Main ideas
What habit does the article mainly discuss?
Drinking water before meals.
How many people were in the study?
48.
After three months, which group lost more weight?
The water group.
Which paragraph introduces the research question and claim?
Paragraph 1.
Which word means “study results”: findings or bias?
findings
What does the article say water before meals may help with?
Weight loss.
How old were the participants?
55 to 75.
How much weight did the water group lose after three months?
About 15.5 lb / 7 kg each.
Which paragraph explains the study method?
Paragraph 2.
Which word means “strict, careful, and thorough”
rigorous
Did the article say this idea had strong science before the study?
No. It had little rigorous science to back it up.
What kind of Americans joined the study?
Inactive Americans.
How much weight did the other group lose after three months?
About 11 lb / 5 kg each.
Which paragraph gives the three-month results?
Paragraph 2.
Which phrase means “support or prove an idea”: back it up or put it back on?
back it up
Why is the final conclusion careful, not absolute?
Because why it works is unclear.
What did Group 1 have to do before meals?
Drink about half a liter / a pint of water.
What happened in the subsequent 12 months?
The water group continued to lose weight, whereas the other group put it back on.
Which paragraph gives further results after 12 months?
Paragraph 4.
Which word means “later or following”: subsequent or sensible?
subsequent
What is the best main idea of the article?
A study suggests that drinking water before meals may help people lose weight, but the reason is unclear.
What was Group 2 told to drink?
They were given no instructions on what to drink.
What is one limitation or uncertainty in the article?
Why water helps is unclear / the study was small / the participants were older adults.
What is the structure of this article?
Research question/claim → method → results → limitation/further results → cautious conclusion.
Complete the sentence: The water group lost weight, ________ the other group put it back on.
whereas