1 . July is National Ice Cream Month. This means it is your civil duty to consume a spoon or two of the delicious treat daily. In 1984 the former US president Ronald Reagan designated July 17 as National Ice Cream Day in honor of the nutritious food. Here are some ice cream anecdotes (轶事) to keep you entertained while enjoying the creamy dessert.

Origin of ice cream

The first records of milk-based ice cream, made using heated milk, flour, and camphor (樟脑), come from China’s Tang dynasty (618-907 AD). But the Arabs are credited with inventing the delicious treat, using milk, sugar as ingredients in the 9th century. By the 10th century, the modern-day recipe with milk, cream and dried fruits was widely available in West Asian countries.

The frozen treat did not arrive in the US until 1744 when Maryland Governor Thomas Bladen served strawberry ice cream to guests. Now, Americans are the world’s largest consumers of ice cream, eating an average of 48 pints (品脱) per person every year.

Ice-cream related Guinness World Records

The frozen dessert’s popularity makes it a favorite for setting new Guinness World Records. The latest one was set in 2021 by the Ice Cream Lab pop-up at the Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The temporary retail shop offered ice cream lovers 1,001 flavor options — setting a new world record for the most flavors offered.

Ice cream choice reveals personality traits

Most people believe their choice of ice cream flavor is due to taste preferences. But Dr. Alan Hirsch, founder of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, maintains it reflects the individual’s personality.

Vanilla ice cream fans are risk-takers who are great at relationships. Love chocolate ice cream? Then you are lively, charming, and slightly dramatic. Mint chocolate ice cream fans can be ambitious and argumentative. Surprisingly, those who enjoy the multi-colored rainbow sherbet (果汁冰糕) are labeled pessimists, while rocky road ice cream lovers are believed to be engaging speakers and even better listeners.

1. How many stages did ice cream experience before it arrived in the US?

A．2.

B．3.

C．4.

D．5.

2. Which ice cream is the favorite of adventure lovers?

A．Vanilla ice cream.

B．Chocolate ice cream.

C．Rainbow sherbet ice cream.

D．Rocky road ice cream.

3. What is the subject of the text?

A．Fun tradition.

B．Cultural heritage.

C．Nutrition and health.

D．Celebrity anecdotes.

2 . It is generally accepted that blind people are limited when it comes to enjoying beautiful things around them. This month the Utrecht Central Museum in the Netherlands offered an unusual art exhibition called The Blind Spot. This exhibition was accessible to the visually disabled. Sighted visitors are encouraged to wear a blindfold on their eyes as they experience the artworks. This exhibition excited the other senses other than the visual sense. Visitors could look at artworks as expected. Besides, they could also touch and smell them. The show was designed to provide a better experience for museumgoers with poor eyesight.

The Blind Spot recreated existing famous paintings, but with extra dimensions, such as sound and smell. Visitors could even get a “feel” for the art, which included touchable elements.

Visitor Farid el Manssouri seemed to enjoy his experience. He smiled as he moved his hands over cheese, grapes and bread，part of the representation of a famous 1610 painting by Floris van Dvck. “The first thing that struck me was the smell. I could really smell the fragrant cheese, and I touched it too.” Manssouri said. Manssouri wondered how the food did not fall from its unbalanced position. “That was really surprising to feel... I guess it was glued on pretty well,” Manssouri said.

Artist Jasper Udink ten Cate and designer Jeroen Prins created The Blind Spot. They said they were inspired by an experience they shared with a blind visitor at an art show one year ago. “One day, somebody who could not see was there. At the place we served food out of this work, and we helped her touch the artwork. She was blind and she had a lot of feelings. She was touched. So we bad the realization, ‘Wow, we have something.’ That moment was the starting point to actually create this exhibition.” ten Cate said.

The museum's head Steffie Maas said The Blind Spot was an impressive experiment on the way to more such improvements.

1. What are visitors with normal vision encouraged to wear to experience the artworks?

A．Gloves.

B．Signs.

C．Eye covers.

D．Face masks.

2. What is unique about the exhibition?

A．Only blind visitors were allowed in.	B．The exhibits could be heard or smelled.
C．Original famous paintings were on show.	D．The artworks were copies of famous paintings.

3. Where did the idea of the exhibition come from?

A．A famous 1610 painting.	B．A blind visitor's recommendation.
C．Realization of more sense dimensions.	D．A previous experience with a blind visitor.

4. What is Steffie Maas's attitude towards the exhibition?

A．Favorable.

B．Skeptical.

C．Negative.

D．Ambiguous.