Question

Babies should be given peanut early - some at four months old - in order to reduce the risk of allergy（过敏）, according to new US guidance.

Studies have shown the risk of peanut allergy can be cut by more than 80% by early exposure（接触）. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said the new guidance was "an important step forward".

However, young children should not eat whole peanuts, because of the risk of choking.

Allergy levels are soaring in the US and have more than quadrupled since 2008. It is a pattern replicated across much of the Western world as well as parts of Asia and Africa. Parents are often wary about introducing peanut and in the past have been advised to wait until the child is three years old.

According to the new guidelines, children with other allergies or severe eczema should start on peanut-containing foods at between four and six months old, with medical supervision(监管). Babies with mild eczema should have peanut-containing food at about six months old. Those with no eczema or allergies can have peanut-containing food freely introduced.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said: "We expect that widespread implementation of these guidelines by healthcare providers will prevent the development of peanut allergy in many susceptible children and ultimately reduce the prevalence of peanut allergy in the United States."

Michael Walker, a member of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, said: "The guidelines are based on sound medical research carried out in the UK. UK parents should consult their GP, bringing attention to the guidelines if necessary, before attempting peanut allergy prevention in their infant themselves."

Professor Alan Boobis, from Imperial College London, said: "The previous(之前的) view that delaying（延迟） the introduction of allergenic foods decreases the risk of food allergy is incorrect and... if anything, the exclusion（除去） or delayed introduction of specific allergenic foods may increase the risk of allergy to the same foods, including peanut."

1.The new US guidance may agree that _________ .

A. children can have peanut-containing food freely

B. parents can feed kids peanut until they are three

C. early exposure to peanut can reduce peanut allergy

D. young children should not eat whole peanut to avoid allergy

2.The underlined word in Paragraph 6 means __________ .

A. easily influenced

B. seriously disabled

C. mentally healthy

D. terribly tired

3.What can we learn from Michael Walker?

A. The use of the guidelines should be limited in the UK.

B. The guidelines are scientific and thus can be trusted.

C. Parents should do peanut allergy prevention themselves.

D. Many doctors in the UK don’t agree with the guidelines.

4.What might be the author’s purpose of writing this passage?

A. To warm parents of the possible danger peanut may bring.

B. To recommend delaying the introduction of allergenic foods.

C. To compare two different scientific research on peanut allergy.

D. To introduce a new way of reducing the risk of peanut allergy.

Answer 1