When most of us hear the word chocolate, the verb that comes to mind is probably “eat”, not “drink”, and the most proper adjective would seem to be “sweet”. But for about 90 percent of chocolate’s long history, it was strictly a beverage (飲料), and sugar didn’t have anything to do with it.
The Origin of Chocolate
Many modern historians have estimated that chocolate has been around for about 2000 years, but recent research suggests that it may be even older.
In the book The True History of Chocolate, authors Sophie and Michael Coe prove that the earliest linguistic (語言學(xué)的) evidence of chocolate consumption dates back three or even four thousand years.
Valuable and Fashionable Chocolate Beverage
It’s hard to discover exactly when chocolate was born, but it’s clear that it was cherished from the start. For several centuries in pre-modern Latin America, cacao beans were considered valuable enough to use as currency. 100 beans could purchase a good turkey hen, according to a 16th-century Aztec document.
Sweetened chocolate didn’t appear until Europeans discovered the Americas and sampled (品嘗) the native cuisine. Chocolate didn’t suit the foreigners’ taste at first — one described it in his writings as “a bitter drink for pigs” — but once mixed with honey or cane sugar, it quickly became popular throughout Spain. By the 17th century, chocolate was a fashionable drink throughout Europe, believed to have nutritious, medicinal functions. But it remained largely a privilege of the rich until the invention of the steam engine made mass production possible in the late 1700s.
The Birth of Solid Chocolate
In 1828, a Dutch chemist found a way to make powdered chocolate. His product became known as “Dutch cocoa”, and it soon led to the creation of solid chocolate. In 1847, Joseph Fry created the first modern chocolate bar. By 1868, a little company called Cadbury was marketing boxes of chocolate candies in England. Milk chocolate hit the market a few years later.
Prosperous Chocolate Industry
In America, chocolate was so valued during the Revolutionary War that it was used instead of wages. Even now, statistics show that the humble cacao bean is still a powerful economic force. Chocolate manufacturing is a more than 4-billion-dollar industry in the United States, and the average American eats at least half a pound of the stuff per month.
小題1:The earliest chocolate was most probably _________.
A．a(chǎn) dish B．a(chǎn) drink C．a(chǎn) bar D．a(chǎn) candy
小題2: It can be inferred from the passage that ________________.
A．the history of chocolate is at most 4,000 years.
B．people around the world could buy things with chocolate.
C．chocolate was well paid attention to since it was born.
D．a(chǎn)n American at least eats a pound of chocolate per month.
小題3:Why did chocolate suit the Spanish’s taste so quickly? _________
A．Because chocolate was so tasty and bitter.
B．Because chocolate was believed to be a source of nutrition.
C．Because chocolate was sweetened with honey or cane sugar.
D．Because chocolate became a fashionable beverage.
小題4:Which one shows the correct order according to the time of their appearing? _________
A．chocolate beverage----chocolate bar----chocolate candies----milk chocolate
B．chocolate bar----chocolate beverage----chocolate candies----milk chocolate
C．chocolate bar ----chocolate candies ----milk chocolate ---- chocolate beverage
D．chocolate beverage ----chocolate candies----chocolate bar---- milk chocolate

