01
Edible Insects
If you’ve ever seen the Lion King, you’ll know that Timon and Pumbaa love to eat insects.
How about you? Would you jump for joy if you were served a plate of bugs? In some
cultures, eating insects as a snack or as part of a meal is very normal. In Thailand, for
example, grasshoppers are a tasty snack which are enjoyed at local food markets. This
may not sound like your refreshment of choice, but one day it could be. Watch out:
insects are on their way!
So, which insects can you eat? It’s not quite as simple as eating worms from your garden.
In fact, this is not recommended at all. Edible insects are insect species that are safe for
human consumption. They may be eaten whole or used as an ingredient in processed
foods such as burgers or bread. Some insects can even be surprisingly tasty. Many
insects taste similar to shellfish. So, if you like shrimp or crab, you may be in for a treat.
It turns out that eating more insects could be good for the planet as well as our taste
buds. Globally, we consume around 350 million tons of meat each year. On top of
this, demand is growing. Producing all of this meat, and beef in particular, puts a lot of
pressure on our environment. Huge amounts of the rainforest have been destroyed
for grazing or growing feedstuff for cattle. Now for the
smelly business. Cows also release methane gas
(mainly when they burp and fart). Methane is a
greenhouse gas which contributes to global
warming. Farming insects is much more
environmentally friendly than farming
beef, in particular. Insects take up
much less space and produce fewer
greenhouse gases.
Our global population is also rising.
This means that there are more
This comprehension activity is automarked on CENTURY.
To find out more visit www.century.tech
02
people to feed. To avoid shortages in food, insects could be the answer. They’re actually
quite good for us too. They are a great source of protein and minerals, and they are low
in fat. Insects can also be good for your immune system (which means that you will be
less likely to get ill).
So our creepy crawly friends could be the solution to many of our global problems.
Consumers may just need persuading that insects could actually be more yum than yuck.
This comprehension activity is automarked on CENTURY.
To find out more visit www.century.tech
Questions 03
1 Used in paragraph 1, what does To be extremely happy.
the phrase ‘jump for joy’ mean?
(tick) To jump up in the air.
To jump away.
To be terrified.
2 In which country are
grasshoppers eaten as a tasty
snack?
3 According to the text, which Garden worms are edible.
statement is true? (tick)
Worms are safe for human consumption.
Worms can be eaten whole.
You should not eat worms from your
garden.
4 According to the text, which If you like burgers or bread, you may like
statement is true? (tick)
insects.
If you like shrimp or crab, you may like
insects.
All insects taste like shrimp or crab.
Insects do not taste like shellfish.
5 Used in paragraph 3, what does People want to eat less meat.
‘demand is growing’ mean? (tick)
Animals are growing.
People want to eat more meat.
People are asking for meat.
This comprehension activity is automarked on CENTURY.
To find out more visit www.century.tech
04
6 Name the greenhouse gas that
cows release.
7 What does the sentence below The number of people living on our planet
mean?
is going up.
‘Our global population is also
The globe is growing.
rising.’ (tick)
The population is rising into space.
There are fewer people living on the
globe.
8 Which statement about edible Edible insects are a great source of
insects is NOT true? (tick)
protein.
Edible insects are a good source of
minerals.
Edible insects are low in fat.
Edible insects are bad for your immune
system.
9 Write the two words in this final
paragraph that are an example of
alliteration.
10 Which word in the final
paragraph means ‘people that
eat something’?
Score:
This comprehension activity is automarked on CENTURY.
To find out more visit www.century.tech
Answers A
1 Used in paragraph 1, what does
the phrase ‘jump for joy’ mean?
✓ To be extremely happy.
2 In which country are
grasshoppers eaten as a tasty Thailand
snack?
3 According to the text, which
statement is true?
✓ You should not eat worms from your
garden.
4 According to the text, which
statement is true?
✓ If you like shrimp or crab, you may like
insects.
5 Used in paragraph 3, what does
‘demand is growing’ mean?
✓ People want to eat more meat.
6 Name the greenhouse gas that
cows release. methane
7 What does the sentence below
mean?
✓ The number of people living on our planet
‘Our global population is also is going up.
rising.’
8 Which statement about edible
insects is NOT true?
✓ Edible insects are bad for your immune
system.
9 Write the two words in this final
paragraph that are an example of Creepy crawly
alliteration.
10 Which word in the final
paragraph means ‘people that Consumers
eat something’?
This comprehension activity is automarked on CENTURY.
To find out more visit www.century.tech
