1、在职艺术硕士（MFA）全国联考英文阅读理解-试卷 15及答案解析(总分：40.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、英文阅读理解题(总题数：4，分数：40.00)Many Americans harbor a grossly distorted and exaggerated view of most of the risks surrounding food. Fergus Clydesdale, head of the department of food science and nutrition at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, says
2、 bluntly that if the dangers from bacterially contaminated chicken were as great as some people believe, “the streets would be littered with people lying here and there. “ Though the public increasingly demands no-risk food, there is no such thing. Bruce Ames, chairman of the biochemistry department
3、 at the University of California, Berkeley, points out that up to 10% of a plant“s weight is made up of natural pesticides (杀虫剂 ). Says he: “Since plants do not have jaws or teeth to protect themselves, they employ chemical warfare. “ And many naturally produced chemicals, though occurring in tiny a
4、mounts, prove in laboratory tests to be strong carcinogensa substance which can cause cancer. Mushrooms (蘑菇) might be banned if they were judged by the same standards that apply to food additives (添加剂). Declares Christina Stark, a nutritionist at Cornell University, “We“ve got far worse natural chem
5、icals in the food supply than anything man-made. “ Yet the issues are not that simple. While Americans have no reason to be terrified to sit down at the dinner table, they have every reason to demand significant improvements in food and water safety. They unconsciously and unwillingly take in too mu
6、ch of too many dangerous chemicals. If food already contains natural carcinogens, it does not make much sense to add dozens of new man-made ones. Though most people will withstand the small amounts of contaminants generally found in food and water, at least a few individuals will probably get cancer
7、 one day because of what they eat and drink. To make good food and water supplies even better, the Government needs to tighten its regulatory standards， stiffen its inspection program and strengthen its enforcement policies. The food industry should modify some long-accepted practices or turn to les
8、s hazardous alternatives. Perhaps most important, consumers will have to do a better job of learning how to handle and cook food properly. The problems that need to be tackled exist all along the food-supply chain, from fields to processing plants to kitchens. (381 words)（分数：10.00）(1).What does the
9、author think of the Americans“ view of their food?（分数：2.00）A.They overstate the government“s interference with the food industry.B.They are overoptimistic about the safety of their food.C.They overestimate the hazards of their food.D.They overlook the risks of the food they eat.(2).The author consid
10、ers it impossible to obtain no-risk food because_.（分数：2.00）A.no food is free from pollution in the environmentB.pesticides are widely used in agricultureC.many vegetables contain dangerous natural chemicalsD.almost all foods have additives(3).By saying “they employ chemical warfare“ (Lines 45, Para.
11、 2), Bruce Ames means “_“.（分数：2.00）A.plants produce certain chemicals to combat pests and diseasesB.plants absorb useful chemicals to promote their growthC.farmers use man-made chemicals to dissolve the natural chemicals in plantsD.farmers use chemicals to protect plants against pests and diseases(4
12、).The reduction of the possible hazards in food ultimately depends on_.（分数：2.00）A.the governmentB.the consumerC.the processorD.the grower(5).What is the message the author wants to convey in the passage?（分数：2.00）A.Eating and drinking have become more hazardous than before.B.Immediate measures must b
13、e taken to improve food production and processing.C.Health food is not a dream in modern society.D.There is reason for caution but no cause for alarm with regard to food consumptioaImagine eating everything delicious you wantwith none of the fat. That would be great, wouldn“t it? New “fake fat“ prod
14、ucts appeared on store shelves in the United States recently, but not everyone is happy about it Makers of the products, which contain a compound called olestra, say food manufacturers can now eliminate fat from certain foods. Critics, however, say the new compound can rob the body of essential vita
15、mins and nutrients (营养物) and can also cause unpleasant side effects in some people. So it“s up to decide whether the new fat-free products taste good enough to keep eating. Chemists discovered olestra in the late 1960s, when they were searching for a fat that could be digested by infants more easily
16、. Instead of finding the desired fat, the researchers created a fat that can“t be digested at all. Normally, special chemicals in the intestines (肠) “grab“ molecules of regular fat and break them down so they can be used by the body. A molecule of regular fat is made up of three molecules of substan
17、ces called fatty acids. The fatty acids are absorbed by the intestines and bring with them the essential vitamins A, D, E, and K. When fat molecules are present in the intestines with any of those vitamins, the vitamins attach to the molecules and are carried into the bloodstream. Olestra, which is