小題1:B
小題2:C
小題3:C
小題4:A

試題分析：本文是說明文。講述了巧克力的簡單歷史。
小題1:細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)首段可知，人們普遍認為巧克力是用來吃的，而且是很甜的，然而巧克力在發(fā)展史上大部分時間是一種苦澀的飲料。故選B
小題2:推理判斷題。根據(jù)第四段中的首句“…but it’s clear that it was cherished from the start”可知巧克力從誕生起就受到人們的珍愛。故選C
小題3:推理判斷題。由第五段的第二句“…but once mixed with honey or cane sugar, it quickly became popular throughout Spain”可知巧克力飲料被混合蜂蜜或蔗糖變甜以后，就迅速受到西班牙人的歡迎。故選C
小題4:推理判斷題。由文章敘述巧克力歷史的過程可知巧克力飲料是最早的形式；再根據(jù)倒數(shù)第二段中三個事件發(fā)生的事情和最后一句可知A項是按時間順序敘述巧克力的演變史。選A
練習(xí)冊系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Meeting people from another culture can be difficult. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal （信號）. Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.
Different cultures emphasize （強調(diào)） the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in "small talk", usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job．In many European countries -- like the UK or France -- people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office.
Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand．I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled．After getting to know their ways better, I realized that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even within Northern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment （多元文化環(huán)境） will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.
小題1:In some countries, eating together at restaurants may make it easier for people to _____.
A．develop closer relationsB．share the same culture
C．get to know each otherD．keep each other company
小題2:The author mentions his experience in Thailand to show that _________.
A．the English prefer to make long speeches
B．too many words are of no use
C．people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature
D．even talk and silence can be culturally different
小題3:According to the text, how can people from different cultures understand each other better?
A．By sharing different ways of life.B．By accepting different habits.
C．By recognizing different values.D．By speaking each other’ s languages.
小題4:What would be the best title for the text?
A．Multicultural Environment.B．Cross-Cultural Differences.
C．How to Understand Each Other.D．How to Build Up a Relationship.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Do you read newspapers in modern times while we have TV and other media? The first newspaper was written by hand and put up on walls in public places. The earliest daily newspaper was started in Rome in 59 BC. In the 700s the world’s first printed newspaper was published. Europe didn’t have a regularly published newspaper until 1609, when one was started in Germany.
The first regularly published newspaper in English was printed in Amsterdam in 1620. In 1621, an English newspaper was started in London and was published once a week. The first daily English newspaper was Daily Current, which came out in March 1702.
　  In 1690, Benjamin Harris printed the first American newspaper in Boston. But not long after it was first published, the government stopped the paper. In 1704, John Campbell started Boston Newspaper, the first newspaper published daily in the American Colonies. By 1760, the colonies had had more than thirty daily newspapers. There are now about 1,800 daily papers in the United States.
　  Today, as a group, English language newspapers have the largest circulation in the world. But the largest circulation for a newspaper is that of the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun. It sells more than eleven million copies every year.
小題1:The first regularly printed European newspaper was started ______.
A．in Rome in 59 BC　　B．in Germany in 1609 　　
C．in Amsterdam in 1620 　　D．in England in 1621
小題2:The first daily English newspaper was started in _______.
A．1702　B．1760　　C．1620　D．1621
小題3:What can we learn from the passage_______?
A. The earliest daily printed newspaper was started in Rome in 59 BC.
B. The first regularly published English newspaper was printed in Boston.
C. The first daily English newspaper was printed in the American Colonies.
D. The first American newspaper was stopped before 1704.
小題4:Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage_______?
A. Newspapers have the longest history in the United States.
B. One English language newspaper has the largest circulation in the world.
C. The first English newspaper was printed in Rome in 59 BC.
D. There are all kinds of newspapers all over the world today.
小題5:What is the best title of the passage_______?
A．History of newspapers.　　
B．History of daily newspapers.
C．The beginning of daily newspapers.　　
D．The beginning of newspapers.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

