Class 10 Unit 6 Exercise and Answer | Strange Food from Around the World Answer

Strange Food from Around the World

There's nothing like the feeling of challenging yourself and winning, of taking a risk and having it succeed. That goes with so many things, and one of them is food.

You have to challenge yourself with food when you travel. You have to take chances on things you wouldn't normally even think of eating. This is what it's all about, experiencing the way other people do things, trusting that they know what they are doing. The food stuff that seems so strange to you is actually so delicious to many others. It doesn't always work out. Sometimes the fermented horse milk in Mongolia that sounds so bad really is so bad. However, if you take a chance on the following dishes, you won't be disappointed.

Haggis, Scotland

Oddly enough, when you take all of the parts of a sheep that no one else wants - the heart, the liver and the lungs - grind it up. And, mix it with mutton fat, oatmeal and spices. Then pack it in a sheep's stomach and boil it for a few hours. It tastes.... really good. Scotland isn't exactly known for its cooking and eating skills, but give me "haggis, neeps and tats" (haggis with turnips and potatoes) any day of the week.

Shiokara, Japan

Most Japanese food is simple: it sounds delicious, and it is delicious. But how about raw squid mixed with salty, fermented squid belly? This is shiokara, a Japanese staple, and one I used to hate. However, I'm slowly coming around. Once you get used to it and you have it with good conversation, this food takes on a whole new beauty.

Jellyfish, China

This dish can appear challenging to those of us who only associate jellyfish with the scary nature of some species of them. There's also a rubbery texture to jellyfish that some find a little challenging. However, the Chinese know what they're doing with these things. They mix jellyfish into salads, pair it with chicken, stir it through sesame oil… it's all tasty, and it's all low-fat.

Green ants, Australia

You can keep your witchetty foods, as far as I'm concerned: too soft, too many guts. If I'm going for bush food, it's definitely green ants, little insects that are pulled from trees, lightly crushed between your hands, and then eaten. They're lemony, peppery, and delicious. Local producers are even putting them on top of goat's cheeses now, with lemon myrtle, for extra energy. Seriously good.

Crickets, Thailand

You hear, occasionally, that insects are the protein source of the future, and to that I say: no problem. In northern Thailand, deep-fried crickets are a staple, and they're delicious. They're nutty and crunchy, perfect with salt. I still struggle, however, with the larger insects. Anything that requires more than one bite is a bridge too far for this guy.

Snails, France

Snails aren't unusual - you'll find them on the menu at most French restaurants, even in Australia. However, some people are still nervous about eating garden snails, even though they needn't be. Fried up with plenty of garlic and butter, snail is yummy. Snails, in fact, are eaten in many countries, particularly Vietnam, where fried snails are a very tasty staple dish.

Bun rien, Vietnam

Everything about bun rieu, a traditional Vietnamese soup, sounds good; well, almost everything. It's a crab-based soup mixed with noodles. So far, so delicious. It's then topped with roasted tomatoes, crab meat, stewed pork, lime juice, chilli, fresh herbs, banana flower and bean sprouts. Also, extremely good. Then, however, you drop in a large piece of congealed pig's blood, which is a serious challenge for the unsuspecting diner. My advice: give it a try. You won't regret it.

A. Match the words in 'Column A' with their meanings in 'Column B'.     

Column A	Column B
a. ferment	ii. to go through a chemical change
b. squid	iii. a sea creature that has a long soft body, eight arms and two tentacles around its mouth
c. witchetty	i. a large whitish wood-eating larva of a beetle or moth
d. myrtle	vi. a bush with shiny leaves, pink or white flowers and blue-black berries
e. congeal	iv. to change from a fluid to a solid state
f. nutty	v. having a flavor like that of nuts

B. The idiom 'a bridge too far' in the text means 'something that is too extreme'. Match the following idioms with their meanings.

