Genetically modified (GM) food contains ingredients from crops whose genes have been modified by scientists. This is done to increase traits like pest resistance and yield. The benefits of GM crops are uncertain, as scientists do not know the long-term health and environmental risks. While supporters say GM improves crop characteristics and reduces prices, critics worry about increased corporate control of agriculture and unknown long-term effects. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) believes GM can help address hunger but advocates taking precautions to protect human health and the environment.

1. GM Food
Reading and comprehension
Scan the text and check the correct alternative according
to the text:
1. The initials GM that appear in the text mean:
a. General Motors
b. genetically maintained
c. genetically modified
2. The initials FAO stand for:
a. Food and Agriculture Organization
b. First Analytical Order
c. For and Against Organization
What is genetically modified food?
It is food containing ingredients that come from
genetically modified crops. That means, scientists
transfer genes from another plant or animal to the
species that they want to modify.
Genetic modification intends to increase the resistance
Of plants against insect, fungal, and viral pests. One
of the main goals is to reduce the need for pesticides.
What are the benefits?
The benefits are uncertain. Defenders of GM say that
improves crop characteristics (yield, pest resistance,
herbicide tolerance) and reduces prices.
What are the risks?
The risks are not well defined. People do not
know for sure the long-term effects of GM on
human health and on the environment. There
is also the possibility of increasing control of
agriculture by biotechnology corporations.
The food and Agriculture Organization –
FAO,
states that we have to use GM as a tool to
combat hunger and malnutrition.
FAO also defends the need to take precautions
to protect human health and the environment.
Sources:
The economist, 1999
Scope.educ.washington.edu
www.earthtimes.org
soybean
corn
cotton
canola
potato

2. 3. Scientists:
a. modify the plants using gene transfer.
b. Use plant genes to modify other plants and animals.
c. Use food ingredients to modify plants.
4. Crop characteristics:
a. corn, cotton, canola
b. yield and pest resistance
c. human health and the environment
5. Risks of genetic modification:
a. biotechnology corporations
b. environmental effects
c. herbicide tolerance
6. The last paragraph shows that:
a. FAO has no doubt about GM food.
b. There is no controversy about the subject.
c. FAO has doubts about the subject, too.
7. Answer the questions.
a. What is GM food? _____________________________________________
b. Are scientists sure about the risks and benefits of GM groups?__________
_______________________.
c. What does FAO defend?________________________________________
8. The word well-defined is in the text. Sometimes we use two words to form
another word. Complete the sentences below with the words given.
Well-intentioned well-known well-being well-defined well-done
1. Guga is a __________________brazilian tennis player.
2. I want my steak______________, Please.
3. Your mother is worried about your________________.
4. Sandra is immature, but she is a _______________girl.
5. I only start a project when it is ___________________.
9. Find the opposites of words in bold.
Attack protect increases risks short-term
1. Genetic modification reduces prices of food. _________________
2. The benefits of GM are uncertain. _________________
3. We have to protect human health and the environment _________________
4. Scientists try to combat viral pests. _________________
5. Agriculture organizations are studying the long term _________________

3. Effects of pesticides.
Answer key
1. The initials GM that appear in the text mean:
a. General Motors
b. genetically maintained
c. genetically modified
2. The initials FAO stand for:
a. Food and Agriculture Organization
b. First Analytical Order
c. For and Against Organization
3. Scientists:
a. modify the plants using gene transfer.
b. Use plant genes to modify other plants and animals.
c. Use food ingredients to modify plants.
4. Crop characteristics:
a. corn, cotton, canola
b. yield and pest resistance
c. human health and the environment
5. Risks of genetic modification:
a. biotechnology corporations
b. environmental effects
c. herbicide tolerance
6. The last paragraph shows that:
a. FAO has no doubt about GM food.
b. There is no controversy about the subject.
c. FAO has doubts about the subject, too.
7. Answer the questions.
a. What is GM food? Is a food that contains ingredients from genetically modified crops.
b. Are scientists sure about the risks and benefits of GM groups? No, they aren’t.
c. What does FAO defend? FAO defends the need to take precaution to protect human
health and the environment.
8. The word well-defined is in the text. Sometimes we use two words to form
another word. Complete the sentences below with the words given.
Well-intentioned well-known well-being well-defined well-done
1. Guga is a well-known brazilian tennis player.
2. I want my steak well-done, Please.
3. Your mother is worried about your well-being.
4. Sandra is immature, but she is a girl.well-intentioned
5. I only start a project when it is well-defined
9. Find the opposites of words in bold.
Attack protect increases short-term risks
1. Genetic modification reduces prices of food. increase
2. The benefits of GM are uncertain. risks

4. 3. We have to protect human health and the environment attack
4. Scientists try to combat viral pests. protect
5. Agriculture organizations are studying the long term
Effects of pesticides. Short-term p.s: The word risk is the opposite of
Benefit in this context but isn’t in any context.