Question

【题目】请认真阅读下列短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。

注意：每个空格只填1个单词。请将答案写在答题卡上相应题号的横线上。

The changes facing fast-food companies

Fast food was once thought to be recession-proof. When consumers need to cut spending, cheap meals like Big Macs and Whoppers become even more attractive. As a result, fast-food chains have survived the recession better than their more expensive competitors. In 2009 sales at full-service restaurants in America fell by more than 6%, but total sales remained about the same at fast-food chains. In some markets, such as Japan, France and Britain, total spending on fast food increased.

But in this ongoing recession(萧条), which is more severe, not all fast-food companies have been as fortunate. Many, such as Burger King, have seen sales fall. In the recession, while some people trade down to fast food, many others eat at home more frequently to save money. Smaller fast-food chains in America, such as Jack in the Box and Carl’s Jr., have been hit particularly hard in this downturn because they cut back spending on advertising.

In face of such challenges, some fast-food companies have sacrificed their own profits by trying to give customers better value. During the recession companies set prices low, hoping to tempt more customers through the door. But in many cases that strategy doesn’t work. Some companies are rethinking their strategies. KFC has launched a chicken sandwich that costs around $5 to attract consumers away from $1 specials.

Companies are also trying to get customers to buy new and more items, including drinks. McDonald’s started selling better coffee as a challenge to Starbucks. Its “McCafe” line now accounts for an estimated 6% of sales in America. As fast-food companies shift from “super size” to “more buys”, they need to keep customer traffic high throughout the day. Many see breakfast as a big opportunity, and not just for fatty food. McDonald’s has started selling porridge in America, because the profits can be high.

But what about those growing waistlines? So far, fast-food firms have cleverly avoided government regulation. By providing options like salads and low-calorie sandwiches, they have at least given the impression of doing something about helping to fight obesity(肥胖). These offerings don’t necessarily lead to profit loss, as they can broaden the appeal of stores to groups of diners that include some people who don’t want to eat a burger.

But calls for tougher government regulation never wear down. This year Congress passed America’s health-reform bill, which requires restaurant chains with 20 or more stores to put the calorie-content of items they serve to the menu. And the recent proposal by a county in California to ban McDonald’s from including toys in its high-calorie “Happy Meals”, because law makers believe it attracts children to unhealthy food, suggests that fast-food companies will have to continue trying something new.

The changes facing fast-food companies

【1】______________________

【2】______________________

【3】______________________

【4】______________________

【5】______________________

【6】______________________

【7】______________________

【8】______________________

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【10】______________________

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】 survivors/competitors/businesses/companies

【2】 appeals

【3】 instead

【4】 decreased/reduced/less

【5】 Strategies/Measures/Approaches/Solutions/Ways

【6】 high/higher

【7】 added

【8】 profitable

【9】 healthy/healthier

【10】 creative/innovative/flexible/adaptable

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，介绍了快餐公司在经济衰退中面临的挑战以及他们所采取的对策，同时指出随着更严格的食品法的实施，快餐公司应变得更有创造性。

【1】考查名词。根据第一段中的“As a result, fast-food chains have survived the recession better than their more expensive competitors.”快餐连锁店在经济衰退中比那些价格更高的竞争对手生存得更好，他们成为了更好的幸存者、竞争者、企业或公司，故填survivors/competitors/businesses/companies。

【2】考查动词。根据第一段中的“When consumers need to cut spending, cheap meals like Big Macs and Whoppers become even more attractive.”可知，在经济衰退期间，便宜的快餐更吸引消费者，appeal to表示“吸引”，故填appeals。

【3】考查固定搭配。根据第二段中的“In the recession, while some people trade down to fast food, many others eat at home more frequently to save money.”可知，在经济衰退期间，很多人为了省钱选择在家吃饭而不是出去吃，insead of表示“代替、而不是”，故填instead。

【4】考查形容词。根据第二段中的“Smaller fast-food chains in America, such as Jack in the Box and Carl’s Jr., have been hit particularly hard in this downturn because they cut back spending on advertising. ”可知，小型的快餐公司在经济衰退中受到更沉重的打击是因为它们削减了广告开支，修饰名词spending用形容词，表示“更少的、被削减的”，故填decreased/reduced/less。

【5】考查名词。第三、四段介绍了快餐公司为了应对这些挑战所采取的对策，故填Strategies/Measures/Approaches/Solutions/Ways。

【6】考查形容词。根据第三段中的“Some companies are rethinking their strategies. KFC has launched a chicken sandwich that costs around $5 to attract consumers away from $1 specials.”可知，一些快餐公司重新考虑他们的战略，像肯德基就推出了一款售价5,美元的鸡肉三明治以吸引消费者放弃1美元的特价，与1美元的特价相比，他们的商品的价格是较高的，故填high/higher。

【7】考查名词。倒数第三段举麦当劳卖咖啡和早餐粥为例证明快餐公司的食谱中增加一些新食品来保持较高的客流量，故填added。

【8】考查形容词。根据倒数第三段中的“McDonald’s has started selling porridge in America, because the profits can be high.”可知，麦当劳卖早餐粥是因为它的利润更大，此处用形容词作表语，故填profitable。

【9】考查形容词。根据倒数第二段中的“So far, fast-food firms have cleverly avoided government regulation. By providing options like salads and low-calorie sandwiches, they have at least given the impression of doing something about helping to fight obesity”可知，快餐公司提供像沙拉和低卡路里的三明治这样健康的食物来避开政府监管，故填healthy/healthier。

【10】考查形容词。根据最后一段中的“suggests that fast-food companies will have to continue trying something new.”可知，随着更为严格的食品法的通过，快餐公司需要继续尝试新的东西，更有创造性、更灵活，此处缺少形容词作表语，故填creative/innovative/flexible/adaptable。