Тест 56. Чтение. ЕГЭ по английскому языку

1) Установите соответствие между заголовками 1 — 8 и текстами A — G. Используйте каждую цифру только один раз. В задании один заголовок лишний.

1. Beautiful water
2. The jewel of Rome
3. Rome layout
4. Built on seven hills
5. From the history of Rome
6. Highs and lows
7. Climate in Rome
8. Key facts

A. Rome is an important historic city of Italy. Rome is located in the central part of the Italian peninsula, on the Tiber River about 15 miles (24 km) inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea. Once the capital of an ancient republic and empire whose armies were so powerful, now it is the spiritual and physical seat of the Roman Catholic Church and the site of major pinnacles of artistic and intellectual achievement. The city area is 496 square miles; the population is more than 3 million people.

B. For well over a millennium, Rome controlled the life of all civilizations known to Europe, but then it fell into dissolution and disrepair. Physically, economically, politically and militarily helpless by the late Middle Ages, Rome nevertheless remained a world power as an idea. The force of Rome as a lawgiver, teacher, and builder continued to radiate throughout Europe. Rome found glory as the head of Christianity and the capital for arts and eventually won back its power and wealth.

C. The ancient centre of Rome is divided into 22 districts, the names of most dating back to Classical times, while surrounding it are 35 urban sectors that began to be officially absorbed into the municipality after 1911. Within the city limits on the western and northwestern fringes are six large suburbs. About 6 miles (10 km) out from the centre of the city, a belt highway makes a huge circle around the capital, tying together the antiquated roads that led to ancient Rome.

D. Rome’s hot, dry summer days, with high temperatures often above 24 °C, are frequently cooled in the afternoons by a west wind that rises from the Tyrrhenian Sea. The city receives roughly 30 inches (750 mm) of precipitation annually; spring and autumn are the rainiest seasons. Frosts and occasional light snowfalls punctuate the otherwise mild winters, when high temperatures average just above 10 °C. A cold, dry wind from the north frequents the city in the winter.

E. The main street in central Rome is Via del Corso, an important thoroughfare since Classical times, when it was the Via Flaminia, the road to the Adriatic. Its present name comes from the horse races that were part of the Roman carnival celebrations. From the foot of the Capitoline Hill, the Corso runs to the Piazza del Popolo and through a gate in the city wall, the Porta del Popolo, there to resume its ancient name. It’s a must to see for any visitor to Rome.

F. Rome is as much a city of fountains as it is of churches or palaces, antiquities or urban problems. The more than 300 monumental fountains are an essential part of Rome’s seductive powers. They are points of personal, often sentimental attachment to the city and have been a source of inspiration for many people of art throughout the history of mankind. They also provide a sense of luxury. One cannot turn them off as they flow all the time.

G. The Roman countryside, also known as the Campagna, was one of the last areas of central Italy to be settled in antiquity. It is important to mention that Rome was built on a defensible hill that dominated the last downstream, high-banked river crossing. This hill, Palatine Hill, was one of a group of hills, traditionally counted as seven, around which the ancient city grew. The other hills are the Capitoline, the Quirinal, the Viminal, the Esquiline, the Caelian, and the Aventine.

A	B	C	D	E	F	G

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2) Прочитайте текст и заполните пропуски A — F частями предложений, обозначенными цифрами 1 — 7. Одна из частей в списке 1—7 лишняя.

Chinese tea house in Moscow The bright building on Myasnitskaya Street in Moscow stands out among others and attracts the attention of passers-by with its non-typical elements for Russian architecture. The tea house resembles a Chinese pagoda and it is considered to be the real office of a company that was involved in tea trade.

This house in the Chinese style was built for the tea merchant Sergei Vasilievich Perlov ___ (A) in order to establish his own business. He bought the land on Myasnitskaya Street in the centre of Moscow in 1875, ___ (B) in 1891. The construction was finished by 1893. The first floor was for Perlov’s tea shop, ___ (C) profitable apartments for rent and the host’s own family.

