Sunflower seeds:a bite of China

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中国人都爱嗑瓜子，这个习惯属于中国春节文化，就像丹麦人吃面包喜欢加咸红鱼一样，每一个地域的饮食习惯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(裂缝)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

阅读短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

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.熟词生义

文中词条 基本含义 引申含义 生义例句n o t i c e 通知 注意；留心f a n c y 希望；迷恋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，都没注意到自己的妻子。华丽的；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.她想买一个手提包不要花俏而要耐用。

Ⅱ.热词复现

1.get together聚会；聚集

Eg.They get together once a year at Christmas time.他们每年圣诞节时聚会一次。

2.close to接近于；在……的近旁

Eg.I came pretty close to going into the food business myself.我本人也差一点进了食品行业。

3.check out结账退房；检验；通过考核

Eg.The hotel insists that guests check out of their rooms before 11 o'clock in the morning.这家旅馆要求客人在上午11点钟前结账退房。

4.lay out设计；安排；陈列；拟定

Eg.He showed us how to lay out a printed page.他向我们展示怎样设计版面。

Ⅲ.美句赏析

1.I must have learned how to crack sunflower seeds back then.我一定是那个时候学会嗑瓜子的。

点拨：本句must have done的句式，表示对过去发生的事情的肯定猜测，译成“一定做过某事”，该结构只用于肯定句。

微练：句式仿写

你和他说话，一定是发疯了。

2.When I went abroad,I found people had all sorts of strange habits when it came to food.说到食物，在国外，我发现人们都有各种各样的古怪习俗。

点拨：本句中when it comes to sth的句式，译成“当谈到（涉及）……时”，该结构中的to是一个介词。

微练：句式仿写

谈到德语,我一窍不通。

Instant drills

完成句子（每空一词）

1.______________that my friend will be all right.

我希望我的朋友平安无事。

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

一旦你的申请被批准，我本人将会通知您。

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

谢谢你接受邀请。我们日后多见些面吧！

4.I'd like an apartment ______________public transportation.

我想找一处离公共交通较近的公寓房。

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

这么说，你带我进去是为了核实一下使你迷惑不解的事情了。

6.The big tables enable all books____________________________with ease.

这些桌子很大，把所有的书摊在上面还绰绰有余。

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

昨晚一定下雨了，因为地面还是湿的。

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

但是，我讨厌他们只看到我的一面，而这一面仅仅在我读书和考试的时候才存在。