Đề Reading Unit 10 (A question of taste) - COMPLETE PET

Reading passage 1 (1-10): The Paw-some Cat Café

Welcome to "The Paw-some Cat Café," a unique place where you can enjoy a lovely meal in the company of our friendly, resident cats. Our café was designed not just for humans, but with our feline friends in mind. We believe that the relaxing presence of cats can make any dining experience better. The café has a very calm and quiet atmosphere, perfect for those who want to escape the busy city life. The interior is filled with comfortable sofas, soft cushions, and even special cat bridges on the walls for our furry residents to explore. 

We currently have twelve cats, all of whom were adopted from local animal shelters, and each has a unique personality. We offer a simple menu with a variety of drinks, cakes, and light dishes. Our signature dish is the 'Meow-caron', a set of colourful macarons shaped like cat paws, which is very popular among our guests. All our food is prepared in a separate kitchen to ensure hygiene, and our cats are never allowed in that area. When you arrive, please don't bring any food for the cats, as they are on a special diet planned by a veterinarian. We have some rules to ensure the well-being of our animals. Firstly, wash your hands before you enter the main café area. 

Secondly, don't pick up the cats if they are sleeping. It’s better to wait for them to come to you. Also, please avoid using flash photography as it can startle them. You can gently pet them and play with them using the toys provided. Our café is not very large, so we recommend you book a table in advance, especially on weekends. It is also not a suitable place for very young children who may not understand how to interact gently with animals. We want this to be a peaceful home for our cats and a relaxing getaway for our visitors. We hope you have a wonderful time with us.

Reading passage 2 (11-20): Preparations for a Special Day

My older sister, Chloe, is getting married next Saturday, and the whole family is busy with preparations. It’s an exciting time, but there is so much to do. Yesterday was a particularly busy day for me. In the morning, I took Chloe’s wedding dress to the city centre because she needed to have it professionally cleaned. The dress is beautiful with lots of delicate details, so we couldn't risk washing it at home. While I was there, I also went to the post office to send out the last few invitations. After that, I went to the salon. I didn't cut my hair myself; I had my hair cut by a famous stylist that Chloe recommended. 

He was very good, and I feel much more confident now with this new, shorter style. My mother, on the other hand, spent her day dealing with the food. She didn't cook the whole meal herself. She ordered the main courses from a catering service but decided to bake the wedding cake herself. It's a three-tier lemon cake with white chocolate frosting, her speciality. In the afternoon, she realised we didn’t have enough flowers. So, instead of buying them from the local shop, she decided to have a special bouquet delivered by a professional florist on the wedding day. My dad was in charge of the car. 

He didn’t just wash it; he took it to the garage to have it repaired because the engine was making a strange noise. The mechanic found a minor issue and fixed it quickly, which was a relief. My younger brother, Sam, was given the task of creating the music playlist for the reception, a job he took very seriously. It feels like we are having something new done every hour! It’s stressful, but seeing the excitement on Chloe's face makes it all worthwhile. We are all happy to help make her day unforgettable.

Reading passage 3 (21-30): A Tale of Two Shopping Habits

In our family, my brother Tom and I have completely different tastes when it comes to shopping. I am a huge fan of online shopping. For me, nothing beats the convenience of browsing hundreds of shops from my sofa. I can compare prices easily, read reviews from other customers, and have my items delivered directly to my door. Last week, I bought a new pair of trainers online. The process was simple, and they arrived in two days. I never have to worry about crowded shops or long queues at the checkout. It saves me a lot of time and often, a lot of money too, as online stores frequently offer discounts. 

I also find that the return process is usually straightforward; I just have to print a label and drop the package at a post office. Tom, however, strongly dislikes online shopping. He is a traditionalist who loves the experience of going to a physical shopping centre. He enjoys walking around, feeling the energy of the crowd, touching the products, and trying on clothes before he buys them. He says you can never be sure about the quality or the size of something from a picture on a screen. He also values the social aspect; he often meets his friends at the shopping centre, and they have a meal or a coffee after their shopping is done. 

Furthermore, he prefers to get immediate help from a shop assistant if he has a question, something he finds frustrating with online chatbots. He thinks online shopping is an isolating experience. For him, a trip to the shops is a fun day out, not just a task to be completed. While I appreciate his point of view, I still prefer the efficiency of the internet. Our different approaches show that there is no single "best" way to shop; it all depends on personal preference and what you value most in the experience.

Reading passage 4 (31-40): Sunday Lunch at Nonna's House

Every Sunday, my entire family gathers at my grandmother’s house for lunch. My grandmother, or Nonna as we call her in Italian, believes that food is the heart of the family. This isn't just a quick meal; it's a tradition, an event that lasts for hours. The preparations begin early in the morning. The main dish is always pasta, handmade by Nonna herself. It’s usually tagliatelle, long flat ribbons of pasta, and the taste is incredible because she uses a secret family recipe for the tomato sauce passed down through generations. The whole house fills with the delicious smell of garlic and basil. The meal always consists of three courses. 

The first course, or 'primo', is the pasta. We all get a generous portion on a large plate. After that comes the 'secondo', which is the second course. This is usually a meat dish, like roasted chicken with potatoes or meatballs. Nonna gets the meat from the local butcher, who she says is the only one she trusts. My uncle often brings a bottle of red wine to share with the adults. Finally, for dessert, we have fruit or a simple homemade cake, like her famous olive oil and lemon cake. Nonna says it’s important to end the meal with something sweet. During the meal, everyone talks and laughs. We share stories from our week, and my grandfather tells the same old jokes he has told for years, and we all still pretend to be surprised. It's a time for connection.

For my Nonna, the presentation is as important as the food itself. The table is always beautifully set, and she insists that we must never start eating until everyone is seated. "Wait for everyone!" is a command we have all known since childhood. This weekly meal is more than just food; it’s a celebration of family, a moment I treasure every week.

Reading passage 5 (41-50): A Disappointing Dining Experience

Last night, my friends and I decided to try 'The Golden Spoon', a new restaurant that has received a lot of positive reviews online. The restaurant itself looked quite stylish, with modern decor and dim lighting. Unfortunately, our experience was far from positive. We booked a table for four at 8 p.m., but when we arrived, we had to wait for almost thirty minutes because our table wasn't ready. This was the first sign that the service was not going to be good. When we were finally seated, it took another twenty minutes for a waiter to take our order. He seemed stressed and was not very friendly, avoiding eye contact and rushing through our questions about the menu. 

We all ordered different dishes. I chose the grilled fish, which the menu described as "fresh and delicious". However, when my dish arrived, the fish was overcooked and dry. It was a very small portion for a main course and was certainly not worth the high price of £25. One of my friends ordered a steak and asked for it to be medium-rare, but it came well-done. Another friend's vegetarian pasta was bland and tasteless. He decided to complain to the manager. The manager apologised but didn't offer to replace the dish or give us a discount. He just said the kitchen was very busy, which is not a good excuse for such poor quality. The only good part of the meal was the dessert, which was a chocolate cake. It was quite tasty. We decided not to stay for coffee. Overall, I cannot recommend 'The Golden Spoon'. The service was slow, the food was poor quality, and it was far too expensive for what we got. Those positive online reviews must be from a different planet. They really need to improve if they want to keep their customers. I will definitely not be going back.