Salt

How much salt do most Americans get?

• too little

• too much

• too little as kids, but too much as adults

• the right amount

The author discusses the problem of people consuming too much sodium. What can people do to help solve this problem?

• People can eat oatmeal instead of boxed breakfast cereal.

• People can put more butter on their popcorn.

• People can eat fewer oranges, apples, and bananas.

• People can eat more cookies and cakes.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

"Your body needs the sodium that comes from salt to survive."

What evidence in the text supports this statement?

• "Sodium keeps your heart beating normally and your muscles contracting and relaxing properly."

• "Your kidneys automatically control the amount of sodium you keep in your body."

• "Over time, too much sodium makes your blood pressure go up and your kidneys tire out."

• "Most of the sodium you eat comes from hidden sources: packaged and processed food."

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

"Luckily, says Westling, there are a lot of ways you can keep your sodium levels down without missing out on anything! 'When you snack on popcorn, try using unsalted butter and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese instead of salt. Snack on carrot sticks or other crunchy veggies instead of packaged crackers or chips.'"

Based on this information, what can you infer about vegetables?

• Vegetables have more salt than packaged crackers and chips.

• Vegetables have less salt than packaged crackers and chips.

• Vegetables have the same amount of salt as packaged crackers and chips.

• Vegetables are healthier than crackers but less healthy than chips.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

What is the main idea of this text?

• Only about 11 percent of the sodium you take in comes from table salt.

• Fruit is high in potassium, which helps counteract the effects of sodium in your body.

• People need sodium to live, but many people consume too much of it.

• Food companies use salt and sodium products as a way to preserve food to keep it fresh longer.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

"Table salt isn’t the same thing as sodium. The salt in your saltshaker is a combination of sodium and chloride. But most people use the words salt and sodium interchangeably when they are talking about food."

What does the author mean by writing that "people use the words salt and sodium interchangeably"?

• People use the word sodium to refer to the salt in their saltshakers.

• People use the words salt and sodium in different ways.

• People use the word sodium when they are talking about table salt, but they use the word salt when they are talking about salt that comes in packaged food.

• People use the words salt and sodium as though the words have the same meaning.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Choose the answer that best completes the sentence.

Taking in too much sodium can lead to serious health problems, _______ high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney disease.

• otherwise

• previously

• particularly

• meanwhile

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Holly Westling gives readers several suggestions for keeping their sodium levels down. What does she suggest they do when snacking on popcorn?

• Put unsalted butter

• Put Parmesan cheese

• Do not put any salt or cheese

• Put half cheese and salted butter

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.3

CCSS.RI.7.5