Lesson 4. Natural Helpers
What you'll learn:
Vocabulary: Medicinal Plants/Natural Helpers
Speaking: Using natural medicine for health problems
Writing: A paragraph on: “Solving health problems”

| cinchona tree [sıη'kəʊnə trı:] (n) an evergreen South American tree or shrub with fragrant flowers, cultivated for its bark. foxglove ['fαksglʌv ] (n) a tall Eurasian plant with erect spikes of pinkish-purple or white flowers shaped like the fingers of gloves. Foxglove a source of the drug. frustrating [frʌs'treıtıη] (adj) making you feel annoyed or less confident because you cannot achieve what you want. A very frustrating experience. lavender ['læv(ə)ndə ] (n) a small aromatic evergreen shrub of the mint family, with narrow leaves and bluish-purple flowers, used in perfumery and medicine. quinine ['kwını:n] (n) a bitter crystalline compound present in cinchona bark, used as a tonic and formerly as an antimalarial drug. relieve [rı'lı:v] (v) cause (pain, distress, or difficulty) to become less severe or serious. The drug was used to promote sleep and to relieve pain. sap [ sæp] (n) the fluid which circulates in the vascular system of a plant, consisting chiefly of water with dissolved sugars and mineral salts. self-esteem [,selfe'stı:m ] (n) confldence in one’s own worth or abilities; self-respect. The training is for those with low self-esteem. strenuous ['strɛnjʊəs] (adj) requiring or using great effort or exertion. The government made strenuous efforts to upgrade the quality of the teaching profession. remedy [ 'remədı] (n) treatment; medicine. An effective remedy.

LISTEN AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS! Read Listening Material
Read through the questions. Then listen to the passage and answer the following questions.

1. What is the passage mainly about?
   a) Factors leading to saffron’s high cost
   b) Harvesting time of saffron
   c) Consumption of saffron
   d) Saffron in medicine
   e) Saffron in the world
2. Which is NOT mentioned about saffron according to the passage?
   a) Its flowers should be picked early in the morning
   b) It needs to be harvested with lots of hand work
   c) A pound of it is gathered from 170, 000 flowers
   d) Azerbaijan is one of its producers in the world
   e) It is the priciest spice with the cost of $5, 000
3. Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
   Which factors affect badly the quality of saffron?
   1. Cost
   2. Sunlight
   3. Humidity
   4. Cold weather
   a) 1, 2
   b) 2, 3
   c) 1, 4
   d) 3, 4
   e) 1, 3
4. Choose the correct statement about Saffron according to the passage.
   a) It has negative effect on heart health and digestion
   b) It increases the risk of depression and Alzheimer’s
   c) It is used as a dye and for religious purposes
   d) It is vulnerable to the hot weather
   e) It blooms all around the year
5. Complete the statement according to the passage.
   Saffron is mainly used in ____________, _____________ and _____________
6. Write an answer to the question according to the passage.
   Why is Iran the main producer of saffron?

Saffron is the world’s priciest spice. 1 pound of saffron requires 170, 000 flowers and costs $5,000. There are numerous reasons that make it expensive. Firstly, it is a complicated spice to harvest. It needs to be handpicked and dried. Saffron flowers bloom from late September to early December. It should be harvested only early in the morning, as sunlight and humidity can affect its quality and break the chemicals.

Secondly, saffron can survive under the cold weather. Thirdly, it contains some expensive chemical components. They produce its taste, color and smell which make saffron unique and distinctive. According to research saffron is a traditional medicine that reduces the symptoms for Alzheimer’s, depression and supports heart health and digestion.

Saffron is mainly used in cooking, perfumery and in the textile industry as a fabric dye. In India it is used for religious purposes.

Iran is the main producer with 90%, as it has the cheapest work force.

1. What is the passage mainly about?
   a) Factors leading to saffron’s high cost
   b) Harvesting time of saffron
   c) Consumption of saffron
   d) Saffron in medicine
   e) Saffron in the world
2. Which is NOT mentioned about saffron according to the passage?
   a) Its flowers should be picked early in the morning
   b) It needs to be harvested with lots of hand work
   c) A pound of it is gathered from 170, 000 flowers
   d) Azerbaijan is one of its producers in the world
   e) It is the priciest spice with the cost of $5, 000
3. Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
   Which factors affect badly the quality of saffron?
   1. Cost
   2. Sunlight
   3. Humidity
   4. Cold weather
   a) 1, 2
   b) 2, 3
   c) 1, 4
   d) 3, 4
   e) 1, 3
4. Choose the correct statement about Saffron according to the passage.
   a) It has negative effect on heart health and digestion
   b) It increases the risk of depression and Alzheimer’s
   c) It is used as a dye and for religious purposes
   d) It is vulnerable to the hot weather
   e) It blooms all around the year
5. Complete the statement according to the passage.
   Saffron is mainly used in ____________, _____________ and _____________
   Answer: cooking/ perfumery/ textile/ medicine
6. Write an answer to the question according to the passage.
   Why is Iran the main producer of saffron?
   Answer: it has the cheapest work force