A A A A ENGLISH IN VIDEO

Alcohol
Lesson code: 1Z5A-773A-2CB6 UPPER INTERMEDIATE+
British English

1 Warm up
What's the same about these three types of drinks? Name each drink and match it with a country
which is famous for producing it.

Are any of these drinks made in your country? How long have people been making them there?

2 Watching for the main idea

You are going to listen to a short talk about alcohol. After you watch, draw a line between the ideas
which are connected in the four columns (or say what the connections are).

Where in the world When did production What is the alcohol Cultural uses and
begin? made from? effects?
China 8,000 years ago barley as part of the Christian
religion
led to the development
Georgia 9,000 years ago fruit, honey and rice of writing
to communicate with
the Middle East 8,000 years ago grapes gods and ancestors
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 Alcohol
A A A A ENGLISH IN VIDEO

3 Vocabulary Key words

Look at the transcript to find words in bold which have these meanings.

1. cause an effect (verb)

2. a chemical process when the sugar in a food or drink turns to alcohol (noun)
3. decay or break down in a chemical process or after death (verb)
4. drinks or types of drinks (noun)
5. making you feel drunk (adjective)
6. not too much or too little; a medium amount (adjective)
7. relating to the part of your brain which allows you to choose and plan your actions carefully, including
deciding NOT to do something (adjective)
8. social events which take place after someone has died (noun)
9. stops or slows down (verb)
10. the beginning of an idea (noun)
11. tiny living things that are too small to see with your eyes (noun)

Alcohol has been a component of human culture for thousands of years. From its prehistoric inception
to its many uses in modern times, alcohol has had countless effects on our cultures, and our minds.
Throughout the course of human history, alcoholic beverages have taken on many forms and flavours
around the world. The earliest known alcoholic beverage dates back to about 9,000 years ago, in
northern China. It was a kind of wine made from fruit, honey and rice. About a thousand years later,
in the Central Asian country of Georgia, the oldest wine made exclusively from grapes was produced.
And around the same time in the Middle East, the earliest beer was being made from barley.
No matter where or what types of alcoholic beverages are produced, they all share a similar chemistry.
The type of alcohol found in beverages such as beer, wine and spirits is called ethyl alcohol or ethanol.
Ethanol is produced through fermentation, a process in which microorganisms, usually bacteria or a
fungus called yeast, cause organic material to decompose. By decomposing, sugars in the organic
material are converted into carbon dioxide and ethanol, the ingredient that makes alcoholic beverages
intoxicating.
Alcohol's intoxicating effects are due to its role on the human central nervous system. Moderate
amounts of alcohol trigger the release of neural chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin and
endorphins in the brain. This decreases anxiety, increases happiness and depresses the brain's
inhibitory activities.
Apart from alcohol's mind-altering effects, it has been credited for several aspects of human culture.
Fermented beverages in ancient China may have served as a way to communicate with gods and
deceased ancestors at funerary ceremonies. Grape wine, similar to those discovered in prehistoric
Georgia, is now a component of the Christian ritual, the Eucharist. And, in the Middle East, the home
of the earliest evidence of beer, the earliest form of writing was also discovered, thought to have
developed as a way to account for the production of crops, including barley for beer.
Through moderate consumption, alcohol may continue to contribute to countless other aspects of
human culture.
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 Alcohol
A A A A ENGLISH IN VIDEO

Extend your vocabulary by answering these questions, which relate to the words from the last exercise.

1. What other foods or drinks besides alcohol are fermented? Why do people make fermented foods?
2. What word contains a root that means "very small"? Do you know any other words with this root?
3. Which word contains a root that means "poison"?
4. Which word is also used for part of a gun?
5. What's the noun for "depress" and what does it usually refer to?
6. What are "funerary ceremonies" more often called?
7. In your opinion, what is moderate daily alcohol consumption how many drinks and what type?

4 Grammar Passives and reduced relative clauses

Look at this paragraph from the text of the video. Identify the verb forms 1-4 in bold as active or
passive. How do we form the passive and when do we use it? Identify the tenses of both active and
passive forms.

Throughout the course of human history, alcoholic beverages have taken on (1) many forms and
flavours around the world. The earliest known alcoholic beverage dates back (2) to about 9,000 years
ago, in northern China. It was a kind of wine made from fruit (5), honey and rice. About a thousand
years later, in the Central Asian country of Georgia, the oldest wine made exclusively from (6) grapes
was produced (3). And around the same time in the Middle East, the earliest beer was being made
(4) from barley.

Verb forms 5 and 6 (underlined) are past participles used in a `reduced relative clause'. We could also say:

• It was a kind of wine which was made from fruit ... (5)
• ... the oldest wine which was made from grapes was produced ...(6)

Now look at the next paragraph from the text of the video. Identify verb forms 1-8 in bold as active,
passive or participles in a reduced relative clause. How are the passives used here?

