Over the course of the study, 41 percent of the women became overweight. Although alcohol is packed with calories, the nondrinkers in the study actually gained more weight over time: nine pounds, on average, compared with an average gain of about three pounds among regular moderate drinkers. The risk of becoming overweight was almost 30 percent lower for women who consumed one or two alcohol drinks a day, compared with nondrinkers.

　　The findings are certain to be confusing for women who continue to receive conflicting messages about the health benefits and risks of alcohol. Although moderate drinking is associated with better heart health, regular drinking also increases breast cancer risk.

　　The trend toward less weight gain among drinkers doesn’t appear to hold true for men. A 2003 study of British men showed that regular drinkers gained more weight than nondrinkers. Studies suggest that drinking alcohol has different effects on eating habits among men and women. Men typically add alcohol to their daily caloric intake, whereas women are more likely to substitute(替代)alcohol for food. In addition, there may be differences in how men and women metabolize(代謝)alcohol. Metabolic studies show that after men drink alcohol, they experience little if any metabolic change. But alcohol appears to slightly speed up a woman’s metabolism.

　　The findings don’t mean women should rush to drink alcohol to lose weight. Other research shows that once a person is already overweight, her alcohol metabolism is more efficient, and so an overweight woman may gain more weight from alcohol than a lean woman. The data do, however, suggest that for many women facing weight problems, the extra calories are probably not coming from alcoholic drinks.

　　41. According to the study, which of the following regular drinker is less likely to gain weight than nondrinkers?

　　A B C D

　　42. That men regular drinkers gained more weight than women regular drinkers is due to the following except ______.

　　A. Women are more likely to substitute alcohol for food.

　　B. Men drink alcohol much faster than women.

　　C. Men and women metabolize alcohol differently.

　　D. Men have different effects on eating habits with women.

　　43. The underlined word whereas may probably mean _______.

　　A. so that B. in order that C. but D. and then

　　44. What do the findings really mean in this passage?

　　A. Women should try to drink alcohol to lose weight.

　　B. To advise to stop drinking alcohol to avoid the extra calories

　　C. The extra calories may not come from alcoholic drinks for many women..

　　D. There may be differences in how men and women metabolize.

　　45. What can a dieter probably do before reading this passage?

　　A. Rush to drink alcohol to lose weight B. Add alcohol to his or her daily caloric intake.

　　C. Face the weight problems alone. D. Try to stop drinking any alcohol or wine.

　　答案：

　　41-45 ABCCD

　　英語閱讀理解強化訓練2：

　　Today just as technology changed the face of industry, farms have experienced an “agricultural revolution”. On the farm of today, machines provide almost all the power.

　　One of the most important benefits will be the farm computer. A few forward-looking farmers are already using computers to help them run their farms more efficiently. The computers help them keep more accurate records so they can make better decisions on what crops to plant, how much livestock (家畜) to buy, when to sell their products, and how much profit they can expect. Many computer companies have been developing special computer programs just for farmers. Programs are being written for pig producers, grain farmers, potato farmers, and dairy farmers. In the future, farmers will be able to purchase computer programs made to their needs. Because of the growing importance of computers on the farm, students at agricultural colleges are required to take computer classes in addition to their normal agricultural courses. There can be no doubt that farmers will rely on computers even more in the future. While the old-time farm depended on horse power, and modern farms depend on machine power, farms of the future will depend on computer power.

　　Another technological advance which is still in the experimental stage is the robot, a real “mechanized hired hand” that will be able to move and, in some ways, think like a human being. Agricultural engineers believe that computer-aided robots will make shocking changes in farming before the end of the century. Unlike farmers of the present, farmers of the future will find that many day-to-day tasks will be done for them. Scientists are now developing robots that will be able to shear (修剪) sheep, drive tractors, and harvest fruit. Even complex jobs will be done by robots. For example, in order to milk their cows, farmers must first drive them into the barn, then connect them to the milking machines, watch the machines, and disconnect them when they are finished. In the future, this will all be done by robots. In addition, when the milking is completed, the robots will automatically check to make sure that the milk is pure. The complete change of the farm is far in the future, but engineers expect that some robots will be used before long.

　　48. According to the passage, computers can not help farmers decide _______.

　　A. how much money they can earn from their products

　　B. whether to plant a certain kind of crop

　　C. what livestock to raise

　　D. when to sell their products

　　49. Which of the following statements is true?

　　A. Farmers in the future will depend totally on computers.

　　B. Farmers mainly use machines on their farms at present.

　　C. Both computers and robots have been in use on today’s farms.

　　D. Students at agricultural colleges needn’t take their normal agricultural courses.

　　50.What is the best title for the whole passage?

　　A. Computer, Farmers’ Best Friend

　　B. Farmers in The Future

　　C. The Agricultural Revolution

　　D. Computers and Robots

　　答案：

　　48.C. 細節理解題。根據文章第二段第三句中how many live-stock to buy可知表數量。

　　49.B. 細節理解題。根據文章第一段第一句可知。

　　50.C. 主旨大意題。標題中關鍵詞是 agricultural revolution.