Unit 3

Meal
A meal is an instance of eating, specifically one that takes
place at a specific time and includes specific, prepared food. Meals
occur primarily at homes, restaurants, and cafeterias, but may occur
anywhere. Regular meals occur on a daily basis, typically several
times a day. Special meals are usually held in conjunction with such
occasions as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and holidays.
Customs and traditions regarding eating and meals vary from
country to country, as well as within countries, based on such factors
as regional differences, social class, education, and religion. In a
complex, multi-cultural society there is increased risk of different
customs and traditions clashing. What is correct behaviour, and what
is not, and in what circumstances is the provenance of etiquette.
- Food in some cultures is eaten from individual plates or
bowls, while in other cultures people eat from a common one. Even
where people tend to eat from individual plates, there may be
exceptions, as in the case of some small pieces of food that can be
held in the hand easily, such as cookies or some snack foods, where
it is common to eat from a common plate, biscuit tin, or similar
container.
- Different cultures might have different rules for eating the
same item. In the USA people eat sausages in a bun, or with a knife
and fork, while in some countries in Europe sausages are held
between the fingers while being eaten.
- In some cultures, it is considered proper to wait until
everyone is seated before starting to eat, while in other cultures it is
not an issue.
- In some cultures, it is considered proper to wait for the host
to give the command before guests sit at the table for a meal, while in
other cultures there are different rules.
- In some religions, people pray or read aloud from a religious
text before and possibly also after eating. In diverse, religiously mixed
company where some people might want to pray, and others might
not, it may be proper etiquette to allow for a short time of silence
allowing those who want to do so the chance to pray. (After
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia)
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 Vocabulary
anniversary = aniversare
anywhere = oriunde
based on such factors as = n funcie de factori ca
be an issue (v.) = a constitui o problem
be held (v.) = a fi inut
behaviour = comportament
between the fingers = ntre degete
birthday = zi de natere
biscuit tin = cutie cu / de biscuii
bowl = bol, castron
bun = chifl
cafeteria = bufet
clashing = ciocnire
cookie = fursec
etiquette = etichet, mod elegant de comportare la mas
from country to country = de la o ar la alta
guest = musafir, oaspete
holidays = vacan
host = gazd
in conjunction with = n legtur cu
increased risk = risk mare
instance of eating = moment n care se ia masa
knife and fork = cuit i furculi
meal = mas (mic dejun, prnz, cin etc.)
occur (v.) = a se ntmpla
on a daily basis = zilnic
plate = farfurie
pray (v.) = a se ruga, a spune o rugciune
primarily = n primul rnd, mai nti
rules for eating = reguli referitoare la luatul mesei
sausage = crnat
snack food = aliment de tipul snacks-urilor
typically = n mod obinuit
wedding = nunt
while = n timp ce
while being eaten = n timp ce sunt mncai (mncate)
within countries = n interiorul rilor
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 Exercises
1. Answer the questions.
-

What is a meal?
How do regular meals occur?
How are special meals held?
What are customs and traditions regarding eating and meals
based on?
What risk is there in a complex, multi-cultural society?
What do you understand by etiquette?
Do Romanians eat from a common plate or bowl?
How do Romanians eat sausages?
Do you pray before eating?

2. Match the following meals with their definitions.

1. afternoon tea
2. breakfast
3. brunch
4. dinner
5. elevenses

6. high tea
7. lunch
8. supper
9. tea

a. a drink and light snack taken late morning

after breakfast and before lunch
b. a late afternoon / early evening meal that
replaces the evening meal referred to as
dinner
c. a late-morning meal, usually larger than a
breakfast and usually replacing both
breakfast and lunch
d. a mid-afternoon meal (typically taken at 4
p.m.) consisting of light fare
e. a midday meal (dinner outside the US); it is
eaten around noon in Northern countries and
around 2 p.m. further south
f. can be at any time of the afternoon or
evening and usually denotes the main meal
of the day; sometimes it is at lunchtime and
sometimes at suppertime
g. high tea
h. usually an evening meal
i. usually eaten within an hour or two after a
person wakes up in the morning

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3. Group the following words related to meal, as in the model.

