Answer — Exercise 7
6a - Reading·On Screen B2+ - Student's Book
Question
Collect more information about poisonous foods. Tell the class.
Answer
- Cherries. Like apples, peaches and apricots, cherries also contain hydrogen cyanide. It is released by chewing or crushing the stone. Symptoms of poisoning can range from headaches, dizziness and vomiting to coma.
- Cashews. These contain a deadly chemical (urushiol). This is the same poison that is found in poison ivy and it can kill if ingested.
- Red kidney beans. Red kidney beans contain a toxic agent (phytohaemagglutinin) which can cause food poisoning. Soaking and then boiling is necessary before they can be eaten. Undercooked beans can be even more poisonous than raw ones.
- Chillies. Eating a few chillies won’t hurt you but eating a lot may prove fatal. The chemical they contain (capsaicin) is so strong you can get a stinging sensation when you rub your eyes after cutting chillies. Police use it in the form of pepper spray.