Active Skills for Reading Intro (Unit 6: Comparing Cultures)


CHAPTER 1 Table Manners

TABLE Manners

Table manners differ around the world. If you visit a friend's home for a meal, it's good to know about the customs they follow.

Morocco

If you are invited to a Moroccan's home, bring a gift of sweet pastries, nuts, figs, dates, or flowers to the hostess.

In many traditional homes, people often sit on the floor to eat a meal.

Often, everyone shares food from the same plate. The plate is put in the center of the table. Usually, everyone also drinks water !rom the same glass.

Only eat the food in front of you. Don't reach across someone for food.

It is common1 to use your fingers and small pieces of bread to eat food. Use only your right hand to eat.

Don't say "no" to food. If the host of the meal offers you food or drink, take some and try a little.

Also remember: In many Moroccan homes, it is common to take off your shoes.

Tanzania

Tanzania is known for its fresh fish and spices. Don't act scared if your meal comes with its head still on the plate.

It is polite to try a bite of everything. In many Tanzanian homes, people sit at a table on small stools to eat.

It is OK to eat with your right hand, using bread or chapati2 to pick up food. Everyone may take food from the same plate, but it is not usual for people to share drinks.

You may compliment the cook on a delicious meal, but don't exaggerate.3 In some parts of Tanzania, men and women will sit at different tables.

Also remember: It is common to take off your shoes in the home, but it is rude to show the bottom of your foot.

1 Something that is common is usual or often done.
2 Chapati is a kind of flat Indian bread.
3 If you exaggerate, you make something seem better, larger, worse, etc. than it really is.

Vocabulary Skill - Words for Comparing and Contrasting

When we compare and contrast things, we often use certain words and phrases: both, also, too, or but, however, and instead.
Spain and Morocco share some common food and eating customs. For example, people in both countries eat bread with most meals. In Morocco, people often use their hands or pieces of bread to eat food. However, the Spanish use forks, knives, and spoons to eat most foods. In Morocco, people usually eat their largest meal in the afternoon. This is also true in Spain. At the end of a Spanish meal, many people have coffee. People drink coffee in Morocco, too, but not at the end of the midday meal. Instead, it is more common to drink sweet mint tea.

B. Look at the words in bold in A. Which words show that an idea is different (D)? Which show the ideas are the same (S)? Write S or D for each word.

both   however  also  too   but  instead

C. Complete the sentences with the correct word from B.

  1. The food in the United States is not very spicy. , in Mexico the food is very spicy.
  2. In Taiwan and Korea, people eat rice with almost every meal.
  3. Mohammed's first language is Arabic. He speaks French.
  4. When you finish eating, don't put your napkin on the plate. put it on the table.
Chapter - 1: Vocabulary Comprehension - Words in Context Chapter - 2: Before You Read - Dear Diary

Bình luận


Các task khác trong bài học