英语六级快速阅读练习题：饮用水的保健作用

　　In recent years,there has been an explosion in the number of different bottled waters available,with big distributors such as Coke and Pepsi jumping on the bandwagon.But are bottled drinking waters like Coke's Dasani brand,Pepsi's Aquafina,or Wal-Mart's store brand really any healthier than your tap water? Or would you be better off with a drinking water filtration system?

　　As we have learned more about the water we drink.the technology behind drinking water filters and purification systems has improved dramatically.There are filters to remove impurities,chemicals,heavy metals,bacteria and most every contaminant you can think of.With the right size and filter combination for your specific home.your tap water can be exceptionally pure and healthy.

　　Cost Comparison

　　Drinking water filtration systems have also become more affordable and easy to use.Although the initial cost of a whole house system usually amounts to several hundred dollars,that cost is often less than $100 each year if spread out over the life of the system.

　　There may be additional expenses to replace carbon filters,membranes in reverse osmosis drinking water filtration system,or lamps in an ultraviolet light water treatment device.These expenses can add another $100 0r so to the annual costs of operating drinking water filters and purification systems.

　　While some people may hesitate to spend so much each year for clean,safe drinking water,they are probably paying more for bottled drinking water.Calculations show that at a price of $l to $4 per gallon,bottled or delivered water costs an average of $400 each year,especially if you purchase individual bottles.And that doesn't take into consideration the gas needed to drive to the store or the environmental impact of all the empty plastic bottles.

　　Health Aspects

　　Many people who choose bottled drinking water understand that it is more expensive, bue they are still willing to pay the extra money because bottled water is thought to be safer and healthier than filtered drinking water. After all,bottled water is often marketed as "natural spring water" or "pure glacier water."

　　In reality, few bottled waters come from natural springs, and most of them use municipal tap water. The companies are able to get away with this false marketing because the regulatians and standards for bottled drinking water are less stringent than those for residential drinking sources.

　　The quality of bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administrarion (FDA), while drinking water systems are typically regulated by State regulations or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This doesn't mean that the FDA isn't doing their job.It's just that the rules for bottled water only require it to be as good as tap water, not better.

　　In addition, the FDA regulations only apply to bottled drinking water that is transported across state lines. If a company sells their bottled drinking water in the same state where it was bottled, the federal regulations don't apply. The result is that many bottled waters are not any healthier than filtered water. and in fact some are less pure.

　　This was demonstrated in a study which was conducted in 1999 by the Natural Resources Defense Council. They tested over 100 brands of bottled drinking water and found that about one third of the waters comtained contamination in the form of chemicals. bacteria, and arsenic. The study also,found that up to forty percent of bottled drinking waters come from a city water system.

　　How to Tell If Your Water Is Healthy

　　So how do you tell if the water you are drinking is healthy? With tap water, it is relativety easy. If your water comes from a municipal source. the suppliers are required by law to provide annual water quality reports. If you have a well, you can have an authorized lab test your water. It may cost $lOO or more, but it's a small price to pay for peace of mind. Or you can purchase a kit and test it yourself, but naturally the results may not be as conclusive or reliable as those produced by authorized labs.

　　When it comes to bottled drinking water. it can be more difficult to know what you are getting. Start by checking the label or the bottle cap. Some may tell you that the water comes from a municipal source or "community water system." which means tap water.

　　If the label doesn't give any information, you can call the bottler and ask.But don't be surprised if you get the run around and are transferred to several different departments. Some states have a bottled water program that tracks bottled drinking water and can tell you the origin of the source water as well as other information.

　　Safe and healthy drinking water has become big business. Thousands of companies are vying for your hard earned cash, and some are not always honest about what their products offer. The initial investment for a home drinking water filtration system can seem expensive at first, but over time, it is usually less expensive than bottled drinking water. And with a wafer filter. you at least know where the water you drink came from and how it was treated.

　　Before going out and spending your hard earned money for bottled drinking water that may be no better than your own tap water, it is obviously a good idea to do some research. You are likely to decide that a drinking water filtration system and/or purifier is the healthier choice and provides the best value as well.

　　练习题

　　1.In past decades, bottled drinking water was____________________.

　　A) more popular than tap water B) believed to be too expensive

　　C) inconveniently provided D) restricted to few choices

　　2.Now, tap water can also become exceptionally pure and healthy if_________________.

　　A) more fund is provided for protecting water resources

　　B) a right filtration system is installed in your home

　　C) measures are taken to guide the water suppliers

　　D) our environment can be free from pollution

　　3.Operating drinking water filters and purification systems costs______________ every year.

　　A) several hundred dollars B) less than a hundred dollar

　　C) about two hundred dollars D) about a hundred dollar

　　4.One of the disadvantages of bottled water is that the plastic bottles would___________________.

　　A) have to be delivered back to the suppliers

　　B) bring about impact on the environment

　　C) not be as safe as glass bottles

　　D) increase the production cost

　　5.Generally, the companies that use municipal tap water as bottled water___________.

