Question

    You might easily gain access to fresh fruit and vegetables, but this isn’t the case in some parts of America. The U. S. has many areas that are considered as food deserts, which are defined as parts of the country short of fresh fruit, vegetables and other healthy food, usually found in poor areas.

Food deserts are urban areas where the nearest grocery store is more than 1 mile away, and rural areas where the nearest grocery store is more than 10 miles away. According to the USDA, 19 million Americans — or 6.2% of the population — live in places that can be considered as food deserts.

The issue isn’t necessarily about the difference in cost between healthy and unhealthy foods in these areas but it’s about a lack of access to healthy choices at all. And, with the lack of healthy food choices, these areas typically have a large supply of unhealthy foods sold at fast-food companies and convenience stores.

Eating unhealthy foods can lead to overweight, which puts people at risk for all kinds of major health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and some cancers.

But some people, especially those who cannot afford a car, are stuck with eating what’s readily available. In the case of food deserts, it’s usually the type of food that can lead to overweight. Studies have shown that this is likely to be a problem in low-income areas. When money is not enough, people tend to buy foods that last longer and remove food waste, which is a waste of their limited income.

Lack of access is only one part of the problem, however. The bigger issue was likely the lack of education and nutritional knowledge in these communities, which prevents people with lower incomes from understanding the benefits of healthy eating.

While overweight is a significant issue in these communities, the cost of unhealthy eating isn’t just physical. A study found that 71 billion dollars in healthcare costs due to chronic (慢性的) diseases could be saved through healthier eating.

1.What can we infer from the first two paragraphs?

A.6.2% of the Americans live in poor areas.

B.Some parts of the USA lack fresh vegetables.

C.Some people in America don’t need fresh fruit.

D.People in the food deserts buy fresh vegetables easily

2.Why can fast-food companies sell large amounts of unhealthy food in the food deserts?

A.These areas are rich in unhealthy food materials.

B.The fast food sold in the food deserts are of lower cost.

C.Healthy food choices are unavailable in these areas.

D.People in these areas prefer unhealthy food to healthy food.

3.We can learn from Paragraph 5 that the low-income people______.

A.are less likely to have overweight problems

B.are not delighted to prepare food for themselves

C.have to buy food that can be preserved longer

D.are used to eating food donated by food companies

4.What stops people from understanding healthy eating benefits in the food deserts?

A.Their high healthcare cost due to the chronic diseases.

B.Their long established eating habits.

C.The government’s lack of financial support.

D.Their lack of education and knowledge in nutrition.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.C

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇议论文。文章主要讲述了在美国有一些食物荒漠地区，那里的人很难接触到新鲜的蔬菜和水果，只能大量购买不健康的食品。但造成这种的现象的深层原因是，那些地方的人缺乏教育和营养方面的知识。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段的You might easily gain access to fresh fruit and vegetables, but this isn’t the case in some parts of America.(你或许可以很容易买到新鲜的水果和蔬菜，但这在美国的部分地区是个问题)和第二段的According to the USDA, 19 million Americans — or 6.2% of the population — live in places that can be considered as food deserts.(根据美国农业部的数据，1900万美国人——占美国人口的6.2%——生活在可以被认为是食物沙漠的地方)可推测，美国的一些地区严重缺乏新鲜的水果和蔬菜。B. Some parts of the USA lack fresh vegetables.(美国的一些地方缺乏新鲜的蔬菜)符合以上推测，故选B项。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段的And, with the lack of healthy food choices, these areas typically have a large supply of unhealthy foods sold at fast-food companies and convenience stores.(因为缺乏健康食品的选择，这些地区通常有大量不健康食品在快餐店和便利商店出售)可知，在食物荒漠地区存在大量快餐公司售卖不健康食品的原因是：当地人缺乏健康食品的选择。C. Healthy food choices are unavailable in these areas.(健康食品的选择在这些地区是不可获得的)符合以上说法，故选C项。

3.细节理解题。根据倒数第三段的When money is not enough, people tend to buy foods that last longer and remove food waste, which is a waste of their limited income.(当钱不够的时候，人们倾向于购买可以储存更久的食物，清除食物垃圾，这是对他们有限收入的浪费)可知，当钱不够时，人们倾向于购买可以储存更久的食物。C. have to buy food that can be preserved longer.(不得不购买可以储存更久的食物)符合以上说法，故选C项。

4.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段的The bigger issue was likely the lack of education and nutritional knowledge in these communities, which prevents people with lower incomes from understanding the benefits of healthy eating.(更大的问题可能在于，在这些社区缺乏教育和营养知识，这使得收入较低人无法理解健康饮食的好处)可知，在食物荒漠地区缺乏教育和营养知识使得人们无法理解健康食物的好处。D. Their lack of education and knowledge in nutrition.(他们缺乏教育以及在营养方面的知识)符合以上说法，故选D项。