1

Assumption College Thonburi

Subject: Basic English 5 Semester I / 2023
Matayom 3 (1) Reading Comprehension Teacher : M.3 English Teachers


Name _______________________________________ M. 3 / _____ No. _______ ID: ______________

Thai Food

Thai local foods are different in each part of the country. Northern Thai meals usually feature Nam
Prik (spicy chili paste) and fresh vegetable. Northeastern Thai meals are famous for their spicy and sour
dishes. Southern traditional foods are well-known for their herbs and spices. Rice is always part of a Thai
meal. It is the staple food for Thais. There is a variety of Thai rice, each of which has its own characteristic
and flavor. The most esteemed Thai rice is Jasmine Rice, sweet-smelling and long-grain rice. Rice is in
many recipes. Beautiful rice (Khao Suoy), a plain white rice is consumed with all style of Thai food. Fried
rice is made with fried with pork or chicken, chilies and fish sauce. Boiled rice is a popular breakfast dish.
Sticky rice is served with dishes of northeastern influence, such as grilled chicken and spicy papaya salad.
What is known as Thai food today is in fact a combination of indigenous foods and the influences of Indian
and Chinese culinary traditions. In the 15th century, Khmer cooks introduced Indian food such as curries to
Ayuttaya’s court. Earlier contact with Western cultures in the 17th century left a culinary legacy in Kanom
Thong Yip, a Thai dessert modified from a French or Portuguese dish. Chilies were introduced by the
Portuguese in the 16th century. The Chinese introduced several types of noodles. Today there is no
‘pure culture’, all are hybridity of cultural forms.

Many herbs and spices are used in Thai food. Moreover, Thai food is a balance of five flavors: sour, sweet,
salty, bitter, and spicy. For example, a spicy papaya salad called Som Tam has a blend of these tantalizing
2
tastes. Another example is Tom Yum Gung. This Thai masterpiece soup is teeming with shrimp,
mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime leaves. It unifies a host of favorite Thai tastes:
sour, salty, spicy and sweet, all in one bowl. This soup is world famous.
Thai food became internationally famous when a large number of foreigners came to Thailand during the
Vietnam war and were first exposed to Thai food and culture. Small Thai restaurants began opening up in
London, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles to accommodate the local Thai immigrants that needed their
daily dose of heavenly Thai food. After that, Thai food restaurant industry exploded over a very short
period of time.
Thai food in London is more expensive than Thai food in Bangkok. Thai food in foreign countries
is adapted, depend on who cooks it, for whom it is cooked. The authentic Thai food may not suitable for
foreigners. Moreover, some ingredients are not available in some countries. They are replaced with some
local ingredients so the recipe and taste are different from the original in Thailand.

Based on the story, choose the best answer for each of the following questions.
1. Thai local foods are different in each part of the country. What is the common flavor of Thai local foods
in each part of the country?
a. sour b. sweet c. salty d. spicy
2. What is the most famous Thai rice ?
a. jasmine rice b. beautiful rice c. fried rice d. sticky rice
3. Pad Thai is one of the most popular Thai food. Who influence this dish ?
a. Khmer b. French
c. Portuguese d. Chinese
4. What ingredient is not in Tom Yum Gung ?
a. shrimp b. mushroom c. potato d. tomato

5. Which one did not contribute Thai food become internationally famous ?
a. A large number of foreigners came to Thailand and were exposed to Thai food.
b. Vietnam war.
c. Thai immigrants in UK and USA.
d. Thai restaurants in foreign countries
6. Which one is not the factors that make the flavor of Thai food in foreign countries different from the
original in Thailand ?
a. price b. cooks c. consumers d. ingredients

