Unit ThreeUnit ThreeUnit ThreeUnit ThreeChinese FoodChinese Food

Teaching ObjectivesPre-reading QuestionsGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingExtended knowledge

Teaching Objectives

• Practice reading, writing, listening and talking, and translating about Chinese food;

• Discuss about the contrast between the Chinese attitude and Western attitude toward food.

Pre-reading Questions• How important is food to Chinese

people?

• What are the characteristics of Chinese cuisine?

• What are the differences between Chinese food and Western food?

Global Reading

Is this text a piece of narration, argumentation, description or explanation? What’s the major point the writer makes in this passage?

What is the prevailing tone of the essay? How many parts can this passage be divided into? What’s the main idea for each part? What major writing techniques are adopted in this passage?

Detailed Reading

Paragraph 1-4

Paragraph 5-6

Paragraphs 7-9

Paragraph 1-4Questions:

How is food different from music, a lecture or conversation, or matters of business?

What is the Chinese attitude toward food?

What does “to eat with a capital E” mean?

Language work: positive adj. having no doubt; sure

e.g. It seemed unlikely to me, but he seemed

absolutely positive of/about it. Are you positive that you have never

seen him before?

remain vi. To continue to be (in an unchanged state) e.g. He remained a prisoner for the rest of his

life. Despite the danger, she remained calm.

Cf. remains n. the parts left over after other parts have been removed, used, or destroyed

fibre n. a person’s inner character e.g. He was shocked to the very fibre of his being.

He lacks moral fibre. (=has a weak character.)

well-being n. the state of being comfortable, healthy or happye.g. There is a big improvement in that patient’s

well-being. The warm sunny weather in winter always gives

me a sense of well-being.

glutton n. 1. A person who eats and drinks too much. 2. A person with a great eagerness or

capacity for sth. e.g. John was a glutton for adventure.

gluttonous adj. e.g. He said that industrialized countries should reduce their gluttonous consumption of oil. gluttony n. the habit of eating and drinking too much. a glutton for punishment: a person who is always eager to un

dertake unpleasant tasks. e.g. He kept working even when he was ill; he’s a real glutton

for punishment!

sage n. (often pl.) someone, especially an old man or historical person, well-known for their wisdom and long experience.

e.g. Kong Fu Zi in Chinese history is a sage. adj. wise, especially as a result of long thinking and experience.

e.g. I was grateful for the old man’s sage advice.

Cf. saint n. 1. (the title given to) a person who has received an official honour from the Christian, especially the Roman Catholic, Church for havi

ng lived in a good and holy way. The names of saints are sometimes used to name places and buildings: e.g. Saint Peter, Saint Paul’s Cathedral

2. A very good, unselfish persone.g. She must be a real saint to stay with him all these

years.

with regard to: in connection with, concerning e.g. With regard to your recent application, I’m afraid we are unable to offer you the job. I’m writing to you with regard to your letter of 18 May.

Lavish: v. to give to or spend on generously or wastefully e.g. She lavished a lot of attention on her friends. He lavished praise on her work.

adj. very generous and or wasteful in giving or using e.g. The lavish production made this musical truly memorable. He was lavish with his hospitality. Lavishly: adv. e.g. The sitting room was lavishly decorated for the party.

Paragraph 5-6

Questions:

• What has helped the spread of Chinese food to the rest of the world?

• What are the characteristics of Chinese food?

Language workassert: v. to state or declare forcefully

e.g. He asserted his opinions in the meeting this

morning.She rarely asserted her authority over the

children.

assert oneself: to behave or speak in a confident and forceful mannere.g. It was time to assert himself more in meetings.

sensuality: n. the enjoyment, expression, or pursuit of physical pleasure; the condition of being pleasing or fulfilling to the senses

e.g. He ate the grapes with surprising sensuality. life can dazzle with its sensuality, its colour.

adj. sensual e.g. He has got a beautiful and sensual voice. the production of the ballet is sensual and

passionate. Cf. sensuous: adj. Giving pleasure to the senses

e.g. She uses beautiful sensuous lines in her drawings.