The front side of the newly built house was redecorated in the Chinese style after several years. A little tower in the form of a pagoda appeared ___ (D) molded dragons, snakes, Chinese umbrellas and lanterns. Some materials for decoration were even brought directly from China. It was made before the visit of the Chinese Ambassador Li Hongzhang, ___ (E) Nikolai II and Alexandra Fyodorovna coronation. The merchant Perlov thought that it might be useful for his tea business ___ (F) at this house. He preferred the house of Perlov’s brother and competitor. But thanks to this case now there is a beautiful exotic building right in the city centre, as if it came right from another part of the world.

1. who was going to visit Moscow for
2. who left the family tea trade company
3. and the other two floors were used for
4. and began to build the new house on it
5. and the front side was decorated with
6. which was imported mainly from China
7. but the Ambassador did not in fact stay

A	B	C	D	E	F

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3) Прочитайте текст и запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Показать текст. ⇓

British food Foreigners often laugh at the British. They say, “In Britain you get hot chips with everything!” But even the British don’t eat chips with their meals. To prove that, we decided to let you read an extract from a letter written by Pete Phrase, the chief cook at Daphne’s in London, to his foreign friends.

“…I am always both amused and annoyed when I hear foreign people criticise British food. “It’s unimaginative,” they say. “It’s boring, it’s tasteless with totally overcooked vegetables.” I have a theory about British cooking, and I was interested to read that several famous cookery writers agree with me. My theory is this. Our basic ingredients, when fresh, are so full of flavour that we haven’t had to invent sauces and complex recipes to disguise their natural taste. What can compare with fresh peas or new potatoes just boiled (not overboiled) and served with butter? Why drown spring lamb in wine or cream or yoghurt and spices, when with just one or two herbs it is absolutely delicious?

If you ask foreigners to name some typically English dishes, they will probably say “fish and chips” and then stop. It is disappointing, but true, that there is no tradition in Britain of eating in restaurants, because our food doesn’t lend itself to such preparation. British cooking is found in the home, where it is possible to time the dishes to perfection. So it is difficult to find a good English restaurant with reasonable prices.

It is for these reasons that we haven’t exported our dishes, but we have imported a surprising variety of cuisines from all over the world. In most cities in Britain you’ll also find Indian, Chinese, French and Italian restaurants. In London you’ll also find Indonesian, Lebanese, German, Spanish, Mexican, Greek… Cynics will say that this is because we have no “cuisine” ourselves, but, well, you know what I think!”

Traditional British food is usually described as plain, conservative and unvaried. There are many popular jokes about it. “The British Empire was created as a by-product of generations of desperate Englishmen roaming the world in search of a decent meal,” remarks American journalist Bill Marsano.

Indeed, classic British dishes are not too dainty, but they are nourishing, natural and tasty, a lot of attention here is paid to the food quality. Residents of Great Britain prefer local food to imported products, so nearly all fish, milk and meat products are produced within the country and vegetables are grown by local farmers.

Meals during a day in Britain traditionally include breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. Dinner is always the most substantial meal during the day. For dinner the British often have soup and then the main course, such as meat, poultry or fish with vegetables or mashed potatoes. It is followed by a dessert, for example, the most ubiquitous apple pie. Meat dishes are presented in British cuisine in a large variety. Probably, the most delicious of them is succulent roast beef, which is grilled and served with vegetables, roast potatoes or Yorkshire pudding. Apart from beef, the British cook steaks of pork, lamb and sometimes turkey or chicken.

Supper in Britain is the last meal of the day, and usually it consists of something light, for example, a bowl of cream soup, naturally, often skipped.

As for drinks, it’s impossible to imagine British cuisine without tea. Contrary to popular belief, tea is not always served with milk. The British drink tea with and without sugar, with lemon, cinnamon, honey and so on. But tea and milk is a classic combination, not a favourite of mine, though.”

