Bài 12 — DINING OUT: Món ăn · Kiêng khem & Thanh toán

Chương 12 của truyện dài “Project Aria” — Aster Home Technologies. (Hồi II — Ra thế giới.) 16 từ (mục 2 Dining Out trong vocab-list.md, nửa sau: món ăn → thanh toán). Nhân vật chính: Daniel Cho (Marketing) · Karen Ito (Brightway) · Ben Tran (trainee). Cameo: Diane Whitfield (CEO).

Phần 1 — Truyện chêm (học từ qua ngữ cảnh)

Karen vừa đặt điều kiện xuống bàn thì cũng là lúc server (nhân viên phục vụ) bưng đồ ăn tới, cho Diane một nhịp để suy nghĩ. Người phục vụ đặt xuống một đĩa appetizer (món khai vị) dùng chung — sò điệp nướng — rồi lần lượt các phần entrée (món chính): cá nướng, đúng specialty (món đặc sản) của nhà hàng, mỗi suất kèm một side dish (món ăn kèm) rau củ. Daniel gật gù: ingredient (nguyên liệu) tươi thế này thì khó chê.

“Ở đây toàn đồ seasonal (theo mùa), đánh bắt trong ngày,” Karen giới thiệu, rõ là dân sành ăn. Bà hỏi thăm khẩu vị cả bàn — một đồng nghiệp của bà ăn vegetarian (chay) — và dặn server ghi chú dietary restrictions (chế độ ăn kiêng) để bếp làm riêng một phần. Nhà bếp còn nhã ý gửi ra một phần complimentary (miễn phí, nhà hàng tặng) để mở lời làm quen.

Câu chuyện làm ăn chín dần cùng bữa ăn. Tới lúc món dessert (tráng miệng) được dọn ra, Diane và Karen đã đi tới một thỏa thuận miệng: Aria sẽ ra mắt tại banquet của Brightway, đổi lại Brightway dồn toàn lực phân phối. Karen nói sẽ gửi thư mời chính thức; khách phải RSVP (xác nhận tham dự) trước cuối tháng.

Daniel — người đứng ra mời — kín đáo ra hiệu cho server xin the bill (hóa đơn). Anh liếc thấy nhà hàng đã tính sẵn 10% gratuity (phí phục vụ) cho bàn đông khách, nhưng vì được phục vụ quá chu đáo, anh vẫn để thêm một khoản tip (tiền boa) hậu hĩnh. Ben nhanh tay xin gói phần ăn còn dư mang to go (mang về) — bỏ thì phí.

Hết Chương 12. Cái bắt tay bên bàn tiệc mới chỉ là một lời hứa; để biến nó thành hàng trên kệ Halston đúng hẹn, Aster sẽ phải chi một khoản khổng lồ — tiền mặt bằng, tiền sản xuất, tiền cho cả một sân khấu ra mắt. Trên chuyến bay về Marlowe, Diane đã bắt đầu nhẩm tính. Chương sau (lesson-13): về nước, và bài toán đầu tiên mang tên ngân hàng.

Phần 2 — Bảng tổng hợp từ vựng

⚠️ Bẫy hay gặp: dessert /dɪˈzɜːt/ (nhấn âm 2) ≠ desert /ˈdezət/ (sa mạc). entrée = món chính (kiểu Mỹ), không phải “món khai vị”. gratuity ≈ tip nhưng trang trọng hơn và thường được cộng sẵn vào hóa đơn (nhất là bàn đông). specialty (Mỹ) = speciality (Anh). complimentary (miễn phí, tặng kèm) ≠ complementary (bổ sung). to go / takeout = mang về (khác for here = dùng tại chỗ). RSVP = xác nhận tham dự (gốc tiếng Pháp).

Phần 3 — Bản truyện tiếng Anh (luyện đọc/nghe)

Chapter 12 — The Deal Over Dessert

Karen had barely set her condition on the table when the server arrived with the food, giving Diane a moment to think. He set down a shared appetizer — grilled scallops — and then the entrées: fresh fish, the restaurant’s specialty, each plated with a vegetable side dish. Daniel nodded approvingly; with ingredients this fresh, there was little to criticize.

“Everything here is seasonal, caught the same day,” Karen said, clearly a woman who knew her food. She asked about everyone’s tastes — one of her colleagues was strictly vegetarian — and told the server to note the dietary restrictions so the kitchen could prepare a separate plate. The kitchen even sent out a complimentary dish as a friendly gesture.

