Lights, cameras, action! It’s movie night with your friends. And you’re looking for something to snack on during the movie. What better snack to choose than popcorn? In American culture, popcorn and movies are closely tied together. It is one of the most popular snacks offered at a movie theater. Popcorn is a popular treat made out of corn kernels that have been ‘popped’ by heat. Often times, the popped corn is covered with melted butter and salt to give the snack more flavor.

Popcorn has a history that goes back about 5,000 years ago to the American Indians. Corn was a major part of their diet, so they had many different ways of preparing it. They made popcorn by tossing prepared corn kernels onto a bed of hot stones over a fire. As the popcorn shot out in various directions, people made a game to see who could catch the most popcorn. Naturally, the prize was being able to enjoy this delicious snack. In fact, people loved the snack so much that they began to serve it with cream and sugar for breakfast.

In the late 19^th century, popcorn carts began appearing on almost every American street corner. These carts were big hits at fairs, carnivals, and expositions. Later on, home version of popcorn poppers became available, and the snack became even more popular. Not to mention, this was also around the time when popcorn was introduced to the movie theaters.

One of the biggest innovations for popcorn was microwaveable popcorn. For people who did not want to go through the trouble of making popcorn at home, microwaveable popcorn was nice alternative. Today, there are many variations for eating popcorn. There’s the classic buttered popcorn, the sweet alternative of caramel corn (where the popcorn is covered in a light coat of molasses), and others such as cheesy popcorn (popcorn covered in a layer of cheese dust). 

1.Where do people often eat popcorn in America?

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2.What do people often put on the top of the popcorn to make it more delicious?

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3.When did people start to see popcorn carts on American Streets?

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4.Can people make popcorn at home in America?

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5.What’s the main idea of the passage?

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When I was young, I wanted to be a model, so when a national competition was nearby, I asked my parents to take me for an audition(试演) and they agreed, I was selected and told I had potential. They said that for only $900 I could attend a weekend event that a number of the most famous modeling agenies(中介) from around the world would attend. At 13, my hopes of fame and fortune(名利) clouded my judgment and I begged my parents to let me go. We have never been rich, but they saw my enthusiasm and at last they agreed.
I imagined being signed by some famous model companies. For .months, any boredom or disappointment that I faced disappeared because I knew I would soon have the chance to be a real model. I thought I would appear in the covers of famous magazines!
Of course, I wasn't signed, but what hurt the most was being told that if I grew to 5'9' (about 1.75 meters) I could be a success. I sprayed for a growth spurt(冲刺) because I could not imagine giving up my dream. I met with a local modeling agency and the agent required $500 for classes, $500 for a photo shoot(拍摄), and $300 for other fees. My parents only agreed after hours and hours of my begging.
The agency sent me out on a few auditions but with every day I did not receive a call, I grew more disappointed. The final chance came in July after I had decided to focus on commercial modeling. There was an open call(公开挑it) in New York City. We spent hours driving and spent another few hours waiting, only to be told that I was too short, I could hardly stand it.
Years later, I realize that the trip to New York was good as it made me notice I didn't actually love modeling, just the idea of it.1 wanted to be special and I naively(天真地)decided to reach an impossible goal. The experience has made me stronger and that will help me in the future.
【小题1】The author wanted to be a model, because_______.

A．she won a national contest

B．she wanted to be famous and rich

C．she was urged by some modeling agencies

D．she had full potential to be a successful model

【小题2】The author's parents' attitude toward her dream is_______.

A．encouraging

B．doubtful

C．worried

D．excited

【小题3】The author finally stopped dreaming to become a model mainly because_______.

A．her parents were strongly against it

B．she realized that it was impossible for her.

C．even a local modeling agency turned her down

D．she realized that she didn't actually love the idea of modeling

【小题4】From her experience of struggling to be a model, the author learned that

A．where there is a will there is a way

B．being a model is not so easy

C．we should have our own judgment and should not just follow others

D．we might set unpractical goals but the experiences can help us grow.

When I was young, I wanted to be a model, so when a national competition was nearby, I asked my parents to take me for an audition(试演) and they agreed, I was selected and told I had potential. They said that for only $900 I could attend a weekend event that a number of the most famous modeling agenies(中介) from around the world would attend. At 13, my hopes of fame and fortune(名利) clouded my judgment and I begged my parents to let me go. We have never been rich, but they saw my enthusiasm and at last they agreed.

I imagined being signed by some famous model companies. For .months, any boredom or disappointment that I faced disappeared because I knew I would soon have the chance to be a real model. I thought I would appear in the covers of famous magazines!

Of course, I wasn't signed, but what hurt the most was being told that if I grew to 5'9' (about 1.75 meters) I could be a success. I sprayed for a growth spurt(冲刺) because I could not imagine giving up my dream. I met with a local modeling agency and the agent required $500 for classes, $500 for a photo shoot(拍摄), and $300 for other fees. My parents only agreed after hours and hours of my begging.

The agency sent me out on a few auditions but with every day I did not receive a call, I grew more disappointed. The final chance came in July after I had decided to focus on commercial modeling. There was an open call(公开挑it) in New York City. We spent hours driving and spent another few hours waiting, only to be told that I was too short, I could hardly stand it.

Years later, I realize that the trip to New York was good as it made me notice I didn't actually love modeling, just the idea of it.1 wanted to be special and I naively(天真地)decided to reach an impossible goal. The experience has made me stronger and that will help me in the future.

1.The author wanted to be a model, because_______.

A．she won a national contest

B．she wanted to be famous and rich

C．she was urged by some modeling agencies

D．she had full potential to be a successful model

2.The author's parents' attitude toward her dream is_______.

A．encouraging       B．doubtful          C．worried           D．excited

3.The author finally stopped dreaming to become a model mainly because_______.

A．her parents were strongly against it

B．she realized that it was impossible for her.

C．even a local modeling agency turned her down

D．she realized that she didn't actually love the idea of modeling

4.From her experience of struggling to be a model, the author learned that

A．where there is a will there is a way

B．being a model is not so easy

C．we should have our own judgment and should not just follow others

D．we might set unpractical goals but the experiences can help us grow.