Question

【题目】 Families should reduce exposure to synthetic chemicals found in food colorings, preservatives and packaging materials as a growing body of research shows they may harm children’s health, according to a policy statement and technical report from the American Academy of Pediastrics released online.

The statement also suggests improvements to the food additives regulatory system, including updating the scientific foundation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations safety assessment retesting all previously approved chemicals.

Leonard Trasande ,the author of the policy statement, to tell us more about these concerns.

Q: What are the growing number of studies showing us?

A: Over the past two decades, an accumulating body of science suggests some food additives can interfere with a child’s hormones, growth and development.

Potentially harmful effects of food additives are of special concern for children because they are more sensitive to chemical exposures because they eat and drink more relative to body weight, than adults do and are still growing and developing. An early injury to their organ systems can have lifelong and permanent consequences.

Q: What additives does the statement highlight?

A: The additives of most concern, based on rising research evidence cited in the report, include:

Bisphenols, such as BPA, used to harden plastic containers and line metal cans, can act like estrogen（雌激素）in the body which may potentially change the timing of puberty, decrease fertility, increase body fat and affect the nervous and immune systems. BPA is now banned in baby bottles.

Phthalates, which make plastic and vinyl tubes used in industrial food production flexible, may affect male genital development increase childhood obesity and contribute to cardiovascular disease. In 2017, the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use or some phthalates in child-care products such as teething rings.

【1】According to the American Academy of Pediatric’s report, people should ___ to cope with the problem of food additives.

A. try to avoid food additives in daily life and revise relevant rules on food additives

B. update the food safety assessment program and check the approved chemicals again

C. improve the food additives regulatory system and retest all approved chemicals

D. reduce the usage of food additives and establish new food protection system

【2】Leonardo Trasande holds the view that food additives do more harm to children than adults because study shows ___.

A. children are more sensitive to what they eat and drink than adults

B. children usually eat and drink more unhealthy food than adults

C. children are just too young and weak to protect themselves

D. children’s organs are easier to be damaged and hard to recover

【3】How many specific kinds of harmful effect caused by the additives are mentioned in the passage?

A. 2B. 7

C. 8D. 3

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】D

【3】B

【解析】

这是一篇介绍说明类的文章。研究表明：食品添加剂对儿童健康有巨大的危害。研究建议家庭应该减少接触食品色素，还建议改进食品添加剂监管体系。

【1】细节理解题。根据第一和第二段中的“Families should reduce exposure to synthetic chemicals found in food colorings, preservatives and packaging materials … according to a policy statement and technical report from the American Academy of Pediastrics released online. The statement also suggests improvements to the food additives regulatory system”可知，美国儿科学会在网上发布的一份政策声明和技术报告显示，越来越多的研究表明，家庭应该减少接触食品色素、防腐剂和包装材料中的合成化学物质……声明还建议改进食品添加剂监管体系。故结合选项，A选项正确：尽量避免日常生活中的食品添加剂，修改食品添加剂的相关规定。故选A。

【2】细节理解题。根据文中的“Potentially harmful effects of food additives are of special concern for children because they are more sensitive to chemical exposures…An early injury to their organ systems can have lifelong and permanent consequences.”可知，食品添加剂的潜在有害影响是我们尤其要特别关注的儿童问题，因为他们对化学品接触更加敏感。早期损伤他们的器官系统可能会带来终身和永久的后果。也就是说，儿童器官容易受损，不易恢复。故D选项正确。

【3】细节理解题。根据最后两段中的“Bisphenols, such as BPA…which may potentially change the timing of puberty, decrease fertility, increase body fat and affect the nervous and immune systems…Phthalates… may affect male genital development increase childhood obesity and contribute to cardiovascular disease.”可知，双酚类化合物，如双酚A……这可能会改变青春期的时间，降低生育能力，增加身体脂肪，并影响神经系统和免疫系统。邻苯二甲酸酯……可能影响男性生殖器官的发育，增加儿童肥胖，并导致心血管疾病。很明显，一共提到7种有害影响。故B选项正确。