第二版Unit 4 A Food Tour of the United States
One of the most intriguing features of American cooking is its variety. The traveler who crosses the U.S. by bus or by car will find the food as worthy of attention as the scenery -- and full of unexpected surprises, too. For American cooking at its best is regional in character.
Except for turkey at Thanksgiving, no single dish has gained wide enough popularity in the U. S. to become a symbol for the country as a whole. Each region sets its table with a different specialty. These regional specialties capture the flavor and aroma and express the character of a particular locality（同一句中的横线表示连起来看）. For instance, Cape Cod, a summer resort on the Atlantic Ocean, is famous for its clambakes, a seafood feast pulled ocean-fresh from the Atlantic and cooked over an outdoor fire on the beach. New Orleans is known for its jambalaya, a spicy dish of rice, ham, shrimp, and tomatoes. And Boston, where the winters are long and cold, is called \baked beans, a mixture of dried beans, salt pork, brown sugar, and molasses. Mixed in an iron pot and baked for hours in a slow oven, this dish is hearty and nutritious. Americans say, \ Being regional, these dishes feature the vegetables, fruits, meats, poultry, and seafood that are locally available. And since local conditions -- the soil, climate, and topography -- vary a great deal in the U.S., as might be expected in the world's fourth largest country, the result is a national food menu on which most of the world's favorite foods are listed.
Seafood of all kinds is abundant in the states that border the oceans or possess lake and river systems. Shrimp, crab, and lobster, as well as fresh fish are all mealtime favorites. Citrus fruit -- oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes -- are produced in Florida and California. The fruit groves in these states supply most of the frozen juice and sun-ripened fruit that grace the breakfast tables of the nation. Across the landlocked states in the Midwest stretch endless corn and wheat fields, rippling in the wind as far as the eye can see. These grains are used to make bread, cereal, and cooking oil. The region is called \breadbasket of the nation.\For vegetables, California is America's most bountiful state. It is first in the production of broccoli, asparagus, tomatoes, carrots, grapes, lettuce, peaches, and pears, and a variety of other foods. Where is meat produced? In Texas, of course. That's where you can see all those tender roasts, steaks and chops.
True enough, all these foods are available at your local supermarket. But they have been canned, frozen, or packaged in some way and shipped many miles by rails or by truck. Wouldn't it be a treat to journey to the source, the point of origin, where the raw materials for great cooking begin? Pulled from the ocean or gathered farm fresh, this produce would be transformed by a local chef into a memorable dish fit for a king. After such a trip, what a gallery of memories the traveler would cherish! I recall, for example, a marvelous breakfast I enjoyed at a hotel in Charleston, South Carolina. The food was served buffet style from a
long table. The first dish on the table was a bowl of grits, a Southern specialty made of cornmeal. The waiter served the grits in big spoonfuls, heaping several pats of butter on top. Then came a large pan of salted beef in cream sauce. It was surrounded by dishes of spiced apples, bacon, and park sausages. Eggs, sunny-side up, were next on the line. Beyond the eggs was a Virginia ham. Further down the table were stacks of toast and plates of pancakes topped with maple syrup or honey and melted butter.
The traveler who would like to sample the real flavor of American cooking must explore the country as a whole. There are five distinct regions in all. Each has its own characteristic dishes. There is the Northeast, stretching from Maine to Maryland, which is famous for its seafood; the south, which includes Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and neighboring states, where Southern fried chicken, collard(羽衣甘蓝，羽衣甘蓝叶（作蔬菜用）) greens, corn-bread, and black-eyed peas are popular; the Midwest or plains states of North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, and Kansas which specialize in fine breads and pastries; the Mountain Sates of Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, where wild game such as deer and pheasant are found; and the Southwest states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, where barbecued food is a regional specialty.
Doesn't each of these regions deserve a visit by the traveler who enjoys good food?
Language Notes
at one's best:
处在最佳状态,处于全盛时期；在最出色的状态下; (演员)达到个人最高水平; (花等)在盛
开期
at the best of times: adv. 在最有利的情况下 at one's eloquent best: 将口才发挥得淋漓尽致
At her best, she's a really stylish player.
He was never at his best early in the morning.
hearty:
adj. A hearty meal is large and very satisfying 满意的；丰富的
a hearty chowder. 营养丰富的杂烩
stick to your ribs:
（食物）撑人而且有营养的； [美俚](丰美的食物) 撑人肚皮；填满肚子
feature:
v. When something such as a film or exhibition features a particular person or thing, they are an important part of it. 以?为主要内容/特色
buffet:
n. 自助餐 火车饮食柜台 车站快餐部
grits:
n. (plural -- pl.). Grits are coarsely ground grains of corn which are cooked and eaten for breakfast or as part of a meal in the southern United States 粗玉米粉，玉米渣（美国南部常食用）
grace:
v. If you say that something graces a place or a person, you mean that it makes them more attractive. 为?增色；使更加优美
treat:
n. If you say, for example, that something looks or works a treat, you mean that it looks very good or works very well. 乐事, 乐趣；使人愉快的事；快乐的事情 A day in the country is a real treat for a city person.
