1 . Andrew Wilson was always a big kid. During his 20s and 30s he managed his weight at bay by playing sport, but when his family faced a crisis and he was under pressure in his financial services job, he started gaining the weight.
“Mate, what are you doing to yourself?” his doctor asked him one day. Andrew was so ashamed that he avoided seeking medical help for ten years. Despite his efforrts to lose weight through various diets, his weight continued to increase, reaching 200 kilograms and he developed a range of health complications(并发症).
“Most people have a feeling of having finished a meal, but I never had that satisfactory feeling. And it wasn’t just physical. Mentally, I wanted more,” Andrew shared. Andrew is certainly not alone. Overweight affects people from all walks of life, in every classroom, in every shopping centre and street. People everywhere are living with extra weight. People with overweight can experience serious health problems.
Despite the fact it’s so commonplace, those living with overweight are often blamed for their condition. “I still remember when the parents at my son’s kindergarten didn’t want to talk to me outside the classroom. Some wouldn’t even look at me because of my size. That impacted my son, and he was teased,” Andrew recalled.
But there’s increasing recognition that overweight is caused by a complex set of factors beyond an individual’s control, such as illness, genetics, childhood trauma(心理创伤), the environment and society. In Andrew’s case, he turned to food at a very young age as a coping mechanism(机制)for physical and mental abuse.
“Overweight is a biological disease, not a behaviour. It’s not something individuals have control over. It’s a problem that the whole system needs to address,” Andrew finally emphasized. He finally gathered the courage to go to an overweight treatment clinic. Since then, with the help of a medical team, he has lost more than 50 kilograms and continues to make progress.
1. What does the underlined phrase “managed...at bay” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Contained. | B．Increased. | C．Attained. | D．Preserved. |
| A．Approving. | B．Sympathetic. | C．Accusing. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．Environmental factors. |
| B．An increasing social discrimination. |
| C．The weak will in patients’ heart. |
| D．Some complicated factors out of people’s control. |
| A．Andrew made no attempt to control his weight. |
| B．Andrew’s son may be laughed at by his classmates. |
| C．Andrew has a mentally satisfying childhood. |
| D．Andrew has successfully achieved his goal in losing weight. |
注意：字数80左右。
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3 . Obesity (肥胖) has become a serious problem now. According to a recent survey, teenage obesity has increased at an alarming rate across America. Teenage obesity is mainly due to the increased consumption (消耗) of junk food which contains large amounts of fat. This has exposed the teens to a 14% greater risk of having a heart attack as well as seriously high blood pressure.
Various causes of teen obesity have been claimed, the most important of which is being insufficient (不足) physical exercise on the teen’s part. It is argued that teens nowadays who lack (缺少) sufficient physical exercise topped with their unhealthy eating habits are more likely to be obese. Nowadays, a main part of the teenagers spend their spare time on the computer, television or perhaps simply playing games. This greatly limits any kind of physical activity of the teenager. According to a recent survey, around 43% of teenagers spend more than 2 hours watching television every single day.
Long time inactivity in addition to the ill eating habits has increased the incidence (发生率) of obesity in teenagers even more, However, this does not mean that teens do not do enough exercise, but the amount which they do, is certainly not sufficient as compared to their intake of fatty foods. Besides this, parents need to change the whole lifestyle of the family in order to develop a healthier lifestyle of their children.
