Non-fiction:The Science of Taste

The Science of Taste

Terrific Tastes
How many tastes are there?
Sweet, salty, sour, and bitter! Until recently, scientists thought those four
basic tastes were the only tastes. Then came umami (oo-MAH-mee). That
taste is described as savory. It is found in foods such as meats, tomatoes,
and seaweed. Now a study has shown that people can taste metal.

wildarrow/Shutterstock

Seaweed has an umami taste. Seaweed can sometimes be found in

sushi.
People have always suspected that we have a metallic taste, says scientist
Michael Tordoff. Nobody has known what it was. Was metallic a mixture of
bitter and sour? What scientists found was no, its not. It actually has its
own taste.

2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.

Article: Copyright 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.

Non-fiction:The Science of Taste

Scientists Study Taste

Nestl Research

A scientist works in a lab to study the sense of

taste.
Scientists continue to study the sense of taste. They want to learn more.
Could there be other tastes? Yes, says Michael Tordoff. There is also a taste
for calcium and maybe for fats, he explains. There may still be more tastes
to be discovered.

2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.

Article: Copyright 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.

Questions: The Science of Taste

Name: ____________________________

Date: ________________

Directions: Answer the following four questions based on the information

in the passage.
1. The passage states that there are different kinds of taste. In addition
to sweet, salty, sour, and bitter, what other types are mentioned?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
2. What kind of taste is umami?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
3. Can a food have more than one kind of taste? If so, name a food that
has more than one kind of taste.
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
4. What is the main idea of The Science of Taste passage?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
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2012 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Questions: The Science of Taste

Directions: Please read the sentence below and then write the word or
phrase that best answers the questions. The first answer has been provided
for you.
In the lab, scientists spend a lot of time studying the sense of taste so that
they can find new types of taste!
Who? scientists
5. (do) What?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
6. Where?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
7. Why?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________

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2012 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Questions: The Science of Taste

8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that

best completes the sentence.
Scientists once thought that there were only four tastes, _______ then
they discovered umami.
A but
B because
C so
Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer
questions 9 and 10.
Vocabulary Word: study (stud y): to spend time learning about something.
9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word study.
a. Many kids would rather play than study.
b. In science class, we wanted to know how butterflies developed, so we
studied them.
c. In college, he studied biology and learned all about the human body.
d. Doctors study different types of illnesses so that they can treat their
patients.
e. When people do not know a lot about a topic, it is a good idea for
them to study it to learn more.
10. Which picture below shows someone studying?

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2012 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Teacher Guide and Answer Key: The Science of Taste

Teacher Guide and Answer Key

Passage Reading Level: Lexile 500
Featured Text Structure: Descriptive the writer explains, defines, or illustrates a
concept or topic
Passage Summary: The passage discusses the different types of taste and the study of
taste.
To the Teacher: Read the passage aloud to the class [TIP: while reading aloud, show
the passage on a whiteboard or give each student a copy of the passage so they can
follow along].
Then, use the text-dependent questions 1-8 to facilitate a whole class discussion to
ensure students comprehend the key details from the passage.
Finally, use questions 9-10 to deep teach one important vocabulary word [TIP: you can
use the model provided for teaching additional vocabulary].

1. The passage states that there are different kinds of taste. In addition to sweet,
salty, sour, and bitter, what other types are mentioned? [Important Detail]
Suggested answer: There are two new tastes called umami and metallic, and
scientists are studying a taste for calcium and possibly for fats.
[paragraphs 1, 3]
2. What kind of taste is umami? [Important Detail]
Suggested answer: Umami is described as savory. It is found in foods such as
meats, tomatoes, and seaweed. [paragraph 1]
3. Can a food have more than one kind of taste? If so, name a food that has more
than one kind of taste. [Inferential]
Suggested answer: Yes. Examples: plum (sweet and sour), chocolate-covered
pretzel (sweet and salty). [paragraph 1]
4. What is the main idea of The Science of Taste passage? [Main Idea]
Suggested answer: The Science of Taste discusses the different types of tastes
that we have.
1
2012 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Teacher Guide and Answer Key: The Science of Taste

Directions: Please read the sentence below and then write the word or phrase that best
answers the questions. The first answer has been provided for you.
In the lab, scientists spend a lot of time studying the sense of taste so that they can find
new types of taste!
Who? scientists
5. (do) What? spend a lot of time studying the sense of taste
6. Where? in the lab
7. Why? so that they can find new types of taste
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best
completes the sentence.
Scientists once thought that there were only four tastes, _______ then they
discovered umami.
A but
B because
C so
To the Teacher: ReadWorks recommends that you teach this vocabulary word to the
whole class out loud using the four steps listed below.
Vocabulary Word: study (stud y): to spend time learning about something.
Step 1: Introduce the word
a. Teacher writes the word on the board and divides it into syllables: (stud y)
b. Teacher says: This word is study. What is the word? [All students reply together
out loud: Study.]
Step 2: Provide a child-friendly definition
a. Teacher says: To study means to spend time learning about something.
b. Teacher says: The passage discusses different kinds of tastes. It explains that
scientists continue to study or spend a lot of time learning about foods to see if
there are new tastes we have not yet discovered.
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2012 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Teacher Guide and Answer Key: The Science of Taste

c. Teacher says: What is the word? [All students reply together out loud: Study.]
Step 3: Practice the word
Teacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the
first sentence out loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to
the vocabulary word prompt students to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then, finish
reading the sentence out loud to your students.
Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer questions 9
and 10.
Vocabulary Word: study (stud y): to spend time learning about something.
9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word study.
a. Many kids would rather play than study.
b. In science class, we wanted to know how butterflies developed, so we studied
them.
c. In college, he studied biology and learned all about the human body.
d. Doctors study different types of illnesses so that they can treat their patients.
e. When people do not know a lot about a topic, it is a good idea for them to study it
to learn more.
Step 4: Check for student understanding
To the Teacher: This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an
independent practice.
10. Which picture below shows someone studying?

Suggested Additional Vocabulary: basic, umami, savory, study, metallic

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2012 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.