Question

Most people today think of chocolate as something sweet to eat or drink and can be easily found in stores around the world. It might surprise you that chocolate was once highly treasured.

The wealthy people of Spain first enjoyed a sweetened chocolate drink. Later, the popularity of the drink spread throughout Europe. Chocolate remained a drink that only wealthy people could afford to drink until the eighteenth century. During the period known as the Industrial Revolution, new technologies helped make chocolate less costly to produce.

Farmers grow cacao trees in many countries in Africa, Central and South America, but these trees are difficult to grow. They require an exact amount of water, warmth, soil and protection. After about five years, cacao trees start producing large fruits called pods, which grow near the trunk of the tree. The seeds inside these pods are harvested to make chocolate. Growing cacao is very hard work for farmers. Today, chocolate industry officials, activists, and scientists are working with farmers. They are trying to make sure that cacao can be grown in a way that is easy for the farmers and safe for the environment.

The market value of the yearly cacao crop around the world is more than five billion dollars. Chocolate is especially popular in Europe and the United States. Each year, Americans eat an average of more than 5 kilograms of chocolate per person. Specialty shops that sell costly chocolate are also very popular. Many offer chocolate lovers the chance to taste chocolate grown in different areas of the world.

1.We can learn from the passage that chocolate was .

A．served with a drink in old times

B．popular with people around the world

C．a drink enjoyed by the rich in old times

D．bought easily in stores in old times

2.What made it possible to produce chocolate inexpensively?

A．A warm climate. B．Official aid.

C．New technologies. D．Scientific protection.

3.What should ideal cacao farming be like？

A．Simple and time-saving.

B．Safe and labour-saving

C．Easy and labour-saving

D．Easy and environment-friendly.

4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Scientists are trying to help people find various cacaos.

B．The chocolate industry is developing rapidly only in European countries.

C．People in America love to produce dear chocolate.

D．Chocolate making is probably a big international business.

 

Answer 1

1.C

2.C

3.D

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：现在巧克力很普遍，在很多商店都能买到。但是在18世纪之前是只有有钱人才能享用的。新技术的运用使巧克力生产价格降了下来。从而成为受大众尤其是欧洲和美国人喜爱的食品。巧克力的原料是可可豆，现在农民、科学家都在努力研究使可可的种植能既简单又环保。

1.推理判断题。文章中第二段提到，巧克力在18世纪之前是只有有钱的人才能享用的。the wealthy= the rich, 因此选C。

2.new technologies helped make chocolate less costly to produce可知，是工业革命的新技术，使巧克力生产起来没那么贵了。故选C。

3.They are trying to make sure that cacao can be grown in a way that is easy for the farmers and safe for the environment.可知，理想的可可种植应该是种起来容易又环保。A．Simple and time-saving简单，省时；B．Safe and labour-saving安全又省劳动力；C．Easy and labour-saving容易又环保。 故选D。

4.推理判断题。巧克力在欧洲和美国很受欢迎。专卖店很受欢迎。由此可知，巧克力制作很可能是一个大的国际贸易。由故选D。

考点：科普类文章。