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Chinese cuisine is widely known and enjoyed all around the world. Who doesn't long for a favorite Chinese dish? But there is one interesting concept concerning Chinese food which is almost unheard in the West, and which is becoming increasingly ignored by the youth of the East — the ancient custom of tonic food.
Tonic food is food which is consumed to improve one's wellbeing or avoid sickness. For instance, it was once the custom for new mothers to eat a sesame oil hotpot every day for the first month after giving birth. It was believed that this dish would benefit the muscles, reduce pain, improve circulation, stimulate sweating, and warm the body. Some foods, such as goat meat and spinach (菠菜), are seen as “hot”， while others, such as Chinese cabbage and radishes (小萝卜), are seen as “cold”. One should be careful not to eat too much of either “hot” or “cold” food. However, how much “hot” or “cold” food one should eat depends on the time of the year, how the food is prepared and what it is prepared with, and the individual's health.
The custom of employing tonic food for a healthier life also influences the catering industry. Chinese herbal medicines, such as the wolfberry (枸杞子), can be found on many a restaurant menu, either added to fruit tea or as a beneficial addition to a dish. These herbs attract customers, such as overworked office staff, in need of a modest pickmeup.
So, whether you need to boost your strength with a large helping of chicken soup, or increase your mental powers with a serving of pig brain soup, you may find that this ancient Chinese custom could be just the tonic you are looking for.
语篇解读：本文主要对中国的滋补食物进行了简要的介绍。
1．What is the present situation of tonic food?
A．It is catching less attention.
B．It is enjoyed by many young people.
C．It is well known worldwide.
D．It is becoming increasingly popular.
解析：选A 细节理解题。根据第一段最后一句可知，目前滋补食物不再受到追捧。故选A。
2．What is believed to benefit new mothers?
A．Chinese cabbage. B．Fruit tea.
C．Sesame oil hotpot. D．Pig brain soup.
解析：选C 细节理解题。根据第二段第二句可知，人们认为麻油闷罐对新妈妈有益。
3．Which of the following best explains “catering” underlined in Paragraph 3?
A．Medicine. B．Restaurant.
C．Education. D．Fashion.
解析：选B 词义猜测题。根据第三段第二句可推知，滋补食物对餐饮业有一定的影响，故“catering”与restaurant意思相近。
4．What can be a suitable title for the text?
A．The Charm of Chinese Cuisine
B．The Popularity of Tonic Food
C．An Introduction to Chinese Tonic Food
D．Differences Between Hot Food and Cold Food
解析：选C 标题归纳题。根据第二段第一句和对全文的整体理解可推知，本文主要对中国的滋补食物进行了简要的介绍。
