Is It Worth Buying Organic Food? Organic food, grown without artificial chemicals, is increasingly popular nowadays. Consumers have been willing to pay up to twice more for goods with organic labels (商标). However, if you think paying a little more for organic food gets you a more nutritious and safer product, you might want to save your money. A study led by researchers at Stanford University says that organic products aren't necessarily more nutritious, and they're no less likely to suffer from disease-causing bacteria, either.
The latest results, published in the Annuals of Internal Medicine, suggest that buyers may be wasting their money. "We did not find strong evidence that organic food is more nutritious or healthier," says Dr. Crystal Smith-Spangler from Stanford. "So consumers shouldn't assume that one type of food has a lower risk or is safer."
For their new study, Smith-Spangler and her colleagues conducted a review of two categories of research, including 17 studies that compared health outcomes between consumers of organic against traditional food products, and 223 studies that analyzed the nutritional content of the foods, including key vitamins, minerals and fats.
While the researchers found little difference in nutritional content, they did find that organic fruit and vegetables were 20% less likely to have chemicals remaining on the surfaces. Neither organic nor traditional foods showed levels of chemicals high enough to go beyond food safety standards. And both organic and traditional meats, such as chicken and pork, were equally likely to be harmed by bacteria at very low rates. The researchers did find that organic milk and chicken contained higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy fat also found in fish that can reduce the risk of heart disease. However, these nutritional differences were too small, and the researchers were unwilling to make much of them until further studies confirm the trends.
Organic food is produced with fewer chemicals and more natural-growing practices, but that doesn't always translate into a more nutritious or healthier product. The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that "whether you buy organic or not, finding the freshest foods available may have the biggest effect on taste." Fresh food is at least as good as anything marketed as organic.
1.The new research questions whether organic food __________.
A.should replace traditional food B.has been overpriced by farmers
C.is grown with less harmful chemicals D.is really more nutritious and healthier
2.Smith-Spangler and her colleagues found that __________.
A.organic food could reduce the risk of heart disease
B.traditional food was grown with more natural methods
C.both organic and traditional food they examined were safe
D.there was not a presence of any forms of bacteria in organic food
3.Which of the following is relatively healthier according to the passage?
A.Organic chicken and pork. B.Organic milk and chicken.
C.Traditional chicken and pork. D.Traditional fruit and vegetables.
4.What is the author’s attitude toward organic food?
A.Sceptical B.Neutral
C.Unconcerned D.Approving
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题
Is It Worth Buying Organic Food? Organic food, grown without artificial chemicals, is increasingly popular nowadays. Consumers have been willing to pay up to twice more for goods with organic labels (商标). However, if you think paying a little more for organic food gets you a more nutritious and safer product, you might want to save your money. A study led by researchers at Stanford University says that organic products aren't necessarily more nutritious, and they're no less likely to suffer from disease-causing bacteria, either.
The latest results, published in the Annuals of Internal Medicine, suggest that buyers may be wasting their money. "We did not find strong evidence that organic food is more nutritious or healthier," says Dr. Crystal Smith-Spangler from Stanford. "So consumers shouldn't assume that one type of food has a lower risk or is safer."
For their new study, Smith-Spangler and her colleagues conducted a review of two categories of research, including 17 studies that compared health outcomes between consumers of organic against traditional food products, and 223 studies that analyzed the nutritional content of the foods, including key vitamins, minerals and fats.
While the researchers found little difference in nutritional content, they did find that organic fruit and vegetables were 20% less likely to have chemicals remaining on the surfaces. Neither organic nor traditional foods showed levels of chemicals high enough to go beyond food safety standards. And both organic and traditional meats, such as chicken and pork, were equally likely to be harmed by bacteria at very low rates. The researchers did find that organic milk and chicken contained higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy fat also found in fish that can reduce the risk of heart disease. However, these nutritional differences were too small, and the researchers were unwilling to make much of them until further studies confirm the trends.
Organic food is produced with fewer chemicals and more natural-growing practices, but that doesn't always translate into a more nutritious or healthier product. The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that "whether you buy organic or not, finding the freshest foods available may have the biggest effect on taste." Fresh food is at least as good as anything marketed as organic.
1.The new research questions whether organic food __________.
A.should replace traditional food B.has been overpriced by farmers
C.is grown with less harmful chemicals D.is really more nutritious and healthier
2.Smith-Spangler and her colleagues found that __________.
