Level 2 · Reading series
Lesson 5 · A Small Speech Before Lunch
Audio track 05
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
Good afternoon, everyone. Before we eat, I want to talk about our lunch waste.
Last week, our class threw away more food than any other class in our grade. I know some days are difficult. Maybe you do not like one dish, or maybe you are not very hungry.
But please take only what you can eat. If you are not sure, start with a smaller amount. You can ask for more later.
Saving food is not only good for the planet. It also shows respect for the people who cooked it.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
大家下午好。吃饭之前，我想谈谈我们班浪费午餐的问题。
上周，我们班扔掉的食物比同年级其他任何班都多。我知道有些日子并不容易：也许你不喜欢某道菜，也许你并不是很饿。
不过，请只拿自己吃得下的量。如果拿不准，就先少拿一点。之后还可以再添。
珍惜食物不仅对地球有益，也表达了对做饭的人的尊重。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- speech
- 演讲；文中是午餐前面向全班的发言。
- waste
- 浪费；lunch waste 指午餐食物的浪费。
- threw away
- 扔掉；throw away 的过去式。
- more ... than any other
- 比其他任何……都多；用于比较同一年级的班级。
- grade
- 年级；our grade 是‘我们所在的年级’。
- dish
- 一道菜；文中指午餐里不喜欢的菜。
- amount
- 数量；a smaller amount 是‘少一点的量’。
- ask for more
- 再要一些；如果仍然饿，可以再添。
- not only A
- 不仅……；常与 also 连用，补充第二个好处。
- respect
- 尊重；文中指尊重为大家做饭的人。
Background notes (Chinese)
减少食物浪费不等于强迫自己吃完过量的食物。课文提出更实际的做法：先取适量，如果还饿，再取一些。这样既照顾自己的食量，也珍惜准备食物所花的心力。