It was in the Victorian Era (维多利亚时期) that the novel became the leading form of literature in English. Most writers were more concerned to meet the tastes of the middle class. The best known works of the period included the works of Charles Dickens and the Bronté sisters and others.

     Charles Dickens came on the literary scene in the 1830s. Dickens wrote vividly about London life and the struggles of the poor. Most of his works were written in a very humorous style, which was popular with readers of all classes.

     The Bronté sisters were English writers of the 1840s and 1850s. They began to write from early childhood. In 1846 they published the first book at their own expense as poets; however, their book attracted little attention, selling only two copies. Then the sisters turned to writing novels, each producing a novel in the following year.

     An interest in rural(田园的) matters and the changing social and economic situation of the countryside may be seen in the novels of Thomas Hardy and a number of others.

     Literature for children developed as a single style. Some works became well-known, such as those of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear. Adventure novels were written for adults but are now generally grouped in the list for children. Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author at the end of the Victorian Era, best known for her children’s books, which featured (以……为特色) animal characters. In her thirties, Potter published the highly successful children’s book The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902.

1.What can we know about Charles Dickens from the text?

A. He showed an interest in rural matters in his writing.

B. He focused on changing social and economic situation of the countryside

C. He wrote about the struggles of the poor in London?

D. He published the highly successful children’s book

2.Which is TRUE about the Bronté sisters?

A. They were English writers of the 1830s.

B. They paid to have their first book published.

C. They began their writing from the rural life.

D. Their first book was successful.

3.Who wrote the famous children’s book The Tale of Peter Rabbit according to the text?

A. Lewis Carroll.                B. The Brontésisters.

C. Thomas Hardy.               D. Helen Beatrix Potter.

4.The author states in the last paragraph that ________.

A. Edward Lear was famous for writing about animals

B. adventure novels were not written for children at first

C. Thomas Hardy was not as famous as Lewis Carroll

D. society changed rapidly in the Victorian Era

5.This text is mainly about ________.

A. literature in the Victorian Era

B. writing styles in the Victorian Era

C. famous works in the Victorian Era

D. the importance of literature in the Victorian Era

New rules will let millions of Americans know where more of their food comes from. The law is known as COOL -- Country of Origin Labeling(标签).

American congress first passed the law in 2002. Stores have had to label seafood by country of origin since 2005. But industry pressure delayed other requirements until last week.

Products that must now be labeled include fresh fruits and vegetables, muscle meats and some kinds of nuts. But the rules are complex, and many foods are not included. For example, organ meats are free to be labeled. So are processed foods, including cooked or smoked foods.

The same food may sometimes have to be labeled and other times not. Fresh or frozen peas, for example, have to be labeled but not canned peas. Foods that are mixed with other foods are also excluded. Mixed nuts, for example, do not need to be labeled. The same is true of a salad mix that contains different things like lettuce and carrots. Or a fruit cup that combines different fruits. Also, the law doesn’t include restaurants and other food service organizations. Department of Agriculture officials say the law is really meant for larger grocery stores.

The United States has imported more and more food in recent years to save money and expand choices. Country-of-origin labeling has become more common lately but has still been limited in many stores.

Food safety is one reason why some shoppers pay close attention to where foods came from. For example, when a large number of people recently got sick from salmonella(沙门菌病), officials blamed peppers from Mexico. Yet the last big food scare involved spinach grown in California. But labeling is also a way for people to know they are getting what they want. Some want to buy local foods or foods from a particular country.

The country-of-origin labeling law gives stores 30 days to correct any violations(违反) that are found. Stores and suppliers that are found to be deliberately violating the law could be fined 1,000 dollars per violation. Federal inspectors are not to take action to enforce the law for six months to give time for an education campaign.

Some food safety activists say they are generally pleased with the law. They call it a good step that will give people more useful information.

1.Why has more and more food been imported to the United States in recent years?

A. It is economical and provides people with more choices.

B. Foreign food is of higher quality than native food.

C. Americans need more and more food recently.

D. The United States is short of food supply.

2.Consumers are more concerned about where foods come from because________.

A. they are curious about the origin of the food.

B. most of them are particular about the tastes

C. they are concerned about food safety

D. most of them are food safety activists

3.The new rules of the country-of-origin labeling law will come into effect________.

A. right now          B. in a month       C. in three months       D. in half a year

4.Which of the following can be inferred from the text?

A. Store owners are most likely to be the supporters of the law.

B. The government of America will possibly forbid importing peppers from Mexico.

C. Federal inspectors couldn’t take measures to enforce the law.

D. Most Americans prefer imported vegetables to the vegetables grown in local places.

Now let’s compare the Chinese diet with the Western diet. Some say that the Western food is better than the Chinese food. Do you think so?

    First, let’s make a standard(标准) of the better diet. We don’t have to care much about the shape, the colour and the taste of the food. We say the one that has more nutrition, is easier to be digested and absorbed(吸收) by the body and then makes us more energetic should be the better. In this way, I believe, our Chinese food should be better than the Western food. Why?