对一个生活在城市中的人来说，在乡下呆上一天真是一件乐事
spiced: spice+ed
spice: n.调味品；香料；情趣;
v.用香料调味；给?增添趣味
bacon:
n. 培根 熏猪肉 咸猪肉 腊肉
sunny-side up:
煎一面荷包蛋；sunny-side up eggs荷包蛋
toast:
n. Toast is bread which has been cut into slices and made brown and crisp by cooking at a high temperature. 烤面包
vi. When you toast something such as bread, you cook it at a high temperature so that it becomes brown and crisp. 烘烤（面包片等）
syrup:
n. 糖浆，糖汁 糖浆类药品 甜蜜的情感 果汁，甜汁
pastry: [pl. pastries]
n. 糕点( pastry的名词复数) 面粉制的糕点；面点； 油酥糕点； 油酥面团； 油酥面皮
pheasant: n. 雉；野鸡
1. tour到?进行旅游、巡视 a bridal tour新婚旅行 a foreign tour国外旅行
a tour of inspection视察旅行 circular tour周游, 环行 collective tour团体旅行 inspection tour巡回检查
package tour由旅行社代办全部事宜的观光旅游
2. variety变化, 多样性
He brought home a variety of snacks. 带回家许多种零食 He didn't come for a variety of reasons 他因种种原因没来。
She made the children glad in a variety of ways. 她用各种方法使孩子们高兴。 3. worthy of attention 值得注意 /风景, 景色
They will prove worthy of the Party's trust.他们不会辜负党对他们的信任。 He is worthy to have a place in the team.他配成为该球队的队员。 This book is worthy of being read [to be read]. 这本书值得一读。 4. scenery风景：尤指乡村中的自然景色： I like mountain scenery very much. 我很喜欢山景。
He enjoyed the varied mountain scenery. 欣赏不同的山景 landscape山水风景画[摄影] the spring landscape春天的风景 a landscape of snow雪景 a landscape in oil风景油画 5. unexpected 未预料到的
The experiment produced some unexpected results. Her death was totally unexpected.
Hague's announcement was not entirely unexpected. 6. regional in character带有地方特色的
in character 相符的：与特性或行为相符的：
His behavior was totally in character. 他的行为与特性完全相符 out of character 不相符的：与特性或行为不相符的：
The response was so much out of character that it amazed me. 回答与其性格如此不符，使我感到吃惊
7. except与besides意义不同。 “We all agreed except him.”表示“我们都同意, 只有他不同意。”“We all agreed besides him.”表示“我们都同意, 他也同意。” 8. turkey火鸡
9. Thanksgiving感恩节：十一月的第四个星期四，在美国是法定节日，用以纪念1621年在普利茅斯清教徒殖民者和万帕诺亚格人的节日，以感谢上帝赐予丰收和健康为特征
10. gain wide enough popularity 足以广为流行
The mayor enjoys [win] general popularity享盛名, 受欢迎, 得众望 Enough: [用于被修饰语之后]十分地; 足够地; 充分地
I am warm enough. 我够暖和了。
The meat is not cooked enough. 这肉未烧到火候。 He was fool enough to agree. 他同意了, 真够傻的。
He didn't run fast enough to catch the train.他跑得不够快, 没赶上火车。 [修饰名词时, 放在名词前后均可] 充足的, 足够的
There is enough food [food enough] for everybody. 有足够的食物供大家吃。 11. popularity
The popularity of the Internet has soared.
The president's popularity has declined considerably. 12. symbol象征, 符号, 记号
White is the symbol of purity. 白是纯洁的象征。
The symbol on the packet is a guarantee that the food has been produced organically. 记号
Fe is the chemical symbol for iron. 符号
Space exploration provides a symbol of national pride. 象征 13. as a whole 总体上
He disliked the acting but enjoyed the play as a whole. 他不喜欢表演但整体上喜欢这个剧
14. set the table/lay the table摆放桌子(=put knives, forks etc on a table before a meal) clear the table (=take all the plates, glasses etc off). 15. specialty特色菜
French pastry is the chef's specialty. 这个厨师的特色菜是法式面点
16. capture the flavour and aroma and express the character of a particular place保存了色香味又展示了地方特色
flavour 滋味, 有特色的味道
a flavor of smoke in bacon熏肉的烟味
It contains no artificial flavors. 不含人工香料 aroma芳香, 香气, 香味 the aroma of garlic and onions. 大蒜和洋葱的气味 the aroma of roses. 玫瑰的芳香 17. capture
引起（注意）并吸引住：
tales of adventure that capture the imagination. 引起想象的探险故事 成功地长久保存：
capture a likeness in a painting. 保存一幅油画中的人物肖像
18. New Orleans新奥尔良(美国港市), 新奥尔良：美国路易斯安那州东南部城市，位于密西西比河和庞恰特雷恩湖之间。1718年建立，1722年成为法国殖民地的首都并于1803年作为路易斯安那交易的一部分移交美国管理。然而，法国的影响支配着这个城市，特别是在教学法事和狂欢节的庆祝活动中。新奥尔良是路易斯安那州最大的城市。人口496,938
19. Jambalaya 什锦饭：一种用大米和虾和牡蛎、火腿或鸡肉烹制而成并用调味品和香料调味的克里奥尔食品
20. a spicy dish of辛辣的, 加香料的
21. ham 火腿 , shrimp小虾, tomato西红柿,
22. Boston波士顿(美国马萨诸塞州首府), 波士顿：美国马萨诸塞州首府和最大城市，位于该州的东部，马萨诸塞湾的一个海湾波士顿湾 上。建于17世纪，是18世纪反对英国暴动的领导中心和19世纪废奴思想的强烈支持者。现在是一个主要的商业、金融和教育中心。人口574,283
23. baked bean（加番茄酱等制的）烘豆, dried bean干豆, salt pork咸肉, brown sugar红糖, molasses糖浆,
24. mixture混合, 混合物, 混合剂
The day was a mixture of sun and clouds. 那天是晴时多云 His new play is a mixture of saddness and humour. 他的新剧本融悲哀和幽默于一体。
Air is a mixture, not a compound of gases. 空气是气体的混合物, 不是化合物。 25. oven烤箱, 烤炉, 灶