1 . Eating chips, chocolates and cakes may damage a child’s intelligence, according to researchers at Bristol University. Their study suggests a link between diet high in processed(加工的) food and a slightly lower IQ. Writing in the journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, they suggest poor nutrition may affect brain development.
The eating habits of 3,966 children taking part in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children were recorded at the ages of three, four, seven and eight and a half. The researchers said three types of diet appeared: processed diet which was high in fat and sugar and fast food, traditional diet of meat, potatoes and vegetables, and healthy diet of salads, fruit and fish. The children all took IQ tests when they were eight and a half.
The researchers found a link between IQ and diet, even after taking into consideration other factors such as the mother’s level of education and the social class. Diet high in processed food at the age of three was related to a slightly lower IQ at the age of eight and a half, suggesting early eating habits had a long-term influence. Dr Pauline Emmett, who carried out the study at Bristol University, said, “Brain development is much faster in early life, and it’s when it does most of its growing.”
Although the relationship between diet and IQ was very strong, the influence was quite small. Processed food was linked with IQs only a few points lower. Experts in the field said the results had shown common sense was right. Fiona Ford, spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association, said, “It’s well worth looking at the long-term influence of diet, for everyone’s familiar with the short term. The research agrees with the type of advice we already know, but that’s not always enough. Sometimes a society has to help a person change; we need to educate more young parents about healthy eating.”
1. All the following can lead to a slightly lower IQ except _______.| A．birthday cakes | B．fruit salads |
| C．chocolates | D．KFC food |
| A．one year and a half | B．two years and a half |
| C．four years and a half | D．five years and a half |
| A．Diet affects people’s intelligence greatly. |
| B．The research has shown the short-term influence of diet. |
| C．The British Dietetic Association has known the results of the research. |
| D．The British Dietetic Association has a duty to encourage young parents to adopt healthy diet. |
| A．Processed food reduces children’s intelligence. |
| B．Healthy food makes children grow rapidly. |
| C．Eating habits change children’s intelligence. |
| D．Proper diet makes children wise and healthy. |
