Unit 3 Unit 3 Chinese FoodChinese Food

ContentsContents

Pre-reading questionsPre-reading questions Background informationBackground information Structural analysis of the textStructural analysis of the text Comprehensive questionsComprehensive questions Language pointsLanguage points Sentence highlightsSentence highlights Language appreciationLanguage appreciation Grammatical itemsGrammatical items Comprehensive questions of Text IIComprehensive questions of Text II

Pre-readingPre-reading

Group work.Group work. Discuss the following questions in groups of Discuss the following questions in groups of

four.four. 1) How important is food to us Chinese?1) How important is food to us Chinese? 2) What are the characteristics of Chinese 2) What are the characteristics of Chinese

cuisine?cuisine?

Background InformationBackground Information

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

Structural AnalysisStructural Analysis

Is this text a narration, argumentation, Is this text a narration, argumentation, description or explanation? description or explanation?

What is the logic sequence of the material What is the logic sequence of the material organization?organization?

It is an explanative writing.It is an explanative writing. First, the writer quotes the words of Kenneth Lo to First, the writer quotes the words of Kenneth Lo to

present the topic of this text: Chinese food. Then he present the topic of this text: Chinese food. Then he introduces introduces _____________________________________________________________________________________________(Paragraphs 1-4) Then the writer explains _______(Paragraphs 1-4) Then the writer explains from the historical aspect from the historical aspect ____________________________________________________________________________________________________(Paragraphs 5-8) Last, the writer ______________(Paragraphs 5-8) Last, the writer elaborates on the nature of the Chinese food, that elaborates on the nature of the Chinese food, that is,____________________________________ “they is,____________________________________ “they are the expression of basic assumptions about life are the expression of basic assumptions about life itself”.)itself”.)

Text StructureText Structure:: Para1-4: Para1-4: The author discusses the contrast between the The author discusses the contrast between the

Chinese attitude and the Western attitude toward Chinese attitude and the Western attitude toward food. food.

Para 5-6:Para 5-6: The part explains how Chinese food has become an The part explains how Chinese food has become an

international food. international food. Para 7-9:Para 7-9: The writer discusses the nature of Chinese food in The writer discusses the nature of Chinese food in

this part. this part.

Structural Analysis (2)Structural Analysis (2)

Rhetorical features:Rhetorical features: eg.eg.Many people in the West are gourmets and Many people in the West are gourmets and

others are gluttonsothers are gluttons. . alliteration:alliteration: repetition of the first sound or letter of a repetition of the first sound or letter of a

succession of words, which helps to convey a sort of succession of words, which helps to convey a sort of

melodious qualitymelodious quality..

1. How important is food and eating, according to 1. How important is food and eating, according to Kenneth Lo?Kenneth Lo?

Food and eating, according to Kenneth Lo, Food and eating, according to Kenneth Lo, determines not only one’s physical health but also determines not only one’s physical health but also one’s spiritual and moral soundness and his one’s spiritual and moral soundness and his ultimate well-being.ultimate well-being.

Comprehensive questions 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 It means that Chinese people attach much

importance and value to food and eating. The importance and value to food and eating. The purpose of going to a restaurant, for a Chinese, is purpose of going to a restaurant, for a Chinese, is simply to enjoy the pleasure of eating and simply to enjoy the pleasure of eating and savoring, whereas for a Westerner, it may be, first savoring, whereas for a Westerner, it may be, first of all, to socialize, then to eat.of all, to socialize, then to eat.

3. Why does the author compare a proper 3. Why does the author compare a proper Chinese meal to a religious ceremony?Chinese meal to a religious ceremony? Refer to Paragraph 8. First, it is a shared Refer to Paragraph 8. First, it is a shared

experience rather than a lonely chore; second, all experience rather than a lonely chore; second, all the dishes carefully planned and contrived seem to the dishes carefully planned and contrived seem to follow some intricate ritual of contrast and follow some intricate ritual of contrast and harmony, similar to the complex religious harmony, similar to the complex religious ceremony; lastly, preparing a Chinese meal could ceremony; lastly, preparing a Chinese meal could be as time-consuming as preparing a religious be as time-consuming as preparing a religious ceremony.ceremony.

