Question

    Many of the serious health concerns in modern America can be linked to poor diet．People who regularly consume foods high in salt, sugar, and fats not only increase their chances of being overweight, but also increase their risks of developing diseases. Although some people who regularly consume unhealthy foods do so knowingly, there are also some people that remains undereducated about proper nutrition( 营 养 ). What is more, people who live in food deserts—areas in low-income(低收入) neighborhoods that lack easy access(路径) to healthy, affordable food—may not even have the opportunity to get nutritious food.

Food deserts are located in low-income areas and most often develop when major supermarket chains either move out    of these areas or simply avoid building stores there in the first place. These supermarket chains tend to limit their store locations to richer urban or suburban neighborhoods．This means that those who live in low-income areas often live miles away from the fresh meats and dairy products available at supermarkets. People of these areas are thus forced to travel long distances to do their grocery shopping, or else they are limited to the food available at local convenience stores. These stores often only sell packaged, processed foods that offer little nutrition.

Furthermore, there are too many fast food restaurants in low-income areas; recent research suggests that those living in the poorest areas of a city experience 2.5 times more exposure to fast food restaurants than people in the richest areas of the city. Because people who live in  food deserts often get their meals from fast food restaurants or convenience stores, they suffer from a variety of health problems．Research has found that people who live in low-income neighborhoods are much more likely to develop healthy problems than those who live in richer neighborhoods.

Of course, it seems obvious that more supermarkets should be built in low-income neighborhoods. But in fact, it is difficult to attract supermarket chains into poor areas because poorer people have less money to spend on food. One way that the government can help to solve this problem is by offering tax breaks or other inspiring policies for supermarkets in low-income areas. In 2010, the Obama administration started the Healthy Food Financing program, which is designed to help bring grocery stores into food deserts.

While the government can improve low-income people’s access to healthy food to some extent, local actions often have a stronger and more immediate influence．Community gardens, independent food stores, and farmers’ markets are all examples of local actions that can take the place of the opening of a major chain supermarket. These efforts can be extremely beneficial, not only in providing people with access to healthier foods, but also in producing a sense of community in the neighborhoods.

1.What is mainly talked about in this passage?

A.Relationship between diet and disease.

B.Lack of health awareness among people.

C.Problems of food deserts and their solutions.

D.Importance of grocery planting in poor areas.

2.What can be learned from Paragraph 3 and Paragraph 4?

A.People in rich areas are easier to develop diseases.

B.Fast food restaurants care much about people’s health.

C.People in low-income areas like shopping in supermarkets.

D.Supermarket chains are unwilling to open stores in poor areas.

3.What does the writer want to tell us from the last two paragraphs?

A.Local actions should be encouraged and supported.

B.Supermarkets should take social responsibility.

C.Education for healthy diet must be improved.

D.Governments fail to improve people’s health.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.A

【解析】

本文为一篇说明文。文章介绍了美国低收入人群生活的食品沙漠地区很少有机会获得健康的食物的现象以及原因，并提出了一些解决的办法。

1.

主旨大意题。根据第一段What is more, people who live in food deserts—areas in low-income(低收入) neighborhoods that lack easy access(路径) to healthy, affordable food—may not even have the opportunity to get nutritious food.更重要的是，生活在“食物荒漠”的人们——生活在低收入社区，很难获得健康、负担得起的食物——甚至可能没有机会获得营养丰富的食物。根据最后一段Community gardens, independent food stores, and farmers’ markets are all examples of local actions that can take the place of the opening of a major chain supermarket.社区菜园、独立食品商店和农贸市场都是可以取代大型连锁超市的地方行动的例子。所以文章介绍了低收入社区的人口更难有机会获得健康的食物的食品沙漠现象，并且提出了解决的办法。C项“食物沙漠问题及其解决办法”符合文章主旨。故选C项。

2.

细节理解题。根据第四段But in fact, it is difficult to attract supermarket chains into poor areas because poorer people have less money to spend on food. 但事实上，很难吸引连锁超市进入贫困地区，因为穷人在食品上花的钱更少。可知，连锁超市不愿在贫困地区开店。故选D项。

3.

推理判断题。根据最后一段While the government can improve low-income people’s access to healthy food to some extent, local actions often have a stronger and more immediate influence．虽然政府可以在一定程度上改善低收入人群获得健康食品的机会，但地方行动往往具有更强大和更直接的影响。因此推测，作者告诉我们应鼓励和支持地方行动。故选A项。