Reading Comprehension.
The tomato is the world's most popular fruit. Unlike the cabbage, the tomato is a real fruit, not a vegetable.
More than 60 million tons of tomatoes are produced per year, 16 million tons more than the second most
popular fruit, the banana. Apples are the third most popular (36 million tons), then oranges (34 million tons)
and watermelons (22 million tons).
Tomatoes were first cultivated in 700 by Aztecs and Incas. People returning from Mexico introduced the
tomato into Europe, where it was first mentioned in 1556.The French called it "the apple of love", the Germans
"the apple of paradise".
Tomatoes are rich in vitamins A and C. Furthermore, new medical research suggests that the consumption
of tomatoes may prevent cancer. And it's low in cholesterol (胆固醇). An average tomato (148 gram, or 5 oz)
contains only 35 calories (卡路里).
The scientific term for the common tomato is lycopersicon, which means "wolf peach". It is a cousin of
the eggplant, red pepper, ground cherry, potato. There are more than 10,000 varieties of tomatoes.
Tomatoes are used in many food products, including, of course, tomato sauce (ketchup), pasta and pizza.
According to a Steel Packing Council survey of 1997, 68% of chefs use canned tomatoes for convenience,
quality and flavouring. It hasn't changed much since.
1. According to the passage, the ________ is a vegetable. (No more than one word)
2. In which country was the tomato most likely cultivated first? (No more than two words)
________________________________________________________________________
3. Please mention one of tomatoes' advantages. (No more than ten words)
________________________________________________________________________
4. Lycopersicon, which means "wolf peach", is ________. (No more than ten words)
