It’s long been a question asked by holidaymakers: why does airplane food taste so bad? However, it seems – surprisingly enough – the chef isn’t to blame. It’s not actually the quality of the meals served that’s at fault – it’s passengers’ taste buds, according to research.

‘At 35,000 feet, the first thing that goes is your sense of taste,’ explains Grant Mickels, the executive chef for culinary development of Lufthansa’s LSG Sky Chef. Apparently the ingredients aren’t to blame after all. Regardless of which meal you’re eating – from fish, meat, and even pasta – it will taste ‘so dull in the air’ compared to on the ground.

Mickels’ findings back up research carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute, a German research organisation, trying out dishes at sea level and in a pressurised condition. The tests revealed the cabin atmosphere combined with the dry cabin air ‘makes your taste buds go numb, almost as if you had a cold,’ Mickels told Conde Naste Traveler. And passengers’ perception of saltiness and sweetness drops by around 30 per cent at high altitude. The decreased humidity in the cabin also dries out your nose and dulls the olfactory sensors essential for tasting the flavour of an ingredient or dish.

It comes after separate research revealed the sort of noise we are subjected to inside aircraft cabin affects taste buds, reducing our sense of saltiness and sweetness – and increasing crunchiness.

To test the theory, 48 diners were blindfolded and fed sweet foods such as biscuits or salty ones such as crisps, while listening to silence or noise through headphones at Unilever’s laboratories and the University of Manchester. Each volunteer rated the foods for flavour and said how much they liked them. Background noise led to the foods being rated less salty or sweet. They were also perceived as more crunchy.

source: Daily Mail

to blame – hibáztatni valakit
to be at fault – ő a hibás
taste buds – ízlelőbimbók
regardless of – elketintve valamitől
dull – semmilyen, unalmas
at sea level – tengerszinten
pressurised condition – nyomásszabályzott környezetben
to go numb – elzsibbadni
perception – érzékelés
olfactory sensors – szagreceptorok
to be subjected to – ki van téve valaminek
to be blindfolded – bekötik a szemét
to rate something for – értékelni valamit bizonyos szempontból
background noise – háttérzaj

Find the right ending for the sentences. 

1. Research shows that airplane food tastes bad because

a) people perceive taste differently at high altitude.
b) people in flight are anxious and have no appetite.
c) the chefs can’t cook at high altitude.

2. Things taste different than usual

a) if you’re blindfolded.
b) in a pressurized cabin.
c) at sea level.

3. The flavours used in tests were

a) sour and sweet.
b) sweet and bitter.
c) salty and sweet.

4. The olfactory system is responsible for perceiving

a) flavours.
b) humidity.
c) saltiness.

5. Passengers at high altitude thought that the crunchiness of the food

a) had decreased.
b) was the same.
c) had increased.

answers: 1-a 2-b 3-c 4-a 5-c

Sprinkles introduced its 24-hour cupcake cash machine on Manhattan’s Upper East Side on Tuesday. The company, which helped spawn the nationwide cupcake trend, has the ATMs in Beverly Hills, Atlanta, Chicago and Dallas.

New Yorkers will now have 24-hour access to the cupcakes that started the nationwide cupcake trend thanks to a new pink ATM that dispenses baked goods instead of cash. Sprinkles opened its cupcake ATM on Manhattan’s Upper East Side on Tuesday. While it’s the Big Apple’s inaugural ATM, Sprinkles has installed the brightly colored machines in Beverly Hills, Atlanta, Chicago and Dallas.

Customers may choose from flavors such as red velvet, peanut buttercup, lemon meringue and Cuban coffee. Up to four of the generously portioned treats may be purchased at one time. They cost $4.25 each. ‘Once a customer chooses a flavor they want, the robotic arm goes to that location, pulls the cupcake, keeps it level in its perfect little box and delivers it to the door and there you go,’ Mara Weber of Sprinkle Cupcakes told WCBS. Curious customers eager to see the strange machine lined up at its unveiling Tuesday to get a glimpse and a taste.

