Question

Key words: Define the following in your own words.
Word
Definition
topic




Practice (page 4): Read the conversation Marco and Brett have about following a plant-based diet.
Marco: After watching that documentary, I’m convinced a plant-based diet is the way to go.
Brett: Really? What did they say to make you think that?
Marco: Vegetables have always been seen as healthy, so you can’t go wrong.
Brett: Well, you may want to look a little closer at that. Sure, vegetables are good for you, but a balanced diet is what keeps you healthy. We don’t have a food pyramid with other types of food for no reason. Have you looked into the benefits of eating meat and dairy?
Marco: I know meat gives you protein, and milk provides calcium. But vegetables can provide those as well. And if you’re not getting enough, you can take a vitamin.
Brett: Or, you could get all the vitamins and nutrients you need by eating a balanced diet.
Marco: That’s true. Is that what you think I should do?
Brett: I think you should do some more research and see exactly what the risks are when getting rid of certain foods in your diet.
Marco: Well, lots of successful athletes are starting to eat this way, so maybe it’s the way to go for people like me who play sports.
Brett: I think there are a lot of other factors that go into an athlete’s nutrition. They have trainers and dieticians and doctors that look after them regularly. Maybe it’s more than just their diet that keeps them at the top of their game.
Marco: I suppose you’re right. I should probably look into this more before making any decisions.
Based on Brett and Marco’s conversation, identify how each of the boys interprets the facts differently.
Fact
Brett’s Interpretation
Marco’s Interpretation
Fact 1: Vegetables are healthy.




Fact 2: A plant-based diet is good for athletes.

Answer 1

Definitions (in my own words)
- Word: A single unit of language that has meaning and can be spoken or written.
- Definition: A clear explanation of what a word or idea means.
- Topic: The main subject or idea being discussed.

Practice — How each boy interprets the facts differently

Fact 1: Vegetables are healthy.
- Brett’s interpretation: Vegetables are a healthy part of the diet, but they are not enough by themselves; you need a balanced diet with different food groups to get all necessary nutrients.
- Marco’s interpretation: Because vegetables are healthy, a plant-based diet must be a safe, “can’t go wrong” choice; vegetables (plus supplements if needed) can replace other foods.

Fact 2: A plant-based diet is good for athletes.
- Brett’s interpretation: He’s skeptical that diet alone explains athletes’ success; athletes often have trainers, dietitians, and medical support, so a plant-based diet might help some but isn’t automatically best for every athlete without careful planning.
- Marco’s interpretation: Seeing many successful athletes on plant-based diets suggests it’s a good choice for athletes like him and could improve his performance.