英语听力精选进阶版 6300

If you're a bread lover or a cheapskate, or preferably both, British scientists have discovered your ideal meal.

The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has worked out that at 7.5 pence (0.7 yuan), a toast sandwich is Britain's cheapest meal. And the society is so confident in the repast, it will offer ￡200 (about 2000 yuan) to anyone who can find a cheaper alternative.

The dish, which consists of two slices of bread around a slice of toast, comes from a 19th century best-selling cookbook called Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management.

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of its publication, the RSC has decided¹ to focus on meals that reflect our hard economic times. Despite its simplicity², Dr John Emsley from the society said the meal was "surprisingly nice to eat and quite filling".

The toast sandwich provides 330 calories, but consumers could opt³ for a healthier alternative by using margarine instead of butter: an ingredient which wasn't available to Mrs Beeton.

The 21st century version of this simple sarnie is more nutritious⁴ than its predecessor⁵ because of the vitamins and minerals, such as calcium⁶, which are added to bread today.

For all but the most thrifty⁷, some simple additions could make the toast sandwich more appealing to the taste buds and the body. Add an egg for eight pence and you get a much tastier meal and some protein.

And for 19 pence, half a tin of sardines⁸ will give you some essential fatty acids.

Quiz 小测验

1. Has the Royal Society found a meal cheaper than 7.5 pence?

No, at 7.5 pence, a toast sandwich is Britain's cheapest meal.

2. Does the recipe come from the 1800s?

Yes. The dish comes from a 19th century best-selling cookbook.

3. Is the toast sandwich a more satisfying meal than it sounds?

Yes. It's surprisingly nice to eat and quite filling.

4. Was the 19th century original healthier than the modern version?

No. The 21st century version of this simple sarnie is more nutritious than its predecessor.

5. True or false? Adding an egg more than doubles the cost.

True. Add an egg for eight pence and you get a much tastier meal.

Glossary 词汇表

cheapskate 专买便宜东西的人

toast 烤

repast 就餐，饮食

dish （一道）菜

slices （切成）片

household management 家庭管理

filling 解饱的

calories (热量单位)卡路里

healthier alternative 更为健康的替代（品）

margarine 人造黄油

ingredient 成分

sarnie 三明治

nutritious 有营养的

vitamins 维生素

minerals 矿物质

calcium 钙

thrifty 节约的 

taste buds 口感

protein 蛋白质

fatty acids 脂肪酸

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 simplicity   

n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯

参考例句：

• She dressed with elegant simplicity.她穿着朴素高雅。
• The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.简明扼要是这个计划的一大特点。

3 opt   

vi.选择，决定做某事

参考例句：

• They opt for more holiday instead of more pay.他们选择了延长假期而不是增加工资。
• Will individual schools be given the right to opt out of the local school authority?各个学校可能有权选择退出地方教育局吗？

4 nutritious   

adj.有营养的，营养价值高的

参考例句：

• Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。

5 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

6 calcium   

n.钙(化学符号Ca)

参考例句：

• We need calcium to make bones.我们需要钙来壮骨。
• Calcium is found most abundantly in milk.奶含钙最丰富。

7 thrifty   

adj.节俭的；兴旺的；健壮的

参考例句：

• Except for smoking and drinking,he is a thrifty man.除了抽烟、喝酒，他是个生活节俭的人。
• She was a thrifty woman and managed to put aside some money every month.她是个很会持家的妇女，每月都设法存些钱。

8 sardines   

n. 沙丁鱼

参考例句：

• The young of some kinds of herring are canned as sardines. 有些种类的鲱鱼幼鱼可制成罐头。
• Sardines can be eaten fresh but are often preserved in tins. 沙丁鱼可以吃新鲜的，但常常是装听的。