9．1．Do the British really get together every afternoon at 4 p．m．to sit and drink several cups of tea？Ask any of my German students and they will tell you"YES!"
I'm sorry to disappoint，but it's simply not true．We drink over 150 million cups of tea a day in Britain，but there is no special time for the nation's favorite drink．British people will drink tea all day whether morning，noon or night （my mother makes her first cup at 6 a．m．）．There are reasons for the confusion surrounding"teatime"，however．
"Tea"is widely used as a name for the evening meal．This is more common in Scotland and the north of England but you can hear it all over the country．Usually it is the main meal of the day，eaten between 5 p．m．and 7 p．m．So，"teatime"refers to the meal and not the drink．In the south，the evening meal is often called dinner，while dinner in the north is the midday meal．Confused？Many heated debates can happen between southerners and northerners about the right name．
What about tea breaks？Surely this must be a special time for tea？Wrong again，I'm afraid．Tea breaks are simply an opportunity to have a rest from work for around 10 minutes．During this time you can drink whatever you like．Also a small snack，like biscuits，is usually eaten．The best time for a tea break is mid-morning around 11 a．m．or mid-afternoon around 3 p．m．
But what about tea rooms？Can I drink tea there？Yes!A tea room is the perfect place to go with friends and family to enjoy tea，cakes，and sandwiches．This is known as afternoon tea and is usually served during special activities such as a birthday or engagement （訂婚） party．Tea rooms are also very popular with tourists and are definitely worth a visit．
Teatime，tea breaks，afternoon tea…how could you possibly get muddled up （混淆）？
1．What does"tea"mean in Scotland and the north of England？（不多于3個單詞）The meal．/The evening meal．
2．What is the aim of tea breaks？（不多于4個單詞）To have a rest．/To rest．
3．What special activities can be held in tea rooms？（不多于5個單詞）A birthday or engagement party．/Birthday or engagement parties．
4．Why does the writer write this passage？（不多于7個單詞）To clear up some misunderstandings．/To explain teatime and some related terms．．
分析 本文是一篇說明文，作者主要解釋了Teatime，tea breaks，afternoon tea等等這些詞具體指什么，來消除大家的誤解．
解答 1．The meal．/The evening meal．晚餐．考查細節理解．根據"Tea"is widely used as a name for the evening meal．This is more common in Scotland and the north of England but you can hear it all over the country，可知，在蘇格蘭和英國北部，"Tea"是"the evening meal晚飯"的意思．故填"The meal．/The evening meal"．
2．To have a rest．/To rest．休息．考查細節理解．根據"Tea breaks are simply an opportunity to have a rest from work for around 10 minutes"可知，"Tea breaks"的目的是"to have a rest"．故填"To have a rest．/To rest．"．
3．A birthday or engagement party．/Birthday or engagement parties．生日或訂婚派對．考查細節理解．根據This is known as afternoon tea and is usually served during special activities such as a birthday or engagement （訂婚） party．可知，special activities 指的是a birthday or engagement （訂婚） party．故填"A birthday or engagement party．/Birthday or engagement parties．生日或訂婚派對．"．
4．To clear up some misunderstandings．/To explain teatime and some related terms．消除一些誤解．考查文章主旨．根據最后一句"Teatime，tea breaks，afternoon tea…how could you possibly get muddled up （混淆）？"可知，作者的目的就是要解釋對這些名詞的誤解．故填"To clear up some misunderstandings．/To explain teatime and some related terms．消除一些誤解．"．
點評 閱讀表達主要是根據前面的問題來做出相應的要求內的答案，題型比較靈活但是考查了學生多方面的知識和技能，要做好這類題，就要注意平時知識的積累，包括單詞、詞組、句型等．
