1 . Chinese cuisine is widely known and enjoyed all around the world. Who doesn’t long for a favorite Chinese dish? But there is one interesting concept concerning Chinese food which is almost unheard of in the West, and which is becoming increasingly ignored by the youth of the East—the ancient custom of “tonic food”.
Tonic food is food which is consumed to improve one’s well-being or avoid sickness. For instance, it was once the custom for new mothers to eat a sesame oil(麻油) chicken soup every day for the first month after giving birth. It was believed that this dish would benefit the muscles, reduce pain, improve circulation, stimulate sweating, and warm the body. Some foods, such as goat meat and spinach, are seen as “hot”, while others, such as Chinese cabbage and radishes, are seen as “cold”. One should be careful not to eat too much of either “hot” or “cold” food. However, how much “hot” or “cold” food one should eat depends on the time of the year, how the food is prepared and what it is prepared with, and the individual’s health.
The custom of employing tonic food for a healthier life also influences the catering industry. Chinese herbal medicines, such as wolfberry(枸杞子), can be found on many a restaurant menu, either added to fruit tea or as a beneficial addition to a dish. These herbs attract customers, such as overworked office staff, in need of a modest pick-me-up.
So, whether you need to boost your strength with a large helping of chicken soup, or increase your mental powers with a serving of fish soup, you may find that this ancient Chinese custom could be just the tonic you were looking for.
1. What is the present situation of tonic food?| A．It is catching less attention. | B．It is enjoyed by many young people. |
| C．It is well-known worldwide. | D．It is becoming increasingly popular. |
| A．Chinese cabbage. | B．Fruit tea. |
| C．Sesame oil chicken soup. | D．Fish soup. |
| A．Medicine. | B．Restaurant. | C．Manufacture. | D．Agriculture. |
| A．The Charm of Chinese Cuisine | B．The Popularity of Tonic Food |
| C．An Introduction of Chinese Tonic Food | D．Differences Between “Hot” Food and “Cold” Food |
2 . Probably one thing that Armenians wouldn’t forget when they sit at the table is bread. Armenians knew how to make wine and bake bread from the ancient times. Perhaps the pride of Armenian cuisine is the traditional and national bread Lavash.
Lavash is a traditional Armenian thin bread. The preparation of this demands special skills and great effort. In most cases, making tools is the duty of men but preparing bread is the job of women.
Generally, tondir, the most important tool, is located underground. For making Lavash, Armenians use flour, water, and salt. Firstly they make dough (面团) from flour, water and form them into balls. Then the balls are rolled into thin layers and stretched over a cushion. After preparing them with a special skill slap against the walls of the tondir. Waiting for a minute or thirty seconds, pull the already baked list from the wall.
According to tradition, the preparation was a ritual (仪式) of every family. Making dough was the duty of the elder women of the family and the preparation of it started with the rising of the Sun. Firstly they made the fire, then started making it. The process was accompanied by nice conversations, songs, and jokes.
Want to know what is the tastiest Armenian sandwich? Of course, it is made from Lavash, salty tasty cheese, greens and meats.
In July 2014 Lavash was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List as an expression of Armenian culture. Besides the cuisine, Lavash has a ritual role in weddings. When the couple comes to the groom’s house, his mother puts a list of Lavash on the shoulders of newly married couples as a sign of prosperity (繁荣).
Though the pride of the Armenian cuisine has a rich history and ancient origin, it still remains the top symbol of national dishes.
1. What can we learn about Lavash?| A．It is baked by men. | B．It is in the shape of a ball. |
| C．It should be stored underground. | D．It requires complex preparation. |
| A．By making comparisons | B．By describing a process. |
| C．By explaining causes. | D．By giving an example. |
| A．Lucky. | B．Confident. | C．Pleased. | D．Calm. |
| A．The origin of Lavash |
| B．The making of Lavash |
| C．Lavash-the king of the Armenian bread |
| D．Lavash-first experience with the Armenian cuisine |
3 . While coffee is the morning drink for many Americans, many Brits prefer to go for a cup of tea. You won't often see us carrying white cups of coffee across the street during rush hour. Instead, we sip (饮；喝) tea at home, a tradition that starts the day properly.