Answer:

a. get out of hand	iv. to become difficult to control
b. miss the boat	v. to be too late to get what you want
c. break the ice	i. to say or do something to make people feel comfortable
d. cry over spilt milk	iii. to worry over past events which cannot be changed
e. look before you leap	ii. to think about the possible bad results of an  action before doing it

C. Complete the sentences below with the correct information from the text in not more than four words.

Answer:

a. Sometimes even having a food can give us the feeling of excitement when it is like taking a risk.

b. When we travel we have the chance to try foods which we even do not think of eating.

c. The writer became disappointed while having fermented horse milk, which was really bad.

d. The writer's impression of the Japanese food is that it sounds delicious and is delicious.

e. Many people think jellyfish as scary ones which Chinese turn into food.

f. Snails become very tasty when they are fried with garlic and butter.

D. Answer the following questions

a. Why does food become a challenge for people when they travel?

Food becomes a challenge for people when they travel because they have to try new and unfamiliar foods that they wouldn't normally eat.

b. How is haggis prepared?

Haggis is prepared by grinding up the heart, liver, and lungs of a sheep, mixing them with mutton fat, oatmeal, and spices, packing it in a sheep's stomach, and boiling it for a few hours.

c. When do you feel that you like shiokara?

You start to like shiokara when you get used to it and have it with good conversation.

d. Where can people enjoy the bush food?

People can enjoy bush food in Australia, particularly by trying green ants that are pulled from trees and eaten.

e. Why does the writer find it difficult to eat larger insects?

The writer finds it difficult to eat larger insects because they require more than one bite and are a bit challenging to eat.

f. Name the country where snails are served as the main dish.

Snails are served as the main dish in France.

g. What kind of food is bun rieu?

Bun rieu is a crab-based soup mixed with noodles, topped with roasted tomatoes, crab meat, stewed pork, lime juice, chili, fresh herbs, banana flower, and bean sprouts.

h. If you have to choose one of the foods from the list above, which one do you choose? Why?

If I have to choose one food from the list above, I would choose haggis because it sounds interesting and has unique ingredients that might taste really good when combined.

Word Meaning

succeed /səkˈsiːd/

achieve, accomplish

to achieve a desired outcome or goal

food stuff

dishes, cuisine

different types of food or dishes

strange /streɪndʒ/

unusual, odd

not familiar or commonly seen; different or peculiar

delicious /dɪˈlɪʃəs/

tasty, yummy

having a very pleasant taste or flavor

work-out

turn out, result

to have a particular outcome or result

fermented /ˈfərmɛntɪd/

pickled, preserved

subjected to a process of fermentation, usually involving bacteria or yeast, to produce a distinctive taste

raw /rɔː/

uncooked, fresh

not cooked or processed; in its natural state

squid /skwɪd/

calamari, cephalopod

a marine mollusk with a long body, ten tentacles, and a soft, elongated mantle

belly /ˈbɛli/

abdomen, stomach

the front part of the body between the chest and the pelvis

staple /ˈsteɪpl̩/

basic, essential

a basic or essential food item that is regularly consumed

associate /əˈsoʊʃieɪt/

connect, link

to connect or relate one thing to another

jellyfish /ˈdʒɛliˌfɪʃ/

cnidarian, sea creature

a gelatinous marine creature with long, trailing tentacles

scary /ˈskɛri/

frightening, alarming

causing fear or apprehension

rubbery /ˈrʌbəri/

elastic, chewy

having a texture that is elastic or resilient

texture /ˈtɛkstʃər/

consistency, feel

the feel or appearance of a surface or substance

green ants

insects, bugs

small insects with a green color that are consumed as food

witchetty /ˈwɪtʃɪti/

bush tucker, insect larvae

edible insect larvae commonly consumed in certain cultures

guts /ɡʌts/

intestines, innards

the internal organs of an animal, especially the intestines

lemony /ˈlɛməni/

citrusy, tangy

having a taste or aroma similar to that of lemons

peppery /ˈpɛpəri/

spicy, pungent

having a strong, pungent, or spicy flavor or aroma

crickets /ˈkrɪkɪts/

insects, grasshoppers

small insects that belong to the same family as grasshoppers and are often consumed as food

