The History of Chopsticks
英语课
In much of Asia, especially the so-called "rice bowl" cultures of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, food is usually eaten with chopsticks.
Chopsticks are two long, thin, usually tapered 1, pieces of wood. Bamboois the most common material, but they are also be made of various types of wood, as well as plastic, porcelain 2, animal bone, ivory, metal, coral, agate 3, and jade 4.
During the Middle Ages, aristocrats 5 often favored silver chopsticks since it was thought that silver would turn color if it came into contact with poison.
Elegant Craftsmanship 6
Sometimes chopsticks are quite artistic 7. Chopsticks can be made of lacquered wood and covered with artwork. Truly elegant chopsticks might be made of gold and embossed in silver with Chinese calligraphy 8. Artisans also combine various hardwoods and metal to create distinctive 9 designs.
A child's plastic set of chopsticks might feature a cartoon character, such as Mickey Mouse, while aluminum 10 from recycled cans might find new life as a lightweight, easy-to-clean pair of chopsticks.
Elaborate Carvings 11
Chopsticks may be totally smooth or carved or modeled ripples 12. Silver or gold paint can be used to give them a rough texture 13. In Thailand, wood is often elaborately carved into chopsticks. The ends of chopsticks can be rounded or squared, while the tips can be blunt or sharp.
"Forkchops" are chopsticks for insecure Westerners and feature chopsticks at one end and forks and knives at the other, just in case the user can't manage during the meal.
The Chinese have been using chopsticks for five thousand years. People probably cooked their food in large pots, using twigs 14 to remove it. Overtime 15, as population grew, people began chopping food into small pieces so it would cook more quickly. Small morsels 16 of food could be eaten without knifes and so the twigs gradually turned into chopsticks.
Some people think that the great scholar Confucius, who lived from roughly 551 to 479 B.C., influenced the development of chopsticks. A vegetarian 17, Confucius believed knives would remind people of slaughterhouses and were too violent for use at the table.
Non-Chopstick Countries
Chopsticks are not used everywhere in Asia. In India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand
n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的
- These porcelain plates have rather original designs on them.这些瓷盘的花纹很别致。
- The porcelain vase is enveloped in cotton.瓷花瓶用棉花裹着。
n.玛瑙
- He saw before him a flight of agate steps.他看到前面有一段玛瑙做的台阶。
- It is round,like the size of a small yellow agate.它是圆的，大小很像一个小的黄色的玛瑙。
n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠
- The statue was carved out of jade.这座塑像是玉雕的。
- He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送给我们一对玉狮子。
n.贵族( aristocrat的名词复数 )
- Many aristocrats were killed in the French Revolution. 许多贵族在法国大革命中被处死。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- To the Guillotine all aristocrats! 把全部贵族都送上断头台！ 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
n.手艺
- The whole house is a monument to her craftsmanship. 那整座房子是她技艺的一座丰碑。
- We admired the superb craftsmanship of the furniture. 我们很欣赏这个家具的一流工艺。
adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的
- The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
- These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。
n.书法
- At the calligraphy competition,people asked him to write a few characters.书法比赛会上，人们请他留字。
- His calligraphy is vigorous and forceful.他的书法苍劲有力。
adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的
- She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
- This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。
n.(aluminium)铝
- The aluminum sheets cannot be too much thicker than 0.04 inches.铝板厚度不能超过0.04英寸。
- During the launch phase,it would ride in a protective aluminum shell.在发射阶段，它盛在一只保护的铝壳里。
n.雕刻( carving的名词复数 )；雕刻术；雕刻品；雕刻物
- The desk was ornamented with many carvings. 这桌子装饰有很多雕刻物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Shell carvings are a specialty of the town. 贝雕是该城的特产。 来自《简明英汉词典》
逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 )
- The moon danced on the ripples. 月亮在涟漪上舞动。
- The sea leaves ripples on the sand. 海水在沙滩上留下了波痕。
n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理
- We could feel the smooth texture of silk.我们能感觉出丝绸的光滑质地。
- Her skin has a fine texture.她的皮肤细腻。
细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 )
- Some birds build nests of twigs. 一些鸟用树枝筑巢。
- Willow twigs are pliable. 柳条很软。
adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地
- They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
- He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。
n.一口( morsel的名词复数 )；（尤指食物）小块，碎屑
- They are the most delicate morsels. 这些确是最好吃的部分。 来自辞典例句
- Foxes will scratch up grass to find tasty bug and beetle morsels. 狐狸会挖草地，寻找美味的虫子和甲壳虫。 来自互联网
n.素食者；adj.素食的
- She got used gradually to the vegetarian diet.她逐渐习惯吃素食。
- I didn't realize you were a vegetarian.我不知道你是个素食者。
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