Unit5

II. Listening Skills

Listening for People’s Food Preferences

1. M: Jenny, the main courses here are steak, chicken or fish. Each comes with rice. So, what looks good to you?

  W: Gee, I had chicken last night, and I often eat fish for dinner. Maybe I’ll have steak tonight. I’d like it medium.

  Q: What does the woman want to have for dinner?

  The woman wants to have steak for dinner.

 

2. W: I often sleep late and skip breakfast. Sometimes I just have yogurt or something.

  M: I can’t bear the taste of yogurt. I like a regular breakfast—eggs, bacon, toast, and the like.

Q: What does the man like to have for breakfast?

   The man likes eggs, bacon, toast, and the like for breakfast.

 

3. M: Why don’t we go and get some ice cream?

W: You devil, you know I have a sweet tooth. I love desserts, but I have to be careful about my weight.

Q: What does the woman think about sweet food?

   The woman has a taste for sweet food, but is worried about putting on weight.

 

4. M: I’ve bought some cookies for the club meeting this evening. Do you like them?

  W: No, not really. Ii prefer fruit, like apples, strawberries, and so on.

  Q: What food does the woman like and dislike?

    The woman doesn’t like cookies; she likes fruit such as apples and strawberries.

 

5. W: I’ve come to this Chinese restaurant many times. I like sweet-and-sour fish, fried noodles…and the mushroom soup here id delicious.

  M: You’re really a big fan of Chinese food. OK, you do the ordering.

  Q: What kind of Chinese food does the woman like?

The woman likes sweet-and-sour fish, fried noodles and the mushroom soup in the restaurant.

 

III. Listening In

Task 1: American Eating Habits

Eating habits in America really get a lot of criticism. But the truth is, it matters much where in America you look. In big cities, people are becoming more health-conscious every day. This is shown by what foods they choose to buy in supermarkets, and what restaurants they eat in. There is now a big push for “green” foods that are grown naturally. In cities like New York and Chicago, restaurants offer new and healthy styles to stay ahead of the competition. However, these habits contrast with those in America’s heartland. Here, people tend to eat more traditional and higher fat foods, such as breakfasts of eggs, bacon, sausages, toast and other greasy, but delicious foods. Fast food chain restaurants such as McDonald’s and the Olive Garden, which serve cheaper food, draw a lot of customers and are popular in most places.

 

Task 2: McDonald’s

W: John, I’m really hungry!

M: Just get anything you want, it’s on me today. I’m thinking about a hamburger and some chicken McNuggets.

W: Thanks, man. That sounds good. I love milkshakes here.

M: Me, too. The formula of McDonald’s is really special.

W: Right. And no matter where you go in the world, you can always see similar menu items and the same high level of quality in McDonald’s.

M: It’s true. They also do well because of diversity. I mean, they sell different products according to people’s tastes and preferences in different areas.

W: Right. Like the Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Seafood Soup that they sell in China. They could never sell that here!

M: But I’ve heard that McDonald’s is really losing market share in the States now, and has closed down some restaurants.

W: Yeah. It’s just so difficult to stay competitive when there so many fast food chains in the States. I mean there are KFC, Pizza Hut, and A&W, just to name a few.

M: It seems that they’re doing better overseas,’ cause they’re really able to sell American culture.

W: Yeah. They use all the media they can, and they do a good job.

 

 

Task 3: I want to get out

A bar owner locked up his place at 2 a.m. and went home to sleep. He had only been in bed a few minutes when the phone rang. “What time do you open up in the morning?” he heard an obviously drunken man ask. The owner was so angry that he slammed down the receiver and went back to bed. A few minutes later there was another call and he heard the same voice ask the same question. “Listen,” the owner shouted, “there’s no sense in asking me what time I open because I wouldn’t let a person in your condition in.” I don’t want to get in,” the caller interrupted. “I want to get out.”

 

Task 4: An Announcement

Have you ever dreamed of tasting your favorite McDonald’s foods for only one dollar, and then, adding something to your Extra Value Meal? Now your dream can come true with McDonald’s Dollar Menu. Great choices. Every day here at McDonald’s. Look for these and more: Salad, Double Cheeseburger, Fries, McChicken Sandwiches, Snack Fruits, Soft Drinks, and Pies. Have a great meal!

 

V. Let’s Talk

Susan: Hey, John, what brings you here? Chinese food?

John: Hi, Susan. Yes, I’d like to try some Chinese food for a change.

Susan: How come? No more fried chicken? That’s your favorite, I guess.

John: Well, mom and I got in a fight over food the other day. I simply wanted some fried chicken but she said no.

Susan: She was right. Fried foods contain lots of fat and oil that are difficult to digest. Everyone’s heard of warnings against the “freshman 15”.

John: Yeah. I’ve packed on three pounds since I came. I have fried chicken almost every day. It’s so tempting, I can’t resist it. You know, I have only two meals, lunch and supper, but I like to eat a big snack late at night, cheese puffs, doughnuts, potato chips…

Susan: Better listen to your mom since health is the greatest wealth.

John: Yes. I’ve been trying to turn to low-fat foods, seafood, fruits and vegetables. Say, does your mom believe in maintaining a healthy diet?

Susan: You bet! She reminds us time and again to have regular meals, to eat smart.

John: It seems we’re kind of in the same boat.

Susan: I really appreciate my mom’s advice. Her idea of healthy eating helps me keep fit.

John: Really? So you never though fried food?

Susan: Not exactly. I don’t think I have to give it up, not even junk food. But when I eat this kind of food, I usually order a smaller portion. I think one of the best ways to healthy living is keeping a balanced diet.

John: I see. By the way, what’s your favorite kind of Chinese food?

Susan: Sichuan food, especially Mapo Tofu.

 

 

 

 

VI. Furthering Listening and Speaking

Task 1: Foods around the World

Food is national and international. Many people like their own national dishes and a variety of foreign ones. You can find European and Oriental restaurants on most large cities. You can find Italian, French, Chinese, and Mexican restaurants in New York, Washington, San Francisco, and many other cities in the United States. As well, you might also find Greek and Middle Eastern restaurants in some cities in the US. American hamburgers and hot dogs are popular in Tokyo and Paris. In almost every country you will find rice, potatoes, eggs, bread, soup, meat, vegetables, milk, fruit, and other basic foods. People all over cook them differently in different countries. People all over the world also prefer different things to drink. The English drink a lot of tea, and the French a lot of wine. Americans prefer coffee, milk or pop. German beer is now completely international. Children are often very conservative about new foods. In the United States they often prefer to eat the same three or four favorite dishes: hamburgers and French fires, hot dogs, fried chicken, and ice cream.

 

Task 2: Trouble ordering

I’ve always ordered my soft drinks in a simple way. For example, I might say “A coke, please.” Lately, though, this hasn’t seemed to work. Servers now often respond, “regular Coke, Diet Coke or Coke Zero?” or, they may say: “I’m sorry, we don’t have Coke. We have Pepsi，Diet Pepsi， Dr. Pepper, 7-up, Hartridges, Virgin Cola, Sprite, and Red Bull.” Exhausted by listening to the long list of soft drinks. I thought I’d make life easier. So one day I simply asked the snack bar staff at a cinema for a “dark, cold, carbonated drink”. The young man behind the counter smiled and asked, “Yes, sir, and would you like a long, thin, cylindrical plastic sucking device with that?”