基本字彙

American cooking programs have taught audiences, changed audiences, and changed with audiences from generation to generation. In October 1926, the U.S. Department of Agriculture created this genre’s first official representative, a fictional radio host named Aunt Sammy. Over the airwaves, she educated homemakers on home economics and doled out advice on all kinds of matters, but it was mostly the cooking recipes that got listeners’ attention. The show provided a channel for transmitting culinary advice and brought about a national exchange of recipes.
Cooking shows transitioned to television in the 1940s, and in the 1950s were often presented by a cook systematically explaining instructions on how to prepare dishes from start to finish. These programs were broadcast during the day and aimed at middle-class women whose mindset leaned toward convenient foods for busy families. Poppy Cannon, for example, was a popular writer of The Can-Opener Cookbook. She appeared on various television shows, using canned foods to demonstrate how to cook quickly and easily.
Throughout the sixties and seventies, a few chef-oriented shows redefined the genre as an exhibition of haute European cuisine by celebrity gourmet experts. This elite cultural aura then gave way to various cooking styles from around the world. An example of such change can be seen in Martin Yan’s 1982 “Yan Can Cook” series, which demonstrated Chinese cuisine cooking with the catchphrase, “If Yan can cook, you can too!” By the 1990s, these cooking shows ranged from high-culture to health-conscious cuisine, with chefs’ personalities and entertainment value being two keys to successful productions.
At the beginning of the 21st century, new cooking shows emerged to satisfy celeb-hungry, reality-crazed audiences. In this new millennium of out-of-studio shows and chef competition reality shows, chefs have become celebrities whose fame rivals that of rock stars. Audiences of these shows tend to be people who are interested in food and enjoy watching people cook rather than those who want to do the cooking themselves, leaving the age-old emphasis on following recipes outmoded.
44. Which of the following is closest in meaning to “haute” in the third paragraph?
(A) Coarse.
(B) Civilian.
(C) Various.
(D) High-class.

Martha has been trying to ______ her roommate since their quarrel last week, as she doesn’t want to continue the argument.
(A) overgrow
(B) bother
(C) pursue
(D) avoid

As David finished the last drop of the delicious chicken soup, he licked his lips and gave out sounds of ______.
(A) contentment
(B) dominance
(C) explosion
(D) affection

After several rounds of intense fighting, the boxer punched his ______ right in the face, knocked him out, and won the match.
(A) performer
(B) attendant
(C) opponent
(D) messenger

Watch out! The bench has just been painted. You can fan the wet paint if you want to ______ its drying.
(A) fasten
(B) hasten
(C) lengthen
(D) strengthen

Warm milk ______ sleepiness. So if you have trouble falling asleep, try drinking some warm milk before going to bed.
(A) conceals
(B) recruits
(C) absorbs
(D) induces

Having worked five years as a data processor in a small town, Alice is tired of the routine of her job and the ______ of her life.
(A) disturbance
(B) salvation
(C) remainder
(D) monotony

Peter has never been on time to meetings or appointments. It would be interesting to look into reasons why he is ______ late.
(A) chronically
(B) hysterically
(C) simultaneously
(D) resistantly

The film Life of Pi won Ang Lee an Oscar in 2013 for Best Director-one of the most ______ awards in the movie industry.
(A) populated
(B) surpassed
(C) coveted
(D) rotated

According to environmental scientists, the earth is likely to experience significant ______ changes within the next century.
(A) provincial
(B) ecological
(C) authentic
(D) redundant