Question

A young woman sits alone in café sipping tea and reading a book. She pauses briefly to write in a nearby notepad before showing her words to a passing café waiter: “Where are the toilets please?” This is a familiar scene in Tokyo’s so-called “silent cafes”, where customers are not allowed to speak, and only communicate by writing in notepads.

The concept rises by a desire to be alone among young Japanese, a situation brought by economic uncertainly, a shift in traditional family support structures and the growing social isolation. The phenomenon is not limited to coffee shops but covers everything from silent discos, where participants dance alone wearing wireless headphones connected to the DJ, to products such as small desk tents designed for conversation-free privacy in the office. One Kyoto company even offers single women the opportunity to have a “one woman wedding” – a full bridal affair, complete with white dress and ceremony, and the only thing missing is the groom. The trend has its own media expression – “botchi-zoku”, referring to individuals who consciously choose to do things completely on their own.

One recent weekday afternoon, Chihiro Higashikokubaru, a 23-year-old nurse, travelled 90 minutes from her home, to Tokyo on her day off in order to enjoy some solo time. Speaking quietly at the entrance of the café, Miss Higashikokubaru said: “I heard about this place via Twitter and I like the idea of coming here. I work as a nurse and it’s always very busy. There are very few quiet places in Tokyo, and it’s a big busy city. I just want to come and sit somewhere quietly on my own. I’m going to drink a cup of tea and maybe do some drawings. I like the idea of a quiet, calm atmosphere.”

The desire to be isolated is not a new concept in Japan, home to an estimated 3.6 million “hikikomori” – a more extreme example of social recluses（隐士）who withdraw completely from society.

1.What is special about the “silent café”?

A. It provides various tea and books.

B. People are not allowed to communicate.

C. It has attracted many popular young people.

D. It offers service by writing not by speaking.

2.Which of the following accounts for the idea of being alone in Japan?

A. The increasing social isolation.

B. The stable economic situation.

C. The rising demand for privacy.

D. The rapid development of internet.

3.What do we know about Higashikokubaru?

A. She doesn’t like to be a nurse.

B. She doesn’t like the life in big cities.

C. She enjoys her solo time in a quiet place.

D. She travelled to Tokyo on her work days.

4.What is the best title of the passage?

A. Silent cafes    B. Lonely Japanese

C. One woman wedding    D. Social recluses in Japan

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.C

4.A

【解析】本文属于说明文阅读，作者通过这篇文章主要向我们描述了日本如今兴起的“沉默的咖啡馆”的相关信息，特殊服务方式以及原因。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段This is a familiar scene in Tokyo’s so-called “silent cafes”, where customers are not allowed to speak, and only communicate by writing in notepads.可知，“沉默的咖啡馆”的特别之处是它通过写作而不是说话来提供服务，故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段The concept rises by a desire to be alone among young Japanese, a situation brought by economic uncertainly, a shift in traditional family support structures and the growing social isolation.（这一概念利用了年轻日本人日益强烈的独处欲望，经济不稳定、传统家庭支持模式的转型以及日益严重的社会隔离更是加剧了这种情况。），A项是其中一个原因，故选A。

3.细节理解题。根据第三段I just want to come and sit somewhere quietly on my own. I’m going to drink a cup of tea and maybe do some drawings. I like the idea of a quiet, calm atmosphere.可知，Higas Hikokuaru喜欢在一个安静的地方独处，故选C。

4.主旨题。根据第一段This is a familiar scene in Tokyo’s so-called “silent cafes”, where customers are not allowed to speak, and only communicate by writing in notepads.以及整篇文章对“沉默咖啡馆”的介绍可知，这篇文章的最佳标题是沉默的咖啡馆。故选A。