Soybeans

Crown prince of all legumes, the soybean, a native of China, is one of the oldest crops grown by man. Produced in the United States as early as 1804, no large-scale production was undertaken until 1924. This wonder plant is an annual summer legume.

Soybeans are well known for their high protein content. Yield by weight is approximately twice that of meat; four times that of eggs, wheat and other cereals; plus five to six times of bread. Not only the percentage of protein is higher in soybeans, but it is also much superior in quality. These soy proteins supply all of the essential amino acids and thus are called “complete proteins”. Soybean protein yields a milk that resembles cow’s milk in composition and chemical properties. It even sours like cow’s milk. One of its proteins is like casein from cow’s milk. It can be coagulated by acid.

Many feeding experiments have shown the adequacy of protein from soybeans to promote growth. This growth-promote efficiency is one of the ways the nutritive value of soybeans is assayed. The biological value is also measured, and defined as the percentage of the absorbed nitrogen which is retained by an organism for maintenance and growth. Soy protein has an excellent biological value, quite adequate for human nutrition. Mixed with wheat flour, soy flour makes an excellent bread. Its nutritive value is much higher than that made with grain alone. Particularly in China, feeding soybean milk to infants and babies has saved thousands of lives. Being free from nuclear proteins, soybean protein does not lead to the formation of uric acid and consequently does not encourage gout.

The fat content of the soybean, twenty percent, is also of excellent quality, and by far the highest of all legumes or grains. Many experiments have been done with soybean oil, which contains 52% linoleic acid helpful in the prevention heart diseases. Fat-soluble vitamins and lecithin are also found in the soybeans. This makes it good food for nerves and brain. Its several plant sterols help prevent or retard the absorption or recycling of cholesterol. It can be utilized to produce natural as well as synthetic hormones.

13.Answer the following questions.

1.What is the soybean?

2.When and where was it produced?

3.What are soybeans well known for?

4.Why are soybeans called ‘complete proteins’?

5.Does soy milk resembles cow’s milk?

6.What is the nutritive value of soybeans?

7.What does soybean oil contain?

8.What makes soybean good for nerves and brain?

FOOD for THOUGHT

Read the following idioms and their meanings. Think of their Ukrainian equivalents. Complete each sentence with the correct idiom.

FRUIT

go bananas: go crazy or become silly a lemon: something defective or unsatisfactory apple of someone’s eye: someone’s favourite person or thing polish the apple: flatter someone apples and oranges: comparing two different things

1.The test we took last week, and today’s test are like ........ They were completely different.

2.Paul thought he was getting a bargain when he bought that car, but it turned out to be........

3.We were going along all right until all these changes came upon us. When the last one happened, we just.........

4.Nobody likes her because she is always trying to....... with her teacher.

5.Little Andrew’s grandfather talks about him all the time. He’s........

VEGETABLES

(as) cool as a cucumber: calm; not nervous or anxious carrot and stick: promising to reward or punish someone at the same time coach potato: a verylazy person hot potato: a question or argument that is controversial and difficult to settle know one’s onions: be fully acquainted with a subject

1.I think Mary will do a good job; she really........

2.He is always....... and never worries about anything.

3.He is a real........ and just sits around watching TV and staying indoors all day.

4.The government took a....... approach to the people who were illegally protesting against the construction of the dam.

5.The issue of building the nuclear power plant is a real....... for the local town council.

LEGUMES

like (two) peas in a pod: very much alike; almost identical full of beans: full of nonsense; talking nonsense not know beans (about something): know nothing about something not worth a hill of beans: worthless spill the beans: tell a secret to someone who is not supposed to know about it

1.Don’t pay any attention to what Frank says; he is........

2.Bill and Steve have all the same likes and dislikes and ways of doing things. They are just........

3.Please don’t....... about my plans to quit working and go back to school next year.

4.Sam doesn’t....... about using a computer.

5.Their advice isn’t........