单选题 Bridging a gap in the market between fast-food joints and full-service restaurants, fast-casual chains are enjoying success across the world. The 25 sales of American fast-casual outlets rose by 10.5% last year, 26 with 6.1% for fast-food chains, according to Mintel, a market-research firm.
There are three main reasons why these outlets have been winning customers. First, they promise 'fresh' food, meaning at the very least not 27 . Chipotle also says it uses, where possible, meat from animals raised without hormones or antibiotics (抗生素). Having once been controlled by McDonald's, Chipotle is now a threat to its 28 parent. Although still relatively small, it is enjoying 20% annual growth, quite a feat in the 29 restaurant market.
Second, they offer diners a high level of customisation, such as choosing each 30 in a sandwich, or burger. This 31 to fussy eaters and those with allergies.
Third, clever pricing helps these chains 32 their profits. They offer some dishes at around the same price as those at burger joints, but they seem to be better than McDonald's at persuading diners to buy pricier dishes and extras. Fast-casual chains 33 manage to squeeze 40% more out of each diner's wallet than fast-food joints do.
For all their success so far, some of the fast-casual chains are finding that as they get bigger, they come under more scrutiny. Campaigners have recently criticised Chipotle and Panera Bread for using ingredients from genetically-modified crops and artificial additives (添加剂). Fast-casual restaurants are joining the 34 of big business and having to endure the attention that comes with it.
A. appeals F. current K. optimize
B. combined G. especially L. ranks
C. compared H. former M. raw
D. conforms I. frozen N. removes
E. crowded J. ingredient O. typically

问答题

【正确答案】B

【答案解析】形容词辨析题。The ______ sales为句子主语，故空格处应填入形容词。此处句意为：去年，休闲快餐店在美国的______销售额上涨了10.5%。备选形容词中，只有combined，current和former可以与sales搭配。根据谓语动词rose和时间状语last year，可排除current。根据该句句意可知，本句没有将休闲快餐店的前后销售额进行比较，而是将其与快餐店的销售额进行比较，可排除former。combined“总计的”符合句意，为本题答案。

问答题

【正确答案】C

【答案解析】动词辨析题。空格前面部分句子成分完整，故空格处应填入形容词或动词的分词形式，且该词可与with搭配。备选项中，compared可与with构成固定搭配，意为“与……相比较”，符合题意，故compared“比较”是正确答案。

问答题

【正确答案】I

【答案解析】形容词辨析题。根据句子结构，可判断空格处应填入形容词修饰food。此处句意为：第一，店家保证食物是“新鲜的”，也就是说，至少不是______的。根据句意，空格所填词词义应与“新鲜的”相对，故frozen“冷藏的”是正确答案。

问答题

【正确答案】H

【答案解析】形容词辨析题。空格前为its，后为名词parent，故空格处应填入形容词。此处句意为：Chipotle曾隶属于麦当劳，如今对______总公司来说却是个威胁。由此可知，麦当劳之前是Chipotle的上级机构，故former“从前的”是正确答案。

问答题

【正确答案】E

【答案解析】形容词辨析题。空格前为in the，后为restaurant market，故空格处应填入形容词。此处句意为：尽管规模还不是很大，但其年增长率达20%，这一成就在______餐饮市场是个壮举。结合句意可知，所选形容词词义应与feat“业绩”形成对照，故crowded“拥挤的”是正确答案。

问答题

【正确答案】J

【答案解析】名词辨析题。each______为choosing的宾语，故空格处应填入单数名词。此处句意为：这些休闲快餐店为客人提供自选服务，如客人自己选三明治或汉堡的______。备选名词中，ingredient“食材”符合句意，故为答案。

问答题

【正确答案】A

【答案解析】动词辨析题。空格前为主语This，本句缺少谓语动词，且本句为一般现在时，故空格处应填入动词的第三人称单数形式，且其后可接介词to。备选动词中，只有appeals和conforms符合要求。此处句意为：这______那些挑剔的客人以及对某些东西过敏的客人。conform to意为“遵照，符合”，不符合题意，故排除。appeal to为固定搭配，意为“对……有吸引力”，符合句意，故答案为appeals“有吸引力”。

问答题

【正确答案】K

【答案解析】动词辨析题。分析句子成分可知，空格所在句是help sb. do sth. 结构，在这一结构中，缺少do。本句意为：第三，灵活的定价使这些连锁店的利润______。根据clever pricing“灵活定价”与profits“利润”之间的关系可知，optimize“使最优化”符合句意，故为答案。

问答题

【正确答案】O

【答案解析】副词辨析题。空格所在句并不缺少成分，故空格处应填入副词。此处句意为：比起快餐店，休闲快餐店______能让客人多消费40%。typically“通常”符合句意，故为答案。

问答题

【正确答案】L

【答案解析】名词辨析题。空格前为joining the，后为of big business，故空格处应填入名词。此处句意为：休闲快餐店正加入大企业______。join the ranks of...为习惯用语，意为“加入……的行列”，故ranks“成员”是正确答案。