Question

We all have ideas about what kinds of foods are good or bad to eat. As a result, people from one culture often think the foods that people from another culture eat are unacceptable. Many people would find it terrible to eat rats, but there are forty-two different cultures whose people regard rats as proper food.

Food likes and dislikes do not always seem related to nutrition. For example, broccoli (花椰菜) is first on a list of the most nutritious common vegetables, but it is twenty-first on a list of vegetables that Americans like most to eat. Tomatoes are sixteenth on the list of most nutritious vegetables, but they are first on the list of vegetables that Americans like most to eat.

But dislikes is not the only reason why some cultures will not eat a certain food. In some cultures, certain foods are taboo. Taboo is a word from the language of the Fiji Islands that is used to describe something that is forbidden. We do not usually think about why certain things are taboo in our culture.

One example is that Americans do not eat dogs, although people from some other cultures regard them as good food. In the United States, dogs are very important to people as pets. They are usually regarded as part of the family, almost like a child in some cases. In addition, dogs have value as protection against criminals (罪犯). Actually, the dog’s place in society as a companion makes the dog taboo as food.

Scientists believe that most food likes and dislikes are a result of the ways of life of different people. People will not eat pets such as dogs. Americans eat a lot of beef because there is plenty of land for raising cattle and their meat can be shipped cheaply for long distances by railroads.

1.The writer uses the example of rat as food to show that ________.

A. some cultures may seem rather strange

B. understanding between different cultures is easy

C. people may eat very different things

D. eating properly is very difficult

2.What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A. People don’t often consider nutrition as important.

B. Some vegetables are more nutritious than others.

C. Broccoli and tomatoes are common vegetables.

D. Americans like broccoli better than tomatoes.

3.Why is eating dogs a taboo in America?

A. It is a taboo from the Fiji Islands.

B. It is against American laws.

C. Dogs are needed by the police.

D. Dogs are close to human life.

4.What can be a suitable title for the passage?

A. Nutritions and Beliefs.

B. Food and Culture.

C. Taboo about Food.

D. Science in Eating.

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.D

4.B

【解析】

试题分析: 本文讲述不同的文化中有不同的饮食习惯，有些饮食看似怪异但与他们的文化是分不开的。

1.C 细节理解题。根据第一段提到Many people would find it terrible to eat rats, but there are forty-two different cultures whose people regard rats as proper food.可知，许多人发现吃老鼠是非常恶心的，但有四十二种不同的文化中把老鼠当作美味，可见人们会吃不同的食物，故选C项。

2.A 主旨大意题。根据第二段第一句话提到Food likes and dislikes do not always seem related to nutrition（对食物的喜好并不总是与营养有关），以下都是围绕着这句话展开，故选A项。

3.D 细节理解题。根据倒数第二段提到Actually, the dog’s place in society as a companion makes the dog taboo as food.可知，狗与人的亲近关系让狗成为食物禁忌，故选D项。

4.B 主旨大意题。本文讲述不同的文化中有不同的饮食习惯，有些饮食看似怪异但与他们的文化是分不开的，故选B项。

考点：考查文化类阅读。