A.organic food could reduce the risk of heart disease
B.traditional food was grown with more natural methods
C.both organic and traditional food they examined were safe
D.there was not a presence of any forms of bacteria in organic food
3.Which of the following is relatively healthier according to the passage?
A.Organic chicken and pork. B.Organic milk and chicken.
C.Traditional chicken and pork. D.Traditional fruit and vegetables.
4.What is the author’s attitude toward organic food?
A.Sceptical B.Neutral
C.Unconcerned D.Approving
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Europe is now the biggest market for organic food in the world, having grown by 25 percent a year over the past 10 years. Denmark’s agriculture minister is herself an organic farmer. The UK market for organic food grew by 55 percent in 2000, while the food market as a whole grew by only one percent. Yet only seven percent of British shoppers account for nearly 60 percent of organic sales. However popular the idea of organic farming may be, it is still an interest for only a few people.
So what makes the idea of organic farming popular? Organic farming means farming with natural materials, rather than with man-made fertilizers or pesticides(杀虫剂). Organic farmers rely on many methods — such as crop rotation (农作物的轮作) and the use of resistant（有抵抗力的）varieties, because they are necessary for organic farmers to compensate for the shortage of man-made chemicals.
Organic farming is often supposed to be safer than traditional farming for the environment. Yet after a long research on organic farming worldwide for a number of years, science continues to be against this opinion. The House of Commons committee on agriculture stated that, even with complete research work, it would fail to find any scientific evidence to prove “that any of claims made for organic farming is always true”.
However, the talk about the benefits of organic farming is going on. This is partly because many people depend on their individual farm, the soil, the weather, and so on.
1.The first paragraph mainly tells us _________.
A. organic farming has been performed only in Europe over the past 10 years.
B. governments of European countries have cared less about organic farming.
C. organic farming isn’t so popular as expected.
D. European countries need organic food more than the other countries in the world.
2.The underlined words “compensate for” in the second paragraph probably mean “_________”.
A. argue for B. care for
C. make up for D. pay for
3. What can we know about organic farming?
A. It refers to farming with natural materials, instead of chemical fertilizers.
B. It refers to farming with chemical fertilizers rather than natural fertilizers.
C. It refers to farming with soil rather than any other thing.
D. It refers to growing crops with man-made fertilizers and pesticides.
4.According to the third paragraph, _________.
A. organic farming is safer than traditional farming for the environment.
B. the idea that organic farming is safer has not been proven by science.
C. organic farming is accepted by the UK’s House of Commons committee.
D. organic farming is preferred to traditional farming.
5.Which of the following is TRUE, according to the passage?
A. The UK’s agriculture minister is an organic farmer.
B. Organic farming is popular with young people.
C. Farmers try every means to improve the organic sales system.
D. Ninety-three percent of British shoppers don’t buy organic products.
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Europe is now the biggest market for organic food in the world, having grown by 25 percent a year over the past 10 years. Denmark’s agriculture minister is herself an organic farmer. The UK market for organic food grew by 55 percent in 2000, while the food market as a whole grew by only one percent. Yet only seven percent of British shoppers account for nearly 60 percent of organic sales. However popular the idea of organic farming may be, it is still an interest for only a few people.
So what makes the idea of organic farming popular? Organic farming means farming with natural materials, rather than with man-made fertilizers or pesticides. Organic farmers rely on many methods — such as crop rotation (农作物的轮作) and the use of resistant（有抵抗力的） varieties, because they are necessary for organic farmers to compensate for the shortage of man-made chemicals.
Organic farming is often supposed to be safer than traditional farming for the environment. Yet after a long research on organic farming worldwide for a number of years, science continues to be against this opinion. The House of Commons committee on agriculture publicized that, even with complete research work, it would fail to find any scientific evidence to prove “that any of claims （宣称） made for organic farming is always true”.
However, the talk about the benefits of organic farming is going on. This is partly because many people depend on their individual farm, the soil, the weather, and so on.
1.The first paragraph mainly tells us _____.
A. organic farming has been performed only in Europe over the past 10 years
B. governments of European countries have cared less about organic farming
C. organic farming is far from being as popular as expected
D. European countries need organic food more than the other countries in the world
2. The underlined words “compensate for” in the second paragraph probably mean “________”.
A. argue for B. care for C. struggle for D. pay for
3. What can we know about organic farming?
A. It refers to farming with natural materials, instead of chemical fertilizers.
B. It refers to farming with chemical fertilizers rather than natural fertilizers.
C. It refers to farming with soil rather than any other thing.
D. It refers to growing crops with man-made fertilizers and pesticides.
4.According to the third paragraph, _____.
