Sarah: You’re listening to British Council English Online. Hello I’m Sarah and this is Sabrina.
Sabrina: Hello
Sarah: Welcome to Ask UK, your opportunity to ask questions about all things British.
Sabrina: So what’s today’s question?
Sarah: Well, An Xiao Dan from Beijing wants to know about British breakfasts and in particular the great British fry up. Here she is,
An Xiao Dan: I heard that all British people eat bacon and eggs for breakfast. Is that true?
Sarah: Let’s ask a few people and find out.
Interviewee 1 I usually have cereal and a cup of tea, so it’ll be a bowl of cereal with milk and a cup of tea.
Interviewee 2 I always have for breakfast 2 pieces of toast with butter, a cup of coffee - black and 2 sugars and 2 cigarettes.
Interviewee 3 Usually for breakfast I grab something on the way to work, so usually it ends up being something like a carrot muffin.
Interviewee 4 I usually have a bowl of cereal and a glass of water for breakfast.
Sarah: Well it seems that British people these days don’t often eat a full English breakfast.
Sabrina: Why’s it called a full English breakfast?
Sarah: Because it’s not usually just bacon and eggs, it can also include things like grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans, sausages, toast and jam…anything really!
Sabrina: …… and why do you think people don’t often eat a full English breakfast?
Sarah: I think it’s partly because people have less time these days – when you’re rushing off to work in the morning there just isn’t time to cook a big fry up and the other thing is that people are now trying to lead healthier lifestyles, so things like fresh fruit and muesli are becoming more popular.
Sabrina: So when would you eat a full breakfast?
Sarah: Well, let’s ask some people and find out.
Interviewee 1 Well I travel a lot for work so when I’m in a hotel and I’ve got someone there who can cook a full breakfast for me then I’ll take advantage of eating a full English breakfast.
Interviewee 2 I have a full English breakfast about twice a month at roughly about 11.30 when we take my daughter to a local greasy spoon.
Interviewee 3 These days rarely now that I live abroad, but if I get the chance and I’ve had a night out on the town, an English breakfast hits the spot.
Interviewee 4 I don’t often have a full English breakfast but I would probably have a full English breakfast if I’m staying in a hotel or if some of my friends decide to go out for breakfast and then I would have a full English breakfast.
Sarah: So it seems that most people would only have a fry up at the weekend, to get rid of a hangover or if they are staying in a hotel. Have you ever had a fry up Sabrina?
Sabrina: Yeah I tried it once, I really love it!
Sarah: And that’s it for this podcast, thank you for listening. You can get lots of help with your English by visiting our website: www.britishcouncil.org.cn/englishonline.
Tricky Words
a fry up - another way of saying a fried breakfast
cereal - breakfast food made from grains (cornflakes etc)
a muffin - a sweet cake or bread
a greasy spoon - a colloquial term for a cafe which serves mainly fried food
muesli - dry breakfast cereal amde of toasted oats, nuts and dried fruits and eaten with milk
hangover - the unpleasant feeling the morning after drinking a lot of alcohol.
to hit the spot - to be exactly what is wanted or needed
Activity
An Xiao Dan from Beijing asks whether British people eat bacon and eggs for breakfast.
1.Why is it called a full English breakfast?
2. Why don't people often eat a full English breakfast?
3. When do people generally eat a big breakfast?
Answers
1. Because it includes not just bacon and eggs but other things such as grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans, sausages and toast and jam.
2. Because these days people don't have enough time in the morning before rushing off to work to cook a breakfast. People are also trying to lead helathier lifestyles.
3. At the weekend, to get rid of a hangover or when staying in a hotel.
