Afternoon tea became popular about 150years ago，when rich ladies invited their friends to their houses for an afternoon cup of tea．Usually taken in the late afternoon，it is also called"low tea"as it is served at a low table．Since this isn't a meal，but rather like a late afternoon snack，finger foods such as sandwiches，scones and pastries are common．People are not merely taking tea to get nutrition or satisfy hunger，but to take time to relax，chat and enjoy the company of dear friends．In England，the traditional time for tea is four or five o'clock in the afternoon and no one stays after seven o'clock．
This very British tradition is said to have been started around 1840by Duchess Anna Maria，wife of the 7th Duke of Bedford，England．During the long time between an early breakfast and very late dinner，she experienced what she called" a sinking feeling"at about 4or 5in the afternoon．So she asked her maid to bring her a pot of tea，a little bread and butter and cake in her room．She found this arrangement so pleasing that she began asking her friends to join her．
High tea，a term often mixed with afternoon tea，usually takes the place of supper．In the past the British working population did not have afternoon tea．They had meals about noon and after work between five and seven o'clock．The table would be set with dinner foods like meat，bread，butter，potatoes，cheese and of course tea．It was called"high tea"because it was eaten at a high dining table rather than a low tea table．
How much do people enjoy the afternoon tea moment？As a famous writer named Henry James said，"There are few hours in life greater than the hour dedicated to（献给） the ceremony known as afternoon tea．"
(1) Who started the tradition of high tea according to the passage？ ______
| A. Duchess Anna Maria | B. the 7th Duke of Bedford
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| C. Henry James | D. Some unknown working people
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(2) What does the underlined phrase"a sinking feeling"probably refer to？ ______
| A. a feeling of being bored |
B. a feeling of hunger
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| C. a feeling of missing friends |
D. a feeling of shyness
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(3) Why does the writer mention Henry James'words？ ______
A. To tell us how the name"afternoon tea"came．
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B. To tell us that afternoon is in fact a ceremony．
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C. To show how popular afternoon tea is．
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D. To show the difference between afternoon tea and high tea．
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(4) Which of the following statements about high tea is true according to the passage？ ______
A. High tea got its name because it was eaten at a high dining table．
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B. Finger foods such as sandwiches and scones are common for high tea．
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C. High tea is served between breakfast and lunchtime．
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| D. High tea has taken the place of low tea as afternoon tea． |
