Question

We’ve reached a strange–some would say unusual–point. While fighting world hunger continues to be the matter of vital importance according to a recent report from the World Health Organization, more people now die from being overweight, or say, from being extremely fat, than from being underweight. It’s the good life that’s more likely to kill us these days.

   Worse still, nearly 18 million children under the age of five around the world are estimated to be overweight. What’s going on?

   We really don’t have many excuses for our weight problems. The dangers of the problem have been drilled into us by public–health campaigns since 2001 and the message is getting through-up to a point.

   In the 1970s, Finland, for example, had the highest rate of heart disease in the world and being overweight was its main cause. Not any more. A public–health campaign has greatly reduced the number of heart disease deaths by 80 percent over the past three decades.

   Maybe that explains why the percentage of people in Finland taking diet pills doubled between 2001 and 2005, and doctors even offer surgery of removing fat inside and change the shape of the body. That has become a sort of fashion. No wonder it ranks as the world’s most body –conscious country.

   We know what we should be doing to lose weight—but actually doing it is another matter. By far the most popular excuse is not taking enough exercise. More than half of us admit we lack willpower. Others blame good food. They say: it’s just too inviting and it makes them overeat. Still others lay the blame on the Americans, complaining that pounds have piled on thanks to eating too much American–style fast food.

   Some also blame their parents—their genes. But unfortunately, the parents are wronged because they’re normal in shape, or rather slim.

   It’s a similar story around the world, although people are relatively unlikely to have tried to lose weight. Parents are eager to see their kids shape up. Do as I say—not as I do.

1.What’s the “strange” point mentioned in the first sentence?

A. The good life is a greater risk than the bad life.

B. Starvation is taking more people’s lives in the world.

C. WHO report shows people’s unawareness of food safety.

D. Overweight issue remains unresolved despite WHO’s efforts.

2.Why does the author think that people have no excuse for being overweight?

A. A lot of effective diet pills are available.

B. Body image has nothing to do with good food.

C. They have been made fully aware of its dangers.

D. There are too many overweight people in the world.

3.The example of Finland is used to illustrate _______.

A. the cause of heart disease    B. there are too many overweight people in the world

C. the effectiveness of a campaign    D. the fashion of body shaping

4.Which would be the best title for the passage?

A. Actions or Excuses    B. Overweight or Underweight

C. WHO in a Dilemma    D. No Longer Dying of Hunger

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.C

4.A

【解析】这是一篇议论文。本文围绕肥胖问题进行了论述：人们都知道肥胖的危害，却不愿意积极锻炼，宁可通过吃减肥药或切除脂肪来减肥，还把肥胖问题归咎于快餐、遗传基因等等。解决肥胖问题任重道远。

1.推理判断题。由第一段中的“While fighting world hunger continues to be the matter of vital importance… more people now die from being overweight, or say, from being extremely fat, than from being underweight. It’s the good life that’s more likely to kill us these days”可知，尽管解决世界饥饿问题仍然非常重要，但是现如今，死于过度肥胖的人比饿死的人还要多。好生活似乎成了更大的杀手。这是一个非常奇怪的现象，结合选项可知，A选项切题。

2.细节理解题。由第三段“We really don’t have many excuses for our weight problems. The dangers of the problem have been drilled into us by public–health campaigns since 2001 and the message is getting through-up to a point”可知，从2001年起，公共健康运动就一直在向人们宣传肥胖问题的危害。这个信息已经深入人心，人们对肥胖的危害已经有了很清楚的认识。所以，人们不用为自己的肥胖找借口。故C选项切题。

3.推理判断题。由第四段中的“In the 1970s, Finland, for example, had the highest rate of heart disease in the world and being overweight was its main cause. Not any more. A public–health campaign has greatly reduced the number of heart disease deaths by 80 percent over the past three decades”可知，该段以数据说明，20世纪70年代，芬兰的心脏病居全球第一，肥胖是主要原因。在过去的30年里，公共健康运动已将芬兰的心脏病死亡率降低了80%。这个例子充分表明了公共健康运动的作用。故C选项切题。

4.标题归纳题。本文围绕肥胖问题进行了论述：人们都知道肥胖的危害，却不愿意积极锻炼，宁可吃减肥药或切除脂肪来减肥，还把肥胖问题归咎于快餐、遗传基因等等，因此本文的题目应该是A选项：是行动起来，还是继续为自己找借口？