A
(2019·全国卷Ⅱ)Marian Bechtel sits at West Palm Beach's Bar Louie counter by herself, quietly reading her ebook as she waits for her salad. What is she reading? None of your business! Lunch is Bechtel's “me” time. And like more Americans, she's not alone.
A new report found 46 percent of meals are eaten alone in America. More than half (53 percent) have breakfast alone and nearly half (46 percent) have lunch by themselves. Only at dinnertime are we eating together anymore, 74 percent, according to statistics from the report.
“I prefer to go out and be out. Alone, but together, you know？” Bechtel said, looking up from her book. Bechtel, who works in downtown West Palm Beach, has lunch with coworkers sometimes, but like many of us, too often works through lunch at her desk. A lunchtime escape allows her to keep a boss from tapping her on the shoulder. She returns to work feeling energized. “Today, I just wanted some time to myself，” she said.
Just two seats over, Andrew Mazoleny, a local videographer, is finishing his lunch at the bar. He likes that he can sit and check his phone in peace or chat up the barkeeper with whom he's on a firstname basis if he wants to have a little interaction (交流). “I reflect on how my day's gone and think about the rest of the week，” he said. “It's a chance for selfreflection. You return to work recharged and with a plan.”
That freedom to choose is one reason more people like to eat alone. There was a time when people may have felt awkward about asking for a table for one, but those days are over. Now, we have our smartphones to keep us company at the table. “It doesn't feel as alone as it may have before all the advances in technology，” said Laurie Demeritt, whose company provided the statistics for the report.
篇章导读：本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了现在的美国人多数喜欢独自一人吃饭，他们喜欢这种独处带来的自由。
1．What are the statistics in paragraph 2 about?
A．Food variety. B．Eating habits.
C．Table manners. D．Restaurant service.
答案：B 推理判断题。根据第二段中的大部分人独自吃早饭或午饭，一起吃晚饭的数据可知，这是对美国人的饮食习惯进行了调查，故答案为B。
2．Why does Bechtel prefer to go out for lunch?
A．To meet with her coworkers.
B．To catch up with her work.
C．To have some time on her own.
D．To collect data for her report.
答案：C 细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句可知，Bechtel更喜欢出去吃午饭的原因是想拥有自己的时间，故答案为C。
3．What do we know about Mazoleny?
A．He makes videos for the bar.
B．He's fond of the food at the bar.
C．He interviews customers at the bar.
D．He's familiar with the barkeeper.
答案：D 推理判断题。根据题干中的Mazoleny可定位到第四段第一、二句，其中“be on a firstname basis”的意思是“关系好，可以直呼其名”，由此可知 Mazoleny与酒吧老板很熟，故答案为D。
4．What is the text mainly about?
A．The trend of having meals alone.
B．The importance of selfreflection.
C．The stress from working overtime.
D．The advantage of wireless technology.
答案：A 主旨大意题。根据第一、三、四段的例子，第二段的数据以及最后一段第一句再次提及的“eat alone”可知，本文主要说了独自用餐已经逐渐成为一种趋势，故答案为A。
