The peanut is a native South American plant. Scientists believe that it grew wild in Brazil long ago. They think that for several thousand years the early peoples of South America made it a part of their diet. These peoples were nomads who moved on when a natural food could no longer be found in one area. Along the way they probably let fall some peanuts, which got into the ground and grew. This is believed to be the way the plant reached the place where the Incas（印加人）lived. The Incas, from about 1100 to 1532, thought highly of peanuts. The peanuts were eaten in several forms and used as sacrificial offerings（祭品）to the Incan Sun God. Later in the 16^th century, European soldiers had brought peanuts to other parts of the world, including North America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Pacific Islands.
Although peanuts were found native in South America, they are now grown in almost every country that has warm weather. India produces the most peanuts. China’s production is next, followed by the United States.
The peanut is special in more ways than one. It can be eaten raw, boiled, roasted, or fried. Hundreds of widely different products have been made from it. Carver, an American scientist, set himself the task of discovering new uses for eating and for many other products.
Peanuts are very highly nutritious and are also high in protein （蛋白质）. Americans use about seven-tenths of their protein in the form of meat. In India, where the poor can’t pay for meat or milk, peanut meal and peanut milk have been produced. These have been a great help to the poor.
New products are continually being made from peanuts, among them peanut cheese and a powder that becomes peanut butter when water is added. The fact is that peanuts are so healthy that they were used by astronauts. The unusual nut that isn’t a nut is one of nature’s most amazing gifts.

1. 1.

   Although we like eating peanuts, many of us don’t know peanuts belong to _______ family.

   1. A.
      the pea
   2. B.
      the nut
   3. C.
      both the pea and the nut
   4. D.
      neither the pea nor the nut
2. 2.

   Which paragraph（段落）mainly talks about the history of the peanut?

   1. A.
      Paragraph Four
   2. B.
      Paragraph Three
   3. C.
      Paragraph Two
   4. D.
      Paragraph One
3. 3.

   What does the underlined word nutritious mean?

   1. A.
      Helpful for staying healthy.
   2. B.
      Helpful to the poor.
   3. C.
      Delicious and tasty.
   4. D.
      Rich in fat and oil.
4. 4.

   Which of the following is TRUE according to the article?

   1. A.
      Nomads always stayed in the same place.
   2. B.
      The peanut was first found in South America.
   3. C.
      Astronauts ate lots of peanuts to keep healthy.
   4. D.
      China grows fewer peanuts than the US.
5. 5.

   What is the purpose of the article?

   1. A.
      To show that peanuts belong to the pea family.
   2. B.
      To advise us to use more peanut products.
   3. C.
      To tell us some new uses of peanuts.
   4. D.
      To let us know more about peanuts.

　　Sometimes, no one may really know ___3___ a word comes from. Did you ever think about why hamburgers are called hamburgers, especially when they are not made with ham? About a hundred years ago, some men went to America ___4___ Europe. They came from a big city in Germany called Hamburg. They didn't ___5___ good English, but they ate good food. When some Americans saw them ___6___ a round piece of beef, they asked the Germans what it was. The Germans didn't ___7___ the question and answered,“We come from Hamburg,”One of these ___8___ owned a restaurant. He had an idea. He cooked some round pieces bread and started selling them. Such bread came to be“hamburgers”. Today,“hamburgers”are sold in ___9___ countries around the world.