Read the text to find out the main areas and issues agronomy deals with and complete the diagram.

Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants in agriculture for food, fuel, feed, fiber and land restoration. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of sciences like biology, chemistry, ecology, earth science and genetics. Professionals in the field of agronomy are called agronomists. Agronomists today are involved with many issues including producing food, creating healthier food, managing environmental impact of agriculture, and creating energy from plants.

Agronomists often specialize in the areas such as crop rotation, irrigation and drainage, plant breeding, plant physiology, soil classification, soil fertility, weed control, insect and pest control. Plant breeding is an area of agronomy which involves selective breeding of plants to produce the best crops under various conditions. Plant breeding increases crop yields and improves the nutritional value of numerous crops, including corn, soybeans and wheat. It also leads to the development of new types of plants. For example, a hybrid grain called triticale was produced by crossbreeding rye and wheat. Agronomy has also been instrumental in fruit and vegetable production research.

Agronomists use biotechnology to extend and expedite the development of desired characteristic. Biotechnology is often a lab activity requiring field testing of the new crop varieties that are developed. In addition to increasing crop yields agronomic biotechnology is increasingly being applied for novel uses other than food. For example, oilseed is at present used mainly for margarine and other food oils, but it can be modified to produce fatty acids for detergents, substitute fuels and petrochemicals. 20 Agronomists study sustainable ways to make soils more productive and profitable. They classify soils and reproduce them to determine whether they contain substances vital to plant growth such as compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. If a certain soil is deficient in these substances, fertilizers may provide them. Soil science also involves investigation of the movement of nutrients through the soil, the amount of nutrients absorbed by a plant’s roots and the development of roots and their relation to the soil. In addition, agronomists develop methods to preserve soil and to decrease the effects of erosion by wind and water. For example, a technique called contour plowing may be used to prevent soil erosion and conserve rainfall. Researchers in agronomy also seek ways to use the soil more effectively in solving other problems such as the disposal of human and animal wastes and water pollution.

Practice 3. Reread the text to find out which of the following statements are true and which are false. Justify your answer.

1. Agronomy is the science and technology of growing plants for human consumption. True.

2. Agronomy includes and surrounds work in the areas of history and physics. False. Agronomists today are involved with many issues including producing food, creating healthier food, managing environmental impact of agriculture, and creating energy from plants.

3. Agronomists are ignorant in such areas as insect and pest control. False. Agronomists often specialize in the areas such as crop rotation, irrigation and drainage, plant breeding, plant physiology, soil classification, soil fertility, weed control, insect and pest control.

4. The area of agronomy which studies plant genetics and physiology for improving crop yields under various conditions is known as plant breeding. True.

5. Biotechnology is used to extend and expedite the development of desired characteristic. True.

6. Fertilizers are used to provide soil with substances vital to plant growth. True.

7. Soil science involves investigation of producing food, creating healthier food, creating energy from plants. False. Soil science also involves investigation of the movement of nutrients through the soil, the amount of nutrients absorbed by a plant’s roots and the development of roots and their relation to the soil.

8. Contour plowing is used to increase the effects of soil erosion. True.

4. The answers to the following questions are the summary of the text.

Answer these questions and give the summary of the text.

1. What sciences and areas find application in agronomy? Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science.

2. What issues and areas are agronomists involved with in their work? Agronomists today are involved with many issues including producing food, creating healthier food, managing environmental impact of agriculture, and creating energy from plants.

3. How can plant breeding be defined? Plant breeding is an area of agronomy which involves selective breeding of plants to produce the best crops under various conditions.

4. What does plant breeding lead to? Plant breeding increases crop yields and improves the nutritional value of numerous crops, including corn, soybeans and wheat.

5. Agronomists try to find ways to improve soils, don’t they? Prove it. For example, oilseed is at present used mainly for margarine and other food oils, but it can be modified to produce

fatty acids for detergents, substitute fuels and petrochemicals.

6. How can the deficiency of some substances in a certain soil be made up? If a certain soil is deficient in these substances, fertilizers may provide them.

7. Does contour plowing increase or decrease the effects of erosion?

2) Text B. Practice 3. P. 23. Аннотация к тексту.

