Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.
Lesson Info
Lesson Content
Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio
Understanding: Main Idea, True or False, Multiple Choice
Language: Words That Go Together
Use It: Discussion Builder, Sentence Unscramble, Discussion Questions
Answers
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) A study compares regular coffee and decaf.
b) A city bans coffee after midnight.
c) Farmers switch from coffee to tea because of weather.
Ask: (1) Do you drink coffee? How often? (2) Do you think food and drinks can change your mood? Why or why not?
Vocab List
Researchers in Ireland say coffee may influence mood through the gut-brain link, the connection between digestion and the brain. In a recent study, people who drank either regular or decaffeinated coffee said they felt less stressed and in a better mood. The results suggest that coffee's mental effects may not come only from caffeine.
The researchers followed participants with questionnaires, diet tracking, and body samples. These checks helped the team study both mood changes and gut bacteria. Half the group drank caffeinated coffee, while the other half drank decaf during the study.
Both groups felt less stressed and depressed and showed better self-control. The team also found more of certain gut bacteria that help digestion and support the immune system. According to the researchers, this pattern supports the idea that coffee may work partly through the gut-brain link, not only through the nervous system.
However, the two drinks did not have exactly the same effects. Decaf coffee was linked to better learning and memory. Meanwhile, caffeinated coffee was associated with lower anxiety, stronger attention, and less swelling in the body. Researchers think regular coffee drinkers may develop a weaker stress response over time, so daily coffee could help some people stay calmer under pressure.
The study does not mean that more coffee is always better. The researchers say two or three cups a day may be a useful range for gut and brain benefits, but too much can disturb sleep. Because each person reacts differently, the right amount may be different for each person.
Coffee, Mood, and Gut Bacteria
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) A study compares regular coffee and decaf.
b) A city bans coffee after midnight.
c) Farmers switch from coffee to tea because of weather.
Ask: (1) Do you drink coffee? How often? (2) Do you think food and drinks can change your mood? Why or why not?
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gut-brain link (n. phr.)
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gut bacteria (n. phr.)
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digestion (n.)
-
decaffeinated (adj.)
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self-control (n.)
-
immune system (n. phr.)
-
anxiety (n.)
-
attention (n.)
-
swelling (n.)
-
disturb (v.)
Researchers in Ireland say coffee may influence mood through the gut-brain link, the connection between digestion and the brain. In a recent study, people who drank either regular or decaffeinated coffee said they felt less stressed and in a better mood. The results suggest that coffee's mental effects may not come only from caffeine.
The researchers followed participants with questionnaires, diet tracking, and body samples. These checks helped the team study both mood changes and gut bacteria. Half the group drank caffeinated coffee, while the other half drank decaf during the study.
Both groups felt less stressed and depressed and showed better self-control. The team also found more of certain gut bacteria that help digestion and support the immune system. According to the researchers, this pattern supports the idea that coffee may work partly through the gut-brain link, not only through the nervous system.
However, the two drinks did not have exactly the same effects. Decaf coffee was linked to better learning and memory. Meanwhile, caffeinated coffee was associated with lower anxiety, stronger attention, and less swelling in the body. Researchers think regular coffee drinkers may develop a weaker stress response over time, so daily coffee could help some people stay calmer under pressure.
The study does not mean that more coffee is always better. The researchers say two or three cups a day may be a useful range for gut and brain benefits, but too much can disturb sleep. Because each person reacts differently, the right amount may be different for each person.
Main Idea
Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.
Main Idea
Choose one:
- Coffee may influence mood through the gut-brain link, and both regular and decaf coffee showed benefits in the study. Correct answer
- The study suggests that decaf may be the better option because it improved learning and memory more than regular coffee.
- The article focuses on how the right amount of coffee can help people avoid sleep problems and feel less stressed.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. Both coffee groups said they felt less stressed during the study. TRUEFALSE True
2. The team relied only on body samples to study the effects of coffee. TRUEFALSE False
3. The study says drinking more coffee is always better for gut and brain health. TRUEFALSE False
Multiple Choice
Answer each question by selecting A, B, or C, then click CHECK to see your results.
Multiple Choice
1. What did the researchers study besides mood changes?
a) Sleep schedules and exercise habits
b) Gut bacteriaCorrect
c) Workplace stress at coffee shops
2. Which drink was linked to better learning and memory?
a) Regular coffee
b) Both drinks equally
c) Decaf coffeeCorrect
3. What was associated with caffeinated coffee?
a) Better digestion and stronger memory
b) Higher anxiety and worse attention
c) Lower anxiety, stronger attention, and less swellingCorrect
4. What do the researchers say about how much coffee to drink?
a) Two or three cups a day may be useful, but too much can disturb sleep.Correct
b) Everyone should drink as much coffee as possible for brain health.
c) People should avoid coffee completely if they feel stress.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
Researchers in Ireland say coffee may (1) mood through the gut-brain link, the connection between digestion and the brain. In a recent study, people who drank either regular or (2) coffee said they felt less stressed and in a better mood. The results suggest that coffee's mental effects may not come only from caffeine.
