04.食品安全
一、阅读理解
1
In the past few weeks, Richard Eckersley has noticed a change in the type of people who
come into his shop. In 2017, the former Manchester United footballer set up Earth. Food.
Love in Tones, Devon, with his wife, Nicola. It’s the UK’s first “zero waste” store—the food
is in big jars and boxes and people bring their own containers. “A lot of new people are
coming in-people who have not necessarily been interested in environmental issues before”,
he says.
Recently, the government called for supermarkets to introduce plastic-free passageways.
But Eckersley says many customers are already way ahead of politicians. He and Nicola have
helped people set up similar stores in Wales, Birmingham, and Bristol. Ingrid Caldironi had a
similar idea. She set up a plastic-free shop in London last year, which has been so popular
that it is soon moving to a bigger site.
Eckersley and Caldironi are members of an anti-plastics movement in the UK that has
been growing as a result of the BBC’s Blue Planet series and a general worry about the
damage plastic is doing to the environment. But big supermarkets have so far not tried very
hard to reduce their plastic waste. Sian Sutherland, founder of the movement “A Plastic
Planet”, says, “The most exciting thing is that politicians and industry are no longer saying
that recycling will solve the problem. Banning the use of plastic packaging for food and drink
products is the only answer.” Walking down the passageways of the supermarket where
everything from pizza to fresh fruit and vegetables is covered in plastic. Sutherland says
immediate action is needed.
Plastic pollution is causing widespread global damage. More than one million plastic
bottles are bought around the world every minute, and most end up in landfill or the sea. The
contamination is so wide that tap water around the world also contains plastic.
1. What is special about Earth. Food. Love?
A. It gives away boxes of food. B. It is a store without plastic bags.
C. It has few new customers. D. It is the UK’s first supermarket.
2. What caused Caldironi’s shop to be relocated to a larger place?
A. Its popularity. B. Its products. C. Its profits. D. Its similarity.
3. What does the underlined word “contamination” in last paragraph mean?A. Pollution. B. Acceptance. C. Influence. D. Application.
4. What is the text mainly about?
A. The impact of BBC’s Blue Planet series on anti-plastics movements.
B. Rising anti-plastics movement alongside increasing environmental concerns.
C. A guide to setting up plastic-free stores to promote recycling in the whole UK.
D. Richard Eckersley’s personal journey in waste reduction and pollution prevention.
2
The United Nations’ International Year of Soils is hardly a media favorite. Maybe it’s
because many people are like me, who recall Mom’s words: “Take off your shoes! Don’t
bring dirt into the house! “With all the challenges in the world today, why would we
recognize soils?
Simply put, soils are literally the base that humans stand on. Ignoring the importance of
this meter-thick skin covering our planet is like ignoring the importance of the air we breathe.
Without healthy soils, we would not be here.
Soil provides the structure and nutrients needed to grow our food. It stores water that
satisfies the thirst of the environment, agriculture and humans. It houses the largest amount of
carbon (碳)on land, keeping the climate from warming even faster. It provides the necessary
support for the habitat of all life on land-including diversity in the soil itself (in some regions,
just a handful of soil contains microorganisms that are more than the people on Earth). In
short, soil plays an essential role not only in feeding humans but in supporting the living
things that produce the oxygen we breathe and purifying the water we drink. In other words,
soil keeps our planet habitable.
We, therefore, must stop considering ”soil“ a dirty word and remember that the food we
eat and water we drink can be traced back to it. Businesses should adopt guidelines that
ensure the long term health and productivity of soil. And local and national governments
should provide policies that encourage soil protection.
Soil is one of the most important resources on our planet, and we have ignored it too
long-at our own risk. The most important thing that can happen is a change in mind-set that
recognizes soil is not dirt. It’s life beneath our feet.
