Question

The World Health Organization says the widespread use of sugar in food products and drinks is a major concern in many areas. So WHO officials are calling on governments to require taxes on sugary drinks in an effort to limit their usage and popularity. The officials believe the taxes also would reduce the risk of health problems resulting from obesity.

Obesity is a condition in which the body stores large, unhealthy amounts of fat. Obese individuals are considered overweight. A new report says that in 2014 more than one-third of the adults in the world were overweight, and 500 million were considered obese. The United Nations agency estimates that in 2015, 42 million children under age 5 were either overweight or obese. It says that number represents an increase of about 11 million during the past 15 years. Almost half of these boys and girls live in Asia and one-fourth in Africa.

The U.N. agency blames unhealthy diets for a rise in diabetes cases. There are 422 million cases of the disease worldwide. WHO says 1.5 million people die from it every year. It says the use of sugar in food products, like sugary drinks, is a major reason for the increase in rates of obesity and diabetes.

Temo Waqanivalu is with the agency’s Department for the Prevention on Non-Communicable Diseases. He told VOA hat taxing sugary drinks would reduce consumption and save lives. Waganivalu noted that Mexico enacted a 10 percent tax on sugary drinks in 2014. He said by the end of the year, there was a 6 percent drop in the consumption of such drinks. Among poor people, the number of people who consumed sugary drinks dropped by 17 percent.

The WHO says people should limit the amount of sugar they consume. It says they should keep their sugar intake to below 10 percent of their total energy needs, and reduce it to less than 5 percent for improved health.

1.Why are taxes on sugary drinks required?

A. To limit their use and popularity.

B. To readjust the economic structure.

C. To warn people to change their life style.

D. To ensure the market’s diverse development.

2.What do the figures in the second paragraph suggest?

A. Adult obesity is ignored at present.

B. Obesity is a severe worldwide problem.

C. Obesity can block economic development.

D. Obesity is most serious in developed countries.

3.What does the underlined word “enacted” mean in the passage?

A. Abolish    B. Pass

C. Promise    D. Reduce

4.What does the example of Mexico prove?

A. Tax policies are unfair to the poor.

B. Sugary drinks are a threat to health.

C. The poor consume more sugary drinks.

D. Taxing sugary drinks makes a difference.

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.B

4.D

【解析】文章讲述了通过几组数据可知含糖食品和饮料的使用是肥胖和糖尿病发病率增加的一个主要原因。因此世卫组织官员呼吁各国政府对含糖饮料征税。官员们相信，税收也会减少肥胖导致的健康问题的风险。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段“The officials believe the taxes also would reduce the risk of health problems resulting from obesity.” 官员们相信，税收也会减少肥胖导致的健康问题的风险。以及倒数第二段“He told VOA that taxing sugary drinks would reduce consumption and save lives.” 他对美国之音说，对含糖饮料征税将减少消费并挽救生命。故选A。

2.推理判断题。根据“A new report says that in 2014 more than one-third of the adults in the world were overweight, and 500 million were considered obese.” 一份新的报告说，在2014世界上超过三分之一的成年人超重，5亿的人被认为是肥胖的。可知肥胖是一个严重的社会问题。故选B。

3.词义猜测题。根据“He told VOA that taxing sugary drinks would reduce consumption and save lives.” 他对美国之音说，对含糖饮料征税将减少消费并挽救生命。可知2014年墨西哥制定了对含糖饮料征收10%的税。故选B。

4.推理判断题。根据文章倒数第二段可知，墨西哥通过对含糖饮料征税后，饮料的消费量下降，可推知人们对糖的摄入量减少。改善的健康状况。故选D。