But there were plenty for everyone since the machines can hold an impressive 760 cupcakes. According to the Sprinkles Facebook page, some of those cupcakes will hide a major prize inside. They include one Amex gift card for $500, 100 gift cards for a dozen cupcakes, and a free Spinkles party in the bake shop’s party room.

source: Daily Mail

to install – üzembe helyezni, felszerelni, létesíteni, beszerelni
ATM – (automated-teller mahcine) pénzautomata, bank automata
to dispense – kiadni, kiosztani
CUPCAKE – muffin, minitorta
to introduce – bevezet, meghonosít, divatba hoz
to spawn – itt: elterjeszt, szétszór
nationwide – országos szintű, nemzeti
access to sg – hozzáférés valamihez
goods – termék, áru
inaugural – megnyitó, fölavató, egy sorozat első elemeként
flavor – íz
velvet – bársony
meringue – habos, habcsók (sült cukrozott tojáshab)
generously portioned – nagylelkűen méretezett, bőkezűen adagolt
treat – édesség, finomság, nyalánkág
to purchase – vásárolni, megvenni
eager to do sg – lelkes, hogy tegyen valamit, alig várja, hogy tehessen valamit
unveiling – leleplezés, felavatás
to get a glimpse – megpillantani
plenty – sok

A pretty teenager is so scared of most foods she eats almost nothing except tinned spaghetti. Slender Leah Frost, 17, a college student from Leeds, has munched only on the stringy snack since she was a child.

Her mother Yvonne has tried everything to persuade her daughter to have a varied diet, including therapy, but nothing has worked. The only other foods Leah has been persuaded to add to her limited menu are chips, bread, cheese and sponge cake. Yet despite her poor high-carb diet Leah remains a svelte size eight.

Leah said: “If someone puts something down in front of me and I know it isn’t right it makes me feel anxious and scared to eat it. Even with the food I do eat it has to be right. Like with chips – I can’t just eat any chips. It puts me in some difficult situations when I’m out with my friends because a lot of them don’t know how bad my phobia is.”

to be scared of – félni valamitől, megrémülni valamitől
almost nothing – szinte semmi(t)
tinned – konzerv, tartósított
to munch – eszik csámcsogva, rágcsál, élvezettel eszik
stringy – madzagszerű, szálas, nyúlós, itt: spagetti szó helyett
to persuade sy to do sg – rávesz valakit, hogy valamit csináljon, meggyőz
varied diet – változatos étrend
including – beleértve, magába foglalva
to be persuaded to do sg – meg van győzve, hogy csináljon valamit
sponge cake – piskóta
despite sg – valami ellenére
high-carb diet – magas szénhidráttartalmú étkezés
svelte size eight – karcsú nyolcas méret (kb. 34-36)
anxious – itt: szorongó, pánikoló
any chips – itt: bármilyen csipsz
to put sy in a difficult situation – valakit nehéz helyzetbe hozni
phobia – fóbia

source: Mirror

Match the expressions with the definitions. 

1. to munch

2. varied diet

3. sponge cake

4. high-carb diet

5. tinned food

a, Eating various kinds of food

b, Preserved food in a specal can.

c, A very light cake made of flour, sugar, beaten eggs.

d, To chew food audibly or to eat with pleasure.

e, Eating foods having a high carbohydrate content.

answers: 1. d; 2. a; 3. c; 4. e; 5. b

Italian Spaghetti

Ingredients: 

– 1/2 pound Italian sausage (20 dkg)

– 4 cans tomato sauce

– 1 can diced tomatoes

– 2 bay leaves

– 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

– 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

– 1 teaspoon dried basil

– 1 teaspoon dried oregano

– salt and pepper to taste

– 1  package spaghetti

– Check All Add to Shopping List

Directions:

1. In a large pan, fry sausage over medium heat; drain and set aside.

2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, bay leaves, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, basil, oregano, salt, pepper and Italian sausage; mix well.

