Question

Why do Americans struggle with watching their weight, while the French, who consume rich food, continue to stay thin? Now a research by Cornell University suggests how life style and decisions about eating may affect weight. Researchers concluded that the French tend to stop eating when they feel full. However, Americans tend to stop when their plate is empty or their favorite TV show is over.

According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, a health expert, the French see eating as an important part of their life style. They enjoy food and therefore spend a fairly long time at the table, while Americans see eating as something to be squeezed between the other daily activities. Mercola believes Americans lose the ability to sense when they are actually full. So they keep eating long after the French would have stopped. In addition, he points out that Americans drive to huge supermarkets to buy canned and frozen foods for the week. The French, instead, tend to shop daily, walking to small shops and farmers’ markets where they have a choice of fresh fruits, vegetables, and eggs as well as high-quality meats for each meal.

After a visit to the United States, Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women Don’t Get Fat, decided to write about the importance of knowing when to stop rather than suggesting how to avoid food. Today she continues to stay slim and rarely goes to the gym.

In spite of all these differences, evidence shows that recent life style changes may be affecting French eating habits. Today the rate of obesity or extreme overweight among adults is only 6%. However, as American fast food gains acceptance and the young reject older traditions, the obesity rate among French children has reached 17% — and is growing.

1.In what way are the French different from Americans according to Dr. Joseph Mercola?

A. They go shopping at supermarkets more frequently.

B. They squeeze eating between the other daily activities.

C. They regard eating as a key part of their lifestyles.

D. They usually eat too much canned and frozen food.

2.This text is mainly the relationship between _________.

A. Americans and the French

B. life style and obesity

C. children and adults

D. fast food and overweight

3.The text is mainly developed __________.

A. by comparison  B. by space

C. by process     D. by classification(分类)

4.Where does this text probably come from?

A TV interview        B. A food advertisement

C. A health report    D. A book review

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.A

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：文章对比了法国人和美国人的生活方式，揭示了法国人保持身材而美国人变得肥胖的原因。法国人把饮食看作生活方式中很重要的一部分，而美国人则把吃东西当作享受，他们不知道什么时候该停止吃东西。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段“According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, a health expert, the French see eating as an important part of their life style.”可知，法国人把吃饭看作生活方式中很重要的一个部分，故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据第一段“how life style and decisions about eating may affect weight”和第二段“the French see eating as an important part of their life style”和第四段“evidence shows that recent life style changes may be affecting French eating habits. Today the rate of obesity or extreme overweight among adults is only 6%.”可知，随着美式快餐进入法国，法国人的饮食习惯发生了变化，肥胖在年轻人中占的比重正在增加，且还在上升，文章主要讲的是生活方式与肥胖的关系，故选B。

3.细节理解题。根据第二段“the French see eating as an important part of their life style...while Americans see eating as something to be squeezed ...Americans drive to huge supermarkets to buy canned and frozen foods...The French, instead, tend to shop daily, walking to small shops and farmers’ markets”可知，文章采取的写作手法是作比较，故选A。

4.主旨大意题。A电视采访；B食品广告；C健康报道；D书评。文章对比了法国人和美国人的生活方式，从中揭示了法国人保持身材而美国人变得肥胖的原因。但随着美式快餐的发展，法国人，尤其是年轻的法国人的饮食习惯开始改变，肥胖的年轻人也开始增多。文章没有特别介绍某一种食品，排除B；文章没有讲怎样吃才健康，排除C；书评是对一本书的好坏等发表自己的观点，排除D，根据“”可知，故选C。

考点：生活类短文阅读