Clash of the Condiments: Wasabi vs. the Chili Pepper ELA 7 & 8

What is the role of the section "Powerful Punches" in the development of the article?

• It describes the physical differences between wasabi and chili peppers.

• It explains the best ways to experience the heat from wasabi and chili peppers.

• It describes why wasabi and chili peppers are both enjoyable and painful to consume.

• It provides a scientific explanation for the effects of consuming wasabi and chili peppers.

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CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

The Scoville scale determines the strength of the heat in chili peppers by

• counting the number of sips of chili pepper juice a human subject can consume

• recording the amount of capsaicin present in specific amounts of chili pepper juice

• measuring how much chili pepper juice must be weakened for it to no longer cause pain

• comparing descriptions of the heat a human subject feels while drinking chili pepper juice

What is the result of being unable to use the Scoville scale to measure the heat strength of wasabi?

• Chromatography is used to compare the heat strengths of wasabi and chili peppers.

• Comparing the heat strengths of wasabi and chili peppers using a scientific method is impossible.

• A new scale will be developed to compare the degree of pain caused by wasabi and chili peppers.

• Experts now rely on a scale based on measuring consumer pain responses to wasabi and chili peppers.

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CCSS.RI.4.3

CCSS.RI.5.3

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.7.3

CCSS.RI.8.3

Read this sentence from lines 71 and 72 of the article.

Wasabi and chili peppers are like pungent apples and oranges.

Which evidence from the article best supports this statement?

• "They get our attention by purposely causing us pain." (lines 3 and 4)

• "After separation, the amounts of each component are quantified." (lines 62 and 63)

• If two chili peppers have the same amount of capsaicin , it can be assumed that those peppers are equally 'hot.'"(lines 65 and 66)

• "There's no way to know if equal amounts of capsaicin and allyl isothiocyanate cause equal degrees of pain." (lines 672 and 68)

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CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

How do lines 1 through 7 mainly establish a tone of the article?

• They create curiosity by inviting the reader to provide an opinion on the two condiments.

• They create interest by describing loyal fans supporting their favorite condiment.

• They create humor by personifying two condiments in an imagined contest

• They create tension by analyzing the popularity of two condiments.

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CCSS.RI.11-12.10

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RI.7.10

CCSS.RI.8.10

CCSS.RI.9-10.10

Read lines 25 and 26 from article.

Chiles have since taken the culinary world by storm.

Which detail best supports the author's claim?

• Chili peppers come in many varieties.

• Chili peppers are used in many different countries.

• Chile peppers are related to tomatoes and eggplants.

• Chili peppers were mistakenly thought to resemble black pepper.

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CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

Read this sentence from lines 37 and 38 of the article.

As a consequence, the consumption of wasabi launches an airborne assault on the consumer's sinuses.

What does the phrase "airborne assault" add to the author's description?

• It suggests a painful experience that makes wasabi undesirable.

• It explains the effect of experiencing the molecules in wasabi.

• It warns that direct contact with wasabi causes injury.

• It cautions that wasabi causes an intense repeated attack occurring over time.

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CCSS.RI.7.9

CCSS.RI.8.6

CCSS.RI.8.9

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

What inference can you make about how chili peppers and wasabi influence the body?

• Wasabi and chiles interact with the body similarly; they create molecules that are volatile.

• Chiles lead to tender tissues while wasabi alerts the brain.

• Through the triggering of pain receptors, chili peppers have dangerous affects on the body.

• Wasabi is volatile, as enzymes attack sinuses. Chile peppers influence surfaces of the body like lips, mouth, and your throat.

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CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3