2015年同等学力英语：考前冲刺练习题(13)

　　Many Americans harbor a grossly distorted and exaggerated view of most of the risks surrounding food. Fergus Clydesdale, department of food science and nutrition at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, says bluntly that if the dangers from bacterially contaminated chicken were as great as some people believe, "The streets would be littered with people lying here and there.

　　"Though the public increasingly demands no-risk food, there is no such thing. Bruce Ames, chairman of the biochemistry department at the University of California, Berkeley, points out that up to 10% of a plant's weight is made up of natural pesticides, says he: "Since plants do not have jaws or teeth to protect themselves, they employ chemical warfare. " And many naturally produced chemicals, though occurring in tiny amounts, prove in laboratory tests to be strong carcinogens-a substance which can cause cancer. Mushrooms might be banned if they were judged by the same standard that apply to food additives. Declares Christina Stark, a nutritionist at Cornell University: "We've got far worse natural chemicals in the food supply than anything man-made. "

　　Yet the issues are not that simple. While Americans have no reason to be terrified to sit down at the dinner table, they have every reason to demand significant improvements in food and water safety. They unconsciously and unwillingly take in too much of too many dangerous chemicals. If food already contains natural carcinogens, it does not to add dozens of new man-made ones. Though most people will withstand the small amounts of contaminants generally found in food and water, at least a few individuals will probably get cancer one day because of what they eat and drink.

　　To make good food and water supplies even better, the Government needs to tighten its regulatory standards, stiffen its inspection program and strengthen its enforcement policies. The food industry should modify some long-accepted practicesor turn to less hazardous alternatives. Perhaps most important, consumers will have to do a better job of learning how to handle and cook food properly. The problems that need to be tackled exist all along the food-supply chain, from fields to processing plants to kitchens.

　　1. What does the author think of the Americans' view of their food?

　　A) They overstate the government's interference with the food industry.

　　B) They are overoptimistic about the safety of their food.

　　C) They overestimate the hazards of their food.

　　D) They overlook the risks of the food they eat.

　　2. The author considers it impossible to obtain no-risk food because ____.

　　A) no food is free from pollution in the environment

　　B) pesticides are widely used in agriculture

　　C) many vegetables contain dangerous natural chemicals

　　D) almost all foods have additives

　　3. By saying "they employ chemical warfare"(Para. 2), Bruce Ames means ____.

　　A) plants produce certain chemicals to combat pests and diseases

　　B) plants absorb useful chemicals to promote their growth

　　C) farmers use man-made chemicals to dissolve the natural chemicals in plants

　　D) farmers use chemicals to protect plants against pests and diseases

　　4. The reduction of the possible hazards in food ultimately depends on ____.

　　A) the government B) the consumer

　　C) the processor D) the grower

　　5. What is the message the author wants to convey in the passage?

　　A) Eating and drinking have become more hazardous than before.

　　B) Immediate measures must be taken to improve food production and processing.

　　C) Health food is not a dream in modern society.

　　D) There is reason for caution but no cause for alarm with regard to food consumption.

　　答案及解析

　　1.C 细节题。通过题干回到文章里找相对应的句子可以得知答案。根据短文得知，作者认为，美国人对食物的看法是过高地估价了食物的危害。见文章的第一句 Many Americans harbor a grossly distorted and exaggerated view of most of the risks surrounding food.可以看出，美国人对有关food和risk的看法是歪曲和夸张distorted and exaggerated，所以答案为C。

　　2. C 因果关系题。通过题干中的结果，回到文章中找相对应的原因，便可以得知答案。根据短文得知，作者认为不可能得到无害食物，因为很多蔬菜本身含有化学物质。见文章第二段第1-2句：Though the public increasingly demands no-risk food, there is no such thing. Bruce Ames ,chairman of the biochemistry department at the University of California, Berkeley, points out that up to 10% of a plant's weight is made up of natural pesticides可以看出，第二句是解释第一句中的结果，既然up to 10% of a plant's weight is made up of natural pesticides(植物组成的1/10是天然刹虫剂)，所以答案为C。

　　3. A 词义题。通过上下文可以得知答案。根据短文得知，Bruce Ames所说的they employ chemical warfare，指的是蔬菜产生某种化学物质来与病虫害做斗争。见文章第二段里的句子Bruce Ames, chairman of the biochemistry department at the University of California, Berkeley, points out that up to 10% of a plant's weight is made up of natural pesticides, says he: "Since plants do not have jaws or teeth to protect themselves, they employ chemical warfare"，植物本身产生natural pesticides来对付病虫害，从而保护自己，所以答案为A。

　　4. B 细节题。通过题干回到文章里找相对应的句子可以得知答案。根据短文得知，减少食物中潜在的危害最终在于消费者。见文章最后一段里的句子Perhaps most important, consumers will have to do a better job of learning how to handle and cook food properly, consumers才是最关键的，所以答案为B。

　　5. D 主旨大意题。通过各段落的主题句可以得知答案。根据短文得知，在这篇文章里作者想说明对食物消费有必要引起注意，但无须紧张。见文章各段的主题句:(Para.1)Many Americans harbor a grossly dis torted and exaggerated view of most of the risks surrounding food(美国人过高地估价了食物的危害)。 (Para.2) Though the public increasingly demands no-risk food, there is no such thing(虽然美国人对无害食物的需求越来越大，但根本就不存在无害食物)。 (Para. 3) Yet the issues are not that simple(问题并没有那么简单)。 (Para.4) To make good food and water supplies even better, the Government needs to tighten its regulatory standards, stiffen its inspection program and strengthen itsenforcement policies. Perhaps most important, consumers will have to do a better job of learning how to handle and cook food properly. (政府虽然可以采取措施，但关键在于消费者)。所以答案D。

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