Food & Scientific Literacy • C1 Advanced

Food, focus & the brain

A C1 lesson on ultra-processed foods, concentration, evidence and the language needed to discuss health research responsibly.

ReadingScientific literacyC1 vocabularyArticle writing

Lesson question

When research finds a link between diet and concentration, what can we actually conclude?

Explore recent research into ultra-processed foods and attention. Practise the C1 language of evidence, distinguish association from causation, challenge sensational headlines and discuss practical conclusions without turning uncertainty into alarmism.

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Inspired by the BBC Food article “Struggling to focus? What you eat might be affecting your brain”. The ELS reading is an original classroom adaptation and language-learning resource, not dietary or medical advice.

ELS C1 Food, Focus and the Brain scientific literacy lesson

What you'll practise

Understand it. Challenge it. Use it.

Reading & evidenceUnderstand a recent observational finding and identify exactly what the research can - and cannot - establish.

Evidence vocabularyUse association, causation, observational study, cognitive outcome, emerging evidence, nuanced and vicious cycle accurately.

Calibrating claimsUse suggests, is associated with, may, could, does not establish and remains uncertain to match the strength of the evidence.

Speaking & writingNegotiate a defensible headline, rank evidence quality and write a 220–260 word C1 article on food, focus and scientific claims.

Ready to start?

The four-page ELS lesson includes prediction, a full-page reading, comprehension, evidence vocabulary, claim calibration, headline analysis, a researcher-vs-editor speaking task and C1 article writing. Enter your email to unlock the free student PDF.

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