The Puffer Fish

1/25/2022 9:20:00 PM
Image: the-most-exteme.fandom.com

Do you know?

  • Puffer fish are the most poisonous fish in the sea. Their liver, intestines, gonads and skin are highly poisonous and cause death in around 60% of people who eat it.
  • Amazingly, in Japan, the meat of some pufferfish is considered a delicacy.

Let's explore more in the following passage!

Let's learn some new words before you read the passage:

Listen and complete the passage.

poisonous species spines deadly careless


Most people avoid eating dangerous foods. They don’t want to get sick. However, there is one food that can be , yet some people eat it on purpose. It’s called the puffer fish.

This of fish, called ‘fugu’ in Japanese, lives in the Pacific Ocean. Some Japanese die every year from eating ‘fugu’. In fact, the Emperor of Japan is not allowed to touch it. Why? Well, the insides of the puffer fish are very . They contain a venom 275 times more powerful than the deadly poison cyanide.

Usually nothing bad happens when ‘fugu’ is on the menu. Customers leave the restaurant with happy smiles on their faces. The chefs are trained to remove the insides of the puffer fish before they serve it to their customers. If they miss even a small amount, the fish is not safe to eat. If a chef is , the customers stop smiling and get sick.

Puffer fish is very expensive. A plate of fugu costs more than $200 in some restaurants in Tokyo. Besides this, the fish is very ugly, with all over its body. Also, it can puff itself  to double its normal size. That’s the reason for its name. Why do the Japanese risk so much for such an ugly and dangerous fish? Well, some people like taking risks. And ‘fugu’ is absolutely delicious!

Read and answer the following questions.

The Puffer Fish

A plate of fugu is expensive. Image: byfood.com

Most people avoid eating dangerous foods. They don’t want to get sick. However, there is one food that can be deadly, yet some people eat it on purpose. It’s called the puffer fish.

This species of fish, called ‘fugu’ in Japanese, lives in the Pacific Ocean. Some Japanese die every year from eating ‘fugu’. In fact, the Emperor of Japan is not allowed to touch it. Why? Well, the insides of the puffer fish are very poisonous. They contain a venom 275 times more powerful than the deadly poison cyanide.

Usually nothing bad happens when ‘fugu’ is on the menu. Customers leave the restaurant with happy smiles on their faces. The chefs are trained to remove the insides of the puffer fish before they serve it to their customers. If they miss even a small amount, the fish is not safe to eat. If a chef is careless, the customers stop smiling and get sick.

Puffer fish is very expensive. A plate of fugu costs more than $200 in some restaurants in Tokyo. Besides this, the fish is very ugly, with spines all over its body. Also, it can puff itself to double its normal size. That’s the reason for its name. Why do the Japanese risk so much for such an ugly and dangerous fish? Well, some people like taking risks. And ‘fugu’ is absolutely delicious!

Source: Thoughts and Notions

Where does the puffer fish live?

  • The Indian Ocean
  • The Atlantic Ocean
  • The Pacific Ocean
  • The Arctic Ocean

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the paragraph?

  • How the puffer fish looks like
  • What makes the puffer fish a dangerous food
  • Why the puffer fish gets its name
  • When the puffer fish is served mainly in restaurants

According to the passage, what must chefs do before they serve the puffer fish?

  • They must choose the biggest puffer fish to serve.
  • They must turn the puffer fish into an appealing dish.
  • They must learn to make the puffer fish free of venom.
  • They must consider the residual poison in the puffer fish.

Why do you think a plate of fugu costs much?

  • Because it is very hard to catch them from the ocean.
  • Because it takes time and effort to prepare this dish.
  • Because buying ingredients to cook this dish is expensive.
  • Because the number of fugu is reducing year by year.

What can be another title for this passage?

  • Fugu - Tasty but hazardous dish
  • Japan's most popular dish in restaurants
  • The puffer fish - A rare marine species
  • Japanese and their risky eating habits

Build your vocabulary by learning these intensive phrases/idioms

Complete the second sentence, using the word given so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Do NOT change the word given in brackets in any way.

Due to the failure to provide adequate flood protection, the town is currently being badly affected. (COUNTING)

=> The town is now its failure to provide adequate flood protection.

 

Choose the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Stay away from the boss today - he's spitting blood over that printing mishap.

  • miserable
  • irritated
  • surprised
  • impatient

Choose the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s).

I bet you he left his report card here on purpose so we would compliment him on his grades.

  • by chance
  • in turn
  • by design
  • on duty

Choose the correct answer.

The crew are well trained with emergencies.

Rearrange the words in the correct order to make a complete sentence.