Unit 3 Chinese Food

Contents Pre-reading questions Pre-reading questions Background information Background information Structural analysis of the text Structural analysis of the text Comprehensive questions Comprehensive questions Language points Language points Sentence highlights Sentence highlights Language appreciation Language appreciation Grammatical items Grammatical items Comprehensive questions of Text II Comprehensive questions of Text II

Pre-reading Group work. Group work. Discuss the following questions in groups of four. Discuss the following questions in groups of four. 1) How important is food to us Chinese? 1) How important is food to us Chinese? 2) What are the characteristics of Chinese cuisine? 2) What are the characteristics of Chinese cuisine?

Background Information The text is taken from T. McArthur, The Written Word, Oxford University Press, The text is taken from T. McArthur, The Written Word, Oxford University Press, 1987.

Structural Analysis Is this text a narration, argumentation, description or explanation? Is this text a narration, argumentation, description or explanation? What is the logic sequence of the material organization? What is the logic sequence of the material organization?

It is an explanative writing. It is an explanative writing. First, the writer quotes the words of Kenneth Lo to present the topic of this text: Chinese food. Then he introduces ___________________________________________ _______(Paragraphs 1-4) Then the writer explains from the historical aspect ___________________________________________ ______________(Paragraphs 5-8) Last, the writer elaborates on the nature of the Chinese food, that is,____________________________________ “ they are the expression of basic assumptions about life itself ”.) First, the writer quotes the words of Kenneth Lo to present the topic of this text: Chinese food. Then he introduces ___________________________________________ _______(Paragraphs 1-4) Then the writer explains from the historical aspect ___________________________________________ ______________(Paragraphs 5-8) Last, the writer elaborates on the nature of the Chinese food, that is,____________________________________ “ they are the expression of basic assumptions about life itself ”.)

Text Structure: Para1-4: The author discusses the contrast between the Chinese attitude and the Western attitude toward food. Para 5-6: T The part explains how Chinese food has become an international food. Para 7-9: he writer discusses the nature of Chinese food in this part. Structural Analysis (2)

Rhetorical features: e eg.Many people in the West are gourmets and others are gluttons. a alliteration: r repetition of the first sound or letter of a succession of words, which helps to convey a sort of melodious quality.

1. How important is food and eating, according to Kenneth Lo? 1. How important is food and eating, according to Kenneth Lo? Food and eating, according to Kenneth Lo, determines not only one ’ s physical health but also one ’ s spiritual and moral soundness and his ultimate well-being. Food and eating, according to Kenneth Lo, determines not only one ’ s physical health but also one ’ s spiritual and moral soundness and his ultimate well-being. Comprehensive questions

2. What does “ to eat with a capital E ” mean? 2. What does “ to eat with a capital E ” mean? It means that Chinese people attach much importance and value to food and eating. The purpose of going to a restaurant, for a Chinese, is simply to enjoy the pleasure of eating and savoring, whereas for a Westerner, it may be, first of all, to socialize, then to eat. It means that Chinese people attach much importance and value to food and eating. The purpose of going to a restaurant, for a Chinese, is simply to enjoy the pleasure of eating and savoring, whereas for a Westerner, it may be, first of all, to socialize, then to eat.

3. Why does the author compare a proper Chinese meal to a religious ceremony? 3. Why does the author compare a proper Chinese meal to a religious ceremony? Refer to Paragraph 8. First, it is a shared experience rather than a lonely chore; second, all the dishes carefully planned and contrived seem to follow some intricate ritual of contrast and harmony, similar to the complex religious ceremony; lastly, preparing a Chinese meal could be as time-consuming as preparing a religious ceremony. Refer to Paragraph 8. First, it is a shared experience rather than a lonely chore; second, all the dishes carefully planned and contrived seem to follow some intricate ritual of contrast and harmony, similar to the complex religious ceremony; lastly, preparing a Chinese meal could be as time-consuming as preparing a religious ceremony.

4. Why is it insufficient for a Chinese dish to please the palate only? 4. Why is it insufficient for a Chinese dish to please the palate only? When we enjoy Chinese food, our eyes must be pleased as well as our palates. If a dish only tastes good, it misses an essential element of Chinese cuisine that links it to the concept of Tao. When we enjoy Chinese food, our eyes must be pleased as well as our palates. If a dish only tastes good, it misses an essential element of Chinese cuisine that links it to the concept of Tao.

5. What is the prevailing tone of the passage? Does the author try to promote Chinese food to the reader? 5. What is the prevailing tone of the passage? Does the author try to promote Chinese food to the reader? The author sounds objective throughout the passage. He does not attempt to promote Chinese food but to give an objective account of Chinese food and cooking. The author sounds objective throughout the passage. He does not attempt to promote Chinese food but to give an objective account of Chinese food and cooking.

