Eating red meat is linked to cancer and heart disease, but are the risks big enough to justify giving up juicy burgers and delicious steaks? Probably not, according to researchers who reviewed data from 12 clinical trials involving about 54,000 people. In a series of controversial papers, the researchers argue that the increased health risks tied to red meat are small and uncertain, and that cutting back likely wouldn't be worth it for people who enjoy meat.
Those conclusions go against established medical advice. They were swiftly attacked by a group of famous U.S. scientists who took the unusual step of trying to stop the papers from being published until their criticisms were addressed.
The new work does not say red or processed meats like hot dogs and bacon are healthy, or that people should eat more of them. The team’s reviews of past studies generally support the ties to cancer, heart disease and other bad health outcomes. But the authors say the evidence is weak, and that there’s not much certainty meat is really the cause, since other diet and lifestyle factors could be at play.
If the latest example of how divisive nutrition research has become, with its uncertainties leaving the door open for conflicting advice. Critics say findings often aren't backed by strong evidence. Defenders counter that nutrition studies can rarely be conclusive because of the difficulty of measuring the effects of any single food, but that methods have improved.
Based on their analyses, the researchers said people do not have to cut back for health reasons. But they noted that their own advice is weak, and acknowledged that they didn't consider factors such as animal welfare and the environment. Indeed, the case that meat production is bad for animal welfare and the environment is stronger than the case that it's bad for human health, according to an editorial that accompanies the report.
Not all of the report authors agreed with its conclusions. Three of the 14 researchers said they support reducing red and processed meats. A coauthor of one of the reviews is also among those who called for a publication delay.
Those who pushed to postpone publication also questioned why certain studies were included in the reviews while others were left out.
As for his own diet, Dr. Gordon Guyatt, a member of the international research team that conducted the reviews, said he no longer thinks red or processed meats have significant health risks. But he said he still avoids them out of habit, and for animal welfare and environmental reasons.
1.What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?
A.To introduce a new relationship between health and eating red meat.
B.To urge more people to keep away from eating red meat regularly.
C.To present a new controversial view on impacts of eating red meat.
D.To criticize nutrition studies for lacking of conclusive evidence.
2.What is the author’s attitude towards the new research?
A.Doubtful. B.Positive.
C.Disapproving. D.Objective.
3.Guyatt’s avoiding red meats has the weakest connection with ________.
A.health risks B.diet habits
C.animal welfare D.environmental protection
4.What can we learn from the recent research?
A.Red meats don’t have significant health risks.
B.Reducing meat consumption will be worth it.
C.The report authors have reached a consensus.
D.Consuming red meat will do good to health.
A study published in the journal Science reveals that since 1970, bird populations in the United States and Canada have declined by 29 percent, or almost 3 billion birds. The results show tremendous losses across diverse groups of birds and habitats — from iconic songsters such as meadowlarks to long-distance migrants such as swallows.
“These data are consistent with what we’re seeing elsewhere,” said co-author Peter Marra, former head of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. It’s urgent to address ongoing threats, both because the domino effects (多米诺效应) can lead to the decay of ecosystems that humans depend on for our own health and livelihoods and because people all over the world cherish birds in their own right. Can you imagine a world without birdsong?”
Evidence for the declines emerged from detection of migratory birds in the air from 143 NEXRAD weather radar stations across the continent in a period spanning over 10 years, as well as from nearly 50 years of data collected through multiple monitoring efforts on the ground. Citizen-science participants also contributed a lot, for the analysis included citizen-science data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey coordinated by the Canadian Wildlife Service—the main sources of long-term, large-scale population data for North American birds.
The study noted that the largest factor driving these declines is likely the widespread loss and degradation of habitat, especially due to agricultural intensification and urbanization. Other studies have documented death from predation (捕食) by domestic cats; collisions with glass, buildings, and other structures; and pervasive (普遍的) use of pesticides associated with widespread declines in insects, an essential food source for birds. Climate change is expected to compound these challenges by altering habitats and threatening plant communities that birds need to survive.
“It’s a wake-up call that we’ve lost more than a quarter of our birds in the U.S. and Canada,” said co-author Adam Smith from Environment and Climate Change Canada. But the crisis reaches far beyond our individual borders. Many of the birds that breed in Canadian backyards migrate through or spend the winter in the U.S. and places farther south — from Mexico and the Caribbean to Central and South America. What our birds need now is an historic, hemispheric effort that unites people and organizations with one common goal: bringing our birds back.”
1.The underlined word “decay” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ________
A.improvement B.worsening
C.changed D.threat
2.What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about?
A.New findings of the research.
B.Applications of the research.
C.Data sources of the research.
D.Methods of the research.
3.What Adam Smith said mainly implies that ________.
