Question

In China, chain restaurants — especially the big multinational ones — are cool. Going to Starbucks, for example, is a status symbol. It not only says, “I’m rich enough to buy this overpriced coffee,” but also, “I’m cosmopolitan (见多识广的) enough to be part of globalization.”

Where I come from in the UK, however, chains are neither fashionable nor gourmet(美食的). Chains are where you go on New Year’s Day when nowhere else is open, or when you are 5 years old and your parents can’t stand hearing, “I’m huuuuuungry!” any longer. In my own case (with regards to McDonald’s), a chain is where you are taken on your first “date”. Even at the age of 13, I knew to give the guy the “let’s just be friends” phone call the next day.

In the UK, independent cafes and restaurants are making a comeback on the fashion scene. Nowadays, a Londoner who says “let’s meet for a coffee at Monmouth” (an independent cafe) is much cooler than one who says “let’s go to Starbucks”. Even if Monmouth’s coffee is a little more expensive, there’s a satisfaction in knowing your pounds aren’t going straight to the big corporations.

Of course, there are chain stores all over the UK; you can’t go five minutes without spotting a Costa Coffee. But numbers do not add up to good taste.

I do, however, have a confession (坦白). After moving to China I had moments when all the rice and Kung Pao Chicken became too much. I, too, have retreated to McDonald’s.

1.Many Chinese people like to go to multinational chain restaurants because ______.

A. the restaurants give customers a taste of foreign culture

B. the restaurants offer different food and drinks from other restaurants

C. these restaurants are perfect places for a romantic date

D. they believe that eating there will show their wealth and social status

2.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. The author has grown tired of Chinese food.

B. Most independent stores are closed on New Year’s Day in the UK.

C. Branches of Monmouth’s cafe can be found all over the UK.

D. It is cool in the UK to take your first date to a chain restaurant.

3.We can infer from the article that ________.

A. many Britons don’t like big corporations

B. the author doesn’t like food from Pizza Hut

C. the author doesn’t like to follow fashion trends

D. many Britons think that numbers mean poor quality

4.What does the underlined word (in the last paragraph) mean?

A. adaptedB. contributed

C. subscribedD. switched

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.A

4.D

【解析】

试题分析:：本文介绍中国人和英国人对于国际连锁餐厅的不同态度。

1.中It not only says, “I’m rich enough to buy this overpriced coffee,” but also, “I’m cosmopolitan (见多识广的) enough to be part of globalization.”可知，很多中国人去连锁餐厅是为了显示他们的富有和社会地位。故选D。

2. 推理判断题。根据文章第二段的描述“Chains are where you go on New Year’s Day when nowhere else is open（连锁餐厅是在新年那天没有别的地方开门时才去的）可知，在英国新年时大部分的独立商店都停止营业。故答案为B。

3. 推理判断题。根据第三段的叙述In the UK, independent cafes and restaurants are making a comeback on the fashion scene.和there’s a satisfaction in knowing your pounds aren’t going straight to the big corporations.可知，很多英国人不喜欢大公司。故选A。

4.词义猜测题。最后一段画线单词所在句子的句意：在我搬来中国之后，我发现米饭和宫爆鸡丁太多了，所以我也撤回到麦当劳。故这里retreat的意思最接近的是 switch（转变）。故选D。

考点：考查社会现象类短文阅读。