高考阅读模拟（原创题）
Tea, that most quintesntial of English drinks, is a relative latecomer to British shores. Although the custom of drinking tea dates back to the third millennium BC in China, it was not until the mid 17th century that the beverage first appeared in England.
The u of tea spread slowly from its Asian homeland, reaching Europe by way of Venice around 1560, although Portugue trading ships may have made contact with the Chine as early as 1515.
It was the Portugue and Dutch traders who first imported tea to Europe, with regular shipments by 1610. England was a latecomer to the tea trade, as the East India Company did not capitalize on tea's popularity until the mid-18th century.
Coffee Hous
Curiously, it was the London coffee hous that were responsible for introducing tea to England. One of the first coffee hou merchants to offer tea was Thomas Garway, who ow
ned an establishment in Exchange Alley. He sold both liquid and dry tea to the public as early as 1657. Three years later he issued a broadsheet advertising tea at ￡6 and ￡10 per pound (ouch!), touting its virtues at "making the body active and lusty", and "prerving perfect health until extreme old age".
Tea gained popularity quickly in the coffee hous, and by 1700 over 500 coffee hous sold it. This distresd the tavern owners, as tea cut their sales of ale and gin, and it was bad news for the government, who depended upon a steady stream of revenue from taxes on liquor sales. By 1750 tea had become the favoured drink of Britain's lower class.
Taxation on Tea
Charles II did his bit to counter the growth of tea, with veral acts forbidding its sale in private hous. This measure was designed to counter dition, but it was so unpopular that it was impossible to enforce. A 1676 act taxed tea and required coffee hou operators to apply for a licen.
header是什么意思
This was just the start of government attempts to control, or at least, to profit from the popularity of tea in Britain. By the mid 18th century the duty on tea had reached an absurd 119%. This heavy taxation had the effect of creating a whole new industry - tea smuggling.
Smuggling Tea
Ships from Holland and Scandinavia brought tea to the British coast, then stood offshore while smugglers met them and unloaded the precious cargo in small vesls. The smugglers, often local fishermen, snuck the tea inland through underground passages and hidden paths to special hiding places. One of the best hiding places was in the local parish church!
他们的英语Even smuggled tea was expensive, however, and therefore extremely profitable, so many smugglers began to adulterate the tea with other substances, such as willow, licorice, and sloe leaves. Ud tea leaves were also redried and added to fresh leaves.
自我怀疑Finally, in 1784 Commutation Act, which dropped the tax on tea from 119% to 12.5%, effectively ending smuggling. Adulteration remained a problem, though, until the Food and Drug Act of 1875 brought in stiff penalties for the practice.
四世同堂翻译
1.What is the best title of this passage?
A. The History of Tea
B. Tea in Britain
C. How Does Tea Come To Britain
D. A Popular Drink---Tea
2.Who do you think is to blame for tea smuggling in Britain?
A. The businessmen who brought tea to the British coast.
B. The smugglers who took the tea inland cretly.
C. The British who drank tea in daily life.
D. The British government that attempted to make money from the popularity of tea.
3.What does the underlined word adulterate mean?rectangle什么意思
阿塞拜疆语A. 破坏
B.（使）成熟
C.诱骗
D.掺假
4.When did tea become really popular in Britain?
A. In the early 17th century.
B. In the mid-17th century
C. In the early 18th century
后羿和嫦娥的故事
D. In the mid-18th century
5.Which of the following statement is true according to the passage?
A.People stopped adulterating tea the moment Commutation Act was introducedhfc
逃避心理
英语四级听力技巧B.Thomas Garway was the first British who sold tea in his tea shop.
C.Chine people have drunk tea for more five thousand years.
D.Businessmen were required not to ll tea without permission.
