Speak English Around Town Lesson 5 Idioms, Proverbs, Expressions MCQ Test

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Congratulations - you have completed Speak English Around Town Lesson 5 Idioms, Proverbs, Expressions MCQ Test. You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%. Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

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Question 1

You are a waiter (or waitress) at Anita's Restaurant. Choose the appropriate replies to your customers (remember: be polite - you like your job and want to keep it!):

Customer: "You guys are packed to the rafters tonight."

Your reply:

A	"Yes, there's plenty of seating available."
B	"Yes, we can seat you up in the rafters if you want."
C	"Yes, I'm afraid there's going to be a 30 minute wait for a table."

Question 2

Customer: "We've been waiting forever for you to come and take our order!"
Your reply:

A	"Sorry about that. Let me get you some drinks on the house."
B	"You still haven't decided? I'll come back in a few minutes."
C	"Sorry. I was busy helping everybody who came in after you."

Question 3

Customer: "We're going to skip the appetizers tonight."
Your reply:

A	"The calamari is our best appetizer."
B	"Okay/have you decided on a main course?"
C	"Okay, should I just bring the dessert menus?"

Question 4

Customer: "I hope your portions are big. I'm starving!"
Your reply:

A	"Then I suggest our house salad. It's very light."
B	"I recommend just getting an appetizer then."
C	"I suggest the lasagna. It's a very large serving."

Question 5

Customer: "What do you suggest? I'm in the mood for fish."
Your reply:

A	"Try the filet mignon. It's our best steak."
B	"The stuffed chicken special is excellent."
C	"Try the blackened tuna. It's delicious."

Question 6

Customer: "I hear you pride yourselves on your steak."
Your reply:

A	"Yes, we're very proud of our steak."
B	"Yes, we do have steak on the menu."
C	"Yes, our customers are proud to order our steak."

Question 7

Customer: "I can't decide between the fish and the steak."
Your reply:

A	"Then I suggest you spend more time thinking about it."
B	"Then· I suggest you try our vegetarian special."
C	"Then I suggest the surf and turf."

Question 8

Customer: "I've been trying to flag you down for the past IO minutes. Didn't you see me waving?"
Your reply:

A	"Yes, I saw you but I thought you were just saying hello."
B	"No, I'm sorry I didn't notice. It's very crowded here tonight."
C	"No, but I saw you raising your hand."

Question 9

Customer: "Why did you bring us both glasses of red wine? My wife asked for white wine."
Your reply:

A	"I thought she said, 'make it two' when you asked for a glass of white wine."
B	"I thought she said, 'make it two' when you asked for a glass of red wine."
C	"I thought you said, 'a glass of red wine for me and a glass of white wine for her.'"

Question 10

Customer: "We've been waiting 45 minutes for our meals. What's the hold up?"
Your reply:

A	"Sorry. Your meals will be right out."
B	"There's no hold up. Everything is fine."
C	"You got to the restaurant late."

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LESSON 5 – Ordering at a Restaurant

ORDERING AT A RESTAURANT

Tanya and John go to Carmen’s Bistro for dinner. It’s Saturday night and the place is packed! Finally, Kevin, their waiter, comes to take their order.

Tanya: I hope the waiter comes soon. I’m starving!

John: Me too!

Tanya: Why don’t we flag him down?

John: Waiter, waiter!

Kevin: I’ll be right with you! … Sorry for the hold up. We’re packed to the rafters tonight.

John: We noticed!

Kevin: I’m Kevin, and I’ll be your server tonight. Can I start you off with some drinks?

John: I’d like the Sam Adams Summer Ale.

Tanya: Make it two.

Kevin: And did you decide on some appetizers?

John: We’re going to skip the appetizers tonight. What do you recommend for a main course?

Kevin: We’re known for our seafood. The salmon with black bean sauce is our most popular dish.

Tanya: Okay, I’ll try that.

Kevin: Excellent choice. And for you, sir?

John: I’m having trouble deciding. I’m in the mood for steak, but I know you pride yourselves on your seafood.

Kevin: How about trying the surf and turf? That way, you get the best of both worlds!

John: Okay, let’s go with that.

Kevin: I’ll be right back with your drinks. They’re on the house because you had to wait so long to order.

Language Lens: Making Suggestions

These are three great ways to make suggestions:

1) Why don’t we / you / I + base form of the verb*
Examples:
◼ Why don’t we go out for pizza?
◼ Why don’t I drive you to the airport on Friday?
◼ Why don’t we got out to dinner on Saturday?
◼ Why don’t you call the movie theater to see what time the show starts?

* Note: The base form of the verb is the verb without any endings. Examples of verbs in the base form are: run, eat, play, go, find

2) How about + -ing form of the verb
Examples:
◼ How about going sailing this weekend?
◼ How about inviting the Smiths over for a barbeque?
◼ How about studying some French before our trip to Paris?
◼ How about getting Chinese takeout* for dinner?

* Takeout is food you order in a restaurant and take with you, to eat at home, in your office, or somewhere else.

3) Let’s + base form of the verb
Examples:
◼ Let’s take a walk on the beach.
◼ Let’s work on the project tomorrow.
◼ Let’s wait and see how the weather is before making our plans.
◼ Let’s get tickets to a Broadway play.

IDIOMS

(the) best of both worlds

→ the advantages of two things

Example: Waitressing in the evenings gives Sue the best of both worlds: she can attend classes during the day and still earn money.

Can I start you off with ____?

→ Would you like to start your meal with ____?

Example: Welcome to Amici ‘s. Can I start you off with some drinks?

(to) decide on

→ to choose

Example: “Did you decide on a main course yet?” asked the waitress.

(to) flag down (the waiter/waitress)

→ to get the attention of the waiter/waitress
Example: You want another glass of wine? Let’s flag down the waitress.

hold up

→ delay; long wait

Example: We ordered 20 minutes ago. What’s causing the hold up?

NOTE: See Lesson 23 for the verb “to hold up.”

I’ll be right with you

→ I’m coming in a minute

Example: “I’ll be right with you,” said the waitress when she saw me waving to her.

I’m starving

→ I’m very hungry

Example: When we asked Jim why he ordered two steaks, he said, “I’m starving.”

in the mood for

→ to want; to have an appetite for

Example: Let’s go to a seafood restaurant. I’m in the mood for fish.

known for

→ famous for; having a reputation for

Example: Chicago is known for its delicious pizza.

let’s go with

→ I’ll take; let’s proceed with

Example: You recommend the Chardonnay? Okay, let’s go with that.

make it two

→ I’ll have one too; I’ll have the same thing (as the other person just ordered)

Example: “I’ll take a cappuccino.” – “Make it two.”

on the house

→ free; paid for by the restaurant

Example: The waitress offered us after-dinner drinks on the house.

packed to the rafters

→ really crowded

Example: Beth’s Bistro is always packed to the rafters on Saturday nights. If we want to go there, we’d better make reservations.

(to) pride oneself on

→ to be known for; to be especially proud of something

Example: San Francisco prides itself on its fine restaurants.

(to) skip the appetizer(s)

→ to not order appetizers

Example: We’re not that hungry, so we’re going to skip the appetizers.

surf and turf

→ a meal containing both meat and seafood

Example: The waiter said, “Tonight, our special is the surf and turf. It comes with a lobster tail and a New York strip steak.”

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Speak English Around Town Lesson 5 Idioms, Proverbs, Expressions MCQ Test