Diamonds of the Kitchen 厨房的钻石
by Jeremy Beacock
Truffles have been called the diamonds of the kitchen.
松露有『厨房的钻石』之称。
You may know the expensive chocolate truffle, a dessert in the shape of a small rough ball, but do you know the fungus that it takes its name from? This highly-prized ingredient used in European cooking is famous for its unique smell, which some people describe as similar to _(1)_ of goat's urine, and strong flavor. This might not sound appealing, but truffles can sell for _(2)_ NT$180,000 a kilogram.
Where do these extremely expensive fungi come from? Many kinds of truffle grow all over the world, North America and China _(3)_. However, the most famous truffles, black and white, have always grown in Italy, France, and Spain. There, truffle hunting is big business. Professional truffle hunters are careful to keep the _(4)_ of their favorite sites secret. They train pigs and dogs to find the buried truffles because both of these animals are very good at _(5)_ the fungus. The pigs' mouths have to be covered, though; _(6)_, the truffles would become extremely expensive pig food.
Black truffles look like small, rough potatoes. The real prize is the rarer white truffle. White truffles look like small white stones, but they can grow _(7)_ bigger than the black truffle. The biggest white truffle found recently, at around 1.5 kilograms, was sold for an astronomical sum of more than NT$900,000.
At these prices, truffles are one of the most expensive foods in the world. It's hard to explain their strange allure, but as a food writer once noted, they might be less esteemed if they were cheaper.
1. (A) which (B) that (C) those (D) what
2. (A) such as (B) far from (C) up to (D) as far as
3. (A) included (B) including (C) includes (D) to include
4. (A) sceneries (B) destinations (C) landmarks (D) locations
5. (A) taking over(B) looking after (C) sniffing out (D) depending on
6. (A) whereas (B) consequently (C) instead (D) otherwise
7. (A) more (B) much (C) great (D) many
原来如此
1. This highly-prized ingredient used in European cooking is famous for its unique smell, which some people describe as similar to that of goat's urine, and strong flavor.
理由:
a. 在英文中，前面出现的名词若再次提到，为避免重复，可改用代名词 that 或 those；若为单数名词或不可数名词，以代名词 that 代替；若是复数名词，则以 those 代替。
例: The number of girls in this class is greater than that of boys.
（这个班上女孩的人数比男孩多。）
例: There are many novels for sale—not only those by American authors.
（不仅美国作家写的小说在打折，很多小说也都有折扣。）
b. 此处空格前的 smell（气味）为单数名词，可知应以代名词 that 替代，故 (B) 应为正选。
2. This might not sound appealing, but truffles can sell for up to NT$180,000 a kilogram.
理由:
a. (A) such as... 诸如……，像……之类
(B) far from... 离……很远（常与 away 并用）
例: I live far away from my school.
（我住的地方离学校挺远的。）
注意:
far from 可视为副词，表『一点也不』，有下列用法：
be far from + N/adj. 一点都不是……
= be not + N/adj. + at all
例: What he said is far from the truth.
（他说的那些话完全不是事实。）
(C) up to + 数字 多达……（数字）
例: Polar bears can weigh up to 1,000 kilograms.
（北极熊可重达 1 千公斤。）
(D) as far as... （距离）和……一样远
b. 空格后有数字 NT$180,000（18 万台币），可知应选 (C) up to。
3. Many kinds of truffle grow all over the world, North America and China included.
理由:
a. 本空格测试以下固定用法：
include vt. 包括，包含
...included 包括∕包含……
= including...
= inclusive of...
＊ including prep. 包括……，包含……
＊ inclusive a. 包括的，包含的
例: Our art collection includes two Monets and a Picasso.
（我们的艺术收藏品包括两幅莫内和一幅毕加索的画作。）
例: All the men are going, Max included.
= All the men are going, including Max.
= All the men are going, inclusive of Max.
（所有的男士都要去，包括麦克斯在内。）
b. 根据上述用法，由于空格位于句尾，可知应选 (A)。
4. Professional truffle hunters are careful to keep the locations of their favorite sites secret.
理由:
a. (A) scenery n. 风景（不可数）
(B) destination n. 目的地，终点
(C) landmark n. 地标
(D) location n. 位置
例: The choice of location is important to the success of a business.
（地点的选择对于事业的成功非常重要。）
b. 根据语意，可知应选 (D)，表专业的松露猎人小心翼翼地不让别人知道自己最喜欢的采集『地点』。
5. They train pigs and dogs to find the buried truffles because both of these animals are very good at sniffing out the fungus.
理由:
a. (A) take over... 接管……
例: The new manager is going to take over our section next week.
（新任经理将于下星期接管我们的部门。）
(B) look after... 照顾……
例: Gerald agreed to look after my dog while I was on vacation.
（杰洛答应在我去渡假时照顾我的狗。）
(C) sniff out... 嗅出藏有……的味道
例: All police dogs have been trained to sniff out drugs and explosives.
（所有警犭都已接受训练，能嗅出哪里有毒品或爆裂物。）
(D) depend on... 依赖∕依靠……
例: I depend on my friends and family for emotional support.
