Over the centuries the French have lost a number of famous battles with the British. However, they’ve always felt superior in the kitchen. France has for centuries had a reputation for cooking excellence, and Britain for some of the worst cooking in the world. But according to a recent survey, that reputation may no longer reflect reality.
In the survey, 71% of the Britons said they cook at home every day, while only 59% of the French said they cook daily. British home cooks spend more time cooking each week and also produce a greater variety of dishes than French home cooks.
The reaction in London was predictably enthusiastic. British food has greatly improved since the 1990s. Once upon a time, the menu for many family meals would have been roast beef, potatoes and over-cooked vegetables, but not now. Home cooks are experimenting with the huge range of ingredients now available in British supermarkets and are preparing all kinds of new dishes, using the cookbooks that sell millions of copies every year. As a result, there’s much more diversity in British food now, compared to French food, which tends to be very traditional.
Some French people say that the survey did not show the whole picture. They agree that during the week French women don’t cook as much as they used to because most of them work and don’t have much time. They tend to buy ready-made or frozen dishes, but many of them make up for it on the weekend. There’s also a difference between Paris and the countryside. It’s true that people in Paris don’t cook much, but elsewhere, cooking is still at the heart of daily life.
For many French people, opinions about British food have not changed. When Bernard Blier, the food editor at a magazine, was asked about British food, he replied: “I don’t go out of my way to try it. It is not very refined. You can say that I’m not a fan at all.”
1.According to the passage, nowadays British people ______.
A.cook less at home than the French every day.
B.no longer eat roast beef and over-cooked vegetables.
C.are more willing to try cooking all kinds of new foods.
D.buy more cookbooks than French people do.
2.What can we infer from the fourth paragraph?
A.French women cook less often now.
B.The French prefer ready-made dishes.
C.French women seldom cook on the weekend.
D.Cooking is at the heart of people’s life in Paris.
3.What is Bernard’s attitude towards British food?
A.He would love to try it. B.He shows no interest in it.
C.He considers it worse than before. D.He considers it better than before.
4.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A.The history of British food. B.The history of French food.
C.The change in British food. D.The change in French food.
Michael Surrell was the last person who should have run into a burning building－his lungs didn’t function well and were worse recently. But that didn’t stop him.
He had just parked around the corner from his house when he smelled something smoky, and was worrying that his car didn’t work well. At the moment, an urgent call from Alice, his eldest girl, got that across. Shocked and anxious, he then went to the house next door immediately. “Eight-year-old Tiara Roberts is still on the second floor!” one of the women cried. Though the firemen have been called and were on the way, Surrell, then 60, who once experienced such a situation and knew its urgency, ran inside without hesitation. The thick smoke made him almost impossible to breathe. The conditions would have been dangerous for anyone, but for Surrell, they were more serious and life-threatening.
After a few minutes in the smoke-filled house, he came out. Taking a deep breath, he went in a second time. Because the house has a similar design to his, he made it to the second floor. His throat and lungs burned as if he had breathed in fire. The smoke hurt his eyes so that his vision was poorer. Then a soft but clear painful sound could be heard. He crawled (爬) toward the sound, feeling around for any sign of the girl. Finally, he touched a shoe, and then an ankle. She wasn’t breathing. He held her into his arms and stood. He felt the heat of the flames on his cheeks, fought through the burning wood and made their way outside. Surrell put Tiara down on the porch and one neighbor carried out first aid. She coughed and opened her eyes at last.
Tiara survived the fire safely. However, Surrell took extra medication that helped open his airway. “It’s a small price to pay,” he said, “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
1.How did Michael Surrell know the fire?
A.He smelled the smoke in the distance. B.He saw the firemen on the way.
C.He heard the call from a woman. D.His daughter telephoned to tell him.
2.Why were the conditions more dangerous for Surrell?
A.Because he was old. B.Because he lacked experience.
