Part III　Reading

Sichuan Cuisine

Read the following text,and take notes of important information and useful words and expressions in the right column while reading.

Sichuan,in Southwest China,is known as “heavenly country”,due to its abundance of food and natural resources.Sichuan Cuisine is celebrated worldwide for its bold flavor of spiciness featuring the widely use of chilli peppers and Sichuan peppers,which combine to make a real sensation in one’s mouth.

NOTES

natural resources 自然资源；resources (actual and potential)supplied by nature

People tend to think of Sichuan food as being spicy,hot,sour,sweet,and salty.Actually,these flavors were introduced only in the last 100 years.During the period of the Three Kingdoms,the kingdom of Shu was located in Sichuan.According to historical research,the people in Shu liked sweet food.During the Jin Dynasty,they preferred to eat heavy food with Sichuan pepper and ginger.As recently as 200 years ago,there were no spicy dishes in Sichuan cuisine,its flavorings were very mild.

The hot pepper was introduced into China from South America around the end of the 17th century.Once it came to Sichuan,it became a favored food flavoring.Sichuan has high humidity and many rainy or overcast days.Hot pepper helps reduce internal dampness,so hot pepper was used frequently in dishes,and hot dishes became the norm in Sichuan cuisine.Sichuan food has become the common food for most people in the area,especially since the dishes go well with rice.In this respect,Sichuan cuisine differs from Shandong cuisine,which was mainly for officials and nobility; Guangdong cuisine,which was mainly for rich,important traders; and Huaiyang cuisine,which was mainly for literati.Typical,modern Sichuan dishes like Fuqi Fei Pian,Mapo Tofu,Kung Pao Chicken and Yuxiang Shredded Pork,are common dishes eaten by every family.

Sichuan food is famous for its many flavors,and almost every dish has its own unique taste.This is because many flavorings and seasonings are produced in Sichuan Province.These include soy sauce from Zhongba,cooking vinegar from Baoning,special vinegar from Sanhui,fermented soy beans from Tongchuan,hot pickled mustard tubers from Fuling,chilli sauce from Chongqing,thick,broad-bean sauce from Pixian,and well salt from Zigong.

The most famous Sichuan dishes featuring a good combination of flavors.Some of the most popular Sichuan dishes are:

1.Mapo Tofu.Mapo tofu is bean curd served in a chilli-andbean-based sauce,Sichuan pepper powder,and often topped with minced meat—pork or beef.

2.Kung Pao Chicken (Spicy Diced Chicken).Kung Pao chicken is more popular among Westerners than its counterpart Mapo Tofu.This is because it is usually less spicy,or not at all,when served abroad and outside Sichuan province.

3.Fuqi Fei Pian.Fuqi Fei Pian,Like the name suggests,there is a story behind this famous Sichuan dish.The brainchild of Guo Zhaohua,is made of thinly sliced beef (or bovine lung or tongue) seasoned with chilli oil.Zhaohua and his wife sold their beef slices for a living by pushing a small cart along the streets.As their beef slices were aromatic and delicious,no one could resist visiting their stall.In honor of the couple,people coined the name — Husband and Wife Lung Slices.

Sichuan cuisine also has many delicious snacks and desserts,such as lantern shadow beef,steamed beef,Dandan Noodles,and Bingfen (iced herbal jelly),Ciba (sweet sticky rice cake) ...

Sichuan cuisine is the hottest thing not only in China but in much of the world.It takes pride of place as China’s best-loved regional cuisine.

Task 1　Answer the following questions ORALLY with information and expressions in your note.

1.What does people tend to think of Sichuan cuisine?

2.During the period of the Three Kingdoms,which kingdom was located in Sichuan?

3.Why do Sichuan people especially like hot pepper?

4.Why Kung Pao Chicken is more popular among Westerners than its counterpart Mapo Tofu?

5.What flavorings and seasonings produced only in Sichuan Province?

Task 2　Read the text and decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).

(　)1.Sichuan,in Southwest China,is known as “heavenly country”,due to its prosperous industry.

(　)2.Hot pepper,an important flavoring in Sichuan cuisine,was introduced into China only 100 to 200 years ago.

(　)3.The hot pepper was introduced into China from South America around the end of the 17th century.

(　)4.According to historical research,the people in Shu liked spicy food.

(　)5.Guangdong cuisine,which was mainly for rich,important traders.

Task 3　Complete the sentences with words and phrases in the box.

abundance,historical research,flavorings and seasonings,combination,aromatic and delicious

1.The chef chooses the best beef,mixes them with a dozen different______________,and cooks them in oil at a low temperature.

2.The jasmine has an agreeable______________smell.

3.These paints can be used individually or in______________.

4.Fruit and vegetables grew in______________on the island.

5.Statistics is one of the resources of______________.