Food and Cancer
Medical expels have suspected for many years that there is a strong link between what a person eats and cancer. They say a new study provides the first evidence1 that vitamins could reduce a person’s chance of developing cancer. A team of Chinese and American scientists did the study. They are from American National Cancer Institute2 and the Cancer Institute of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences3 in Beijing. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of the study. About thirty thousand people between the ages of 40 to 69 took part in the study. They were from the northern central Chinese area of Linxian. Most of them took vitamins and minerals every day for five years.
Linxian was chosen because the people there have all extremely high rate of cancer of stomach and esophagus. Researchers believe that fungus and molds in local foods may be partly responsible for the high cancer rate. Researchers divided those into eight groups. Seven of the groups received different mixtures of vitamins and minerals daily. The amounts of the vitamins and minerals were 1 to 2 times greater than what American health officials say is needed. The eighth group received sugar pills4 that had no effect. Those who seemed to gain the most received a mixture of a form of vitamin A called β–carotene, vitamin E and the mineral selenium. The vitamin and mineral are believed to prevent damage to cells caused by cancer-causing substances. Researchers reported a 13 percent drop in cancer rates in those who took β–carotene, vitamin E and selenium5. They also found a 10 percent drop in the number of deaths caused by strokes from bursting blood vessels.
Scientists warn that it is too soon to know if the effect would be the same among people in other countries. They note that the people in Linxian eat foods that lack necessary vitamins and minerals. Chinese officials will continue to record the health records of the people in Linxian for many years. For now officials reportedly are considering using the results of the study. They want to find a way to improve the health of people in Linxian and other small towns in China.
詞匯:
esophagus 食道 mixture .混合物;合成品;混合藥
fungus 菌類 carotene 胡蘿卜素
mold 霉;霉菌 selenium .硒
注釋:
1.the first evidence :第一手證據
2.American National Cancer Institute:美國國家癌癥研究所
3.the Cancer Institute of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences :中國醫學科學院癌癥研究所
4.sugar pills :糖丸
5. a mixture of a form of vitamin A called β–carotene, vitamin E and the mineral selenium: 一種叫做β–胡蘿卜素的維生素A、維生素E和礦物質硒的混合物
練習:
1.The results of the new study are unexpected.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
2.Among the scientists that did the study, there are more Chinese than Americans.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
3.The study lasted for about five years.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
4.The rate of cancer of stomach and esophagus in Linxian is the highest in China.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
5.Fungus and molds in local foods may be partly responsible for the high cancer rate in Linxian.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
6.All those people who took part in the study received vitamins and minerals.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
7.The results of the study are of great significance to people everywhere.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
答案與題解:
1.B文章一開頭便提到,醫學專家們多年來一直懷疑,人們的飲食與癌癥有著密切的聯系。這項新的研究恰恰證實了這一點。故B為答案。
2.C文中說來自中美兩家研究所的科學家們共同進行了此項研究,并沒有提及具體人數。故C為答案。
3.A文章第一段提到大多數實驗對象連續5年每天服用了各種維生素及礦物質,由此可以得出答案。故A為答案。
4.C文章第二段的開頭說林縣人胃癌及食道癌發病率極高,但并沒有說在國內是最高的。故C為答案。
5A 文章第二段中提到,研究者們認為,此地食物中的真菌和霉菌是癌癥發病率高的一個原因。故A為答案。
6.B文章第二段中提到,研究者們把實驗對象分成8組,其中的7組每天服用不同的維生素和礦物質混合物,第8組服用毫無作用的糖丸。故B為答案。
7.B文章最后一段提到,科學家們告誡人們,判斷此結果對其他國家的人是否同樣有效還為時過早。故B為答案。
編輯推薦:
更多關注:職稱英語教材 職稱英語考后真題點評 職稱英語零基礎通關
(責任編輯:vstara)