3. Simmer over medium-low heat for at least one hour

4. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes; drain.

5. Mix sauce with hot pasta; serve.

Liam Whelan, 16, was told he needed to be 18 to buy them after a self-service till barred payment.

A stunned Liam said: “I went over to the self-service till and scanned the teaspoons and the machine wouldn’t let me pay.

“A member of staff came over and asked how old I was, I showed him my moped licence but he said that I needed to be 18.”

Liam said he felt ‘embarrassed’ by the whole ordeal at the store’s Haslingden branch in Lancashire near to his home.

He said: “It was embarrassing enough buying teaspoons, but to get refused was even worse. I wasn’t with anyone but the supermarket was busy and I did know some of the other customers.”

Liam’s step-mum Yvette Whelan said: “I’d asked Liam to go round and pick up some teaspoons because he and his brother lose them.

"When he said they wouldn’t serve him because he wasn’t 18, I just couldn’t believe it. How silly, he had his moped licence on him but as he is 16 they wouldn’t serve him.”

A Tesco spokesman said: “We do include a till prompt for proof of age on our self-service tills for some items.

"We ask our colleagues to use their judgment as to whether this should be applied. In this instance, this was not followed and we apologise to our customer for any inconvenience caused.”

refuse – elutasít, visszautasít
teaspoon – teáskanál, kiskanál
need to be – kell lenni(e)
self-service till – önkiszolgáló kassza
to bar payment – letilt fizetést, visszautasítja a kifizetést
stunned – megdöbbent, meghökkent
to scan – átvilágít, szeknnel, itt: végighúzza a pénztár „csipogóján”
wouldn’t let sy do sg – nem enged valakit tenni valamit
member of staff – személyzet
to come over – odajön
moped licence – moped (kismotor) jogosítvány
embarrassed – zavarba jött, kellemetlenül érzi magát
ordeal – megpróbáltatás, kellemetlen, fájdalmas élmény
branch – egy áruházlánc boltja, üzlete
embarrassing – zavarba ejtő, kellemetlenül érintő
to get refused – visszautasítva lenni
even worse – még rosszabb
customer – vásárló
pick up – felvesz, felszed, itt: elmegy és megvesz
silly – buta, ostoba
had his moped licence on him / have sg on sy – nála van, itt: nála volt a moped jogosítványa
prompt – jelzés, figyelmeztetés
proof of age – életkor igazolása
item – egység, árucikk
colleague – kolléga
judgment – itélőképesség, megítélés, véleményezés
to apply – alkalmaz, használ, érvényesít,
instance – példa, eset
to apologise to our customer for any inconvenience / apologise to sy for sg – elnézést kérni valakitől, valamiért, itt: a vásárlótól a kellemetlenségért

Rewrite the sentences in reported speech into direct speech. (possible original sentences)

1. Liam was told he needed to be 18 to buy them.

What did they tell him? ’You …..’

2. A member of staff asked Liam how old he was.

What did the staff-member ask? ’How…..”

3. Liam said he felt embarrassed.

What did Liam say? ’I …..’

4. Liam told his step-mum they wouldn’t serve him because he wasn’t 18.

What did Liam tell his step-mom? ’They …..’

answers:

1. ’You need to be 18 to buy them.’
2. ’How old are you?’
3. ’I feel embarrassed.’
4. ’They wouldn’t (won’t) serve me beacuse I am not 18.’

]]> https://www.5percangol.hu/news_of_the_world/eletre-kelt-a-lego-rendr/ Mon, 07 Oct 2013 10:14:27 +0000 https://cmsteszt.5percangol.hu/eletre-kelt-a-lego-rendr/

Constable looks just like new Lego policeman model, Hampshire

A constable was stunned when he saw Lego’s new model policeman because it looks exactly like him – right down to his collar number. Now PC Rob Thomas, 48, is being teased by his colleagues about the remarkable mini me, which even shares his moustache. Father-of-two PC Thomas said the coincidence was so bizarre he even asked Lego about the new figure. But they told him the matching shoulder number – 1337 – and the policeman’s features had been designed purely by chance.

