Question

Choose the best answer

People consume more than 2.25 billion cups of coffee across the world every day, and most say coffee tastes bitter.

Now, a new study suggests that coffee lovers can make their drink taste sweeter by simply changing the color of their cup. Scientists claim that blue and glass cups, which are popular in some coffee shops, reduce a coffee’s bitterness, without any need for sugar.

To prove their claim, scientists found 36 volunteers and used three different colored cups – blue, white and transparent (透明) glass – to do an experiment. In the experiment, white cup enhanced the flavor of coffee, which made coffee drunk from the white cup taste less sweet when compared to the other colored cups. The blue cup made the coffee taste the sweetest.

The scientists believe that the color brown may be associated with bitterness. So coffee in white cups, which appears the brownest, tastes the least sweet.

“The study suggests that café owners and baristas (咖啡吧服务员), as well a coffee cup manufacturers (制造商), should carefully consider the color of their cups,” said the scientists.

However, the idea that color can alter the taste of food and drink is not new.

A study published last year revealed that red, strawberry-flavored mousse served on a white plate was rated as 10 percent sweeter and 15 percent more flavorous than the same food presented on a black plate.

1.The underlined word “alter” in this passage probably means       .

A.reduce B.change C.add D.imagine

2.Scientists used       to do an experiment to prove their claim.

(1) different brands of coffee

(2) different colored coffee cups

(3) dozens of volunteers

(4) several manufacturers

A.(1)(2) B.(2)(3) C.(2)(4) D.(3)(4)

3.How can you make coffee sweeter if it’s too bitter according to the passage?

A.Use a blue cup. B.Use a yellow cup.

C.Reduce the sugar. D.Add less milk.

4.Why does coffee in white cups taste the least sweet?

A.Because white cups are less beautiful than other cups.

B.Because white cups are more popular with coffee lovers.

C.Because white cups are least associated with bitterness.

D.Because white cups make coffee seem the brownest.

5.According to the article, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A.People can make food taste sweeter by altering the size of the container.

B.Black plates usually enhance the sweetness of food and drink.

C.It seems that the color of the glass can alter the flavor of the coffee inside.

D.Strawberry-flavored mousse is 10 percent sweeter when served on brown plates.

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.A

4.D

5.C

【解析】

本篇文章难度适中，主要讲述全世界每天消费的咖啡超过22.5亿杯，现在，一项新的研究表明，通过简单的改变杯子的颜色就能改变人们合到咖啡的甜味的程度。

1.词义猜测题。根据Now, a new study suggests that coffee lovers can make their drink taste sweeter by simply changing the color of their cup“如今，一项新的研究表明，咖啡爱好者能简单地通过改变他们杯子的颜色来让他们的饮料尝起来更加甜”以及However, the idea that color can alter the taste of food and drink is not new“然而，颜色可以改变食物和饮料的味道的观点并不是什么新鲜事”可知，alter指的是改变，故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据To prove their claim, scientists found 36 volunteers and used three different colored cups – blue, white and transparent (透明) glass – to do an experiment“为了证明这个声明，科学家找到36个志愿者以及使用蓝色、白色和透明三种不同颜色的杯子来做实验”可知，科学家用不同颜色的杯子以及几十个志愿者做实验，故选B。

3.细节理解题。根据The blue cup made the coffee taste the sweetest“蓝色的杯子让咖啡尝起来最加甜”可知，如果咖啡太苦，你可以用蓝色的杯子，故选A。

4.细节理解题。根据The scientists believe that the color brown may be associated with bitterness. So coffee in white cups, which appears the brownest, tastes the least sweet“科学家认为，褐色可能与苦味有关。所以白色杯子里的咖啡看起来是棕色的，尝起来最不甜”可知，因为白色的杯子让咖啡看起来是棕色的，故选D。

5.细节理解题。根据Now, a new study suggests that coffee lovers can make their drink taste sweeter by simply changing the color of their cup可知，可以通过改变容器的颜色来让食物更甜，排除A；根据A study published last year revealed that red, strawberry-flavored mousse served on a white plate was rated as 10 percent sweeter and 15 percent more flavorous than the same food presented on a black plate“去年发表的一项研究显示，与放在黑色盘子里的食物相比，放在白色盘子里的草莓味红色慕斯要甜10%，香15%”可知，排除B；根据The scientists believe that the color brown may be associated with bitterness. So coffee in white cups, which appears the brownest, tastes the least sweet“科学家认为，褐色可能与苦味有关。所以白色杯子里的咖啡看起来是棕色的，尝起来最不甜”可知，排除D；根据Now, a new study suggests that coffee lovers can make their drink taste sweeter by simply changing the color of their cup“如今，一项新的研究表明，咖啡爱好者能简单地通过改变他们杯子的颜色来让他们的饮料尝起来更加甜”可知，杯子的颜色可以改变里面咖啡的味道，故选C。