Is there any other food that is loved as much as chocolate? It is believed that humans have been enjoying chocolate since at least 1900 BC. At that time, chocolate was mainly drunk as a bitter liquid. Mesoamericans, those who lived in an area from central Mexico to parts of Central America, made chocolate using cacao beans. Christopher Columbus and Spanish explorers were responsible for introducing the beans, and therefore chocolate, to Europe.
It took a lot of effort to grow and prepare the beans back then. Because of this, the Europeans originally used slaves to do the work. At first, only the rich could afford chocolate. Later, machines were invented that allowed chocolate to be produced more quickly and cheaply. People's desire for chocolate soon grew as it became more affordable. Today, there are chocolate festivals around the world. In addition, chocolate has become so popular that it has been the subject of books and movies. One book, which was also made into a film starring Johnny Depp, is Chocolat. Clearly, the love for chocolate around the world will not end anytime soon.
It is believed + that 子句 一般相信／預料……
It is believed that a monster lives in the lake.
據信湖裡住著一隻怪物。
be responsible for... 是……的原因；為……負責
The heavy snow was responsible for the accident.
大雪是造成這場意外的原因。
introduce sth to + 地方 將某事物引進某地
Those explorers introduced potatoes to the rest of the world.
那些探險者將馬鈴薯引進到世界其他地方。
take...effort to V 花費精力
It'll take a lot of effort to carve out a new market.
要開闢一個新市場需要付出很大努力。
originally adv. 起先，原先
Originally I thought that man might be a thief, but it turned out that he was a detective.
起先我還以為那個傢伙也許是個賊，不過他竟然是個偵探。
afford vt. 負擔得起
can / cannot afford + N/to V
負擔得起／負擔不起……
I can't afford (to buy) a new car, so I'll buy a used one.
我買不起新車，所以我會買中古的。
invent vt. 發明，創造
Tommy invented a whole new way of doing business.
湯米創造了一套全新的做生意方式。
around the world 全世界，世界各地
The rich man has traveled around the world many times.
那個富翁已經環遊過全世界好幾次了。
『數目多達……』的用法
本文 "Is there any other food that is loved as much as chocolate?" 中的 as much as... 表『與……一樣多／程度（用於表不可數名詞的涵義中）』。例：
This sports car costs as much as a house.
（這輛跑車和一棟房子的價錢一樣貴。）
上面例句中的 a house 雖是可數名詞，但所要表達的是『金錢』的涵義，而 money 是集合名詞，且為不可數名詞，故修飾 money 時要說 much money，而非 many moneys。
『as many as + 數字 + 複數名詞』也表『數目多達……』。例： As many as 20 students are absent today.
（今天有多達二十位學生缺席。）
