单选题   The U.S. isn't the only country with an expanding waistline (腰围). A new study from the European Society of Cardiology predicts that rates of obesity will increase in almost all European countries by 2030. And Ireland comes in as the fattest country, with a 47% projected obesity rate for both men and women.
    To be fair, everywhere people are expanding. The prevalence of obesity worldwide nearly doubled between 1980 and 2008, according to the World Health Organization (WHO. , and although the U.S. is still leading the pack with obesity at 34.9%, European countries aren't lagging far behind with rates at roughly 23% for women and 20% for men.
    Presented by Dr. Laura Webber at the EuroPRevent congress in Amsterdam, the study takes into account all available data on body mass index and obesity/overweight trends in the WHO's 53 Euro-region countries.
    In those countries the study revealed little evidence of any plateau (稳定期). Even as England's rate of increase today is less steep than it has been historically, levels continue to rise and will be much higher in 2030 than they were in 1993.
    Examining both overweight and obese rates combined, the numbers become even more shocking. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in males is set to reach 75% in the U.K. and 80% in the Czech Republic, Spain, and Poland. In Ireland, the projected rate is an enormous 90% for men and 84% for women.
    Considering that's almost everybody, Dr. Webber's comment that these results may be underestimates is all the more concerning. She points to the poor data available from many countries contributing to less certain predictions. The study also does not take into account the significant increase in childhood weight and obesity issues across Europe, with one in three 11-year-olds overweight or obese, according to the WHO.
    In accounting for differences in projected levels (the lowest found in Belgium at 44% and the Netherlands at 47%) the authors mention the potential effects of 'economic positioning' and 'type of market.' Ireland and the U.K., where obesity rates are highest, have unregulated markets similar to the U.S. Giant food companies work collectively to maximize profit-encouraging over-consumption. In areas with more controlled market economies, like the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, and Finland, obesity levels are lower.
    However, obesity is a complex disease. 'The United Nations has called for a whole-of-society approach to preventing obesity and related diseases,' Dr. Webber said. 'Policies that reduce obesity are necessary to avoid premature mortality and prevent economic strain on already overburdened health systems. The WHO has put in place strategies that aim to guide countries towards reducing obesity through the promotion of physical activity and healthy diets.'
单选题     What can we infer from the study from the European Society of Cardiology?
 
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】推理引申题。第1、2段指出爱尔兰的肥胖率预计提高到47%,而目前美国的肥胖率为34.9%,因此可以推理得出如果美国肥胖率在未来提高不大,则有可能会被爱尔兰超越。故选A。
单选题     What is the obesity/overweight trend in the U.K. likely to be?
 
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】事实细节题。第4段指出尽管英国的肥胖率仍在提高,但现在的增长率没有它过去那么高。故选D。
单选题     What does the author think about the findings of the study?
 
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】观点态度题。作者在第5、6段通过“shocking、concerning”表明了自己的态度。故选B。选项A是韦伯博士的观点。
单选题     What is one possible reason for the obesity problem in some countries?
 
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】事实细节题。第7段指出在不受监管的市场体系中,食品公司会为了利益而联手推动过度消费,这使该国的肥胖率高于其他国家。故选C。
单选题     What can be the best solution to the obesity problem?
 
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】事实细节题。第8段指出,肥胖症是一个复杂的疾病,需要全社会的广泛参与来解决它。故选D。A、B、C选项均不全面。