Marian Bechtel sits at West Palm Beach’s Bar Louie counter by herself, quietly reading her e-book as she waits for her salad. What is she reading? None of your business! Lunch is Bechtel’s “me” time. And like more Americans, she’s not alone.
A new report found 46 percent of meals are eaten alone in America. More than half(53 percent) have breakfast alone and nearly half(46 percent) have lunch by themselves. Only at dinnertime are we eating together anymore, 74 percent, according to statistics from the report.
“I prefer to go out and be out. Alone, but together, you know?” Bechtel said, looking up from her book. Bechtel, who works in downtown West Palm Beach, has lunch with coworkers sometimes, but like many of us, too often works through lunch at her desk. A lunchtime escape allows her to keep a boss from tapping her on the shoulder. She returns to work feeling energized. “Today, I just wanted some time to myself,” she said.
Just two seats over, Andrew Mazoleny, a local videographer, is finishing his lunch at the bar. He likes that he can sit and check his phone in peace or chat up the barkeeper with whom he’s on a first-name basis if he wants to have a little interaction(交流). “I reflect on how my day’s gone and think about the rest of the week,” he said. “It’s a chance for self-reflection. You return to work recharged and with a plan.”
That freedom to choose is one reason more people like to eat alone. There was a time when people may have felt awkward about asking for a table for one, but those days are over. Now, we have our smartphones to keep us company at the table. “It doesn’t feel as alone as it may have before all the advances in technology,” said Laurie Demeritt, whose company provided the statistics for the report.
77．What are the statistics in paragraph 2 about?
A．Food variety.
B．Eating habits.
C．Table manners.
D．Restaurant service.
78．Why does Bechtel prefer to go out for lunch?
A．To meet with her coworkers.
B．To catch up with her work.
C．To have some time on her own.
D．To collect data for her report.
79．What do we know about Mazoleny?
A．He makes videos for the bar.
B．He’s fond of the food at the bar.
C．He interviews customers at the bar.
D．He’s familiar with the barkeeper.
80．What is the text mainly about?
A．The trend of having meals alone.
B．The importance of self-reflection.
C．The stress from working overtime.
D．The advantage of wireless technology.
77．B
78．C
79．D
80．A
【分析】
本文是一篇说明文。据一份报告显示，越来越多的美国人喜欢独自用餐，并通过两个实例加以说明，文章总结了人们喜欢独自用餐的原因。
77．推理判断题。根据第二段可知，在美国，约有46%的人们独自用餐，53%的人们独自吃早餐，46%的人们独自吃午餐，只有74%的人们晚餐不是独自享用，故可知本段的数据是关于用餐习惯，故选B。
78．细节理解题。根据第三段A lunchtime escape allows her to keep a boss from tapping her on the shoulder. Today, I just wanted some time to myself.可知，Bechtel一个人吃午饭可以让她逃离老板的关注，给自己留一些自由时间，故选C。
79．推理判断题。根据第四段he likes that he can sit and check his phone in peace or chat up the barkeeper with whom he’s on a first-name basis if he wants to have a little interaction.可知，Mazoleny喜欢这样的气氛，因为可以坐在那里安静查看手机信息，或者想聊天了，可以直呼吧台服务员名字和他聊天，故可知，他与服务员很熟悉，可以直呼对方名字，故选D。
80．主旨大意题。本文通过一份调查结果显示美国人喜欢独自用餐的趋势，并总结了人们选择独自用餐的原因，故选A。