Aiko is a Japanese national living in America. She invites her American friends to her home and the raw oysters, raw smoked salmon, and raw herring that she serves are well received. But when Aiko's guests notice the raw sea urchin and the raw octopus,

they get squeamish, even after she explains that they taste good! Explain the differences in taste preferences between Aiko and her American friends.

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: A good answer will include the following key points.
• Some taste preferences are a matter of culture.
• Taste preferences are also affected by learning and experience.
• People in the United States don't generally have experience eating some forms of raw seafood, such as sea urchin and octopus, which are popular in Japan.