A.bird populations in America and Canada dropped by a quarter
B.the bird population crisis is not just within individual borders
C.there is little individuals can do to help increase bird populations
D.the solution to solving the crisis needs international cooperation
Traveling Tips
No Smoking
Federal and State Government Regulations do not allow you to smoke on board express coaches within Australia.
Luggace Allowance
As a fare paying customer you are entitled to take 2 pieces of personal luggage. Each must not exceed 75 cm in length, or weigh more than 20kg.
Excess luggage will be carried at the company’s excess luggage rate and depending on space availability may be required to be carried on another coach.
Luggage Tips
1) Keep your valuables with you. Money, jewellery, valuable documents, credit cards, keys, medications should be retained by you and not on the coach at meal or transport stops.
2) Use sturdy, lockable luggage. Do not use plastic bags as these may split during the transit.
3) Make sure you identify your luggage with a name tag.
4) Backpacks—stow all items and do not leave mugs, shoes, towels hanging off your backpack as these can get caught in other luggage and cause damage.
Departure Times
The time shown on your ticket is the coach departure time. If you are boarding halfway and not at a travel centre or terminal you should be at the pick up point 15 minutes ahead of this time, so you can be comfortably on board by the time the coach is due to leave. If you are boarding at a travel centre or terminal, please arrive at least 20 minutes prior to the published departure time and remember to allow extra time at peak travel times.
Dress Requirements
As a courtesy, and so as not to offend fellow travelers, a reasonable standard of clothing and footwear is required.
1.As a traveler, you can ________.
A.take the luggage 75 cm in length and 20kg in weight only
B.leave valuable belongings on coach when going for meals
C.identify your luggage by attaching a name tag to it
D.leave the mugs and shoes hanging off the backpack
2.Among the following traveling tips, which one is true?
A.Smoking is strictly forbidden all over the places within Australia.
B.Plastic bags should be avoided in case of split during the transit.
C.15 minutes ahead of the departure time should be guaranteed.
D.Standards of dress requirements have been specifically listed.
Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, was seated in his room when a petition(请愿书) was brought to him. The King had just returned from hunting, and the glare of the sun, or some other _______, had so dazzled (使……目眩) his eyes that he found it difficult to _______ a single word of the writing.
So he called the servant boy. The poor boy _______ a poor reader, huddling (挤在一起) several words together _______ they were syllables of one long word, which he must get through with as speedily as possible. “Stop! Send me that little girl sitting there by the fountain.” The girl _______ pointed out by the King was the daughter of a royal _______, who had come to help her father weed the flower beds. She was somewhat _______ but took courage when the King told her that he only wanted her to _______ for him, as his eyes were weak.
Ernestine, the little girl, was _______ of reading, and often many of the neighbors would __________ at her father’s house to hear her. Those who could not read themselves would come with their letters from friends or children, so she formed the __________ of reading various sorts of handwriting promptly and well.
The King gave her the petition, and she rapidly __________ the opening lines to get some __________ of what it was about. It was from a poor widow, whose only son had been__________ into the army, although his health was delicate. His father had been killed in battle.
Ernestine read the petition with so much __________, and in tones so pure and distinct, that when she had finished, the King, into whose eyes __________ had started, cried excitedly, “Oh! now I understand what it is all about; but I might never have known its __________ had I trusted to that young gentleman. As for you, my young lady,” continued the King, “I know you will ask no better __________ than the pleasure of carrying to this poor widow my order for her son’s immediate discharge.”
How happy Ernestine was! Because of her good reading, the poor widow __________ her son. Ernestine also __________ did the servant boy good for, sorry for his bad reading, he began studying in earnest and finally became a lawyer.
1.A.result B.cause C.performance D.routine
2.A.make out B.set out C.polish up D.call up
3.A.turned B.grew C.became D.proved
4.A.so that B.in that C.as if D.even if
5.A.otherwise B.thus C.initially D.typically
6.A.cook B.guard C.painter D.gardener
7.A.alarmed B.puzzled C.excited D.inspired
8.A.act B.read C.calculate D.observe
9.A.cautious B.ashamed C.fond D.afraid
10.A.gather B.celebrate C.interact D.chat
11.A.plan B.league C.habit D.basis
12.A.went over B.broke down C.sorted out D.glanced through
13.A.truth B.idea C.description D.guidance
14.A.attracted B.drafted C.stationed D.transported
15.A.feeling B.emphasis C.dignity D.tension
16.A.hatred B.trust C.hopes D.tears
17.A.format B.address C.meaning D.audience
18.A.assistance B.bonus C.reward D.freedom
19.A.contacted B.regained C.defended D.relieved
20.A.indirectly B.deliberately C.temporarily D.appropriately
—When is the deadline for the application?
―________. Let’s make a call for the exact time.
A.Beats me B.Sounds great C.You said it D.You name it
Any complaint will be ________ if it has no foundation after being closely analyzed.
A.reserved B.resisted C.responded D.rejected
