英语听力精选进阶版 6300（在线收听）

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 decided to focus on meals that reflect our hard economic times. Despite its simplicity, 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 opt 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 nutritious than its predecessor because of the vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, which are added to bread today.

For all but the most thrifty, 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 sardines 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