ANIMALS have always been used to represent certain human characteristics. Countries also use animals as symbols. From eagles to lions, many countries use an animal to show its national spirit and character.
The image of an eagle is on the US President’s flag, and on the one-dollar bill. The bald eagle is a large, powerful, brown bird with a white head and tail. The term “bald” does not mean that this bird lacks feathers. Instead, it comes from the old word piebald, that menas, “marked with white”.
The US declared that the eagle was its national bird in 1782. It was chosen because of “its long life, great strength, and noble looks”.
A few eagles have even become American heroes. An eagle named “Old Abe”, the mascot of a Wisconsin troop of soldiers during the Civil War, traveled 14,000 miles with its men. He was often shot at by the enemy, but survived 42 battles.
But, one of the Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin didn’t agree with the choice. “The bald eagle … is a bird of bad moral character, like those among men who live by robbing, he is generally poor, and often very messy,” he argued. Franklin wanted the turkey as the country’s national bird.
If Americans chose their national symbol deliberately, the symbol of England arose out of history.
King Herry Ⅰ(1068-1135) was a brave warrior but also wise. His appreciation for the rule of law earned him the nickname the Lion of Justice. He was the first English King to use a lion as a royal symbol, which is popularly known as the “king of the jungle”. By the year Richard Ⅰ, known as “The Lionheart” for his bravery, came to the throne in 1189, the famous Three Lions badge had been formed. Now it can be seen on the shirts of England’s sports teams.
Although people might not think of lions when they think of England, everyone knows about the Australian kangaroo. Legend has it that the kangaroo gets its name from an early meeting between local aborigines and white settlers. When asked by the Europeans what these strange-looking animals were, a native replied “kangaroo”, meaning “I don’t understand you.”
The kangaroo is an individualistic animal. Although it does gather in groups, the kangaroo is not a herd animal. If a group is attacked, individuals run off in different directions. Australians think the kangaroo represents positive values, such as individual responsibility and pride.
小題1:The general idea of this passage should probably be __________ .
A．a(chǎn)nimals are friends of human beings
B．nearly all the countries have an animal as their national animal
C．a(chǎn)nimals’ good values are always used to show a country’s national spirit and character
D．certain human characteristics are the same as some animals, so some countries love animals
小題2:Which is NOT true about the animal of the “bald eagle”?
A. It was Benjamin Franklin who made the bald eagle as the national animal of the USA.
B. The term “bald” means “marked with white”.
C. The bald eagle can show American national spirit and character.
D. “Old Abe” was even an American hero.
小題3:The reason why the lion was made as the national animal of the United Kingdom was that ______ .
A．it could always be used to represent certain human characteristics of England
B．the Kings of England loved lions
C．there are many lions in England
D．lions are “king of the jungle”
小題4:What good values can the kangaroo show as national spirits?
A．Group.B．Respect of others.
C．Not understandingD．Positive values.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Ireland has had a very difficult history. The problems started in the 16th century when English ruler tried to conquer Ireland. For hundreds of years, the Irish people fought against the English, Finally, in 1921, the British government was forced to give independence to the south of Ireland. The result is that today there are two "Irelands". Northern Ireland, in the north, is part of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland, in the south, is an independent country.
In the 1840s the main crop, potatoes, was affected by disease and about 750,000 people died of hunger. This, and a shortage (短缺) of work, forced many people to leave Ireland and live in the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada. As a result of these problems, the population fell from 8.2 million in 1841 to 6.6 million in 1851.
For many years, the majority of Irish people earned their living as farmers. Today, many people will work on the land but more and more people are moving to the cities to work in factories and offices. Life in the cities is very different from life in the countryside, where things move at a quieter and slower pace.
The Irish are famous for being warm-hearted and friendly. Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish writer, once said that the Irish were "the greatest talkers since the Creeks". Since independence, Ireland has revived (復(fù)興) its own culture of music, language, literature and singing. Different areas have different styles of old Irish songs which are sung without instruments. Other kinds of Irish music use many different instruments such as the violin, whistles, etc.
小題1:What does the author tell us in paragraph 1?
A．How the Irish fought against the English.
B．How Ireland gained independence.
C．How English rulers tried to conquer Ireland.
D．How two “Irelands” came into being.
小題2:We learn from the text that in Ireland________.
A．food shortages in the 1840s led to a decline in population
B．people are moving to the cities for lack of work in the countryside
C．it is harder to make a living as a farmer than as a factory worker
D．different kinds of old Irish songs are all sung with instruments
小題3:The last paragraph is mainly about________.
A．the Irish characterB．Irish culture
C．Irish musical instrumentsD．a(chǎn) famous Irish writer
小題4:What can be the best title for the text?
A．Life in Ireland B．A very difficult history
C．Ireland, past and presentD．the independence of Ireland

