题型：阅读理解 题类：常考题 难易度：普通
河南省南阳市2018届高三上学期英语期末考试试卷
“Sugar, alcohol and tobacco,” economist Adam Smith once wrote, “are commodities which are nowhere necessaries of life, which have become objects of almost universal consumption, and which are, therefore, extremely popular subjects of taxation.”
Two and a half centuries on, most countries impose (征税) sort of tax on alcohol and tobacco. With obesity levels putting increasing pressure on public health systems, governments around the world have begun to toy with the idea of taxing sugar as well.
Whether such taxes work is a matter of debate. A preliminary review of Mexico's taxation found a fall in purchases of taxed drinks as well as a rise in sales of untaxed and healthier drinks. By contrast, a Danish tax on foods high in fats was abandoned a year after its introduction, during claims that consumers were avoiding it by crossing the border to Germany to satisfy their desire for cheaper, fattier foods.
The food industry has, in general, been firmly opposed to such direct government action. Nonetheless, the renewed focus on waistlines means that industry groups are under pressure to demonstrate their products are healthy as well as tasty.
Over the past three decades, the industry has made some efforts to improve the quality of its offerings. For example, some drink manufactures have cut the amount of sugar in their beverages (饮料).
Many of the reductions over the past 30 years have been achieved either by reducing the amount of sugar, salt or fat in a product, or by finding an alternative ingredient. More recently, however, some companies have been investing money in a more ambitious undertaking: learning how to adjust the fundamental make-up of the food they sell. For example, having salt on the outside, but none on the inside, reduces the salt content without changing the taste.
While reformulating (再制定) recipes is one way to improve public health, it should be part of a multisided (多边的) approach. The key is to remember that there is not just one solution. To deal with obesity, a mixture of approaches, which include reformulation, taxation and adjusting portion sizes, will be needed. There is no silver bullet.
Trampolining
What's more fun than standing still? Jumping up and down on a springy piece of fabric (织物)! This activity is known as trampolining and it's sweeping the nation.
The idea of trampolining is ancient. Eskimos have been throwing each other in the air for thousands of years. Firemen began using a life net to catch people jumping from buildings in 1887. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}
A gymnast named George Nissan and his coach Larry Griswold made the first modern trampoline in 1936. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} They named their equipment after the Spanish word trampolín, which means diving board. The men wanted to share their idea with the whole world. In 1942 they began making trampolines to sell to the public.
Trampolines may be fun, but they can also be dangerous. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Clubs and gyms use large safety nets or other equipment to make it safer. Most trampoline injuries happen at home. Since trampolines are more affordable than ever, injuries are even more common.
These injuries happen for many reasons. People may bounce too high and land out of the trampoline or onto the springs. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Perhaps the worst injuries happen when untrained people try to do flips (快速翻转). Landing on your neck or head can cause injuries or even kill you.
{#blank#}5{#/blank#} There are many things that you can do to practice safe trampolining. Trampolines have been around for a while now. They have brought a lot of joy to many people. They can be a good source of exercise and activity. They can help people improve their balance and moves. But they can also be deadly. It is important to follow some professional guidance. Be sure that you are practicing safety while having a good time. Happy bouncing!
A. They found a winner when they performed a piece of spring across a steel frame. B. And in the early 1900s, circus performers began bouncing off a net to amuse audiences. C. Injuries also happen when many people are jumping at the same time. D. Experts find that more than 100,000 people hurt themselves while using one each year. E. You can surround your trampoline with a net so that people don't fall off it. F. They got the idea by watching swing artists bouncing off a tight net at the circus. G. But don't let all that bad news keep you down. |
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