Exotica: things that are excitingly different or unusual

e.g. collectors of 18th century exotica are our main customers.

Musical exotica is popular now.

exotic adj. e.g. Exotic flowers in Shanghai are very expensive.

Young people in the city would like to try

exotic food in the restaurant.

Paragraph 7-9Questions:

• Why is a Chinese mean compared to a

religious ceremony?

• How to explain that the traditional high-quality Chinese meal is a serious matter?

Language workbraise: to cook slowly in fat and a little liquid in a

covered dishe.g. He used to eat braised celery a lot. Cf. stew: cook food slowly in liquid. sinner: gentle slow boiling.

casserole: cook in deep covered dish.

Proceed: to begin or continue in a course of action or set of actions

e.g. The project is proceeding according to the plan.

She paused to consult her notes and then proceeded with her questions.

texture: the degree of roughness or smoothness, coarseness or fineness of a surface, substance or material e.g. I don’t like the rough texture of this wallpaper. She likes smooth texture of silk.

charms: an attractive characteristic of feature, pleasing quality or featuree.g. He fell a victim to her charms. the hidden charms of the city attracted many tourist. I had to use all my charms to persuade them to come.

Assumption: something that is taken as a fact or believed to be true without proof. e.g. The results of the experiment

shook the basic assumptions of

his theory. His arguments are full of false

assumption and errors of fact.

Post-reading practice

• I. Word Derivation• 1. We are not going to compromise our

music to make it _________ to any layman. (palate)

• 2. In ___________ with our rules and regulations, I am calling a meeting of our organization. (conform)

• 3. Now that the patient is out of danger, the doctor is no longer in _________. (attend)

• 4. His __________ with China makes him a likely choice as ambassador. (intimately)

• 5. Since they have ignored our ___________, our only recourse is to declare war. (ultimately)

• 6. The rent shot up a ___________ 80%. (phenomenon)

• 7. His poor health was a ___________ factor in his decision to retire. (contribute)

• 8. She was _________ at having her husband for the first time in ten years. (ecstasy)

• 9. The cause of this disease has yet _________ all research. (elusive)

• 10. September 18 has gone down in history as a day of _________ for the Chinese nation. (infamous)

II. Prepositions and adverbs1. Awake and avail yourself _________ this unique chance!2. They spread _________ when they entered the field and began to search the ground.3. John was so ill he was fortunate to come _________ the operation on his heart. 4. Thus it came __________ that, after years of being a singer and costume designer, she combined both businesses. 5. In rural France, English language magazines are rather hard to come __________. 6. The troop suffered a terrible defeat because they had a deficiency ___ the matter ___ weapons.7. Sorghum is the least demanding grain ___ regard __ water, soils and climate.8. He paused to consult his notes, and then proceeded _________ his question.9. I don’t think you can make a lawyer honest by an act of legislature. You’ve got to work _________ his conscience.

III. Word Differentiation1. The ________ theory got across to the audience with the speaker’s detailed introduction. (profound, deep)

2. He _______ to be the best footballer in the college team. (assert, claim)

3. This idea is simply too ________ to be put into words. (elusive, vague)

4. The tourists were caught up in the ______ beauty of a spring day in the park. (sensuous, sensual)

5. It’s next to impossible to change the ________ qualities of a person. (internal, inherent)

• Key:• I. 1. palatable 2. conformity 3.

attendance 4. intimacy 5. ultimatum 6. phenomenal 7. contributory/contributing 8. ecstatic 9. eluded 10. infamy

• II. 1. of 2. out 3. through 4. about 5. by 6. in, of 7. with, to 8. with 9. on

• III. 1. profound 2. claims 3. elusive 4. sensuous 5. inherent