无糖饮料并不是健康饮品
Adults who have at least one diet drink(无糖饮料) a day are three times more at risk from a stroke(中风) or dementia(痴呆), research shows lately.
Scientists say they should no longer be regarded as the healthier choices and encourage the public to stick to water or milk. Their study of almost 4,400 adults also suggests diet drinks are more likely to cause strokes and dementia than those full of sugar.
There was no link between sugary drinks and either of the illnesses, although the researchers aren’t encouraging us to drink them either. The team of scientists from Boston University believe the artificial sweeteners(人工甜味剂) may be influencing the blood vessels, eventually causing strokes and dementia.
Diet drinks take up a quarter of the sweetened drinks market but there is growing evidence that they are not as healthy as we thought before. A major review in January by Imperial College London researchers found they were no better at helping weight loss than full fat drinks. In fact, the authors suggested they were encouraging fatness by setting off the sugar receptors(糖受体) in the brain, making us want sweet food.
In this latest study published in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke, researchers looked at 4,372 adults over the age of 45. They had filled in detailed questionnaires on their food and drink intake in the 1990s and were then tracked for ten years. The results showed that adults who had one or more diet drinks a day were 2.9 times more likely to develop dementia and 3 times more at risk of strokes compared to those who takes none at all.
1.What does the underlined word “they” refer?
A Scientists.
B Water and milk.
C Diet drinks.
D Sugary drinks.
解析：选C。C 词意指代题。根据上下文可知这里的they指代的是上文说的无糖饮料，即diet drinks，故选C。
2.According to scientists, which of the following is the worst choice?
A Purified water.
B Plain Milk.
C Full sugar drink.
D Sugar-free drink.
解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据第二段内容可知科学家还是鼓励人们喝水和牛奶，水和牛奶相比无糖饮料是更好选择；喝无糖饮料的人比喝含糖饮料的人患中风和痴呆的风险更高，因此含糖饮料相比无糖饮料是更好的选择，最差的选择是无糖饮料，故选D。
3.Why can’t diet drinks help people lose weight?
A They contain more calories.
B They make people take in more.
C They will reduce the fat consuming.
D They make people want sweet food.
解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据第四段最后一句“In fact, the authors suggested they were encouraging fatness by setting off the sugar receptors(糖受体) in the brain, making us want sweet food.”可知无糖饮料能刺激大脑神经，使人想要获取更多甜食，因而不能帮助减肥，故选D。
4.What risk do people who drink diet drinks have?
A Higher risk of dementia.
B Higher risk of heart attack.
C Higher risk of high blood pressure.
D Higher risk of breaking blood vessel.
解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据第五段最后一句“The results showed that adults who had one or more diet drinks a day were 2.9 times more likely to develop dementia and 3 times more at risk of strokes compared to those who takes none at all.”可知无糖饮料能使人患痴呆症的风险增加，故选A。
5.What’s the purpose of the passage?
A To tell readers an interesting story.
B To help readers learn more about diet drinks.
C To advise readers to go on a diet.
D To encourage readers to take more diet drinks.
解析：选B。B 写作意图题。本文是一篇介绍关于无糖饮料的研究报告，旨在让读者更加了解无糖饮料。故选B。