![This story teaches the PQs for higher and lower Exception sounds. The PQ hint button next to each paragraph will tell you which kinds of PQs are being taught in that paragraph. Remember, raised letters always say their higher Exception sounds. Dropped letters always say lower Exception sounds.](https://mlc.learningstewards.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/hint.png)
The Tomato
![So many wonderful colors and varieties.](https://mlc.learningstewards.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Tomatoes-Tomatoes.jpg)
Tomatoes are plants that are native to the Americas. They were unknown in Europe until early European explorers of the Americas returned home with them. In Europe, cooks correctly identified the tomato plants as a member of the nightshade family.
![In the word ‘poisonous’, the letter ‘S’ is raised to say its higher ‘Z’ sound. In the word ‘fruit’, the letter ‘U’ is raised to say its higher ‘OOH’ sound. In the word ‘Europeans’, the letter ‘S’ is raised to say its higher ‘Z’ sound. In the word ‘type’, the letter ‘Y’ is raised to say its higher ‘I’ sound. In the word ‘of’, the letter ‘F’ is raised to say its higher ‘V’ sound.
Raised letters ALWAYS say their Higher Exception sound.](https://mlc.learningstewards.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/hint.png)
![Tomatoes, like some other vegetables, are called nightshade plants.](https://mlc.learningstewards.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/nightshades-300x300.jpg)
Nightshade plants were known to be poisonous, and people were especially suspicious of fruits that were red. Europeans initially considered tomatoes to be curiosities, not a food type worthy of being eaten.
![In the words ‘Americas’, 'tomatoes', and 'gardens', the letter ‘S’ is raised to say its higher ‘Z’ sound. In the word ‘fruits’, the letter ‘U’ is raised to say its higher ‘OOH’ sound.
Raised letters ALWAYS say their Higher Exception sound.](https://mlc.learningstewards.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/hint.png)
Many early European settlers in the Americas did grow tomatoes, but usually only as ornamental plants. Even in the mid-1800s, people grew tomatoes in their flower gardens for their pretty red fruits. But no one ever dreamed of eating one.
![Tomatoes used to be just decorative in a garden.](https://mlc.learningstewards.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Tomatoes-in-garden-300x133.jpg)
![In the word ‘they’, the letter ‘E’ is dropped to say its lower ‘A’ sound. In the words ‘cooked’, 'cooks', and 'wood', the first letter ‘O’ is dropped to say its lower ‘UH’ sound. In the word ‘would’, the letter ‘U’ is dropped to say its lower ‘UH’ sound.
Dropped letters ALWAYS say their Lower Exception sound.](https://mlc.learningstewards.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/hint.png)
Very gradually, word finally got out that tomatoes were actually edible, if they were cooked for a long time. Cooks would stew them with half a cup of sugar, in a tin cup at the back of the wood stove. Still, many people were afraid to eat them. One husband of the 1880s came home to find his wife concocting a tomato dish. “Get rid of that. Do you want to kill us all?” he thundered.
![In the word 'food', the first letter ‘O’ is raised to say its higher ‘OOH’ sound. In the word ‘soups’, the letter ‘U’ is raised to say its higher ‘OOH’ sound. In the word ‘sauces’, the letter ‘C’ is raised to say its higher ‘S’ sound, and the second letter, ‘eS’, is, raised to say its higher, ‘Zee’, sound.
Raised letters ALWAYS say their Higher Exception sound.
In the word ‘cooked’, the first letter ‘O’ is dropped to say its lower ‘UH’ sound. In the word ‘imagine’, the letter ‘G’ is dropped to say its lower ‘J’ sound.
Dropped letters ALWAYS say their Lower Exception sound.](https://mlc.learningstewards.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/hint.png)
But tomatoes eventually caught on, and today people eat tomatoes raw, or cooked in stews, soups, and sauces. They eat tomatoes alone, or in combination with other foods. It’s hard to imagine a time, not so very long ago, when tomatoes were not considered a delicious, versatile food.
![So many fantastic recipes that use tomatoes.](https://mlc.learningstewards.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Tomatoes-tomato-dishes-300x133.jpg)
![In the word ‘recipes’, the letter ‘C’ is raised to say its higher ‘S’ sound, and the letter ‘S’ is raised to say its higher ‘Z’ sound. In the word ‘sauce’, the letter ‘C’ is raised to say its higher ‘S’ sound. In the word ‘cuisine’, the letter ‘S’ is raised to say its higher ‘Z’ sound.
Raised letters ALWAYS say their Higher Exception sound.
In the word ‘Italian’, the letter ‘I’ is dropped to say its lower ‘YUH’ sound. In the word ‘would’, the letter ‘U’ is dropped to say its lower ‘UH’ sound. In the word ‘they’, the letter ‘E’ is dropped to say its lower ‘A’ sound.
Dropped letters ALWAYS say their Lower Exception sound.](https://mlc.learningstewards.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/hint.png)
So if you love French, Spanish, and Italian cuisine, just think for a moment how important a foundation ingredient tomatoes are, for so many of their recipes. No tomatoes? Then no pizza, no spaghetti sauce, no paella, and no tomato bisque. And soups and salads would be so less interesting, if they were also bereft of tomatoes. If it weren’t for Europe’s exploration of the Americas, centuries ago, their cuisine of modern times might be considerably different, less interesting, and not nearly as tasty.
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listen: Dropped Exception |
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1. Tomatoes originally grew in:
a) Africa
b) Europe
c) America
2. Why were people worried about eating tomatoes at first?
a) people thought they were poisonous
b) they did not taste good
c) people back then did not eat fruits or vegetables
3. Early Europeans settlers in America grew tomatoes because:
a) they did not think they were really poisonous
b) they thought they were poisonous and fed them to people they did not like
c) they thought they were pretty to look at, but not edible
4. Today, tomatoes are:
a) seldom eaten because they make people sick
b) only used as a decorative plant
c) used by many countries to make foods we all enjoy