Question

    “If you are cold, it will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; if you are depressed, it will cheer you; if you are exhausted, it will calm you.” The poem best identifies the passion for tea in Britain. Outside of the United Kingdom, many people refer to afternoon tea as “high tea”. Afternoon tea, also known as low tea, is what most people think of when they hear “high tea”. It involves things like manners, lace(蕾丝) and light meals such as cookies and finger sandwiches. It is typically served in the mid-afternoon and it was traditionally served on low tables, therefore its two names.

Legend has it that afternoon tea was started in the mid-1800s by the Duchess(公爵夫人) of Bedford. Around that time, kerosene(煤油) lamps were introduced into wealthier homes and eating a late dinner( around 8 or 9 p.m.) became fashionable. This increasingly late dinner was one of the only two meals each day, and the other was a mid-morning one. The story goes that the Duchess found herself with a “sinking feeling”. This came from hunger during the long wait between meals. She decided to invite friends over for various snacks and tea. The idea of an afternoon tea gathering spread across high society and became a favorite pastime of females for leisure. Later, it spread to other social groups.

However, the British working population did not have afternoon tea. They had a meal about midday, and a meal after work, between five and seven o’clock. This meal was called “high tea” or just “tea”. Traditionally eaten early evening, high tea was a substantial meal that combined delicious sweet food, such as cookies, cakes or tea bread, with heavy food, such as cheese on toast, cold meals and poached eggs on toast. This meal is now often replaced with a supper due to people eating their main meal in the evening rather than at midday.

1.What is the author’s purpose of using a poem at the beginning of the passage?

A.To introduce a topic. B.To present a puzzle.

C.To describe the phenomenon. D.To clarify his writing purpose.

2.What led to the appearance of afternoon tea?

A.Kerosene lamps were used at home.

B.Upper class had more free time.

C.Drinking tea makes people feel good.

D.Duchess of Bedford was influential in social circle.

3.What was the most important feature of afternoon tea in the mid-1800s?

A.Simple food and tea. B.Being served on low tables.

C.A ladies’ social occasion. D.Serving time.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.Origins of Tea. B.Ways of Low Tea.

C.Traditional Afternoon Tea. D.High Tea and Low Tea.

Answer

1.A

2.A

3.C

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。文章用一首诗歌引出话题，然后通过传说介绍了英国下午茶的来历。比较正式的下午茶除了有许多好吃的东西之外，在礼节和服饰方面也有一定的风俗习惯。

1.推理判断题。本文作者在开头引用了一首诗歌，联系诗歌后面的The poem best identifies the passion for tea in Britain.及下文的介绍可以推知，引用诗歌的目的是为了引出本文话题。故选A。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段第二句Around that time, kerosene(煤油) lamps were introduced into wealthier homes and eating a late dinner( around 8 or 9 p.m.) became fashionable.“大约在那个时候，煤油灯被引入富裕家庭，晚餐吃得很晚(晚上8、9点左右)成为了一种时尚。”及下文内容可知，煤油灯的使用使人们的晚饭用餐时间更晚，因此人们开始在下午享用下午茶，即煤油灯的使用导致了下午茶的产生。故选A。

3.细节理解题。根据第二段最后的The idea of an afternoon tea gathering spread across high society and became a favorite pastime of females for leisure. Later, it spread to other social groups.“下午茶聚会的想法传遍了上流社会，并成为女性休闲时最喜欢的消遣方式。后来，它传播到其他社会群体。”可知，那时候女士们在闲暇时间通过下午茶消磨时间，时期最重要的一个特征。故选C。

4.主旨大意题。本文主要介绍了英国下午茶的起源和发展，包括礼节、服装和食品，不同起源的下午茶被称为“high tea” or just “tea”。故选D。