5. Why does the author mention Mom’s words?
A. To criticize media.
B. To find fault with parentsC. To show a common attitude.
D. To promote International Year of Soils.
6. Paragraph 3 is mainly about the _______________ of soil.
A. roles B. types C. health D. structure
7. What is the best title for the passage?
A. Soil Being in Danger
B. Making the Most of Soil
C. Unearthing the Importance of Soil
D. Healthy Soil Growing More Food
3
A new mobile application called Farm Assistant was developed by Wu Zeyin. Wu is 11
years old now, who moved to Botswana with his family in 2016.
During the past years living in the country, Wu found that the quantity of fruit and
vegetables sold at local supermarkets was very limited and the quality was poor. Some
vegetables weren’t ripe, such as small carrots and green tomatoes. They are also quite
expensive. Tropical savanna (草原) and desert climates are typical in most parts of the
country. This makes it difficult to grow common crops. Drought-tolerant species of corn,
sorghum and beans are also uncommon.
For a long time, due to the food shortage, Botswana had to import many grains, fruits
and vegetables from neighboring countries to meet the needs of its people.
In July last year, Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, successfully kicked off a pilot
project to grow China’s water-saving and drought-tolerant rice. This brought Wu some new
ideas on local agriculture.
The app supports eight crops commonly grown locally. These include tomatoes,
potatoes, onions, corn, carrots, cabbage, eggplant and radishes. Farmers who use the
application can click on the crop picture. They can see its time points of planting, watering
needs, ripening time, seed price, selling price and yield. After planting the seeds, farmers
click the timer to start. The application reminds them what to do at each stage.
Wu, whose invention has been moving the needle for the life of Botswana farmers, still
focuses on solving agricultural problems. He quotes an old saying in China, “Give a man a
fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and he feeds himself for life. ”
8. Which can be the main reason for Botswana’s food shortage?A. Limited supplies in local markets. B. Unfavourable climate conditions.
C. Lack of advanced farming techniques. D. Frequent threats from natural disasters.
9. What does the underlined words “kicked off” in paragraph 4 probably mean?
A. Carried out. B. Got rid of. C. Gave away. D. Took over.
10. How can Wu’s application make farmers’ work easier?
A. It improves local planting environment. B. It identifies the commonly grown crops.
C. It teaches farmers when to plant the seeds. D. It provides basic information of the
crops.
11. Which can best describe Wu from the last paragraph?
A. Helpful and creative. B. Caring and modest.
C. Optimistic and ambitious. D. Considerate and faithful.
4
Consumers may soon find meat on restaurant menus that has never walked the earth—
grown from cell to fillet (肉块). The product, called “cultured” or “cultivated” meat, is
reaching more plates. Cultivated chicken has been sold in a Singapore restaurant since 2020,
and recently the Department of Agriculture approved the sale of cultured chicken in the
United States. More than 150 businesses worldwide are working to put beef, fish, and pork on
the market, too.
Cultured meat begins as a cell from an egg or a piece of traditionally butchered meat.
Fed with certain nutrients for two or three weeks, the meat is processed into forms that
consumers are familiar with. “Initial research is in a lab, but the meat is made in a production
facility.” says Josh Tetrick, CEO of Good Meat, one of the USDA-approved cultured chicken
manufacturers. The company has made public their own nutrient analysis, evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration, which reveals that the nutritional profiles of their products are
almost identical to conventional meats.
By alleviating the raising and killing of animals, cultured meat companies say their
product helps reduce animal cruelty and will be better for the environment. Their process uses
far less land because there’s no need to house animals or grow their feed. Cultured beef,
especially, could reduce the number of cattle on farms-a significant source of methane
emissions. However, some studies contradicted that cultured meat may also require greater
energy usage than conventional production. Much of the environmental impact will depend
on whether the energy used is renewable and on the efficiency of future productiontechnology.
Given a growing consumer consciousness around animal rights and climate change,
supporters foresee a future meat market where consumers will choose between different kinds
of conventional meat, cultured meat, and plant-based alternatives. Approved sale of cultivated
chicken in the U.S. is a landmark moment, but not yet a revolution. While cultured meat’s
widespread consumption and impact on the economy seem a step closer to reality, scientists,
philosophers, and the product’s own manufacturers acknowledge years of work lie ahead.