（我依靠家人和朋友给我精神上的支持。）
b. 根据语意，可知应选 (C)，表他们训练猪和狗来找出地底下的松露，因为这两种动物都非常擅长『嗅出』这种蕈类的气味。
6. The pigs' mouths have to be covered, though; otherwise, the truffles would become extremely expensive pig food.
理由:
a. (A) whereas conj. 反之，却
例: Some people like the movie adaptation, whereas others don't.
（有些人喜欢改编的电影，而有些人则不喜欢。）
(B) consequently adv. 结果，因此
例: Kathy studied hard in high school. Consequently, she was able to attend the college of her choice.
（卡西在高中时很用功，因此她能进入自己所选择的大学就读。）
(C) instead adv.（反）而，却
例: I didn't go to the library. Instead, I stayed home and studied.
（我没去图书馆而待在家里念书。）
(D) otherwise adv. 否则，要不然
例: We'd better leave now; otherwise, we'll be late.
（我们最好现在就出发，要不然会迟到。）
b. 空格前后分别有分号和逗点，其后则是完整句，可知应填入副词，而 (A) 选项是连接词，之后应有主词及动词，故不可选。根据语意，可知应选 (D)，表得把猪的嘴巴套上嘴套，『否则』松露就会成为非常昂贵的小猪食物。
7. White truffles look like small white stones, but they can grow much bigger than the black truffle.
理由:
a. 本空格测试可用来修饰比较级形容词或副词的修饰语，共计有下列 6 个：
far, much, even, still, a lot, a great deal。
例: Kevin's idea is much better than mine.
（凯文的点子比我的好太多了。）
例: Jack is tall, but his son is even taller.
（杰克个子很高，但他儿子比他还高。）
b. 空格后有比较级形容词 bigger（较大的），得知空格应选 (B) much。
精解字词词组
1. in the shape of... 呈……的形状
= in the form of...
例:Their wedding cake was in the shape of a gigantic heart.
（他们的结婚蛋糕是一个巨大心形的样子。）
2. describe A as B 将 A 描述∕形容为 B
= depict A as B
例: The writer depicts the city as a cold, cruel place in her new novel.
（在她的新小说中，该作家将这座城市描绘成一个冷漠、残酷的世界。）
3. appealing a. 吸引人的（= attractive）
例: Diamonds in the shape of a heart are very appealing to some women.
（心形的钻石对某些女人来说非常有吸引力。）
4. keep...secret（secret 为形容词）
= keep...a secret（secret 为名词） 将……守密，保守……的秘密
例: The special agent tried to keep his real name a secret.
（那名特务设法隐瞒自己的真实姓名。）
5. be good at... 擅长∕精通……
be poor at... 不善于……
例: Becky is good at debating. In fact, she has been to the state tournament twice.
（贝齐擅长辩论。事实上，她已参加过两次州际比赛。）
6. astronomical a.（数量、数字）极巨大的；天文学的
例: The cost of the space program is astronomical. I think it is a waste of money.
（这项太空计划的花费是天文数字，我认为是浪费金钱。）
7. esteemed a. 受人尊敬的
esteem vt. & n. 尊重
hold sb in high esteem 非常尊敬某人
= hold sb in high respect
例: Everyone holds Mary in high esteem because of her extensive knowledge of history.
（玛丽广泛的历史知识让每个人都很尊敬她。）
单字小铺
1. truffle n. 松露
2. dessert n.（餐后）甜点
3. rough a. 粗糙的
4. fungus n. 菌类；蕈（单数形）
fungi n. 菌类；蕈（复数形）
5. highly-prized a. 价格昂贵的
6. urine n. 尿
7. flavor n. 味道
8. professional a. 专业的
amateur a. 业余的
9. allure n. 魅力
中文翻译＆标准答案
你可能知道一种名叫松露巧克力的昂贵甜点，它的形状看起来像一颗外表粗糙的小球，但你了解名为松露的这种蕈类吗？这种用在欧式料理中的松露价格非常昂贵，以其特殊的气味和浓烈的味道而闻名，有些人形容它的味道闻起来很像山羊的尿。这听起来或许很不讨喜，但 1 公斤的松露市价却可高达18 万台币。
这些要价极其昂贵的蕈类打哪来的？世界各地，包括北非和中国，都看得到许多品种的松露。但是最有名的黑松露与白松露只生长在意大利、法国和西班牙。在这些地方，采集松露可是一门大生意。专业的松露猎人小心翼翼地不让别人知道自己最喜欢的采集地点。他们训练猪和狗来找出地底下的松露，因为这两种动物都非常擅长嗅出这种蕈类的气味。但是得把猪的嘴巴套上嘴套，否则松露就会成为非常昂贵的小猪食物。
黑松露看起来像颗外表粗糙的小马铃薯。但最珍贵的要属白松露了，它看起来像一颗白色的小石头，但是可以长得比黑松露更大。最近挖到一颗史上最大的白松露将近 1 公斤半，所卖出的价格超过 90 万台币，简直是天价。
松露高贵的身价使其跻身世上最昂贵的食物之一。它所散发的奇妙魅力难以解释，就如一位美食作家曾说道，如果松露的价格更平易近人的话，其魅力也会随之褪色。
标准答案: 1. (B) 2. (C) 3. (A) 4. (D) 5. (C) 6. (D) 7. (B) |