年高二英语话题阅读训练-Week-Five健康饮食.docVIP

Week Five 健康饮食 一、阅读理解（共24小题；共48.0分） A Just two apples a day could help protect women against heart disease by cutting their cholesterol(胆固醇) levels, according to new research. Scientists found snacking on the fruit every day for a certain period diminished cholesterol by almost a quarter. The findings, by a team of researchers at Florida State University in the U.S, support the evidence that apples could be good for the heart. But the latest study suggests they could benefit one of the highest-risk groups. Around 45 percent of British women will suffer from heart disease and it is the biggest single cause among the old women. Up to the menopause(更年期), women appear to have a natural ability to prevent themselves from heart disease and the rate of illness is only a third of that seen in men. Researchers wanted to see if eating the equal of two apples every day could have an important effect on heart disease risk. They found 160 women who had been through the menopause and got half to eat 75 grams a day of dried apple, which is equal to two medium-sized fresh apples. As a comparison, the other half were told to eat the same amount of prunes(梅干) to see if they had a similar effect. The results showed that after three months total cholesterol levels in the apple-eating group had dropped by 9 percent and LDL cholesterol (低密度脂蛋白胆固醇) by 16 percent. After six months, levels were even lower, with total cholesterol down 13 per cent and LDL levels dropping by 24 per cent. There was no further decrease in the remaining six months of the experiment. Prunes lowered cholesterol levels slightly but not to the same degree as apples. In a report on their findings the researchers said, Eating about two medium-sized apples can lower cholesterol levels as early as three months. British people can eat nearly 500,000 tons of apples a year. In 2009, a Polish study showed two apples a day also reduced the risk of bowel(肠) cancer by half in adults. And rese