Question

    Anyone caring about their health will be able to speak out a few of the major vitamins, and possibly take an educated guess at what they do. Vitamin C, found in oranges and other fruit and vegetables, is important for wound repair. And the much-talked-about “sunshine” vitamin D, produced by the skin in response to UV light, is essential for strong bones.

But what about vitamin P? It might well have you scratching your head. And that's not surprising: the term was first coined in the 1930s to describe a small group of compounds that provide pigment (天然色素) to plants, and were believed to have health benefits. A century later, these compounds are now better known as flavonoids (类黄酮)．

Today, scientists have identified between 4,000 and 6,000 different kinds and we now know they are responsible for many of the flavors and smells of fruit and vegetables and also that they protect them from invaders such as pests and bacteria.

They are equally important nutrients for the body, helping maintain bones and teeth, and for the production of the protein collagen (胶原), which provides structure to blood vessels, muscles and skin.

They are also said to help the body deal with some of the key drivers of illness, including oxidation (氧化), a natural process by which the body's cells age and can become damaged and defective. That means they could help to protect against chronic diseases including cancer and heart disease.

1.What do we know about vitamin P?

A.We would scratch our head if we took it.

B.It refers to the compounds also called flavonoids.

C.It was made into a coin in the 1930s.

D.People didn't think it beneficial in the past.

2.Which is NOT the function of vitamin P for humans according to the passage?

A.Helping maintain bones and teeth.

B.Assisting in producing protein collagen.

C.Accelerating the circulation of the blood.

D.Aiding the body to handle the main factors of illness.

3.Which of the following best explains “defective” underlined in the last paragraph?

A.Harmful. B.Discouraged.

C.Vague. D.Deficient.

4.How does vitamin P help slow the aging process?

A.By fighting against oxidation. B.By maintaining bones.

C.By strengthening muscles. D.By protecting against chronic diseases.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.D

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了被称为类黄酮的化合物维生素P，以及维生素P对于人体的一些重要作用。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中A century later, these compounds are now better known as flavonoids.可知，一个世纪后，这些化合物被称为类黄酮。由此可知，维生素P指的是也被称为类黄酮的化合物。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段They are equally important nutrients for the body, helping maintain bones and teeth, and for the production of the protein collagen, which provides structure to blood vessels, muscles and skin.可知，它们对身体也是同样重要的营养物质，帮助维持骨骼和牙齿，并产生胶原蛋白，为血管、肌肉和皮肤提供结构。以及最后一段第一句They are also said to help the body deal with some of the key drivers of illness…可知，据说它们还能帮助身体应对一些疾病的关键驱动因素。由此可知，A、B、D选项属于P维生素对人体的作用，只有C选项“加速血液循环”不是维生素P对人体的作用。故选C。

3.词义猜测题。根据上文oxidation, a natural process by which the body's cells age and can become damaged and可知，氧化是一种自然的过程，通过它，人体细胞衰老，受损或变得有缺陷。由此可知，划线单词意思为“有缺陷的”。故选D。

4.细节理解题。根据最后一段中They are also said to help the body deal with some of the key drivers of illness, including oxidation, a natural process by which the body's cells age and can become damaged and defective.可知，据说，它们还能帮助身体应对一些关键的致病因素，包括氧化作用。氧化作用是人体细胞衰老的自然过程，会造成损伤和缺陷。由此可知，维生素P通过对抗氧化帮助延缓衰老过程的。故选A。