Sunflower seeds:a bite of China

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中國人都愛嗑瓜子，這個習慣屬于中國春節文化，就像丹麥人吃面包喜歡加咸紅魚一樣，每一個地域的飲食習慣都有自己特定的文化。

A British friend told me he couldn't understand why Chinese people love eating sunflower seeds as a snack so much.“I've met a lot of older Chinese and many have a crack(裂縫)in their front teeth;I believe that's from cracking the seeds,”he said.

I had never noticed the habit,but once he mentioned it,I suddenly became more aware.I realized that whenever I'm watching TV or typing a report,I always start mindlessly cracking sunflower seeds.My friend doesn't like sunflower seeds,and,to him,it seems unnecessary to work so much just to get one small seed.

When we were young,the whole family would usually get together for Chinese New Year.Then,we all lived close to one another,usually in a small city,and sometime even neighbors would go door-to-door on Chinese New Year's Eve to check out what every household was making.

I remember my parents would be in the kitchen cooking.Out in the living room,a large table would already be laid out,complete with fancy tablecloth,ready-made dumping fillings,and dishes full of candies,fruits and sunflower seeds.

Some of the dishes were to be offered to our ancestors later,while others were for neighbors and children to eat before the evening feast.I must have learned how to crack sunflower seeds back then.

I don't think it's right to criticize one's choice in food or eating habits,no matter how strange they may seem.

It's not only in China.When I went abroad,I found people had all sorts of strange habits when it came to food.In Denmark,they put salted red fish on bread and eat it for dinner,no matter how much it ruins your breath.They think it's a tasty dish,and it's connected to their culture.I think it's a wonderful tradition.

Reading check

閱讀短文，從每題所給的A、B、C和D四個選項中，選出最佳選項。

1.What did the writer become aware of?

A.She had ever typed a report about seeds.

B.She ate various snacks while watching TV.

C.She had a habit of cracking sunflower seeds.

D.She damaged her teeth by eating sunflower seeds.

2.What does the writer prove by mentioning Chinese New Year?

A.The traditions of celebrating its disappearance.

B.Children can eat delicious food on that day.

C.The families get together for it.

D.Eating sunflower seeds is related to it.

3.What's the writer's attitude towards Denmark's way of eating bread?

A.Acceptable. B.Critical.

C.Neutral. D.Doubtful.

4.What lesson can we learn from the story?

A.One kind of food doesn't necessarily suit everyone.

B.Eating habits come from a certain culture.

C.It is good to form healthy eating habits.

D.Changingyoureatinghabitswillchangeyourlife.

Language study

Ⅰ.熟詞生義

文中詞條 基本含義 引申含義 生義例句n o t i c e 通知 注意；留心f a n c y 希望；迷戀H e w a l k e d s o f a s t t h a t h e d i d n't n o t i c e h i s w i f e.他走得太快了，都沒注意到自己的妻子。華麗的；好的S h e w a n t s t o b u y a h a n d b a g,n o t f a n c y b u t s t r o n g.她想買一個手提包不要花俏而要耐用。

Ⅱ.熱詞復現

1.get together聚會；聚集

Eg.They get together once a year at Christmas time.他們每年圣誕節時聚會一次。

2.close to接近于；在……的近旁

Eg.I came pretty close to going into the food business myself.我本人也差一點進了食品行業。

3.check out結賬退房；檢驗；通過考核

Eg.The hotel insists that guests check out of their rooms before 11 o'clock in the morning.這家旅館要求客人在上午11點鐘前結賬退房。

4.lay out設計；安排；陳列；擬定

Eg.He showed us how to lay out a printed page.他向我們展示怎樣設計版面。

Ⅲ.美句賞析

1.I must have learned how to crack sunflower seeds back then.我一定是那個時候學會嗑瓜子的。

點撥：本句must have done的句式，表示對過去發生的事情的肯定猜測，譯成“一定做過某事”，該結構只用于肯定句。

微練：句式仿寫

你和他說話，一定是發瘋了。

2.When I went abroad,I found people had all sorts of strange habits when it came to food.說到食物，在國外，我發現人們都有各種各樣的古怪習俗。

點撥：本句中when it comes to sth的句式，譯成“當談到（涉及）……時”，該結構中的to是一個介詞。

微練：句式仿寫

談到德語,我一竅不通。

Instant drills

完成句子（每空一詞）

1.______________that my friend will be all right.

我希望我的朋友平安無事。

2.As soon as your application is approved,I will personally ______________.

一旦你的申請被批準，我本人將會通知您。

3.Thanks for accepting the invitation.I figure we should ______________more often.

謝謝你接受邀請。我們日后多見些面吧！

4.I'd like an apartment ______________public transportation.

我想找一處離公共交通較近的公寓房。

5.So you brought me in to ______________what was bothering you.

這么說，你帶我進去是為了核實一下使你迷惑不解的事情了。

6.The big tables enable all books____________________________with ease.

這些桌子很大，把所有的書攤在上面還綽綽有余。

7.It_____________________ last night,for the ground is wet.

昨晚一定下雨了，因為地面還是濕的。

8.But I hated it that they only saw this side of me;it existed only____________________________books and tests.

但是，我討厭他們只看到我的一面，而這一面僅僅在我讀書和考試的時候才存在。