It often seems to foreigners that British food
1) hasn’t been cooked long enough.
2) doesn’t include raw vegetables.
3) often tastes too hot and spicy.
4) is lacking in variety of dishes.

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4) Прочитайте текст и запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Показать текст. ⇓

British food Foreigners often laugh at the British. They say, “In Britain you get hot chips with everything!” But even the British don’t eat chips with their meals. To prove that, we decided to let you read an extract from a letter written by Pete Phrase, the chief cook at Daphne’s in London, to his foreign friends.

“…I am always both amused and annoyed when I hear foreign people criticise British food. “It’s unimaginative,” they say. “It’s boring, it’s tasteless with totally overcooked vegetables.” I have a theory about British cooking, and I was interested to read that several famous cookery writers agree with me. My theory is this. Our basic ingredients, when fresh, are so full of flavour that we haven’t had to invent sauces and complex recipes to disguise their natural taste. What can compare with fresh peas or new potatoes just boiled (not overboiled) and served with butter? Why drown spring lamb in wine or cream or yoghurt and spices, when with just one or two herbs it is absolutely delicious?

If you ask foreigners to name some typically English dishes, they will probably say “fish and chips” and then stop. It is disappointing, but true, that there is no tradition in Britain of eating in restaurants, because our food doesn’t lend itself to such preparation. British cooking is found in the home, where it is possible to time the dishes to perfection. So it is difficult to find a good English restaurant with reasonable prices.

It is for these reasons that we haven’t exported our dishes, but we have imported a surprising variety of cuisines from all over the world. In most cities in Britain you’ll also find Indian, Chinese, French and Italian restaurants. In London you’ll also find Indonesian, Lebanese, German, Spanish, Mexican, Greek… Cynics will say that this is because we have no “cuisine” ourselves, but, well, you know what I think!”

Traditional British food is usually described as plain, conservative and unvaried. There are many popular jokes about it. “The British Empire was created as a by-product of generations of desperate Englishmen roaming the world in search of a decent meal,” remarks American journalist Bill Marsano.

Indeed, classic British dishes are not too dainty, but they are nourishing, natural and tasty, a lot of attention here is paid to the food quality. Residents of Great Britain prefer local food to imported products, so nearly all fish, milk and meat products are produced within the country and vegetables are grown by local farmers.

Meals during a day in Britain traditionally include breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. Dinner is always the most substantial meal during the day. For dinner the British often have soup and then the main course, such as meat, poultry or fish with vegetables or mashed potatoes. It is followed by a dessert, for example, the most ubiquitous apple pie. Meat dishes are presented in British cuisine in a large variety. Probably, the most delicious of them is succulent roast beef, which is grilled and served with vegetables, roast potatoes or Yorkshire pudding. Apart from beef, the British cook steaks of pork, lamb and sometimes turkey or chicken.

Supper in Britain is the last meal of the day, and usually it consists of something light, for example, a bowl of cream soup, naturally, often skipped.

As for drinks, it’s impossible to imagine British cuisine without tea. Contrary to popular belief, tea is not always served with milk. The British drink tea with and without sugar, with lemon, cinnamon, honey and so on. But tea and milk is a classic combination, not a favourite of mine, though.”

According to Pete Phrase, the British haven’t invented complex recipes because they
1) prefer to use mainly basic ingredients.
2) appreciate the original taste of the products.
3) use a variety of sauces and spices for flavour.
4) always choose only fresh components.

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5) Прочитайте текст и запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Показать текст. ⇓

British food Foreigners often laugh at the British. They say, “In Britain you get hot chips with everything!” But even the British don’t eat chips with their meals. To prove that, we decided to let you read an extract from a letter written by Pete Phrase, the chief cook at Daphne’s in London, to his foreign friends.

