Question

What can be better than a sweet treat with health benefits? As it happens, our favourite February food, chocolate, has a few shinning characteristics. It comes from the Theobroma cacao tree (food for the Gods), from a bean that grows on that tropical tree. Chocolate originated in Mexico and Central and South America, but West Africa now produces most of the world’s cocoa. Look for fair trade chocolate that meets environmental and labour standards at natural foods markets in Kitsilano and the West End, at Karmavore in New Westminster and at Nature’s Fare Markets throughout the province.

Dark or semisweet chocolate is typically a vegan(素食) product. Because chocolate contains antioxidants（抗氧化剂） that prevent the oxidation （氧化）of LDL (bad) cholesterol（胆固醇）, it has gained a reputation of being beneficial for our heart health. Eaten in an appropriate amount, chocolate may lower blood pressure.

Chocolate is also a source of iron – a “precious metal” when it comes to human health. As part of red blood cells, iron plays a central role in transporting oxygen to the body and carrying away the waste product carbon dioxide. Each day, we lose tiny amounts of iron in cells that are missing from skin and the inner lining of the intestine(肠壁). If our intake is not enough to replace our losses, a tired feeling and sensitivity to cold may develop. With further consuming, people feel exhausted, chilly and even headaches; the skin may appear pale. Since iron absence is such an obvious condition and easily diagnosed, if you have any doubts about your iron level, have a lab test done.

We are good at recycling iron, however, losses must be replaced. Two of the Chocolate Butter Balls in the recipe(食谱) below will provide one quarter of the recommended intake of eight mg iron for the day.

1.Which region produces most of the world’s cocoa now?

A. Mexico    B. Central America

C. South America    D. West Africa

2.Why is chocolate beneficial for our heart health?

A. It contains antioxidants    B. It comes from the cacao tree.

C. It originates in Mexico.    D. It is a sweet treat.

3.What does “chilly” in the third paragraph mean?

A. easy to be angry    B. having a fever

C. sensitive to cold    D. feeling tired

4.From which is the text probably taken?

A. A biology textbook.    B. A health magazine.

C. A research paper.    D. A travel brochure.

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.C

4.B

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。文章谈论的是chocolate与健康的关系。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中but West Africa now produces most of the world’s cocoa.可知，现在，West Africa出产世界上大部分的可可。故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段中Dark or semisweet chocolate is typically a vegan(素食) product. Because chocolate contains antioxidants（抗氧化剂） that prevent the oxidation （氧化）of LDL (bad) cholesterol（胆固醇）---，可知，巧克力对我们的心脏健康有益是因为它含有抗氧化剂。故选A。

3.词义猜测题。根据第三段中If our intake is not enough to replace our losses, a tired feeling and sensitivity to cold may develop. With further consuming, people feel exhausted, chilly and even headaches; the skin may appear pale. 如果我们的摄入量不足以弥补我们的损失，那么就会产生一种疲惫的感觉和对寒冷的敏感性。随着消费的增加，人们感到疲惫、寒冷甚至头痛；皮肤可能显得苍白。根据句中的sensitivity to cold可推知划线词的意思是“对冷敏感”。故选C。

4.推理判断题。根据第一段第一句What can be better than a sweet treat with health benefits?第二段第一句Dark or semisweet chocolate is typically a vegan(素食) product.第三段第一句Chocolate is also a source of iron – a “precious metal” when it comes to human health.和第四段第一句We are good at recycling iron, however, losses must be replaced.可知，文章谈的都是有关健康问题，所以它最有可能来自一份健康杂志。故选B。