B2 LEVEL

Non-Browning Bananas

B2 Worksheet

Vocabulary

  1. Unappealing
    Not attractive or interesting.

  2. Speed up
    To make something happen faster.

  3. Trait
    A characteristic or quality of a person or thing.

  4. Precision breeding
    A biotech method to make exact DNA changes without adding foreign gene.

  5. Genetic modification
    Inserting genes from one species into another.

  6. Genome
    The complete set of genetic material in an organism.

  7. Modify
    To change something slightly.

  8. Throw away/waste
    To discard something unused.

  9. Freeze
    To keep at very low temperature (for preservation).

  10. Appealing
    Attractive or pleasing.

Grammar Points

  1. Passive Voice:
    Used when the focus is on the action, not who does it.
    (e.g., "The genes were modified by scientists.")

  2. Present Perfect Tense:
    Used to show actions that started in the past and are still relevant now.
    (e.g., "Scientists have developed new banana traits in just one year.")

  3. Second Conditional:
    Used to talk about unreal or hypothetical situations in the present or future.
    (e.g., "If bananas didn’t brown quickly, fewer would be wasted.")

  4. Modals of Speculation (might, could, may):
    Used to express uncertainty or possibility.
    (e.g., "This method may help reduce food waste.")

  5. Defining Relative Clauses:
    Used to add essential information about a noun using who, which, that.
    (e.g., "Bananas that are modified stay fresh longer.")

  6. Linking Words for Cause and Contrast:
    Used to connect ideas clearly and logically.
    (e.g., "It’s not just about appearance, but also reducing waste.")

Activities

Activity 1
Discussion & Debate

Instructions
In small groups, discuss the following question: “Should we use science to change how bananas ripen if it helps reduce food waste?”

Use these prompts:

  1. What are the benefits?

  2. What are the risks?

Each group chooses a spokesperson to summarise their opinion for the class.

Activity 2
Grammar Error Correction

Instructions
Each sentence below contains one grammar error. Correct it.

Sentences to correct:

  1. Scientists have develop a new type of banana.

  2. The genes was changed by a team in Norfolk.

  3. If bananas didn’t browned, we would waste less of them.

  4. They gets their bananas modified.

  5. This method may reduces waste.

Activity 3
True or False

Instructions
Read the statements below and write True or False. If the statement is false, correct it.

  1. Bananas made with precision breeding stay yellow for only 2 hours.

  2. Scientists took genes from other plants to change the banana.

  3. People in the market all trusted the science.

  4. Precision breeding is different from genetic modification.

  5. Many bananas are wasted every day in the UK.

Questions

  1. What are the scientists trying to change about bananas?

  2. How many bananas are thrown away each day in the UK?

  3. Would you feel comfortable eating a banana that was changed through precision breeding? Why or why not?