How often do your kids help you cook? If it were up to me, every family would schedule
time to cook together. When my kids were very young, I'd involve them by asking them
to pass ingredients. Our kitchen then had a play area and there was always an open
invitation for them to hang out with me in the kitchen. As they got a little older, they
5 were cracking eggs and decorating cupcakes and before I knew it my kids were
competing with each other to see who could make the best salad and dressing.
This has always been an important family value for me. It wasn’t only about
participating in preparing meals together as a family, it was about them becoming
familiar with what was safe to eat and what was not. I wanted them to be comfortable
10 and knowledgeable in the kitchen. Families who cook together and eat together
spend quality time together.
Cooking is a survival skill. Children who know their way around a kitchen know how to
fend for themselves. Skills such as working as a team, following instructions and
organisation are all important aspects of cooking. There is a natural curiosity and
15 creativity in kids that lends itself perfectly in the kitchen. Experimenting in the
kitchen can be fun, especially if you let them make a mess. Plan, prepare and let them
be creative. They will be honing very important life skills that can transfer over to other
areas of their lives.
Set them up for a healthier future in terms of how they will eat when they're on their
20 own. The sense of accomplishment in preparing a meal is rewarding. To start with
nothing and then have a meal to put on the table that looks, smells and tastes delicious
is a big accomplishment for anyone. Be proud of them and encourage them. Their
self-esteem will rise, and they will continue to want to cook.
Glossary:
● honing: working to perfect something
Section A: Reading
Spend 15 minutes on this section
Read the text below (an extract from an online article), then answer questions 1–6.
1. Look at the headline. Who is this article aimed at?
...........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................ [1]
2.
a. Which of the following structural techniques is used in the first paragraph? Tick one box.
[1]
i. Short sentences
ii. Sentence connectives
iii. Opening with a question mark
b. Explain how this technique is effective in the given context.
...........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................ [1]
3.
a. What is the meaning of the phrase, ‘open invitation’ in the sentence:
Our kitchen then had a play area and there was always an open invitation for them to
hang out with me in the kitchen.
...........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................ [1]
b. Use the phrase in a sentence.
...........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................ [1]
4. What is the main purpose of paragraph 2? Tick one box. [1]
a. to show that cooking encourages children to eat well
b. to suggest that cooking together improves family life
c. to outline the educational benefits of cooking
d. to persuade more children to take up cooking
5.
a. List the benefits that children gain from cooking mentioned in paragraphs 3 and 4