112 學年度學測英文 第 49 題

Even if you’re not a vegetarian, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of plant-based meat. These meat substitutes are often advertised as beneficial for the environment. But do the customers really like them? Read the following chatroom discussions about GreenBurger, a product using alternative-meat patties.

(A) Olivia That’s a firm NO! I tried one when I was a prep cook for Next Level Burgers…tasted awful, just like mashed peas gone to rot.

(B) Smith I haven’t tried them. I just don’t see the point. They are heavily processed with more calories and sodium than meat and are more expensive too! Unless you are a strict vegetarian and eschew meat for ethical reasons, meat is surely a better deal.

(C) Mika Not really. It tastes too much like actual meat. If I wanted to eat a dead cow, I would go for real burgers. Being vegan means I try to stick to plant food. But this is just not something that will ever interest me.

(D) Thomas GreenBurger just tastes “beany” to me, so I think that whatever form it comes in, it works better in recipes that would usually contain beans, such as in a rice bowl (as ground meat substitute). That being said, I’m definitely a carnivore and prefer meat, but I don’t see anything wrong with choosing one of the fakey-fakey meaty things once in a while—just for a change.

(E) Rico I finally tried one last week. It didn’t taste that bad, but I was surprised to find it had 40 more calories than the meat version! Isn’t it supposed to be a healthy choice?

(F) Linda I liked it fine. I did NOT like the price, though. Hopefully that will come down. I’m trying to eat less beef.

(G) Ablo Yes! My whole family does. We’ve been mostly vegan 90% of the time for the last 6 years and we cannot thank GreenBurger enough! Especially when a burger craving hits…a GreenBurger does the trick. I’ve tried all kinds of vegan “burgers,” and GreenBurgers are closer to what I’m looking for. In fact, I can have them every day—vegan or not!

(H) Alexander Well, they taste good if you add plenty of spices and sauces. Good for you? No, not at all. They’re highly processed and contain no vegetables. They also contain a very large amount of processed coconut oil, which is even worse than lard. It’s a killer for sure if eaten regularly. So why risk your life?