4．In today's fast-paced society，few people take time to enjoy the midday meal．Most of us just rush right through it．We grab a quick salad，or buy a sandwich and eat at our computers，Sometimes，if there is a deadline around the comer，we just skip lunch．
The development of technology hasn't done our eating habits much good either．We are constantly distracted by e-mail，social media，and 24-hour news．Even when we do sit down for lunch，we are more connected to our hand-held electronic devices．
Long working hours can cause all kinds of health problems，and many developed countries have put in place labor laws specifically regarding the lunch break．These laws give employees the right to take a break during a long work shift，but it's up to them whether they do so or not．
Frank Partnoy，a former Wall Street trader，says that employers should encourage workers to take time off for lunch．This is because long lunch breaks can benefit both individuals and society．
Writing in The Guardian，Partnoy says that one obvious reason to take a lunch break is to slow down and gain some perspective（认识）． A break from work allows us to think strategically and outside the box．It also puts our daily tasks into a broader context（背景）．
What we eat at lunch is also important．In Partnoy's opinion，a fast food lunch is more harmful than not having lunch at all．And it's not just about calories and unhealthy food．Recent studies show that fast food also has negative effects on how we think．
However，if we sit down at a proper restaurant and chat leisurely with colleagues，we are more likely to slow down，something that hardly can be achieved in a noisy and over-packed fast food chain．
Despite these benefits，some employees might still be unwilling to take time off for lunch．Partnoy's suggestion？Make skipping lunch difficult：Employers could ask workers to fill out a form stating their reasons for skipping the meal．
36．What does the underlined phrase"skip lunch"mean in the first paragraph？A
A．don't have lunch B．have a quick lunch
C．work while having lunch D．take a lunch break
37．Which of the following is true according to the text？C
A．Modern technology results in good diet habits．
B．Electronic devices make our life comfortable．
C．Many people are too busy to have a good lunch．
D．Laws have passed to make workers have lunch．
38．According to Frank Partnoy，long lunch breaksA．
A．are time for the workers to relax their mind
B．make the employees work longer hours
C．are for employees to have a quick lunch
D．make the workers eat a proper lunch at home
39．In Partnoy's opinion，a fast food lunchC．
A．saves a lot of time for a rest
B．is better than having no lunch
C．affects people's way of thinking
D．makes workers sit down and think
40．What might be the author's purpose in writing the text？D
A．To warn us not to eat fast food．
B．To introduce Frank Partnoy's opinion．
C．To encourage us to work more efficiently．
D．To show the importance of a proper lunch．
分析 本文属于说明文阅读，作者通过这篇文章主要向我们介绍了不吃午饭给人们带来的危害，它不仅会影响人的身体健康，甚至会影响人的思考方式，适当的午饭会给人们带来意想不到的好处，作者旨在呼吁读者一定要注重午餐的健康．
解答 36．A．词义推断题．根据文章第一段：In today's fast-paced （快节奏） society，few people take time to enjoy the midday meal．可知在当今快节奏的社会里，很少有人花时间享受午餐，人们都是随便吃一点，因此当忙起来的时候，人们甚至会不吃午饭；故选A．
37．C．细节理解题．根据文章第二段的句子：The development of technology hasn't done our eating habits much good either．We are constantly distracted by e-mail，social media，and 24-hour news．可知技术的发展导致人们的用餐时间依然十分忙碌；可推测很多人忙的没时间吃午饭，故选C．
38．A．推理判断题．根据文章第五段的句子：Writing in The Guardian，Partnoy says that one obvious reason to take a lunch break is to slow down and gain some perspective（认识）．可知Partnoy认为长时间的午餐休息时间可以让职员放松，故选 A．
39．C．细节理解题．根据文章第六段的句子：And it's not just about calories and unhealthy food．Recent studies show that fast food also has negative effects on how we think．可知Partnoy认为快餐会影响人们的思维方式，故选C．
40．D．写作意图题．通读全文，可知文章主要介绍现在社会人们随便应付午餐的普遍现象，人们忙的没时间吃午饭，文章介绍不吃午饭带来的危害，表明了适当的午饭是非常重要的．故选D．
点评 考察学生的细节理解和推理判断能力，做细节理解题时一定要找到文章中的原句，和题干进行比较，再做出正确的选择．在做推理判断题不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实，要根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断．
