In the soft morning light of a hospital bakery in Kunming, Yunnan Province, a long queue has already formed outside the door and stretched down the hallway as the first loaf of bread — its crust dotted with medicinal herbs — emerges from the oven. This innovative combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and modern baking has made hospital bakeries famous as new favorites among health-conscious millennials (千禧一代). These young consumers are not just seeking nourishment from a loaf of bread, but also a convenient way to incorporate wellness into their fast-paced lives.

The trend has spread even to remote areas of Yunnan. A hospital in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture has made Swiss rolls (瑞士卷) with sour rose fruits. The Dai people have a long-standing tradition of adding TCM herbs to food, and the hospital notes that integrating rose fruits — valued for their heat-clearing and digestion-aiding properties — and other medicinal ingredients into pastries is a fresh endeavor to bring TCM into daily life. Similarly, in Guizhou Province, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University has launched “fish mint bread”, blending a local specialty with baking to appeal to both the curious and health-focused.

Today’s young people prioritize cost-effective wellness. Plagued by poor health due to intense work and irregular routines, they are increasingly mindful of health management but reject the financial burden of expensive wellness products. They also embrace the concept of “food as medicine”. A report by a consulting firm reveals that 18-35-year-olds account for 83.7% of health consumers in China, and their enthusiasm for posting reviews of medicinal bread online has fueled trends like “new Chinese-style wellness” on social media.

1.1. What can we learn about the hospital bakery in Kunming?

A It opens late in the morning.

B Its bread contains TCM elements.

C It has a small waiting area.

D It only sells herb-flavored bread.

解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据第一段中“the first loaf of bread—its crust dotted with medicinal herbs”以及“This innovative combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and modern baking”可知，昆明这家医院面包店的面包含有中草药成分，即融入了中医元素。故选B。

2.2. What is the purpose of adding TCM ingredients to pastries?

A To promote TCM in daily life.

B To create new flavors.

C To cut down production costs.

D To attract foreign consumers.

解析：选A。A细节理解题。根据第二段第三句“the hospital notes that integrating rose fruits... and other medicinal ingredients into pastries is a fresh endeavor to bring TCM into daily life”可知，将中药成分加入糕点的直接目的是将传统医学带入日常生活。故选A。

3.3. What does the underlined word “Plagued” mean?

A Protected.

B Benefited.

C Troubled.

D Separated.

解析：选C。C词义猜测题。根据第三段第二句“Plagued by poor health due to intense work and irregular routines”可知，表明高强度工作和不规律作息是导致健康问题的原因，这种因果关系说明“Plagued”表达的应是被健康问题所困扰的状态。C选项“Troubled”（困扰）与该词义相近，A“保护”、B“受益”、D“分离”均不符合语境，故选C。

4.4. What is the experts’ attitude towards medicinal bread?

A Fully supportive.

B Strongly critical.

C Doubtful and indifferent.

D Objective and warning.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据最后一段的“experts urge consumers to remain rational and not rely on such foods to resolve health issues”可知，专家既未全盘否定中药面包，也未完全支持，而是提醒消费者保持理性、不依赖其解决健康问题，即客观并发出警告。故选D。