An Acquired Taste只黏你口、不黏你手的納豆風味



by Jeremy Beacock
Natto separates even the Japanese.
就連日本人也未必人人都能接受納豆。

Some foods are loved, while some are hated. However, there are a few which _(1)_ people into lovers and haters. These _(2)_ the slimy, smelly durian fruit, the pungent blue cheeses of Europe, and Japanese natto. This soybean-based food is loved and loathed _(3)_ its strong flavor and strange, sticky texture.
  Natto, like stinky tofu, is a soybean product. _(4)_ legend, it was discovered when some soldiers were attacked while cooking soybeans. They quickly packed the beans in straw bags and fled. _(5)_ they opened the bags, the beans had fermented, and the soldiers had discovered a new food. This may or may not be true, but for a long time, straw has _(6)_ an important part in the natto making process. This is because the _(7)_ soybeans need special bacteria, which are found in straw, to start the fermentation process. Over a few days, these bacteria change the soybeans into natto.
  The Japanese use this unique flavor in many different ways. It is usually eaten at breakfast _(8)_ rice, side vegetables, and flavorings such as soy sauce or mustard. In some parts of Japan, it is eaten as a sweet and dusted with sugar. It is also used as the _(9)_ for a variety of other foods, such as natto noodles, natto egg rolls, and even natto ice cream.
  But even in Japan, not everybody loves natto. There are big regional differences in its _(10)_. It is most popular in the eastern parts of Japan, while it is seldom eaten in the western parts. For foreigners, the appeal of this stringy, sticky bean concoction is simply inexplicable!

(A) By the time (B) cooked (C) basis (D) include (E) along with (F) consumption (G) because of (H) played (I) divide (J) According to
原來如此 


1. However, there are a few which divide people into lovers and haters.
理由:
a. 空格位於關係代名詞 which 引導的形容詞子句中,其中 which 為主詞,代替其前的複數先行詞 a few(= a few foods),空格後的 people(人們)則為受詞,且根據本句時態,可知空格應置入現在式的複數及物動詞。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (D) include(包含)以及 (I) divide(區分),惟 (I) 置入後符合語意,且其後的介詞 into 形成下列固定用法:
divide...into...  把……分成……
例: The teacher divided the class into five groups for an activity.
(老師將班上的學生分為 5 組以進行活動。)
c. 根據上述,故選 (I)。

2. These include the slimy, smelly durian fruit, the pungent blue cheeses of Europe, ...
理由:
a. 空格前有複數代名詞 These(= These foods)作為句子的主詞,後為名詞詞組 the slimy, smelly durian fruit...(黏糊糊又不是很好聞的榴槤……),且根據本句時態,可知空格內應置入現在式的複數及物動詞。
b. 符合上述的選項僅剩 (D) include(包括、包含),置入後亦符合語意,故選之。
c. include vt. 包括,包含
例: The price does not include shipping and handling.
(此價格不包含運費和處理費。)

3. This soybean-based food is loved and loathed because of its strong flavor and...
理由:
a. 空格前為一完整的句構,後為名詞詞組 its strong flavor and...(其濃烈的氣味及……),可知空格內應置入介詞,以引導介詞片語作副詞用,修飾全句。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (E) along with(伴隨著)、(G) because of(因為)以及 (J) According to(根據),但由於空格並非位於句首,故 (J) 不可選,僅 (G) 置入後符合語意,故選之。
c. because of...  由於∕因為……
例: Hector was sick last week because of his allergies.
(海克特上星期因過敏而身體不適。)

4. According to legend, it was discovered when some soldiers were attacked...
理由:
a. 空格位於句首,且其後有名詞 legend(傳說),可知空格內應置入字首大寫的介詞片語。
b. 符合上述的選項僅有 (J) According to(根據),置入後亦符合語意,表『根據』傳說,一些士兵在煮大豆時被攻擊進而發現納豆,故選之。
c. According to sb/sth, S + V  根據某人∕某事物,……
例: According to scientific evidence, drinking warm milk does help you fall asleep.
(根據科學研究證明,喝熱牛奶的確可幫助入睡。)

5. By the time they opened the bags, the beans had fermented, and the soldiers had discovered a new food.
理由:
a. 空格位於句首,其後為兩個完整的句構,可知空格內應置入字首大寫的連接詞以連接兩句。
b. 符合上述的選項僅有 (A) By the time(等到……時),置入後亦符合語意,表『等到』他們打開袋子時,豆子都已經發酵,故選之。
c. By the time + S + V, S + V  等到……時,……
例: By the time you get this message, I will be flying to Paris.
(等你接到這個留言時,我將正搭機前往巴黎。)

6. This may or may not be true, but for a long time, straw has played an important part in...
理由:
a. 本空格測試下列固定用法:
play an important part/role in...  在……扮演重要的角色
例: Computers play an important part in our modern lives.
(電腦在我們現代生活中扮演重要的角色。)
b. 根據上述,可知應選 (H)。

7. This is because the cooked soybeans need special bacteria...to start the fermentation process.
理由:
a. 空格前有定冠詞 the,其後為名詞 soybeans(大豆),可知空格內應置入形容詞。
b. (B) cooked(煮熟的)為過去分詞,可作形容詞用,置入後亦符合語意,表『煮熟的』大豆需要特別的菌種來發酵,故選之。

8. It is usually eaten at breakfast along with rice, side vegetables, and flavorings...
理由:
a. 空格前為一完整的句構,後有名詞詞組 rice, side vegetables...(米飯、配菜……),可知空格內應置入介詞,以引導介詞片語作副詞用,修飾全句或句中的動詞 is eaten。
b. 符合上述的選項僅剩 (E) along with(伴隨著),置入後亦符合語意,表納豆通常會『搭配』米飯、配菜和像是醬油或芥末等調味料當做早餐食用,故選之。
c. along with...  伴隨著∕連同……
例: Bob mailed the gift along with a Christmas card.
(鮑伯把這份禮物連同聖誕卡一併寄出。)