(Please) pass (the salt). breakfast brunch Dig in. dine
dinner Lets eat. Lets say grace. Lets thank the Lord for the
food. light breakfast light meal lunch luncheon May I be
excused. May I have (the salt please). meal mealtime mid
afternoon snack midnight snack picnic snack supper tea
Thank you.
somethingwhat people say when they want

eatingwhat people say when they are done

mealwhat people say at the beginning of a

the main meal of the day

eating a meal

a time when people eat

a small meal

a meal eaten outside

dayparticular time ofa meal eaten at a

Words referring to

dinne
r
4. Fill in with one of the articles below.
a an the
Many years ago nutrition professionals advised 'eat 3 square meals a
day and no between meal snacking'. However, now we know there
are several benefits to snacking: binge control eating a few whole
grain crackers or piece of fruit may keep you from taking second
helpings at your next meal, lowering your overall calorie intake for
day; extra energy and nutrients well chosen, planned snack can
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provide energy boost and important nutrients to get you through

busy day; blood glucose control eating something with nutritional
value every 3 to 5 hours can keep your glucose level more stable
which improves mental alertness.
5. Answer the following.
-

Do you eat 3 square meals a day and nothing between them?

Do you eat a few whole grain crackers or a piece of fruit?
Do you eat something with nutritional value every 3 to 5
hours?
6. Provide the Past Tense of the verbs between brackets.
The Happy Meal (be) the brainchild of St. Louis, Missouri advertising
manager Dick Brams, who in 1977 (contact) two advertising firms to
develop a childrens meal that would promote McDonalds as a
restaurant for families, specifically those with smaller children. The
original McDonalds childrens meal (know) as McDonaldland Fun-ToGo because its mission (be) also to promote the new drive-through
window service that (introduce) to the market at that time. The very
first Happy Meal in 1979 (cost) one dollar and (contain) a puzzle
book, an ID bracelet or McDonaldland character erasers. It (consist)
of a hamburger or cheeseburger, twelve-ounce soft drink, a small
order of French fries, and a McDonaldland Cookie Sampler, a small
portion of cookies. Often the Happy Meal (aim) at promoting a current
movie. The first such promotion (be) the Star Trek Meal, to promote
Star Trek: The Motion Picture in December 1979. The packaging
used for the Star Trek Meal (make) of various images and games
related to the film, as well as a comic strip adaptation of the film.
Consumers (have) to buy numerous meals in order to complete the
set.
7. Identify the modal verbs in the text below and explain their use.
Cant face the dining hall? If you are in college in Nice, you might love
it if you are in a Prague university, you might not. And sometimes,
when cramming for a test, you just dont have time to leave your dorm
room to eat, so you must cook in your room. Make the best of it! You
need something to cook on/in. Most universities frown (hard) on hot

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plates or electric coils. They tell you you mustnt use them. Sure, they
are less expensive than a mini microwave - but still the microwave is
less expensive than burning down your dorm and being expelled
without refund (thats right - you may not pass go if you accidentally
torch a building). So a microwave it is. Read some advice (ignore
the part about the child safety lock unless you have a very
problematic roommate) be sure to click on the review link. Then you
may go buy. Oh, yeah dont forget to put a piece of plastic wrap or a
paper towel over food youre microwaving keeps the splatters and
cleaning time down. And, of course, never put anything contained in
metal in a microwave or prepare for fireworks.
8. Translate the following cookie recipe into English, paying attention
to the translation of the impersonal se.
Avei nevoie de urmtoarele ingrediente: 2 ou ntregi, 400 g fin
integral de secar, 50 g caise deshidratate tiate bucele mici, 70
ml ulei de msline extravirgin, 100 ml lapte (eventual de soia), 1
linguri praf de copt, 1 plicule zahr vanilinat, coaj ras de lmie,
puin sare. Oule, caisele, coaja de lmie, sarea i opional zahrul
se amestec, apoi se las 30 de minute pentru a da timp caiselor s
se umfle ct de ct. Se adaug uleiul n fir subire (ca la maionez) i
apoi laptele. La final se nglobeaz fina i praful de copt. Se ntinde
foaie subire din care se taie forme potrivite ca mrime. Se coc timp
de 15-20 minute n tava neuns, la foc mijlociu. Se pstreaz ntr-un
recipient nchis, pentru c altfel se ntresc n timp.
9. Answer the following questions related to the recipe under 8.
-

Do you think these cookies are cheap to make? Why

(not)?

Do you think this is a healthy recipe? Why (not)?

Would you try (to make) these biscuits? Why (not)?
Is this recipe suitable to try while living in the hostel?

10. Write the recipe of a meal you have tried to make in the hostel
since you became a student. If you are still living at home, you can
write the recipe of a meal you have helped your parents cook.

Lets Laugh!
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A young man at his first job as a waiter in a diner has a large trucker
sit down at the counter and order: Gimme three flat tires and a
couple of headlights. Bewildered the waiter goes to the kitchen and
tells the cook, I think this guys in the wrong store, look at what he
ordered! The cook says, He wants three pancakes and two eggs
sunny-side up. The waiter takes a bowl of beans to the trucker. He
looks at it and growls, Whats this? I didnt order this! The young
man tells him, The cook says that while youre waiting for your parts
you might as well gas up!

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