Is food our greatest pleasure? While Germans enjoy pudding in the park, Britain’s traditional desserts are under threat. Some think we need to embrace the sheer delight of food.
Pudding trend sparks dessert revival hope
Four favourites: These classic British puddings could die out if younger people do not pick up their dessert forks — or "gabel". Comprehension quiz
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How would you define the word “stodgy”?
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Which word is the closest synonym for “fleeting” as it is used in the text?
A: Permanent
B: Momentary
C: Intense
D: Collective
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According to research mentioned in the article, what percentage of UK households make a homemade pudding only once a month or less?
A: 2%
B: 14%
C: 35%
D: 62%
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The decline in traditional puddings began in the 1970s. According to the article, which two factors contributed to this?
A: The rise of pre-made frozen desserts.
B: A new study by English Heritage warning about sugar.
C: A change in the main meal from supper to dinner.
D: More women starting to work outside the home.
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What is the main finding from neuroscience regarding the link between eating and pleasure?
A: It is a collective experience shared by everyone at the table.
B: It is a “higher” mental pleasure, like reading a novel.
C: Our brain releases the hormone dopamine and experiences satisfaction because food is necessary for survival.
D: The pleasure only lasts for a moment of sensory excitement.
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The philosopher John Stuart Mill divided pleasures into “higher” and “lower” categories. Using your own reflection and personal views, do you agree with this division, or do you think the pleasure from food can be just as important as reading or listening to music? Explain your reasoning.
Answers
Tap to reveal
1: Filling, dense in texture, 2: B, 3: D, 4: A and D, 5: C, 6: Your views!
1: Filling, dense in texture, 2: B, 3: D, 4: A and D, 5: C, 6: Your views!
Glossary
English Heritage - A charity that manages historic monuments and sites in England.
Adieu - Goodbye or farewell, but in a more permanent sense.
Stodgy - Dull and boring.
Suet - The raw, hard fat from around the kidneys and loins of beef and mutton.
Integral - Key.
Gourmand - A French word for someone who loves food and drink, sometimes to excess.
Opulent - Conspicuously rich. It comes from the Latin word for "wealth".
Neuroscience - Science looking at the nervous system and the brain.
Dopamine - A hormone and neurotransmitter that plays several important roles in the brain and body, providing us with positive sensations, rewarding us for evolutionarily good behaviours like eating food.
Satiate - To completely satisfy a need to desire.
Utilitarian - A school of ethics that focuses on maximising people’s happiness and minimising their suffering.