a factory in Bridge Street. The chocolate industry ………… (be given) a boost in the 1850s when the government ……………… (reduce) the high import taxes on cocoa. Chocolate ……………… (be) now within reach of the masses. Cadbury’s …………… (be given) a Royal Warrant in 1854 as manufacturers of chocolate for Queen Victoria.

After such a successful start, the business …………… (fall) upon hard times. John Cadbury’s sons Richard and George ……………… (struggle) with the business after their father …………… (retire) in 1861. However, new processes and new products ……………… (help) the business improve. By the turn of the decade they …………… (be able to) move from the Bridge Street factory to what is now Bournville.

Activity 8

Read the passage again and find the places where ‘passive’ verb forms are used. Rewrite the sentences as active sentences. Think about why they were passive in the first place?

Intermediate level reading activity.

There are various activities and English exercises after the passage below.

The origins of chocolate can be traced back to the ancient Maya and Aztec civilisations in Central America who first enjoyed a much-prized spicy drink ‘chocolatl’, made from roasted cocoa beans. Chocolate was exclusively for drinking until the early Victorian times when a technique for making solid ‘eating’ chocolate was devised. Throughout its history, whether as a cocoa or drinking chocolate beverage or confectionery treat, chocolate has always been a much sought after food.

The story of cocoa begins with cocoa trees, which grew wild in the tropical rain forests of the Amazon basin and other tropical areas in Central and South America for thousands of years. It was the Maya Indians, an ancient people whose descendants still live in Central America, who first discovered the delights of cocoa as long ago as 600 AD. ‘Chocolatl’ was consumed in large quantities by the Aztecs as a luxury drink. The Aztec version of this popular drink was described as ‘finely ground, soft, foamy, reddish, bitter with chilli water, aromatic flowers, vanilla and wild bee honey.’ The Yucatan Peninsula, a tropical area in what is now Southern Mexico, where wild cocoa trees grew, was where the Maya lived. They harvested cocoa beans from the rain forest trees, then cleared areas of lowland forest to grow their own cocoa trees in the first known cocoa plantations.

The Maya Indians and the Aztecs had recognised the value of cocoa beans both as an ingredient for their special drink and as currency for hundreds of years before cocoa was brought to Europe. An early explorer visiting Central America found that 4 cocoa beans could buy a pumpkin; 10 could buy a rabbit; 100 were needed to buy a slave.

The Aztecs were an ancient nomadic people who founded a great city in the Valley of Mexico in 1325 – Tenochtitlan. Because of their dry climate the Aztecs were unable to grow cocoa trees themselves so they had to obtain supplies of cocoa beans from ‘tribute’ or trade. ‘Tribute’ was a form of taxation paid by provinces conquered by the Aztecs in wars. Their rich prosperous capital city, and its culture, were destroyed by the Spanish in 1521, and later occupied and renamed, Mexico City.

Christopher Columbus is said to have brought the first cocoa beans back to Europe from his fourth visit to the ‘New World’ between 1502 and 1504. However the many other treasures on board his galleons were far more exciting so the humble cocoa beans were neglected. It was his fellow explorer, the Spanish Conquistador Don Hernan Cortes, who first realised the commercial value of the beans. He brought cocoa beans back to Spain and very gradually the custom of drinking chocolate spread across Europe. When he returned to Spain in 1528, he loaded his galleons with cocoa beans and equipment to make drinking chocolate. Soon ‘chocolate’ became a fashionable drink enjoyed by the rich in Spain. It took nearly a century for the news of cocoa and chocolate to spread across Europe, as the Spanish kept it a closely guarded secret.

When chocolate finally reached England in the 1650s it was a drink for the wealthy due to the high import duties on cocoa beans. Chocolate cost the equivalent of 50-75 pence a pound (approximately 400g), when the pound sterling was worth considerably more than it is today. But gradually it became more freely available. The first London Chocolate House was opened in 1657 by a Frenchman who produced the first advertisement for the chocolate drinks to be seen in London: “In Bishopgate St, in Queen’s Head Alley, at a Frenchman’s house, is an excellent West Indian drink called Chocolate to be sold, where you may have it ready at any time and also unmade at reasonable rates.”

Fashionable chocolate houses were soon opened where the people could meet their friends to enjoy various rich chocolate drinks while discussing the serious political, social and business affairs of the day or gossiping. As the demand for cocoa grew, cocoa plantations were started in the West Indies, the Far East and Africa and the price of cocoa beans gradually began to fall as greater quantities came onto the market. However it was not until 1853 that significant reductions in the import duties were made and, with the Industrial Revolution making transport easier, chocolate became available to a large percentage of the population. Chocolate was exclusively for drinking until early Victorian times when a technique was perfected for making solid ‘eating’ chocolate.

(Source: http://www.cadbury.co.uk)

Pre-reading discussion

• Do you like chocolate?
• What type of chocolate do you like – milk chocolate or plain chocolate?
• What is the difference? Are there any other types of chocolate?
• Where does cocoa come from?
• Do you know where/when chocolate was first enjoyed?

Quick reading/scanning

Scan the text and make notes on the references to these dates:

• 600 A.D.
• 1325
• 1502
• 1504
• 1521
• 1528
• 1650s
• 1657
• 1853

What does A.D. stand for? What is a more modern way of expressing this meaning? (C.E. = Common Era and B.C.E. = Before Common Era)

Vocabulary

What new words can you find in the text? can you work out the meaning of new words from the context?

True or false? (According to the passage.)

1. Chocolate was eaten as a solid in South America
2. Chocolate was later consumed as a drink in Europe.
3. Cocoa trees were grown in plantations by the Aztecs.
4. Chocolate was first consumed by the Mayan people in 600A.D.
5. Chocolate was consumed a great deal by all Aztec people whenever they wished.
6. The chocolate drunk by Mayan people was sweet and had an attractive smell.
7. Cocoa beans were the only form of money that the Aztec and Mayan people used.
8. The Spanish invaded the Aztec and Mayan kingdoms.
9. The Mayan capital Tenochtitlan was destroyed by the Spanish.
10. People did not feel that the cocoa been was important when Columbus brought it back to Spain.
11. The Spanish were not keen to tell people how to find the cocoa beans.
12. Chocolate was very expensive when it first came to England.
13. There were three reasons why chocolate became more easily available to
    everyone in Britain.