The title of the text is “Plant a Country Garden”. The text was published by Simon Devin “Home Farmer” in April 2010.

The text is about farmers and their previous lands which are not used today. The text can be divided into 5 parts.

The first part is about former farmhouses, cottages and buildings that have been sold. The second part tells us about rural homes, converted into one house from two or three cottages. We get to know in the part part of the text about growing vegetables in containers. However, most crops will grow far more successfully when planted directly into the ground so if possible. The fourth part is about wooden fences and gates that are like by the author. And the fifth part of the article is devoted to the plants which are attracted by wildlife. It should be noted that the author of the text made two informal ponds where frogs very soon arrived to breed, birds drink and bathe in the shallow edges and ladybirds.

I think that the text is interesting and worth reading.

Text B

Plant a Country Garden

Consider the headline of the text.

Then read the text to find out:

− the image of a true country garden in the author’s point of view;

− the examples of rural homes;

− the best place for growing food crops;

− the author’s experience in plant growing.

In many parts of Britain there are long waiting lists for allotments, yet a great number of productive gardens have been lost as former farmhouses, cottages and buildings have been sold and the land around them put down to grass, spacious parking areas and patios with perhaps a few tubs of flowers. I long to see some of this land used as it was until 40-50 years ago, for growing vegetables and fruit with flower borders brimful of bloom3 and usually a few chickens and a hive or two of bees about the place. That’s a true cottage garden rather than the chocolate box image created by romantic artists.

I could take you to any number of rural homes, converted into one house from two or three cottages, where the surrounding land has been made into one block, providing ample scope for a good-sized garden even after making way for a double or triple garage, roomy play area for the children and space for sitting out for al fresco meals and relaxing. After grass and rubbish has been cleared there is often very good soil that has been cultivated and nourished with farmyard manure over many years.

There is great enthusiasm at present for growing vegetables in containers and this can be very helpful if you have a small backyard or plot. However most crops will grow far more successfully when planted directly into the ground so if possible, avoid tubs other than perhaps for tomatoes placed against a warm, south-facing wall. For me the most important part of any garden is the part where food crops will be grown. Where possible this should be in an open sunny position, away from trees that can take light and whose roots will compete for nutrients in the soil. There should also be shelter from cold winds or you may need to put up a windbreak.

In a country garden I like to see wooden fences and gates, rustic frames and archways to support climbing plants and rustic benches for sitting out. Gravel and brick look good for paths, which will blend in much more quickly if low-growing plants are put in to spill over and soften the edges.

I grow a lot of plants to attract wildlife. Evergreen shrubs give colour in the garden all year, privacy for sitting outside, shelter from cold winds, nesting sites and roosting places for the birds. I made two informal ponds where frogs very soon arrived to breed, birds drink and bathe in the shallow edges and ladybirds, hoverflies and other aphid-eating insects are attracted by patches of the poached egg flower limnanthes. Tall plants of common fennel are another of their favourites, while lavender, thyme and marjoram are among herbs that also attract bees and other pollinating insects. A true country garden should not be too tidy a place, but have informal areas where flowers such as the Welsh poppy are allowed to self-seed in a random manner, small creatures can hide in climbing plants or ground cover and you can sit, cast care away, breathe in the scent of the flowers and watch bees, butterflies and birds.

(Simon Devin “Home Farmer”, April 2010)

 

Practice 3. Rearrange the sentences in a logical order and write a summary of the article.

6. A great number of productive gardens have been lost in many parts of Britain as former farmhouses, cottages and buildings have been sold.

1. For me the most important part of any garden is the part where food crops will be grown. 3. I long to see some of this land used as it was until 40-50 years ago.

2. There is great enthusiasm at present for growing vegetables in containers and this can be very helpful if you have a small backyard or plot.

7. After grass and rubbish has been cleared there is often very good soil that has been cultivated and nourished with farmyard manure over many years.

5. I made two informal ponds where frogs very soon arrived to breed, birds drink and bathe in the shallow edges.

4. A true country garden should not be too tidy a place, but have informal areas where flowers such as the Welsh poppy are allowed to selfseed in a random manner.