A. organic farming is safer than traditional farming for the environment
B. the idea that organic farming is safer has not been proven by science
C. organic farming is accepted by the UK’s House of Commons committee
D. organic farming is preferred to traditional farming
5.Which of the following is TRUE, according to the passage?
A. The UK’s agriculture minister is an organic farmer.
B. Organic farming is popular with young people.
C. Farmers make use of many different kinds of methods to improve the organic sales system.
D. Ninety-three percent of British shoppers don’t buy organic products.
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Organic food (有机食品) is very popular. It is also expensive. Some organic food costs twice as much as nonorganic food. Some parents and pet owners pay up to 200 percent more for organic food while some people think organic food is a waste of money.
There is one main difference between organic and nonorganic food. Organic farms do not use agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides (杀虫剂). This makes sure that the products are natural.
Some people think “organic” means “locally grown”. At the beginning, this was true. Over time organic farming became more difficult. The demand for organic food grew larger than the supply. Small companies had to sell out to large companies. There weren’t enough organic materials. This made it difficult for many organic companies to stay in business. Today, many large companies have an organic line of products.
Is organic food more nutritious (有营养的)? This is part of the debate. Many farmers and consumers (消费者) believe it is. They think agricultural chemicals cause health problems, such as cancer. Many health experts disagree. Few studies prove that organic food prevents health problems. Health experts worry more about bacteria (细菌). These can come into contact with organic and nonorganic food. Doctors recommend washing produce very carefully.
Most people agree that naturally grown food tastes better. Is tastier food worth the extra money? This is a matter of opinion. Whether it is healthier or not may require more research. However, organic consumers argue it is better to be safe than sorry.
1.What is probably the major concern(关注) of organic food consumers?
A.Price. B.Safety.
C.Freshness. D.Variety.
2.What is the doctors’ suggestion?
A.Grow your own food. B.Reduce the use of pesticides.
C.Make sure the food is clean. D.Buy large companies’ products.
3.Which of the following do most people agree on organic food?
A.It tastes better. B.It is easier to grow.
C.It contains more fat. D.It is more nutritious.
4.Where does this text probably come from?
A.A health magazine. B.A medical report.
C.A chemistry paper. D.A menu of a restaurant.
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
It is the first report that home-grown food has been contaminated by radioactivity, largely Iodine(碘)-131, since the ministry ordered radiation( powerful and harmful rays that are sent out from radioactive substances) tests on food and water at the end of March in 14 mainland regions including Beijing, Tianjin, and some coastal provinces.
Sample inspections conducted on Tuesday found low levels of radioactive iodine in spinach( a kind of green vegetables) planted in Beijing, Tianjin and Henan province --- about 1-3 becquerels per kilogram (Bq/kg), the statement said.
"The contamination level detected is too low to be harmful to public health," it said.
According to health experts, radioactive iodine can accumulate in humans once ingested in high concentrations and increases the risk of thyroid cancer. But it decays naturally within weeks.
Leafy vegetables grown in the open like spinach, lettuce and leek are among the first foods to be tainted by radioactive deposits.
Raw milk is also susceptible to radioactive contamination as livestock feed on grass.
Tests carried out in March showed spinach and milk taken from farms near Japan's nuclear-stricken area had exceeded(go beyond) government-set safety limits for radiation.
No cases of tainted water or milk have been reported in China but the ministry vowed to further strengthen monitoring.
Wang Zhongwen, a researcher at the China Institute of Atomic Energy's radiation safety department, told China Daily on Wednesday that currently China only had the means to conduct food radiation tests in a few regions.
The statement also said that recent rain in Beijing and Tianjin meant radioactive substances could have fallen on vegetables.
Chen Jicang, a vegetable dealer in Beijing, said on Wednesday that concerns are growing among consumers, businesses and governments across the world.
"We have yet to see any impact on our business from the radiation, but we will keep a close eye on how the issue develops," he said.
He added that most vegetables consumed in Beijing are produced locally, and he might switch to other varieties if spinach sales suffer.
Yang Guoshan, a researcher of radiation medical science at the Academy of Military Medical Sciences, said people could safely eat products that contain low levels of Iodine-131.
