📝 Unit 8: Healthy Food
Connectives (although / in spite of / while / whenever) · irregular plurals · countable/uncountable · graph description
Task 1 — Fill the blanks with the right connective (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in each blank with a connective from the box. There is one
extra word.
Box: in spite of · although · even though · while · whenever
(1) ........... it is raining, the children are playing in the garden.
(2) Mother makes hoppers ........... the rest of us are still sleeping.
(3) ........... his diabetes, my uncle still loves sweets.
(4) ........... she has been told three times, she still eats junk food.
(5) I take a glass of king coconut water ........... I feel tired.
extra word.
Box: in spite of · although · even though · while · whenever
(1) ........... it is raining, the children are playing in the garden.
(2) Mother makes hoppers ........... the rest of us are still sleeping.
(3) ........... his diabetes, my uncle still loves sweets.
(4) ........... she has been told three times, she still eats junk food.
(5) I take a glass of king coconut water ........... I feel tired.
(1) Although / Even though
(2) while
(3) In spite of
(4) Even though / Although
(5) whenever
5 marks.
(2) while
(3) In spite of
(4) Even though / Although
(5) whenever
5 marks.
Task 2 — Form the plural (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Write the plural form of each noun below.
(1) phenomenon → ...........
(2) bacterium → ...........
(3) nucleus → ...........
(4) analysis → ...........
(5) appendix → ...........
(6) father-in-law → ...........
(7) passer-by → ...........
(8) child → ...........
(9) tooth → ...........
(10) goose → ...........
(1) phenomenon → ...........
(2) bacterium → ...........
(3) nucleus → ...........
(4) analysis → ...........
(5) appendix → ...........
(6) father-in-law → ...........
(7) passer-by → ...........
(8) child → ...........
(9) tooth → ...........
(10) goose → ...........
(1) phenomena
(2) bacteria
(3) nuclei
(4) analyses
(5) appendices (or appendixes)
(6) fathers-in-law
(7) passers-by
(8) children
(9) teeth
(10) geese
5 marks (½ × 10).
(2) bacteria
(3) nuclei
(4) analyses
(5) appendices (or appendixes)
(6) fathers-in-law
(7) passers-by
(8) children
(9) teeth
(10) geese
5 marks (½ × 10).
Task 3 — Quantifiers: countable vs uncountable (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Choose the correct word in brackets.
(1) There isn't (much, many) rice left.
(2) (How much, How many) eggs do we need for the cake?
(3) She bought (a few, a little) tomatoes from the market.
(4) Mother put (a few, a little) salt in the curry.
(5) There are (fewer, less) sweet shops in our town now.
(1) There isn't (much, many) rice left.
(2) (How much, How many) eggs do we need for the cake?
(3) She bought (a few, a little) tomatoes from the market.
(4) Mother put (a few, a little) salt in the curry.
(5) There are (fewer, less) sweet shops in our town now.
(1) much
(2) How many
(3) a few
(4) a little
(5) fewer
5 marks.
(2) How many
(3) a few
(4) a little
(5) fewer
5 marks.
Task 4 — Comprehension: Finger millet (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the passage on finger millet (above) and answer the questions.
(1) What is finger millet called in Sinhala and Tamil?
(2) Name THREE nutrients found in finger millet.
(3) Why is it good for diabetic patients?
(4) Write the sentence which lists at least four foods made from finger millet.
(5) Underline the correct answer. Finger millet grows best in ........... .
(a) very wet, low-country areas.
(b) arid highland areas with medium rainfall.
(c) cold, snow-covered mountains.
(1) What is finger millet called in Sinhala and Tamil?
(2) Name THREE nutrients found in finger millet.
(3) Why is it good for diabetic patients?
(4) Write the sentence which lists at least four foods made from finger millet.
(5) Underline the correct answer. Finger millet grows best in ........... .
(a) very wet, low-country areas.
(b) arid highland areas with medium rainfall.
(c) cold, snow-covered mountains.
(1) Kurakkan.
(2) Vitamin B, iron and calcium (also: fibre / carbohydrates).
(3) Because its digestion is slow, it helps keep the blood sugar at a low level.
