A British friend told me he couldn't understand why Chinese people love eating sunflower seeds as a snack so much. “I've met a lot of older Chinese and many have a crack in their front teeth; I believe that's from cracking the seeds，” he said.
I had never noticed the habit, but once he mentioned it, I suddenly became more aware. I realized that whenever I'm watching TV or typing a report, I always start mindlessly cracking sunflower seeds. My friend doesn't like sunflower seeds, and, to him, it seems unnecessary to work so much just to get one small seed.
When we were young, the whole family would usually get together for Chinese New Year. Then, we all lived close to one another, usually in a small city, and sometimes even neighbors would go doortodoor on Chinese New Year's Eve to check out what every household was making.
I remember my parents would be in the kitchen cooking. Out in the living room, a large table would already be laid out, complete with fancy tablecloth, readymade dumpling fillings, and dishes full of candy, fruits and sunflower seeds. Some of the dishes were to be offered to our ancestors later, while others were for neighbors and children to eat before the evening feast. I must have learned how to crack sunflower seeds back then.
I don't think it's right to criticize one's choice in food or eating habits, no matter how strange they may seem.
It's not only in China. When I went abroad, I found people had all sorts of strange habits when it came to food. In Denmark, they put salted red fish on bread and eat it for dinner, no matter how much it ruins your breath. They think it's a delicacy, and it's connected to their culture. I think it's a wonderful tradition.
本文讲述了直到作者的英国朋友提到中国人都爱嗑瓜子，作者才意识到自己也有这个习惯。作者把这个习惯归结于中国春节文化，就像丹麦人吃面包喜欢加咸红鱼，每一个饮食习惯的背后都有特定的国家文化。
1．What did the writer become aware of?
A．She had ever typed a report about seeds.
B．She had various snacks while watching TV.
C．She had a habit of cracking sunflower seeds.
D．She damaged her teeth by eating sunflower seeds.
答案：C
解析：细节理解题。根据第二段可知作者意识到自己有嗑瓜子的习惯。
2．What does the writer prove by mentioning Chinese New Year?
A．The traditions of celebrating it disappear.
B．Children can eat delicious food on that day.
C．The families get together for it.
D．Eating sunflower seeds is related to it.
答案：D
解析：推理判断题。根据第四段中的Out in the living room, a large table would already be laid out, complete with fancy tablecloth...sunflower seeds. Some of the dishes were to be offered to our ancestors later, while others were for neighbors and children to eat before the evening feast. I must have learned how to crack sunflower seeds back then.可知新年的时候会有很多美食，一些是供给祖先的，还有一些，其中含有瓜子，是给邻居和小孩在晚宴前吃的，作者因此学会了嗑瓜子，可见春节和嗑瓜子有关联。
3．The writer's attitude to Denmark's way of eating bread is ________.
A．acceptable B．critical
C．neutral D．doubtful
答案：A
解析：推理判断题。根据本文最后一句I think it's a wonderful tradition.可知作者认为丹麦人吃面包的方式是一个很美妙的传统，可见作者接受这种吃法。
4．What lesson can we learn from the story?
A．One kind of food doesn't necessarily suit everyone.
B．Eating habits come from a certain culture.
C．It is good to form healthy eating habits.
D．Changing your eating habits will change your life.
答案：B
解析：推理判断题。根据最后一段中的They think it's a delicacy, and it's connected to their culture.可知丹麦人认为这样吃面包是美味的，这和他们的文化有关，正如作者喜欢嗑瓜子和中国的春节文化有关。因此饮食习惯来自特定的文化。
