The history of chocolate begins with Theobroma cacao. The seeds from the tree can be made into chocolate. Chocolate means “food of the gods”. For centuries, people have been enjoying the rich flavor of chocolate, a product made from this kind of plant.

It is said that Mayan people of Central America first learned to farm cacao plants around 2,000 years ago. The Maya took the cacao trees from the rainforests and grew them around their homes. They cooked the cacao seeds, then crushed them into a soft paste. They mixed the paste with water and spices to make an unsweetened chocolate drink. But only rich people could afford to drink because it was so expensive. Farmers grow cacao trees in many countries in Africa, Central and South America. The trees grow in the shady areas of rainforests and they are difficult to grow.

Cacao and chocolate were an important part of Maya culture. Some scientists believed the word for chocolate came from the Aztec word “xocolatl”, which means “bitter water” in the Nahuatl language. Others believe the word “chocolate” was created by combining Mayan and Nahuatl words. 

Chocolate making is a big business. Each year, the market of the cacao crop around the world can provide more than five billion dollars. Chocolate is especially popular in Europe and the United States. Americans eat an average of more than five kilograms of chocolate per person every year. 

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1.From the passage we know that Theobroma cacao is __________.

A a kind of food

B a kind of drink

C a kind of plant

D a kind of vegetable

解析：选C。细节理解题。依据文中第一段a product made from this kind of plant.可知Theobroma cacao是一种植物，故选C。

2.The underlined word “unsweetened” means __________ in Chinese.

A 不甜的

B 没有香味的

C 天然的

D 未经加工的

解析：选A。猜测词意题。un为词的否定前缀，sweet意思是“甜的”，从构词法判断应为不甜的，故选A。

3.From the passage we can infer Theobroma cacao ___________.

A likes sunshine

B likes to live in the shade

C is easy to grow

D grows very quickly

解析：选B。推理判断题。依据文中第二段The trees grow in the shady areas of rainforests and they are difficult to grow. 可以推断Theobroma cacao喜欢在阴凉处生长。

4.Which of the follow is NOT True according to the passage?

A The Aztec word “xocolatl” means “bitter water” in the Nahutl language.

B Making chocolate can make a lot of money.

C American people enjoy chocolate very much.

D American people first planted the cacao trees.

解析：选D。综合性判断题。由第三段的the Aztec word “xocolatl,” which means “bitter water” in the Nahuatl language.可判断A与原文相符；由第四段的Chocolate making is a big business.可判断B与原文相符；由第四段的Chocolate is especially popular in Europe and the United States. Americans eat an average of more than five kilograms of chocolate per person every year. 可判断C与原文相符；由第二段的第一句可判断D 与原文不符。

5.The passage mainly talks about _________.

A the development of cacao

B the history of chocolate

C the people of Mayan

D the origin of chocolate

解析：选B。主旨大意题。综合理解全文可知本文主要讲的是巧克力的历史。故选B。