Question

Last month we reported about a study that showed eating even a little less salt could greatly help the heart. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The scientists used a computer model to predict how just three grams less salt a day would affect heart disease in the United States.

The scientists said the results would be thirteen percent fewer heart attacks, eight percent fewer strokes（梗塞）, four percent fewer deaths and eleven percent fewer new cases of heart disease And two hundred forty billion dollars in health care savings. Researchers said it could prevent one hundred thousand heart attacks and ninety-two thousand deaths every year.

They and public health professionals in the United States are interested in a national campaign to persuade people to eat less salt. Such campaigns are already in place in Britain, Japan and Finland.

Michael Alderman is among the critics. He is a high blood pressure expert and professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Doctor Alderman says that eating less salt results in lower blood pressure. But he says studies have not clearly shown that lowering salt means fewer heart attacks or strokes. And he says salt has other biological effects. He says calling for reduction in the national diet could have good effects, but it could also have harmful results. He says there is not enough evidence either way.

Another critic is David McCarron, a nutrition and kidney disease expert at the University of California, Davis. He and his team looked at large studies of diets in thirty-three countries. They found that most people around the world eat about the same amount of salt. Most of them eat more salt than American health officials advise. Doctor McCarron says the worldwide similarity suggests that a person’s brain might decide how much salt to eat.

Both Doctor McCarron and Doctor Alderman have connections to the Salt Institute, a trade group for the salt industry. Doctor Alderman is a member of an advisory committee. But he says he receives no money from the group. Doctor McCarron is paid for offering advice to the Salt Institute.

1.What’s the best title of the passage?

A. The argument over salt and health.

B. Less salt, fewer heart attacks.

C. National campaign for less salt.

D. Bad effects of salt.

2.What does the second paragraph mainly talk about?

A. The most likely results of the study made last month.

B. The results of eating less salt.

C. The results of eating three grams less salt a day.

D. The results of eating even a little less salt could greatly help the heart.

3.Which of the following about Michael Alderman is NOT TRUE?

A. He is a high blood pressure expert.

B. He says eating less salt results in lower blood pressure.

C. He agrees lowering salt means fewer heart attacks or strokes.

D. He is a professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

4.What does the underlined part “either way” refer to?

A. Reductions in the national diet could have good effects.

B. Reductions in the national diet could have harmful results.

C. Salt has other biological effects.

D. Both A and B.

5.Which of the following about David McCarron is NOT TRUE?

A. He is a nutrition and kidney disease expert.

B. His team found that most people around the world eat about the same amount of salt.

C. He says the worldwide similarity suggests that a person’s brain might decide how much salt to eat.

D. He says he receives no money from the Salt Institute.

Answer

1.A

2.A

3.C

4.D

5.D

【解析】

试题分析：本文是关于盐是否有助于健康的争论。

1.最佳标题。根据上下文得知本文是关于盐是否有助于健康的争论。因此最佳标题选A。

2.主旨大意题。第二段科学家们呈现了研究结果：患心脏病和中风副风险减少，死亡率下降。这些是关于研究的结果。选A。

3.细节理解题。根据Michael Alderman is among the critics. He is a high blood pressure expert and professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Doctor Alderman says that eating less salt results in lower blood pressure.得知Michael Alderman是一位高血压专家，纽约爱因斯坦学院教授，他说少摄入盐会降低血压。根据排除法得知选C。

4.猜测词义题。根据He says calling for reduction in the national diet could have good effects, but it could also have harmful results. He says there is not enough evidence either way.得知呼吁全民减少盐摄入有积极作用也有可能有消极作用，两方面都没有足够的证据。选D。

5.细节理解题。根据第五段得知，David McCarron是加利福尼亚大学的营养学和肾脏疾病专家，他和团队发现全世界人摄入食盐量差不多，根据Doctor McCarron is paid for offering advice to the Salt Institute.得知麦卡隆博士则为研究会提供科学建议因此获得报酬。因此选D。

考点：健康类文章