18、made from six to eight molecules of fatty acids, is too large for the intestines to absorb. It just slides through the intestines without being broken down. Manufacturers say it“s that ability to slide unchanged through the intestines that makes olestra so valuable as a fat substitute. It provides c
19、onsumers with the taste of regular fat without any bad effects on the body. But critics say olestra can prevent vitamins A, D, E, and K from being absorbed. It can also prevent the absorption of carotenoids (类胡萝卜素 ), compounds that may reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, etc. Manufacturers are
20、 adding vitamins A, D， E, and K as well as carotenoids to their products now. Even so, some nutritionists are still concerned that people might eat unlimited amounts of food made with the fat substitute without worrying about how many calories they are consuming. (381 words)（分数：10.00）(1).We learn fr
21、om the passage that olestra is a substance that_.（分数：2.00）A.contains plenty of nutrientsB.renders foods calorie-free while retaining their vitaminsC.makes foods easily digestibleD.makes foods fat-free while keeping; them delicious(2).The result of the search for an easily digestible fat turned out t
22、o be_.（分数：2.00）A.commercially uselessB.just as anticipatedC.somewhat controversialD.quite unexpected(3).Olestra is different from ordinary fats in that_.（分数：2.00）A.it passes through the intestines without being absorbedB.it facilitates the absorption of vitamins by the bodyC.it helps reduce the inci
23、dence of heart diseaseD.it prevents excessive intake of vitamins(4).What is a possible negative effect of olestra according to some critics?（分数：2.00）A.It may impair the digestive system.B.It may affect the overall fat intake.C.It may increase the risk of cancer.D.It may spoil the consumers“ appetite
24、.(5).Why are nutritionists concerned about adding vitamins to olestra?（分数：2.00）A.It may lead to the over-consumption of vitamins.B.People may be induced to eat more than is necessary.C.The function of the intestines may be weakened.D.It may trigger a new wave of fake food production.In department st
25、ores and closets all over the world, they are waiting. Their outward appearance seems rather appealing because they come in a variety of styles, textures, and colors. But they are ultimately the biggest deception that exists in the fashion industry today. What are they? They are high heelsa woman“s
26、worst enemy (whether she knows it or not). High heel shoes are the downfall of modern society. Fashion myths have led women to believe that they are more beautiful or sophisticated for wearing heels, but in reality, heels succeed in posing short as well as long term hardships. Women should fight the
27、 high heel industry by refusing to use or purchase them in order to save the world from unnecessary physical and psychological suffering. For the sake of fairness, it must be noted that there is a positive side to high heels. First, heels are excellent for aerating (使通气,)lawns. Anyone who has ever w
28、orn heels on grass knows what I am talking about. A simple trip around the yard in a pair of those babies eliminates all need to call for a lawn care specialist, and provides the perfect-sized holes to give any lawn oxygen without all those messy chunks of dirt lying around. Second, heels are quite
29、functional for defense against oncoming enemies, who can easily be scared away by threatening them with a pair of these sharp, deadly fashion accessories. Regardless of such practical uses for heels, the fact remains that wearing high heels is harmful to one“s physical health. Talk to any podiatrist
30、 (足病医生)， and you will hear that the majority of their business comes from high-heel-wearing women. High heels are known to cause problems such as deformed feet and torn toenails. The risk of severe back problems and twisted or broken ankles is three times higher for a flat shoe wearer. Wearing heels
31、 also creates the threat of getting a heel caught in a sidewalk crack or a sewer grate (阴沟栅) and being thrown to the groundpossibly breaking a nose, back, or neck. And of course, after wearing heels for a day, any woman knows she can look forward to a night of pain as she tries to comfort her swolle
32、n, aching feet. (384 words)（分数：10.00）(1).What makes women blind to the deceptive nature of high heels?（分数：2.00）A.The multi-functional use of high heels.B.Their attempt to show off their status.C.The rich variety of high heel styles.D.Their wish to improve their appearance.(2).The author“s presentati
33、on of the positive side of high heels is meant_.（分数：2.00）A.to be ironicB.to poke fun at womenC.to be fair to the fashion industryD.to make his point convincing(3).The author uses the expression “those babies“ (Lines 34， Para. 2) to refer to high heels_.（分数：2.00）A.to show their fragile characteristic