3) Ex. 2-5 p. 26-26

Exercise 2. Match the definitions to the words:

 weed, encompass, contour plowing, crossbreed, yield, fertilizer, vital, wheat

1. To include a wide range of ideas, subjects etc., to completely cover or surround smth. encompass

2. A wild plant growing where it is not wanted and that prevents crops or garden flowers from growing properly. weed

3. The amount of profits, crops etc. that you get. yield

4. The grain that bread is made from. wheat

5. Extremely important and necessary for smth. To succeed or exist. vital

6. A substance that is put on the land to make crops grow. fertilizer

7. The farming practice of plowing to prevent soil erosion. contour plowing

8. To cause a plant to breed with another plant of a different type in order to produce a new variety. crossbreed

Exercise 3. Find synonyms to the following words and wordcombinations:

practical use – convenient use, to raise to increase, to reduce to become smaller, to take in to take part, important essential, to make better to improve, composition arrangement.

Exercise 4. Match the words from the right and left columns to make collocations:

random manner

attract wildlife

country garden

soil rotation

sustainable fertility

reproduce soil

plant breeding

pest ways

crop control

Exercise 5. Fill in the gaps with the suitable words:

contour plowing sustainable erosion branch rainfall fertilization selective breeding management issues

1. Agronomy can be defined as the branch of agricultural science that deals with the production of both plant and animal crops, and the erosion of soil.

2. Management of agricultural species has been very important in improving their productivity under cultivation.

3. Selective breeding is an important activity in modern agriculture.

 4. Agronomists study sustainable ways to make soils more productive and profitable.

 5. Fertilization is particularly severe on lands with significant slopes and coarse soils, especially if these occur in a region with abundant participation.

6. Agronomists play critical roles in issues of global concern, such as food security.

 7. A technique called contour plowing may be used to prevent soil erosion and conserve rainfall.

Veterinnary p.48

1. Text A. Practice 1-2 p.50

Text A Veterinary

Read the text to find out what the job of a veterinarian involves. Complete the diagram.

1. Veterinary medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention and treatment of diseases, disorders and injuries in animals. Veterinarians care for the health of pets, livestock, and animals in zoos, racetracks, and laboratories. They diagnose animal health problems; vac- 49 cinate against diseases, such as distemper, rabies, foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax; medicate animals suffering from infections or illnesses; treat and dress wounds, including cesarean sections on birthing animals; set fractures; perform surgery; and advise owners about animal feeding, behavior and breeding. Veterinarians of all types euthanize animals when necessary.

2. Some veterinarians use their skills to protect humans against diseases carried by animals and conduct clinical research on human and animal health problems. Others work in basic research, broadening our knowledge of animals and medical science, and in applied research, developing new ways to use knowledge.

3. Most veterinarians work on farms to provide veterinary services for herds or individual animals. Much of this work involves preventive care to maintain the health of the animals. Some veterinarians who work in private medical practices treat small animals. Small-animal practitioners usually care for companion animals, such as dogs and cats, but also treat birds, reptiles, rabbits, ferrets, and other animals that can be kept as pets. About one-fourth of all veterinarians work in mixed animal practices, where they see pigs, goats, cattle, sheep, and some wild animals in addition to companion animals.

4. Veterinarians who treat animals use medical equipment such as stethoscopes, surgical instruments, and diagnostic equipment, including radiographic and ultrasound equipment. Veterinarians working in research use a full range of sophisticated laboratory equipment.

5. Veterinarians contribute to human as well as animal health. A number of veterinarians work with physicians and scientists as they research ways to prevent and treat various human health problems. For example, veterinarians contributed greatly in conquering malaria and yellow fever. Today they determine the effects of drug therapies, antibiotics, or new surgical techniques by testing them on animals.

6. Some veterinarians are involved in food safety and inspection. Veterinarians who are livestock inspectors, for example, check animals for transmissible diseases, such as E. coli, and may quarantine animals. Veterinarians who are meat, poultry, or egg product inspectors examine slaughtering and processing plants, check live animals and carcasses for disease, and enforce government regulations regarding food purity and sanitation.

