Each culture has a diet of its own. The diet of the people in that land is influenced by the availability of food in that area. For example, meat is one of the main sources of energy for the body in colder climates. Therefore, it can be seen that meat in the diet of people in cold countries is more plentiful.
In Kerala, India, people eat more fish. Rice is Kerala’s main food. In all three meals, rice dishes can be seen.
While preparing powdered porridge, baked pappadam and healthy coconut milk, a grandmother was listening to her grandchildren call her. Then the door opened and there came her grandchildren. Something unfamiliar was found in the bowl in their hands. The grandmother gave it a sniff (嗅) and put it back. Through the look on her face, you could tell that she did not like the smell. Then one of the grandchildren said, “How easy it is to make noodles! Only five minutes is enough.” This is the experience of an old grandmother who came to stay with her kids and grandchildren. Two days later, the grandmother, who was ready to spend at least two months with her children, returned to her village.
Traditional dishes of Kerala, such as powdered porridge, pappadam, bread, kappa, fish curry, sambar and spices, are disappearing. Instead, even in the slums ( 贫民窟) of Kerala, many foreign dishes such as fried rice, chilli chicken and ginger chicken are becoming available. After working in the sun all day in the fields, the last generation could be seen drinking a cup of sambhara, a traditional Indian tea. But today, people prefer drinking modern red and yellow flavoured water.
When our taste in food changes, it can affect more than just our diet. Those who don’t know how to make overseas dishes don’t even get kitchen work today. We try to mimic (模仿) foreigners and accept the dishes they find unhealthy, even though foreigners are culturally inclined towards (倾向于) our diet. Though visitors come to Kerala to buy our bread, fish curry, pudding and fruit, people in Kerala go to restaurants to buy foreign rice and soups and empty their pockets.
8. Why did the old grandmother return to her village ahead of time?
A.She got terribly angry with her kids. |
B.She had something important to deal with. |
C.She didn’t enjoy the food at her kids’ home. |
D.She didn’t get along well with her grandchildren. |
9. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?
A.The loss of Kerala’s traditional dishes. |
B.Measures to save Kerala’s traditional dishes. |
C.Benefits of keeping Kerala’s traditional dishes. |
D.The improvement of people’s living conditions in Kerala. |
10. What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.Kerala has shaken off the “poor” label. |
B.Foreign food is popular in Kerala. |
C.Kerala offers cooks few job opportunities. |
D.Fewer and fewer people in Kerala cook for themselves. |
11. How might the author feel when writing the text?
A.Worried. | B.Grateful. | C.Doubtful. | D.Satisfied. |