“…I am always both amused and annoyed when I hear foreign people criticise British food. “It’s unimaginative,” they say. “It’s boring, it’s tasteless with totally overcooked vegetables.” I have a theory about British cooking, and I was interested to read that several famous cookery writers agree with me. My theory is this. Our basic ingredients, when fresh, are so full of flavour that we haven’t had to invent sauces and complex recipes to disguise their natural taste. What can compare with fresh peas or new potatoes just boiled (not overboiled) and served with butter? Why drown spring lamb in wine or cream or yoghurt and spices, when with just one or two herbs it is absolutely delicious?

If you ask foreigners to name some typically English dishes, they will probably say “fish and chips” and then stop. It is disappointing, but true, that there is no tradition in Britain of eating in restaurants, because our food doesn’t lend itself to such preparation. British cooking is found in the home, where it is possible to time the dishes to perfection. So it is difficult to find a good English restaurant with reasonable prices.

It is for these reasons that we haven’t exported our dishes, but we have imported a surprising variety of cuisines from all over the world. In most cities in Britain you’ll also find Indian, Chinese, French and Italian restaurants. In London you’ll also find Indonesian, Lebanese, German, Spanish, Mexican, Greek… Cynics will say that this is because we have no “cuisine” ourselves, but, well, you know what I think!”

Traditional British food is usually described as plain, conservative and unvaried. There are many popular jokes about it. “The British Empire was created as a by-product of generations of desperate Englishmen roaming the world in search of a decent meal,” remarks American journalist Bill Marsano.

Indeed, classic British dishes are not too dainty, but they are nourishing, natural and tasty, a lot of attention here is paid to the food quality. Residents of Great Britain prefer local food to imported products, so nearly all fish, milk and meat products are produced within the country and vegetables are grown by local farmers.

Meals during a day in Britain traditionally include breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. Dinner is always the most substantial meal during the day. For dinner the British often have soup and then the main course, such as meat, poultry or fish with vegetables or mashed potatoes. It is followed by a dessert, for example, the most ubiquitous apple pie. Meat dishes are presented in British cuisine in a large variety. Probably, the most delicious of them is succulent roast beef, which is grilled and served with vegetables, roast potatoes or Yorkshire pudding. Apart from beef, the British cook steaks of pork, lamb and sometimes turkey or chicken.

Supper in Britain is the last meal of the day, and usually it consists of something light, for example, a bowl of cream soup, naturally, often skipped.

As for drinks, it’s impossible to imagine British cuisine without tea. Contrary to popular belief, tea is not always served with milk. The British drink tea with and without sugar, with lemon, cinnamon, honey and so on. But tea and milk is a classic combination, not a favourite of mine, though.”

Which statement is NOT true according to Pete Phrase?
1) Foreigners know few English dishes.
2) The English prefer home cooked dishes.
3) Prices in English restaurants are low.
4) The English are good at cooking.

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6) Прочитайте текст и запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Показать текст. ⇓

British food Foreigners often laugh at the British. They say, “In Britain you get hot chips with everything!” But even the British don’t eat chips with their meals. To prove that, we decided to let you read an extract from a letter written by Pete Phrase, the chief cook at Daphne’s in London, to his foreign friends.

“…I am always both amused and annoyed when I hear foreign people criticise British food. “It’s unimaginative,” they say. “It’s boring, it’s tasteless with totally overcooked vegetables.” I have a theory about British cooking, and I was interested to read that several famous cookery writers agree with me. My theory is this. Our basic ingredients, when fresh, are so full of flavour that we haven’t had to invent sauces and complex recipes to disguise their natural taste. What can compare with fresh peas or new potatoes just boiled (not overboiled) and served with butter? Why drown spring lamb in wine or cream or yoghurt and spices, when with just one or two herbs it is absolutely delicious?

If you ask foreigners to name some typically English dishes, they will probably say “fish and chips” and then stop. It is disappointing, but true, that there is no tradition in Britain of eating in restaurants, because our food doesn’t lend itself to such preparation. British cooking is found in the home, where it is possible to time the dishes to perfection. So it is difficult to find a good English restaurant with reasonable prices.