He said: "One of my colleagues collects the Lego figures and found my doppelganger as he opened the latest bag. He texted me about it and then when I clocked in for my next shift, there was the little Lego fellow waiting for me in my work tray. I think the likeness is amazing, especially with the matching moustache. I just think it’s amazing he’s got the same number and bears such a resemblance to me – it really is astonishing. There’s been a lot of banter about my resemblance to this old British bobby. My colleagues have been sending me lots of emails with photos of him attached. I think it’s a great bit of fun and the figure has pride of place in my work tray. My family think the whole thing is hilarious and my wife Sandra thinks it’s highly entertaining having her husband immortalised in plastic too."

PC Thomas, who has a 14-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son, said he was a fan of Lego as a child. The limited edition ‘Constable’ mini figure, complete with hat and truncheon, has just been released as part of Series 11, a collection of 13 toys. PC Thomas’s colleague PCSO Ian Nicholson, a keen Lego collector, spotted the toy’s similarity. He said: "I couldn’t believe it when I saw this little copper even had Rob’s shoulder number. It even looks like him, which is quite funny."

LEGO spokesperson Emma Owen said: "We are completely astounded and thrilled that the Constable from the Series 11 LEGO Minifigures has found its very own life size doppelganger in Hampshire. From Skydivers to Sea Captains, all LEGO Minifigure characters created by our top toy designers from around the world are completely unique. This means the odds of this happening are extremely rare. The fact that PC Thomas and the Constable share the same badge number is just the icing on the cake."

source: Solent News

constable – közrendőr
stunned – döbbent
to tease – ugratni vkit
mini me – kicsinyített mása
moustache – bajusz
coincidence – véletlen egybeesés
feature – jellegzetesség, tulajdonság
by chance – véletlenül
doppelganger – alteregó
to clock in – bejelentkezni műszakba
work tray – munkatálca (pl. abba teszik be az elintézendő feladatokat)
likeness – hasonlóság
resemblance – hasonlóság
astonishing – megdöbbentő
bobby – brit rendőr
hilarious – nagyon vicces
entertaining – szórakoztató
to immortalise –  megörökíti az utókor számára
truncheon – gumibot
copper – zsaru
life size – életnagyságú
unique – egyedi
the odds of – vminek az esélye
rare – ritka
the icing on the cake – a hab a tortán 

True or false?
1.   PC Thomas was offended by his colleagues’ teasing.
2.   The most surprising resemblance is that the shoulder numbers are identical.
3. The minifigure was found by Thomas’s cousin, who collects LEGOS.
4.   The policeman’s family also find the resemblance really funny.
5.    LEGO claim that they never use live models for designing their characters.

Answers: 1.F, 2.T, 3.F, 4.T,5.T

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A new dress code imposed by a university head in southern Hungary has prompted students to strip down to their underwear in protest.

Under the rules imposed on 1 October, women are barred from wearing mini-skirts and men have to wear dark suits. The code, announced by Kaposvar University Rector Ferenc Szavai, is aimed at classes and exams.

A group of 10 art school students went topless in class on Thursday to protest at the instructions. They were joined by their speech instructor who was taking the class.

According to the new code, women will have to wear long skirts or trousers and a blouse and jacket, while avoiding low neck-lines, heavy make-up and inappropriate fashion accessories. Flip-flops are banned, as are unkempt hair and fingernails.

But the students objected to the conservative regulations and complained that the university had failed to legislate for warmer days.

