Exercises
A. Determining the main idea.
Choose the best answer. Do not refer to the text.
The main idea of the article is that ________. ( D )
(a) a girl attends a dinner at an American home and then invites the Americans to dine at her own home
(b) a girl comes to America and finds great difficulties in adapting herself to a new life style
(c) a girl finds that table manners of her own culture and those of the USA are basically the same
(d) a girl experiences differences in table manners between her own culture and that of the West
B. Comprehending the text.
Choose the best answer.
1. During their early days in America the girl and her family had a hard time with ________. ( C )
(a) eating celery
(b) getting along with the local Americans
(c) American table manners
(d) money problems
2. After arriving at the house of the Gleasons for dinner, the children of the Chinese family seemed to ______. ( B )
(a) be very much surprised
(b) feel quite uneasy
(c) know what to do
(d) get glances from their parents as instructions
3. The girl and her family were offered raw celery and they found that ______. ( C )
(a) it was not as good as cooked celery
(b) it tasted delicious if it had strings in the stalks
(c) it was also delicious though strings in the stalks were a problem
(d) it was delicious if strings and the stalks were eaten together
4. All those present looked at the girl and her family because the latter ______. ( B )
(a) were newcomers
(b) had table manners different from theirs
(c) ate too much celery
(d) were regarded as having bad table manners
5. A buffet dinner means a dinner at which ______. ( D )
(a) raw vegetables were served
(b) people sat around the table eating together
(c) there was no dining table and guests had to eat standing
(d) diners helped themselves to food and didn't sit around a dinner table to eat
6. As far as English language learning is concerned, which of the following is NOT true? ( D )
(a) The boy soon could speak English faster than his sister.
(b) The girl had a better accent than her parents.
(c) The father was very much interested in English grammar.
(d) The mother knew what to say in different social situations.
7. At the dinner given by the girl's family, she was surprised to find that ______ . ( C )
(a) Meg was uneasy and needed urging to eat more food
(b) Meg only took food from a second dish
(c) Meg had helped herself to a lot of food
(d) Meg didn't know what to eat
8. At the dinner given by the girl's family, Mr. Gleason was seen ______ . ( B )
(a) chasing a pea around his plate for fun
(b) picking up peas with his fingers
(c) frowning at the food
(d) shaking his head slightly
C. Understanding vocabulary.
Choose the correct definition according to the context.
1. The first time our family was invited out to dinner in America, we disgraced ourselves while eating celery. ( B )
(a) humiliated
(b) brought shame on
(c) behaved
(d) felt uncomfortable
2. Mother picked up one of the green stalks, and Father followed suit. ( A )
(a) did the same
(b) went into the room
(c) went after her
(d) had to go
3. Sour cream sounded perfectly revolting. ( A )
(a) disgusting
(b) unthinkable
(c) welcome
(d) strange
4. Our family shook our heads in unison. ( D )
(a) with satisfaction
(b) very formally
(c) in disagreement
(d) at the same time
5. It was lavishly covered with platters of food, but we couldn't see any chairs around the table. ( A )
(a) excessively
(b) pleasantly
(c) beautifully
(d) entirely
6. Our family beat a retreat back to the sofa as if chased by enemy soldiers. ( A )
(a) withdrew hurriedly
(b) became frightened and went
(c) found our way
(d) made haste
7. For the rest of the evening, too mortified to go back to the dining table, I nursed a bit of potato salad on my plate. ( A )
(b) scared
(c) hungry
(d) pleased
8. I wasn't sure how she would feel about me after the spectacle our family made at the party. ( D )
(a) unusual modesty
(b) funny appearance
(c) polite behavior
(d) abnormal behavior
9. I eventually got acquainted with a few other kids in school, but Meg was still the only real friend I had. ( A )
(a) had met socially with
(b) knew well
(c) had found
(d) had quarreled with
10. She was constantly muttering things like "I'm fine, thank you. And you?" ( C )
(a) quietly
(b) diligently
(c) repeatedly
(d) politely
11. Horrified, I turned to look at Mrs. Gleason. ( A )
(a) Shocked greatly
(b) Amused greatly
(c) Caught unprepared
(d) Alarmed at once
12. "Oh, I couldn't possibly eat dessert!" cried Mrs. Gleason. "I'm simply stuffed!" ( D )
(a) unable to eat more
(b) wishing to have more
(c) not willing to eat that
(d) too full with food
D. Discussing the following topics.
1. What are the differences in table manners between the Chinese and the Americans?
答案
Table manners in China and America are very different. The Chinese never eat food without cooking them, but the Americans like to eat vegetables raw. The Chinese don't eat sour cream but the Americans like it. With chopsticks, the Chinese pick up food from the plates and bring it directly to their rice bowls. But the Americans use spoons and forks and food are distributed to individual plates. When the main courses are finished, the Americans have a sweet desert. But the Chinese never have.
2. If you are entertaining guests at home, what do you think your responsibilities are?
If I am entertaining guests at home, I think I should be responsible for their comfort in every respect. I will try my best to prepare a nice meal for them. I will chat with them from time to time and be alert to look after every guest in the house. I will think to prepare some entertaining programs, such as singing, dancing and card playing if I have over five guests.
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