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

A group of 1,309 passengers boarded the MS Balmoral on Sunday, in Southampton, England, on a voyage to retrace (重走) the path of the Titanic. The Titanic was the biggest ship in the world when it sailed on its ill-fated first voyage on April 10, 1912. Of the 2,227 passengers and crew aboard, more than l,500 died. The ship, which was headed for New York City, carried the rich and famous on its first voyage. It also carried immigrants who were seeking a better life in America.
Relatives of people who sailed on the Titanic, historians, authors and people fascinated by the story of the unsinkable ship were on the Balmoral. They wanted to remember the Titanic and those who died on her first and last voyage.
The Balmoral was following Titanic’s original route from Southampton. First, the modern-day cruise liner docked (進港) in the port of Cherbourg, France, where the Titanic had picked up more passengers. On Monday afternoon, the Balmoral stopped in Cobh, Ireland, the Titanic’s last port of call before sailing to New York.
The Balmoral then sailed the North Atlantic Ocean to the location where the Titanic hit an iceberg. On Sunday, April 15, at 2:20 a.m. — the time the Titanic went down － passengers and crew held a memorial service. The next two days were spent in Halifax, Canada, where many victims of the Titanic are buried. Then, the Balmoral reached its final destination in New York City, where the Titanic was supposed to dock — but never did.
So far, several teams of divers have explored the site. They have recovered items such as dishes and silverware and put them on public display. And the Titanic and its passengers and crew have been remembered in books, movies and TV programs. But there’s a much more important contribution that the Titanic has given us. After she sank, lawmakers and ship builders made ships safer. It took a terrible tragedy to make ship travel safer for all.
小題1:We learn from the first paragraph that _____.
A．the Titanic sank on its second voyage
B．a(chǎn)bout 700 passengers of the Titanic survived
C．less than 2,000 passengers boarded the Titanic
D．a(chǎn)ll the passengers’ hopes of the Titanic lay in America
小題2:Which of the following shows the correct route of the Balmoral?
a. Halifax  b. New York City   c. Cobh   d. Southampton e. Cherbourg
A．d-e-c-a-bB．e-d-a-b-c C．e-c-a-b-d D．d-c-e-a-b
小題3:What might be the most important contribution of the Titanic?
A．Its site attracts many exploration teams.B．It has made later ships more secure.
C．Some of its items are on public display.D．More trips are planned to its site.
小題4:What would be the best title for the text?
A．The unsinkable shipB．The Titanic today
C．The Titanic’s route D．Sailing through history

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Every country has its traditional festivals. The Chinese New Year is now known as the Spring Festival because it starts from the beginning of spring. Though there are some sayings about its origin, all agree that the word Nian, which in modern Chinese means “year”, was originally the name of a beast that started to eat people the night before the beginning of a new year.
One story goes that the beast Nian had a very big mouth that would take in a great many people at one time. People were very afraid. One day, an old man came to their help and said he would stop all this. He said to Nian, “I hear that you are very strong, but can you eat up all the beasts on earth instead of people who are too weak to be your enemies?” “Yes,” Nian agreed with him and went to kill many of the beasts on earth. People were very happy because those beasts also did bad things to people and killed their farm animals from time to time.
After that, the old man, who was a god, rode on the beast Nian and left. Nian was gone, and other beasts also went into forests; people began to enjoy their happy life. Before the old man left, he had told people to put up red paper-cuts on their windows and doors at each year’s end to drive Nian away, because red is the color the beast felt most afraid of.
From then on, every year at the beginning of spring, people prepare to “Guo Nian”. The word “Guo Nian” means “go through the Nian safely”. Putting up red paper-cuts to drive Nian away and making dumplings for a better new year are still an every-year doing by the Chinese people. However, people today have long forgotten why they are doing all this, they just feel the color and the food make the New Year very enjoyable.
小題1:How did the old man stop Nian from eating people?
A．By putting red paper-cuts on windows.
B．By eating up beasts.
C．By talking to him.
D．By riding on him.
小題2:Why did people put on red paper-cuts instead of those of any other color?
A．Because Nian liked the color red.
B．Because the color red could kill Nian.
C．Because the old man like the color red.
D．Because Nian was afraid of the color red.
小題3:The best title of this passage is “__________”.
A．The Origin of the Chinese New Year
B．The Old Man and the Beast Nian
C．How to Go Through the Nian safely
D．What Nian Was Like
小題4:Which of the following statement is TRUE?
A．Nian can eat up all the beasts on earth at one time.
B．Nian is a tall beast that likes to eat farm animals.
C．Nian is afraid of red paper-cuts.
D．Nian doesn’t like to use his own mind.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

