Unit 6, Book 4
Text Organization Probe the Text Essay Questions Difficult Sentences
Unit 6, Book 4
Text Organization
Para. 1
Kenneth Lo’s view of food and eating
Unit 6, Book 4
Some Differences Between
Chinese and Western Cuisine
a. Food is an essential part of Chinese etiquette, which is regarded as the center of Chinese culture. In many Western countries, food just is considered as a source of the nutrition or energy for survival.
Unit 6, Book 4
5. How has Chinese food fared in the world at large? How has this come about?
Chinese food has become one of only a few truly international cuisines, along with Indian and some others. It owes its popularity to three reasons: the migration of Hong Kong Chinese to other parts of the world to open restaurants in the 1950s: the increased interest in sensuality in the Western world and the desire for greater freedom: and the inherent sensual quality of Chinese food, which is always quick to satisfy the taste buds.
Unit 6, Book 4
Some Common Chinese Dishes (2)
麻婆豆腐 Mabo tofu (Bean curd with mince and chili oil, Ma Po’s bean curd）
糖醋里脊 sweet and sour fillet 糖醋鲤鱼 fried carp with sweet
Western dish. 4. Do you think cuisine represents the cultural
characteristics of a people? Why or why not?
Some Differences Between Chinese and Western Cuisine
a “proper Chinese meal” and Chinese Para. 7–Para. 9 way of preparing, cooking and serving
food; basic cultural characteristics reflected in Chinese food
叫花鸡 beggars’ chicken
龙井虾仁 shrimp with Longjin tea leaves
宋嫂鱼羹 sister Song’s fish soup
馄饨
won ton
水饺
dumpling
馒头
steamed bun
包子
stuffed bun
月饼
moon cake
Unit 6, Book 4
b. Chinese cuisine and table manners represent their collectivism while Western table manners reflect their individualism. Chinese generally share one dish and Americans would have individual portions.
c. Some key words: delicious taste and smell; colorful shape/appearance, motley combination of colors, assortment of ingredients; aroma, smell, fragrance; reminiscent of home/family atmosphere, regal splendor, be entertained/ treated/regaled with
Reading and Language
Part II Activities
Unit 6, Book 4
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Reading and Language Activities
Pre-reading Task Comprehension Work Language Work
Return to Menu
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Unit 6, Book 4
Unit 6, Book 4
3. What authority is cited to support Lo’s view? The writer says that Lo's typical Chinese position can be traced back to Confucius who believed that food is the first happiness. He also quotes the words of Fu Tong, a Chinese restaurateur in London, who expresses the same idea, "Food to my countrymen is one of the ecstasies of life".
Unit 6, Book 4
6. What is a “proper Chinese meal” like? And how does it reflect the basic cultural characteristics of the Chinese?
A “proper Chinese meal” is a shared experience and can last for hours, almost like a religious ceremony. The meal consists of carefully planned dishes, some of which are designed to blend, some of which to contrast. These dishes please both the eye and the palate. Philosophically speaking, the Chinese way of preparing, cooking, and serving food reflects the basic creed/concept of Taoism—the oneness—the harmony of all things in the world.
Discuss the following questions.
1. What did you have for dinner last night? 2. Do you prefer Chinese food or Western food? What
is your favorite dish? Why? 3. Please make a list of three Chinese dishes and one
Unit 6, Book 4
Some Common Chinese Dishes (1) 北京烤鸭 Beijing roast duck 宫保鸡丁 spicy diced chicken with peanuts 古老肉 sweet and sour pork 荷叶粉蒸肉 steamed pork wrapped in lotus leaf 家常豆腐 home style bean curd
民以食为天
Unit 6, Book 4
4. What difference is there between typical Westerners and Chinese in their behavior in a restaurant?
In a restaurant Westerners look for a good position from where to see and to be seen. They are there to be entertained socially, and eating seems to be the by-product. When Chinese go to restaurants, they ask for a small room to themselves, where they can relax and enjoy their food whole-heartedly.
பைடு நூலகம்
the common approach to food and Para. 2–Para. 4 eating among Chinese and Westerners
the popularity of Chinese food all over Para. 5–Para. 6 the world and its reasons