A
(2021·荆门模拟)
A British friend told me he couldn’t understand why Chinese people love eating sunflower seeds(嗑瓜子) 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 door-to-door 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, ready-made 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(美味佳肴), and it’s connected to their certain culture. I think it’s a wonderful tradition.
【文章大意】本文是一篇夹叙夹议文。用中国人喜欢嗑瓜子和丹麦人喜欢吃面包配咸红鱼来证明饮食习惯来自特定的文化。
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 damaged her teeth by eating sunflower seeds.
D. She had a habit of cracking sunflower seeds.
【解析】选D。推理判断题。根据第二段中的“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. ”可知, 作者意识到自己有嗑瓜子的习惯, 故D项正确。
2. What does the writer prove by mentioning Chinese New Year?
A. The traditions of celebrating it disappear.
B. Eating sunflower seeds is related to it.
C. The families get together for it.
D. Children can eat delicious food on that day.
【解析】选B。推理判断题。根据第四段可知, 春节的时候桌子上会摆放很多美食, 其中就有瓜子, 小孩可以在年夜饭前吃, 作者就是在那时学会了嗑瓜子。由此可知, 作者提到春节是为了证明嗑瓜子和春节有关, 故B项正确。
3. The writer’s attitude to Denmark’s way of eating bread is ______.
A. neutral (中立的) B. critical (批评的)
C. acceptable D. doubtful
【解析】选C。推理判断题。根据文章最后一句话可知, 作者认为丹麦人吃面包配咸红鱼是一个很好的传统。由此可知, 作者接受这种吃法, 故C项正确。
4. What lesson can we learn from the story?
A. One kind of food doesn’t necessarily suit everyone.
B. It is good to form healthy eating habits.
C. Eating habits come from a certain culture.
D. Changing your eating habits will change your life.
【解析】选C。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 certain culture. ”可知, 丹麦人认为这样吃面包是美味的, 这和他们的特定的文化有关, 正如作者喜欢嗑瓜子和春节文化有关。由此可知, 饮食习惯来自特定的文化, 故C项正确。
【知识拓展】难句解读
I realized that whenever I’m watching TV or typing a report, I always start mindlessly cracking sunflower seeds.
分析: 本句中that引导宾语从句, 其中含有whenever引导的让步状语从句。
翻译: 我意识到, 每当我在看电视或打报告的时候, 我总是开始无意识地嗑葵花籽。
