UNIT 7

G. READING

I.  Fill in each gap in the passage with ONE suitable word.

Vietnamese Cooking Habits

The Vietnamese prefer fresh foods, and will rarely (1) _______________  ready-made or frozen food. Since Viet Nam is an agricultural country, there are many kinds of vegetables and fruits (2) _______________Viet Nam also has a long coastal line, which means there are many kinds of (3) _______________available.

Vietnamese households also prefer cooking and eating at (4)       _______________. As Viet Nam is originally an agricultural country, its culture is a community (5)_______________. Therefore, a family may have several (6) _______________     , and meals are family affairs. (7)_______________they may eat out with their friends after work to (8)_______________ those relationships, they still join their families’ meals later in the evening.

II. Read the following passage and answer the questions.

Healthy foods are good for you! They help your body grow. They also give you energy to work and play.

How do you know which foods to eat? Follow the food pyramid. Use it to make good choices.

Grains

The grains group gives you energy. Make sure at least half the grains you eat are whole grains. Eat brown rice, oatmeal, and popcorn. Try whole-wheat bread instead of white bread.

Vegetables

Colour your plate with all kinds of veggies. They help your heart, eyes, ị skin, and teeth. Experts say to eat a rainbow of colours. Each colour helps the body in a different way. Much on carrots, com, and broccoli.

Meat and Beans

The meat and beans group is high protein. That helps build strong muscles. Eat fish, chicken, lima beans, and nuts.

Fruits

Fruits are nature’s treats. They are sweet and tasty. They help your heart, eyes, skin, and teeth too. Eat a variety of colours. Try an apple or a banana. You can also mix pieces of different fruits to make a salad.

Milk

Have milk and foods made with milk. Those foods are high in calcium. Calcium builds strong bones.

Foods made with milk can be high in fat. Try: low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese.

Oils

Your body needs only a little oil to keep it healthy. Some foods that have oils are nuts, tuna fish, and salad dressing.

1. What food group mentioned in the article builds muscles?

A. Meat and beans          B. Vegetables     C. Grains              D. Fruits and oils

2. Which of the food groups does your body need at least amount of?

A. Grains                        B. Vegetables     C. Fruits               D. Oils

3. If your bones are weak, what should you eat or drink more of?

A. Whole grains              B. Milk and milk products

C. Meat and Beans         D. Nuts and tuna fish

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A. The method of mixing different fruits to make a salad.

B. Vegetables help your heart, eyes, skin, and teeth.

C. Eating meat and chicken gives you more protein.

D. The various food groups and the benefits of eating well.

5. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. Whole-meal bread is better than white bread.

B. You should eat more broccoli and corn and carrot.

C. Milk products are high in calcium and low in fat.

D. Fruits are important for your heart, eyes, skin, and teeth.

III. Read the text, and identify whether the statements are true (T), or false (F).

Vietnamese food culture varies by regions from the north to the south. In Northern Viet Nam, Vietnamese food is characterized by light and balanced flavours with the combination of many ingredients. Northerners have been using many kinds of meats like pork, beef, and chicken to cook; besides, some kinds of freshwater fish, crustaceans, and other mollusks like shrimps, crabs, and oysters, etc. Many famous dishes of Viet Nam are cooked with these ingredients such as Bun Rieu, Pho, Bun Thang, Bun Cha, Banh Cuon, etc.

Then, food culture in Central and Southern Viet Nam has developed suitable flavors in each region. In Central Viet Nam, the regional cuisine of Central Viet Nam is famous for its spicy food, which differs

from two other parts with mostly non-spicy food. Hue cuisine is typical Central Viet Nam’s food culture. Dishes of Hue cuisine are decorative and colorful, which expresses the influence of the Vietnamese royal cuisine in the feudal period. Food in the region is often decorated sophisticatedly and used with chili peppers and shrimp sauces, manely, Bun Bo Hue, Banh xeo, or Banh beo, etc.

In Southern Viet Nam, the region is characterized by warm weather and fertile soil, which creates favorable conditions for planting a variety of fruit, vegetables and live stock. Thus, food in the region is often added with garlic, shallots and fresh herbs. Particularly, Southerners are favored of sugar; they add sugar in most dishes. Here, there is also an influence of western and Asian cuisines on southern food, such as influences from China, India, France, and Thailand.