"The radiation level is so low that residents don't need to spend any extra effort on cleaning them," he said.
Gao Jie, a 52-year-old resident in Tianjin said she is deeply worried because spinach is a staple part of her family's diet.
"If spinach is radioactive, is there any possibility that other types of vegetables are safe?"
Trace levels of radioactive isotope cesium-137 and -134 were detected in the air in 21 provinces and regions on Wednesday, up from 17 on Tuesday, according to China's National Nuclear Emergency Coordination Committee.
1. What does the underlined word mean in para 1?
| A．protected | B．contained | C．polluted by dangerous substances | D．tested |
2.Why are the spinach and milk taken from nuclear-stricken area not safe?
| A．Because tests have been carried out there. |
| B．Raw milk is sensitive to radioactive contamination as livestock（家畜）feed on grass. |
| C．The amount of radioactive substances goes beyond the safe limits for radiation. |
| D．Japan is a nuclear-stricken area. |
3. Where do you think this passage comes from?
| A．a magazine | B．CCTV news | C．a journal | D．a novel |
4. What is not mentioned in the passage?
| A．Consumers became concerned about the safety of vegetables. |
| B．People need to clean vegetables completely before cooking because of radiation. |
| C．Food and water have to be tested since the end of March in 14 mainland regions |
| D．Low levels of radioactive iodine has been found in spinach in Tianjin |
5. What do you think is mainly talked about in the passage?
| A．How the radioactivity came into being |
| B．What we should do in face of radioactivity. |
| C．Radioactivity has no side effect on human being. |
| D．Home-grown food has been affected by radioactivity. |
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
We can’t live without food. Today our knowledge of food and what it does for our bodies is far more advanced than____1_____of the old times. Now we know____2___vitamins and how each kind of vitamins__3_____in the growth of a special part of our body._____4____ on the market all kinds of vitamins which we can take to______5____our lack of certain important things which are needed for good health.____6____ if we eat well and properly, the food that we eat will ___7____ our bodies and so there is no____8_____to take any kind of vitamins ____9____ our doctors tell us that our bodies are_____10____of something which can be supplied by it. Generally speaking, everything we eat ____11____ some good to our bodies, but if we eat ____12____ of one kind of food and pay______13____attention to others, we may have too much of one kind and not____14____ of others. Then we may be ____15___ trouble. We are often told___16_____ we must eat some meat every day in order to get the necessary proteins. That is only____17____true, for proteins are not found only in meat. We can also get them___18____some vegetables. The best advice about ____19___ to eat is that we should eat all kinds of food____20__ never too much of one kind.
1. A．it B．those C．that D．this
2. A．of B．about C．/ D．for
3. A．does B．makes C．helps D．works
4. A．There have B．There are C．They are D．They have
5. A．have for B．make for C．get for D．make up for
6. A．Of course B．Then C．But D．And
7. A．attend B．take care of C．look for D．pay attention to
8. A．worry B．possibility C．need D．chance
9. A．when B．if C．unless D．until
10. A．short B．lost C．part D．full
11. A．has B．is C．makes D．does
12. A．too much B．too little C．too few D．too many
13. A．too little B．too much C．a little too D．much too
14. A．a little B．little C．many D．enough
15. A．into B．at C．in D．out of
16. A．when B．that C．how D．where
17. A．likely B．partly C．hardly D．really
18. A．from B．for C．of D．into
19. A．what B．whether C．why D．which
20. A．even B．or C．and D．but
高一英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
“Farm to table” is the name of a movement that encourages people to eat locally grown food. The farm-to-table idea has become more popular in recent years. But there is also a movement that brings “table to farm”. Its purpose is to connect people to the land and to honor local farmers by creating a sort of restaurant without walls.
Its founder, Jim Denevan, got the idea for this kind of “culinary adventure (美食探险)”, as he called it, ten years ago. He recently prepared tables for more than a hundred people at Briars Farm in Virginia. He and his eight-member team arrived the night before. Chefs (厨师) from a local restaurant prepared the dinner.
Jim Denevan’s brother is a farmer and he himself is a chef. He thought that the idea of a meal served right on the farm made sense, though not everyone agreed.
“But I wanted to make the idea work, so I decided to cross the country, “ said Denevan. “I went all the way across the United States and set the table on farms, ranches (大牧场) and beaches, and all the places where food came from. “
“This kind of event connects us with a lot of enthusiastic people, people that we can form relationships with, “ said Matt Szechenyi, who operates Briars Farm.
