Costumbres alimentarias alrededor del mundo
Explora los horarios de las comidas, los modales en la mesa y las tradiciones gastronómicas de distintos lugares. Descubre cómo los pequeños hábitos pueden hacer que compartir una comida sea especial.
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Questions with solutions-
1. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Qué están esperando los comensales?
At a family dinner, everyone has food except one guest. The others wait before they start eating.
- For everyone to receive their food
- For everyone to finish their food
- For everyone to order more food
Uno de los invitados aún no está listo para comer.
Show solution
- For everyone to receive their food
Esperar hasta que les hayan servido a todos es una forma común de hacer que los invitados se sientan incluidos.
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2. Completa el espacio en blanco.
In many Italian cafes, a cappuccino and a sweet pastry are a common ___, enjoyed at the start of the day.
- dinner
- breakfast
- lunch
Piensa en la primera comida del día.
Show solution
In many Italian cafes, a cappuccino and a sweet pastry are a common breakfast, enjoyed at the start of the day.
Un capuchino combina café espresso con leche caliente y espuma de leche.
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3. Elige la respuesta correcta.
According to this custom, which hand should you eat with?
At a meal in an Indian home, the host eats with the right hand. In this family, the left hand is used for personal hygiene rather than eating.
- The left hand
- Both hands together
- The right hand
Notice which hand the host uses.
Show solution
- The right hand
This custom is common in many Indian families, but habits vary. Washing your hands before eating is important too.
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4. Elige la respuesta correcta.
What takes the place of a fork in this meal?
At an Ethiopian meal, meat and vegetable dishes sit on injera, a soft, flat bread. Diners tear off pieces of injera to pick up the food.
- A piece of meat
- A piece of injera
- A vegetable
One food helps diners lift the other foods.
Show solution
- A piece of injera
Injera is both part of the meal and a way to eat it. Its dough is left to ferment, giving it a slightly sour taste.
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5. Elige la respuesta correcta.
Si el visitante sigue la rutina de sus anfitriones, ¿cómo cambiará la hora de la cena?
A visitor from the United States usually eats dinner in the early evening. The hosts in Spain normally eat dinner later in the evening.
- Dinner will be earlier than usual.
- Dinner will be at the usual time.
- Dinner will be later than usual.
Compara la rutina habitual del visitante con la de sus anfitriones.
Show solution
- Dinner will be later than usual.
En España es común cenar más tarde, aunque los horarios varían entre familias y lugares.
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6. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Cuál es un aspecto importante de la fika?
In Sweden, fika is a break for coffee or another drink, often with something sweet. Friends or coworkers use this time to enjoy each other's company.
- Taking time to talk and relax
- Finishing a large evening meal
- Eating alone as quickly as possible
Piensa en por qué las personas pasan este tiempo juntas.
Show solution
- Taking time to talk and relax
La fika puede tener lugar en casa o en el trabajo; la pausa para socializar importa tanto como la bebida.
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7. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Cuándo se come la comida principal en esta rutina?
In many Mexican households, comida is the main meal, eaten in the afternoon. Cena, the evening meal, may be lighter.
- In the morning
- In the afternoon
- Late at night
Aquí, la comida principal y la cena son diferentes.
Show solution
- In the afternoon
La comida principal no siempre es la cena. Los horarios de trabajo y de la escuela también pueden influir en la rutina de una familia.
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8. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Qué comida esperarías encontrar en este té de la tarde?
Traditional afternoon tea in Britain includes small sandwiches, cakes, and tea. It is separate from the main evening meal.
- Only sweet food, with no sandwiches
- One large main dish, with no cakes
- Small portions of both sweet and savory food
Los pasteles son dulces, pero los sándwiches generalmente no lo son.
Show solution
- Small portions of both sweet and savory food
La comida salada no es dulce. El té de la tarde también puede incluir scones servidos con mermelada y crema.
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9. Completa el espacio en blanco.
During Ramadan, Muslims who fast do not eat or drink from dawn until sunset. The meal called iftar begins ___.
- after sunset
- before dawn
- at midday
This meal comes when the day's fast ends.
Show solution
During Ramadan, Muslims who fast do not eat or drink from dawn until sunset. The meal called iftar begins after sunset.
Many people break the fast with dates and water before continuing their meal.
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10. Completa el espacio en blanco.
In some Chinese families, birthday noodles are served without being cut. Their length expresses a wish for a ___.
- successful career
- large family
- long life
Relaciona la longitud de los fideos con el deseo de cumpleaños.
Show solution
In some Chinese families, birthday noodles are served without being cut. Their length expresses a wish for a long life.
Estos suelen llamarse fideos de la longevidad. La comida puede transmitir un buen deseo, además de proporcionar alimento.
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11. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Qué demuestra el hecho de esperar en esta costumbre?
At a traditional Korean family meal, younger people often wait for the oldest person to take the first bite before they begin.
- Concern that the food is too hot
- Respect for older family members
- A wish to avoid sharing the meal
El orden depende de las edades de los comensales.
Show solution
- Respect for older family members
La edad puede influir en los modales en la mesa en Corea, aunque cada familia puede seguir hábitos diferentes.
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12. Elige la respuesta correcta.
What would normally follow the cheese in this meal?
In a traditional French meal with several courses, cheese is often served after the main dish but before dessert.
- Dessert
- The main dish
- An appetizer
Notice the order of the courses.
Show solution
- Dessert
Cheese can be a separate course rather than an appetizer. Not every French meal includes this course.
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13. Elige la respuesta correcta.
Why might the host ask the visitor to move their chopsticks?
In Japan, chopsticks standing upright in rice are linked to ceremonies for people who have died. During lunch, a visitor leaves their chopsticks in this position.
- The position means the visitor wants more rice.
- The position tells the host that lunch was delicious.
- The position has a meaning connected with death.
An ordinary lunch is different from the ceremony described.
Show solution
- The position has a meaning connected with death.
A small chopstick rest provides a suitable place to set chopsticks down between bites.
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14. Elige la respuesta correcta.
What should you check to avoid an unexpected charge?
In some Portuguese restaurants, bread and olives arrive before you order. They may cost extra if you eat them, even though you did not ask for them.
- Whether the olives contain pits
- Whether the bread and olives are free
- Whether the bread was baked that morning
Food placed on the table is not always free.
Show solution
- Whether the bread and olives are free
Together, these starters are often called a couvert. Asking about the cost before eating them can prevent confusion.
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15. Elige la respuesta correcta.
Your favorite piece is on the far side of the dish. What should you do to follow this custom?
At a shared meal in a Moroccan home, each person takes food from the part of the dish nearest to them. Food directly in front of other guests is left for those guests.
- Take food from your own side instead.
- Reach across and take the piece from the far side.
- Turn the dish to bring another guest's portion toward you.
Sharing a dish does not mean taking food from every part of it.
Show solution
- Take food from your own side instead.
A shared dish can still give each diner their own eating space. Following the host's example helps you understand the custom.