第 40 至 43 題為題組 France gave birth to restaurants, but it was no civilized affair. In fact, today’s restaurant business is a
byproduct of the class warfare that arose during the French Revolution. Back in the Middle Ages, fine dining was a privilege enjoyed exclusively by noble families who had
their own grand kitchens and personal chefs. The only commercial diners for the masses were dusty,
shabby roadside inns, where strangers crowded around mediocre buffets of lukewarm roasts and
over-sauced beans. But sometime in the 1760s, the merchant class of Paris developed a taste for healthy
clear broths which were considered restorative； hence the term “restaurant.” By the 1780s, this new
Parisian “healthy food” craze led to a handful of reputable dining halls, where customers could sit at
individual tables and choose from a wide range of dishes.
Ironically, the popularity of these restaurants grew at a time when the majority of the French
population could not afford bread. Decades of harsh winters and oppressive taxation had taken their toll
on kitchen tables. By 1789, the starving French masses could no longer be controlled. Looting and riots
erupted throughout Paris, ushering in the French Revolution. Rich nobles fled to the countryside, leaving
behind their highly skilled chefs and the fine wines from their cellars. Suddenly, unemployed cooks found
their way to the city’s eateries, and within a year, nearly 50 elegant restaurants had popped up in Paris.
The restaurant business truly came into its own during the early 1800s, after General Napoleon
seized control of the country. He granted “freedom of pleasure” to all citizens, as he reasoned that people
who were focused on champagne and fine food probably would not conspire against him. The number of
restaurants rose quickly. By 1814, about three thousand restaurants were listed in a popular travel guide.
Paris became the center of the new restaurant scene, which, to some degree, it remains today. 【題組】41. What does “taken their toll on kitchen tables” mean in the third paragraph?
(A) Deprived people of adequate food for living.
(B) Controlled the nutrients in people’s diet.
(C) Charged people for using kitchen tables.
(D) Paid tribute to chefs working in kitchens.
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