Задание №23075 ЕГЭ по Английскому языку

Dining Etiquette

Recently, my friend Nicky was contemplating her performance as a mother. Her three boys had completed their education without major mishaps and were successfully employed. A triumph! However, when they sat down for dinner together, their table manners were abysmal. It resembled a chaotic feeding frenzy at the zoo. Nicky lamented, "How did I forget to teach them proper table manners?"

Nicky's reflection prompted me to evaluate the state of dining etiquette in my own home. The Daughter has yet to master the art of placing her knife and fork together at the conclusion of a meal. The Boy eats with the voracity of Henry VIII, but not in an impressive, regal manner. He would spear a sausage with his fork, lift it up, and gnaw at both ends. Despite my persistent nagging, Tom remains largely unfamiliar with the purpose of a knife even after 15 years of reminders that it's meant for cutting food. My son, much like his peers, attempts to consume any dish with just a fork or even his bare hands. The knife is increasingly viewed as an optional utensil. Finger buffets, once reserved for weddings, have become a perpetual occurrence.

Frankly, I blame myself. While I successfully instilled the importance of "please" and "thank you" in both children, I neglected to emphasize the consumption of meat. Instead, I fed them the contemporary childhood staples: carrots, rice, pasta, and sauce. No knives necessary.

During Sunday lunch last week, I urged the Boy to switch the fork to his left hand, hold the knife in his right hand, and push his peas onto the back of the fork. Is that too much to ask? In response, he emitted an existential snort befitting a teenager. "Why would I want to do that?" he inquired. "Because. Because table manners are... very important," I helplessly replied.

Are they truly important? Absolutely. Manners define a person. At least, that's what I was taught during my own childhood, where every meal felt like a trial. Elbows off the table! Don't speak with your mouth full! Don't hold your knife like a pen! Ask for permission before leaving the table! Don't chew loudly! Where's your napkin?

And heaven forbid you left food on your plate. We were the offspring of frugal individuals who grew up during wartime, and food was a solemn matter, not to be trifled with or wasted. Back then, picky eaters did not exist: you would be confined to a room until you finished five Brussels sprouts.

Today's parents lack both the stomach and the time for such battles of will. Carolyn, a primary school teacher at one of London's prestigious preparatory schools, informs me that it is not uncommon for students to arrive without knowing how to use cutlery. She believes it's partly due to the prevalence of finger foods.

However, I have identified another potential culprit: the kitchen island. It is not uncommon to find family members, adults and children alike, standing around the island, grazing on various foods. They can't be bothered to sit at the table, assuming they still have one. Recent research indicates that six out of ten meals consumed in British households are eaten in front of the television. Fortunately, there are no statistics for individuals like mine who are content to dine in bed.

Does all of this signify the end of civilization as we know it, or is it simply a shift in family dynamics with more casual eating habits? Will my beloved son ever learn to place his peas on the back of a fork and conform to the standards of polite society, or has polite society rudely resorted to picking up fries with their fingers?

I will forever pester my children about such matters because they reflect civility, self-control, and yes, my mother was indeed correct: speaking with a full mouth is impolite.