Level 3 · Reading series
Lesson 51 · A Question at the Dinner Table
Audio track 51
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
At dinner with my host family, Maya's father asked, “Would you like more rice?” I said yes. A few minutes later, he asked again. I thought he had not heard my first answer, so I repeated it loudly.
Maya smiled and quietly explained that the bowl on the table was for sharing. Her father was offering me another serving, not asking the same question again. I had already eaten one bowl without noticing.
I laughed at my mistake and said, “Yes, please, but just a little.” Later, I asked Maya how to offer food politely at their table. The words were simple. Understanding the action behind them had taken me longer.
Sentence practice
Play any sentence in Dicvo’s Jenny English voice. Before playing all, choose how many times each sentence plays. A practice pause about as long as the sentence follows each play, including before the next sentence. The complete reading remains above.
Choose a sentence to begin.
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At dinner with my host family, Maya's father asked, “Would you like more rice?” I said yes.
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A few minutes later, he asked again.
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I thought he had not heard my first answer, so I repeated it loudly.
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Maya smiled and quietly explained that the bowl on the table was for sharing.
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Her father was offering me another serving, not asking the same question again.
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I had already eaten one bowl without noticing.
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I laughed at my mistake and said, “Yes, please, but just a little.”
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Later, I asked Maya how to offer food politely at their table.
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The words were simple.
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Understanding the action behind them had taken me longer.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
和寄宿家庭一起吃晚饭时，玛雅的父亲问：‘还要些米饭吗？’我说要。几分钟后，他又问了一遍。我以为他没听见第一次回答，便大声重复。
玛雅笑了笑，轻声解释说，桌上的饭碗是大家共用的。她父亲是在问我要不要再添一份，并不是重复刚才的问题；我没留意自己已经吃完一碗。
我笑着承认弄错了，说：‘好呀，谢谢，不过一点点就够。’后来，我问玛雅，在他们家吃饭时该怎样礼貌地请人添饭。那些词都很简单，我却花了更久才理解话语背后的动作。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- host family
- 寄宿家庭；接待主人公生活的家庭。
- would you like ...?
- 想要……吗；这里询问是否再添饭。
- repeat
- 重复；主人公以为要重说答案。
- loudly
- 大声地；他误以为对方没听见。
- quietly
- 轻声地；玛雅解释餐桌习惯。
- share
- 分享、共用；饭碗是大家一起用的。
- offer
- 主动给；父亲在请他再添一份。
- serving
- 一份；已吃一碗，还可再添。
- notice
- 注意到；主人公没留意已吃过一碗。
- politely
- 礼貌地；后来询问怎样请人添饭。
Background notes (Chinese)
即使听懂一句话的每个词，也可能没理解它在当时的用意。这里重复的问句指的是‘再来一份’，主人公需要结合餐桌上的共用饭碗和已经吃完的一碗来理解。