For years experts have argued that poor households are consuming less nourishing food than the rest of the population.
But a survey of some of the lowest earners in Britain shows the nutritional value of what they eat is little different to everyone else.
In fact, the same deficiencies in diet were shared by all the population and the findings suggest that poor eating choices are far more widespread than previously suspected - affecting many wealthier families.
These included low fruit and vegetable consumption, not eating enough oily fish and eating too much saturated fat and sugar.
“This is a large and significant study and it shows we are all eating just as bad a diet as each other,” said Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City University.
The poorest families were eating only slightly more sugar and slightly less fruit and vegetables, according to the study of 3,728 respondents in the bottom of the population.
Alison Tedstone, head of nutritional science at the Food Standard Agency, said: “ Overall, people on low incomes have less than ideal diets, but their diets are only slightly worse than those of the rest of the population.”
The study also showed that low earners are choosing to eat unhealthily. Their food choices were not linked to their income, their access to shops or their cooking skills.
The findings appear to contradict assumptions that the poor cannot afford healthier foods or are too far away from shops that sell them.
The Low Income Nutrition and Diet Survey showed that like the rest of the population, the poor's daily fruit and vegetable intake on average is below the recommended five portions. Fewer than 10 per cent of respondents hit this target, while around 20 per cent ate less than a portion per day.
More than three quarters (76 per cent) of men and 81 per cent of women did less than one 30-minute session of moderate or vigorous exercise per week.
Some 45 per cent of men and 40 per cent of women were smokers.
This compares with 28 per cent of men and 24 per cent of women in the general population.
1. According to the passage, which of the following is true?
A. Whether the poor or the rich maybe have a bad diet.
B. Even the poor can enjoy enough fruit and fish consumption.
C. Only the poor have a bad diet.
D. The study was conveyed in both the rich and the poor.
2.What kind of persons maybe eat most sugar?
A. The rich. B. Men. C. The poorest. D. Women
3. From the passage, we can learn __________.
A. the poor choose unhealthy food because of low income
B. having no access to shops also leads to the poor’s bad diet
C. the poor’s daily fruit intake is as much as general people
D. the number of smokers in the poor is bigger than that in general people
4. What’s the best title of the passage?
A. The poor’s healthy problem. B. Keep off junk food.
C. How to have a good diet. D. A diet survey.
It was Christmas 1961. I was teaching in a small town where my twenty-seven third graders eagerly 36 the great day of gift-giving in advance.
Each day the children produced some new 37 — strings of popcorn, handmade trinkets, and German bell. Through it all she remained alone, 38 from a distance, seemingly miles away. I wondered what 39 happen to this quiet child, once so happy, now suddenly so withdrawn. I hoped the festivities would 40 her. But nothing did. The students made the fried marbles（油炸玻璃弹子）and competed with one anther to bring the 41 ones.
The day of gift-giving finally came. We cheered over our handiwork as the presents were 42 . All along, she sat quietly watching. To see her smile, I had made a special bag for her. She opened it so slowly and carefully. I waited but she 43 . I had not passed through the wall of isolation she had 44 around herself.
After school I sat down in a chair, hardly 45 of what was happening, when she came to me with outstretched hands, bearing a small white box, and slightly soiled, 46 it had been held many times by 47 , childish hands. She said nothing. “For me?” I asked. She said not a word, but 48 her head. I took the box and cautiously opened it. There inside, glistening green, a fried marble 49 from a golden chain. Then I looked into that eight-year-old 50 and saw the question in her dark brown eyes. In a flash I knew — she had 51 it for her mother, who had died just three weeks before and would never hold her or brush her hair or 52 her childish joys or sorrows.
I meant it when I whispered, “Oh, Maria, it is so beautiful. Your mother would 53 it.” Neither of us could stop the 54 . She threw herself into my arms and we wept together. And for that brief moment I became her mother, for she had given me the greatest 55 of all: her trust and love.
1.A. prepared B. reserved C. expected D. waited
2.A. fancies B. impressions C. wonders D. possessions
3.A. looking B. playing C. searching D. watching
4.A. would B. should C. must D. needed
5.A. attend to B. appeal to C. listen to D. object to
6.A. prettiest B. wisest C. heaviest D. naughtiest
7.A. transformed B. informed C. exchanged D. deserted
8.A. gave away B. threw away C. carried away D. turned away
9.A. built B. adjusted C. offered D. filled
10.A. afraid B. aware C. content D. fond
11.A. when B. while C. as though D. even if
12.A. untouched B. unknown C. unwashed D. unpacked
13.A. nodded B. raised C. dropped D. turned
14.A. protected B. hung C. held D. escaped
15.A. face B. cheek C. hair D. forehead
16.A. bought B. exchanged C. made D. stole
17.A. appreciate B. enjoy C. communicate D. share
18.A. love B. benefit C. dislike D. need
19.A. laugh B. excitement C. tears D. description
20.A. joy B. identity C. contribution D. gift
— What is your new friend like?
— ________.
A. Handsome B. Practical C. Brilliant D. Outgoing
So difficult ________ it to live in an English-speaking country that I determined to learn English well.
A. did I feel B. I did feel C. have I felt D. I have felt
— Why didn’t you come to Mike’s birthday party yesterday?
— Well, I _______, but I had something important to do at the moment.
A. should B. must C. should have D. must have
Look at the timetable. The flight to Shanghai _______ off at 10:00.
A. is taking B. takes C. will be taken D. will take
