Read & Listen: Measurements
OVERVIEW
On this page, you will learn about common measurements used to understand health.
- First, read the text.
- Then, listen to audio of the text.
READ & LISTEN
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Read:
We measure many different things. Most countries in the world use the Metric system. The United States uses the Metric system for measuring some things, like medicine, but mostly it uses the Imperial system.
Listen:
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Serving Sizes for Food:
When we cook, we use measurements. It is also important to think about the serving size of the food we eat. For some foods, one serving may be large, and for other foods, one serving may be small. For example, a serving of leafy vegetables is 1 cup, but a serving of cheese is only 1 ounce. Study the chart below to see how food items are measured.
| 8 ounces | = | 1 cup |
| 2 cups | = | 1 pint |
| 2 pints | = | 1 quart |
| 4 quarts | = | 1 gallon |
Listen:
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Height & Weight:
We also use measurements when we talk about how tall or short a person is or how much they weigh. It is important to know what a healthy weight is for your height. When we talk about height, we use feet and inches. When we talk about weight, we use pounds.
Example:
Mary's height is 5 foot 3 inches.
Max weighs 175 pounds.
Study the chart below to see how height and weight are measured.
| 12 inches | = | 1 foot |
| 16 ounces | = | 1 pound |
Listen:
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Temperature:
We use degrees to measure temperature. When we measure temperature in the US we use the Fahrenheit system. Knowing the temperature of your body is important. If it's over 98.6 degrees, you might be sick.
Knowing the temperature outside is important to your health, too. If it's hot outside you need to drink water to stay hydrated. If it's cold, you need to dress warmly.
Study the chart below to see how temperature is measured.
| Freezing Point | = | 32 degrees Fahrenheit (32° F) |
| Boiling Point | = | 212 degrees Fahrenheit (212° F) |
| Normal Body Temperature | = | 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (98.6° F) |