The Myth of Pure Culture — Intermediate Reading Worksheet

Did you know tomatoes didn’t come from Italy? Or that chili peppers aren’t originally from Asia? This intermediate worksheet helps students explore the surprising origins of everyday foods and why “pure” cultures may not really exist. Based on themes from Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens.

What’s Inside

• Accessible article with key vocabulary in bold
• 5 core vocabulary words with definitions
• 8 True/False comprehension questions (2-column grid)
• Fill-in-the-blank exercise with word bank
• 2 discussion prompts

Key Concepts

• Tomatoes in Italy, chili peppers in Thailand, coffee in Japan — where did they really come from?
• How civilizations were once “islands” with little contact
• The Columbian Exchange explained simply
• Cultural exchange and the myth of “pure” culture

Level & Audience

Level C — Grade 3–6 equivalent. Intermediate ESL/EFL learners, middle school, or adult beginners.

Featured Vocabulary

επαφή — communication or connection with other people
continent — one of the large land masses on Earth
exchange — giving something and receiving something in return
staple food — a food eaten regularly as the main part of a diet
myth — a widely believed story or idea that is not true

Download the Worksheet