Coconuts

Familiar coconut products

If you mention coconuts to people from Western cultures， they may think about a large， brown shell with a layer of hard white flesh inside. Shoppers in Western supermarkets may also be familiar with packets of dried coconut used for making cakes， or cans of coconut milk used in some kinds of curry. But not many people will know how versatile coconuts are in their native tropical and subtropical regions.

Useful after sport

Young green coconuts provide a refreshing drink. Just chop the top off a young coconut， and you will find a clear， sweet juice which is a natural isotonic drink. This is why coconut water is now popular with athletes， who believe it is a good way to replace water， carbohydrates and other minerals used during exercise. When you have drunk the juice， use a spoon to eat the soft， jelly-like flesh inside the green shell.

Other uses

But coconuts are not just for eating or drinking. In some countries， the outer green skin—or husk—is used as a kind of soil for flowers and houseplants. Husks can be used to make brushes， floor mats or rope， or they can be mixed with the hard brown shells to create a fuel for wood-burning ovens. People make spoons and soup bowls from the hard shells， and even musical instruments， such as the salor from Thailand. Coconut oil can also be extracted from the meat of the coconut and—if not used for cooking—can be used in skincare products.

Coconut trees

And there is more to the coconut tree than just coconuts. At the top of the tree， inside the trunk， is the coconut ‘heart’ which can be eaten in salads. The leaves from the tree can be used to make brooms and baskets， skewers for barbecuing meat and even roofs for simple buildings like huts. The tree trunks can be used to build houses， boats， furniture， containers and drums. And finally， the roots of the tree can be used as a dye to colour clothes， or even as a toothbrush.

Fruit of the gods

It’s no surprise to find that， in some cultures， the coconut is known as the fruit of the gods and the tree itself is known as the tree which grants all wishes.

Activity 1

Before you read， match the word to a definition.

1. athlete 2. extract 3. isotonic 4. shell 5. skewer 6. soil 7. trunk 8. versatile

a. containing the same amounts of salt and sugar as blood

b. remove or take something out

c. someone who takes part in a sport

d. the big part of a tree that connects the roots to the leaves and branches

e. the earth that plants grow in

f. the hard outside part of a nut

g. thin piece of metal or wood used to hold meat and vegetables

h. useful in many ways

Activity 2

Now complete the sentences using words from the text. Make any changes to the words that are necessary.

1. （____） drinks can help to replace nutrients in your body.

2. Although it is possible to （____） gold from seawater， it is a very expensive process.

3. He was a natural （____） – a good runner and a skilful ball player.

4. Push the seeds gently into the （____）.

5. She is an extremely （____） employee. She can do almost any job well.

6. Soak all the （____） in water before you cook to stop them burning.

7. The boy put a ladder against the （____） of the apple tree.

8. You need to remove the （____） before you eat the nut.

Activity 4a

Find examples of the expressions in the column on the left in the text. Which words in the column on the right follow these expressions？

used for + … verbs in the infinitive （e.g. ‘make’）

noun phrases （e.g. ‘popular meals’）

verbs with –ing endings （e.g. ‘making’）

used to + …

used as + …

used in + …

Activity 4b

Choose one word to complete the sentences.

1. In some countries， ginger is used [for / to / in] help people who have a cold.

2. Lime leaves are used [to / as / in] many Thai recipes.

3. Some people believe that garlic can be used [for / to / as] lowering cholesterol levels.

4. Spices are used [for / as / in] several Asian cuisines to add flavour.

5. Lemon grass is used [for / to / as] a natural insect repellent in some countries.

Activity 5

How many of the different uses of coconuts have you heard about before？ Can you think of any other ways we could use parts of the tree or nut that are not mentioned in the article？

Answers

Activity 1   1. c; 2. b; 3. a; 4. f; 5. g; 6. e; 7. d; 8. h

Activity 2   1. Isotonic; 2. extract; 3. athlete; 4. soil; 5. versatile; 6. skewers; 7. trunk; 8. shell

Activity 3   1. tree; 2. root; 3. nut; 4. nut; 5. husk

Activity 4a   used for + … verbs with –ing ending; used to + … verbs in the infinitive; used as + … noun phrases; used in + … noun phrases

Activity 4b   1. to; 2. in; 3. for; 4. in; 5. as