The teenagers must also be encouraged to take part in other physical activities which require more effort; such as playing basketball, tennis, badminton, volleyball and swimming. Meanwhile, the teenagers also need to be educated on the ill effects of junk food and must be asked to avoid them as much as possible. Their diet must also be made healthier and more balanced, which will help them in losing more weight quickly. For better guidance on reducing the teen’s weight quickly, parents can always turn to a doctor.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．Junk food is the main food for the American. |
| B．American teenagers suffer from high blood pressure. |
| C．The number of fatty American teenagers is increasing. |
| D．Most American teenagers probably have heart disease. |
| A．Bad eating habits. | B．Playing computer games. |
| C．Lack of physical exercise. | D．Watching TV programmes. |
| A．The exercise they choose is too simple. |
| B．The method they do exercise is improper. |
| C．The energy they consume is less than that they take in. |
| D．The time they spend doing sports is more than that spent on food. |
| A．Rules made for teens. | B．Reasons for teen obesity. |
| C．Suggestions offered to parents. | D．Ways to deal with teen obesity. |
4 . Like many children, Heather studied hard, did her homework and played sports after school. During her elementary school years, she was thin, but things changed as she grew up.
“My bad eating habits began during my kid years,” says Healther Daivs. “In middle school, I played sports, but with a diet of hamburgers and soda for lunch…big family dinners…I became overweight.” During her senior year in high school, Heather Davis, who is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighed 200 pounds. “We had a meat-and-potatoes family. We had dessert every night and I was a member of the ‘clean your plate club’. I tried my best to stop gaining weight, but it seemed impossible.” remembers Healther Daivs. “It caught up with me.” By the time she was 21 and attended college, Heather Davis’ weight had increased to 250 pounds. Heather Davis says it was caused by emotional eating, a junk-food diet and lack of exercise.
The realization that failed diet led to the physical(身体的)cost of obesity(肥胖)made her decide to lose weight by taking exercise. She did gym exercise for two weeks and began changing her diet by cutting out potato chips, ice cream and pizza. Within the first two weeks, she had lost 18 pounds. Heather Davis remained determined, and over the next 12 months, with the support of her family and regular training with a gym trainer, she lost 110 pounds.
“My days of treating my body badly are over,” say Heather Davis. “I focus on things I enjoy such as language classes and beach vacations.” She says even though she’s lost 110 pounds, she’s still the same person-outgoing, and more importantly-happy. She’s also become a good example for those who also want to lose weight. “If I can do it, anybody can do it,” says Heather Davis.
1. When did Heather Davis become over weight?| A．During her elementary school days. | B．When she was 22 years old. |
| C．When she was a teenager. | D．During her college years. |
| A．she used to have a junk-food diet. | B．she ate more when she was stressed. |
| C．she lived in a meat-and-potatoes family. | D．she seldom took part in sports. |
| A．Dropping 110 pounds changed a woman’s life. |
| B．How to lose weight. |
| C．Stay away from unhealthy diets. |
| D．Heather Davis-an outgoing woman. |
| A．Forgetful | B．Determined | C．Talkative | D．Lazy |
| A．The son. | B．Aunt Louise. | C．The mother. |
6 . Obesity (肥胖症) is a complicated and harmful disease. But changes that include healthy eating habits, regular exercise and other lifestyle adjustments can help fight against obesity and result in a better quality of life.
1. Talk to your doctor
2. Set smaller goals in the beginning
Once you get the green light to pursue weight loss, set an initial goal to lose 5 to 10 percent of your total weight. That makes it a good place to start.
3.
Eat foods from all food groups, but watch the amount. Even too much of a healthy food can slow down your progress if you’re eating more calories than you’re burning. Avoid packaged foods, for they have been linked to weight gain. Have meals made at home with fresh and whole foods.
4. Exercise for weight loss
Adults should do at least 110 minutes a week of moderate-intensity cardio (有氧运动), such as walking and biking, or 75 minutes a week of high-intensity cardio like running. Physical activity should be spread out through the week.
| A．Here’s how to get started |
| B．Adjust your diet for weight loss |
| C．Cut down the amount of the food you eat |
| D．Because losing weight when you have obesity is a marathon |
| E．Fortunately, you can further learn about obesity in many ways |
| F．If that sounds like a lot, remember that you don’t have to get there right away |
| G．Before starting losing weight, you’d better discuss your situations with a physician |
7 . Many people who want to lose weight often choose to go on a diet. But is this really the best way? With celebrities (名人) speaking about new diets that have helped them become slim (苗条的) in advertisements (广告), more and more people are turning to dieting. Some shops begin to sell diet products such as diet milkshakes, snack bars and even diet pills. However, such popular products and diets are often found to be extremely unhealthy.
