A kitchen that gives step-by-step cooking instructions in French could inspire a revolution in language learning in the UK. By using a new technology, it speaks to you as you prepare a French dish. The kitchen breaks new ground by taking language learning out of the classroom and linking it with an enjoyable and rewarding real-life activity.
The new kitchen is designed to be used in schools, universities and even people’s homes. It could also be an existing kitchen. The first version of the technology was tested in the kitchens of project partner Newcastle University. The kitchen could be available for schools and universities, and for the UK market by the June of 2014.
The Newcastle University team is now working on ways to put it on the market. And the European Union has given money to begin programs in six other languages, including English Italian and Spanish. Finally, versions could be developed for any language cuisine（烹饪法）in the world.
Professor Paul says, “By international standards, the UK students are now poor when it es to learning languages—a problem that certainly has an economic influence. We believe that developing skills in a country’s language and its cuisine will help change the trend.”
On a puter fixed into the kitchen, the user first selects the French recipe（菜谱）they want to follow. Digital sensors built into dishes, containers and other equipment then municate with the puter to make sure the right instructions are given at the right time, the user can ask the puter to repeat an instruction, or translate it into English, simply by pressing the touch screen. After cooking, the user can test what they have learned by carrying out a short test on the puter.
All grammar and vocabulary has been carefully selected to make sure that using the kitchen adds to basic proficiency（熟练）in understanding French.
Now three easy-carrying versions of the kitchen are being prepared. They’re to be fixed in Newcastle University and at Institute Francais, a London-based charity devoted to teaching the French language.
【小题1】The new kitchen is designed mainly to .A．increase people’s interest in cooking B．teach people how to cook French dishesC．offer people a new way to learn languagesD．help cooks learn spoken French in the kitchen【小题2】Which of the following is TRUE about the kitchen?A．It has versions in six languages now.B．It is already available for sale in the UK.C．It has received strong support from the EU.D．It can be used only in schools and university.【小题3】When a person is using the kitchen, .A．it will give him a test on his cooking skills B．it can translate French into another languageC．the cooking process will stop if he goes wrongD．he must be careful so as not to make mistakes【小题4】What would be the best title for the text?A．UK students have problems in language learning.B．New technology helps students learning cooking.C．An enjoyable and rewarding real-life activity.D．A Talking Kitchen That Teaches You French.C
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(答案→)C
解析：本文主要讲述的是一种能够帮助我们进行语言学习的特殊的厨房系统，并详细介绍了这一系统的诸多特色。
【小题1】C 细节题。根据文章第一句A kitchen that gives step-by-step cooking instructions in French could inspire a revolution in language learning in the UK.可知这个厨房设计的目的是为了更好的学习语言。故C项正确。
【小题2】C 推理题。根据文章第3段第2句And the European Union has given money to begin programs in six other languages, including English Italian and Spanish.可知欧盟在这个项目上已经给了资金进行扶持。故C项正确。
【小题3】B 细节题。根据文章第4段Digital sensors built into dishes, containers and other equipment then municate with the puter to make sure the right instructions are given at the right time, the user can ask the puter to repeat an instruction, or translate it into English, simply by pressing the touch screen.可知在使用中可以把法语翻译成英语，故B项内容正确。
【小题4】D 主旨大意题。根据文章第一段A kitchen that gives step-by-step cooking instructions in French could inspire a revolution in language learning in the UK. By using a new technology, it speaks to you as you prepare a French dish. The kitchen breaks new ground by taking language learning out of the classroom and linking it with an enjoyable and rewarding real-life activity.可知本文主要介绍的是一种能够帮助我们学习语言的厨房系统。故D正确。