How much do you know about table manners? Test your knowledge of proper table behaviour when dining out or with others with this quiz. These questions are carefully crafted so you can find out how much you really know about proper dining behaviour and standards
1. How will the letters "b" and "d" (in that order) help you at dinner?
a. Bread on the left, drink on the right
b. They will remind you of good manners, or to "be docile"
c. They will remind you to always compliment your host, "best dinner"
d. Beverage on the left, dessert on the right
2. You should always wait until everyone is served to begin eating your meal.
a. True
b. False
3. When you are almost done with your soup and want to get at the last little bit, how should you do this?
a. Keep spooning up as much as you can, then stop eating
b. Tip the bowl slightly, then spoon up the last bit
c. Tip the bowl and sip from the side
d. Leave the last little bit; it's poor etiquette to get every last drop
4. If you don't drink, but wine is being served at dinner, what should you do?
a.Turn your wine glass upside down to decline
b. Hold your hand over the glass, and shake your head at the host or waiter
c. Announce your desire not to drink and ask that your glass be taken away
d. Allow the wine to be poured; there's no need to draw attention to yourself. You don't have to drink it
5. How you should behave while dining at home alone? When is it proper to season your food?
a.You should behave as well as if you were dining with other people
Never; it's an insult to the cook
b. You should behave however you want – elbows on the table, eating without utensils, etc.
After your first taste
c. You should behave almost as well as you would in public, including putting a napkin in your lap
Before you taste it
d. You can relax most etiquette standards, but she insists you should still sit at the table, use proper silverware and not gobble food
After you've had several bites
6. When you are dining, but not currently eating, what should you do with your hands?
a.Put them in your lap
b. Put them at your sides
c. They can be on the table, but with the wrists resting on the edge of the table
d. If you're not eating, it's OK to put your elbows on the table when engaging in conversation
7. It's improper etiquette to ask for a doggy bag unless you're dining very informally.
a.True
b. False
8. In American dining style, you should generally hold your utensils with the same hand with which you write.
a. True
b. False
9. Say you're eating a steak. How many bites should you cut at a time?
a. 1-2
b. 3-4
c. 5
d. You will generally be excused if you cut the entire steak, especially if your dining is informal
10. If you stop eating briefly to talk or have a drink, where should you place your utensils?
a. To the right of your plate
b. To the left of your plate
c. Fork and knife crossed at the top of your plate
d. Above plate, placed horizontally
11. What is the only fork you'll find to left of your plate in a place setting?
a. Oyster
b. Dessert
c. Salad
d. Dinner
12. When you are finished eating, where should you place your napkin?
a. On your chair behind you
b. On top of your plate
c. To the right of your plate
d. To the left of your plate
13. Proper etiquette rules prohibit cutting a roll, but rather you should tear the roll.
a. True
b. False
14. When passing someone an item on the table, you should pass how?
a. To the left
b. To the right
c. Directly to whoever is requesting an item
d. Items should never be passed, and it's in poor taste to request something
15. What should you do when a lady leaves the table to use the restroom? (if you are an adult male)?
a. remain seated
b. stand until she leaves
c. ignore her
d. also go to the restroom
16. What do you do with your utensils once you have completed your meal?
a. Throw them at the waiter
b. take them home
c. put the to the right of the plate
d. cross them and leave them on the plate
ANSWERS
1. How will the letters "b" and "d" (in that order) help you at dinner?
Correct Answer: Bread on the left, drink on the right
2. You should always wait until everyone is served to begin eating your meal.
Correct Answer: False
3. When you are almost done with your soup and want to get at the last little bit, how should you do this?
Correct Answer: Tip the bowl slightly, then spoon up the last bit
4. If you don't drink, but wine is being served at dinner, what should you do?
Correct Answer: Allow the wine to be poured; there's no need to draw attention to yourself. You don't have to drink it
5. What does Miss Manners say about how you should behave while dining at home alone? When is it proper to season your food?
Correct Answer: You should behave however you want – elbows on the table, eating without utensils, etc.
6. When you are dining, but not currently eating, what should you do with your hands?
Correct Answer: Put them in your lap
7. It's improper etiquette to ask for a doggy bag unless you're dining very informally.
Correct Answer: True
8. In American dining style, you should generally hold your utensils with the same hand with which you write.
Correct Answer: True
9. Say you're eating a steak. How many bites should you cut at a time?
Correct Answer: 1-2
10. If you stop eating briefly to talk or have a drink, where should you place your utensils?
Correct Answer: Fork and knife crossed at the top of your plate
11. What is the only fork you'll find to left of your plate in a place setting?
Correct Answer: Oyster
12. When you are finished eating, where should you place your napkin?
Correct Answer: To the right of your plate
13. Proper etiquette rules prohibit cutting a roll, but rather you should tear the roll.
Correct Answer: True
14. When passing someone an item on the table, you should pass how?
Correct Answer: To the left
15. What should you do when a lady leaves the table to use the restroom? (if you are an adult male)
Correct Answer: stand until she leaves
16. What do you do with your utensils once you have completed your meal
Correct Answer: cross them and leave them on the plate