Food likes and dislikes vary from culture to culture. It can also be a source of intense personal prejudice. Canadians are generally considered to be conservative in their food tastes but, because of the many different ethnic groups in Canada, they have also learned to appreciate many different kinds of cuisine. Actually, the ability to enjoy different kinds of foods is highly regarded in Canada. A Canadian family may eat Italian food one night, Chinese food the next——then Greek or Japanese food. Eating in Canada will provide you a good chance to enjoy various cuisines and get in touch with different cultures. Studying the cuisine of different cultures is not only fun, but also a valuable learning experience.
Canadians often entertain by inviting people to dinner. It's customary to arrive on time for a dinner party and to bring along a bottle of wine or a small impersonal gift, such as flowers or candy. Food is not brought unless especially asked for by the host as, for example, at a potluck dinner. As a general rule, everybody contributes some food to a potluck.
Some meals may include appetizers, soup or salad before the main course. A typical main course includes meat or fish, potatoes or rice, or one or two vegetables. Dessert is usually served with coffee or tea at the end of the meal. Sometimes a dinner is served as a buffet: people then serve themselves from a table that is set with a variety of foods.
To show that you enjoyed a meal, it is polite to compliment the quality of the food. The hostess often feels happy if you are interested in the recipe of a certain dish. Be sure to accept a second helping if you like the food and are not full; a Canadian host will usually offer it only once. In some other countries, however, it is polite to refuse up to three times before accepting a second helping.
Difficult Sentences
1. (Para. 1) Canadians are generally considered to be conservative in their tastes but, because of the many different ethnic groups in Canada, they have also learned to appreciate many different kinds of cuisine.
because of means: because of the many different ethnic groups in Canada is inserted here and separately by two commas to emphasize an adverbial of cause. But indicates a contrast in meaning from the first part of the compound sentence to the second part.
Translation:
加拿大人通常被认为在饮食喜好方面相当保守，但是因为在加拿大生活着许多不同民族，加拿大人也因此学会了品尝许多不同风格的烹调。 Example:
She did come to the party but, because of her poor health, she did not seem to be in a good mood. 2. (Para. 1) Studying the cuisine of different cultures is not only fun, but also? a valuable learning experience.
not only … but also means: Studying the cuisine of different culture isa gerund phrase, used here as the subject of the sentence. The sentence can be paraphrased like this: It is not only fun but also a valuable learning experience.
Translation:
探究不同文化的烹调风格不但是一种乐趣，同时也是很有价值的学习经历。 Example:
Doing morning exercises is not only refreshing, but also a good way to keep you in shape.
3. (Para. 2) It’s customary to arrive on time for a dinner party and to bring along a bottle of wine or a small impersonal gift, such as flowers and candy.
It’s : Here it is used as a formal subject . The actual subject is made up of two infinitive phrases to arrive on time … and to bring … , which is too long to keep the sentence in good balance if it were put at the beginning of the sentence.
Translation:
通常出席晚宴的人要准时到达，并带一瓶酒或一点赴宴小礼物，例如鲜花或糖果。
Example:
It is necessary to take eight glasses of water each day and to have enough sleep. 4. (Para. 2) Food is not brought unless especially asked for by the host as, for example , at a Potluck dinner.
Unless: It is omitted after the word unless. A is use here to introduce an adverbial of manner.
Translation:
一般都不必带吃的东西，除非主人专门提出此项要求比如像搞凑份晚餐那样。
Example:
You don’t need to write your resume in English, unless especially asked for by the personnel manager, as for example, in a joint venture. 5. (Para. 3) Sometimes a dinner is served as a buffet: people then serve themselves from a table that is set with a variety of foods.
Sometimes: The sentence can be paraphrased like this: Sometimes a dinner party may be given in the form of a buffet, at which people can take the food from a table set with different kinds of food.
Translation:
有时聚餐是自助形式：那样的话大家就从一张放有多种食物的大餐桌上自行取用。
Example:
Sometimes the lesson is given in the form of a seminar: students will do the presentation and discuss their project together with the teacher. 6. (Para. 4) Be sure to accept a second helping if you like the food and are not full; a Canadian host will usually offer it only once
Be sure to : In the imperative sentence, be sure to … means “确保” in Chinese. The second part of the compound sentence, a Canadian host will usually offer it only once, is used to explain the reason why you should be sure to..
Example:
Be sure to? hand in your homework on time if you want to get a good grade; The professor is usually very strict with the students.
Important Words 1. vary v. be different, change 不同，变换
e.g.
The teaching methods vary from teacher to teacher
The prices of vegetables vary with seasons.
The climate varies from area to area. 2. source n. starting point, place from which something comes or is got 源头，起源，根源
e.g.
Where does the Yellow River have its source
The news comes from a reliable source.
The source of the arguments is only a trifle. 3. prejudice? n. opinion or idea formed before one has adequate knowledge 偏见
e.g.
Many people have a prejudice against modern jazz.
As a teacher, you should not have prejudice against any students.
He was looked down upon because of some racial prejudice. 4. appreciate v. understand and enjoy , put a high value on 珍惜，懂得，喜欢
e.g.
I do appreciate your kind help.
You don’t appreciate the paintings unless you have the artistic taste.
They appreciated the opportunity to apply the knowledge to practice. 5. regard v. consider, think of 认为，被看成是
e.g.
He was regarded as a hero by the people in the country.
Here words were regarded with suspicion.
Do you regard it as a proper behavior to smoke in public places 6. entertain v. receive and treat as guests, amuse 招待，接待，使娱乐
e.g.
I enjoy being a hostess and entertaining my friends at home.
They were all entertained by this joke.
Old people may entertain themselves in the spacious hall. 7. contribute v. join with others in giving help for a common cause 贡献
e.g.
They were busy contributing food and clothes to the Red Cross.
We want to contribute these data to this research project.
Everybody has contributed some books to the library.
Food likes and dislikes vary from culture to culture. It can also be a source of intense personal prejudice. Canadians are generally considered to be conservative in their food tastes but, because of the many different ethnic groups in Canada, they have also learned to appreciate many different kinds of cuisine. Actually, the ability to enjoy different kinds of foods is highly regarded in Canada. A Canadian family may eat Italian food one night, Chinese food the next——then Greek or Japanese food. Eating in Canada will provide you a good chance to enjoy various cuisines and get in touch with different cultures. Studying the cuisine of different cultures is not only fun, but also a valuable learning experience. 