Question

Eat less and exercise more—it has long been a magic word for reducing those extra weight. But now it seems that all the hard work may have been in vain.

Scientists say there are ten other reasons why people just keep getting bigger. They say that sleeping habits, central heating, medicines and even some pollutants (污染物质) can play a role in weight gain.

Traditionally, people have focused on diet and exercise to solve the problem. However the scientists from top US and Canadian universities say that other things must be considered.

Lack of sleep could be partly the reason. In recent years, the average night’s sleep has dropped from nine hours to just seven. Sleep shortage changes levels of the hormones (荷尔蒙) that control food intake and body fat and increase hunger and appetite.

If it is too hot or too cold, we burn calories (卡路里) to cool down or heat up. But if the temperature is just right, the calories may be turned into body fat instead.

Those who take medicine to control their blood pressure can often put on weight. Similarly, studies have shown that going on the Pill can add to a woman’s weight.

Mother nature may also be the reason, with our body shape being partly inherited (遗传的). The overweight are also more likely to settle with partners of a similar size. And their children are more likely to be obese (肥胖的).

And the use of pollutants is on the rise, say the researchers. The man-made chemicals in pesticides (杀虫剂) and plastics can lead to weight gain.

Your mother’s age and your weight at birth are also important, with older woman more likely to have obese children and underweight babies having a bigger chance of being obese in later life.

We also tend to put on weight as we get older. Finally, giving up smoking can also help pile on the pounds.

The scientists from Yale, Cornell and Johns Hopkins said there was some evidence supporting poor diet and lack of exercise as the main causes of obesity.

68. Which is commonly thought to be effective in losing weight?

A. To have operation to cut extra fat.

B. To take pills and avoid fatty food.

C. To sleep less to burn more calories.

D. To have less food and take more exercise.

69. Which of the following factors doesn’t lead to overweight?

A. Regular and enough sleep.               B. Comfortable living environment.

C. Not enough physical exercise.        D. harmful chemicals in the food.

70. Which of the following statements would the author agree to?

A. Lack of sleep leads you to take in more food.

B. Unpleasant weather helps you to put on weight.

C. Obese parents are not likely to have fat children.

D. Medicine for blood pressure helps you lose weight.

71. What would women prefer to do to have healthy children?

A. To have only one child.          

B. To marry at an older age.

C. To marry a strong husband.                  

D. To give birth to a baby at younger age.

Answer 1

DAA    D【文章大意】

“少吃点，多运动”一直是肥胖者的减肥“座右铭”。但科学家发现， 另有十条原因可以解释人们为什么不停的变胖。他们说，体重增加与睡眠习惯、中央供暖、药物、甚至某些污染物等都有关。

68. 选D。根据第一段的第一句，“Eat less and exercise more”就是人们普遍认为有效的减肥的做法，选项D的述符合文章的原意。

69. 选A。文章列出的发胖的原因有：睡眠不足、温度适宜、降压药物的副作用、遗传因素、污染物和化学物质、妈妈的年龄和婴儿出身时的体重等。最后一段说发胖的主要原因是饮食不合理和缺少锻炼。可见选项B、C、D都是导致发胖的因素。而充足的、有规律的睡眠不能导致发胖，故最佳答案为A。

70. 选A。第四段谈到失眠可以改变体内荷尔蒙的水平，导致摄入食物增加，造成肥胖。因此A的陈述符合文中作者的观点。

71. 选D。第九段中谈到母亲的年龄和孩子的肥胖症有关。高龄妈妈生产的婴儿容易患肥胖症。因此，母亲应趁年轻早生产，避免孩子将来发胖。