How Americans Eat

Meal times. In the U.S. meals are usually served at the following times: breakfast: 6:30-10:00 a.m., lunch: 11:30-2:00 p.m., dinner: 5:00p.m.-8:00. Breakfast meals can vary from cereal and milk to eggs and pancakes or French toasts (slices of bread dipped in an egg and milk batter and fried).

In Great Britain the date may be indicated as follows: 7^th April, 1998 or 23 March, 1998.

In the USA it is usually written like this: April 7, 1998.

The address of the recipient (inside address) is written on the left above, under the reference. Lower, the name of the firm is written under which the number of the house, street, city or town, state or country are indicated, the last element being the country.

The salutation is written on the left (not in the centre).

The salutation “Dear Sir” is appropriate, when you write to a real person if you do not know him. If you know this person, you should write “Dear Mr. Jones”, for example.

If the letter is addressed to the firm, the salutation should be “Dear Sirs”. In modern business correspondence it is needless to use any other forms of politeness.

In the subscription the expression “Yours faithfully” is usually used if you are not acquainted with the person(s) or “Yours sincerely” if you write to a man (woman) whom you know at least by correspondence. In American English the above expressions are rarely used. More common are the expressions “Sincerely yours”, or simply “Sincerely”, and sometimes “Very truly yours”.

The signature is affixed by hand above the typed name of the author. It is not obligatory to indicate your position. If near the signature there are two letters “p.p” (per pro) it means that the letter is “by warrant”.

If some material is added to the letter the words “Enclosure” (“Enclosures”) or the abbreviation “Encl” (приложение или приложения) are written in the left lower corner of the letter. You can also use the expression “We enclose …” (прилагаем).

II). Comprehension questions

1. What letters are included into business correspondence?

2. What are the major elements of a business letter?

3. What are the requirements established for the text f a business letter?

4. What expressions are used in the salutation of a business letter?

5. What should be the subscription in a business letter?

Lunch tends to be a lighter meal – a sandwich, yogurt or a light entree. Dinner includes a main course of meat, poultry or fish, accompanied by side dishes such as soup, salad and vegetables. Brunch, a common Sunday meal served between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., is really a combination of breakfast and lunch.

Common dishes. There are a wide variety of foods, depending upon which type of restaurant you go to. Some American-style restaurants have a typical menu.

Restaurants. Americans eat out often. Fast food restaurants have wide popularity. There are two types of restaurants in the U.S.: fast food and full-service restaurants. The style of fast food restaurants is much like than of cafeteria. Patrons go up to a counter to order their meal: hamburgers, hot chicken sandwiches and pizza. It is then placed on a plastic tray which patron brings to a table. A typical dinner costs from $3.00 to $6.00. It is expected that patrons will finish within 30-45 minutes. In full-service restaurants a waiter comes to take the patrons’ order. Dinner can vary from $10.00 to $50.00. It is expected that patrons will finish eating and leave restaurant within an hour. To express satisfaction with service patrons will give a tip of 20% of the bill. Small tips are given to coat check attendants (up to $1.00), rest room and car park attendants (50 cents).

Water and ice. Most people in the U.S. drink tap water. Any cold beverage you order will be served to you with ice unless you request otherwise.