It is for these reasons that we haven’t exported our dishes, but we have imported a surprising variety of cuisines from all over the world. In most cities in Britain you’ll also find Indian, Chinese, French and Italian restaurants. In London you’ll also find Indonesian, Lebanese, German, Spanish, Mexican, Greek… Cynics will say that this is because we have no “cuisine” ourselves, but, well, you know what I think!”

Traditional British food is usually described as plain, conservative and unvaried. There are many popular jokes about it. “The British Empire was created as a by-product of generations of desperate Englishmen roaming the world in search of a decent meal,” remarks American journalist Bill Marsano.

Indeed, classic British dishes are not too dainty, but they are nourishing, natural and tasty, a lot of attention here is paid to the food quality. Residents of Great Britain prefer local food to imported products, so nearly all fish, milk and meat products are produced within the country and vegetables are grown by local farmers.

Meals during a day in Britain traditionally include breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. Dinner is always the most substantial meal during the day. For dinner the British often have soup and then the main course, such as meat, poultry or fish with vegetables or mashed potatoes. It is followed by a dessert, for example, the most ubiquitous apple pie. Meat dishes are presented in British cuisine in a large variety. Probably, the most delicious of them is succulent roast beef, which is grilled and served with vegetables, roast potatoes or Yorkshire pudding. Apart from beef, the British cook steaks of pork, lamb and sometimes turkey or chicken.

Supper in Britain is the last meal of the day, and usually it consists of something light, for example, a bowl of cream soup, naturally, often skipped.

As for drinks, it’s impossible to imagine British cuisine without tea. Contrary to popular belief, tea is not always served with milk. The British drink tea with and without sugar, with lemon, cinnamon, honey and so on. But tea and milk is a classic combination, not a favourite of mine, though.”

The word this in Paragraph 4 (“... this is because we have no “cuisine” ourselves ...”) refers to the fact that
1) there are a lot of immigrants in Britain.
2) all the best food in Britain is foreign.
3) various foreign food is available in London.
4) the British share their dishes with the world.

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7) Прочитайте текст и запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Показать текст. ⇓

British food Foreigners often laugh at the British. They say, “In Britain you get hot chips with everything!” But even the British don’t eat chips with their meals. To prove that, we decided to let you read an extract from a letter written by Pete Phrase, the chief cook at Daphne’s in London, to his foreign friends.

“…I am always both amused and annoyed when I hear foreign people criticise British food. “It’s unimaginative,” they say. “It’s boring, it’s tasteless with totally overcooked vegetables.” I have a theory about British cooking, and I was interested to read that several famous cookery writers agree with me. My theory is this. Our basic ingredients, when fresh, are so full of flavour that we haven’t had to invent sauces and complex recipes to disguise their natural taste. What can compare with fresh peas or new potatoes just boiled (not overboiled) and served with butter? Why drown spring lamb in wine or cream or yoghurt and spices, when with just one or two herbs it is absolutely delicious?

If you ask foreigners to name some typically English dishes, they will probably say “fish and chips” and then stop. It is disappointing, but true, that there is no tradition in Britain of eating in restaurants, because our food doesn’t lend itself to such preparation. British cooking is found in the home, where it is possible to time the dishes to perfection. So it is difficult to find a good English restaurant with reasonable prices.

It is for these reasons that we haven’t exported our dishes, but we have imported a surprising variety of cuisines from all over the world. In most cities in Britain you’ll also find Indian, Chinese, French and Italian restaurants. In London you’ll also find Indonesian, Lebanese, German, Spanish, Mexican, Greek… Cynics will say that this is because we have no “cuisine” ourselves, but, well, you know what I think!”

Traditional British food is usually described as plain, conservative and unvaried. There are many popular jokes about it. “The British Empire was created as a by-product of generations of desperate Englishmen roaming the world in search of a decent meal,” remarks American journalist Bill Marsano.