12. What’s the first paragraph mainly about?
A. The official approval of meat marketing.
B. The growing popularity of meat products.
C. The increasing promotion of cultured meat.
D. The widespread consumption of cultured chicken.
13. In what way is cultured meat similar to conventional meat?
A. Initial forms. B. Production efficiency.
C. Nutritional contents. D. Consumption prospect.
14. Why does the author mention cultured beef in paragraph 3?
A. To explain the process of raising animals.
B. To compare cultured meat and conventional meat.
C. To emphasize the environmental benefits of cultured meat.
D. To highlight the significance of reducing methane emissions.
15. What attitude do scientists hold for the future consumption of cultured meat?
A. Cautious. B. Confident. C. Doubtful. D. Worried.
5
It’s clear that following a plant-based diet is connected with a lower risk of heart disease.
There are many types of plant-based diets, and they are all related to certain foods connected
with heart benefits, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and healthy oils. The diets
have been most studied for their impact on heart health. These diets are rich in vitamins and
minerals that help lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of diabetes (糖尿病) and keep a
healthy weight, all of which can lower your risk of heart disease.
Yet, the types of plant foods and their sources are also important. For example, white
rice and white bread are plant-based foods, so you would think they’re good to eat. But they
are highly processed, and so are depleted of many heart-healthy nutrients (营养) and haveenough sugar, which means they can make blood sugar levels rise sharply and increase
hunger, leading to overeating. Drinking 100% fruit juice is not the same as eating the whole
fruit, since juices can be high in sugar.
Do you really have to cut out all meat for your heart’s health? Which animal foods could
have an impact on heart health? Some research has shown that the type and amount matter
most. A 2014 study showed that men aged 45 to 79 who ate 75 grams or more per day of
processed red meat, like cold cuts, sausage, bacon and hot dogs, had a 28% higher risk of
heart failure than those who ate less than 25 grams. However, a study in the January 2017
found that eating 85 grams of unprocessed red meat, three times per week, did not worsen
blood pressure.
What is the right plant-based diet for you? “For many men, this may be a matter of
bettering their current foods,” says Dr. Satija, a researcher from American College of
Cardiology.
16. From the first two paragraphs, we know that plant-based diets ________.
A. benefit heart health B. increase hunger C. lead to
overweight D. contain enough sugar
17. What do the underlined words “depleted of’’ in paragraph 2 mean?
A. Added to. B. Short of. C. Filled with. D. Rooted in.
18. Why does the author list numbers in paragraph 3?
A. To prove the result believable. B. To attract readers’ attention.
C. To show the process clearly. D. To make the study popular.
19. What might the author continue talking about?
A. Risks of animal foods. B. Disadvantages of plant-based diets.
C. Changes of eating habits. D. Effects of heart-healthy diets.
6
August 24, 2023 may be imprinted in history as the day of disaster for the marine
environment. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has asked Tokyo Electric Power
Company (TEPCO), the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, to release
nuclear wastewater into the ocean from Thursday, ignoring strong objections from both home
and abroad.
It will be a public crime if the discharge goes through and the decision will prove to be
extremely unrewarding. The international community can hold Japan accountableindefinitely.
According to Paris-based French TV network France 24, some 1.34 million tonnes of
nuclear wastewater, equivalent to almost the water in 540 Olympic pools, will be released
into the ocean off Japan’s northeast coast, at a maximum rate of 500 cubic meters per day.
The whole process is expected to take 30 to 40 years and cost around eight trillion yen (55
billion USD).
Junichi Matsumoto, the TEPCO executive in charge of the water release, told the
Associated Press in July that the company plans to release 7,800 tonnes of treated water for
17 days in the first round. By the end of March 2024, the aim is to release 31,200 tonnes. The
pace is expected to pick up later.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong asked the Japanese ambassador to China
Hideo Tarumi on August 22 to meet him and make serious representations over the Japanese
government’s announcement that it would start releasing nuclear-contaminated water on
August 24.
