A
Eating is best when it’s a social activity. Think of the meal a family enjoys in the evening when everyone’s together after work or school, or the big get-togethers over food at Spring Festival. But now, in the age of the Internet and social media, anyone with an Internet connection can enjoy a social eating event.
Mukbang-a South Korean phrase meaning “eating broadcast”-is an unusual food fanaticism that’s sweeping the country. This is a meal where only one person gets to eat, while many viewers watch live shows of hosts eating large quantities of food. They leave comments on the dishes the host is taking, and the host responds to them live.
So why have people taken to this unusual new food trend(趋势)? Jeff Yang, an Asian-American cultural critic, thinks that it’s down to “the loneliness of unmarried or uncoupled South Koreans”. He believes that eating on your own can be hard in a country like South Korea, where social eating is such a long tradition. However, Mukbang gives people the feeling that they are part of something larger, it seems.
Millions of people have trouble with food. Either they eat too much of it, or too little. Some say that the popularity of Mukbang helps people with these disorders. Those who always eat too much and put on weight can watch Mukbang live shows to satisfy their appetite (胃口). And those who don’t eat enough can build their appetite by watching delicious food being eaten.
Even though Mukbang is a South Korean phenomenon, it’s also taken off in the US. But unlike South Koreans who sit down to enjoy noodles and kimchi (泡菜), Americans enjoy their own native dishes. This means that viewers of US Mukbang live shows will see locals stuffing themselves with hamburgers, fries and ice cream.
21. The underlined word “fanaticism” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to ________.
A. disappointment B. enthusiasm C. dislike D. imagination
22. According to Jeff Yang, Mukbang is becoming popular in South Korea mainly because ________.
A. people are used to eating alone
B. it’s good for those who have eating disorders
C. it helps to comfort the lonely people
D. it assists people to build their appetite
23. What is the article mainly about?
A. A traditional Korean eating habit.
B. A new food trend from South Korea.
C. How Koreans communicate through eating.
D. How the Internet affects the way we eat.
【答案】21. B 22. C 23. B
【解析】
本文介绍来自韩国的一种新的食品趋势——mukbang(韩语，意为“美食广播”)。它是席卷韩国的一种不同寻常的美食狂热。
【21题详解】
词义猜测题。根据第二段中This is a meal where only one person gets to eat, while many viewers watch live shows of hosts eating large quantities of food.“这是一顿只有一个人吃的饭，而许多观众在现场观看主持人吃大量食物的节目。”可知，Mukbang-a South Korean phrase meaning “eating broadcast”-is an unusual food fanaticism that’s sweeping the country.“mukbang(韩语，意为“美食广播”)是席卷韩国的一种不同寻常的美食狂热。”中的划线词的意思是“狂热”。故选B。
【22题详解】
推理判断题。根据第三段中thinks that it’s down to “the loneliness of unmarried or uncoupled South Koreans”. He believes that eating on your own can be hard in a country like South Korea, where social eating is such a long tradition. However, Mukbang gives people the feeling that they are part of something larger, it seems.“认为这是由于“未婚或未婚韩国人的孤独”。他认为，在韩国这样一个社交饮食有着悠久传统的国家，独自吃饭可能会很困难。然而，Mukbang给人的感觉似乎是，他们是更大的事情的一部分。”因此推断，节目受欢迎是因为有助于安慰孤独的人。故选C。
【23题详解】
主旨大意题。根据第二段第一句Mukbang-a South Korean phrase meaning “eating broadcast”-is an unusual food fanaticism that’s sweeping the country.可知，本文介绍来自韩国的一种新的食品趋势——mukbang(韩语，意为“美食广播”)。它是席卷韩国的一种不同寻常的美食狂热。故选B。