The researchers followed participants with (3) , diet tracking, and body samples. These checks helped the team study both mood changes and gut bacteria. Half the group drank caffeinated coffee, while the other half drank decaf during the study.
Both groups felt less stressed and depressed and showed better (4) . The team also found more of certain gut bacteria that help digestion and support the immune system. According to the researchers, this pattern supports the idea that coffee may work partly through the gut-brain link, not only through the (5) .
However, the two drinks did not have exactly the same effects. Decaf coffee was linked to better learning and memory. Meanwhile, caffeinated coffee was associated with lower anxiety, stronger (6) , and less swelling in the body. Researchers think regular coffee drinkers may develop a weaker stress response over time, so daily coffee could help some people stay calmer under pressure.
The study does not mean that more coffee is always better. The researchers say two or three cups a day may be a useful range for gut and brain benefits, but too much can (7) sleep. Because each person reacts differently, the right amount may be different for each person.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
Loading listening activity...
Words That Go Together
Drag each word to its match below, or select a word and then select its match:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Words That Go Together
Match each word with the words it goes with:
1. Influenceg) mood
2. Feelf) stressed
3. Helpe) digestion
4. Supportd) the immune system
5. Lowerc) anxiety
6. Drinkb) coffee
7. Disturba) sleep
a) sleep
b) coffee
c) anxiety
d) the immune system
e) digestion
f) stressed
g) mood
Discussion Builder
1) Opinion 2) Addition 3) Result
Q: Why might some people prefer decaf after reading this article?
A:Q: What problems can happen if someone drinks too much coffee?
A:Q: Do you think the right amount of coffee is different for each person? Why?
A:
Discussion Builder
Choose the best phrase for each gap:
Q: Why might some people prefer decaf after reading this article?
A: decaf seems like a good option if someone wants coffee but worries about sleep.
To me, / But, / For example, / Because of that,
To me, decaf seems like a good option if someone wants coffee but worries about sleep.
Q: What problems can happen if someone drinks too much coffee?
A: Drinking too much coffee can make people feel anxious keep them awake at night.
and / but / because / so
Drinking too much coffee can make people feel anxious and keep them awake at night.
Q: Do you think the right amount of coffee is different for each person? Why?
A: People react to coffee in different ways. I think the right amount depends on the person.
Also, / So, / For example, / Still,
People react to coffee in different ways. So, I think the right amount depends on the person.
Sentence Unscramble
Sentence Unscramble
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A. drink it B. every day. C. coffee is popular D. because E. In my country, F. many people
In my country, coffee is popular because many people drink it every day.
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A. take a short break B. try to sleep C. earlier. D. and E. When I'm stressed, F. I usually
When I'm stressed, I usually take a short break and try to sleep earlier.
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A. coffee helps me, B. depends on C. Even if D. the person. E. I'd still say F. the right amount
Even if coffee helps me, I'd still say the right amount depends on the person.
Discussion Questions
- What was your first reaction to this story?
- Why do you think the researchers compared regular coffee and decaf?
- Why might some people prefer decaf after reading this article?
- Do you think coffee helps you focus or feel calmer? Why or why not?
- Is coffee a popular drink in your country?
- What problems can happen if someone drinks too much coffee?
- Should people change their habits after reading one study? Why or why not?
- How do you usually manage stress during busy times?
- Do you think the right amount of coffee is different for each person? Why?
Discussion Questions
- What was your first reaction to this story?
- Why do you think the researchers compared regular coffee and decaf?
- Why might some people prefer decaf after reading this article?
- Do you think coffee helps you focus or feel calmer? Why or why not?
- Is coffee a popular drink in your country?
- What problems can happen if someone drinks too much coffee?
- Should people change their habits after reading one study? Why or why not?
- How do you usually manage stress during busy times?
- Do you think the right amount of coffee is different for each person? Why?
Answers
Listening: (1) influence, (2) decaffeinated, (3) questionnaires, (4) self-control, (5) nervous system, (6) attention, (7) disturb
Main Idea: Coffee may influence mood through the gut-brain link, and both regular and decaf coffee showed benefits in the study.
True or False:
- True. The article says both the regular coffee group and the decaf group felt less stressed.
- False. The researchers used questionnaires, diet tracking, and body samples, not only body samples.
- False. The final paragraph says more coffee is not always better and too much can disturb sleep.
Multiple Choice: b, c, c, a
Vocabulary:
- Influence: mood
- Feel: stressed
- Help: digestion
- Support: the immune system
- Lower: anxiety
- Drink: coffee
- Disturb: sleep
Discussion Builder:
Hints: 1) Opinion. 2) Addition. 3) Result.
- To me,
- and
- So,
Sentence Unscramble:
- In my country, coffee is popular because many people drink it every day.
- When I'm stressed, I usually take a short break and try to sleep earlier.
- Even if coffee helps me, I'd still say the right amount depends on the person.