4. Why is it insufficient for a Chinese dish to 4. Why is it insufficient for a Chinese dish to please the palate only?please the palate only? When we enjoy Chinese food, our eyes must be When we enjoy Chinese food, our eyes must be

pleased as well as our palates. If a dish only tastes pleased as well as our palates. If a dish only tastes good, it misses an essential element of Chinese good, it misses an essential element of Chinese cuisine that links it to the concept of Tao.cuisine that links it to the concept of Tao.

5. What is the prevailing tone of the passage? 5. What is the prevailing tone of the passage? Does the author try to promote Chinese food to Does the author try to promote Chinese food to the reader?the reader? The author sounds objective throughout the The author sounds objective throughout the

passage. He does not attempt to promote Chinese passage. He does not attempt to promote Chinese food but to give an objective account of Chinese food but to give an objective account of Chinese food and cooking.food and cooking.

Para1-4 Para1-4 attend toattend to : to take care of , look after, deal with : to take care of , look after, deal with

His company helps employees His company helps employees attend toattend to ether ether elderly relatives.elderly relatives.

Language PointsLanguage Points

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

or failure.or failure.

profoundlyprofoundly: extremely: extremely He could hardly calm down after that He could hardly calm down after that profoundlyprofoundly

disturbing experience. disturbing experience.

derive from:derive from: to come from a source or origin to come from a source or origin The word “deduct ” The word “deduct ” derives fromderives from Latin. Latin.

- ecstasy:ecstasy: sudden intense feeling or sudden intense feeling or excitementexcitement- He is in an He is in an ecstasyecstasy of joy. of joy.

- smothersmother: to cover closely or thickly: to cover closely or thickly- The cook The cook smotheredsmothered a steak with a steak with

mushrooms. mushrooms.

Para 5-6Para 5-6 markedmarked: striking; conspicuous: striking; conspicuous

John worked really hard. John worked really hard. There is a There is a markedmarked increase in economy. increase in economy.

assert:assert: to declare strongly to declare strongly He He assertedasserted boldly that he was innocent of the cri boldly that he was innocent of the cri

me. me. It is nonsense to It is nonsense to assertassert that smoking does not affec that smoking does not affec

t people’s health.t people’s health.

ubiquitous:ubiquitous: seeming to be everywhere seeming to be everywhere His His ubiquitousubiquitous influence was felt by the whole family. influence was felt by the whole family. Earth’s Earth’s ubiquitousubiquitous atmosphere is essential for life. atmosphere is essential for life.

bedeckbedeck: to decorate; to hang ornaments or decorations on: to decorate; to hang ornaments or decorations on He led us into a room He led us into a room bedeckedbedecked with tinsel. with tinsel.

infamousinfamous: deserving of or causing an evil reputation : deserving of or causing an evil reputation

He is He is infamousinfamous for saying that cheating is the way the for saying that cheating is the way the game is played. game is played.

crucialcrucial: of highest, greatest, or most critical : of highest, greatest, or most critical importanceimportance The behavior of the oceans is a The behavior of the oceans is a crucialcrucial

aspect of global warming. aspect of global warming. part and parcelpart and parcel: an essential part that must not : an essential part that must not

be ignored be ignored Unemployment is Unemployment is part and parcelpart and parcel of the of the

bigger problem- a sagging economy.bigger problem- a sagging economy.-

averageaverage: typical, common, ordinary: typical, common, ordinary People of People of averageaverage intelligence can read novels intelligence can read novels

appreciatively. appreciatively.

- inherentinherent: existing as a natural and permanent quality: existing as a natural and permanent quality- The drug has certain The drug has certain inherent inherent side effects.side effects.

- phenomenalphenomenal: very remarkable, amazing: very remarkable, amazing- He enjoyed He enjoyed phenomenalphenomenal success as a race car success as a race car

driver. driver. - She has a She has a phenomenalphenomenal memory. memory.

fastidiouslyfastidiously: with excessive care or delicacy.: with excessive care or delicacy. He staredHe stared factiously factiously at the dirty table. at the dirty table. He He fastidiouslyfastidiously copied every word of his notes onto clean copied every word of his notes onto clean

paperpaper..

chorechore: a hard or unpleasant task; a small job : a hard or unpleasant task; a small job

that someone has to do regularlythat someone has to do regularly It is a real It is a real chorechore to stand in line to buy food every day. to stand in line to buy food every day.

contrivecontrive: to make or invent something in a skillful way : to make or invent something in a skillful way In 1862, a technique was In 1862, a technique was contrivedcontrived to take a series of to take a series of

photographs showing stages of movement. photographs showing stages of movement.

