1. Never ______ over the table for something you want, ask your ________ to pass it.

2. Take a slice of bread from the _______ by _______, don’t ________ your bread with a ______.

3. Never ______ your neighbour’s ________ by criticizing what he just happens to be eating or by telling stories which are not _________ to good digestion.

4. Chicken requires special ________. First cut as much as you can, and when you can’t use _____ and ______ any longer, use your ________.

5. When a dish is placed before you, do not ____ it suspiciously as though it were the first time you had seen it, and do not give the impression that you are about to _____ it. No matter how surprised you are ___________________________.

6. Do not use a knife for ______, ________ or __________.

7. When you are being served, don’t ______. One piece is as good as the next.

8. The customary way to refuse a dish is by saying, _______________ (or to accept, ____________). Don’t ______ _______ or ________ to show that you don’t like it.

9. In between courses, don’t make _____-____ to while the time away and do not _____ with the _____.

10. Don’t _____ your spoon. If you really feel that way about it ask for a second _________.

11. Sit _______ ________, don’t sit sideways. Keep your feet _______ ___, don’t ______ them all the way under the table.

12. After _______your tea _______ the spoon, and place it on the ________.

13. Don’t use the _____ for what can be eaten with a fork. The forks are placed at the _____ of the dish in order which they are to be used ( ______ fork, ____ fork, ____ fork, etc.).

14. When eating stewed fruit use your _____ to put the stones on your saucer.

15. If there is a napkin on the table, ______ it and _____ it on your ___. Don’t ___ it around your neck. Use your napkin _____ and ________. Several pats on the lips will take the _____ off. Don’t use your napkin as though it were ________ paper.

16. Don’t eat off the ______.

17. ________, _________, _________ are placed on your fork with the help of your knife.

18. Cut your meat into small ______ that can be ______ with ease. Cut off one piece at a time.

19. If your food is too hot don’t _____ on it as though you were trying to start a campfire on damp night.

20. Your spoon, knife and fork are meant to eat with, they are not _________ and should not be _______ against your plate.

21. Try to make as _______ noise as possible when eating.

22. Don’t ___ your soup as though you wanted the whole house to hear.

23. Don’t ______ food into your mouth. Take small pieces.

24. Don’t _____ with your mouth full. First _____ and then _______.

25. Don’t put your _______ on the table.

26. Don’t _____ your teeth in company after the meal even if _____-_____ are provided for the purpose.

27. And, finally don’t forget to say __________ for every favour or kindness.

 Reading

The abc of Table Manners

Good table manners avoid ugliness. All rules of table manners are made to avoid ugliness. To let anyone see what you have in your mouth is offensive. So is to make a noise. To make a mess in the plate is disgusting. Look at the following list of table etiquette rules. What else can you recommend people to do at the table?

1. Do not attract undue attention to yourself in public.

2. When eating take as much as you want but eat as much as you take.

3. Do not eat too fast or too slowly. Cut as you eat.

4. Take a little of every dish that is offered to you.

5. Don’t encircle your plate with the left arm while eating with the right hand. Don’t push your plate back when finished. It remains exactly where it is until someone removes it. Don’t lean back and announce ‘I’m through.’ The fact that you have put your fork and spoon down shows that you have finished. To indicate that you have enough, place knife and fork together, not criss-cross.

6. Do not reach across the table – simply say: ‘Would you pass me the salt, please.’

7. At a small party do not start eating until all are served. At a large party it is not necessary to wait for all. The hostess gives the signal to her guests by saying: ‘Start eating, please, your food will get cold.’

8. There is no rule about eating everything in your plate. All juicy or soft fruit or cake is best eaten with a fork. If you are able to eat a peach or a ripe pear with your fingers and not slop your face, let the juice run down your fingers or make sucking noises you are one in a thousand who may continue to do so. But if you can not eat something no matter what it is without getting it all over your fingers, you must use a fork, a knife or a spoon.

9. Do not leave spoon in your cup when drinking tea or coffee.

10. Do not empty your glass too quickly it will be promptly refilled.

11. Don’t put liquid into your mouth if it is full.