New research shows that overweight or even mildly obese people have a lower risk of early death than people considered to be normal weight.
Researchers examined the results of 97 studies. Most of the studies were less than 10 years old. They included almost three million adults from around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Taiwan, Brazil, India and Mexico.
The researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics found that people who are considered overweight or slightly obese were five to six percent less likely to die from all causes than people of normal weight. People with higher obesity ratings, however, had almost a 30 percent greater risk of death compared to normal-weight individuals.
Katherine Flegal was the lead author of the study. She says she was not surprised that overweight people would not have a higher risk of death.
“Because we’d actually already read a lot of this literature and realized it was likely that mortality rates (死亡率) for overweight would be at least not higher than normal weight. I guess I was a little bit surprised that it was definitely lower. And I was also surprised that the lower rates of obesity also didn’t seem to differ from normal weight.”
But she says the difference in death rates appears to be small between normal-weight people and those who are overweight or mildly obese.
The study has raised new questions about “body mass index,”(体重指数) or BMI. This is a measurement of body fat as a ratio(比率) of height to weight. In recent years, many public health experts have promoted body mass index as a way to predict the risk of health problems. Bu t a person's BMI can be misleading in some cases.
Steven Heymsfield ,the executive director of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, says people can be physically fit and in good health, but might weigh more because they are more muscular.
Still, Dr. Heymsfield says people should not think gaining extra weight is OK just because of the new findings. He says being at a healthy weight lowers the risk for heart disease and diabetes(糖尿病).
1.According to the new findings, the researchers found that __________ .
A.People with high obesity have a lower risk of early death than people with low obesity
B.People with overweight have a greater risk of early death than people of normal weight.
C.People with mild obesity are less likely to die than people of normal weight.
D.People with obesity live much longer than people of normal weight.
2.What does the underlined word “literature” in paragraph 6 mean ?
A.works like novels and poems
B.books and articles on a particular subject
C.printed material
D.magazines and newspapers
3.Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage?
A. BMI is commonly used to measure body fat as a ratio of height to weight.
B. Not all people with a little higher BMI are fat .
C. Many public health experts encourage more people to use BMI as a way to predict the risk of health problem
D. Because of the ne w findings, people should think about gaining extra weight.
A new study of 8,000 young people in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior shows that although love can make adults live healthily and happily, it is a bad thing for young people. Puppy love (早恋) may bring stress for young people and can lead to depression . The study shows that girls become more depressed than boys, and younger girls are the worst of all.
The possible reason for the connection between love and higher risk of depression for girls is “loss of self”. According to the study, even though boys would say “lose themselves in a romantic relationship”, this “loss of self” is much more likely to lead to depression when it happens to girls. Young girls who have romantic relationships usually like hiding their feelings and opinions. They won’t tell that to their parents.
Dr Marian Kaufman, an expert on young people problems, says 15% to 20% young people will have depression during their growing. Trying romance often causes the depression. She advises kids not to jump into romance too early. During growing up, it is important for young people to build strong friendships and a strong sense of self. She also suggests the parents should encourage their kids to keep close to their friends, attend more interesti ng school activities and spend enough time with family.
Parents should watch for signs of depression -- eating or mood changes -- and if they see signs from their daughters or sons, they need to give help. The good news is that the connection between romance and depression seems to become weak with age. Love will always make us feel young, but only maturity (成熟) gives us a chance to avoid its bad side effects.
1.Which of the following is more likely to have depression?
A. Young people who have a strong sense of selfishness.
B. Young girls who always hide their feelings and opinions.
C. Young boys whose parents watch for their behavior.
D. Careless parents whose children are deep in love.
2. What can be inferred from the passage?
A. The older a woman is,the less likely she seems to lose herself in romance.
B. Lacking love can lead young people to grow up more quickly.
C. Early love makes young people keep close to their friends and parents.
D. Parents should help their children to be aware of the signs of depression.
3.What’s the author’s attitude towa rds puppy love?
A. Confused. B. Disinterested.
C. Scared. D. Disapproving.
4.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. Puppy love may bring young people depression.
B. Parents should forbid their children’s love.
C. Romance is a two edged sword for adults.
D. Romance is good for young people.
Betty Friedan, born in 1921 in Peoria, Illinois, attended Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She finished her studies in psychology in 1942. After college she attended the University of California at Berkeley to continue her studies. Later, she moved to New York City and worked as a reporter and editor for labor union newspapers.