7. Veterinarians often work long hours. Sometimes they have to deal with emotional or demanding pet owners. When working with animals that are frightened or in pain, veterinarians risk being bitten, kicked, or scratched. (http://www.bls.gov)

Practice 1. Reread the text to find out which of the following statements are true and which are false.

1. Veterinarians take care of sick and injured animals. True.

2. Another option for vets is to do scientific research. True.

3. Vets can’t perform surgery. False.

4. Vets can prevent health problems by giving vaccination. True.

5. They can’t give advice to the animals’ owners how to feed and breed animals. False.

6. Veterinarians work only on farms. False.

7. Veterinarians have a heavy workload. True.

Practice 2. Reread the text to answer the following questions. Note that some of the questions have answers in the text and some don’t.

1. What does the job of a vet involve? Much of this work involves preventive care to maintain the health of the animals.

2. Is competition for admission to the veterinary department keen? Yes, it is.

3. How long does it take to become a veterinarian? —

4. Where can vets work? Most veterinarians work on farms to provide veterinary services for herds or individual animals. Much of this work involves preventive care to maintain the health of the animals.

5. How can veterinarians help to study human health? Veterinarians contribute to human as well as animal health. A number of veterinarians work with physicians and scientists as they research ways to prevent and treat various human health problems.

6. What instruments and equipment do they use? Veterinarians who treat animals use medical equipment such as stethoscopes, surgical instruments, and diagnostic equipment, including radiographic and ultrasound equipment. Veterinarians working in research use a full range of sophisticated laboratory equipment.

7. Should they keep up with new techniques and information? Yes, they should.

8. How do they ensure food safety? Some veterinarians are involved in food safety and inspection. Veterinarians who are livestock inspectors, for example, check animals for transmissible diseases, such as E. coli, and may quarantine animals.

2. Text B. Annotation to the text

The title of the text is “Junk food is causing pet obesity epidemic”. It was published on www.telegraph.co.uk. The author of the article is not mentioned.

The main problem in the text is junk food which owners of dogs give their pets.

The author of the text notes that junk food includes curry, pizza and ice-cream which is very dangerous for animals. However, in the past year there has been a 10 per cent increase in the number of overweight animals. The author of the article thinks that animals havebreathing problems, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, liver and heart disease3 and poor fertility.

It should be noted that the main problem of these illnesses is junk food. There are some overweighed animals that were taken from their owners in order to save them.

I think that the text is worth reading, because the problem in the text is very actual.

Text B

Junk food is causing pet obesity epidemic

What is junk food? Why has it become popular in many countries? Do you think that junk food is harmful? Why? Consider the headline of the text. Read the text to find out:

 − what the reason for pet obesity is;

− what junk food is mentioned in this text;

 − what animals are affected by this disease;

− the number of overweight animals in Great Britain;

− what obesity can result in.

Pet owners are increasingly feeding their animals a dangerously unhealthy diet of junk food, including curry, pizza and ice-cream, a charity has warned

Researchers for The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals found that in the past year there has been a 10 per cent increase in the number of overweight animals.1 Around 500,000 pets are affected, ranging from cats and dogs to rabbits, rats and even budgerigars. They are suffering symptoms identified with obesity in humans2 , such as low energy levels, breathing problems, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, liver and heart disease3 and poor fertility.

PDSA senior veterinary surgeon Sean Wensley said the pet’s weight gain could be down to their owners giving them fatty and sugary snacks with little knowledge of what harm they were doing. He said pets were being fed chips, cheese and scones.“Others that have been mentioned are crisps, curry, pizza, ice-cream, cake, and sweets,” he added. He said owners appeared not to understand that a single biscuit or crisp for a pet could be equivalent to an entire packet for a human.

The experience of the PDSA is reflected elsewhere. The Guinness Book of Records has withdrawn its listings for heaviest animals over worries that some owners may be overfeeding their pets to gain recognition.

Inspectors from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals last year took a labrador called Rusty away from Derek Benton, 62, of Fordham, Cambridgeshire and his brother David, 53.The pair had allowed the dog to reach 74.2kg (162lbs/11st 5lbs).

There have also been cases of a cat called Ginger which was too fat to get out of the cat flap and a dog that was so overweight after being fed English breakfasts that it could not move.

