Fighting “Big Soda”
Sugar is not good for our health.But you may reason that a single can of Coke every day won’t do you much harm.After all,with exercise,you can burn off the calories from that can of Coke anyway.
If this is your way of thinking,then congratulations!You are Big Soda’s ideal consumer.
The term “Big Soda” refers to two soft drink companies:Coca-Cola and Pepsi.American soda consumption has experienced a sustained decline.In China,however,it’s a different story.According to a Xinhua News Agency report,Coca-Cola’s soda sales went up by 10 percent in the second quarter this year compared to the same time last year.
Increases in soda consumption can be worrisome to health experts.In her recent book Soda Politics: Taking on Big Soda(and Winning),New York University nutrition professor Marion Nestle makes a fiery case against the soda industry.She says it’s all right if you drink sweet drinks occasionally.But drinking it every day is “plainly unhealthy”.
According to The Economist,one large study cited in Nestle’s book found that “for each(12-ounce) can added to a person’s daily diet,the risk of diabetes jumped by 22 percent.There are also links between sugar and heart disease,obesity,stroke and cancer.” Unlike fruits or even a Big Mac,sweet drinks have no nutritional value.A 12-ounce (340-gram) can of Coke,for example,has 140 calories and 39 grams of sugar but no protein or fiber.
Nestle also points out that drinking a lot of soda has a broader cost.Chronic diseases caused by unhealthy diets can create a burden for a country’s healthcare system.
Increased health awareness has turned a lot of US consumers against soda.On a political level,lawmakers are also waging a war against Big Soda.Thirty-three US states are taxing soda or sugar-sweetened drinks,while some are considering introducing warning labels for soda ads and soda products.
1.From the passage,we know Big Soda contains a large quantity of .
A.protein B.fiber C.nutrition D.calories
2.According to the passage,drinking soda every day is .
A.relatively healthy B.absolutely unhealthy
C.instantly deadly D.hardly harmful
3.One proper measure taken to fight against “Big Soda” is .
A.increasing political awareness B.making related laws
C.taxing less on soda D.attaching encouraging labels
4.Which of the statements is TRUE?
A.Having a can of Coke every day will be healthy.
B.A 34-ounce can of Coke has 140 calories and 39g of sugar.
C.Big Soda will increase the risk of getting some chronic diseases.
D.Chinese soda consumption has experienced a sustained decline.
语篇解读:本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了软饮料给人们的健康带来的不利影响及抵制软饮料需采取的措施。
答案及剖析:
1.D 细节理解题。根据第五段最后两句“Unlike fruits or even a Big Mac,sweet drinks have no nutritional value.A 12-ounce(340-gram) can of Coke,for example,has 140 calories and 39 grams of sugar but no protein or fiber.”可知,“Big Soda”没有营养价值,它不含蛋白质或纤维,却含有大量的热量和糖分。
2.B 细节理解题。根据第四段最后一句“But drinking it every day is ‘plainly unhealthy’.”可知,每天喝碳酸饮料是不健康的。
3.B 细节理解题。根据文章最后一段内容可知,抵制“Big Soda”的其中一个合适的措施是制定有关的法律。
4.C 细节理解题。根据第四段最后一句话“But drinking it every day is ‘plainly unhealthy’.”可知,A项不正确; 根据第五段最后一句话“A 12-ounce(340-gram) can of Coke,for example,has 140 calories and 39 grams of sugar but no protein or fiber.”可知,B项不正确; 根据第三段内容可知,D项不正确。根据第五段第一、二句话可知,“Big Soda”会增加患一些慢性病的风险。故选C项。