34、sB.to indicate their feminine featuresC.to show women“s affection for themD.to emphasize their small size(4).The author“s chief argument against high heels is that_.（分数：2.00）A.they pose a threat to lawnsB.they are injurious to women“s healthC.they don“t necessarily make women beautifulD.they are ine
35、ffective as a weapon of defense(5).It can be inferred from the passage that women should_.（分数：2.00）A.see through the very nature of fashion mythsB.boycott the products of the fashion industryC.go to a podiatrist regularly for adviceD.avoid following fashion too closelyBurn rate is the speed at which
36、 a startup business consumes money. My rate would be $ 50,000 a month when my new media company started. So, I began looking around for individuals who would be my first investors. “Angel money“ it was called. But when I reviewed my list of acquaintances to find those who might be able to help, I fo
37、und the number got small. With no other choices, I began meeting with the venture-capital companies. But I was warned they took a huge share of your company for the money they put in. And if you struggled, they could drop you cold. As I was searching for “angel money“, I started to build a team who
38、trusted me even though I didn“t have money for paychecks yet. Bill Becker was an expert in computer programming and image processing at a very famous Media Lab at MIT. With his arrival, my company suddenly had a major technology “guy“ in house. Katherine Henderson, a filmmaker and a former real-esta
39、te dealer, joined us as our director of market research. Steve White came on as operating officer. He had worked for the developer of a home-finance software, Quicken. We grabbed him. We had some really good people, but we still didn“t have enough money. One night, my neighbor, Louise Johnson, came
40、for a visit. She and I were only nodding acquaintances, but her boys and ours were constant companions. She ran a very good business at the time. Louise was brilliant and missed nothing. She had been watching my progress closely. She knew I was dying for money and I had prospects but could offer no
41、guarantees of success. She told me that her attorney had talked to mine and the terms had been agreed upon. She handed me an envelope. Inside was a check for $ 500,000. I almost fell down. I heard her voice as if from heaven. “I have confidence in your plan,“ she said. “You“ll do well. You“re going
42、to work hard for it, but it“s satisfying when you build your own company. “ Who would have thought I“d find an angel so close to home? There were no words sufficient for the moment. We just said good night. She left and I just stood there, completely humbled and completely committed. (385 words)（分数：
43、10.00）(1).For a newly-established business, burn rate refers to_.（分数：2.00）A.the salary it pays to its staffB.the interest it pays to the bankC.the way in which it raises capitalD.the speed at which it spends money(2).By “Angel money“, the author refers to_.（分数：2.00）A.the money borrowed from banksB.t
44、he money spent to promote salesC.the money raised from close friendsD.the money needed to start a business(3).To get help from a venture-capital company, you may have to_.（分数：2.00）A.put up with unfair termsB.change your business lineC.enlarge your business scopeD.let them operate your business(4).Th
45、e author easily built a team for his company because_.（分数：2.00）A.they were underpaid at their previous jobsB.they were turned down by other companiesC.they were confident of the author and his businessD.they were satisfied with the salaries in his company(5).Louise decided to lend money to the autho
46、r because_.（分数：2.00）A.she wanted to join his companyB.she knew he would build a teamC.she knew his plan would succeedD.she wanted to help promote his sales在职艺术硕士（MFA）全国联考英文阅读理解-试卷 15答案解析(总分：40.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、英文阅读理解题(总题数：4，分数：40.00)Many Americans harbor a grossly distorted and exaggerated view of mo
47、st of the risks surrounding food. Fergus Clydesdale, head of the department of food science and nutrition at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, says bluntly that if the dangers from bacterially contaminated chicken were as great as some people believe, “the streets would be littered with peopl
48、e lying here and there. “ Though the public increasingly demands no-risk food, there is no such thing. Bruce Ames, chairman of the biochemistry department at the University of California, Berkeley, points out that up to 10% of a plant“s weight is made up of natural pesticides (杀虫剂 ). Says he: “Since
49、 plants do not have jaws or teeth to protect themselves, they employ chemical warfare. “ And many naturally produced chemicals, though occurring in tiny amounts, prove in laboratory tests to be strong carcinogensa substance which can cause cancer. Mushrooms (蘑菇) might be banned if they were judged by the same standards that apply to food additives (添加剂). Declares Christina Stark, a nutritionist at Cornell University, “We“ve got far worse natural chemicals in the food supply than anything man-made. “ Yet the issue