Helen Briggs, of the RSPCA, said: “Overweight animals tend to be made objects of fun, but it’s a serious animal welfare issue.” (www.telegraph.co.uk)

3. Ex. 10-12 p.58

Exercise 10. Translate the sentences into Russian.

 1. Don’t treat me as a child.

2. He is treated with much respect.

3. It was difficult to treat patients because of a shortage of medicine.

4. I treated myself to a new dress.

5. She treats everything I say as a joke.

6. I don’t know why he stays with her – she treats him like a dog.

 7. They usually treat this substance with acid. 8. She treated her sister to a good dinner.

9. He treated the subject thoroughly.

10. It is a great treat to me to be in the country.

 11. The café serves an assortment of gourmet treats.

 

1. Не относитесь ко мне как к ребенку.

2. К нему относятся с большим уважением.

3. Лечить больных было сложно из-за нехватки лекарств.

4. Я купила себе новое платье.

5. Она воспринимает все, что я говорю, как шутку.

6. Я не знаю, почему он остается с ней — она обращается с ним как с собакой.

 7. Обычно это вещество обрабатывают кислотой.

8. Она угостила сестру хорошим ужином.

9. Он тщательно изучил эту тему.

10. Для меня большое удовольствие побыть в деревне.

  11. В кафе представлен ассортимент изысканных угощений.

Exercise11. Translate these word-combinations from Russian into English:

приобретать опыт, умный ребенок, искусственный интеллект, языковые умения, разумный вопрос, интеллектуальная база данных, сообразительный студент, профессиональная квалификация, человек с незаурядным умом, офицер разведки, основные умения.

To gain experience, smart/clever child, artificial intelligence, language skills, reasonable question, intelligent database, smart student, professional qualification, person with an extraordinary mind, intelligence officer, basic skills.

Exercise 12. Переведите следующие слова, содержащие префиксы:

1. overfeed, overeat, overestimate, overpay, overweight, overcrowded, overcook, overwork, oversleep, overcome, overheat, overfill, overload;

2. unhealthy, dislike, invisible, unhappy, informal, disagree, uneducated, inadequate, dishonest, uneasy, impolite, unfamiliar, impossible, unfashionable, impatient, unequal, immoral, unfriendly, illegible, unknown, irregular, unreal, irresponsible, uncommon, unclear; 3. enforce, enlarge, enrich, enslave, ensure, endanger, enclose.

1. перекормить, переесть, переоценить, переплатить, перевесить, перенаселить, переварить, переутомиться, переспать, одолеть, перегреть, пересыпать, перегрузить;

2. нездоровый, неприязнь, невидимый, несчастный, неформальный, несогласный, необразованный, неадекватный, нечестный, беспокойный, невежливый, незнакомый, невозможный, немодный, нетерпеливый, неравный, аморальный, недружелюбный, неразборчивый, неизвестный, неправильный, нереальный, безответственный, необычный, не понятно; 3. принуждать, расширять, обогащать, порабощать, обеспечивать, подвергать опасности, окружать.

Food processing p. 60

1. Text A. Practice 3-4

Text A Basics of food processing Read the text to find out what food processing looks like.

1. Food processing is the set of methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food or to transform food into other forms for consumption by the people. It may take place either in the home or by the food processing industry. Food processing typically takes clean, harvested crops or butchered animal products and uses them to produce attractive, marketable and often long shelf-life food products. Food processing dates back to the prehistoric ages when crude processing incorporated slaughtering, fermenting, sun drying, preserving with salt, and various types of cooking (such as roasting, smoking, steaming, and oven baking).

2. Food preservation is as old as a human civilization. Preservation of foods inhibits spoilage caused by bacterial growth, oxidation, insects or desiccation. Salt-preservation was especially common for foods that constituted warriors and sailors’ diets, until the introduction of canning methods. Evidence for the existence of these methods can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek, Chaldean, Egyptian and Roman civilizations as well as archaeological evidence from Europe, North and South America and Asia. Thus, food processing is probably one of the oldest avocations man has been involved with from the time immemorial. Almost all these tried and tested processing techniques remained essentially the same until the advent of the industrial revolution. Whereas modern food processing technology in the 19th-21st centuries was largely developed to serve the public food market needs.