In 1947, Betty married Carl Friedan. They had a child, the first of three. When Betty Friedan became pregnant for the second time, she was dismissed from her job at the newspaper. After that she worked as an independent reporter for magazines. But her editors often rejected her attempts to write about subjects outside the traditional interests of w omen.
In 1966, Betty Friedan helped found NOW, the National Organization for Women. She served as its first president. She led campaigns to end unfair treatment of women seeking jobs. She wanted women to take part in social and political change. Betty Friedan led a huge demonstration(游行) in New York City for women’s rights. Demonstrations were also held in other cities.
In 1981, Betty Friedan wrote a book called “The Second Stage” about the condition of the women’s movement. Friedan wrote that the time for huge demonstrations and other such events had passed. She urged the movement to try to increase its influence on American political life. Some younger members of the movement criticized her as too conservative.
Betty Friedan died on February 4, 2006. She was considered the mother of modern women’s liberation movement. Betty Friedan once told a television reporter how she wanted to be remembered: “She helps make women feel better about being women.”
1.According to Paragraph 2, Betty lost her job because .
A. she was pregnant B. she got married
C. her editors didn’t like her D. she was too independent
2.Betty led a huge demonstration to .
A. fight against the government
B. fight for women’s rights
C. take part in political life
D. get support from the government
3.The book“The Second Stage” .
A. was popular among young women readers
B. thought highly of those huge demonstrations
C. was about the condition of the women’s movement then
D. decreased the movement’s influence on American political life
4.Fr om the last paragraph, we know that .
A. Betty help ed women live better
B. Betty wanted to be remembered forever
C. Betty thought it better to be a woman
D. the television reporter knew Betty well
When I was fifteen, I announced to my English class that I was going to write my own books. Half the students sneered(冷笑), the 36 nearly fell out of their chairs laughing. “Don’t be silly, only 37 can become writers, ” the English teacher said, “And you are getting a D this term. ” I was so 38 that I burst into tears.
That night I wrote a short 39 poem about broken dreams and mailed it to the newspaper. To my 40 , they published it and sent me two dollars. I was a published and 41 writer. I showed my teacher and fellow students. They 42 . “Just plain dumb luck. ” the teacher said. I tasted 43 and I’d sold the first thing I’d ever written. That was more than any of them had done and if it was just dumb luck, that was 44 with me.
During the next two years I sold dozens of 45 , letters, jokes and recipes. By the time I 46 from high school, with a C minus average, I had scrapbooks(剪贴簿) filled with my published works. I 47 mentioned my writing to my teachers, friends or my family again. They were dream killers and 48 people must choose between their friends and their dreams, they must always choose their 49 .
I had four children at the time, and the oldest was only four. I wrote what I felt. It 50 nine months, just like a pregnant woman. I mailed it without a self addressed stamped 51 and without making a copy of the manu script.
A month later I received a(n) 52 , and a request to start working on another book. The worst year I earned two dollars. In my best year I earned 36, 000 dollars. 53 years I earned between five thousand and ten thousand. No, it isn’t enough to live 54 , but it’s still more than I’d make working part time. People ask what college I 55 , what degrees I had and what qualifications I have to be a writer. The answer is: “None. ” I just write. I’m not a genius.
1.A. whole B. other C. most D. rest
2.A. generals B. statesmen C. geniuses D. spies
3.A. delighted B. anxious C. ashamed D. upset
4.A. sad B. innocent C. disappointing D. puzzled
5.A. delight B. astonishment C. comfort D. happiness
6.A. borrowed B. lent C. paid D. cost
7.A. cried B. agreed C. swore D. laughed
8.A. failure B. success C. coldness D. squeeze
9.A. fine B. mixed C. compared D. full
10.A. books B. poets C. novels D. poems
11.A. dropped out B. left C. graduated D. laid off
12.A. ever B. never C. seldom D. even
13.A. if B. unless C. until D. before
14.A. teachers B. family C. friends D. dreams
15.A. spent B. cost C. took D. wasted
16.A. letter B. envelope C. writer D. cover
17.A. agreement B. edition C. trade D. patent
18.A. Recent B. Memorable C. Most D. Several
19.A. with B. on C. by D. in
20.A. deserved B. introduced C. founded D. attended
-- How do you find the performance by the pianist?
-- ______. I can't think too highly of it.
A. It's really wonderful B. It all depends
C. No one knows for certain D. It is not my cup of tea
________ Anirban Maitra, a professor at Oxford University, Jack’s success would not have been possible.
A. If it weren’t for B. Were it not for
C. Had it not been for D. If it hasn’t been for