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Singapore’s tradition of eating out in places called hawker centers is now recognized by the United Nations for its cultural importance. A hawker is a person who sells food or goods and advertises by shouting at people walking by on the street.

Hawkers are an important part of Singaporean culture. Open-air eating areas where hawkers sell their goods are very popular. Famous chefs, such as Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsay have praised them. And they appear in popular films like Crazy Rich Asians.

On December 16, the United Nations’ cultural agency, UNESCO, added the city’s “hawker culture” to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity(人类非物质文化遗产代表性名录). Singapore sought to have hawker culture added to the list about two years ago.

Now that it has been recognized, Singapore must provide a report every six years to UNESCO. The report must show efforts that the city-state has made to save and support its hawker culture. “These centers serve as ‘community dining rooms’ where people from diverse backgrounds gather and share the experience of dining over breakfast, lunch and dinner,” UNESCO said.

In the 1970s, Singapore cleaned up its streets so the city moved street hawkers to new eating centers. These areas were part of an effort to improve the island. Now, the centers offer many different low-cost meals for local people and provide a pleasing social setting.

But Singapore’s hawker culture does face difficulties. The average age of a hawker in Singapore is 60 years old. Younger Singaporeans now want to work in offices. They are less interested in working in small restaurants. The COVID-19 health crisis also hurt sales, preventing foreign visitors and local people from eating out.

1.What role do the hawkers play in Singapore?

A They often can be seen on Singapore’s streets.

B They have created the cultural prosperity of Singapore.

C They offer new cuisine to diners from all over the world.

D They cannot be replaced in the social life of Singapore.

解析：选B。推理判断题。根据文章第二段Hawkers are an important part of Singaporean culture. Open-air eating areas where hawkers sell their goods are very popular.以及On December 16, the United Nations’ cultural agency, UNESCO, added the city’s “hawker culture,” to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity可知，小贩是新加坡文化的重要组成部分。小贩出售货物的露天就餐区很受欢迎。联合国教科文组织将新加坡小贩文化列入人类非物质文化遗产代表名录，由此说明小贩们创造了新加坡的文化繁荣，故选B。

2.What’s the function of the hawker center?

A It serves people as a place of entertainment.

B It’s a playground of the rich and famous.

C It has become a symbolic scene in some films.

D It provides diners with cheap food and a social place.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据文章第四段最后一句Now, the centers offer many different low-cost meals for local people and provide a pleasing social setting.可知，现在，这些小贩中心为当地人提供许多不同的低价餐，并提供一个令人愉快的社交环境，故选D。

3.What are the problems in Singapore’s hawker culture now? ①Most of the hawkers grow older. ②Young people prefer working as office workers. ③Industry competition is becoming more serious. ④The sales market continues to be weaker at present.

A ①②

B ①③④

C ①②④

D ①②③④

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据文章最后一段内容可知，新加坡的小贩文化也面临困难。新加坡小贩的平均年龄是60岁。年轻的新加坡人现在想在办公室工作。他们对在小餐馆工作不太感兴趣。COVID-19健康危机也影响了销售，阻止了外国游客和当地人外出就餐，故选C。

4.What does the passage mainly talk about?

A Hawkers support cultural diversity in Singapore.

B People of all walks of life can find fun in Singapore.

C UNESCO recognizes Singapore’s low-cost food culture.

D Singapore is preparing for the protection of traditional culture.

解析：选C。主旨大意题。根据文章第一段第一句Singapore’s tradition of eating out in places called hawker centers is now recognized by the United Nations for its cultural importance.可知，新加坡在小贩中心吃东西的传统因其文化重要性现在被联合国所确认，故选C。