(4) "This wholesome grain is made into porridge, idli, pittu, rotti, hoppers and bread in various regions."
(5) (b) arid highland areas with medium rainfall.
5 marks.
(2) Vitamin B, iron and calcium (also: fibre / carbohydrates).
(3) Because its digestion is slow, it helps keep the blood sugar at a low level.
(4) "This wholesome grain is made into porridge, idli, pittu, rotti, hoppers and bread in various regions."
(5) (b) arid highland areas with medium rainfall.
5 marks.
Task 5 — Recipe writing (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Write a short recipe for a Sri Lankan healthy dish (kurakkan
rotti / gotu kola sambol / king coconut juice). Use about 60 words.
Include:
• name of the dish
• ingredients (5)
• 3 steps to prepare it.
rotti / gotu kola sambol / king coconut juice). Use about 60 words.
Include:
• name of the dish
• ingredients (5)
• 3 steps to prepare it.
GOTU KOLA SAMBOL (60 words)
Ingredients: a bunch of gotu kola leaves, half a coconut (scraped), half a red
onion, one green chilli, salt and lime to taste.
1. Wash the gotu kola, drain it, and chop it finely.
2. Mix in the scraped coconut, finely diced onion and green chilli.
3. Squeeze fresh lime juice over it, season with salt, and serve with rice.
5 marks.
Ingredients: a bunch of gotu kola leaves, half a coconut (scraped), half a red
onion, one green chilli, salt and lime to taste.
1. Wash the gotu kola, drain it, and chop it finely.
2. Mix in the scraped coconut, finely diced onion and green chilli.
3. Squeeze fresh lime juice over it, season with salt, and serve with rice.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: a healthy-food week (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
You are the secretary of the school Wellness Club. Write a notice
inviting students to a Healthy Food Week. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• dates of the week
• one activity
• who is invited
• who to register with.
inviting students to a Healthy Food Week. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• dates of the week
• one activity
• who is invited
• who to register with.
WELLNESS CLUB — HEALTHY FOOD WEEK
The Wellness Club is hosting a Healthy Food Week from 6th to 10th March
2027. Daily events include a kurakkan-bake competition, a fruit-salad demo
and a doctor's talk on sugar. All students from Grade 7 to 11 are warmly
invited. Register with Tharindu Silva by 3rd March.
— Secretary.
49 words. 5 marks.
The Wellness Club is hosting a Healthy Food Week from 6th to 10th March
2027. Daily events include a kurakkan-bake competition, a fruit-salad demo
and a doctor's talk on sugar. All students from Grade 7 to 11 are warmly
invited. Register with Tharindu Silva by 3rd March.
— Secretary.
49 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) My favourite traditional Sri Lankan food
(b) Why fast food is bad for us
(c) A day on a healthy diet
(a) My favourite traditional Sri Lankan food
(b) Why fast food is bad for us
(c) A day on a healthy diet
MODEL — My favourite traditional Sri Lankan food (60 words)
My favourite traditional food is string hoppers with kiri hodi and lunu miris.
The steamed strands of rice flour are soft, the milky gravy is fragrant with
turmeric, and the chilli sambol gives it a fiery wake-up call. It is a
hand-rolled, hand-eaten meal — and the easiest reason to wake up at six on a
Sunday.
5 marks.
My favourite traditional food is string hoppers with kiri hodi and lunu miris.
The steamed strands of rice flour are soft, the milky gravy is fragrant with
turmeric, and the chilli sambol gives it a fiery wake-up call. It is a
hand-rolled, hand-eaten meal — and the easiest reason to wake up at six on a
Sunday.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Bar / pie chart description (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to your friend explaining why you have decided to give up
fast food. Include: why you started eating it, the day you decided to stop,
what you eat instead, how you feel.
(b) The pie chart shows how a Grade 10 student spent her lunch money in
December. Write a description.
Pie values: Hoppers 30% · Pizza & burgers 25% · Fruits 20% · Soft drinks 15% ·
Sweets 10%.
(a) Write a letter to your friend explaining why you have decided to give up
fast food. Include: why you started eating it, the day you decided to stop,
what you eat instead, how you feel.