C.Because his vision was poor. D.Because he had lung disease.
3.Which word can describe Surrell’s first attempt?
A.Useless. B.Successful.
C.Hopeless. D.Surprising.
4.What can be learned about Surrell while he was saving Tiara?
A.His cheeks were hurt by flames. B.He lost the way to the second floor.
C.He took pains to confirm the girl’s position. D.His first aid knowledge helped save the girl.
After a day’s hiking, a comfortable place to bed down for the night feels like heaven. Here are four best places that offer more than just bed and breakfast. Click the websites for more if you’re interested.
The Old Rectory, Gwynedd
At the foot of Cadair Idris Mountains, the Old Rectory offers good walking around town of Machynlleth. Two of its four attractive lake-view rooms have big, free-standing baths, ideal for an end-of-walk bath.
Walks: An easy 2-mile trail loops around Tal-y-llyn Lake.
• Double from £100 B&B (bed and breakfast), rectoryonthelake.co.uk
Clachaig Inn, Scottish Highlands
This Glencoe inn is a Highlands legend. The 23 rooms are comfortable and simple, but more appealing are the live bands and the bar.
Walks: A gentle 1½-mile woodland route from the inn visits Signal Rock. An exposed 8-mile climb up Buachaille Etive Mòr.
• Double from £106 B&B, clachaig.com
Lee Byre, Devon
This barn house has three bright guest rooms. Owners are keen hikers and can give trail advice or lead guided walks, day and night. Breakfast features fresh-laid eggs and homemade honey.
Walks: Make a circuit across the wetland (11 miles). Hike from Mary Tavy to Wheal Betsy (5 miles).
• Double from £70 B&B; guided day walk £60 per person; guided star hike £30 per person; leebyre.com
Cottage Lodge, Hampshire
Christina Simons, owner of this comfortable hotel, has created several self-guided walking routes direct from the front door. The lodge has 16 rooms, two of which are dog-friendly.
Walks: To Lyndhurst via Standing Hat woods (7 miles), looking out for wild deer. A 3-mile walk through Keyhaven marshes, a good place to see migrating birds.
• Double from £75 B&B, cottagelodge.co.uk
1.Which place best suits walkers who enjoy lake view?
A.The Old Rectory B.Cottage Lodge
C.Lee Byre D.Clachaig Inn
2.What can we know about Cottage Lodge?
A.Dogs are welcome to stay in all rooms there.
B.Walkers might see some wild animals during walks there.
C.Walkers can join in some guided walking at the front door.
D.It offers the lowest price and the most rooms.
3.Where probably is this passage from?
A.A tour guide book. B.A travel website.
C.A lifestyle magazine. D.A local newspaper.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.How many more hours do children spend on TV than in a classroom?
A.6,000 hours. B.12,000 hours. C.18,000 hours.
2.What is ‘‘Sesame Street’’ according to the passage?
A.A recreational program.
B.A program for cartoon.
C.An educational program.
3.What is the main idea of the passage?
A.TV commercials should be cut down.
B.Children should watch less TV.
C.There’s much room for improving the US TV programs.
4.What will be the result of children seeing hours of TV every day?
A.They will become inactive and dull.
B.They will forget their homework.
C.They will follow the TV programs.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What do we know about the speakers?
A.They are in the same class.
B.They are majoring in art.
C.They are old friends.
2.What does the teacher look like?
A.She wears glasses. B.She has curly hair. C.She is tall.
3.How long has the woman been here?
A.A week. B.Two weeks. C.Three weeks.
4.What will the woman do next?
A.Look for a hotel.
B.Ring the man’s friend.
C.Meet her teacher.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What is Debbie worried about?
A.Her health. B.Her eating habits. C.Food security.
2.What should Debbie take for soft bones?
A.Iron. B.Vitamin. C.Calcium.
3.How does the man get the knowledge about nutrition?
A.From TV. B.From the Internet. C.From a book.