Sun said the Fukushima nuclear accident is one of the world’s most serious nuclear
accidents to date, resulting in the release of a large amount of radioactive material, which has
far-reaching implications for the marine environment, food safety, and human health.
“The ocean is the blue home that all humanity depends on for survival, and the Japanese
side should not dump nuclear-contaminated water at will,” Sun said.
20. Who did Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ask to release nuclear wastewater into
the ocean?
A. Spokesperson Wang Wenbin.
B. The TEPCO executive Junichi Matsumoto.
C. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.
D. The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
21. Except for the amount released in the first round, how many tonnes of treated water will
be released into the ocean by the end of March 2024?
A. 1.34 million tonnes. B. 7,800 tonnes.
C. 2,3400 tonnes. D. 31,200 tonnes.
22. What does Sun Weidong say about the Fukushima nuclear accident?
A. It has no implications for the marine environment.
B. Has no implications for food safety and human health.
C. It is one of the most serious nuclear accidents in history.D. It resulted in the release of a small amount of radioactive material.
23. Where is this text probably taken from?
A. A research paper. B. A newspaper report.
C. A business report. D. A geography textbook.
7
Is It Worth Buying Organic Food?
Organic food, grown without artificial chemicals, is increasingly popular nowadays.
Consumers have been willing to pay up to twice as much for goods with organic labels (标签).
However, if you think paying a little more for organic food gets you a more nutritious (有营
养的) and safer product, you might want to save your money. A study led by researchers at
Stanford University says that organic products aren’t necessarily more nutritious, and they’re
no less likely to suffer from disease-causing bacteria, either.
The latest results, published in the Annuals of Internal Medicine, suggest that buyers
may be wasting their money. “We did not find strong evidence that organic food is more
nutritious or healthier,” says Dr. Crystal Smith-Spangler from Stanford. “So consumers
shouldn’t assume that one type of food has a lower risk or is safer.”
For their new study, Smith-Spangler and her colleagues conducted a review of two
categories of research, including 17 studies that compared health outcomes between
consumers of organic against traditional food products, and 223 studies that analyzed the
nutritional content of the foods, including key vitamins, minerals and fats.
While the researchers found little difference in nutritional content, they did find that
organic fruit and vegetables were 20% less likely to have chemicals remaining on the
surfaces. Neither organic nor traditional foods showed levels of chemicals high enough to go
beyond food safety standards. And both organic and traditional meats, such as chicken and
pork, were equally likely to be harmed by bacteria at very low rates. The researchers did find
that organic milk and chicken contained higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy fat
also found in fish that can reduce the risk of heart disease. However, these nutritional
differences were too small, and the researchers were unwilling to make much of them until
further studies confirm the trends.
Organic food is produced with fewer chemicals and more natural-growing practices, but
that doesn’t always translate into a more nutritious or healthier product. The U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) states that “Whether you buy organic or not, finding the freshest foodsavailable may have the biggest effect on taste.” Fresh food is at least as good as anything
marketed as organic.
24. The new research questions whether organic food ________.
A. should replace traditional food
B. has been overpriced by farmers
C. is grown with less harmful chemicals
D. is really more nutritious and healthier
25. Smith Spangler and her colleagues found that ________.
A. organic food could reduce the risk of heart disease
B. traditional food was grown with more natural methods
C. both organic and traditional food they examined were safe
D. there was not a presence of any forms of bacteria in organic food
26. Which of the following is relatively healthier according to the passage?
A. Organic chicken and pork.
B. Organic milk and chicken.
C. Traditional chicken and pork.
D. Traditional fruit and vegetables.
27. What is the author’s attitude toward organic food?
A. Doubtful. B. Positive. C. Unconcerned. D. Approving.
8
Labeling can be very helpful when determining certain things about a food item. “USDA
(United States Department of Agriculture) Organic” and “raised without antibiotics (抗生素)”,
for example, have specific standards, and the product will need to be true to those claims.
