Question

【題目】

If you live in Europe or the Americas, you likely pick up a fork every day and give no thought to it. Using it probably seems as natural as breathing. Yet compared with the knife and the spoon, which appeared very early, the fork is a latecomer to the table.

Researches show that the fork was first used in Ancient Egypt, China and Greece. Since the 4th century BC, the fork managed to become common on the tables of upper society in Eastern Europe and by the 9th century, it travelled to the Middle East and started being used by the upper class under the name “barjyn”. This enabled the fork to slowly become popular in these areas.

In the 11th century, the fork came to Italy in the dowry of a princess (王妃的嫁妝) from the Middle East who married an Italian official. After seeing the princess use the fork, the church strongly criticized her, saying that the fork disrespected the practice of using the fingers. Then the fork disappeared from the table for nearly 300 years. It began to get acceptance in Italy by the late 16th century, because the upper-class Italians expressed renewed interest in cleanliness. However, most European countries accepted the fork only by the 18th century and United States didn’t welcome it until the early 19th century.

During its life, the fork has changed in terms of appearance. In its early use, the fork had only two tines (齒). As the centuries went on, its design slowly started taking on a modern look. The fork that we know today, which has four tines, was introduced in the 18th century in Germany. By the early 20th century, the invention of stainless steel(不銹鋼)enabled the fork to be made more easily. Since then, the fork hasn’t changed much in design.

【1】Which is a latecomer to the table, the knife, the spoon or the fork?

【2】In what countries was the fork first used?

【3】When did most European countries accept the fork?

【4】What enabled the fork to be made more easily?

【5】What’s the passage mainly about?

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】The fork.

【2】In Ancient Egypt. China and Greece.

【3】By the 18th century.

【4】The invention of stainless steel.

【5】The development/ history of the fork.

【解析】

本文主要向我們介紹了叉子的起源和發(fā)展。

【1】

根據第一段中“Yet compared with the knife and the spoon, which appeared very early, the fork is a latecomer to the table.”可知，與出現得很早的刀和勺子相比，叉子是餐桌上的后來者。故填The fork.

【2】

根據第二段中“Researches show that the fork was first used in Ancient Egypt, China and Greece.”可知，最早使用叉子的是古埃及、中國和希臘。故填In Ancient Egypt. China and Greece.

【3】

根據第三段中“However, most European countries accepted the fork only by the 18th century”可知，大多數歐洲國家直到18世紀才接受叉子。故填By the 18th century.

【4】

根據第四段中“By the early 20th century, the invention of stainless steel(不銹鋼)enabled the fork to be made more easily.”可知，到了20世紀初，不銹鋼的發(fā)明使叉制作起來更容易。故填The invention of stainless steel.

【5】

分析全文內容可知，本文主要向我們介紹了叉子的起源和發(fā)展。故填The development/ history of the fork.