20091218 Is Organic Food Really Better (1)

Is Organic Food Really Better?

Why buy organic food?
As you stand in front of the produce section at your local store, you are faced with a decision. In one hand you hold an organically grown tomato, and in the other you hold its traditionally grown counterpart. Both tomatoes are red, ripe and ready to be eaten, and both provide important health benefits. But is one better than the other? The debate between organic food and conventionally grown food has no easy answers but often sparks differing opinions.

Conversation A:

Adam: Wow, Beth. You have really been on a health kick lately. I've noticed you've been exercising more and eating healthier food. You look great.

Beth: Thanks. I feel great! You know, switching to organic food has made all the difference.

Adam: Really? Organic food seems so overrated to me. What's wrong with nonorganic food?

Beth: For starters, most famers rely on pesticides to kill crop-eating pests. Personally, I would rather not eat food that's covered in poisonous chemicals.

Adam: Be realistic. You've been eating food grown like this your whole life and have not had any problems to speak of yet. Besides, the FDA's ongoing Total Diet Study found pesticide residue on nonorganic food to be between 0.0001 and 2.4 parts per milion. That's nothing - and it's even less if you wash your fruit and vegetables before you eat them.



counterpart n. 極相像的人(或物)/(契約等的)副本/複本
=> it's different but still alike
eg: Our country's president is the counterpart to your country's prime minister.

overrate v. 過高評價/過度重視
=> give too much credits
eg: The new movie was so overrated, The special effects may have been good, but the plot was terrible!
eg: In our society, one's appearance is often overrated.
eg: Be confident, but don't overrate yourself in next week's competition.

pesticide n. 殺蟲劑
eg: The farmer used a pesticide on his cornfield to kill the bugs that were eating his crop.

residue n. 殘餘的物質/渣滓
=> a part that is left after something remain/gone
eg: After I finished reading the newspaper, I noticed that it had left a black residue on my fingers.
eg: This kind of shampoo is used to remove the residue that builds up on hair.
eg: Use cool, running water to clean the residue off vegetables before cooking.

kick n. 狂熱或衝勁
be on kick
eg: Lawrence has been on an exercise kick lately. He spends over 3 hours a day in the gym.
eg: Janet is on a cooking kick now. She buys all kinds of recipe books.

kick v. 踢

FDA
=> Food and Drug Administration

switch
=> change

rely on
=> depend on

pest n. 有害的動物/害蟲/有害的植物

//== Chat Room ==//

starters n. 開胃菜/第一道菜
=> appetizer

for starters 首先/做為開頭
= to begin with 首先(常用於句首)
eg: That's just for starters
=> 這只不過是一個起頭(表示後面還有很多其他的項目)

starter
= starting pitcher 先發投手
relief pitcher 後援投手
reliever 後援投手/接替者

relieve 救援