Question

    Eating red meat is linked to cancer and heart disease, but are the risks big enough to justify giving up juicy burgers and delicious steaks? Probably not, according to researchers who reviewed data from 12 clinical trials involving about 54,000 people. In a series of controversial papers, the researchers argue that the increased health risks tied to red meat are small and uncertain, and that cutting back likely wouldn't be worth it for people who enjoy meat.

Those conclusions go against established medical advice. They were swiftly attacked by a group of famous U.S. scientists who took the unusual step of trying to stop the papers from being published until their criticisms were addressed.

The new work does not say red or processed meats like hot dogs and bacon are healthy, or that people should eat more of them. The team’s reviews of past studies generally support the ties to cancer, heart disease and other bad health outcomes. But the authors say the evidence is weak, and that there’s not much certainty meat is really the cause, since other diet and lifestyle factors could be at play.

If the latest example of how divisive nutrition research has become, with its uncertainties leaving the door open for conflicting advice. Critics say findings often aren't backed by strong evidence. Defenders counter that nutrition studies can rarely be conclusive because of the difficulty of measuring the effects of any single food, but that methods have improved.

Based on their analyses, the researchers said people do not have to cut back for health reasons. But they noted that their own advice is weak, and acknowledged that they didn't consider factors such as animal welfare and the environment. Indeed, the case that meat production is bad for animal welfare and the environment is stronger than the case that it's bad for human health, according to an editorial that accompanies the report.

Not all of the report authors agreed with its conclusions. Three of the 14 researchers said they support reducing red and processed meats. A coauthor of one of the reviews is also among those who called for a publication delay.

Those who pushed to postpone publication also questioned why certain studies were included in the reviews while others were left out.

As for his own diet, Dr. Gordon Guyatt, a member of the international research team that conducted the reviews, said he no longer thinks red or processed meats have significant health risks. But he said he still avoids them out of habit, and for animal welfare and environmental reasons.

1.What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A.To introduce a new relationship between health and eating red meat.

B.To urge more people to keep away from eating red meat regularly.

C.To present a new controversial view on impacts of eating red meat.

D.To criticize nutrition studies for lacking of conclusive evidence.

2.What is the author’s attitude towards the new research?

A.Doubtful. B.Positive.

C.Disapproving. D.Objective.

3.Guyatt’s avoiding red meats has the weakest connection with ________.

A.health risks B.diet habits

C.animal welfare D.environmental protection

4.What can we learn from the recent research?

A.Red meats don’t have significant health risks.

B.Reducing meat consumption will be worth it.

C.The report authors have reached a consensus.

D.Consuming red meat will do good to health.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.A

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。一些研究人员通过研究12项涉及约54000人的临床试验的数据，认为与红肉相关的健康风险增加很小，而且不确定，对于那些喜欢吃肉的人来说，减少可能是不值得的。但一些科学家不同意此结论，这些研究人员中有一些也有不同看法。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段开头“Eating red meat is linked to cancer and heart disease, but are the risks big enough to justify giving up juicy burgers and delicious steaks? Probably not, according to researchers...”可知，吃红肉与癌症和心脏病有关，但是否这些风险大到足以让你放弃多汁的汉堡和美味的牛排呢？根据研究人员研究发现，答案是不一定，引导出了一个关于吃红肉有争议的新观点，故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据“according to researchers who reviewed data”，“ the researchers argue that”，“Those conclusions go against established medical advice”，“The team's reviews of past studies”“ the latest example”，“ Based on their analyses”等等，可知作者主要引用研究发现、结果、例子等客观数据和事实来写这篇文章，可知作者对新研究的态度是客观的，故选D。

3.细节理解题。根据最后一段最后一句“But he said he still avoids them out of habit, and for animal welfare and environmental reasons.”可知，但他说避免吃红肉是出于习惯，也是为了保护动物福利和环境，没有说是健康风险问题，可以判断Guyatt避免吃红肉与健康风险的关系最弱，故选A。

4.推理判断题。根据第三段“The new work does not say red or processed meats like hot dogs and bacon are healthy, or that people should eat more of them. The team's reviews of past studies generally support the ties to cancer, heart disease and other bad health outcomes. But the authors say the evidence is weak...”可知，这项新研究并没有说红肉或加工肉类如热狗和熏肉是健康的，也没有说人们应该多吃。以往研究通常支持红肉与癌症、心脏病和其他不良健康的联系，但这项研究的作者说这个证据是站不住脚的，可以推断红肉没有明显的健康风险，故选A。