Many of China’s dishes come with stories. They are part of China’s long and fascinating history. Let’s learn about the interesting origins (起源) of some famous dishes.

Dumplings’ history goes back over 1,800 years. They were first used as medicine. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, one winter, many poor people were frostbitten (冻伤), especially their ears.

Zhang Zhongjing made some ear-shaped food with some Chinese medicine in it. He called these creations jiao’er, which means “tender ear” in English. After eating the jiao’er, people felt warm all over. Then, over time, the frostbite disappeared.

Zhang Zhongjing continued to give out jiao’er to poor, hungry people until the Eve of the Spring Festival. To celebrate the Spring Festival and their recovery (痊愈), people made their own jiao’er. This kind of ear-shaped food is the later “dumpling”. Today, in northern China, people eat dumplings in most traditional Chinese festivals and celebrations.

The dingsheng cake is a popular snack in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. It is made with rice flour and sweet fillings, such as red bean paste or nuts.

It is said that people in Southern Song Dynasty made the cakes to inspire Yue Fei’s army to win the fights. They engraved (雕刻) on the surfaces of cakes with two Chinese characters “Ding Sheng”, which means “must-win” or “victory” in English. Today, the dingsheng cake has become a popular gift. It often appears in traditional Chinese celebrations and important events, such as big exams and elderly people’s birthdays.

1.1. Why did Zhang Zhongjing make jiao’er?

A To offer food to hungry people.

B To celebrate the Spring Festival.

C To provide people with medicine.

D

解析：选C。C.细节理解题。根据文章第二段 “They were first used as medicine” 以及第三段提到张仲景制作娇耳是为了治疗人们的冻伤，可知其最初目的是作为药物给冻伤的人食用，C 选项 “为人们提供药物” 符合文意；A 选项 “给饥饿的人提供食物” 是后续的行为，并非最初目的；B 选项 “庆祝春节” 是百姓后来的做法，排除。

2.2. What was the dingsheng cake first made for?

A Welcoming the army.

B Encouraging the army.

C Serving food for the army.

D

解析：选B。B.细节理解题。根据第六段 “It is said that people in Southern Song Dynasty made the cakes to inspire Yue Fei’s army to win the fights” 可知，定胜糕最初是为了鼓舞岳飞的军队作战，B 选项 “鼓舞军队” 与原文 “inspire”（鼓舞）同义；A 选项 “欢迎军队”、C 选项 “为军队提供食物” 均不符合原文，排除。

3.3. Why do you think the dingsheng cake has become a popular gift?

A Because it brings a taste of home.

B Because it is a symbol of success and good luck.

C Because it is a kind of delicious and sweet snack.

D

解析：选B。B.推理判断题。根据第六段可知，定胜糕名字寓意 “必胜”，常出现在考试、寿宴等重要场合，由此可推断它成为受欢迎的礼品是因为象征着成功和好运，B 选项符合逻辑；A 选项 “带来家的味道”、C 选项 “是美味的甜味小吃” 均不是其作为礼品的核心原因，排除。

4.4. What do the two kinds of food have in common?

A They are popular in the south of China.

B They first appeared in the same dynasty.

C They are eaten in traditional celebrations.

D

解析：选C。C.细节理解题。文章第四段提到饺子 “在大多数传统节日和庆典中食用”，第六段提到定胜糕 “出现在传统庆典和重要场合”，可见二者的共同点是用于传统庆祝活动，C 选项正确；A 选项 “在中国南方流行” 错误，饺子主要在北方流行；B 选项 “诞生于同一朝代” 错误，饺子源于东汉，定胜糕源于南宋，排除。

5.5. What do you think is the best title of the passage?

A Stories behind Chinese tastes

B Stories behind Chinese customs

C Stories behind Chinese festivals

D

解析：选A。A.主旨大意题。文章开篇点明主旨，介绍中国菜肴背后的故事，随后分别讲述饺子和定胜糕的起源，A 选项 “中国美食背后的故事” 准确概括全文；B 选项 “中国习俗背后的故事” 范围过大，文章聚焦食物而非所有习俗；C 选项 “中国节日背后的故事” 偏离主题，文章重点是食物，不是节日，排除。