高考英语真题阅读（7）

Marian Bechtel sits at West Palm Beach’s Bar Louie counter by herself, quietly reading her e-book as she waits for her salad. What is she reading? None of your business! Lunch is Bechtel’s “me” time. And like more Americans, she’s not alone.

A new report found 46 percent of meals are eaten alone in America. More than half (53 percent) have breakfast alone and nearly half (46 percent) have lunch by themselves. Only at dinnertime are we eating together anymore, 74 percent, according to statistics from the report.

“I prefer to go out and be out. Alone, but together, you know?” Bechtel said, looking up from her book. Bechtel, who works in downtown West Palm Beach, has lunch with coworkers sometimes, but like many of us, too often works through lunch at her desk. A lunchtime escape allows her to keep a boss from tapping her on the shoulder. She returns to work feeling energized. “Today, I just wanted some time to myself,” she said.

Just two seats over, Andrew Mazoleny, a local videographer, is finishing his lunch at the bar. He likes that he can sit and check his phone in peace or chat up the barkeeper with whom he’s on a first-name basis if he wants to have a little interaction (交流). “I reflect on how my day’s gone and think about the rest of the week,” he said. “It’s a chance for self-reflection. You return to work recharged and with a plan.”

That freedom to choose is one reason more people like to eat alone. There was a time when people may have felt awkward about asking for a table for one, but those days are over. Now, we have our smartphones to keep us company at the table. “It doesn’t feel as alone as it may have before all the advances in technology,” said Laurie Demeritt, whose company provided the statistics for the report.

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1.What are the statistics in paragraph 2 about?

A Food variety.

B Eating habits.

C Table manners.

D Restaurant service.

解析：选B。推理判断题。根据第二段的统计数据可知，该段主要讲美国人的用餐习惯，故选B。

2.Why does Bechtel prefer to go out for lunch?

A To meet with her coworkers.

B To catch up with her work.

C To have some time on her own.

D To collect data for her report.

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据第三段“Today, I just wanted some time to myself,” she said.可知Bechtel喜欢自己一个人外出吃饭是因为想拥有一些属于自己的时间，故选C。

3.What do we know about Mazoleny?

A He makes videos for the bar.

B He’s fond of the food at the bar.

C He interviews customers at the bar.

D He’s familiar with the barkeeper.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据第四段chat up the barkeeper with whom he’s on a first-name basis if he wants to have a little interaction中的on a first-name basis(因关系密切而直呼其名)可推断Mazoleny与barkeeper老板熟识，故选D。

4.What is the text mainly about?

A The trend of having meals alone.

B The importance of self-reflection.

C The stress from working overtime.

D The advantage of wireless technology.

解析：选A。主旨大意题。根据全文尤其是最后一段的“It doesn’t feel as alone as it may have before all the advances in technology,”可推测答案为A。