Para1-4 attend to : to take care of, look after, deal with His company helps employees attend to ether elderly relatives. Language Points

indifferent: without interest or concern indifferent: without interest or concern She was utterly indifferent to his irritation. She was utterly indifferent to his irritation. He is indifferent to praise or blame, about success or failure. He is indifferent to praise or blame, about success or failure.

profoundly: extremely profoundly: extremely He could hardly calm down after that profoundly disturbing experience. He could hardly calm down after that profoundly disturbing experience. derive from: to come from a source or origin derive from: to come from a source or origin The word “ deduct ” derives from Latin. The word “ deduct ” derives from Latin.

-e-e-e-ecstasy: sudden intense feeling or excitement -H-H-H-He is in an ecstasy of joy. -s-s-s-smother: to cover closely or thickly -T-T-T-The cook smothered a steak with mushrooms.

Para 5-6 Para 5-6 marked: striking; conspicuous marked: striking; conspicuous John worked really hard. John worked really hard. There is a marked increase in economy. There is a marked increase in economy. assert: to declare strongly assert: to declare strongly He asserted boldly that he was innocent of the crime. He asserted boldly that he was innocent of the crime. It is nonsense to assert that smoking does not affect people ’ s health. It is nonsense to assert that smoking does not affect people ’ s health.

ubiquitous: seeming to be everywhere ubiquitous: seeming to be everywhere His ubiquitous influence was felt by the whole family. His ubiquitous influence was felt by the whole family. Earth ’ s ubiquitous atmosphere is essential for life. Earth ’ s ubiquitous atmosphere is essential for life. bedeck: to decorate; to hang ornaments or decorations on bedeck: to decorate; to hang ornaments or decorations on He led us into a room bedecked with tinsel. He led us into a room bedecked with tinsel. infamous: deserving of or causing an evil reputation infamous: deserving of or causing an evil reputation He is infamous for saying that cheating is the way the game is played. He is infamous for saying that cheating is the way the game is played.

crucial: of highest, greatest, or most critical importance crucial: of highest, greatest, or most critical importance The behavior of the oceans is a crucial aspect of global warming. The behavior of the oceans is a crucial aspect of global warming. part and parcel: an essential part that must not be ignored part and parcel: an essential part that must not be ignored Unemployment is part and parcel of the bigger problem- a sagging economy. Unemployment is part and parcel of the bigger problem- a sagging economy. -

average: typical, common, ordinary average: typical, common, ordinary People of average intelligence can read novels appreciatively. People of average intelligence can read novels appreciatively. - inherent: existing as a natural and permanent quality - The drug has certain inherent side effects. - phenomenal: very remarkable, amazing - He enjoyed phenomenal success as a race car driver. - She has a phenomenal memory.

fastidiously: with excessive care or delicacy. fastidiously: with excessive care or delicacy. He stared factiously at the dirty table. He stared factiously at the dirty table. He fastidiously copied every word of his notes onto clean paper. He fastidiously copied every word of his notes onto clean paper. chore: a hard or unpleasant task; a small job that someone has to do regularly chore: a hard or unpleasant task; a small job that someone has to do regularly It is a real chore to stand in line to buy food every day. It is a real chore to stand in line to buy food every day.

contrive: to make or invent something in a skillful way contrive: to make or invent something in a skillful way In 1862, a technique was contrived to take a series of photographs showing stages of movement. In 1862, a technique was contrived to take a series of photographs showing stages of movement. alter: to change alter: to change Her schedule has altered dramatically. Her schedule has altered dramatically. conform to : to act in accordance with; to comply with conform to : to act in accordance with; to comply with Her clothes are conformed to fashion. Her clothes are conformed to fashion.

palate: the sense of taste palate: the sense of taste We ’ ll have a dinner to delight the palate. We ’ ll have a dinner to delight the palate. elusive: hard to express or define elusive: hard to express or define He tried to recall the elusive thought he had had months before. He tried to recall the elusive thought he had had months before. piquant: having a pleasantly sharp or strong taste piquant: having a pleasantly sharp or strong taste With the piquant tomato sauce, the dish tastes much better. With the piquant tomato sauce, the dish tastes much better.

