阅读强化练(十五)(限时35分钟). 阅读理解A“Preventing obesity(肥胖)and smoking can save lives, but it doesnt save money, ” reported researchers. “It was a small surprise, for it is against the common belief, ” said Pieter van Baal, who led the study. “But it makes sense. If you live longer, then your costs of the health system will be more. ”The researchers found that from age 20 to 56, obese people racked up(累计)the most expensive health costs. But on average, healthy people lived 84 years. Smokers lived about 77 years, and obese people lived about 80 years. Smokers and obese people tended to have more heart disease than healthy people. Therefore in the long run, the thin and healthy group spent about $ 417, 000, from age 20 on. Smokers spent about $ 326, 000 and obese people $ 371, 000. “The result throws a bucket of cold water onto the idea, based on guesswork, that obesity is going to cost trillions of dollars, ” said Patrick Basham, a professor of health politics. “If were going to worry about the future of obesity, we should stop worrying about its financial impact, ” he said. “The benefits of obesity prevention may not be seen immediately in terms of cost saving in tomorrows budget, but there are long-term gains, ” said Baal. “These are often immeasurable when it comes to people living longer and healthier lives. ” In the meanwhile, he said that governments should recognize that successful smoking and obesity prevention programs mean that people will have a higher chance of dying of something more expensive later in life. “Lung cancer is a cheap disease to treat because people dont survive very long. But if they are old enough to get Alzheimers(早老性痴呆病)one day, they may survive longer and cost more. We are not advising that governments stop trying to prevent obesity, ” Baal said. “But they should do it for the right reasons. ”【文章大意】本文为我们介绍了防治肥胖和吸烟能使我们活得更长, 但是却不能省钱, 可能会花的更多。1. Among middle-aged people, whose costs of the health system are the most? A. Those who are heavy smokers. B. Those who are overweight. C. Those who are too thin. D. Those who are suffering from heart attacks. 【解析】选B。细节理解题。根据第二段内容The researchers found that from age 20 to 56, obese people racked up(累计)the most expensive health costs. 可知是肥胖人群。2. What can we know about the belief that obesity costs much? A. It turns out to be incorrect. B. It comes from scientific studies. C. It is based on medical evidence. D. It has changed over the past years. 【解析】选A。推理判断题。根据第二段内容, 研究发现从20岁到56岁, 肥胖人群健康消费最多。但是从长远来看, 健康人群和瘦人花费最多。所以胖人消费最多这种观点是不对的。3. According to the text, governments should prevent obesity for the purpose of _. A. reducing the risk of suffering cancerB. weakening obesitys financial impactC. making sure of peoples long and healthy lifeD. reducing the money spent on medical programs【解析】选C。细节理解题。根据倒数第二段These are often immeasurable when it comes to people living longer and healthier lives. 可知防治肥胖是为了让人们过上更健康更长久的生活。4. What would be the best title for this text? A. A Recent Medical Study Shows the Truth about HealthB. Preventing Obesity and Smoking May Cost MoreC. Obesity and Smoking Lead to Expensive DiseasesD. Governments Change Attitude towards Obesity and Smoking【解析】选B。主旨大意题。全文说到了防治肥胖和吸烟能使我们活得更长, 但是却不能省钱。BA group of artists, writers and intellectuals has launched a new “university” in London, designed to help those too tied up with work to appreciate the finer things in life, like art, books and travel. The School of Life, operating out of a small shop in the arty district of Bloomsbury, describes itself as a “chemist for the mind” that plans to offer “cultural solutions to everyday ailments(疾病)”. It hopes to inspire those who have got out of the habit of reading decent books, cannot keep conversation flowing at dinner parties, or need to expand their holiday horizons. The philosopher Alain de Botton, author of How Proust Can Change Your Life, and Sophie Howarth, a former curator(馆长)at the Tate Modern Gallery, are among the staff members. The founders believe that people with too little time to spare need instruction in how to live a more fulfilled(有成就感的)existence. Perhaps you have a burning question for a paleontologist(古生物学家). “Perhaps youre considering a career change and want to talk first-hand to a photographer or landscape designer. The School of Life has a large professional staff who are willing to meet with you for an hour of chat in exchange for a small fee, ” the website explains, listing 50 experts. Among courses being offered later this year are instruction in life, love, work, family and politics. A typical course, in love, will explore why relationships are so complicated and why attraction ebbs and flows. “We draw on ideas from philosophy, psychoanalysis(心理分析), literature and art. We discover what the likes of Plato, Shakespeare, Tolstoy and Freud had to say about compassion, empathy and self-love, ” the i