The English translations of the names of traditional Chinese dishes on menus(菜单) across the country have caused public discussion about the precision(准确) of the translations.

Since more and more foreigners come to China every day, many restaurants around China are providing English translations of their menus. They want to make it easier for foreigners to order Chinese dishes when they travel. Some restaurants also hope that the translations will increase foreigners’ knowledge of Chinese cuisine(烹饪).

But an article in China Youth Daily says the English menu translations haven’t live up to public expectation（期望）. It argues most of the English names of Chinese dishes lack the cultural meaning and attraction of the dishes they describe. Instead, the translations only provide a list of each dish’s ingredients（配方）, the article notes. For example, one English name of a Chinese dish appears as “stir-fried mutton slice with Chinese onion and green scallion(葱爆羊肉)”.

Because the English translation focuses only on the ingredients, it fails to describe the dish’s rich cultural meaning and charm(魅力). The dish’s beautiful Chinese name, “Fo Tiao Qiang(佛跳墙)”, has a story behind it. Buddhist monks (和尚) are required to eat vegetables only , but they can’t resist(忍住)the delicious dish. So they jump over the temple walls to get a taste of the dish.

The article suggests that translators provide more beautiful translations of the names of Chinese dishes. It also notes a more vivid(生动的) English translation is very important to provide international visitors with a better understanding of Chinese cuisine.

1.Why do many restaurants provide English translations of their menu ?

A．Because they want to show their ingredients in dishes.

B．Because the public expect them to do so.

C．Because Chinese dishes are popular.

D．Because it is convenient for foreigners to order food.

2.According to China Youth Daily, what is the main problem of the English menu translation?

A．They are too long to remember.

B．Many of them are not correct.

C．They lack cultural meaning and attraction.

D．They are difficult to learn.

3.What can we infer from the story of “Fo Tiao Qiang” dish?

A．Monks can jump high.

B．Monks lived a poor life.

C．Old China had little meat for people.

D．The dish attracted many people because it’s delicious.

 

The English translations of the names of traditional Chinese dishes on menus(菜单) across the country have caused public discussion about the precision(准确) of the translations.
Since more and more foreigners come to China every day, many restaurants around China are providing English translations of their menus. They want to make it easier for foreigners to order Chinese dishes when they travel. Some restaurants also hope that the translations will increase foreigners’ knowledge of Chinese cuisine(烹饪).
But an article in China Youth Daily says the English menu translations haven’t live up to public expectation（期望）. It argues most of the English names of Chinese dishes lack the cultural meaning and attraction of the dishes they describe. Instead, the translations only provide a list of each dish’s ingredients（配方）, the article notes. For example, one English name of a Chinese dish appears as “stir-fried mutton slice with Chinese onion and green scallion(葱爆羊肉)”.
Because the English translation focuses only on the ingredients, it fails to describe the dish’s rich cultural meaning and charm(魅力). The dish’s beautiful Chinese name, “Fo Tiao Qiang(佛跳墙)”, has a story behind it. Buddhist monks (和尚) are required to eat vegetables only , but they can’t resist(忍住)the delicious dish. So they jump over the temple walls to get a taste of the dish.
The article suggests that translators provide more beautiful translations of the names of Chinese dishes. It also notes a more vivid(生动的) English translation is very important to provide international visitors with a better understanding of Chinese cuisine.
【小题1】Why do many restaurants provide English translations of their menu ?

A．Because they want to show their ingredients in dishes.

B．Because the public expect them to do so.

C．Because Chinese dishes are popular.

D．Because it is convenient for foreigners to order food.

【小题2】According to China Youth Daily, what is the main problem of the English menu translation?

A．They are too long to remember.

B．Many of them are not correct.

C．They lack cultural meaning and attraction.

D．They are difficult to learn.

【小题3】What can we infer from the story of “Fo Tiao Qiang” dish?

A．Monks can jump high.

B．Monks lived a poor life.

C．Old China had little meat for people.

D．The dish attracted many people because it’s delicious.

To face the music

Like every language, American English is full of special expressions, phrases that come from the day-to-day life of the people and develop in their own way. Our expression today is “to face the music”.

When someone says, “well, I guess I’ll have to face the music,” it does not mean he’s planning to go to the concert. It is something far less pleasant, like being called in by your boss to explain why you did this and did that, and why you didn’t do this or that. Sour music indeed, but it has to be faced. At sometime or another, every one of us has had to face the music, especially as children. We can all remember father’s angry voice, “I want to talk to you.” and only because we did not obey him. What an unpleasant business it was!

The phrase “to face the music” is familiar to every American, young and old. It is at least 100 years old. And where did this expression come from? The first explanation comes from the American novelist, James Fenimore Looper. He said, in 1851, that the expression was first used by actors while waiting in the wings to go on the stage. When they got their cue to go on, they often said, “Well, it’s time to face the music.” And that was exactly what they did — facing the orchestra which was just below them. And an actor might be frightened or nervous as he moved on to the stage in front of an audience that might be friendly or perhaps hostile, especially if he forgot his lines. But he had to go out. If he did not, there would be no play. So the expression “to face the music” come to mean “having to go through something, no matter how unpleasant the experience might be, because you knew you had no choice.”

Other explanations about the expression go back to the army. When the men faced an inspection by their leader, the soldiers would be worried about how well they looked. Was their equipment clean, shinny enough to pass the inspection? Still the men had to go out and face the music of the band as well as the inspection. What else could they do? 

Another army explanation is more closely related to the idea of facing the results and accepting the responsibility for something that should not have been done. As, for example when a man is forced out of the army because he did something terrible, he is dishonored. The band does not play. Only the drums tap a sad, slow beat. The soldier is forced to leave, facing such music as it is and facing the back of his horse.

How many ways does the phrase “to face the music” comes from?

A. 1        B. 2        C. 3       D. 4

What’s the meaning of “to face the music?”

A. To face something far less pleasant.

B. To face the stage.

C. To face the back of one’s horse.

D. To face one’s leader.

Which of the following is a situation of facing the music?

A. When we are playing basketball.  

B. When we are making a speech.

C. When we are having a party.

D. When we are talking with somebody. 

The underlined word “hostile” means _______. 

A. unfriendly               B. dislike        C. unkind                     D. unnecessary