A fast-food restaurant within about 500 feet of a school may lead to at least a 5 percent increase in the overweight rate at that school, according to a study released on Friday. The study, conducted by economists at Columbia University and the University California, Berkeley, suggests that "a ban on fast foods in the immediate proximity of schools could have a sizable effect on obesity rates among affected students. " The researchers looked at how proximity to the restaurants affected obesity rates among 3 million ninth graders at California schools, and more than 1 million pregnant women in Michigan, New Jersey and Texas. They focused on the ninth graders, typically about 14 years old, in part because the students get a fitness test in the spring—about 30 weeks after starting school and exposure to fast food. The study, released by the American Association of Wine Economists, showed that "the presence of a fast-food restaurant within a tenth of a mile of a school is associated with at least a 5.2 percent increase in the obesity rate in that school. " It also found that pregnant women who lived within a tenth of a mile of a fast-food restaurant had "a 4.4 percent increase in the probability of gaining over 20 kilos(44 pounds). " The study follows one presented last month at an American Stroke Association conference. Researchers from the University of Michigan found people who live in neighborhoods packed with fast-food restaurants are more likely to suffer strokes. In December, a study found that youth who study within a half mile from a fast-food outlet eat fewer fruit and vegetables, drink more soda and are more likely to be obese than students at other schools. Janet Currie, lead researcher of the wine economists' study, said that it might be a good policy to have a fast-food-free zone if fast food near schools causes obesity. "It would not be so different in spirit from existing policies that aim to prohibit soft drinks and junk foods in schools or to improve the quality of school lunch, " she said. A spokeswoman for Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Long John Silver's, declined to comment, saying she had not seen the study. Burger King did not return calls seeking comment. A McDonald's spokeswoman referred calls to the National Retail Federation, a trade group in Washington. "I think it would be a dangerous precedent to limit the types of legitimate, important businesses and where they're located in a city, " federation spokeswoman Ellen Davis said. "Doesn't it make more sense for parents to limit a child's allowance or let them know when and where they can't eat certain things?" Davis added that restaurants have changed their menus in the last five years, especially for children's meals. "We see many healthy options available—slices of apple, milk instead of sodas... It's important to note that many chain restaurants have tried to diversify their menus and make them healthier."
单选题 Which of the following is INCORRECT about the study mentioned in Paragraph 2?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:第四段讲到在此研究之前,即上个月的时候,在美国中风协会会议上,来自密歇根大学的研究人员陈述了一个研究,其发现快餐店附近的居民更容易患上中风,所以并非这个研究得出了快餐导致中风的结论,可知答案为[C]。通过第一段可知,此研究的结论是:学校距离快餐店过近会导致学校的超重率增加至少5%。据此可推知,此研究应赞同快餐食品远离学校,故排除[A];虽然从第二段可以看出,此研究是由哥伦比亚大学和加利福尼亚大学伯克利分校的经济学家们进行的,但第三段中点明,研究的对象是来自于加州学校的孩子以及密歇根州、新泽西州和得克萨斯州的孕妇,故排除[B];第三段最后两句讲到,由于受快餐店的影响,学校的肥胖率增加至少5.2%,孕妇的体重增加20公斤以上的可能性增加了4.4%,这说明学校里孩子的情况比孕妇更糟糕,故排除[D]。
单选题 Which of the following can be inferred from the last three paragraphs?
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】解析:倒数第二段讲到麦当劳的女发言人委托美国零售联合会做出回应,而从最后一段中可以看出,美国零售联合会的女发言人正是Ellen Davis,并且她的发言倾向于快餐行业,所以可以推断出麦当劳和Ellen Davis持有相同的观点,故[A]正确。倒数第二段中Yum!Brands和Burger King都没有对新政策做出回应,并不能说明他们的意见相左,[B]错误,故排除;第六段中Janet Currie认为新政策与现行政策并没有什么不同,可以看出她对其并没有偏好,[C]错误,故排除;最后一段第二句话中Ellen Davis用一个反问句表达了对家长的不满,她认为家长应该限制孩子的零用钱,[D]也错误,故排除。
单选题 According to the passage, which of the following may NOT be the reason for children's overweight?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】解析:细节题. 最后一段提到五年前快餐店就改变了儿童餐的菜单,增加了很多健康的选择,说明这一举动对孩子的身材是有积极作用的,故[D]并非孩子增重的原因,故为答案.第五段中的一项研究表明,快餐会导致孩子吃过少的水果、蔬菜以及饮用过多的苏打水从而导致肥胖,所以[A]错误,故排除;最后一段第二句话中Davis也强调由于家长对孩子疏于管理,导致了孩子的肥胖,其根本原因还是孩子自控力的缺乏所导致的,[B]错误,故排除;从第六段最后一句可以看出,提高校供午餐质量和禁止软饮料以及垃圾食品有相同的作用,所以低质量的校供午餐也是孩子肥胖的原因,[C]也不符合题意,故排除。