In my home and many other homes in the UK, the first person to wake up has to make the cups of tea for the family.
Tea has become part of our culture and one of popular stereotypes (模式化形象) about British people is that they often have afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes.
In reality, tea is a drink British people can have any time of the day to help them wake up, warm up, or relax.
When I first came to China and ordered tea, I was in for a big surprise and was introduced to a whole new world of tea. In the UK, it is common to drink black tea, which is imported from Africa, India, and Sri Lanka. It is very strong and bitter, a taste which British people don't often enjoy, so people often add milk and sugar to create a sweeter, less strong flavor.
In China, however, there are wider ranges of tea available and each is enjoyed without adding anything. There is no tea bag, and certainly no milk or sugar, in these beverages (饮料). And people love it. However, for someone who is used to tea being sweet, it takes some time to get used to tea without sugar and milk.
While black tea is still the most popular, green tea has been getting more popular in the UK because people are becoming more aware (意识到的) of its health benefits. But the tradition of the tea bag is still going—it's harder for us to have loose tea leaves than to give up sugar and milk when drinking green tea.
1. Where does the author come from?| A．The UK. | B．The USA. | C．China. | D．Japan. |
| A．Her mother. | B．Her father. | C．The first person to wake up. | D．Herself. |
| A．The different varieties of tea and the fact that people drink it without adding anything. |
| B．They drink tea with sugar. |
| C．People drink black tea. |
| D．They often have afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes. |
| A．Tea drinking. | B．Tea drinking in the UK and China. |
| C．The variety of tea. | D．Tea in the world. |
4 . Vegetarianism is growing in popularity in a lot of countries. And now, South Africa is one of them. Today, more and more South Africans are experimenting with the vegetarian （素食者）way of life by cutting meat out of their diet.
Some others are exploring veganism. Vegans （纯素者）are similar to vegetarians but they avoid all animal-based products, including milk and eggs. Some vegans even do not eat honey. There is no official count of how many vegans there are in South Africa. But the interest has led to the birth of vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Johannesburg, the nation's economic center. And this year, Africa's first big vegan and plant-based festival was held in Cape Town. The Vegan &. Plant Powered Show took place at the end of May.
But veganism can be a lonely road for many South Africans. The country is Africa's top consumer of meat from cows, pigs and sheep, based on information from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Many South Africans express shock at the thought of giving up meat, which is central to celebrations and spirituality.
This is an issue for many African vegans, including Anesu Mbizvo. "In African traditional culture, a big part of a family's worth is their livestock （家畜）,which decide the wealth of a family. And so when an African kills an animal at a gathering, it's thought that he would give away his wealth. " But she adds, "Offering home-grown vegetables would not be considered to be valuable. I think that thought mainly prevents some people of African cultures from being vegans."
Some South Africans are finding their path somewhere in the middle. Thirty-one-year-old Thandiwe Ngubeni is a communications specialist. She still eats meat一-but less and less of it as time goes by. "I feel more energetic when I eat a vegan meal. It actually gives me more energy.
1. What can we learn about vegans?| A．They can drink milk. |
| B．They eat some animal meat. |
| C．They enjoy opening vegan restaurants. |
| D．They refuse any product based on animals. |
| A．Too many animals in the wild. | B．Traditional views of livestock. |
| C．The influence from other countries. | D．Not enough vegetables in the restaurant. |
| A．She is a vegan. |
| B．She is an animal specialist. |
| C．She looks forward to eating much more meat. |
| D．She has a limit on the amount of meat she eats. |
| A．Vegans' Behaviors Are Too Extreme |
| B．Vegetarians Are Not Popular Any Longer |
| C．Many South Africans Welcome a Vegan Lifestyle |
| D．Meat in South Africa Will Become Less Delicious |
