Question

"One kids' meal, coming right up! Thanks for dining at the thermopolium. Please pull your chariot to the next window."

You might be thinking that this is a scene from a funny movie. But did you know that ancient Romans had their own version of fast food? Okay, so such establishments didn't really have drive-through lanes…or kids' meals, for that matter. But these snack bars were common long ago. Let's go back 2,000 years and take a peek at what might have been cookin' on the streets of Pompeii.

Once a flourishing city, Pompeii was buried in a flash when nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE. This unexpected disaster left the ancient Roman city frozen in time, blanketed beneath layers upon layers of volcanic rock and ash. Archaeologists have been slowly chipping away at the area since the 18th century.

In 2019, archaeologists in Italy were thrilled to unearth a particularly fascinating find: a food counter known as the Thermopolium of Regio V. According to historians, a thermopolium was the Roman equivalent of a fast-food restaurant today. So far, about 80 thermopolia have been discovered among the ruins of Pompeii. But Massimo Osanna, the former director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, said that this recent discovery was extraordinary. That's because the Thermopolium of Regio V was found fully intact, complete with elaborate wall paintings, called frescoes, in excellent condition. Archaeologists also found clay pots containing traces of food.

Discoveries like these can be eye-openers, making life in ancient times easier for us to imagine…so, let's do it! Slip on your tunic, strap on your sandals, and picture yourself as an everyday citizen of Pompeii thousands of years ago.

The midday sun tells you it's lunchtime just as your stomach begins to growl. While some wealthy people in Pompeii have their own kitchens, banquet rooms, and gardens, you're part of the city's working class. That means there's a good chance you live in a small apartment with no kitchen of your own. So, as you do on most days, you head to the local thermopolium for some takeout.

The eatery is a small, simple room that opens to the street. It has a long, low counter covered with slabs of marble. Sunken into the stone are big, heavy clay pots, called dolia. They're filled with an array of hot foods, drinks, and snacks.

The colorful images on the walls portray examples of the kinds of food that are served there. What'll it be today? Perhaps you'll slurp up a type of stew made of duck, fish, vegetables, and snails. Or maybe you'll munch on some cheese, olives, dried fruit, and salted bread. Either way, you certainly can't forget the garum, a sauce made of fish guts that was as common in Roman times as ketchup is today. As usual, your meal will be to-go—while a few thermopolia offer a place to sit and dine, most do not. You pay for your food and take it with you.

Does this lunchtime scene sound familiar? With today's abundance of drive-throughs, vending machines, and food trucks, the "quick meal" is often considered to be a modern creation. But thanks to the work of archaeologists, we're learning that the ancient Romans may have appreciated fast food just as much as we do. The people of Pompeii, though, probably didn't enjoy combo meals, free refills, and kids' toys…those things came along later.

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Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

On page 4 of the passage, the author describes the discovery of a fully intact food counter called the Thermopolium of Regio V in Pompeii. The thermopolium is described as the Roman equivalent of a fast-food restaurant today. This particular discovery is considered extraordinary because it is found with elaborate wall paintings and clay pots containing traces of food. The author also mentions that about 80 thermopolia have been discovered among the ruins of Pompeii.

Answer 2

Which is most important to include in a summary of this article?

A.Mount Vesuvius buried Pompeii when it erupted in 79 CE.
B.Archaeologists have uncovered about 80 thermopolia in Pompeii.
C.Customers in Pompeii could buy olives and fruit at a thermopolium.
D.Ancient Romans in Pompeii had their own version of fast food.

Answer 3

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

D. Ancient Romans in Pompeii had their own version of fast food.

Answer 4

Think about the article. Why did most ancient Romans frequently eat food from thermopolia?

A.They lived in small apartments that lacked kitchens.
B.They enjoyed getting time away from their gardens.
C.They could view colorful images of food on the walls.
D.They could buy their food and eat it somewhere else.

Answer 5

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

A. They lived in small apartments that lacked kitchens.

Answer 6

Read this passage from the article:

The midday sun tells you it's lunchtime just as your stomach begins to growl. While some wealthy people in Pompeii have their own kitchens, banquet rooms, and gardens, you're part of the city's working class.

Which phrase from the passage helps you understand the meaning of the word midday?

A.working class
B.it's lunchtime
C.wealthy people
D.banquet rooms

Answer 7

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

B. it's lunchtime

Answer 8

Based on the article, which of these is true about thermopolia?

A.Thermopolia always had seating for customers.
B.Thermopolia were only available to the rich.
C.Thermopolia only served stews and other hot food.
D.Thermopolia served food from clay pots.

Answer 9

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

D. Thermopolia served food from clay pots.

Answer 10

[AI-generated answer — Explain Bot]

Based on the provided text, it seems that you are currently on page 4 of an article or book that discusses the discovery of a Roman food counter known as the Thermopolium of Regio V in the ancient city of Pompeii. The text describes how this recent find is significant because it is one of the few thermopolia found fully intact, complete with well-preserved wall paintings and clay pots containing traces of food.

To continue reading the rest of the article or book, you can turn to the next page or scroll down if you are reading it online. If you are looking for specific information or have a question regarding the topic, please let me know and I'll be happy to assist you further.