4. Food is any substance or materials eaten or drunk to provide nutritional support for the body, or for pleasure. It is usually of plant or animal origin that contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. There are several different ways or steps in which food can be produced. While many foods can be eaten raw, they undergo some form of preparation for reasons of safety, palatability, texture or flavour. At the starting point of preparation, this may involve sorting, washing, cutting, trimming or adding other foods, or even ingredients such as spices. Further on, when being cooked as a would-be meal it may also involve rinsing, heating (boiling) or cooling, frying, mixing, fermentation or combination with other foods. In a home most food preparation and cooking take place in a kitchen. Some meal preparation is done to enhance the taste or aesthetic appeal; some other prepa- 62 ration may help to preserve the food. Finally, a meal is made up of food which meets to be eaten at a specific time and place.

5. Many human cultures have a recognizable cuisine, i.e. a nationally specific set of cooking manners and traditions using distinguishing additives, or combinations of flavors unique to that culture. Other differences may include keeping to preferences (hot or cold, sweet and sour, spicy meals, etc.), and practices the study of which is known as gastronomy. Some popular types of ethnic foods may include European (Italian, French, Nordic, etc.), or Asian (Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, etc.), or Arabic food. Besides, certain peoples have national food taboos, i.e. foods which are usually not eaten because of religious or ethic laws. Many tribes in Africa and America do not eat pork, Hindus do not eat beef or veal. As for the Chinese, by tradition they have not been milk-drinkers, and their recipes for cooking have remained unchanged for thousands of years. Chinese eat soybeans, poultry and fish, pickles and drink green (oolong) tea. And they don’t like coffee and cocoa, cream and butter. They serve tea at the beginning of a meal whereas Englishmen end their meal with black coffee. Thus, tastes and manners in food differ, and one must respect local traditions in food and style of cooking. (http://foodprocessinghistory.blogspot.com.ar/2011/development-of-food-preservation.html)

Practice 3. Reread the text again to find out which of the following statements are true and which are false.

1. Carbohydrates and proteins are the most important nutrients found in food. True.

2. Food processing incorporates various activities. True.

3. People do not eat raw food. False.

4. Ethnic foods undergo various taboos as per national traditions. True.

5. The Russian cuisine never happens in other countries. False.

6. Standard food is the most common human food consumed by people. True.

7. A would-be meal requires prior to cooking processing. False.

8. Prehistoric ways of obtaining food were the sort of entertainment. True.

9. In community, butchered animal food is treated diversely. True.

10. They say tastes differ… True.

Practice 4. Answer the following questions and give the summary of the text.

1. How do we define food, food processing, national cuisine, etc. terms? Food processing is the set of methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food or to transform food into other forms for consumption by the people.

2. What is the background of food processing history? Food processing dates back to the prehistoric ages when crude processing incorporated slaughtering, fermenting, sun drying, preserving with salt, and various types of cooking (such as roasting, smoking, steaming, and oven baking).

3. What is the difference between food preparation and food processing? In a home most food preparation and cooking take place in a kitchen. Food processing is the set of methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food or to transform food into other forms for consumption by the people.

4. What ways of preparing (cooking) food have you learned from the text? There are several different ways or steps in which food can be produced. While many foods can be eaten raw, they undergo some form of preparation for reasons of safety, palatability, texture or flavour. At the starting point of preparation, this may involve sorting, washing, cutting, trimming or adding other foods, or even ingredients such as spices. Further on, when being cooked as a would-be meal it may also involve rinsing, heating (boiling) or cooling, frying, mixing, fermentation or combination with other foods. In a home most food preparation and cooking take place in a kitchen. Some meal preparation is done to enhance the taste or aesthetic appeal; some other prepa- 62 ration may help to preserve the food. Finally, a meal is made up of food which meets to be eaten at a specific time and place.

5. What are historical and social reasons for cuisines’ peculiarities? Many human cultures have a recognizable cuisine, i.e. a nationally specific set of cooking manners and traditions using distinguishing additives, or combinations of flavors unique to that culture.

