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Chinese Food - What a Way to Cook!

 

My interest in Chinese food started many years ago, when I had my first job. I was a young reporter for the Daily Journal in San Francisco. Our office wasn't far from Chinatown. I usually managed to arrange my schedule so that I could go there at least two or three times a week for a good meal.

The first time I ever ate Chinese food I loved it. And since then, it just tastes better and better to me. The first thing I noticed was the fresh taste of the meat and vegetables. When I learned more about the food, I began to understand why it has this unique feature.

About 5000 years ago, China lost much of its wood because of over population and poor management of its forests. This loss was very bad for the country, of course, but it turned out to be very good for the food. Wood became very expensive and hard to get, so the Chinese had to either find a substitute for their valuable wood, or learn how to use it better. There weren't any substitutes available, so people found ways to economize. In order to economize in cooking, they had to use very little wood. So they started cutting their meat and vegetables into small pieces before they put them in the hot oil. That way, the food cooked faster and they saved their fuel. The food prepared in this manner kept its fresh flavor - and it's this flavor that attracts people to the art of Chinese cooking. I often wonder if the Chinese appreciated their solution to that ancient energy crisis as much as I do now - whenever I eat Chinese food.

 

                                                                                                                            Pete Maxwell, StaffWriter

·           The reason of losing much wood

• Because of over population

• Because of much fire

• Because of bad weather conditions

• a)       Because of good management of its forest

·         The text is about

• a)      Chinese food

• a)       Good meal of the Chinese

• a)       Chinese cooking

• a)       The population

• a)       The art of Chinese cooking 

·         The true statement

• a)       I didn’t love eating Chinese food

• a)      The office was near China town

• a)       I was a young doctor.

• a)       I noticed the food wasn’t the fresh taste of the meat and vegetables

• a)       I lived in China many years

·         How did the Chinese energy problem help their cooking?

• a)       To cook faster

• a)       To use much wood

• a)       To economize in cooking

• a)       To search the wood in another countries

• a)       To have to use very little wood

·         The Chinese are …

• Happy

• Fearless

• a)       Patriotic

• a)       Patient

• a)       Careless

·         Why was wood so valuable in ancient China?

• a)       The loss of the wood was hard for the country

• a)       China lost many woods

• a)       Wood became very expensive

• a)       There are many woods

• a)       The wood was values

·         Do the Chinese value their solution to the ancient energy crisis so much?

• a)       They don’t know anything about valuation

• a)       They appreciate their solution

• a)       They love their Motherland

• a)       The ancient energy crisis very useful

• a)       They prefer being wise

·         An ancient Chinese cooking is …

• a)       Keeping its fresh flavour

• a)       Saving fire wood

• a)       Fast food preparation

• a)       Cutting meat and vegetables

• Using many vegetables

·         How did the Chinese prepare their food for cooking?

• a)       They use very little wood

• a)       To economize in cooking

• a)       They loved cooking

• a)       Cutting their meat and vegetables into small pieces.

• They didn’t save their fuels

·         The reason of losing much wood  

• a)       Because of over population

• a)       Because of much fire

• a)       Because of bad weather conditions

• a)       Because of good management of its forest

• a)       Because of many floods