  Can you imagine a stranger will read your e-mails without your permission or scan the website you’ve visited or perhaps someone will casually glance through your credit card purchases or cell phones bills? All of the things may happen to you one day.
In fact, it’s likely that some of these things have already happened to you. Who would watch you without your permission? It might be a spouse, a girlfriend, a marketing company, a boss, a cop or a criminal. Whoever it is, they will see you in a way you never intended to be seen or even do something that may bring a disaster to you.
Psychologists tell us boundaries are healthy, and that it’s important to reveal to friends, family and lovers at appropriate times. But few boundaries remain nowadays. The digital bread crumbs you leave everywhere make it easy for strangers to know who you are, where you are and what you like. In some cases, a simple Google search can leak the deepest thought in your mind. Like it or not, increasingly we live in a world where you simply cannot keep a secret.
The key question is: Does that matter? For many Americans, the answer apparently is “No”.
When opinion polls ask Americans about privacy, most of them say they are really concerned about losing it. And 60 percent of the respondents say they feel their privacy is “slipping away, and that bothers me”.
But people say one thing and do another. Only a small of Americans change any behaviors in an effort to preserve their privacy. Few people turn down a discount at tollbooths(收費站) to avoid using the EZ-Pass system that track automobile movements. Privacy economist Acquisti has run a series of tests that reveal people will give up personal information such as telephone number, address, or social security numbers just to get their hands on a pitiful 50-cent-off coupon(優(yōu)惠券). But privacy does matter—at least sometimes. It’s like health; when you have it, you don’t notice it. Only when it’s gone do you wish you’d done more to protect it. Without privacy, one will be naked in front of others.
小題1:What would psychologists advise on the relationships between friends?
A．Friends should open their hearts to each other.
B．Friends should always be faithful to each other.
C．There should be a distance even between friends.
D．There should be fewer quarrels between friends.
小題2:Why does the author say “we live in a world where you simply cannot keep a secret”?
A．Modern society has finally developed into an open society.
B．People leave traces around when using modern technology.
C．There are always people who are curious about others’ affairs.
D．Many search engines profit by revealing people’s identities.
小題3:What should be the best title for the text?
A．No Privacy, No Health
B．Treasure Your Privacy
C．Boundaries are Important between Friends
D．The information Age Has Its Own Shortcomings

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

       April Fool’s Day（愚人節(jié)）, was a day of laughing and jokes. This day is kept in many countries, not only in Britain and the USA. This is a day to play jokes and make people laugh. Nobody knows when was the beginning of this custom. Some people connect it with the end of winter and the return of spring which make people merry and ready to play jokes.
In Scotland young people were sent for hen’s teeth or bird’s milk and everybody laughed when they could find such things. In the USA and Britain some people could place a sign on a person’s back with the words “push me!” Children often tell a grown-up that his sock is torn or he has something black on his face, and then shout “April Fool!” There is also the old purse（錢包） trick. A purse is left lying in the street, but when someone wants to take it, it is quickly pulled back by a string which the hidden joker holds in his hand. Or the purse may be filled with stones. Sometimes invitations are sent to people, asking them to come and visit somebody, but when they come they see that nobody expects them. Some people like to telephone to the zoo on the day and ask for Mr. Fish, Miss Fox or Mrs. Cat. All these jokes are very old but still they make people laugh.
小題1: ____________knows when the custom of April Fool’s Day started．
A．OneB．AnyoneC．NobodyD．Someone
小題2:Many tricks are played on April Fool’s day except ____ ．
A．phoning the zooB．placing a sign on someone’s back
C．playing cardsD．leaving a purse in the street
小題3:The purpose of playing jokes is to _____ ．
A．for funB．make people laugh
C．make fool of oneselfD．fool someone
小題4:The best title of the passage is ____ ．
A．How people in the west spend their April Fool’s Day
B．Customs are different
C．How British people celebrate their holidays
D．How April Fool’s Day comes about

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊答案