A
(2019·全国Ⅱ卷,C)
Marian Bechtel sits at West Palm Beach’s Bar Louie counter by herself,quietly reading her e-book as she waits for her salad.What is she reading?None of your business! Lunch is Bechtel’s “me” time.And like more Americans,she’s not alone.
A new report found 46 percent of meals are eaten alone in America.More than half (53 percent) have breakfast alone and nearly half (46 percent) have lunch by themselves.Only at dinnertime are we eating together anymore,74 percent,according to statistics from the report.
“I prefer to go out and be out.Alone,but together,you know?” Bechtel said,looking up from her book.Bechtel,who works in downtown West Palm Beach,has lunch with coworkers sometimes,but like many of us,too often works through lunch at her desk.A lunchtime escape allows her to keep a boss from tapping her on the shoulder.She returns to work feeling energized.“Today,I just wanted some time to myself,” she said.
Just two seats over,Andrew Mazoleny,a local videographer,is finishing his lunch at the bar.He likes that he can sit and check his phone in peace or chat up the barkeeper with whom he’s on a first-name basis if he wants to have a little interaction(交流).“I reflect on how my day’s gone and think about the rest of the week,” he said.“It’s a chance for self-reflection.You return to work recharged and with a plan.”
That freedom to choose is one reason more people like to eat alone.There was a time when people may have felt awkward about asking for a table for one,but those days are over.Now,we have our smartphones to keep us company at the table.“It doesn’t feel as alone as it may have before all the advances in technology,” said Laurie Demeritt,whose company provided the statistics for the report.
【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文。文章通过具体的数据和例子说明,由于有智能手机相伴,单独就餐已成为一种趋势。
1.What are the statistics in Paragraph 2 about?
A.Food variety. B.Eating habits.
C.Table manners. D.Restaurant service.
答案:B
解析:推理判断题。根据本段提到的数据以及“mealsareeatenaloneinAmerica”“havebreakfastalone”“havelunchbythemselves”以及“eatingtogether”可知,这些数字是关于饮食习惯的。
2.Why does Bechtel prefer to go out for lunch?
A.To meet with her coworkers.
B.To catch up with her work.
C.To have some time on her own.
D.To collect data for her report.
答案:C
解析:细节理解题。根据第一段中的“LunchisBechtel’s‘me’time.”以及第三段的最后一句“Today,Ijustwantedsometimetomyself...”可知,她喜欢出去吃午饭是因为她想有一些属于自己的时间。
3.What do we know about Mazoleny?
A.He makes videos for the bar.
B.He’s fond of the food at the bar.
C.He interviews customers at the bar.
D.He’s familiar with the barkeeper.
答案:D
解析:推理判断题。根据第四段中的“orchatupthebarkeeperwithwhomhe’sonafirst-namebasis”可知,他对酒吧的老板可以直呼其名,由此推测他们应该很熟悉。
4.What is the text mainly about?
A.The trend of having meals alone.
B.The importance of self-reflection.
C.The stress from working overtime.
D.The advantage of wireless technology.
答案:A
解析:主旨大意题。通读全文,尤其是最后一段中的“Thatfreedomtochooseisonereasonmorepeopleliketoeatalone.”可知,本文主要介绍了人们单独就餐的趋势。故选A项。
