People in the UK are increasingly cooking with their microwaves to save money as food prices rise quickly, research suggests. Kantar found there were 4% fewer meals made using an oven in the 12 weeks to 11 June, compared with the same period last year, while microwaved meals rose 8%.

Grocery price inflation (通货膨胀) has slowed to its lowest level since the start of 2023, it said, but remains very high. “People are thinking more and more about what they eat and how they cook as the cost of living crisis takes its toll on traditional behaviors,” said Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar. “The most significant change we’ve seen is that people are preparing simpler dishes with fewer ingredients. We also saw a reduction in hob (炉盘) use and a rise in food prepared with toasters and grills (烤架).” 

According to Kantar’s research, grocery prices increased by 16.5% in the four weeks to 11 June, compared with the same period a year ago. Mr McKevitt said, “Price rises are now being compared to the increasing rate of grocery inflation seen last summer, which means that it should continue to fall in the coming months, a welcome result for everyone.”

However, consumers will continue to be hurt as summer wears on. The price of seasonal favourites like ice cream and mineral water have gone up by around a fifth since last year, while burgers and sausages are up 16% and 13% respectively. According to official figures, UK food prices are rising at their fastest rate in nearly 45 years, with staples (基本食物) such as sugar and pasta up sharply.

Supermarkets have been accused of not passing on falling wholesale (批发的) costs to consumers, prompting the Competition and Markets Authority to launch an investigation. 

However, grocers deny profiteering (牟取暴利) and have begun cutting the price of basics.

1.What does Paragraph Two mainly tell us?

A Grocery price inflation has been improved.

B Households are worried about rising food prices.

C People’s life becomes more and more simple nowadays.

D The traditional behaviors are affecting the cost of living.

解析：选B。B段落大意题。根据第二段可知，生活成本危机对传统行为造成影响，人们越来越关注吃什么、怎么吃，人们正在用更少的食材准备更简单的菜肴等可知，这些行为都是人们对物价上涨的担忧。故选B。

2.What does Mr McKevitt think of food price rising?

A It increased very little.

B It’s difficult to get worse.

C It’s taking a turn for the better.

D It’s going to surprise everyone again.

解析：选C。C观点态度题。根据第三段的“it should continue to fall in the coming months, a welcome result for everyone”可知，未来几个月价格应该会下降，这对每个人来说都是一个可喜的结果。即麦凯维特认为未来情况会变好。故选C。

3.Which of the following did not experience a price increase?

A Sugar.

B Burgers.

C Tap water.

D Ice cream.

解析：选C。C细节理解题。根据倒数第二段可知，冰淇淋、矿泉水、汉堡、香肠、糖和意大利面都经历了价格上涨，未提及自来水。故选C。

4.What may the passage talk about next?

A Tips of saving money at a food shop.

B Evidences of supermarkets rising prices.

C Possible results of price rising in the UK.

D Examples of grocers cutting down prices.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据文章最后一段可知，文章最后讲到了杂货商否认牟取暴利，可推知，接下来最可能会举例证明杂货店并没有对商品进行提价。故选D。