The tour of the farm ends at the dinner table. The meats in the meal come from Matt Szechenyi’s farm. The vegetables come from nearby farms. Guests and local farmers sit together.
Annoica Ingram came with a friend. “The food is wonderful. I appreciate their hard work. I see everything they have to do to take care of the animals and make sure they are well-cared-for. Without them, I think, we’ll have big problems, “ she said.
1.What is the main purpose of the movement “table to farm”?
A.To provide people with healthy food.
B.To help farmers earn more money.
C.To honor farmers for their hard work.
D.To encourage people to work less and practice more.
2.Annoica’s attitude towards farmers’ work is ______.
A.worried
B.grateful
C.doubtful
D.supportive
3.What kind of writing is the passage likely to be?
A.A travel guide.
B.A news report.
C.A diary.
D.Popular science.
高一英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Stores, farmer markets, gas stations and restaurants have been interested in the organic(有机的) food. However, it can be difficult to tell natural foods from organic foods. Most people don’t know that there is a major difference between the two foods. No one seems to be able to determine which is which, creating a lot of confusion for people who are truly concerned with buying the best and healthiest products.
In 2000, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its official position on organic foods and made its production controlled by a strict law. While there are several standards for organic foods, foods must be grown without the use of antibiotics(抗生素)，growth hormones(激素)，chemical things and so on. The leaves of plants are one of the best choices.
On the other hand, natural foods have no legal rules, and are not controlled by any law. The USDA does require that seller should list the parts of natural foods, but there are no official rules for the amount of natural parts a food must contain. A natural food is usually considered to contain less chemical things, though there is no way to keep an eye on the product.
The USDA has guidelines for organic production. When considering buying organic foods, you must take into consideration that the organic meat, eggs and milk products must come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones.
Due to higher labor costs, organic products cost 40% to 120% more compared with their natural foods. The most important thing to remember is to eat a variety of healthy foods, organic or natural foods. Eating more fruits, vegetables, low-fat and whole grains will be good for our health.
1.What can be used in growing organic foods?
A. Chemical things. B. Antibiotics.
C. The leaves of trees. D. Growth hormones.
2.What is the attitude of the author towards the quality of natural foods?
A. Worried. B. Interested.
C. Unconcerned. D. positive.
3.The passage is developed ______.
A. by space B. by comparison
C. by process D. by time
4.What may be the main idea of the text?
A. The advantages of organic foods.
B. The function of organic foods.
C. The differences between natural foods and organic foods.
D. The importance of organic foods and natural foods.
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
City people enjoy going to the countryside ________ with organic food and vegetables on holidays.
A. to entertain B. to be entertained
C. entertaining themselves D. to be entertained themselves
高一英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Thousands of years ago, people only ate food that was grown near their homes. Some kinds of food were only grown in one place, so people from other places didn’t know about them. When Europeans first traveled to Central and South America in the 1500s, they discovered strange kinds of food that they had never seen before. Today, these are grown in a lot of different countries and they’re sold in supermarkets all over the world. They don’t seem strange any more!
Potatoes were first grown in the Andes in South America. In 1586, they were taken to Europe by explorers (探险家). In 1719, they were taken to North America. Before 1719, nobody in North America had ever seen or eaten a potato. Today each American eats more than 60 kilos of potatoes a year.
Tomatoes were also first grown by native (本地的) Americans. When European explorers visited the south of America in 1500, they took tomato seeds (种子) back to Europe. Soon, tomatoes were grown in Europe, but people in England didn’t eat them. At that time, a lot of English people thought that tomatoes were poisonous!
Chilies (辣椒) have been eaten in Central and South America for more than 8,000 years! In the 1500s, chilies were taken to Europe by explorers. Today, they are grown in hot countries all over the world.
1.How many kinds of food are mentioned in the passage?
A. Two. B. Three. C. Four. D. Five
2.People in Central and South America have eaten chilies for more than_______ years.
A. 1,500 B. 1,586 C. 8,000 D.1719
3.According to the passage, we know that _______.
A. people only ate food grown near their homes after 1719.
B. people in Europe were the first to plant potatoes.
C. Chilies have been eaten in Europe for more than 1000 years.
D. the European explorers took chilies to Europe in the 1500s.
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析