2014 届高考英语二轮专题复习阅读理解极限突破测试卷(31) <br />YOUR mom might cook a bowl of noodles for you on your birthday. But in the US, <br />a mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birthday. <br />Cupcakes are small, round cakes topped with frosting (糖霜). It has been an <br />American tradition that moms bring cupcakes to the classroom to celebrate their <br />child’s birthday. <br />But recently some doctors have called for this to be banned. They believe <br />cupcakes contribute to child obesity. <br />Despite their good intentions, however, some people believe that experts are <br />interfering (妨碍) with American culture. The cupcake is seen as American as apple <br />pie &mdash; only prettier. <br />According to Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University, <br />the cupcake is the most democratic (民主的) of desserts. As they are small enough <br />for one person, you don’t have to share your cupcake with anyone &mdash; it’s all yours. <br />They are also all the same size, so there can’t be any cries of &ldquo;she got the bigger <br />piece!&rdquo; <br />Each bite can taste different depending on how much icing you have. It is a lesson <br />in self-determination. Some people eat only a little of the frosting every time, <br />others have it all in just one bite. <br />In recent years, eating a cupcake has become as trendy as having a cup of <br />Starbucks coffee. <br />Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton jokingly promised on a talk <br />show that if she was elected president, she would give everyone a cupcake on her <br />birthday. <br />Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine, explains that the rise of the <br />cupcake is very much about going back to American national identity in food, which <br />is all about comfort. &ldquo;People want to think about when they and their country were <br />innocent,&rdquo; she said. <br />16. According to the passage, it has been an American tradition that ___________. <br />A. a party for children on their birthday <br />B. A mom cooks a bowl of noodles for her children on their birthday <br />C. A mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birthday and brings it to the <br />classroom <br />D. parents go travelling with their children on their birthday <br />17. Why do doctors ask people to ban cupcakes on children’s birthday? <br />A. Because they themselves don’t like cupcakes. <br />B. Because they think cupcakes are not so delicious. <br />C. Because they believe cupcakes will cause cries of &ldquo;She got the bigger piece&rdquo;. <br />D. Because they believe cupcakes are one of the causes to make children become fat. <br />18. Which of the following is Not true according to Marion Nestle? <br />A. The cupcake is more democratic than any other deserts in the US. <br />B. The cupcake is too small to share with others. <br />C. The sizes of cupcakes are the same so it’s equal to everyone. <br />D. Cupcakes will lead to child obesity so they should be banned. <br />19. The underlined word &ldquo;trendy&rdquo; in paragraph 7 probably means ________. <br />A. popular B. gentle C. delicious D. differ...