Indeed, classic British dishes are not too dainty, but they are nourishing, natural and tasty, a lot of attention here is paid to the food quality. Residents of Great Britain prefer local food to imported products, so nearly all fish, milk and meat products are produced within the country and vegetables are grown by local farmers.

Meals during a day in Britain traditionally include breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. Dinner is always the most substantial meal during the day. For dinner the British often have soup and then the main course, such as meat, poultry or fish with vegetables or mashed potatoes. It is followed by a dessert, for example, the most ubiquitous apple pie. Meat dishes are presented in British cuisine in a large variety. Probably, the most delicious of them is succulent roast beef, which is grilled and served with vegetables, roast potatoes or Yorkshire pudding. Apart from beef, the British cook steaks of pork, lamb and sometimes turkey or chicken.

Supper in Britain is the last meal of the day, and usually it consists of something light, for example, a bowl of cream soup, naturally, often skipped.

As for drinks, it’s impossible to imagine British cuisine without tea. Contrary to popular belief, tea is not always served with milk. The British drink tea with and without sugar, with lemon, cinnamon, honey and so on. But tea and milk is a classic combination, not a favourite of mine, though.”

American journalist Bill Marsano implies that
1) the British initially conquered lands to get better food.
2) the creation of the British empire was a long process.
3) the life of the British at home used to be very hard.
4) while travelling the British suffered from hunger.

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8) Прочитайте текст и запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Показать текст. ⇓

British food Foreigners often laugh at the British. They say, “In Britain you get hot chips with everything!” But even the British don’t eat chips with their meals. To prove that, we decided to let you read an extract from a letter written by Pete Phrase, the chief cook at Daphne’s in London, to his foreign friends.

“…I am always both amused and annoyed when I hear foreign people criticise British food. “It’s unimaginative,” they say. “It’s boring, it’s tasteless with totally overcooked vegetables.” I have a theory about British cooking, and I was interested to read that several famous cookery writers agree with me. My theory is this. Our basic ingredients, when fresh, are so full of flavour that we haven’t had to invent sauces and complex recipes to disguise their natural taste. What can compare with fresh peas or new potatoes just boiled (not overboiled) and served with butter? Why drown spring lamb in wine or cream or yoghurt and spices, when with just one or two herbs it is absolutely delicious?

If you ask foreigners to name some typically English dishes, they will probably say “fish and chips” and then stop. It is disappointing, but true, that there is no tradition in Britain of eating in restaurants, because our food doesn’t lend itself to such preparation. British cooking is found in the home, where it is possible to time the dishes to perfection. So it is difficult to find a good English restaurant with reasonable prices.

It is for these reasons that we haven’t exported our dishes, but we have imported a surprising variety of cuisines from all over the world. In most cities in Britain you’ll also find Indian, Chinese, French and Italian restaurants. In London you’ll also find Indonesian, Lebanese, German, Spanish, Mexican, Greek… Cynics will say that this is because we have no “cuisine” ourselves, but, well, you know what I think!”

Traditional British food is usually described as plain, conservative and unvaried. There are many popular jokes about it. “The British Empire was created as a by-product of generations of desperate Englishmen roaming the world in search of a decent meal,” remarks American journalist Bill Marsano.

Indeed, classic British dishes are not too dainty, but they are nourishing, natural and tasty, a lot of attention here is paid to the food quality. Residents of Great Britain prefer local food to imported products, so nearly all fish, milk and meat products are produced within the country and vegetables are grown by local farmers.

Meals during a day in Britain traditionally include breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. Dinner is always the most substantial meal during the day. For dinner the British often have soup and then the main course, such as meat, poultry or fish with vegetables or mashed potatoes. It is followed by a dessert, for example, the most ubiquitous apple pie. Meat dishes are presented in British cuisine in a large variety. Probably, the most delicious of them is succulent roast beef, which is grilled and served with vegetables, roast potatoes or Yorkshire pudding. Apart from beef, the British cook steaks of pork, lamb and sometimes turkey or chicken.