No matter where or what types of alcoholic beverages are produced (1), they all share (2) a similar
chemistry. The type of alcohol found (3) in beverages such as beer, wine and spirits is called (4) ethyl
alcohol or ethanol. Ethanol is produced (5) through fermentation, a process in which microorganisms,
usually bacteria or a fungus called yeast, cause (6) organic material to decompose. By decomposing,
sugars in the organic material are converted (7) into carbon dioxide and ethanol, the ingredient that
makes (8) alcoholic beverages intoxicating.
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 Alcohol
A A A A ENGLISH IN VIDEO

5 Practice
Chicha is an alcoholic beverage from South America. Read the text and complete the gaps with the
correct form of the verb in brackets: active, passive or past participle in a reduced relative clause.

1
Generally speaking, chicha is an alcoholic drink (make) with maize (sweetcorn). The
2
production method is similar to other types of beer. First, maize (allow) to start growing.
3 4 5
Then, the sugars (take out) and the liquid (boil) and
6
(ferment). In some traditional preparations, the chicha maker (chew) the maize first. This
7
starts the fermentation process through natural enzymes (find) in the mouth. The result
is a delicious, slightly sour beverage containing about 1-3% alcohol by volume.
8
Chicha de jora (make) by the people of the Andes for thousands of years. The drink had
9
a special significance in the Inca Empire, where maize (consider) a sacred crop. Inca
10 11
women (teach) how to brew the drink in special schools (call) Aqlla
12
Wasi. The finished product (drink) during special celebrations and festivals. In addition,
13 14
it (use) in important religious rituals. Even today a little chicha (offer)
to Pachamama, the Earth-mother, before drinking.
Source: howtoperu.com

6 Talking point
Work in pairs or small groups to discuss these questions:

• In the UK, the drinking age is 18, and in the USA it is 21. What is the drinking age in your country?
• Why do we need a drinking age?
• Do you think there should be different drinking ages for different types of alcohol?

• What advice for staying safe would you give to a young person who is just about to reach the drinking
age in their country?
• Do people in your country ever make their own alcoholic beverages at home?
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 Alcohol - Transcripts
A A A A ENGLISH IN VIDEO

2- Watching for the main idea

Alcohol has been a component of human culture for thousands of years. From its prehistoric
inception to its many uses in modern times, alcohol has had countless effects on our cultures, and
our minds.
Throughout the course of human history, alcoholic beverages have taken on many forms and
flavours around the world. The earliest known alcoholic beverage dates back to about 9,000 years
ago, in northern China. It was a kind of wine made from fruit, honey and rice. About a thousand
years later, in the Central Asian country of Georgia, the oldest wine made exclusively from grapes
was produced. And around the same time in the Middle East, the earliest beer was being made from
barley.
No matter where or what types of alcoholic beverages are produced, they all share a similar
chemistry. The type of alcohol found in beverages such as beer, wine and spirits is called ethyl
alcohol or ethanol. Ethanol is produced through fermentation, a process in which microorganisms,
usually bacteria or a fungus called yeast, cause organic material to decompose. By decomposing,
sugars in the organic material are converted into carbon dioxide and ethanol, the ingredient that
makes alcoholic beverages intoxicating.
Alcohol's intoxicating effects are due to its role on the human central nervous system. Moderate
amounts of alcohol trigger the release of neural chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin and
endorphins in the brain. This decreases anxiety, increases happiness and depresses the brain's
inhibitory activities.
Apart from alcohol's mind-altering effects, it has been credited for several aspects of human culture.
Fermented beverages in ancient China may have served as a way to communicate with gods and
deceased ancestors at funerary ceremonies. Grape wine, similar to those discovered in prehistoric
Georgia, is now a component of the Christian ritual, the Eucharist. And, in the Middle East, the home
of the earliest evidence of beer, the earliest form of writing was also discovered, thought to have
developed as a way to account for the production of crops, including barley for beer.
Through moderate consumption, alcohol may continue to contribute to countless other aspects of
human culture.

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 Alcohol - Key
A A A A ENGLISH IN VIDEO

1- Warm up

5 mins. You could do this as a whole class activity to quickly introduce the topic of the lesson. Please note that
the lesson focuses on the history and biological effects of alcohol and is not intended to promote drinking. You will
need to exercise discretion depending on the age of your students and their cultural context(s).
ANSWERS: the pictures show types of alcoholic drinks. 1 beer and C Germany; 2 vodka and A Russia; 3 wine and
B Italy

2- Watching for the main idea

5 mins. Introduce the subject of the video and go over the instructions. Students may not be familiar with the
words `barley' or `ancestors', but they will understand more when they watch the video. Advise students to watch
the video carefully as the pictures are as helpful as the words; they can complete the exercise after watching. Play
the video and then students can check answers in pairs before checking with the whole class. The video is short,
so watching twice is an option if students need to. When checking the answers, elicit that barley is a type of grain
and ancestors are family members who have died, eg grandparents, great grandparents, etc.

