Questions 56 to 60 are based on the followingpassage.

A study of nearly 140,000 women in the U. S.showed that regular helpings of a small portion ofnuts can have a powerful protective effect against adisease that is threatening to become a globalepidemic. Women who consumed a 28 gram packet of walnuts at least twice a week were 24per cent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who rarely or never ate them. Eatingwalnuts just two or three times a week can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by almost aquarter.

The latest findings, published in the Journal of Nutrition, are not the first to highlight theanti-diabetic effects of walnuts, with earlier research showing similar benefits. However, this isthought to be one of the largest studies to fmd regularly snarling on them can help preventthe condition. Although the latest research was carried out on female nurses, it's likely that thesame benefits apply to men.

According to the charity Diabetes UK, at the current rate of increase, the numbersaffected by type 2 diabetes in the UK will rise from around 2.5 million currently to four millionby 2025 and five million by 2030. Left untreated, it can raise the risk of heart attacks,blindness and amputation (截肢). Being overweight, physically inactive and having a poor dietare major risk factors for the disease.

Scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, U. S. , tracked 137,893 nursesaged from 35 to 77 over a ten year period to see how many developed type 2 diabetes. Theirdietary habits were closely monitored, including details on how often they ate nuts, particularlywalnuts. After allowing for body fat and weight, the researchers found eating walnuts one tothree times a month reduced the risk by four per cent, once a week by 13 per cent and at leasttwice a week by 24 per cent.

In a report on the findings the researchers said: "These results suggest higher walnutconsumption is associated with a significantly lower risk of type 2 diabetes in women: "Walnuts are rich in healthy fatty acids(脂肪酸)which have been shown to reduce inflammation(炎症) in the body and protect against heart disease, cancer and arthritis(关节炎). Last year,experts at the University of California Los Angeles also found young men in their twenties andthirties who ate walnuts every day increased their sperm count and boosted their fertility.

The research comes just after a Louisiana State University study which showed that eatingnuts can reduce people's risk of obesity. The study found that those who consumed varietiessuch as almonds and pistachios(开心果) demonstrated a lower body weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference compared to non-consumers. They were also at lower risk ofdeveloping heart disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

56. According to the passage, what does "a global epidemic" ( Line 3, Para. 1 ) refer to?

A) A disease.

B) Type 2 diabetes.

C) Cancer.

D) Obesity.

57. According to the passage, the research published in the Journal of Nutrition

A) was carried out on male nurses.

B) is considered as the largest study of walnuts' anti-diabetic effects.

C) emphasizes walnuts' anti-diabetic effects.

D) is the first study of walnuts' anti-diabetic effects.

58. Which of the following can be inferred from Paragraph 3?

A) The number of diabetes patients in the UK will double by 2025.

B) Type 2 diabetes is mainly triggered by childhood overweight.

C) Diet and exercise may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

D) Type 2 diabetes will cause a significant increase of weight.

59. Which of the following is TRUE about the 137,893 nurses tracked by scientists at theHarvard?

A) Most of them are female.

B) Their eating habits were closely inspected for over ten years.

C) Their age is ranging from 35 to 77 years old.

D) They have about the same body fat and weight.英语六级考试题

60. It has been proved that eating nuts can

A) lower people's body weight, BMI and waist circumference

B) reduce inflammation in the body

C) lower people's risk of heart disease, cancer and arthritis

D) increase young men's sperm count and boost their fertility

参考答案

56.B)。本题考查有关a global epidemic的指代。由定位句“一项对美国近14万女性进行的研究表明，定期吃一小份坚果对于一种全球性的致命性流行病可以起到很强大的预防作用”可知，该段主题为吃核桃可减少患2型糖尿病的危险，由此可知这个致命性的全球流行病为2型糖尿病，故答案为B)。

57.C)。本题考查对刊登在《营养期刊》杂志上的最新研究的理解。定位句提到“刊登在《营养期刊》杂志上的最新研究发现并非是首次强调核桃对糖尿病有预防功效的研究，之前早就有研究表明核桃有类似功效”，C)“强调核桃对糖尿病有预防功效”中的emphasize对应原文的highlight，故为答案。

58.C)。本题考查2型糖尿病的诱导原因。定位句提到“体重超重、不锻炼身体、不良饮食习惯是糖尿病的主要风险因素。”由此可推知，锻炼身体、良好的饮食习惯可降低患糖尿病的风险，故C)为答案。

59.C)。本题考查哈佛公共卫生学院的科学家所追踪的护士的情况。由定位句可知“美国波士顿哈佛公共卫生学院的科学家们对l37，893名年龄从35岁到77岁的护士跟踪研究了十年，观察其中有多少人患2型糖尿病”，故C)为答案。

60.A)。本题考查吃各种坚果的益处。定位句指出“路易斯安那州州立大学的一项课题表明吃坚果可以降低人们肥胖的风险，在这之后便展开了相关的研究。经研究证明，那些吃各种坚果如杏仁、开心果的人与那些不吃坚果的人相比，体重相对较低、身体质量指数较低、腰围相对较细”，A)“降低人们的体重、身体质量指数、腰围”与原文表述一致，故为答案。