A
We know that every person has its own words or expressions to express his ideas and feelings. Some of these words and expressions are commonly used for many years. Others are popular for just a short time. One such American expression is “Where's the beef?” It is used when something is not as good as it is said to be. In the early 1980s “Where's the beef?” was one of the most popular expressions in the United States. It seemed as if everyone using it at the time.
Beef, of course, is the meat from a cow, and food is more popular in America than a hamburger made from beef. In the 1960s a businessman named Ray began building small restaurants that sold hamburgers at a low price. Ray called this “McDonald's”. Ray became one of the richest businessmen at last in America.
Other business people watched his success. Some of them opened their own hamburger restaurants. One company called "Wendy's" said its hamburgers were bigger than those sold by McDonald's or anyone else. The Wendy's Company began to use the expression “Where's the beef?” to make people know that Wendy's hamburgers were the biggest. The Wendy's television advertisement showed three old women eating hamburgers. The bread that covered the meat was very big, but inside there was only a bit of meat. One of the women said she would not eat a hamburger with such a little piece of beef. “Where's the beef?” she shouted in a funny way. The advertisement for Wendy's hamburger restaurants was success. As we said, it seemed everyone began using the expression "Where's the beef?".
1. ______ started McDonald's restaurant.
A. Ray B. McDonald C. Wendy D. Three old women
2. Other people wanted to open hamburger restaurants because they thought ______ .
A. they could sell hamburgers at a low price B. hamburgers were easy to make
C. beef was very popular in America D. they could make a lot of money
3. Wendy's made the expression known to everybody ______ .
A. with many old women eating hamburgers B. by a television advertisement
C. while selling bread with a bit of meat in it D. at the McDonald's restaurant
4. We can learn from the passage that the expression "Where's the beef?" means ______ .
A. The beef in hamburgers is not as much as it is said to be
B. The hamburgers are not as good as they are said to be
C. It is used when something is not as good as it is said to be
D. Wendy's is the biggest
【答案】1. A 2. D 3. B 4. C
【解析】
本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要介绍了美国英语的一句流行广告语 “Where's the beef?”这个表达的来历和意义。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据第二段中“In the 1960s a businessman named Ray began building small restaurants that sold hamburgers at a low price. Ray called this “McDonald's”.( 20世纪60年代,一个名叫Ray的商人开始建造小餐馆,以低价出售汉堡包。Ray把餐厅叫做“麦当劳”。)”可知,Ray创立了麦当劳。故选A。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据第三段中“Other business people watched his success. Some of them opened their own hamburger restaurants.(其他商界人士目睹了他的成功。他们中的一些人开了自己的汉堡店)”可知,其他的商人目睹了Ray的成功后也想开店赚钱,故选D。
【3题详解】
细节理解题。根据第三段中“The Wendy's Company began to use the expression “Where's the beef?” to make people know that Wendy's hamburgers were the biggest. The Wendy's television advertisement showed three old women eating hamburgers. ( Wendy's公司开始使用“牛肉在哪里?”让人们知道Wendy's汉堡是最大的汉堡。Wendy's电视广告是三个老妇人在吃汉堡包)”以及后文“The advertisement for Wendy's hamburger restaurants was success. As we said, it seemed everyone began using the expression "Where's the beef?".( Wendy's汉堡店的广告很成功。正如我们所说,似乎每个人都开始使用“牛肉在哪里?”这个表达)”可知,Wendy's通过电视广告让每个人都知道了这个表达。故选B。
【4题详解】
细节理解题。根据第一段中“One such American expression is “Where's the beef?” It is used when something is not as good as it is said to be.(其中一个美式表达是“Where's the beef? (牛肉在哪里?)”。这个短语指某事并不像它所说的那么好)”可知,“Where’s the beef?”被用来表达一件东西没有像说的那么好,故选C。