Japanese food to get UNESCO status ( 27 October 2013)

BEFORE READING 

TASTIEST: Rank these according to the tastiest to least tastiest cuisine.

• Japanese   • French   • American   • Mexican

• Indian   • Chinese   • Italian   • Thai

1. SYNONYM MATCH:Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	important	a.	meals
2	cuisine	b.	linked
3.	heritage	c.	special
4.	dishes	d.	all around
5.	unique	e.	significant
6.	healthy	f.	necessary
7.	throughout	g.	good for you
8.	role	h.	cooking
9.	associated	i.	part
10.	essential	j.	tradition

The United Nations is going to put traditional Japanese food on its list of important world cuisines. It will be the fifth time for UNESCO to give a country's or region's food its cultural heritage status. French, Mediterranean, Mexican and Turkish food are already on the list. Traditional Japanese food is called 'Washoku'. It is very famous for its variety. It ranges from sushi (raw fish on rice) to ramen noodles, tempura and sukiyaki. Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs said it wants to put all of its food on the list, not just one or two famous dishes. The agency said Japanese food is special because of its artistic presentation. It also uses unique ingredients. Many dishes are important because they celebrate the four seasons.


'Washoku' is very healthy and has a good balance of minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and protein. It is one of the reasons why Japanese people live for so long. It also helps to keep obesity levels low. The cuisine is also important as different meals throughout the year help to bring families and communities together. Food plays an important role in many ceremonies that mark seasonal traditions. The menu for New Year's celebrations, rice-planting events and harvest festivals are all very different. Japan's government said food helps Japanese people keep a strong sense of culture. It also said 'Washoku' is closely "associated with an essential spirit of respect for nature."

COMPREHENSION

1. TRUE / FALSE:Read the headline. Guess if  a-h  below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	The U.N. will give modern Japanese food a special prize.	T / F
b.	Five other cuisines are already on the UNESCO list.	T / F
c.	Japan doesn't want only sushi andsukiyaki to be on the U.N. list.	T / F
d.	A cultural agency said Japanese food is presented in an artistic way.	T / F
e.	The Japanese diet is well balanced and good for a long life.	T / F
f.	Japanese cuisine helps keep communities apart.	T / F
g.	Rice-planting food and New Year's food are the same in Japan.	T / F
h.	'Washoku' is connected with a respect for nature.	T / F