A
[2019·银川高三质量检测]
How Did the Ancient Chinese Keep
Food Warm in Winter？
Facilities like electric rice cookers， microwaves， and electric kettles， make it easy for people to keep food warm and enjoy a comfortable winter. So how did Chinese people in ancient times keep food warm in winter without these？ In fact， ancient Chinese people used their own methods of heat preservation as early as the Shang and Zhou Dynasties.
☆“Wen Ding”， ancient rice cooker
One of the major functions of an electric rice cooker is to keep food warm. The “Wen Ding”， an ancient cooking container， served the same purpose， but instead of using electric energy， the ancient cooking container preserved heat by burning fuels like charcoal.
The “Wen Ding” unearthed in Nanjing in 1989 is thought to be the oldest of its kind discovered in China， dating back to the Stone Age. The craftsmanship of making the “Wen Ding” was developed in the Bronze Age. The bronze Ding from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties took on different shapes and structures.
☆“Ran Lu”， ancient small hot pot
The “Ran Lu” is a smallsize cooking vessel (器皿) made of bronze， which can be divided into three parts. A charcoal stove forms the main structure， with a bottom tray to hold charcoal ashes， and a movable cup at the top. Some experts have concluded that the vessel's structure suggests it may have been used as a small hot pot and that these vessels became popular in the Warring States Period (475 B.C.221 B.C.).
☆Bronze You， ancient kettle
The Bronze You was one of the most common wine containers during the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. The Bronze You can also be used to warm wine. For example， the Bronze You with beast mask design， unearthed in Jiangxi Province， has an opening where charcoal could be placed. Just as people today can't do without an electric kettle， the Bronze You allowed people to enjoy a hot drink.
☆Bronze Yan， ancient steamer
Although the “Wen Ding” was effective at keeping food warm， the ancient Chinese people later found that its burning process produced pollution. As a result， the Bronze Yan was made with a twotier structure and used to steam rice and other grains. After the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 A.D.220 A.D.)， further improvements to the Bronze Yan led to the modernday steamer.
【语篇解读】 本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了中国古代四种在冬天给食物保温的器皿。
【长难句分析】 For example， the Bronze You with beast mask design， unearthed in Jiangxi Province， has an opening where charcoal could be placed.(Bronze You， ancient kettle部分第三句)
分析：这是一个主从复合句。“unearthed in Jiangxi Province”是过去分词短语作后置定语，修饰“the Bronze You”；where引导定语从句，指代先行词“an opening”。
Paraphrase(英英释义)：For example， the Bronze You with beast mask design， which was discovered in Jiangxi Province， has an opening to place charcoal.
【词汇积累】 ancient adj.古代的 preservation n.保存 dynasty n.朝代；王朝 charcoal n.木炭
1．When did the “Ran Lu” become popular？
A.In the Zhou Dynasty.
B.In the Eastern Han Dynasty.
C.In the Warring States Period.
D.In the Stone Age.
答案与解析：C 考查细节理解。
关键句：Some experts have concluded that the vessel's structure suggests it may have been used as a small hot pot and that these vessels became popular in the Warring States Period (475 B.C.221 B.C.).(“Ran Lu”， ancient small hot pot部分最后一句)
译文：一些专家推断，这种器皿的结构表明它可能被当做一种小火锅来使用，这种器皿在战国时期(公元前475—公元前221年)流行起来。
根据关键句可知，“Ran Lu”在战国时期变得流行。故C项正确。
2.The Bronze You， unearthed in Jiangxi Province， has an opening to ________.
A.place charcoal B.store wine
C.pour water D.hold charcoal ashes
答案与解析：A 考查细节理解。
关键句：For example， the Bronze You with beast mask design， unearthed in Jiangxi Province， has an opening where charcoal could be placed.(Bronze You， ancient kettle部分第三句)
译文：例如，江西出土的带有兽面纹的Bronze You上有一个可以放置木炭的开口。
根据关键句可知，Bronze You上的开口是用来放置木炭的。故A项正确。
3．What is the unique advantage of the Bronze Yan？
A.It is warm.
B.It is convenient.
C.It is useful.
D.It is environmentfriendly.
答案与解析：D 考查推理判断。
关键句：Although the “Wen Ding” was effective at keeping food warm， the ancient Chinese people later found that its burning process produced pollution. As a result， the Bronze Yan was made with a twotier structure and used to steam rice and other grains.(最后一段前两句)
译文：虽然“Wen Ding”在食物保温方面很有效，但后来中国古代人民发现其在燃烧过程中会产生污染。因此，双层结构的Bronze Yan应运而生，可用于蒸米和其他谷物。
根据关键句可推知，Bronze Yan最独特的地方在于不会污染环境。故D项正确。