Before the class took part in their underwear protest, they posed for a picture in their full clothing.

source: BBC

dress code – öltözködési előírás
to prompt – sarkall, buzdít
to strip down – levetkőzni
under the rules – a szabályok szerint
to be barred from – meggátolva lenni
to be announced by – valaki által bejelentve lenni
to be aimed at – valamire irányulva lenni
to protest – tiltakozni
to be joined by – valakihez csatlakozni (csatlakozva lenni)
speech instructor – beszédtanár
according to – valami/valaki szerint
to avoid – elkerülni
low neck-line – mély dekoltázs/nyakkivágás
heavy make-up – erős smink
inappropriate – nem megfelelő, nem alkalomhoz illő
accessories – kiegészítők
to be banned – betiltva lenni
unkempt hair – rendezetlen/ápolatlan haj
to be objected to – ellenezni valamit
regulation – szabályzat
to complain – panaszkodni
to fail to do something – nem sikerül valamit tennie
to legislate for – előre gondolni valamire, felkészülni valamire
to take part in – részt venni valamiben
to pose for a picture – pózolni/beállni egy fényképhez

… és ha már itt tartunk, tanuljuk meg a ruhadarabok nevét ezzel a képes-hangos-nyomkodós szótárral:) 

SZÓTÁR INDÍTÁSA: ITT

You wouldn’t have to wait too long to be served and excessive noise from other diners wouldn’t be a problem – but you might need to book well in advance. The world’s smallest restaurant is perfect for the couple who like to dine out but eat in private – it only seats two people. Nestled in the village of Vacone, central Italy, the Solo Per Due restaurant has just enough space for one table for two.

Guests arrive at the aptly named restaurant – Solo Per Due means ‘just for two’ – along a candlelit driveway and are greeted by owner Remo Di Claudio who takes them to their table for an exclusive dining experience.

The restaurant’s waiter allows diners to eat undisturbed but is literally at guests’ beck and call and can be summoned with the ring of a silver bell. But such an exclusive culinary experience will set you and your partner back – the restaurant has a set price of 250 Euro per person, which doesn’t include fine wine or champagne.

The tiny restaurant’s specialties include homemade extra virgin olive oil, which it also sells for 40 Euros a bottle, sheep’s cheese, a wide variety of wild mushrooms, wild fruits, homemade pasta and bread and local sweets and cakes.

The decor is traditional, with chandeliers, candles and an open fire helping to set the romantic tone in the building, which dates back to the 19th Century. At the end of the evening loved-up guests can write about their experience in a ‘Memory Book’ which is full of messages of past diners who have gushed over their magical evening. The restaurant, which is open for lunch and dinner, has just under 1,500 people passing through its doors a year.

Owner Mr Di Claudio said: ”We have only one table and we take just two people at a time, so there are no queues, no turns, and no waiting. All our attention is dedicated to the two people who have booked and we guarantee to give them an extra special dining experience.”

source: Daily Mail

excessive – túlzott
to book – lefoglalni valamit
well in advance – jó előre
nested – eldugott
aptly – találóan
candlelit – gyertyafényes
driveway – autófelhajtó
to allow – lehetővé tenni
undisturbed – zavartalan
beck – jeladás, odahívás
to be summoned – felszólítva lenni
to set somebody back – visszatartani valakit
tiny – pici
a wide variety of – széles választék
chandelier – csillár
to gush – ömleni, dőlni, áradni
queue – sorban állás
to be dedicated to – valaminek szentelve lenni

Decide if the statements are TRUE or FALSE.

1) The Solo Per Due restaurant has only tables for two.
2) There is only candlelight in the restaurant.
3) The waiters guarantee their full attention to the guests, standing by their table throughout the meal.
4) The restaurant doesn’t serve all three meals of the day.
5) The restaurant is filled with traditional 19th century décor.

1) F, 2) F, 3) F, 4) T, 5) F

A kitten escaped death by a whisker after almost an hour spinning in a washing machine on a 50C cycle. Mischievous Poppet hid in the laundry while owner Laura Gilholme’s back was turned. But she ended up in the drum with the dirty clothes.

