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Reaching new peaks of popularity in North America is Iceberg Water, which
is harvested from icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
Arthur von Wiesenberger, who carries the title Water Master, is one of the
few water critics in North America. As a boy, he spent time in the larger cities
of Italy, France and Switzerland, where bottled water is consumed daily. Even
then, he kept a water journal, noting the brands he liked best. “My dog could
tell the difference between bottled and tap water,” He says.
But is plain tap water all that bad? Not at all. In fact, New York’s
municipal water for more than a century was called the champagne of tap water
and until recently considered among the best in the world in terms of both taste
and purity. Similarly, a magazine in England found that tap water from the
Thames River tasted better than several leading brands of bottled water that
were 400 times more expensive.
Nevertheless, soft-drink companies view bottled water as the next
battle-ground for market share—this despite the fact that over 25 percent of
bottled water comes from tap water: PepsiCo’s Aquafina and Coca-Cola’s Dasani
are both purified tap water rather than spring water.
As diners thirst for leading brands, bottlers and restaurateurs salivate
(垂涎) over the profits. A restaurant’s typical mark-up on wine is 100 to 150
percent, whereas on bottled water it’s often 300 to 500 percent. But since water
is much cheaper than wine, and many of the fancier brands aren’t available in
stores, most diners don’t notice or care.
As a result, some restaurants are turning up the pressure to sell bottled
water. According to an article in The Street Journal, some of the more shameless
tactics include placing attractive bottles on the table for a visual sell,
listing brands on the menu without prices, and pouring bottled water without
even asking the diners if they want it.
Regardless of how it’s sold, the popularity of bottled water taps into our
desire for better health, our wish to appear cultivated, and even a longing for
lost purity.
57. What do we know about Iceberg Water from the passage?
A) It is a kind of iced water.
B) It is just plain tap water.
C) It is a kind of bottled water.
D) It is a kind of mineral water.
58. By saying “My dog could tell the difference between bottled and tap
water” (Line 4 Para.2), von Wiesenberger wants to convey the message that
________.
A) plain tap water is certainly unfit for drinking
B) bottled water is clearly superior to tap water
C) bottled water often appeals more to dogs taste
D) dogs can usually detect a fine difference in taste
59. The “fancier brands” (Line 3 Para. 5) refers to ________.
A) tap water from the Thames River
B) famous wines not sold in ordinary stores
C) PepsiCo’s Aquafina and Coca-Cola’s Dasani
D) expensive bottled water with impressive names
60. Why are some restaurants turning up the pressure to sell bottled
water?
A) Bottled water brings in huge profits.
B) Competition from the wine industry is intense.
C) Most diners find bottled water affordable.
D) Bottled water satisfied diners’ desire to fashionable.
61. According to passage, why is bottled water so popular?
A) It is much cheaper than wine.
B) It is considered healthier.
C) It appeals to more cultivated people.
D) It is more widely promoted in the market.
参考答案：
57. C 58. B 59. D 60.A 61. B
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发表于 2016-7-11 18:46:00