Unit 9

Unit 9 What's in a name? LESSON 17 Picture this! Someone offers you a cup of something, and says, ‘Try this! ’ You've never seen this liquid before, and you don't recognize it. Do you drink it straight away? I don't think so! Do you taste it immediately? Probably not. Before you put the cup to your lips, you probably ask, ‘What is it?’ or, ‘What does it taste like?' Now, imagine a reply like this: ‘Actually, it's a solution of organic chemicals and inorganic salts. ' Would you taste the drink now? Of course not! ‘I always avoid chemicals in food and drink, ' you'd say. ‘I never touch anything unnatural! ’ Quite right! We'd all say the same thing. Names are very powerful. But just think! We eat and drink ‘chemicals’ all the time. Even pure water is a chemical. It’s made of hydrogen and oxygen. Let's go back to the liquid in your cup. Taste it! It's good for you! ‘Mmm, it tastes good! Mmm! Please can I have another cup? What is it?' Well, funnily enough, by another name, it's just ‘a cup of tea’.