The business talk ripened along with the meal. By the time dessert arrived, Diane and Karen had reached a verbal agreement: Aria would make its debut at Brightway’s banquet, and in return Brightway would put its full weight behind distribution. Karen said she would send a formal invitation; guests would need to RSVP before the end of the month.

Daniel, as the host, discreetly signaled the server for the bill. He noticed the restaurant had already added a 10% gratuity for the large party, but because the service had been so attentive, he left a generous tip anyway. Ben quickly asked to pack the leftovers to go — there was no sense in wasting them.

Phần 4 — Bài tập TOEIC (tự làm trước, chưa xem đáp án)

Part 5 — Incomplete Sentences

Chọn phương án đúng (A/B/C/D) điền vào chỗ trống.

1. Our ______ was attentive, refilling the water glasses and clearing plates without being asked.

(A) ingredient
(B) appetizer
(C) server
(D) gratuity

2. The group shared a seafood ______ before their main courses arrived.

(A) appetizer
(B) gratuity
(C) server
(D) reservation

3. For her main course, Karen chose the grilled halibut ______.

(A) appetizer
(B) side dish
(C) dessert
(D) entrée

4. They finished the meal with a rich chocolate ______.

(A) appetizer
(B) dessert
(C) ingredient
(D) server

5. Grilled seafood is the ______ of this harbourside restaurant, and regulars order it every time.

(A) specialty
(B) gratuity
(C) reservation
(D) takeout

6. Because two of the guests do not eat meat, the host asked about ______ options on the menu.

(A) seasonal
(B) complimentary
(C) vegetarian
(D) takeout

7. For parties of six or more, a 15% ______ is automatically added to the bill.

(A) gratuity
(B) appetizer
(C) ingredient
(D) reservation

8. Rather than waste the leftovers, Ben asked the server to pack them ______.

(A) beforehand
(B) for here
(C) on hand
(D) to go

9. The restaurant updates its menu four times a year to highlight ______ produce.

(A) complimentary
(B) seasonal
(C) dietary
(D) takeout

10. The chef insists on fresh, locally sourced ______ for every dish on the menu.

(A) appetizers
(B) gratuities
(C) ingredients
(D) servers

Part 6 — Text Completion

Questions 11–14 refer to the following notice.

THE HARBOURLINE — Dinner Notes for Your Party Each main course comes with your choice of one (11)______, such as seasonal vegetables or harbour rice. If anyone in your group has (12)______, please inform your server, and our kitchen will gladly adapt any dish. Guests marking a special occasion will receive a (13)______ dessert, courtesy of the chef. Tonight we especially recommend the house (14)______: the grilled catch of the day.

11.   (A) reservation   (B) gratuity   (C) side dish   (D) venue
12.   (A) seating   (B) dietary restrictions   (C) refreshments   (D) beverage
13.   (A) reserved   (B) booked   (C) hosted   (D) complimentary
14.   (A) specialty   (B) party   (C) caterer   (D) server

Questions 15–17 refer to the following note.

NOTE — After the Dinner After coffee, Daniel signaled the server and asked for (15)______. Because the service had been excellent, he added a generous (16)______ on top of the total. As the group left, Karen reminded them to (17)______ to the Brightway banquet invitation before the end of the month.

15.   (A) an appetizer   (B) the bill   (C) a buffet   (D) a reservation
16.   (A) ingredient   (B) specialty   (C) tip   (D) seating
17.   (A) accommodate   (B) host   (C) cater   (D) RSVP

Part 7 — Reading Comprehension

Questions 18–20 refer to the following log.

Aster Dinner Log — Halston, Later That Evening The mood warmed as the food arrived. The server brought a shared appetizer, then grilled seafood entrées — the restaurant’s specialty — each with a seasonal side dish. When Karen mentioned that one of her colleagues was strictly vegetarian, the kitchen quietly prepared a separate plate and even sent over a complimentary dessert. Over coffee, Diane and Karen reached a verbal agreement: Aria would debut at Brightway’s partner banquet. Daniel settled the bill, leaving a generous tip, while Ben boxed up the leftovers to go. Only one worry lingered: pulling off a Halston launch on Brightway’s timeline would cost far more than Aster had budgeted.

18. What did Diane and Karen agree on?

(A) That Aster would buy Brightway
(B) That Aria would debut at Brightway’s partner banquet
(C) That the launch would be delayed a year
(D) That Brightway would design a new product

19. What did the kitchen do when it learned a guest was vegetarian?

(A) It prepared a separate plate
(B) It cancelled the order
(C) It charged extra for dessert
(D) It closed early

20. The word “lingered” in the log is closest in meaning to

(A) disappeared
(B) increased
(C) remained
(D) began

Questions 21–23 refer to the following invitation.