    I think the Western food contains too much fat and sugar. I know both fat and sugar are a kind of nutrition we need in our body, but too much of them will make your body harmed. That’s why so many westerners get ill when young. Besides, westerners have to use knives, forks and spoons to help them have their meals. It seems that they couldn’t have their meals without force.

    But in Chinese food we have those mainly from plants including their seeds, leaves and roots together with a little meat such as chicken, fish, pork, mutton and so on. With so much plant food we can get enough calories as it is rich in fiber, protein, calcium and fat. With a little meat we can make our body even stronger. Besides, we use chopsticks, bowls and plates to help us have our meals. All of these make us harmonious to nature and everybody around us. So I say our Chinese food makes us wise, happy, healthy and wealthy.

1. What is the passage mainly about?

      A. The taste of the Chinese food.

      B. The taste of the Western food.  

      C. The comparison between the two kinds of food.     

D. The tastes of both of the two kinds of foods.

2. Which is the standard of measuring a diet?

      A. Quantity of nutrition in the food.

      B. Whether it is easy to be digested and absorbed.

      C. Whether it can offer us enough energy.      

      D. All of the above.

3. Which is the writer’s attitude towards diet according to the passage?

A. Western food should be better because it contains much fat and sugar.

B. Western food should be better because contains much calories.

C. Chinese food should be better because it doesn’t contain too much fat or sugar

D. Chinese food should be better because it doesn’t have much nutrition.

4. According to the passage, which statement is true?

A. The standard (标准) of a better diet depends on the shape, color and the taste of the food.

B. Fat and sugar in the food do harm to our body.

C. Westerners use knives, chopsticks and spoons to help them have meals while Chinese use bowls, forks and plates.

D. Chinese food and the way Chinese have meals show Chinese are more harmonious with nature.

Now let’s compare the Chinese diet with the Western diet. Some say that the Western food is better than the Chinese food. Do you think so?
First, let’s make a standard(标准) of the better diet. We don’t have to care much about the shape, the colour and the taste of the food. We say the one that has more nutrition, is easier to be digested and absorbed(吸收) by the body and then makes us more energetic should be the better. In this way, I believe, our Chinese food should be better than the Western food. Why?
I think the Western food contains too much fat and sugar. I know both fat and sugar are a kind of nutrition we need in our body, but too much of them will make your body harmed. That’s why so many westerners get ill when young. Besides, westerners have to use knives, forks and spoons to help them have their meals. It seems that they couldn’t have their meals without force.
But in Chinese food we have those mainly from plants including their seeds, leaves and roots together with a little meat such as chicken, fish, pork, mutton and so on. With so much plant food we can get enough calories as it is rich in fiber, protein, calcium and fat. With a little meat we can make our body even stronger. Besides, we use chopsticks, bowls and plates to help us have our meals. All of these make us harmonious to nature and everybody around us. So I say our Chinese food makes us wise, happy, healthy and wealthy.
1. What is the passage mainly about?
A. The taste of the Chinese food.
B. The taste of the Western food.  
C. The comparison between the two kinds of food.     
D. The tastes of both of the two kinds of foods.
2. Which is the standard of measuring a diet?
A. Quantity of nutrition in the food.
B. Whether it is easy to be digested and absorbed.
C. Whether it can offer us enough energy.      
D. All of the above.
3. Which is the writer’s attitude towards diet according to the passage?
A. Western food should be better because it contains much fat and sugar.
B. Western food should be better because contains much calories.
C. Chinese food should be better because it doesn’t contain too much fat or sugar
D. Chinese food should be better because it doesn’t have much nutrition.
4. According to the passage, which statement is true?
A. The standard (标准) of a better diet depends on the shape, color and the taste of the food.
B. Fat and sugar in the food do harm to our body.
C. Westerners use knives, chopsticks and spoons to help them have meals while Chinese use bowls, forks and plates.
D. Chinese food and the way Chinese have meals show Chinese are more harmonious with nature.

New rules will let millions of Americans know where more of their food comes from．The law is known as COOL—Country of Origin Labeling．
American Congress first passed the law in 2002．Stores have had to label seafood by country of origin since 2005．But industry pressure delayed other requirements until last week．
Products that must now be labeled include fresh fruits and vegetables, muscle meats and some kinds of nuts．But the rules are complex, and many foods are excluded．For example, organ meats are free to be labeled．So are processed foods, including cooked or smoked food．
The United States has imported more and more food in recent years to save money and expand choices．Country-of-origin labeling has become more common lately but has still been limited in many stores．
Food safety is one reason why some shoppers pay close attention to where foods came from．For example, when a large number of people recently got sick from salmonella（沙门菌病）, officials blamed peppers from Mexico．Yet the last big food scare involved spinach （菠菜） grown in California．But labeling is also a way for people to know they are getting what they want．Some want to buy local foods or foods from a particular country．
The country-of-origin labeling law gives stores 30 days to correct any violations that are found．Stores and suppliers that are found to be deliberately violating the law could be fined 1000 dollars per violation．Federal inspectors are not to take action to enforce the law for six months to give time for an education campaign．
Some food safety activists say they are generally pleased with the law．They call it a good step that will give people more useful information．
【小题1】Why has more and more food been imported to the United States in recent years?