V. Fill the gaps with the correct prepositions.

The popular view outside the US that Americans survive …..(1) cheeseburgers, Cokes and French fries is as accurate …..(2) the American popular view that the British live on tea and fish 'n' chips, the Germans only on beer and sauerkraut, and the French on snails and red wine.

Besides being a cliché, this view also comes …..(3) the fact that much of what is advertised abroad as " American food" is a pretty flat, tasteless imitation. American beef …..(4) instance, comes from specially grain-fed cattle, not from cows that are raised mainly for milk production …..(5) effect, American beef is more tender and tastes better …..(6) what is actually offered as an " American steak" in Europe. When sold abroad, the simple baked potato that comes hot and whole in foil is often short …..(7) the most important element − the Idaho potato, famous …..(8) its exceptional taste. This has a different texture and skin that comes from the climate and soil in Idaho. Or, there is even that old picnic favourite, corn-on-the-cob. There is absolutely no comparison …..(9) corn that has been canned, kept in water, or frozen stiff and shipped for weeks …..(10) thousand miles. Even something as basic as barbecue sauces show differences …..(11) many of the types found …..(12) supermarket shelves overseas. A fine barbecue sauce from the Southside of Chicago has its own fire and soul. The Texans have a competition each year …..(13) the hottest barbecue sauce, of course the recipes are kept secret. Then, there are those California wines which do well …..(14) tasting competitions. Like fine wines everywhere, the best ones never leave home. The oldest bourbons and smoothest whiskeys are also not things you would offer …..(15) just anyone.

America has two strong advantages when it comes …..(16) food. The first is that as the leading agricultural nation, she has always been well supplied …..(17) fresh meats, fruits and vegetables …..(18) great variety and …..(19) relatively low prices. This is one reason …..(20) which steak or beef roast is probably the most typical American food; it has always been more available. Family vegetable gardens have been popular both as a hobby and as a way of saving money …..(21) the times when most Americans were farmers. The second advantage America has always been proud …..(22) is that immigrants have brought …..(23) them, and still bring, their traditional foods and recipes.

The variety is simply amazing, incomparable …..(24) any other country …..(25) the world. Whether Basque, Catalonian, French, Greek, Italian, Jewish, Mexican, Polish, Vietnamese or what have you, these traditions are now also at home in the United States.