Most of these popular diets work by cutting down on a certain nutrient (营养素) from your food intake (摄入量). For example, some diets work by cutting down on carbohydrates (碳水化合物). This means the body must use its fat reserves for energy. This might help you lose weight. However, by cutting a particular food group out of your diet, you are starving your body of a nutrient that it needs, which could leave you feeling weak, tired or even bad-tempered. Besides, these diets are often unsuccessful in the long run.
Generally, one of the most effective ways of losing weight is to cut down on calories. The recommended (推荐的) calorie intake for an adult male is 2,500. If a man consumes more than 2,500 calories each day, then he is likely to gain weight. However, if he consumes less, then he is likely to lose weight.
In fact, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals all play an important role in staying healthy, which is why they all should be included in your meals. Of course, some foods can be eaten in moderation (节制) as an occasional snack. For example, a bar of chocolate every once in a while won't cause you any problems.
So, instead of spending money on popular diet pills or special weight loss foods, try to eat healthy balanced meals containing foods from all food groups. So, next time your friends tell you that they are going on a diet, tell them that eating a healthy balanced diet is a much better choice.
1. What is the author's opinion about the popular diets mentioned in the passage?| A．They are useful for losing weight. |
| B．They are welcomed by celebrities. |
| C．They are not as healthy as people think. |
| D．They are replacing people's everyday meals. |
| A．Curious. | B．Unfavorable. |
| C．Unconcerned. | D．Supportive. |
| A．By having diet pills. | B．By following a strict diet. |
| C．By taking regular exercise. | D．By reducing calorie intake. |
| A．Diet products should be limited. |
| B．Snacking is a big no-no for health. |
| C．Keeping a diet with various nutrients is ideal. |
| D．Going on a diet should be stopped immediately. |
8 . My name is Michelle Rogers. For most of my life I had been fighting with my body weight. I was either gaining weight or trying to lose it. I wasn’t happy with myself, and I certainly wasn’t able to fully enjoy life. Not only did I feel bad physically? But I felt terrible emotionally. I also knew I wasn’t able to be the best I could be, and with failure after failure in losing weight, I just felt so hopeless to overcome it.
One day in 2008, I was looking through ads online and saw a treadmill (跑步机) for $ 100. This time I decided to start small and keep it doable. The first week I started walking 15 minutes on the treadmill at a fixed time every day. The next week I did 16 minutes. Each week I added a minute. Gradually, I increased speed as well as time. Once I got to 30 minutes, the weight started dropping off.
I didn’t lose weight at first, but I didn’t give up like I did in the past. I realized I started feeling better. My legs were getting stronger. I didn’t feel painful like I used to when I got up from my desk. All the efforts I’d been putting into fitness made me want to start eating healthier, too. I began with small changes as well. After these years I started listening to my body. It was refusing food and habits that were bad for me.
Today, the extra weight is gone. I still exercise every morning. I look and feel the best I have never done. Every area of my life has improved and benefited from this change in me. Not only do I have my youthful energy, looks and health back, but also I have more confidence than I have ever had.
1. How did Michelle feel about losing weight before 2008?| A．Confident. | B．Satisfied. | C．Hopeless. | D．Uncaring. |
| A．15 weeks. | B．17 weeks. | C．20 weeks. | D．30 weeks. |
| A．Life. | B．Health. | C．The treadmill. | D．The body. |
| A．Time is money. |
| B．Start with small things. |
| C．It’s never too late to start. |
| D．Nothing is more important than confidence. |
9 . Middle-aged spread cannot be blamed on a declining metabolism (新陈代谢),according to an analysis of the body’s energy use.