Supper in Britain is the last meal of the day, and usually it consists of something light, for example, a bowl of cream soup, naturally, often skipped.

As for drinks, it’s impossible to imagine British cuisine without tea. Contrary to popular belief, tea is not always served with milk. The British drink tea with and without sugar, with lemon, cinnamon, honey and so on. But tea and milk is a classic combination, not a favourite of mine, though.”

The word substantial (“Dinner is always the most substantial meal ...”) in Paragraph 7 is synonymous to
1) fattening.
2) nourishing.
3) delicious.
4) balanced.

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9) Прочитайте текст и запишите в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному Вами варианту ответа.

Показать текст. ⇓

British food Foreigners often laugh at the British. They say, “In Britain you get hot chips with everything!” But even the British don’t eat chips with their meals. To prove that, we decided to let you read an extract from a letter written by Pete Phrase, the chief cook at Daphne’s in London, to his foreign friends.

“…I am always both amused and annoyed when I hear foreign people criticise British food. “It’s unimaginative,” they say. “It’s boring, it’s tasteless with totally overcooked vegetables.” I have a theory about British cooking, and I was interested to read that several famous cookery writers agree with me. My theory is this. Our basic ingredients, when fresh, are so full of flavour that we haven’t had to invent sauces and complex recipes to disguise their natural taste. What can compare with fresh peas or new potatoes just boiled (not overboiled) and served with butter? Why drown spring lamb in wine or cream or yoghurt and spices, when with just one or two herbs it is absolutely delicious?

If you ask foreigners to name some typically English dishes, they will probably say “fish and chips” and then stop. It is disappointing, but true, that there is no tradition in Britain of eating in restaurants, because our food doesn’t lend itself to such preparation. British cooking is found in the home, where it is possible to time the dishes to perfection. So it is difficult to find a good English restaurant with reasonable prices.

It is for these reasons that we haven’t exported our dishes, but we have imported a surprising variety of cuisines from all over the world. In most cities in Britain you’ll also find Indian, Chinese, French and Italian restaurants. In London you’ll also find Indonesian, Lebanese, German, Spanish, Mexican, Greek… Cynics will say that this is because we have no “cuisine” ourselves, but, well, you know what I think!”

Traditional British food is usually described as plain, conservative and unvaried. There are many popular jokes about it. “The British Empire was created as a by-product of generations of desperate Englishmen roaming the world in search of a decent meal,” remarks American journalist Bill Marsano.

Indeed, classic British dishes are not too dainty, but they are nourishing, natural and tasty, a lot of attention here is paid to the food quality. Residents of Great Britain prefer local food to imported products, so nearly all fish, milk and meat products are produced within the country and vegetables are grown by local farmers.

Meals during a day in Britain traditionally include breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. Dinner is always the most substantial meal during the day. For dinner the British often have soup and then the main course, such as meat, poultry or fish with vegetables or mashed potatoes. It is followed by a dessert, for example, the most ubiquitous apple pie. Meat dishes are presented in British cuisine in a large variety. Probably, the most delicious of them is succulent roast beef, which is grilled and served with vegetables, roast potatoes or Yorkshire pudding. Apart from beef, the British cook steaks of pork, lamb and sometimes turkey or chicken.

Supper in Britain is the last meal of the day, and usually it consists of something light, for example, a bowl of cream soup, naturally, often skipped.

As for drinks, it’s impossible to imagine British cuisine without tea. Contrary to popular belief, tea is not always served with milk. The British drink tea with and without sugar, with lemon, cinnamon, honey and so on. But tea and milk is a classic combination, not a favourite of mine, though.”

The main aim of the text is to
1) give food for thought.
2) disprove stereotypes.
3) advertise British food.
4) criticise foreign cuisines.

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