Natural claims like “all natural”, “100% natural”, and “made with natural ingredients (成
分)” are not defined in USDA. The USDA must approve these special claims prior to food
being sold, but the only standard they must meet is that artificial ingredients or colors cannot
be added during processing, and the processing method cannot fundamentally alter the
product. While that is certainly valuable information to know, the problem is in consumers’
understanding of what “natural” means. The definitions do not address human health, the use
of synthetic pesticides (合成杀虫剂), hormones, or antibiotics in crop and livestock
production.
Study after study on the topic reveals that people think a product labeled as “natural”delivers benefits far beyond what it does. Most consumers mistakenly assign health and
environmental benefits to natural-labeled food.
In a 2017 study, respondents incorrectly believed that natural-labeled foods had 18
percent fewer calories across a variety of foods. In a 2010 study, respondents believed that
meat products labeled as “all natural” meant no antibiotics or hormones were used to raise the
animals. Some also believed the label meant animals were raised free range.
Consumers aren’t getting what they think they’re getting. But the more serious problem
is how this harms food producers who are actually meeting the standards for more strict
labels that are actually doing good, like ones around organic practices or animal welfare.
Farmers and producers doing the work end up at a competitive disadvantage in the
marketplace if consumers treat foods labeled natural as alike. The economic problem raised
by natural labels is that consumers could be paying extra for product benefits they are not
receiving while producers of products with those benefits lose sales.
28. Which of the following is undefined by authorities?
A. USDA organic. B. All natural.
C. Artificial color free. D. Raised without antibiotics.
29. What mistake may a consumer make according to the text?
A. Being unaware of food safety.
B. Paying more on over-processed food.
C. Buying food failing to meet the USDA standards.
D. Misunderstanding what is claimed on a food label.
30. Why are the two studies mentioned in paragraph 4?
A. To advocate sensible consumer behavior.
B. To suggest a possible solution to a problem.
C. To provide evidence for the author’s point of view.
D. To demonstrate how far studies on food safety have gone.
31. What is a consequence of the problem discussed in the text?
A. Wasting resources. B. A market crash.
C. Cheating. D. Unfairness.
二、七选五
Different Approaches to Reducing Food Waste
Food plays a key role in people’s life. While many people in poor communities sufferfrom a shortage of food, a large amount of food is wasted in the rest of the world. 32
Here are some tips on how to reduce food waste.
Learn to store food. Not sure how to keep those greens from wilting overnight?
Can’t keep your tomatoes fresh for more than a day or two? Do your research on food
storage and you’ll get the rewards. Not sure where to start? 33
Use it all. 34 For example, leave the skin on carrots and potatoes (The skins
actually have a ton of valuable nutrients!), save the beet greens for a salad, and don’t throw
away the outer skin of oranges!
35 Many fruits and vegetables are thrown away because they aren’t “pretty”
enough. Buying food that comes in a different shape, size or colour helps use up food that
might be given up.
Understand best-before dates correctly. People often confuse best-before dates with
expiry dates. The best-before date has nothing to do with the safety of the food. 36
So while the taste may not be that good, many food items are still safe to eat for many days
beyond the best-before date.
A. Pick the “funny looking” food.
B. This will save you time in the long run.
C. Check out Local Produce Storage Guide online.
D. Keep a “need to eat” list everyday in your daily life.
E. Therefore, food waste is a serious problem that needs our attention.
F. It refers to flavour and nutritional value, which is of great help to your body.
G. You often remove a part of whatever food you’ re cooking with, but often those food
items can be saved.
