实用英语综合教程第一册课文选读8

Text B

PRE-R

Exercise 1

Before reading the passage, say if you agree with the statements.

1. Different countries have different table manners.

2. Using fingers while eating has been considered one of the worst table manners throughout history.

3. Table manners have changed with time.

Now read the passage to check your answers.

Table Manners and Customs

1. In Great Britain today good manners at table include eating with the mouth closed; not letting any of the food fall off the plate; using the knife only for cutting; and not trying to take food across the table. In other parts of the world there are also rules for people to follow when they are eating, but they are not the same as those of Britain. Indeed, what are considered good table manners in some other countries are what British people try hardest to avoid. In Arabia, for instance, the people at a feast take pieces of food with their fingers and belch loudly to show that they have appreciated it.

2. The richer and more educated people in the East have, however, to a great extent taken up the table manners and customs of western people. Tables and chairs have replaced the cushions of the past, and the lady of the house presides at one end of the table in the same way that Western women do. Many Japanese, however, still feel it would be wrong to eat unless they were sitting on a cushion before a low table with a tray of food on it. In many parts of the world both traditional and Western styles of eating exist side by side.

3. In the West there are differences between table manners in various countries, although they are not so marked. In North America it is polite to cut up meat and then put the knife down, take the fork in the right hand and eat with it. Most European people, like the British, keep the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right all the time when they are eating food that has to be cut. In the British Isles and Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland) special knives and forks are used for eating fish. In France, Belgium and Italy, however, it is correct to keep the same knife for every course, wiping it on a piece of bread.

4. Drinking customs at table also vary in different countries. In Europe, water, wine or beer is drunk with meals and coffee or tea is taken afterwards. In North America a beverage such as coffee, tea or milk is drunk with meals.

5. Table manners of course have changed with time. The earliest meals were also the simplest. They were eaten sitting on the ground round a fire, and everyone took his food from a pot on the fire or cut bits from the animal or bird that had been cooked. The women waited on the warriors and afterwards ate what they left.

6. Fingers were used to eat food throughout the middle ages. Food was eaten off wooden dishes with the noblemen sitting above a large salt cellar called simply "the salt". The ordinary people sat below the salt. In the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547), people were still eating with their hands after cutting the food with a clasp knife which was always carried at the belt. Forks were not used in England until the 17th century.

7. Table manners did not always include quiet behavior. Quarrels often took place at table, and in the 17th century King Louis XIV of France ordered that all knives should have rounded ends to prevent people from stabbing each other while they were eating.

New Words

manner

n. 1. (pl.)礼貌，礼仪

2. 方式，方法

custom

n. 习惯，风俗

avoid

v. to miss or keep away from, esp. on purpose 避开，躲开

instance

n. an example 例子，实例

feast

n. 1. a specially good or grand meal 盛宴，筵席

2. 节日，节期

belch

v. 打嗝

appreciate

v. to understand and enjoy the good qualities of 欣赏，赏识

educated

a. 受过教育的

educate

v. 1. 教育

2. 培养，训练

extent

n. a stated degree 程度，限度

western

a. of the west part of the world or of a country 西方的，西部的

replace

v. 1. to take the place of 取代，以...代替

2. to put (sth.) back in the right place 把...放回(原处)

cushion

n. 垫子，坐垫

preside

v. to be in charge; lead 主持

tray

n. 盘，碟

style

n. 风格，作风，方式

vary

v. 1. to be different 不同

2. to change 变化

beer

n. 啤酒

afterwards

ad. later; after that 以后，过后

beverage

n. 饮料(如汽水、茶、酒)

warrior

n. 勇士，武士

nobleman

n. 贵族

cellar

n. 1. (=salt cellar)(餐桌上用的)盐瓶，盐碟

2. an underground room, usu. used for storing goods 地窖，地下室

reign

n. (君主)统治时期，(君主)在位时期

clasp

n. 扣子，钩子

belt

n. 腰带，带状物

behavior

n. way of behaving 举止，行为

stab

v. 刺，刺伤

Phrases and expressions

fall off

(从...)掉下

the same as

和...一样

for instance

例如

to a great extent

在很大程度上

take up

采取，开始采用

side by side

一起

cut up

切碎

wait on

侍候

Proper Names

Great Britain

大不列颠，英国(国名)

Arabia

阿拉伯半岛

France

法国(国名)

Italy

意大利(国名)

the British Isles

不列颠诸岛

Scandinavia

斯堪的纳维亚(北欧一地区)

Norway

挪威(国名)

Sweden

瑞典(国名)

Denmark

丹麦(国名)

Iceland

冰岛(国名)

Henry VII

亨利七世(1457-1509)

England

英格兰，英国

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