(b) The pie chart shows how a Grade 10 student spent her lunch money in
December. Write a description.
Pie values: Hoppers 30% · Pizza & burgers 25% · Fruits 20% · Soft drinks 15% ·
Sweets 10%.
(b) MODEL — Pie chart description (105 words)
The pie chart shows how a Grade 10 student spent her lunch money in December.
Hoppers — a traditional Sri Lankan snack — took the highest share at 30%,
closely followed by pizza and burgers at 25%. Fresh fruits made up 20% of
her spending, while soft drinks accounted for 15%. Sweets received the
smallest slice, at just 10%.
Overall, more than half her lunch money (55%) was spent on either traditional
or fast-food meals. The healthier choice of fresh fruit alone accounted for
only one-fifth — a sign that even an aware student finds it hard to choose
fruit over fries.
10 marks — accurate data, comparison phrases, opens and closes with insight.
The pie chart shows how a Grade 10 student spent her lunch money in December.
Hoppers — a traditional Sri Lankan snack — took the highest share at 30%,
closely followed by pizza and burgers at 25%. Fresh fruits made up 20% of
her spending, while soft drinks accounted for 15%. Sweets received the
smallest slice, at just 10%.
Overall, more than half her lunch money (55%) was spent on either traditional
or fast-food meals. The healthier choice of fresh fruit alone accounted for
only one-fifth — a sign that even an aware student finds it hard to choose
fruit over fries.
10 marks — accurate data, comparison phrases, opens and closes with insight.
Task 9 — Article / speech (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article for the school magazine: 'Eating healthy food leads to a
healthy life'.
(b) A speech on 'Why we should bring back traditional Sri Lankan grains'.
(c) An essay on 'Fast food: a hidden danger'.
(a) An article for the school magazine: 'Eating healthy food leads to a
healthy life'.
(b) A speech on 'Why we should bring back traditional Sri Lankan grains'.
(c) An essay on 'Fast food: a hidden danger'.
(a) MODEL — Eating healthy food leads to a healthy life (216 words)
What we put on our plates today shapes the body we live in tomorrow. Healthy
food means fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and pulses — the kind
of meal that comes out of a kitchen, not a packet. Unhealthy food, by
contrast, is what we get from deep fryers and snack shelves: high in sugar,
salt and oil and low in real nutrition.
We should eat healthy food because our body is built from what we feed it.
Vegetables give us vitamins; fish and pulses give us protein for growth;
whole grains give us steady energy to study and play. A diet of fizzy drinks
and short eats may taste good for a minute, but it leaves us tired, overweight
and one day diabetic.
Eating well leads to a healthy life in three clear ways. First, our weight
stays normal. Second, common illnesses such as flu and stomach pain become
rare. Third, our mind stays sharp — we concentrate better in class and sleep
better at night.
So let us choose the rice-and-curry plate over the burger, and the king
coconut over the cola. Healthy eating is not a punishment; it is a kindness
we do for our future self.
15 marks — opens with a hook, defines healthy vs unhealthy, three-point
benefit list, warm call to action.
What we put on our plates today shapes the body we live in tomorrow. Healthy
food means fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and pulses — the kind
of meal that comes out of a kitchen, not a packet. Unhealthy food, by
contrast, is what we get from deep fryers and snack shelves: high in sugar,
salt and oil and low in real nutrition.
We should eat healthy food because our body is built from what we feed it.
Vegetables give us vitamins; fish and pulses give us protein for growth;
whole grains give us steady energy to study and play. A diet of fizzy drinks
and short eats may taste good for a minute, but it leaves us tired, overweight
and one day diabetic.
Eating well leads to a healthy life in three clear ways. First, our weight
stays normal. Second, common illnesses such as flu and stomach pain become
rare. Third, our mind stays sharp — we concentrate better in class and sleep
better at night.
So let us choose the rice-and-curry plate over the burger, and the king
coconut over the cola. Healthy eating is not a punishment; it is a kindness
we do for our future self.
15 marks — opens with a hook, defines healthy vs unhealthy, three-point
benefit list, warm call to action.