Question

    Away from home, and eating is more than just a way to keep your stomach full. It is a language all its own, and no words can say ‚”Glad to meet you…glad to be doing business with you…” quite like sharing a meal offered by your heart.

Clearly, mealtime is not the time for you to say. “ Thanks, but no thanks.” Acceptance of the host, country, and company. So, no matter how difficult it may be to swallow, swallow. Or, as one experienced traveler says, “Travel with a cast-iron stomach and eat everything everywhere.’

Often, the food offered represents proudly your host country’s  proudest  cooking achievement .What would America think of a French person who refused to take a bite of homemade apple pie or sizzling steak? Our discomfort comes not so much from the thing itself; it comes from our unfamiliarity with it. After all, an oyster has remarkably the same look as a sheep’s eye, and a first something you dip in butter and eat. By the way, in Saudi Arabia sheep’s eyes are a delicacy, in parts of China it’s bear’s paw soup.

Can you refuse such food without being rude? Most experienced business travelers say no, at least not before taking at least a few bites. It helps, though, to slice any item very thin. This way, you minimize the texture—gristly（软骨的）,slimy（粘滑的）and so on---and the reminder of where it came from. Or, “Swallow it quickly.” as one traveler recommends, “I still can’t tell you what sheep’s eyeballs taste like.” As for dealing with taste, the old line that “it tastes just like chicken” is often thankfully true. Even when “it” is really rat or snake.

Another useful piece of advice is not knowing what you are eating. What’s for dinner? Don’t ask. Avoid glancing into the kitchen or looking at English-language menus. Your host will be pleased that you are eating the food he offers, and who knows? Maybe it really is the chicken in that soup.

1.Who is the passage most probably written for?

A.Those who are going to have trip abroad.

B.Those who want to cook food from another country

C.Those who are going to teach people from different countries

D.Those who want to take part in an international cooking contest

2.The phrase “a cast-iron stomach” probably refers to a stomach____ .

A.equipped with iron devices B.never failing you

C.sensitive to various tastes D.not allergic to iron

3.Which of the following is NOT suggested by the passage when you are offered some food you don’t like?

A.Cutting it into small pieces B.Swallowing it without hesitation

C.Avoid figuring out what it is D.Pleasing the host while eating

4.Which of the following can be served as a conclusion for the passage?

A.Chicken is a delicacy for everyone. B.“It tastes like chicken” may help.

C.When in Rome, do as the Romans do. D.Eating various things can keep you fit.

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.D

4.C

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，介绍了去别的国家旅行时饮食方面的几点建议。

1.推理判断题。通读全文可知，本文主要介绍了去别的国家旅行时饮食方面的几点建议，因此本文可能是写给那些准备出国旅行的人的，故A项正确。

2.词义猜测题。根据第二段中的“So, no matter how difficult it may be to swallow, swallow. Or, as one experienced traveler says, “Travel with a cast-iron stomach and eat everything everywhere.’”可知，所以不管多么难以下咽，尽管吃吧，或者，正如一位经验丰富的旅行者所说，“带着铁胃旅行，到处吃东西”，由此可知，a cast-iron stomach指的是“一个永远不会让失望的胃”，故B项正确。

3.细节理解题。根据第二段中的“So, no matter how difficult it may be to swallow, swallow.”可知，不管多么难以下咽，尽管大口吃吧（毫不犹豫地吃掉）；根据第四段中的“It helps, though, to slice any item very thin.”可知，不过，把任何东西切成薄片都有帮助；根据最后一段中的“What’s for dinner? Don’t ask. Avoid glancing into the kitchen or looking at English-language menus.”可知，晚饭吃什么？别问。避免看厨房或英语菜单（避免弄清楚它是什么），以上三点是当你被提供一些你不喜欢的食物时要采取的几点建议，而没有提到吃饭时取悦主人，故D项正确。

4.推理判断题。根据本文介绍的几点建议，特别是根据第三段中的“Often, the food offered represents proudly your host country’s proudest cooking achievement .”及“Our discomfort comes not so much from the thing itself; it comes from our unfamiliarity with it.”可知，通常所提供的食物代表着东道国最引以为豪的烹饪成就，我们的不适与其说来自事物本身，不如说来自我们对它的不熟悉，言外之意，我们去别的国家旅行时，在饮食方面要入乡随俗，尽管享受他们提供的美食，故C项正确。