Set the Scene:
Let’s start with some engaging questions to connect your everyday life to the subject of shellac. Please consider the following:
- Have you ever eaten candies like jelly beans or candy corn? What do you think gives them their shiny appearance?
- Do you know anyone who works in the food or manufacturing industry? How might their work be related to shellac?
- What do you think is the most interesting or surprising fact about shellac that you’ve heard so far?
- How do you think the climate crisis might affect industries that rely on natural resources like shellac?
- What do you think you might learn from this activity that could change your perspective on everyday products?
Featured Image Analysis & Prediction:
Look at the featured image and consider the following questions:
- What do you see in the image?
- What do you think this activity will be about based on this image?
- How does the image relate to your everyday life or interests?
Introduction:
Please read the introduction to the activity, which provides an overview of shellac, its history, and its uses.
Video Engagement:
Watch the video associated with the activity, available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEkKwOWZS_E. Pause the video at the following points and consider the questions:
- Pause at 0:30: What is shellac, and how is it produced? How does this relate to your prior knowledge or assumptions?
- Pause at 1:45: What are some of the challenges facing the shellac industry? How might these challenges affect the industry’s future?
- Pause at 3:10: What are some of the uses of shellac that you find most interesting or surprising? How do these uses relate to your everyday life?
For more information on the topic, visit the original post at https://maestrocursos.com.br/quizzed-esl-activities/why-melted-bugs-coat-your-favorite-candy/.
Output Requirements:
Please ensure that you have completed all the tasks and considered the questions throughout the activity. Your output should demonstrate an understanding of the subject matter and the ability to apply it to real-life situations.
Key Vocabulary:
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Shellac | A natural resin produced by the lac bug, used for various purposes such as polishing and preserving. | Giving a shine to candies like jelly beans and preserving citrus fruit. |
| Lac bug | An insect that secretes a resin used to produce shellac. | Females of the lac insect secrete a resin that hardens into a protective nest, which becomes valuable shellac. |
| Resin | A sticky substance produced by plants and insects, used to produce shellac. | The lac bug secretes a resin that hardens into a protective nest. |
| Pipa | A tool used to spread and even out shellac during the manufacturing process. | Workers use a pipa and palm leaves to spread and even out the shellac. |
| Fungicides | Chemicals used to prevent fungal growth and infestations. | An NGO is educating farmers on using fungicides to increase production and help Indian lac producers preserve their industry. |
| Climate crisis | A global phenomenon characterized by rising temperatures and extreme weather events, affecting the shellac industry. | Intensifying rainstorms and heat due to the climate crisis are causing fungal infestations and drying up trees, threatening the food source of lac insects. |
| Food glaze | A coating used to give food a shiny appearance and preserve it. | Shellac is used as a food-safe additive in treats like jelly beans and candy corn. |
| Pharmaceuticals | Medicines and drugs that use shellac as a coating or ingredient. | Shellac has been used in various applications, including pharmaceuticals. |
| Gramophone records | Old-fashioned music records that use shellac as a material. | Shellac has been used in various applications, including gramophone records. |
Vocabulary Quiz:
- Which country is the largest producer of shellac and exports over $65 million worth annually?
- A) United States
- B) China
- C) India
- D) Brazil
- What is the primary purpose of drying the harvested shellac in the production process?
- A) To make the resin extraction harder
- B) To prevent mold and make resin extraction easier
- C) To increase the price of shellac
- D) To reduce the number of insects needed
- According to traditional methods, what tools are used to spread and even out the shellac?
- A) Machines and metal leaves
- B) A pipa and palm leaves
- C) A cloth tube and sticks
- D) A kiln and stones
- What is a major challenge facing the shellac industry due to the climate crisis?
- A) Decrease in demand for shellac products
- B) Intensifying rainstorms and heat causing fungal infestations and drying up trees
- C) Increase in the number of lac insects
- D) Reduction in the price of shellac
- What is one of the uses of shellac as a food-safe additive?
- A) Coating for wood paneling
- B) Polishing items like cashew nuts
- C) Additive in treats like jelly beans and candy corn
- D) Ingredient in pharmaceuticals
Answer Key: 1. C, 2. B, 3. B, 4. B, 5. C
Grammar Focus:
The present simple tense is used to describe general truths, habits, and routines. The present perfect tense is used to describe completed actions that have a connection to the present. Understanding the difference between these tenses is crucial for effective communication in English.
Grammar Quiz:
- Which of the following sentences best describes a general truth using the present simple tense?
- India has been the largest shellac producer for many years.
- India remains the largest shellac producer, exporting over $65 million worth annually.
- Thousands of people are depending on shellac for a living.
- The climate crisis is causing fungal infestations.
- Which tense is used in the sentence “The global industry is worth over $167 million” to describe the current state of the industry?