Sentence Highlights 1.Paraphrase:It is a shared experience … others to contrast: (para.8) 1.Paraphrase:It is a shared experience … others to contrast: (para.8)

2. Paraphrase: … all these and more challenge the palate with their appropriate charms. (Para.8) 2. Paraphrase: … all these and more challenge the palate with their appropriate charms. (Para.8)

Language Appreciation 1. “ Food to my countrymen is one of the ecstasies of life, … in the final pleasure of eating. ” (Para. 3) 1. “ Food to my countrymen is one of the ecstasies of life, … in the final pleasure of eating. ” (Para. 3) The writer uses the “ to do ” form in parallelism The writer uses the “ to do ” form in parallelism

2. There is no doubt that the traditional high- quality Chinese meal is a serious matter, fastidiously prepared and fastidiously enjoyed. (Para.7) 2. There is no doubt that the traditional high- quality Chinese meal is a serious matter, fastidiously prepared and fastidiously enjoyed. (Para.7) The repetition of “ fastidiously ” and the parallel of “ prepared ” and “ enjoyed ” The repetition of “ fastidiously ” and the parallel of “ prepared ” and “ enjoyed ”

Grammatical items Appositive: 同位语 Appositive: 同位语 1. 名词词组的同位语通常是由名词词组表 示, 这种名词词组通常紧跟在与之同位的名 词词组之后。 1. 名词词组的同位语通常是由名词词组表 示, 这种名词词组通常紧跟在与之同位的名 词词组之后。 Your brother, a proud and unbending man, refused all help that was offered him. Your brother, a proud and unbending man, refused all help that was offered him.

2. 名词词组同位语之前有时带有引导词以 表示同位成分之间的特殊意义。比如有些 引导词，如 namely, that is, in other words, or, for short 等，系表示等同关系。 2. 名词词组同位语之前有时带有引导词以 表示同位成分之间的特殊意义。比如有些 引导词，如 namely, that is, in other words, or, for short 等，系表示等同关系。 He studies linguistics, or the science of language. He studies linguistics, or the science of language.

名词词组同位语有时还可附带修饰成分， 这种修饰成分并非修饰名词中心词，而是 修饰作为同位语的整个名词词组。 名词词组同位语有时还可附带修饰成分， 这种修饰成分并非修饰名词中心词，而是 修饰作为同位语的整个名词词组。 Tom, normally a timid boy, jumped into the river and saved the drowning girl. Tom, normally a timid boy, jumped into the river and saved the drowning girl.

Comprehensive questions of Text II (1) How does the author of the text feel about the fast food from the West? How does the author of the text feel about the fast food from the West? He deems it a diet that leads to many diseases which, in turn, increase the death rate considerably, and he even regards it as a sort of the main causes of death in North America where the degenerative disease such as heart attack, stroke and colon cancer result, more or less, from the diet. He deems it a diet that leads to many diseases which, in turn, increase the death rate considerably, and he even regards it as a sort of the main causes of death in North America where the degenerative disease such as heart attack, stroke and colon cancer result, more or less, from the diet.

Comprehensive questions of Text II (2) What relative merits does the Chinese food have? What relative merits does the Chinese food have? The Chinese food, due to its meticulous preparation, ingenious blending of ingredients and superior method of cooking, is noted for its delicious taste, artistic presentation and above all, nutritional value. The Chinese food, due to its meticulous preparation, ingenious blending of ingredients and superior method of cooking, is noted for its delicious taste, artistic presentation and above all, nutritional value.

Comprehensive questions of Text II (3) In your opinion, why is the fast getting popular? In your opinion, why is the fast getting popular? In a society where more and more people believe in the doctrine of competition, “ quick ” and “ much ” are much worshipped. The fast food can save people much time, which means money and even more valuable things for so many people. That ’ s one of the chief reasons why the fast food is gaining popularity. In a society where more and more people believe in the doctrine of competition, “ quick ” and “ much ” are much worshipped. The fast food can save people much time, which means money and even more valuable things for so many people. That ’ s one of the chief reasons why the fast food is gaining popularity.

Comprehensive questions of Text II (4) What should we learn form the western restaurants and what should not we learn from the western restaurants, according to the author of the text? What should we learn form the western restaurants and what should not we learn from the western restaurants, according to the author of the text? We should try to create some inviting atmosphere in our restaurants by making it clean and tidy, decorating it tastefully and providing good services. But we should not follow their example as far as the content of the food and the menus are concerned, for in comparison with theirs, the content of our food and our menus are far superior. In addition, we should not let the desire to make money prevail over everything else. We should try to create some inviting atmosphere in our restaurants by making it clean and tidy, decorating it tastefully and providing good services. But we should not follow their example as far as the content of the food and the menus are concerned, for in comparison with theirs, the content of our food and our menus are far superior. In addition, we should not let the desire to make money prevail over everything else.