(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:
- 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. 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.
- 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.
- 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