The Chinese Online Writing Lab

1. Fast food items are immensely popular among Taiwanese, with instant noodles being no exception.

I A. superficially

B. expansively

C. intangibly

2. Delicious, convenient, inexpensive and healthy, instant noodles have been a staple food item among Taiwanese for more than four decades.

A. exorbitant

B. economical

C. extortionate  

3. When production of instant noodles in Taiwan began in 1967, the International Food Company from Japan initially dominated the market.

A. domineered 

B.  abdicated

C.  renounced

4. However, after Wei Lih Food Manufacturers established a food processing plant in Changhua in 1970, local producers began to gradually erode Japan’s market dominance.

A. substantiate

B. invigorate

C. corrode 

5. Taiwanese manufacturers initially imitated Japanese products, but eventually they began making adjustments to appeal to local tastes, such as adding chicken essence to instant noodles and enclosing seasoning packets that included salt, monosodium glutamate, pepper and other flavorings.

A. repel

B. entice

C. disperse 

6. With other local enterprises entering the market, including Ve Wong Company, Uni-President Enterprises, Vedan Enterprise Corporation and even the King Car Group, local production of instant noodles gradually matured, and local products gradually captured the dominant market share.

A. seasoned

B. retroacted

C. receded  

7. In 2002, after 37 years in business, Taiwanese manufacturers of instant noodles achieved revenues of approximately 3 billion New Taiwanese dollars.

A. profits

B. shortfall

C.  arrears

8. According to the 2003 Integrated Consumer Tendency (ICT) report on Taiwanese consumer trends, 15-29 year olds are the biggest consumers of instant noodles.

A. Melancholy

B. Despondency

C. Inclination

9. Increasing market demand for diet food products has led to innovations in instant noodles.

A. atrophy

B.  modernization

C.  degeneration

10. Furthermore, Taiwan’s recent entry into the World Trade Organization has created opportunities for technology cooperation aimed at better satisfying consumer tastes, enhancing production management practices and improving after-sales service.

A. ingress

B. emanation

C. departure 

11. Given the above trends, local manufacturers of instant noodles face new opportunities and challenges.

A. omit

B. overlook

C. contemplate

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