The aroma of chocolate perfumes the air of the Rue d'Assas in Paris. Entering Christian Constant's state-of-the-art boutique, you find yourself in the kingdom of Paris's king of chocolate, where the humble cocoa bean is turned into mouth-watering chocolate Easter eggs. Constant, who is a chef, admits that chocolate is his passion and main interest in life. He first developed a fascination with chocolate when he was working for Gaston Len6tre, a famous French pastry chef. Every year he has a theme for decorating Easter eggs: this year his decorations are inspired by "Art Nouveau". Tonight he has a dinner for 130 to organize and he has to prepare a three-foot-high Art Nouveau-style Easter egg by noon tomorrow. This, for Constant, is a normal schedule. Constant believes that his chocolate creations are as much of a work of art as other sculptures. It is, therefore, understandable that the restaurant, which he opened last month, is situated in the National Monuments Museum in Paris. During the day the restaurant is a tearoom and offers chocolate in every imaginable form. Customers can choose from a selection of sweet chocolate desserts or try the more exotic spicy chocolates. Constant is also a professional "nose", working closely with the French Institute of Taste. He is capable of identifying 450 different tastes and flavors. Constant explains that the mouth, which can only taste four things--salt, sweet, acid and bitter-- is "stupid" in comparison to the nose. He believes that the nose is everything. In his book The Taste of Chocolate, he explains how in 1502 Christopher Columbus came across an island and went ashore. He was greeted by an Indian chief bearing gifts, among which were huge sacks of beans which Columbus thought was local currency. To his surprise, they prepared a drink for him. But Columbus, who disliked the odd bitter taste, continued on his travels, ignorant of the fact that he had just tasted cocoa. Like Columbus, Constant travels the cocoa countries where he checks quality and works with local experts. Quality can vary depending on the region, year, and method of preparation. According to Constant, Venezuela and Trinidad have the best cocoa beans, which they export all over the world either as beans or as cocoa. Constant, who is a hard worker, only sleeps three hours a night. He talks long into the night with members of a club he has formed. The club is called "The Chocolate Munchers". Their main official activity is to get together for monthly dinners where they eat a very tiny dinner and tons of chocolate desserts. "I am an addict," Constant admits, "and I don't want to be cured!/
单选题
Which of the following is the most inclusive title for the passage? A. Chocolate--The Passion of a Lifetime. B. The Chocolate Munchers Club. C. Chocolate-- A New Art Form. D. The Last Word in Good Taste.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 纵观全文,都是围绕着“Constant,who is a chef admits that chocolate is his passion and main interest in life.”来描述的。B、C两项是两个具体事例,用来说明Constant 对巧克力的热爱。
单选题
What does Constant do now? A. He works for a French pastry chef. B. He owns his own restaurant and tearoom. C. He is a sculptor for a museum in Paris. D. He is a chef in the Institute of Taste.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 根据文中第四段的“It is,therefore,understandable that the restaurant.which he opened last month,is situated in the National Monuments Museum in Paris.During the day the restaurant is a tearoom and offers chocolate in every imaginable form.”可知,目前Constant拥有 自己的餐厅和茶室。
单选题
Constant's newly-opened business ______ A. provides chocolates with various flavors B. exhibits all of his chocolate sculptures C. often needs to prepare a big Easter dinner D. serves as a national monument in Paris
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 根据文中第四段的“During the day the restaurant is a tearoom and offers chocolat. in every imaginable form.Customers can choose from a selection of sweet chocolate desserts or try the more exotic spicy chocolates.”可知,Constant新开业的餐厅在白天可以提供各种风味的巧 克力。
单选题
The underlined part"Constant is also a ...'nose' "means______ A. he believes he has the best nose in the world B. his nose can taste salt, sweet, acid and bitter C. his nose can identify various tastes and flavors D. he is capable of smelling flavors from a long distance
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 根据文中第四段的“Constant is also a professional‘nose’.working closely with the French Institute of Taste.He is capable of identifying 450 different tastes and flavors Constant explains that the mouth,which can only taste four things——salt,sweet,acid an( bitter—is“stupid”in comparison to the nose.He believes that the nose is everything.”可 知,Constant的鼻子可以识别不同的气味和味道,而嘴只能品出四种味道。因此C项关 正确答案。
单选题
According to Constant,______ A. ancient Indians used cocoa beans as local currency B. Columbus checked the quality of cocoa beans in different places C. chocolate addiction makes people sleep less D. the quality of cocoa beans varies from region to region
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析] A项不对,根据文中第五段的“He was greeted by an Indian chief bearing gifts, among which were huge sacks of beans which Columbus thought was local cu~ency.To his surprise,they prepared a drink for him.”可知,Columbus以为可可豆是当地的货币,但其实是 为他准备的一种饮料。根据文中第五段的“Constant travels the Cocoa countries where he check: quality and works with local expels.Quality can vary depending on the region,year,and methoc of preparation.”可知,可可豆的品质因地区、时间和配制方法的不同而有所区别。因此D项 为正确答案。