Text IV Meals in the usa

Americans usually have three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. All these three meals are served almost at the same time as in Britain.

Usual breakfast in the United States is orange juice, toast and coffee, or juice and dry cereal with milk, or eggs.

Lunch is usually a small meal – a sandwich, salad or soup, hamburgers and sausages.

Brunch in America is a combination of breakfast and lunch that many Americans enjoy on Sunday. It is usually served at about eleven in the morning. Scrambled eggs or omelets (omelettes – BrE) are often served along with other regular luncheon dishes. In many restaurants brunch is served from around 10 a.m. until midday.

Dinner usually includes a main course of meat or fish accompanied by side dishes such as soup, salad and vegetables.

There are two main types of restaurants in the USA – fast food and full-service restaurants. A fast food restaurant is much like a cafeteria. Items such as hamburgers, hot chicken sandwiches, pizza, and salads are typical of a fast food restaurant. Eating in a fast food restaurant takes less time and is less expensive then in a full-service restaurant.

1. Compare the meals in Russia, England and the US. What dishes are typical of each cuisine?

2. Which cuisine do you prefer and why? Give your reasons.

Listening Practice

British Food

The recording is taken from Cool English, № 14

I. PRE-LISTENING TASK

Look up the meanings of these words and phrases in a dictionary to understand the recording better.

bland boiled

cabbage tripe

a starter a national delicacy

to get through a worm

a self-service restaurant a motorway

soggy gravy

mouth-watering a Sunday roast

II. LISTENING AND COMPREHENSION TASKS

2.1. Listen to the recording and mark the statements below as True or False.

1. Most foreigners think that British food is bland.

2. Britain is famous for its unusual eating habits and customs.

3. The British equivalent for the French expression “Bon appetit” is “Have a good meal”.

4. In Britain they use a lot of gravy to hide the taste of the dish.

5. The British can be proud of their desserts and cakes.

2.2. Answer the questions:

1. Have you ever tried British food? What did you think of it?

2. Do you agree with the statement that British food doesn’t have the best reputation in the world? Why is this? Is it fair?

3. What are some of the unusual British eating habits and customs?

4. What is the most popular vegetable in Britain?

5. What is the greatest problem when you eat out in Britain?

III. AUDITORY MEMORY CHECK

Fill in the gaps with the words from the recording.

1. After all, Britain is the only country in the world that has ________ as a ________ .

2. Eating in Britain has traditionally been a _________ ________ rather than a __________ ___________ .

3. A waiter in ________ has to know about ________ and have an understanding about ___________ .

4. And _______ from the desserts there are lots of _________ __________ British dishes.