Laura, 27, said: “I was halfway through putting in a load and she must have jumped into the machine.

"I only realized what had happened when the wash finished and I’d opened the door. She was unconscious and my neighbor tried to do mouth-to-mouth on her but then we rushed her to the vets. There was no response from her, we really thought she’d died.”

But vet John Gunn revived Poppet and nursed her to health.

The lucky black cat is now back at home in ­Audenshaw, Manchester, with Laura and her daughter Megan, six. But it seems Poppet has not learned her lesson.

Laura added: “The first thing she did when she got home was jump straight into the dryer, so we know she’s back to being her usual mischievous self.”

Vet John said that Poppet was an “incredibly lucky cat”.

He added: “I really didn’t think she had a hope. She definitely used up one of her nine lives. This should serve as a gentle reminder to pet owners with young animals."

source: mirror.co.uk

kitten – kismacska
to escape – megmenekülni
whisker – bajusz
to spin – pörögni, forogni
mischievous– csintalan
to hide – rejtőzködni, elbújni
laundry – mosnivaló, szennyes (ruha)
to end up (somewhere) – (valahol) végezni
drum – dob
load – adag
to realize – rájönni
unconscious – eszméletlen
to rush – sietni, rohanni
response – válasz, reakció
to revive – újraéleszteni, életre kelteni
to nurse – ápolni
lucky – szerencsés
incredibly – hihetetlenül
to serve – szolgálni
gentle – gyengéd, enyhe
reminder – emlékeztető

Decide if the statements are TRUE or FALSE.

1) Laura put her kitten into the washing machine with the laundry.  T/F
2) Poppet looked dead when they found her in the washing machine. T/F
3) Vet John Gunn saved Poppet after doing mouth-to-mouth on her. T/F
4) The kitten has learned her lesson and keeps away from the washing machine. T/F
5) Vet John thinks Poppet has only eight lives left now. T/F

Answers: 1) F, 2) T, 3) F, 4) F, 5) T

Police in New Zealand found her five hours after the alarm was raised. A motorist fell asleep at the wheel for almost 200 MILES – and continued to send text messages from her mobile.

Police in New Zealand received a 999 call in the middle of the night from a woman who was worried her friend had driven after taking sleeping medication. She was found after driving for five hours – 190 miles from home.

The woman had pulled up in the driveway of her old house, and had no memory of the drive. Police tracked her using her mobile phone and saw that she was sending text messages throughout the drive. Shockingly, this is not her first night-time trip – the woman was found sleep-driving to the beach 10 months ago.

Senior sergeant Dave Litton said: "We have sought an urgent order forbidding her to drive and to seek medical advice on her suitability to remain holding her driver’s licence." He added that the drive could have been disastrous for both the woman and others.

"While her being found safe and well is a relief for everyone involved, the potential for tragedy was huge. We’re urging people suffering medical conditions to be open and honest."

to raise alarm – riadót fúj, veszélyhelyzetet jelez
motorist – gépjárművezető
at the wheel – kormánynál
text message – SMS
sleeping medication – altató
to pull up – megáll egy járművel
driveway – autófelhajtó
to track  – lenyomoz, nyomon követ
throughout – szerte, keresztül
shockingly – meglepő módon, döbbenetes módon
sergeant – őrmester
to seek  – keresni
urgent – sürgős
order – rendelet, határozat, elrendelés
to forbid somebody to do something – megtiltani valakinek, hogy csináljon valamit
to seek medical advice – orvosi segítséget kérni
suitability – alkalmasság
disastrous – végzetes, katasztrofális
relief – fellélegzés, megkönnyebbülés
involved – érintettek
potential for – lehetőség, helyzet
huge – óriási, hatalmas
to urge somebody to do something – sürgetni valakit, hogy csináljon valamit
to suffer – szenvedni
medical condition – egészségügyi állapot