nutty /ˈnʌti/

earthy, crunchy

having a taste or aroma similar to that of nuts

crunchy /ˈkrʌntʃi/

crispy, crisp

having a texture that is firm and makes a sound when bitten

bridge-too-far

excessive, unattainable

something that is beyond what is considered reasonable or achievable

snails /sneɪlz/

escargots, gastropods

small mollusks with a spiral shell that are often cooked and eaten as food

fried /fraɪd/

sautéed, cooked

cooked in hot oil or fat

yummy /ˈjʌmi/

tasty, delicious

very pleasing to the taste or palate

bun rieu

Vietnamese soup, noodle soup

a traditional Vietnamese soup made with crab and noodles

congealed /kənˈdʒild/

solidified, coagulated

changed from a liquid to a solid state

pig's blood

blood pudding, black pudding

a food product made from the blood of a pig that is solidified

unsuspecting /ˌʌnsəˈspɛktɪŋ/

unaware, unprepared

not aware or prepared for something unexpected

Extra Questions to Practice

What makes trying new and strange foods a challenge when traveling? ▼

Trying new and strange foods can be a challenge because they might have different tastes and textures than what we are used to.

Why is it important to take chances and try different foods when traveling? ▼

It's important to take chances and try different foods when traveling because it allows us to experience the culture and traditions of other people.

What is haggis and how is it prepared? ▼

Haggis is a Scottish dish made by grinding up the heart, liver, and lungs of a sheep, mixing it with mutton fat, oatmeal, and spices, and cooking it inside a sheep's stomach.

Why do some people find certain foods strange but others find them delicious? ▼

Different people have different tastes and preferences, so what may seem strange to one person might be delicious to another.

How does shiokara, a Japanese dish, become enjoyable over time? ▼

Shiokara becomes enjoyable over time as we get used to its taste and enjoy it in the company of good conversation.

What are some unique ways that jellyfish is used in Chinese cuisine? ▼

Jellyfish is mixed into salads, paired with chicken, and stirred through sesame oil in Chinese cuisine.

What are green ants and how are they eaten in Australia? ▼

Green ants are little insects that are pulled from trees, lightly crushed, and eaten in Australia. They have a lemony and peppery taste.

Why are crickets considered a staple food in northern Thailand? ▼

Crickets are considered a staple food in northern Thailand because they are rich in protein and can be deep-fried to make a delicious and crunchy snack.

How are snails prepared and enjoyed in France? ▼

Snails are fried with plenty of garlic and butter, which makes them a tasty dish enjoyed in French restaurants.

What is bun rieu and what ingredients are used to make it? ▼

Bun rieu is a traditional Vietnamese soup made with crab, noodles, roasted tomatoes, crab meat, stewed pork, lime juice, chili, fresh herbs, banana flower, and bean sprouts.

Why is trying bun rieu a challenge for some people? ▼

Trying bun rieu can be a challenge for some people because it contains a large piece of congealed pig's blood, which might seem unusual or different to them.

How does challenging ourselves with food help us understand other cultures? ▼

Challenging ourselves with food helps us understand other cultures by allowing us to experience their traditions, tastes, and ways of life.

Why do some foods that seem strange to us taste delicious to others? ▼

Foods that seem strange to us may taste delicious to others because different cultures have different culinary traditions and flavor preferences.

How can trying new and unusual foods expand our culinary horizons? ▼

Trying new and unusual foods can expand our culinary horizons by introducing us to different flavors, ingredients, and cooking techniques.

Why is it important to trust that people from other cultures know what they are doing with their food? ▼

It's important to trust that people from other cultures know what they are doing with their food because they have been preparing and enjoying their traditional dishes for generations.

What can we learn about a culture through its traditional dishes? ▼

We can learn about a culture's history, geography, and values through its traditional dishes, as they often reflect the resources available and the cultural significance of certain ingredients.

Why is it okay to have different food preferences? ▼

It's okay to have different food preferences because everyone's taste buds are unique, and what one person enjoys may not be the same for someone else.

How can trying new foods be an exciting adventure? ▼

Trying new foods can be an exciting adventure because it allows us to explore new flavors, textures, and cultural experiences.

What are some benefits of being open-minded about food? ▼

Being open-minded about food allows us to appreciate different cultures, expand our palate, and develop a sense of curiosity and appreciation for diverse culinary traditions.