2021年英语四级美文赏析：The American Obsession: Fast Food思维导图

ThemostobviousandstrikingtraitisthatAmericansalwaysseemtobegoingsomewhereandalwaysseemtobeinahurry.InNewYork,wherethestreetsareusuallychokedwithtraffic,driverstryineverywaytogetaheadofeachother,whilepedestriansrunthroughthestreetsoftendisregardingtrafficsignals.NowhereisthisimpatiencemoreevidentthaninAmericaneatinghabits.Sittingdowntoaleisurelymealseemstobealuxury.ItisquickertoserveoneselfinafastfoodrestaurantlikeMcDonald’s.McDonald’s,BurgerKingandWendy’sarenationwidefoodchainsspecializinginthemostpopularofallfoods,thehamburger.

Thepopularityoftheseeatingplaceshasmuchtodowithbeinginexpensive,butmoreimportant,withfastservice.Fastandinstantarethekeywords.Asaladbar,acentralfeatureinmostrestaurants,hasadizzyingvarietyofuncookedvegetables,pickledsalads,coldfish,andcheese.Puttingtogetheryourownchoicesmakessensebutyoualsodon’thavetowaittobeserved.Thesaladmaybeyourmainmeal,ortheappetizerwhichwillkeepyoubusyuntiltherestofthemealisready.“Takeout”foodisanAmericanwayoflife.

Onecanplaceanorderoverthephonewithanyofthetake-awayfoodshopsintheneighborhoodforaninstantmealtobetakentotheofficeortoeatathomefrombarbecuedchickentopizza.Withalittlepatience,youcangotothesupermarketandbuyinstantfoodsthattakealittletimetoprepare—instantcereals,instantsoups,instantrice,instantcoffee—allofwhichrequireonlyboilingwater,orfrozendinnersavailableininfinitechoices.Herethemealneedsonlytobeheated.WithallthepossibilitiesofeatinginstantlyandconstantlyandwiththeabundanceoffoodinAmerica,isitanywonderthatAmericanstendtobeoverweight?