三、完形填空
When you’re shopping at the grocery store, you probably expect that olive oil you see
came from olives, and that the organic vegetables were never exposed to poisonous
chemicals. Increasingly, however, there is a chance you might be 37 . In recent
years, there has been an increase in reports of so-called food fraud, or attempts by various
entities—to alter products and 38 customers and food companies alike for financial
gain (though occasionally the companies are complicit (同伙). Among the more recent 39
: “natural?” honey that’s been laced with antibiotics (抗生素) and Italian companies selling
“Italian olive oil” from a mixture of oils that did not originate from Italy.How can this 40 ? In the U.S., the Pure Food and Drug Act has prevented the
“manufacture, sale or transportation of adulterated or misbranded or poisonous or harmful
foods” since 1906, and similar laws exist in other countries. But most global food regulators,
including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, aren’t equipped to 41 them
effectively. For the most part, they 42 safety standards—ensuring that foods don’t
contain bacteria or viruses—and rely on companies to police the quality of their own
ingredients, lest they face consumer opposition. But now that food manufacturing has become
globalized, supply chains are 43 , creating more opportunities for bad actors to
mess around. “Anyone who can 44 substituting cheap ingredients for more
expensive ones is going to try,” says Marion Nestle, who teaches nutrition, food studies and
public health at New York University.
Governments are starting 45 . In 2014, the UK. created a food-crime unit that
collects reports of food fraud. The Institute for Global Food Security lab in Belfast tests
46 sent in by people worried about fraud—a process that’s easier than ever, thanks to
advances in technology. And there are efforts in the U.K., the U.S. and China, among other
nations, to increase the punishments for companies that get caught selling shady foods.
But in order to 47 fraud in the first place, the food industry needs to get
better at safeguarding its own production network. So the Global Food Safety Initiative
(GFSI)—a trade group consisting of officials from more than 300 food manufacturers—will
this year start 48 its members’ supply chains, from field to table, to identify
fraud. Meanwhile, dozens of other food-industry experts recently teamed up with academics
from Michigan State University to launch the Food Fraud Initiative (FFI), a group that studies
fraudsters— 49 , how they avoid safeguards—and then advises food companies on
how to keep them away. “There are plenty of 50 out there who are going to wake
up and look for some opportunity for fraud,” says John Spink, director of the FFI. “We just
need to make ourselves a harder 51 .”
37. A. lucky B. wrong C. curious D. illegal
38. A. mislead B. astonish C. misunderstand D. assemble
39. A. booms B. examples C. recoveries D. trends
40. A. cease B. last C. happen D. progress
41. A. reveal B. follow C. enforce D. forget
42. A. agree with B. respond to C. substitute for D. focus on
43. A. longer B. riskier C. more stable D. more selective44. A. hold on to B. look down on C. get away with D. make up for
45. A. take off B. keep up C. set aside D. fight back
46. A. attempts B. reports C. nutrients D. products
47. A. prevent B. cover C. suspect D. charge
48. A. affecting B. inspecting C. combining D. supporting
49. A. symbolically B. specifically C. respectively D. resourcefully
50. A. institutions B. consumers C. criminals D. sponsors
51. A. target B. issue C. choice D. technique
四、语法填空
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
A netizen made a post suggesting a more scientific index for spiciness in hot pot. The
Sichuan Hot Pot Association responded that the suggestion was good and they are preparing
52 plan.
Yan Long,president of the association,stated that the spiciness of hot pot can indeed be
measured, 53 (use)professional measuring tools. Currently, the association is
researching a standardized grading system for the spiciness.
Eating spicy food can produce a 54 (various)of physiological reactions,like a
tingling in the tongue and lips, as well as sweating, said David Julius, a physiologist at the
University of California, San Francisco.“We all enjoy sensory experiences; spicy foods make
life more 55 (appeal),“he said. But not all of the potential responses are welcome,even
for those 56 enjoy the taste. Spicy food lovers are likely to be familiar 57 one
immediate physical reaction—sweating.
Generally speaking,eating spicy food in moderation is 58 (safety)for people who
don’t already have stomach issues. 59 (study)have shown that consuming spicy foods
can be associated with some health benefits. For example, one study found 60 (take) a
daily supplement of chili pepper speeded up metabolism,and that the participants 61
(burn)extra 200 calories per day over a 14-week period.
