Egg Trivia

v If a raw egg is spun, abruptly stopped and then quickly released, it will start to spin again as the liquid inside continues to rotate. This technique can be used to reliably determine whether an egg is raw or already boiled – a solid egg will remain stationary once halted. Additionally, if a cooked egg and a raw egg are spun with the same force, the cooked egg will spin much faster.

v It is more difficult to break a chicken egg by squeezing it from end-to-end than on its long axis.

v An ostrich egg can make omelettes for ten people, and takes forty-five minutes of boiling to harden through.

v An egg that floats in water is likely to have been spoiled by bacteria that entered through the pores in the shell and created gas inside it. The increased pressure due to the gas production may push some of the white through the shell, which may also signify a bad egg.

v An alternative theory to the floating egg is that because the shell is porous, liquid can slowly evaporate out. Thus an older egg has more evaporated liquid and therefore a bigger air gap. This is used as a test of the freshness of an egg, as a very fresh egg will sink in a bowl of water, and lay on its side. An older egg with a bigger air gap will tilt up slightly, as the air acts as a float. A very old egg will point straight up or may even float to the surface.

v A popular folk remedy for a leaky car radiator is to crack in a raw egg. This has been known to work, although automotive professionals do not recommend it.

v If a raw egg is kept submerged in vinegar (or any acid) for a long enough time (three days for vinegar), the shell will usually dissolve leaving only the inner membrane, which will keep the original shape of the egg. This technique is often used by biologists with Hydrochloric Acid in experiments concerning the permeability of the membrane.

16.Do you use eggs in your diet? What are your favourite egg dishes? How do you cook them?

17.Describe an egg. Speak on its nutritional value.

FOOD for THOUGHT

Read the following idioms and their meanings. Think of their Ukrainian equivalents. Complete each sentence with the correct idiom.

put all one’s eggs in one basket: risk everything at once egg on: urge someone on bad egg: a bad person teach your grandmother to suck eggs: presume to teach someone something that he knows already (get or) have egg on one’s face: be made to look stupid

1.Many people at the soccer game were....... by the drunken fans.

2.If you want to be sure of being accepted by a university, you’d better apply to several different ones. Don’t........

3.Don’t......., we know all about that.

4.That man is a....... so you should try to avoid him if you can.

5.He....... because everyone knows that he was sick at the party.