9. It is also used as the basis for a variety of other foods, ...
理由:
a. 空格前有定冠詞 the,其後有介詞片語 for a variety of other foods(為其他各式各樣的食物),可知空格內應置入名詞。
b. 符合上述的選項有 (C) basis(基本成分)及 (F) consumption(吃、喝、攝取),然僅 (C) 置入後符合語意,故選之。
c. basis n. 基本成分,基礎
on the basis of...  以……為基準,根據……
例: The decision to give us a raise was made on the basis of our work performance.
(我們獲得加薪的決定是以我們的工作表現為考量。)

10. There are big regional differences in its consumption.
理由:
a. 空格前為代名詞所有格 its,可知應置入名詞。
b. 選項僅剩 (F) consumption(消耗,攝取),置入後亦符合語意,故選之。
c. consumption n. 吃,喝;消耗(量)
consume vt. 吃,喝;消耗
例: The consumption of alcohol goes up around the holidays.
(酒類的消耗量在假日時會攀升。)
例: Although Vivian is thin, she can consume a lot of food.
(薇薇安雖然很瘦,但她很會吃。)
精解字詞片語 


1. acquired a. 後天(養成)的
相反詞:
inborn a. 天生的
= innate a.
例: Jim believes that homosexuality is an inborn trait instead of an acquired tendency.
(吉姆相信同性戀是天生而非後天養成的傾向。)

2. loathe vt. 厭惡,憎恨
loathe + V-ing  厭惡(做)……
例: Vince loathed going to his mother-in-law's house.
(文斯很討厭去他岳母家。)

3. pack vt. 綑紮;打包
pack up.../pack...up  將……打包好
例: John is packing up his clothes because he will leave for Japan tomorrow.
(約翰正在打包衣服,因為他明天要前往日本。)

4. flee vi. 逃走
三態為:flee, fled , fled。
例: The thieves fled when they saw the police cars pulling up.
(那些小偷看到警車停下來就逃之夭夭了。)

5. process n. 過程
in the process of...  正在……(過程)中
例: We are in the process of getting a loan from the bank.
(我們正在和銀行貸款。)

6. change A into B  將 A 改變為 B
= turn A into B
= transform A into B
例: They plan to change the old house into a hotel.
(他們打算將這棟舊屋改成旅館。)

7. a variety of...  各式各樣的……
例: The restaurant offered a variety of curry dishes.
(這家餐廳供應各式各樣的咖哩料理。)

8. inexplicable a. 難以理解的,莫名奇妙的
例: The politician's inexplicable comments may cost him his career.
(那位政客莫名奇妙的言論可能會讓他賠上政治生涯。)
單字小舖 


1. slimy a. 黏糊糊的
2. smelly a. 難聞的
3. durian n. 榴槤
4. pungent a.(味道)強烈的,刺鼻的
5. natto n. 納豆
6. soybean-based a. 大豆製成的
soybean n. 大豆
7. sticky a. 黏稠的
8. texture n. 口感,質地
9. straw n. 稻草
10. ferment vi. 發酵
11. bacteria n. 細菌(複數形,常用)
bacterium n. 細菌(單數形,少用)
12. fermentation n. 發酵
13. side vegetable  配菜,小菜
14. flavoring n. 調味料
15. soy sauce n. 醬油
16. mustard n. 芥末
17. dust vt. 噴灑 & n. 粉末,塵土
18. noodle n. 麵條(常用複數)
19. regional a. 地區的
20. appeal n. 吸引
21. stringy a. 可拉成絲狀的;多筋的
22. concoction n. 調製物
中文翻譯&標準答案 


有些食物受人歡迎,有些則令人敬而遠之。不過,有些食物卻是將人們劃分為非愛即恨的兩大族群。包括了像是黏糊糊又不是很好聞的榴槤、濃烈刺鼻的歐洲藍紋乳酪以及日本的納豆都屬此類。這種大豆製成的食物因為其濃烈的氣味及奇特濕黏的口感而讓人又愛又恨。
  
就像臭豆腐一樣,納豆也是一種大豆製品。根據傳說,一些士兵在煮大豆時遭受攻擊進而發現了納豆。他們迅速地將豆子打包在稻草袋中並逃逸。等到他們打開袋子 時,豆子都已經發酵,士兵們因此發現了一種新食物。這故事或許亦虛亦實,但長久以來,稻草在製作納豆的過程中一直扮演著很重要的角色。這是因為煮熟的大豆 需要特別的菌種以利發酵,而這種菌種則存在於稻草中。經過幾天之後,這些菌種就會將大豆變成納豆。
  
日本人有許多不同的方式烹調這種風味獨特的食物。納豆通常會搭配米飯、配菜和像是醬油或芥末等調味料當做早餐食用。在日本的某些地區,納豆還會灑上糖當作甜品。納豆也可以作為其他各種食物的基礎食材,像是納豆麵、納豆蛋捲,甚至納豆冰淇淋。
  
不過就算在日本,也不是人人都愛吃納豆。納豆的食用有很明顯的區域差異。最普遍接受的地區在日本東部,而西部地區則很少食用。對許多外國人而言,這種會牽絲、黏乎乎的豆類製品,其魅力實在是令人難以理解。

標準答案: 1. (I) 2. (D) 3. (G)4. (J)5. (A) 6. (H) 7. (B) 8. (E) 9. (C) 10. (F)



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