​From Food to Fun and Everything in Between(b)

大蒜好处多又多　美食保健都靠它

by Rebecca A. Fratzke

For over a thousand years, garlic has had people talking.

一千多年来，大蒜一直是人们讨论的话题。

As we all know, garlic has held a special place with people for a long time. Therefore, it seems only natural that this love of garlic would eventually turn into a celebration. In Gilroy, California, garlic lovers gather for one of the largest food festivals in the entire US, the Gilroy Garlic Festival. The festival is held for three days over the final full weekend in July, which means this year's activities start on July 23.

Anything and everything about garlic can be found at the festival. In fact, one of the most infamous treats is its garlic ice cream, which is always given away for free. There are contests, arts and crafts, and all sorts of entertainment. A popular event is the Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen Pageant. In it, five people judge 18- to 24-year-old women wearing evening gowns, answering questions, and of course, making speeches about garlic. Another fascinating event is the garlic cook-off. Past winners include the makers of spicy garlic butter cookies, garlic seafood soup, and garlic-stuffed sea scallops.

People come from all over to celebrate the joys of garlic. In 2009 alone, the festival received over 108,000 visitors. It needs to be said, though, that the 4,000 volunteers who make the festival possible every year are what makes the biggest impression. Because of them, the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association is able to donate large amounts of money to local organizations. In its 31 years, the festival has handed out over US$8.5 million. From medicine to food to fun, garlic has become a much needed and welcomed ingredient in our lives.

1.  What problems did the first garlic farmers run into?

(A) They couldn't find enough of it.

(B) They couldn't figure out how to cook with it.

(C) They didn't understand how to get it to produce seeds.

(D) They mistook it for a different plant.

2.  According to the article, which is NOT cured by garlic?

(A) Bad breath. (B) Heart problems.

(C) High cholesterol.   (D) Common colds.

3.  What is said about Gilroy's garlic ice cream?

(A) It will be introduced at the festival this year.

(B) It's expensive but very popular.

(C) Everyone gets a discount coupon for it when they enter the festival.

(D) It is one of the favorite attractions at the festival.

4.  How is the Gilroy Garlic Festival able to get money to donate to charities?

(A) Sponsors support the festival.

(B) Many people work for free during the festival.

(C) Local organizations pay for the festival to be held.

(D) California's government grants the organizers money.

   我们都知道，大蒜长久以来都对人类有特别的意义。因此，这份对大蒜的喜爱最终转化成庆祝活动似乎也是很理所当然。在加州的吉尔洛，大蒜的爱好者齐聚一堂，庆祝美国最大的食物庆典之一――吉尔洛大蒜节。这个庆典在 7 月最后一个完整的周末举行，为期 3 天，也就是说今年的活动从 7 月 23 日开始。

　　在这个节庆活动中，可以找到一切和大蒜有关的东西。事实上，最出名的活动之一就是『臭』名远播的大蒜冰淇淋，而且向来都是免费大放送。活动中有比赛、艺术作品和工艺品，还有各式各样的表演节目。其中一项受欢迎的活动就是吉尔洛大蒜节皇后选美比赛。在比赛中，由 5 个人评比 18 到 24 岁女性在穿着晚礼服、回答问题，当然还有针对大蒜发表演说的表现。另一个吸引人的项目是大蒜烹饪比赛。过去几届优胜者曾经做过辣味大蒜酱饼干，大蒜海鲜汤，以及填满大蒜馅料的扇贝。

　　来自各地的人们庆祝大蒜带来的欢乐。光是 2009 这一年，就涌入了超过 10 万 8 千名游客来参加大蒜节。需要一提的是，4 千名志工让这个庆典每年得以成功举行，他们是庆典中最令人印象深刻的一群人。由于他们的缘故，吉尔洛大蒜节得以捐出大笔款项给当地机构。这个节庆在它 31 年的历史中，一共送出了超过 850 万美金。从药物到食物到玩乐，大蒜已成为我们生活中极其需要且极受欢迎的原料。

   1.  最早种植大蒜的农民遭遇到什么问题？

(A) 他们找不到足够的大蒜。

(B) 他们想不出要怎么用它做菜。

(C) 他们不知道怎么使它产出种子。

(D) 他们将它误认成不同的植物。

   2.  根据本文，大蒜不能治疗下列何者？

(A) 口气不佳。

(B) 心脏疾病。

(C) 高胆固醇。

(D) 一般感冒。

   3.  下列何者是关于吉尔洛大蒜冰淇淋的叙述？

(A) 它将于今年的大蒜节中首度登场。

(B) 它很贵但很受欢迎。

(C) 去参加大蒜节的人都会获得大蒜冰淇淋的折价券。

(D) 它是大蒜节中受瞩目的人气项目之一。

   4.  吉尔洛大蒜节如何筹到捐给慈善机构的钱？

(A) 赞助者资助这个节庆活动。

(B) 节庆期间有很多人义务工作。

(C) 当地机构支付举办活动的费用。

(D) 加州政府提供费用给主办者。

答案：1. (C)2. (A)3. (D)4. (B)

‍‍For Your Information

大蒜既可调味，又能防病健身，常被人们称为『天然抗生素』。腌制大蒜不宜时间过长，以免破坏其中的有效成分，大蒜中的辣素怕热，遇热后会很快分解，其杀菌作用随之降低。因此，预防和治疗感染性疾病应生食大蒜。然而大蒜会使胃酸分泌增多，辣素有刺激作用，因此有胃肠道疾病，特别是有胃溃疡和十二指肠溃疡的人不宜吃大蒜。

吃大蒜的好处很多，但是大蒜吃进肚里后，嘴里总有一种难闻的气味，这种气味主要来自于大蒜里的蒜茸。嚼口香糖只能暂缓口气，并不能彻底去除，打嗝时难闻的气味又会回来。最好的方法就是吃完大蒜后，喝一杯牛奶，牛奶与大蒜发生反应，可以彻底去除蒜味。喝牛奶的时候注意要小口慢喝。‍‍