You Are Invited — Brightway Partner Appreciation Banquet Brightway Retail warmly invites your team to its annual Partner Appreciation Banquet at the Grand Harbour Hotel on 15 November. The evening will feature a buffet of local specialties, live music, and the unveiling of an exciting new smart-home product. A selection of vegetarian and other dishes will be available; please note any dietary restrictions when you reply. Kindly RSVP by 31 October, as seating is limited.

21. What will be unveiled at the banquet?

(A) A new restaurant
(B) A new smart-home product
(C) A music album
(D) A hotel

22. By when should guests reply?

(A) 15 November
(B) 1 October
(C) 31 October
(D) 30 November

23. What are guests asked to mention when they reply?

(A) Their seat number
(B) Their travel plans
(C) Their budget
(D) Any dietary restrictions

Phần 5 — Đáp án & giải thích

Part 5

1. C (server) — “our server was attentive… clearing plates” = nhân viên phục vụ. ingredient/appetizer/gratuity không chỉ người.
2. A (appetizer) — “shared a seafood appetizer before their main courses” = món khai vị (dùng trước món chính). gratuity/server/reservation sai nghĩa.
3. D (entrée) — “for her main course… the grilled halibut entrée” = món chính (kiểu Mỹ). appetizer/side dish/dessert là các món khác. ⚠️ entrée = món chính, không phải khai vị.
4. B (dessert) — “finished the meal with a chocolate dessert” = món tráng miệng. appetizer/ingredient/server sai nghĩa.
5. A (specialty) — “grilled seafood is the specialty… order it every time” = món đặc sản. gratuity/reservation/takeout sai nghĩa.
6. C (vegetarian) — “do not eat meat… vegetarian options” = (món) chay. seasonal/complimentary là tính từ khác nghĩa; takeout sai nghĩa.
7. A (gratuity) — “a 15% gratuity is automatically added to the bill” = phí phục vụ/tiền boa cộng sẵn. appetizer/ingredient/reservation sai nghĩa. ⚠️ gratuity thường được cộng sẵn (khác tip để tùy tâm).
8. D (to go) — “pack them to go” = gói mang về. beforehand/for here/on hand sai nghĩa (for here = dùng tại chỗ, trái nghĩa).
9. B (seasonal) — “updates its menu four times a year… produce” = theo mùa. complimentary/dietary/takeout sai nghĩa.
10. C (ingredients) — “fresh, locally sourced ingredients for every dish” = nguyên liệu. appetizers/gratuities/servers sai nghĩa.

Part 6

11. C (side dish) — “your choice of one side dish, such as seasonal vegetables or rice” = món ăn kèm. reservation/gratuity/venue sai nghĩa.
12. B (dietary restrictions) — “if anyone has dietary restrictions… kitchen will adapt” = chế độ ăn kiêng. seating/refreshments/beverage sai nghĩa.
13. D (complimentary) — “a complimentary dessert, courtesy of the chef” = miễn phí, nhà hàng tặng. reserved/booked/hosted sai nghĩa (không mô tả “miễn phí”).
14. A (specialty) — “the house specialty: the grilled catch of the day” = món đặc sản. party/caterer/server sai nghĩa.
15. B (the bill) — “asked for the bill” = xin hóa đơn. an appetizer/a buffet/a reservation sai nghĩa.
16. C (tip) — “added a generous tip on top of the total” = tiền boa. ingredient/specialty/seating sai nghĩa.
17. D (RSVP) — “RSVP to the invitation before the end of the month” = xác nhận tham dự. accommodate/host/cater sai nghĩa.

Part 7

18. B — hai bên đạt thỏa thuận miệng: “Aria would debut at Brightway’s partner banquet”. (A)/(C)/(D) không đúng/không nêu.
19. A — khi biết có khách ăn chay, bếp “prepared a separate plate” (và tặng thêm complimentary dessert). (B)/(C)/(D) sai.
20. C (remained) — “lingered” (worry) = còn nấn ná/vẫn còn đó. disappeared/increased/began sai nghĩa.
21. B — “the unveiling of an exciting new smart-home product” (chính là Aria). (A)/(C)/(D) không nêu.
22. C — thư mời ghi “RSVP by 31 October”. (A) là ngày tiệc, không phải hạn phản hồi; (B)/(D) sai.
23. D — “please note any dietary restrictions when you reply”. (A)/(B)/(C) không được nêu.