3
 Temple of The Emerald Buddha

The temple of the Emerald Buddha is commonly known in Thai as Wat Phra Kaew and officially
as Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram. It is located in Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, within the precincts of
the Grand Palace. The main building is the central Phra Ubosot. Even though it is small in size, it is the
most important because it houses the statue of the Emerald Buddha. The Emerald Buddha is deeply revered
and venerated in Thailand as the protector of the country.
The Emerald Buddha is a dark green statue. It is carved from a single green jade stone in cross-
legged sitting posture, in an attitude of meditation. The statue is 66 centimeters high from base to top and
has a width of 48.3 centimeters at the lap. it is believed that it was crafted in 14th-century, in the style of
the Lanna. The Emerald Buddha was found in Chiang Rai and enshrined in Bangkok at the Wat Phra Kaew
temple in 1782 during the reign of Phutthayotfa Chulalok, King Rama I. The King or his stead changes the

Emerald Buddha’s costume three times a year, corresponding to the summer, winter, and rainy season. The
changing of the costume is a very important ritual. It is performed to bring good fortune to the country
during each season. Unlike other temples, The Temple of the Emerald Buddha does not contain living
quarters for monks. It has only elaborately decorated holy buildings, statues, and pagodas.
The Balcony, which can be compared to the temple wall, is another attractions. The murals inside tell the
Ramayana epic in its entirety. On the columns of the balcony are stone inscriptions of the verses describing
the murals. Each gate of the Balcony is guarded by the five-metre tall gate-keeping giants the characters
taken from the same epic.

4
 Angkor Wat mdel in Wat Phra Kaew is very interesting. It was built under the order of King Rama
IV when Cambodia was under Siamese control.
Based on the story, choose the best answer for each of the following questions.
1. What is the main building in the temple of the Emerald Buddha ?
a. the Emerald Buddha b. the Grand Palace
c. the central Phra Ubosot d. the Balcony
2. What is believed to be the protector of the country ?
a. the temple of the Emerald Buddha b. the Emerald Buddha
c. the central Phra Ubosot d. the gate-keeping giant
3. What is the Emerald Buddha made of ?
a. emerald b. jade c. stone d. gold
4. How many sets of costume has the Emerald Buddha ?
a. 2 sets b. 3 sets c. 4 sets d. 5 sets
5. Which one is not in Wat Phra Kaew ?
a. a monk b. the Emerald Buddha
c. the Balcony d. Angkor Wat model
6. Where are the Ramayana murals ?
a. in the central Phra Ubosot b. on the temple wall
c. in Angkor Wat model d. in the Balcony

Durian

Durian is a fruit that is most popular in Thailand. The outer shell of a durian is spiky and scary,
looks like a weapon. Durian is known as the king of fruits. Its flesh is soft and creamy. It is normally
yellowish or cream in color and firm to soft depending on ripeness. Durian is most notorious for its smell.

5
It is both loved and hated by people. The ones who love durian describe it is the sweetest perfume.
The others who hate durian describe it is bad smell. Durian is illegal in air conditioned or public buildings
because the aroma is so strong and it can linger for days.
Thailand is the biggest durian exporter in the word. Durian trees are large and can grow 20 – 50
meters in height. In Southest Asia, They are grown in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philipines
and Vietnam. In Thailand, Most durian trees are grown in eastern and southern of Thailand. Chanthaburi
Province is the biggest source of durian in Thailand. There are many different species of durian
e.g. Monthong, Chanee, Kanyao and Kradumthong. Monthong is the most popular. Durian season
in Thailand normally goes from April to August annually. There are various forms to eat durian.
Durian flesh straight from the shell
This is the most common way to eat durian, get both aroma and flavor.
Durian and sticky rice
A bowl of sweet sticky rice topped with ripe durian and smothered in sweet coconut cream. This is one of
the best Thai desserts.
Durian ice cream
Durian ice cream make you fresh in hot season. Fortunately, durian season and hot season in Thailand are
the same period.

