Question

【题目】“Clean your plate!” Just about every kid in the US has heard this from a parent. Often, it is accompanied by an appeal: “Just think about those starving orphans in Africa!” Sure, we should be grateful for every bite of food. Unfortunately, many people in the US take too many bites. Instead of staying “clean the plate”, perhaps we should save some food for tomorrow.

According to news reports, US restaurants are partly to blame for the growing bellies. A waiter puts a plate of food in front of each customer, with two to four times the amount recommended by the government, according to a USA Today story. Americans traditionally associate quantity with value and most restaurants try to give them that. They prefer to have customers complain about too much food rather than too little.

Barbara Rolls, a nutrition professor at Pennsylvania State University, told USA Today that restaurant portion sizes began to grow in the 1970s, the same time that the American waistline began to expand.

Health experts have tried to get many restaurants to serve smaller portions. Now, apparently, some customers are calling for this too. The restaurant industry trade believed restaurants serve portions that are too large; 23 percent had no opinion; 20 percent disagreed. But a closer look at the survey indicates that many Americans who can’t afford fine dining still prefer large portions. 70 percent of those earning at least ＄150,000 per year prefer smaller portions; but only 45 percent of those earning less than＄25,000 want smaller.

It’s not that working class Americans don’t want to eat healthy, It’s just that, after long hours at low-paying jobs, getting less on their plate hardly seems like a good deal. They live from paycheck to paycheck, happy to save a little money for next year’s Christmas presents.

【1】“Clean your plate!” in the first paragraph means ______ .

A. to wash the plate B. not to eat too much

C. not to waste the food D. to help the starving orphans

【2】American restaurants serve large portions because ______ .

A. Americans are good at eating B. Americans value the amount

C. the restaurants want people to keep healthy D. the government recommend s the amount

【3】What happened in the 1970s?

A. The government recommended serving small portion.

B. Americans began to realize the importance of health.

C. Health experts persuaded restaurants to serve large portion.

D. People in the United States began to gain weight.

【4】What does the survey indicate?

A. Many poor Americans want large portions.

B. 20 percent Americans want smaller portions.

C. 70 percent Americans earn at least ＄150,000 per year.

D. 45 percent Americans earn less than ＄25,000 per year.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】B

【3】D

【4】A

【解析】这是一篇社会生活类文章。很多美国人吃得太多。研究表明，这和美国餐馆提供给顾客的大分量有关系。专家们呼吁餐馆给顾客提供小分量，部分顾客也有此要求。但是，调查表明，比较贫穷的美国人还是喜欢大分量。文章揭示了这些现象背后的原因。

【1】推理判断题。由第一段中的“Clean your plate!” 以及 “Just think about those starving orphans in Africa!” Sure, we should be grateful for every bite of food”可知，美国父母要求孩子将盘子内的食物吃光。提醒孩子想想非洲那些挨饿的孤儿。由此可以推知，美国父母对孩子说这些话，目的在于让孩子不要浪费食物。故C选项正确。

【2】细节理解题。由第二段中的“Americans traditionally associate quantity with value and most restaurants try to give them that. They prefer to have customers complain about too much food rather than too little”可知，美国人在传统上把东西的价值跟数量联系在一起，因此大多数的饭馆给的量大。这些饭馆宁愿让顾客们抱怨饭菜给得太多而不愿意让他们抱怨饭菜给得太少。故B选项正确。

【3】细节理解题。由第三段中的“restaurant portion sizes began to grow in the 1970s, the same time that the American waistline began to expand”可知，在20世纪70年代，餐馆给的量开始增加，同时，美国人的腰围也开始增加，即：美国人开始长胖。故D选项正确。

【4】细节理解题。由倒数第二段中的“But a closer look at the survey indicates that many Americans who can’t afford fine dining still prefer large portions. 70 percent of those earning at least ＄150,000 per year prefer smaller portions; but only 45 percent of those earning less than＄25,000 want smaller”可知，调查表明，很多吃不起美食的美国人仍然喜欢大分量。每年至少挣15万美元的人（较富有的人）中，70的人喜欢小分量，但那些年收入不足25,000的人（较贫穷的人）中，只有45想要小分量，这说明大部分穷人还是喜欢大分量的。故A选项切题。