Question

    I've handled chopsticks skillfully for decades. While it used to amuse me, it mildly annoys me now that Chinese react with astonishment to see a foreigner handle them—as if someone from a country that put a man on the moon would somehow be incapable of handing two simple sticks. As you can see, China’s influence stretched far and wide long before opening-up in the late 1970s or today’s Belt and Road Initiative. So the idea that most foreigners cannot use chopsticks is, simply put, fiddlesticks.

My first exposure to chopsticks came way back in the 1960s via the elementary piano tune known as Chopsticks, which aroused my curiosity as to what the word meant. Not long afterward, my parents introduced me to Chinese food at King Fong Cafe in Omaha, Nebraska, which, I only learned recently, was among the landmarks of the heartland city’s once-thriving Chinatown in the early 1900s.

In fact, I have undergone special kuaizi training (improving skills, for example, by constantly picking up peanuts when I lived with my Chinese tai chi master) and experimentation (exploring the use of chopsticks to snap up popcorn and donuts; I’m working on ice cream).

But there’s one western food for which chopsticks are truly a godsend: salads. After moving to China in 2014, I bought a salad at a convenience store, and the clerk handed me kuaizi. I refused at first, but then thought, “All right” and gave it a try.

Amazingly useful! I could pick and choose each small piece much more carefully, without having to move awkwardly trying to spear (刺) the crispy carrot or cherry tomato and then move it mouth ward.

Another clear advantage of these simplest of tools is that they regulate the pace and volume of eating. It's much harder to “pig out” by shoveling food with chopsticks than with a fork and spoon.

However, in the spirit of globalization, let’s not overlook the finer points of knife and fork. In fact, a handy thing about the fork is that everyone can basically use it with each hand. I dare to say that, for Chinese and foreigners alike, switching hands while using chopsticks is not so readily done with confidence.

1.What makes the author feel unhappy about using chopsticks?

A.The comments on chopsticks from foreigners.

B.Incapacity to handle two simple sticks.

C.The idea that foreigners don't like chopsticks.

D.Reaction of Chinese on seeing him using chopsticks.

2.What does the underlined word “fiddlesticks” in Paragraph 1 mean?

A.nonsense B.reasonable

C.acceptable D.shameful

3.What is the advantage of chopsticks according to the passage?

A.They can let people wolf down food easily.

B.They can spear the crispy carrot or cherry tomato.

C.They can be amazingly useful to eat western food.

D.They can help users control the pace and volume of eating.

4.What is the best title for the passage?

A.Me and Chopsticks B.Chinese Kitchen Culture

C.The Globalization of Chopsticks D.Two Sides of Chopsticks

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.D

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。文章主要介绍了一位外国人使用筷子的心得和体会。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段第二句“... it mildly annoys me now that Chinese react with astonishment to see a foreigner handle them—as if ...”中国人看到外国人可以熟练使用筷子时惊讶的表情让作者有稍许恼怒。因此，让作者不高兴的是中国人看到他使用筷子时的反应。故选D。

2.词义猜测题。根据第一段中While it used to amuse me, it mildly annoys me now that Chinese react with astonishment to see a foreigner handle them—as if someone from a country that put a man on the moon would somehow be incapable of handing two simple sticks. As you can see, China’s influence stretched far and wide long before opening-up in the late 1970s or today’s Belt and Road Initiative. (虽然这曾是我的消遣，但现在看到外国人摆弄筷子时中国人的反应让我有点恼火——就好像一个把人送上月球的国家的人不知怎的连两根简单的筷子都不会拿。正如你所看到的，早在上世纪70年代末开放或今天的“一带一路”倡议之前，中国的影响就已经非常广泛)，这两个事实的对比说明认为外国人不会用筷子是一件“nonsense”的事。故选A。

3.细节理解题。根据第六段“Another clear advantage of these simplest of tools is that they regulate the pace and volume of eating.”（这些最简单的工具的另一个明显优势是，它们可以调节进食的速度和数量。）由此可知，筷子能帮助使用者控制吃饭的速度和量。故选D。

4.主旨大意题。根据全文可知,文章讲述作者与筷子之间的故事，介绍了自己使用筷子的心得体会。故A项（Me and Chopsticks）我和筷子作为题目更为贴切。故选A。