If you have English and American friends you will notice a few differences in their customs of eating. For the main or meat course, the English keep the fork in the left hand, point curved down-ward, and bring the food to the mouth either by sticking the points onto it or in the case of soft vegetables, by placing it firmly on the fork in this position with the knife.

　　如果你有一些英国或美国的朋友，你会注意到一些在饮食习惯方面的差异。当主菜上来以后，英国人总是把叉子拿在左手，把弯曲叉尖朝下，并且通过用叉子向下叉将食物送入口中。有的蔬菜比较软，可以用一个刀子协助将它们叉在叉子上再吃。

　　Americans carve the meat in the same position, then lay down the knife and take the fork in the right hand with the point turned up, push it under a small piece of food without the help of the knife and bring it to the mouth right side up.

　　美国人切肉的部位和英国人是相同的，然后他们把刀子放下并且用右手拿叉子，叉尖朝上，并且在不需要刀子帮忙的情况下，把叉子叉到一小块食物上，直接送入口中。

　　If a servant passes food around, he will pass the dish in at your left hand so that you can conveniently serve yourself with your right hand. Never serve yourself while the dish is on your right; it is then the turn of your neighb or on the right. It is polite to take some of everything that is passed to you. But if there is something you may not like, you may quietly say: "No thank you."

　　如果一个服务员在四处传递食物，他会把盘子端到你的左手边，这样你就会很方便地用右手获取食物。请记住：当盘子在你的右手边的时候，一定不要去拿食物，这时候还没有轮到你，而坐在你右边的人这时才能去拿。每样食物都拿一些是很有礼貌的。但是如果有一些你比较反感的东西，你可以轻声说：“不，谢谢。”

责编：林长春