单选题 Today Americans have different eating habits than in the past. There is a wide selection of food available. They have a broader knowledge of nutrition, so they buy more flesh fruit and vegetables than ever before. At the same time, Americans purchase increasing quantities of sweets, snacks and sodas.
Statistics show that the way people live determines the way they eat. American life styles have changed. They now include growing numbers of people who live alone, single parents and children, and double-income families. These changing life styles are responsible for the increasing number of people who must rash meals or sometimes skip them altogether. Many Americans have less time than ever before to spend preparing food. Partly as a consequence of this limited time, 60 percent of all American homes now have microwave ovens. Moreover, Americans eat out nearly four times a week on the average.
It is easy to study the amounts and kinds of food that people consume. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the food industry-growers, processors, marketers and restaurant managers compile sales statistics and keep accurate records. This information not only tells us what people are eating but also tells us about the changes in attitudes and tastes. Red meat, which used to be the most popular choice for dinner, is no longer an American favorite. Instead, chickens, turkey, and fish have become more popular. Sales of these foods have greatly increased in recent years. This is probably a result of the awareness of the dangers of eating food which contains high levels of cholesterol, or animal fat. Doctors believe that cholesterol is a threat to human health.
According to a recent survey, Americans also change their eating patterns to meet the needs of different situations. They have certain ideas about which foods will increase their athletic ability, help them lose weight, make them alert for business meetings, or put them in the mood for romance. For example, Americans choose pasta, fruit, and vegetables, which supply them with carbohydrates, to give them strength for physical activity, such as sports. Adults choose food rich in fiber, such as bread and cereal, for breakfast, and salads for lunch to prepare them for business appointment. For romantic dinners, however, Americans choose shrimp and lobster. While many of these ideas are based on nutritional facts, some are not.
Americans' awareness of nutrition, along with their changing tastes and needs, leads them to consume a wide variety of foods—foods for health, for fun, and simply for good taste.

单选题 Americans change their eating habits mainly because______.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。第二段前两句提到“Statistics show that the way people live determines the way they eat. American life styles have changed.”(统计表明，人们的生活方式决定他们的饮食习惯，美国人的生活方式已经改变了。)也就是说，生活方式改变是导致他们改变饮食习惯的原因，因此C项正确。A、B、D均是生活方式改变的具体表现，没有概括性，均可排除。
单选题 Americans have reduced their eating of red meat with an aim to______.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 推理题。第三段倒数第二句提到“This is probably a result of the awareness of the dangers of eating food which contains high levels of cholesterol, or animal fat.”(这大概是人们了解到食用含有高胆固醇和动物脂肪的食品有害的结果)。因此A项正确。B、C、D三项都不是文中所说的理由，可排除。
单选题 It is believed that eating salads______.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。第四段第四句提到“…salads for lunch to prepare them for business appointment”(…午餐则吃沙拉，以为参加商务会谈做好准备)，可知B项正确。A和C两项原文都未提及。第四段倒数第二句提到“For romantic dinners, however, Americans choose shrimp and lobster.”(然而，要吃一顿浪漫的晚餐，美国人则会选小虾和龙虾)，可知D项错误。
单选题 Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[解析] 是非判断题。从全文来看，美国人现在更加注重食品的营养及健康，如第三段最后两句话指出，人们减少了所吃的牛羊肉的数量，是因为了解到食用含高胆固醇和动物脂肪的食品对人体有害，因此C项符合文义。第二段第五句提到“Many Americans have less time than ever before to spend preparing food.”(如今许多美国人花在做饭上的时间比从前少)，因此A项不正确。B项夸大了家用电器的作用，文中并未提及微波炉具有革命性的作用。D项原文未提及，且表述过于绝对化。
单选题 Which of the following does the author primarily discuss?
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 主旨大意题。由第一段首句可知文章讲的就是美国饮食习惯的变化，故A项正确。B项的概念太宽泛。文中只是分析了饮食习惯的改变，并提到生活方式的改变导致了饮食习惯的改变，并没有详尽阐述生活方式发生改变的原因。提及C项是为了更好地研究饮食习惯的变化，但并不是文章的主要目的。D项只是作为提供饮食习惯变化的例证出现，并非文章的中心。