alteralter: to change: to change Her schedule has Her schedule has alteredaltered dramatically. dramatically.

conform toconform to : to act in accordance with; to comply with : to act in accordance with; to comply with Her clothes are Her clothes are conformedconformed to fashion. to fashion.

palatepalate: the sense of taste: the sense of taste We’ll have a dinner to delight the We’ll have a dinner to delight the palatepalate. .

elusiveelusive: hard to express or define: hard to express or define He tried to recall the He tried to recall the elusiveelusive thought he had had thought he had had

months before. months before.

piquantpiquant: having a pleasantly sharp or strong taste: having a pleasantly sharp or strong taste With the With the piquantpiquant tomato sauce, the dish tastes much tomato sauce, the dish tastes much

better. better.

Sentence HighlightsSentence Highlights

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

2. Paraphrase2. Paraphrase:… all these and more challenge :… all these and more challenge the palate with their appropriate charms. the palate with their appropriate charms. (Para.8)(Para.8)

Language AppreciationLanguage Appreciation

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

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

“prepared” and “enjoyed” “prepared” and “enjoyed”

Grammatical items Grammatical items

Appositive: Appositive: 同位语同位语 1. 1. 名词词组的同位语通常是由名词词组表名词词组的同位语通常是由名词词组表示示 , , 这种名词词组通常紧跟在与之同位的这种名词词组通常紧跟在与之同位的名词词组之后。名词词组之后。

Your brother, Your brother, a proud and unbending mana proud and unbending man, ref, refused all help that was offered him.used all help that was offered him.

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

He studies linguistics, He studies linguistics, oror the science of langua the science of language.ge.

名词词组同位语有时还可附带修饰成分，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。修饰作为同位语的整个名词词组。

Tom, Tom, normallynormally a timid boy, jumped into the riv a timid boy, jumped into the river and saved the drowning girl.er and saved the drowning girl.

Comprehensive questions of Text II (1)Comprehensive questions of Text II (1) How does the author of the text feel about the How does the author of the text feel about the

fast food from the West?fast food from the West? He deems it a diet that leads to many diseases He deems it a diet that leads to many diseases

which, in turn, increase the death rate considerably, which, in turn, increase the death rate considerably, and he even regards it as a sort of the main causes of and he even regards it as a sort of the main causes of death in North America where the degenerative death in North America where the degenerative disease such as heart attack, stroke and colon cancer disease such as heart attack, stroke and colon cancer result, more or less, from the diet.result, more or less, from the diet.

Comprehensive questions of Text II Comprehensive questions of Text II (2)(2)

What relative merits does the Chinese food What relative merits does the Chinese food have?have? The Chinese food, due to its meticulous The Chinese food, due to its meticulous

preparation, ingenious blending of ingredients and preparation, ingenious blending of ingredients and superior method of cooking, is noted for its superior method of cooking, is noted for its delicious taste, artistic presentation and above all, delicious taste, artistic presentation and above all, nutritional value.nutritional value.

Comprehensive questions of Text II Comprehensive questions of Text II (3)(3)

In your opinion, why is the fast getting In your opinion, why is the fast getting popular?popular? In a society where more and more people believe In a society where more and more people believe

in the doctrine of competition, “quick” and in the doctrine of competition, “quick” and “much” are much worshipped. The fast food can “much” are much worshipped. The fast food can save people much time, which means money and save people much time, which means money and even more valuable things for so many people. even more valuable things for so many people. That’s one of the chief reasons why the fast food is That’s one of the chief reasons why the fast food is gaining popularity.gaining popularity.

Comprehensive questions of Text II Comprehensive questions of Text II (4)(4)

What should we learn form the western restaurants and What should we learn form the western restaurants and what should not we learn from the western restaurants, what should not we learn from the western restaurants, according to the author of the text?according to the author of the text? We should try to create some inviting atmosphere in our We should try to create some inviting atmosphere in our

restaurants by making it clean and tidy, decorating it tastefully restaurants by making it clean and tidy, decorating it tastefully and providing good services. But we should not follow their and providing good services. But we should not follow their example as far as the content of the food and the menus are example as far as the content of the food and the menus are concerned, for in comparison with theirs, the content of our concerned, for in comparison with theirs, the content of our food and our menus are far superior. In addition, we should not food and our menus are far superior. In addition, we should not let the desire to make money prevail over everything else.let the desire to make money prevail over everything else.