Passage 18 待用咖啡 Suspended Coffee

Step 1 阅读行不行

How about buying a cup of coffee for someone you'll never meet? Suspended1 coffee may sound like the latest trend in showy barista2 techniques, but a “suspended coffee” is much more heartwarming than a snazzy latte3 .

Born in the cafes of Italy's southern city of Naples, the“caffe sospeso”(which literally4 means“suspended coffee”) is a tradition in which someone pays in advance for an extra cup or two, which can then be consumed by a coffee-drinker-in-need later in the day.

A customer-in-need can then later ask if there is a“suspended coffee”available and have a hot drink without having to pay for it.

The idea has become an international internet sensation5 with coffee shops in Europe and North America participating in the movement. The Facebook page alone has more than 28,000“likes”.

The tradition of“suspended coffee”is a long-standing tradition in Italy that increased in popularity after the Second World War. Agence France-Presse reported last week that the practice was starting to take hold in other European countries hit hard economically. More than 150 cafés in Bulgaria were taking part.

At cafes that participate in the custom, customers can ask if there are any“suspended coffees”available, and if so, they are supplied with a beverage6 , thanks to the kindness of a stranger.

keywords and phrases

1 suspend /sə'spend/ vt. 暂缓；推迟；暂停

2 barista /bəˈri:stə/ n. 咖啡师

3 latte /'lɑ:teɪ/ n. 拿铁咖啡

4 literally /ˈlɪtərəlɪ/ adv. 逐字地；照字面地；确实地，真正地

5 sensation /sen'seɪʃn/ n. 感觉；直觉；知觉；轰动

6 beverage /ˈbevərɪdʒ/ n. 饮料

phrase to know

take hold 表示“（通过抓握来）夺取；确立；开始完全控制”，如：I should not allow such a thought to take hold on me. 意为“我不能让这种思想影响我”。

h it hard 表示“使受到沉重的打击，使……遭受严重的挫折”，如：He was hit hard by the failure. 意为“他受到失败的严重打击”。文中用这个短语表示欧洲国家的经济遭受重创。

Step 2 手写行不行

★ 该会议被推迟到下个月召开。(suspend)

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★ 世界咖啡师冠军赛是今年重要的国际赛事之一。(barista)

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★ 我每天早上在星巴克买一大杯拿铁。(grande latte)

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★ 他逐字逐句地翻译这篇论文。(literally)

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★ 这本书使她一夜之间名声大噪。(overnight sensation)

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★ 蓝莓汁是一种香味浓郁的饮料。(beverage)

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Step 3 口语行不行

Q1 What do you think of the idea of “suspended coffee”？你认为“待用咖啡”这个主意怎么样？

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Q2 Will you buy a suspended coffee for a stranger？你会为陌生人买一杯“待用咖啡”吗？

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试题解答篇

Step 2 手写行不行答案

1．The meeting has been suspended to next month.

2．World Barista Championship is one of the most important international events this year.

3．I buy a grande latte each morning at Starbucks.

4．He translated the thesis literally.

5．The book turned her into an overnight sensation.

6．Blueberry juice is a fragrant beverage.

Step 3 口语行不行答案

1．It is a great idea. Anyone can enter a café and ask for a“suspended coffee”without being asked for credentials. So the idea is based on good faith and trust, both by the stores and the recipients. For those who are out of work, freezing, and would have loved nothing more than a cup of coffee, but couldn't afford one, a cup of suspended coffee would provide them with warmth and nourishment. It is a new type of charity and a great chance for average person to do a small good deed.

2．Of course I will do so though some people are still suspicious of the idea of“suspended coffee”. Small in nature, its significance lies in the respect and trust it shows towards the receivers. But the idea of“suspended coffee”is rather western. Chinese people don't drink coffee that often. So if we can change it into fast food or something else, I believe that more people will enjoy the great benefit.