Durian chips
Fried durian chips lose their aroma. So someone who don’t like durian can enjoy durian chips. Durian chips
are more expensive than potato chips.
Durian pastries
Durian mooncakes are very well known in Thailand.
Durian fruit roll
Durian fruit roll is preserved durian wrapped into a tube. It is sticky.
There are 2 facts that you should realize about eating durian flesh :
@ Durian makes your body hot. So don't eat too much. If you eat so much durian, your body will
be too hot
@ Don’t eat durian and drink alcohol, due to raising blood pressure. This combo is dangerous.
Durian is commonly consumed with mangosteen because durian is a warming fruit and mangosteen is a
cooling fruit. You feel a warm when you eat durian so you should eat mangosteen to cool your body.
Durian is the king of fruits and mangosteen is the queen of fruits.
Based on the story, choose the best answer for each of the following questions.
1. Why do most hotels ban durian ?
a. Durian is spiky and scary. b. Durian is a weapon.
6
 c. Its smell is so strong. d. Some ones love it but the other ones hate it
2. What country is the largest durian supplier of the world ?
a. Thailand b. Malaysia c. Indonesia d. Vietnam
3. What species of durian is the most famous in Thailand?
a. Kradumthong b. Chanee c. Kanyao d. Monthong
4. What month is not in durian season ?
a. March b. April c. May d. June
5. Why can someone hate durian enjoy durian chips ?
a. Durian chips are snack, not fruit. b. Durian chips like potato chips.
c. Durian chips do not have strong smell. d. Durian chips are cheaper than durian fresh.
6. Which combo is dangerous for health?
a. durian and sticky rice b. durian chips and potato chip
c. durian and alcohol d. durian and mangosteen

Firefly
Fireflies or lightning bugs are winged beetles. They tend to be brown.
Fireflies produce a 'cold light', with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies
during twilight to attract mates. Light is chemically produced from the
lower abdomen. It may be yellow, green, or pale red.
A firefly controls the beginning and end of the chemical reaction, and thus the start and stop of its light
emission, by adding oxygen to the other chemicals needed to produce light. This happens in the insect's
light organ. When oxygen is available, the light organ lights up, and when it is not available, the light goes
out.
Firefly light is usually intermittent, and flashes in patterns that are unique to each species. Each
blinking pattern is an optical signal that helps fireflies find potential mates. A few days after mating, a
female lays her fertilized eggs on or just below the surface of the ground. The eggs hatch three to four
weeks later. The larvae emit light and often are called 'glowworms.' It appears to be a warning signal to
predators, since many firefly larvae contain chemicals that are distasteful or toxic. The larvae of the firefly
mainly eat the larvae of snails and slugs, but as adults they usually eat plant pollen and nectar.
Fireflies hibernate over winter during the larval stage. Some do this by burrowing underground,
while others find places on or under the bark of trees. They emerge in the spring. After several weeks of
feeding, they pupate for 1.0 to 2.5 weeks and emerge as adults. About 2,000 species of fireflies are found in
tropical climates. Fireflies love moisture and often live in humid regions of Asia and the Americas. They
are in marshes or in wet, wooded areas and are a familiar sight on summer evenings. In many species, both
male and female fireflies have the ability to fly, but in some species, the females are flightless. The
nonflying females glow brightly and the flying males glow only weakly and intermittently.

Based on the story, choose the best answer for each of the following questions.
7
1. What is used to produce firefly light ?
a. electricity b. battery c. chemicals d. magnet
2. What color is not fireflies light ?
a. yellow b. green c. red d. white
3. Why do fireflies light up?
a. to find mates b. to find food
c. to lay eggs d. to enjoy the light

4. Why are the larvae of fireflies called glowworms ?

a. They grow fast. b. They become fireflies.
c. They emit light. d. They are toxic.
5. What are the food of adult fireflies?
a. larvae of snails b. larvae of slugs
c. plant d. nectar
6. What season are most fireflies found in ?

8
 a. Winter b. Summer c. Spring d. Autumn
Note:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….