Question

    Every year, millions of people make the same New Year’s resolution(决心): to lose weight. But there’s a problem that requires as much resolution to change as weight: the societal prejudice surrounding weight and obesity.

For decades, researchers have documented negative attitudes toward overweight people - a form of prejudice known as “weight bias (偏见).” People with obesity are commonly viewed as lazy, unintelligent, unattractive, and lacking willpower and self-control. Weight – based discrimination is found in educational, employment and health care settings, yet minimal legal protection exists for those who are targeted. In addition to experiencing weight bias from others, people with obesity tend to accept weight-biased beliefs, leading to lower self-worth.

Some people argue that bitter messages about weight are necessary to motivate those with obesity to take responsibility for their health and lose weight. After all, critics say, it’s their own fault that they are “fat,” and, if they really wanted to, they could control their weight. In this view, promoting body acceptance would only weaken behavior change and encourage obesity.

The problem with this argument is that it flies in the face of hundreds of scientific studies showing the negative health effects associated with experiencing and accepting weight-biased beliefs. The psychological effect of being undervalued due to one’s weight may not seem surprising: increased risk for depression, anxiety, and even self-harming thoughts and attempts in youth.

Also worth noting are the effects of weight bias on weight gain and obesity-related health. Studies show that weight bias is stressful, and when people are under stress, they tend to eat more. Further, when people worry about being judged due to their weight, they avoid fitness and health care setting.

In the coming year, whether or not weight loss is a goal, we can all make efforts to get rid of weight bias and be a little kinder to ourselves and others.

1.What do we know about obese people?

A.They are fond of making resolutions.

B.They are lacking in self-control.

C.They care little about others’ opinions.

D.They tend to undervalue themselves.

2.Why do some people support bitter messages about weight?

A.They can encourage obese people to lose weight.

B.They can improve self-worth in obese people.

C.They can promote body acceptance.

D.They can relieve depression.

3.What does the underlined part “flies in the face of” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A.Confirms. B.Copies. C.Splits up. D.Goes against.

4.What can be the best title for the text?

A.A healthy diet: good for your mind and body

B.New Year’s resolution: lose weight bias instead of weight

C.Control your weight by accepting the bitter messages readily

D.Eat your own way regardless of others’ thoughts

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.D

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇议论文。介绍了人们对超重的人存在的偏见和歧视 “weight bias”，驳斥了关于此问题的错误观点，论述了它带来的危害。作者呼吁所有人共同抵制此偏见，并将此作为新年愿景。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段最后一句话In addition to experiencing weight bias from others, people with obesity tend to accept weight-biased beliefs, leading to lower self-worth.可知除了经历来自他人的体重偏见，肥胖的人往往接受体重偏见的信念，导致较低的自我价值。由此可知，肥胖者往往低估自己。故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段第一句Some people argue that bitter messages about weight are necessary to motivate those with obesity to take responsibility for their health and lose weight.可知一些人认为，有关体重的痛苦信息是必要的，以激励那些肥胖的人对自己的健康和减肥负责。由此可知，有些人支持关于体重的痛苦信息，因为他们认为它们可以鼓励肥胖者减肥。故选A。

3.词意猜测题。根据后文hundreds of scientific studies showing the negative health effects associated with experiencing and accepting weight-biased beliefs可知，很多科学研究表明这种偏见对健康有消极的影响。因此可以推断出，该观点与科学研究的结论是相违背的。故划线短语意思为“违背”。故选D。

4.主旨大意题。根据最后一段In the coming year, whether or not weight loss is a goal, we can all make efforts to get rid of weight bias and be a little kinder to ourselves and others.可知在未来的一年里，无论减肥是否是一个目标，我们都可以努力摆脱体重偏见，对自己和他人友善一点。本文首尾呼应，作者呼吁将摆脱体重偏见作为新年决心。中间段落介绍了此偏见的普遍性、存在的错误观点、带来的危害等。故B选项“新年决心：丢掉体重偏见而不是减肥”符合文章标题。故选B。