China / 9,000 years ago / fruit, honey and rice / to communicate with gods and ancestors
Georgia / 8,000 years ago / grapes / as part of the Christian religion
the Middle East / 8,000 years ago / barley / led to the development of writing

3- Vocabulary 1 Key words

15 mins. Students can work alone to complete the matching exercise and then check answers in pairs before
you check with the whole class. The syllable stress is underlined in the transcript so check that students can
pronounce all the words. The second exercise extends this vocabulary students can discuss their answers in
pairs or small groups before you check with the whole class. ANSWERS:

1. trigger 2. fermentation 3. decompose 4. beverages

5. intoxicating 6. moderate 7. inhibitory 8. funerary ceremonies
9. depresses 10. inception 11. microorganisms

Vocabulary extension
1. Some examples of fermented foods are yogurt, some types of bread, kombucha and kim-
chi/sauerkraut. Cacao beans are also fermented to produce chocolate. These foods are easy to
store for a long time and are also very healthy. Make sure students know that the verb form is `to
ferment'.
2. Micro- is a root that means very small, as in microscope, microphone or microbiology.
3. Tox- is a root that means poison, as in toxin (noun), or toxic (adjective) and its opposite non-toxic.
4. A trigger is part of a gun, which you squeeze or pull to fire the gun.
5. Depression is the noun and it refers to a long-term mental health problem, where the person feels
very sad and hopeless. It can also refer to an economic problem which affects a country.
6. funerals
7. Students will have their own answers, but they should suggest something that will not be harmful
in the short or long term. They may be aware of government guidelines.

4- Grammar 1 Passives and reduced relative clauses

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 Alcohol - Key
A A A A ENGLISH IN VIDEO

15 mins. The short transcript contains a range of interesting verb forms. Students at this level will have
encountered these forms as individual items and will now benefit from comparing and contrasting them in context.
This language is often tested on exams including Cambridge B2/C1 and IELTS. Exercise 1 can be a teacher-led
presentation to allow students to focus on the target language. In exercise 2, students can work in pairs to identify
the forms and comment on the use of the passive, before you check answers with the whole class. Students will
practise these forms in a gap-fill in the next stage of the lesson, so make sure any confusion is cleared up during
this stage.
Exercise 1: 1 `have taken on' is active, present perfect; 2 `dates back' is active, present simple (both 1 and 2 are
also phrasal verbs); 3 `was produced' is passive, past simple; 4 `was being made' is passive, past continuous.
Passives are formed like this: a form of `to be' + past participle. Passives are typically used to focus on the action
rather than the person performing the action. Passives are often used to describe processes, eg how something
is made.

Grammar rule reduced relative clauses: it is possible to remove the relative pronoun (eg which) and a `to be
verb' from a defining relative clause, so that only the participle form remains.

Exercise 2: 1 `are produced' is passive, present simple; 2 `share' is active, present simple; 3 `found' is a participle
in a reduced relative clause (we could also say ...which is found...); 4 `is called' and 5 `is produced' are passives,
present simple; 6 `cause' is active, present simple; 7 `are converted' is passive, present simple; 8 `makes' is
active, present simple.
1, 5 and 7 use the passive to describe a process. The passive in 4 is used because the focus is on the action here
the people doing the action are not individually identifiable or important; it would be strange to say "People call
this type of alcohol ethanol."

5- Practice

10 mins. go over the introduction to the task and focus attention on the picture. Adults only: ask if any students
have tried this drink before. Students will find it easier to complete the exercise if they read the full text first without
trying to write anything. Set a minute for them to do this and ask if they have any vocabulary questions. Then, when
they are familiar with the topic and the text, they will be better able to complete the gap-fill. They can work alone
and check answers in pairs before you check with the whole class. Encourage students to explain their choice of
verb form when you check the answers. Finish with a short chat - are there any similar alcoholic drinks in their
countries? (Adults only: would they like to try chicha?)

1. made (reduced relative clause) 2. is allowed (passive)

3. are taken out (passive) 4. is boiled (passive)
5. fermented (passive sharing the `is' with 4) 6. chews (active)
7. found (reduced relative clause) 8. was/has been made (passive)
9. was considered (passive) 10. were taught (passive)
11. called (reduced relative clause) 12. was drunk
13. was used 14. is offered (passive)

6- Talking point

10 mins. These questions should be appropriate even if your students are under the drinking age. Set students
up in pairs or small groups, multinational if possible. They can discuss the questions among themselves for a
few minutes remind them to speak in full sentences and give examples. Monitor the groups and make a note
of errors, especially with vocabulary and grammar from this lesson. Conduct a feedback session in the last few
minutes of the class to draw out different points of view, and/or correct any errors that you noticed during the
speaking.
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