Question

Elderly women who eat foods higher in potassium（钾）are less likely to have strokes and die than women who eat less potassium-rich foods, according to new research in the American Heart Association. “Previous studies have shown that potassium consumption may lower blood pressure. But whether potassium intake could prevent stroke or death wasn’t clear,” said Smoller, professor of the department of population health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.

Researchers studied 90,137 women, aged from 50 to 79 for an average 11 years. They looked at how much potassium the women consumed, as well as if they had strokes, including ischemic strokes (缺血性中风), or died during the study period. Women in the study were stroke-free at the start and their average dietary potassium intake was 2,611 mg/day. Results of this study are based on potassium from food, not supplements.

The researchers found: Women who ate the most potassium were 12 percent less likely to suffer stroke in general and 16 percent less likely to suffer an ischemic stroke than women who ate the least. Women who ate the most potassium were 10 percent less likely to die than those who ate the least. Among women who did not have high blood pressure, those who ate the most potassium had a 27 percent lower ischemic stroke risk and 21 percent reduced risk for all stroke types, compared to women who ate the least potassium in their daily diets. Among women with high blood pressure, those who ate the most potassium had a lower risk of death, but potassium intake did not lower their stroke risk.

“Our findings suggest that women need to eat more potassium-rich foods. You won’t find high potassium in junk food. Some foods rich in potassium include white and sweet potatoes, bananas and white beans.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that women eat at least 4,700 mg of potassium daily. “Only 2.8 percent of women in our study met or went beyond this level. The World Health Organization’s daily potassium recommendation for women is lower, at 3,510 mg or more. Still, only 16.6 percent of women we studied met or went beyond that,” said Smoller.

While increasing potassium intake is probably a good idea for most elderly women, there are some people who have too much potassium in their blood, which can be dangerous to the heart. “People should check with their doctor about how much potassium they should eat,” she said.

The study was observational and included only elderly women. Researchers also did not take sodium (钠) intake into consideration, so the potential importance of a balance between sodium and potassium is not among the findings. Researchers said more studies are needed to determine whether potassium has the same effects on men and younger people.

1.The benefits of potassium intake to elderly women do not include ______.

A. preventing strokes    B. lowering blood pressure

C. cutting down death risks    D. reducing heart attacks

2.Which of the following figure meets the daily potassium intake recommendation of the World Health Organization?

A. 2,500 mg.    B. 3,000 mg.

C. 3,500 mg.    D. 4,000 mg.

3.What conclusion can be drawn from the research findings?

A. Increasing potassium is definitely a good idea for all elderly women.

B. Potassium intake is more beneficial to those without high blood pressure.

C. Elderly women with high blood pressure benefit more from potassium.

D. There was not any association between potassium intake and ischemic strokes.

Answer

1. D

2. D

3. B

【解析】

这是一篇科普类阅读。文章主要讲了研究表明老年女性食用高钾食物可能会减少中风的发生以及降低死亡率。

1.细节理解题。答案定位在第一段Elderly women who eat foods higher in potassium（钾）are less likely to have strokes and die than women who eat less potassium-rich foods, according to new research in the American Heart Association. “Previous studies have shown that potassium consumption may lower blood pressure.可知吃含钾高的食物能够使年长的女性不容易得中风，死亡的概率低，还能够降低血压，不包含减少得心脏病风险，故选D。

2.推理判断题。答案定位在倒数第三段The World Health Organization’s daily potassium recommendation for women is lower, at 3,510 mg or more.（世界卫生组织对女性的每日钾推荐摄入量较低，为3510毫克或更多。）只有D选项，4,000 mg符合标准，故选D。

3.推理判断题。答案定位在倒数第二段While increasing potassium intake is probably a good idea for most elderly women, there are some people who have too much potassium in their blood, which can be dangerous to the heart.（虽然增加钾的摄入量对大多数老年妇女来说可能是一个好主意，但有些人的血液中钾含量过高，这可能对心脏有害。）由此推断出摄入钾对那些没有高血压的人更有益，故选B。