6. Can you name prior to cooking operations for the foodstuff? At the starting point of preparation, this may involve sorting, washing, cutting, trimming or adding other foods, or even ingredients such as spices.

7. What should you know to exemplify the most tabooed meals in the world? Besides, certain peoples have national food taboos, i.e. foods which are usually not eaten because of religious or ethic laws. Many tribes in Africa and America do not eat pork, Hindus do not eat beef or veal. As for the Chinese, by tradition they have not been milk-drinkers, and their recipes for cooking have remained unchanged for thousands of years. Chinese eat soybeans, poultry and fish, pickles and drink green (oolong) tea. And they don’t like coffee and cocoa, cream and butter. They serve tea at the beginning of a meal whereas Englishmen end their meal with black coffee.

8. Why do you think you are a good/poor eater? I am a good eater, because I eat a lot of vegetables.

9. Can you suggest the simplest recipe to prepare a meal? Yes, I can. The simplest recipe to prepare a meal is to take eggs and boil them.

10.Can you list the principle ingredients of your meal? The principle ingredients of my meal are vegetables and pasta.

2. Text B. Practice 2. P.65

Food taboos are strange…? Consider the headline of the text. Then read the text to find out: − food taboos’ backgrounds: − food taboos do not make sense; − food taboos are economically cost-effective; − what ethnic food taboos are. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 29 June, 2009 1 Food taboos are known from virtually all human societies. Most religions declare certain food items fit and others unfit for human consump- 64 tion. Dietary rules and regulations may govern particular phases of the human life cycle and may be associated in traditional societies with preparation for the hunt, battle, wedding, funeral, etc. On a comparative basis, many food taboos seem to make no sense at all, as to what may be declared unfit by one group may be perfectly acceptable to another. On the other hand, food taboos have a long history and one ought to expect a sound explanation for the existence (and persistence) of certain dietary customs in a given culture. Yet, this is a highly debated view and no single theory may explain why people employ special food taboos. 2 This paper wants to revive interest in food taboo research and attempts a functionalist’s explanation. However, to illustrate some of the complexity of possible reasons for food taboo five examples have been chosen, namely traditional food taboos in orthodox Jewish and Hindu societies as well as reports on aspects of dietary restrictions in communities with traditional lifestyles of Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Nigeria. An 3 ecological or medical background is apparent for many, including some that are seen as religious or spiritual in origin. On the one hand, food taboos can help utilizing a resource more efficiently; on the other food taboos can lead to the protection of a resource. Food taboos, whether scientifically correct or not, are often meant to protect the human individual and the observation, for example, that certain allergies and depression are associated with each other could have led to declaring food items taboo that were identified as causal agents for the allergies. Moreover, any food taboo, acknowledged by a particular group of people as part of its ways, aids in the cohesion of this group, helps that particular group maintain its identity in the face of others, and therefore creates a feeling of «belonging». Background years ago a student asked me the following question: 5 «Why don’t all animals eat the same kinds of food?» This may have sounded a stupid question, but it is not as trivial an enquiry as one might have thought initially. After all, to grow and survive, animals all need the same basic things: carbohydrates, protein, fats, some minerals and water.» So, why do 6 we have this diversity of food specialists on Earth? Why are there herbivores, carnivores, detritivores, insectivores, fungivores, coprophages, xylophages and many more? Although it is true that 7 all heterotrophic organisms need the same fundamental foodstuffs, it is easy to understand that on account of their different sizes, different anatomies, and different habitats, different species must make use of different food sources to satisfy their needs. (http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/5/1/185:18 doi: 10.1186/1746-4269-5-18)

Practice 2. Rearrange the sentences in a logical order and write a summary of the article.

6. Food taboos are known from virtually all human societies.

5. This paper wants to revive interest in food taboo research and attempts a functionalist’s explanation.

4. An ecological or medical background is apparent for many food taboos, including some that are seen as religious or spiritual in origin.

1. Food taboos are often meant to protect the human individual and the observers from certain allergies and depression.

3. «Why don’t all animals eat the same kinds of food?»

2. Why do we have this diversity of food specialists on Earth?

7. It is true that all heterotrophic organisms need the same fundamental foodstuffs.