The study, of 6,400 people, from eight days old up to age 95, in 29 countries, suggests the metabolism remains “rock solid” throughout mid-life. It peaks at the age of one, is stable from 20 to 60 and then unavoidable declines. The study, published in the journal Science, found four phases of metabolic life: First period, birth to age one, when the metabolism shifts from being the same as the mother’s to a lifetime high 50% above that of adults. Second period, a gentle slowdown until the age of 20, with no sharp change during all the process of adolescence. Third period, no change at all between the ages of 20 and 60. Fourth period, a permanent decline, with yearly falls that, by 90, leave metabolism 26% lower than in mid-life.
Prof John Speakman, one of the researchers, from the University of Aberdeen, said, “The most surprising thing for me is that there is no change throughout adulthood-if you are experiencing mid-life spread you can no longer blame it on a declining metabolic rate.”
People’s metabolism was measured using doubly labelled water (双标水).But doubly labelled water is incredibly expensive, so it took researchers working together across 29 countries to gather data on 6,400 people.
The researchers said fully understanding the changing metabolism could have a possible impact on medicine. Prof Herman Pontzer from Duke University said it could help reveal whether cancers spread differently as the metabolism changes and if drug doses could be adjusted during different phases. Prof Tom Sanders, from King’s College London, said: “Interestingly, they found very few differences in total energy use between early adult life and middle age-a time when most adults in developed countries put on weight”.These findings would support the view that the obesity epidemic is fuelled by excess food energy intake and not a decline in energy use,
1. What do the researchers find about the metabolism?| A．It gradually declines for adults. | B．The highest metabolic rate is at age 20. |
| C．It reaches the highest point in childhood. | D．Its decline has little to do with middle-aged spread. |
| A．Science. | B．Business. | C．Entertainment. | D．Culture. |
| A．The high cost. | B．The long research time. |
| C．Limited medical technology. | D．Selection of research objects. |
| A．the changing metabolism could lead to cancers. |
| B．most adults gain weight because of taking in too much food. |
| C．energy use keeps the same from early adult life to middle age. |
| D．Sanders thought drug doses could be adjusted during different phases. |
10 . Researchers surveyed over 1200 families to find out if parents had concerns about their children’s weight and if they took any preventative action to avoid fatness in their children.
The study of over 1100 families found that 89% of parents of overweight 5-6 year-olds and 63% of parents of overweight 10-12 year-olds were unaware their child was overweight. It also showed that 71% of parents of overweight 5-6 year-olds and 43% of parents with overweight 10-12 year-olds did not think their child’s weight was a problem.
“These are quite troubling results and suggest that current fatness prevention campaigns are not hitting the mark with parents,” said head of the Centre, Professor David Crawford.
Professor Crawford said it was not surprising that many parents were unaware their child was overweight given that “many adults are not able to recognize overweight in themselves.”
He suggested that some reasons for lacking recognition of childhood overweight could be that some parents, particularly mothers, tend to judge overweight by whether or not their child is made fun of about their weight at school.
Despite parents’ inability to recognize problem weight in their children, Professor Crawford said a number of parents reported they employed various strategies to help prevent their child from gaining too much weight.
The most common strategies included: promoting a balanced diet; promoting physical activity; reducing junk food; limiting the amount of fat and sugar; promoting more fruit.
While this is encouraging, Professor Crawford said less than 10% of parents increased consumption of fruit and vegetables as a potential weight-control strategy, and few reported that they tried to limit or reduce their child’s intake of high-energy drinks.
1. How does the author develop his idea mainly in Paragraph 2?| A．By giving examples. | B．By explaining terms. |
| C．By listing figures. | D．By analyzing causes. |
| A．Arguing. | B．Explaining. | C．Deciding. | D．Considering. |
| A．Because they are too busy working. |
| B．Because they don’t care about their weight. |
| C．Because they don5t know what is about fatness. |
| D．Because they judge being overweight in a wrong manner. |
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. | C．Uninterested. | D．Confused. |
