Junk Food: Not Just Monkeys’ Business 地位越低人越胖？

 

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Since the days of Darwin, scientists have reminded us of how closely related we are to our primate cousins. Yet in addition to a common ancestor, researchers have discovered that we share something else. After a tough day at work, both humans and apes have a ___1___ for junk food.

自达尔文的时代以来，科学家就一直提醒我们，人类和灵长类的关系有多么密切。然而，除了有共同的祖先之外，研究人员发现，我们还有其他共通点：辛苦工作一天之后，人类和猿猴都无法抗拒垃圾食物。

1.

(A) flaw

(B) fault

(C) weakness

(D) defect

 

While observing a community of female monkeys, American scientists noted that high-status monkeys ate slightly more than ___2___ with lower status, but that changed once a delicious new meal was introduced. Immediately after researchers began providing fatty banana-flavored pellets, the low-status monkeys started pigging out. In fact, they began eating much ___3___ than their social superiors. Researchers believe this happened because fatty foods ___4___ the release of stress hormones. Thus, the stressed-out low-status monkeys felt more relaxed after eating them.

美国科学家在观察一群母猴子时注意到，地位高的猴子吃得比地位低的猴子多一些，但是当美味的食物出现时，这种情况就改观了。研究人员开始提供高热量的香蕉口味丸子后，地位低的猴子马上开始大吃起来。事实上，牠们吃得远比社会地位较高的猴子还多。研究人员认为，这是因为高热量的食物减少了压力荷尔蒙的释放，因此，压力大的低阶猴子吃了之后，就会觉得比较轻松。

2.	(A) ones	(B) which	(C) that	(D) those
3.	(A) more	(B) less	(C) fewer	(D) faster
4.	(A) increase	(B) heighten	(C) reduce	(D) burden

 

The results correspond to the findings of another study ___5___ on British civil servants. In England, ___6___ having a satisfactory salary and good health care, low-ranking workers were found to be more obese than their superiors.

该研究结果符合针对英国公务员所做的研究。在英国，低阶公务员虽然有不错的薪水和良好的医疗照顾，但他们比高阶公务员胖。

5.	(A) perform	(B) performed	(C) performing	(D) performance
6.	(A) despite	(B) besides	(C) regardless	(D) nevertheless

 

These studies suggest that a high-calorie diet may actually be a natural response to difficult social ___7___. So if you are thinking about going on a diet, maybe you should focus on getting a promotion instead!

这些研究显示，面对困难的社会处境时，吃高热量食物或许是自然反应。所以如果你正考虑节食，也许应该先想想该如何晋升才对！

7.

(A) bounds

(B) ladders

(C) settings

(D) whereabouts

 

−by Jamie Blackler

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

 

ancestor [ˋænsɛstɚ] n. 祖宗，祖先

status [ˋstetəs] n. 地位，身分

correspond [͵kɔrɪˋspɑnd] v. 符合，一致[（+to/with）]

satisfactory [͵sætɪsˋfæktərɪ] adj. 令人满意的

obese [oˋbis] adj. 肥胖的

promotion [prəˋmoʃən] n. 提升，晋级

 

More Information

单词发音

 

 

monkey business 胡闹; Slang  silly, mischievous, or deceitful acts or behavior

remind [rɪˋmaɪnd] v. 提醒；使想起，使记起[（+of）][O2][+that][（+about）]

primate [ˋpraɪmɪt] n. 灵长类动物

ape [ep] n.（无尾）猿

pellet [ˋpɛlɪt] n. 〔软的〕小丸; 〔用手指搓成的〕小球﹐小丸

pig out【非正式】大吃大喝; 狼吞虎咽 to eat greedily

superior [səˋpɪrɪɚ] n. 占优势者; 上司；长官；长辈

hormone [ˋhɔrmon] n. 荷尔蒙

stressed-out 因心理紧张而被压垮的

civil servant（政府）文职人员；公务员 a person employed in the civil service

whereabouts [ˋhwɛrəˋbaʊts] adv. 在哪里，靠近什么地方

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer

1. ( C )	2. ( D )	3. ( A )	4. ( C )	5. ( B )
6. ( A )	7. ( C )