　　A) sell their water at a lower price

　　B) purify the water before bottling

　　C) are severely punished by law

　　D) can escape punishment by law

　　6.The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for supervising the quality of____________.

　　A) drinking water B) bottled water

　　C) municipal tap water D) underground water

　　7.In a study by____________, many bottled drinking water was found not to be as healthy as expected.

　　A) the Food and Drug Administration

　　B) the Environmental Protection Agency

　　C) the Natural Resources Defense Council

　　D) the National Association for Health Freedom

　　8.It is required that the quality of tap water by a municipal source be provided by its supplier in________________.

　　9.When the bottled water is claimed to come from a"community water system," it is actually_____________________.

　　10.If you need to know any information about the bottled water, you can either ask the bottler for it or get it from the state's__________________.

　　答案详解

　　1.[D][定位]根据题干中的past decades和bottled drinking water查找到第2段。

　　解析：选项D是对原文该段第2句中的few choices的近义改写，故为本题答案。该段最后一句提到了获取瓶装水的途径，这些途径都很方便，因此，选项C不正确。其余两个选项均无原文依据。

　　2.[B][定位]根据题干中的tap water，pure，healthy等查找到第4段最后一句。

　　解析：原文该句中的filter combination与选项B中的filtration system所指相同，可见，选项B为本题答案。

　　3.[C][定位]根据题干中的cost，every year等查找到第1个小标题Cost Com parison部分的开头两段。

　　解析：原文该部分首段和第2段分别列举了使用饮用水过滤和净化系统的花费，其首段末句提到的less than $100 each year和第2段末句提到的another $100 0r so相加，就是一年的总花费，由此可见，一年的总费用为大概$200，可见，本题应选C。

　　4.[B][定位]根据题干中的disadvantages，bottled water，plastic bottles等查找到第1个小标题Cost Comparison部分的末段末句。

　　解析：原文该段指出了瓶装水的缺点，最后一句的environmental impact与选项B中的impact on the environment同义，因此本题答案为选项B。

　　5.[D][定位]根据题干中的companies，municipal tap water等查找到第2个小标题Health Aspects部分的第2段。

　　解析：原文该段第2句中的get away with...表明虚假销售的公司都不会受到惩罚，选项D中的escape punishment与get away基本同义，故选项D为本题答案。

　　6.[A][定位]根据题干中的Environmental Protection Agency查找到第2个小标题Health Aspects部分的第3段首句。

　　解析：原文该句提到了FDA和EPA两个机构，以及它们各自的职能，后者负责管理drinking water systems，也就是说，EPA监控drinking water的质量，因此本题答案为选项A。

　　7.[C][定位]根据题干中的study查找到第2个标题Health Aspects部分的最后一段第1句。

　　解析：原文虽有提及选项A、B和C的三个机构名称，但只有选项C的机构与study有关，原文没有提及其他两个机构有参与任何的研究，因此，选项C为本题答案。

　　8.[the annual water quality reports]

　　[定位]根据题干中的quality,tap water, municipal source查找到第3个小标题How to Tell If Your Water Is Healthy郜分的首段第2、3句。

　　解析：空白处应为名词成分。原文这两句都是针对tap water的内容，题目是对这两句话的近义改写，只要对比两句，就可发现题目缺了的部分为the annual water quality reports。

　　9.[tap water]

　　[定位]根据题干中的“community water system”雀找到第3个小标题How to Tell If Your Water Is Healthy部分的第2段末句。

　　解析：空白处应为名词成分或形容词成分。原文该句末的非限制性定语从句是对之前信息的补充说明，表明这些瓶装水的真正性质，因此定语从句中的tap water为本题答案。

　　10.[bottled water program]

　　[定位]根据题干中的information，bottler和state's等词查找到第3个小标题How to Tell If Your Water Is Healthy部分的第3段末句。

　　解析：空白处应为名词成分。原文该段提供了获得瓶装水信息的两个途径，题目提到了前一个，后一个可从该段末句找到，根据state's这个提示，可以确定答案为bottled water program。

　　参考译文

　　饮用水的保健作用——瓶装水比过滤的自来水更加有益于健康吗?

　　水是健康的饮食与生活中一个重要的成份。饮用水有许多的保健功能。它有助于冲洗我们体内的杂物和毒素。还有助于输送氧气和营养素。实际上，我们身体的几乎每个系统都依靠水的作用。但如果你每天喝的水是对健康有害的，那将会怎么样?

　　[1]在过去几十年里，人们对于自来水及其对总体健康的影响的关注导致某些人转向饮用瓶装水。但是，当时瓶装水的种类很少。你可以花钱让某家公司送来用于水冷却器的大塑料瓶装水。或者你可以在杂货店购买加仑装的蒸馏水或“饮用水”。

　　近年来，市面上瓶装水种类迅速增加，像可口可乐和百事可乐这样的大经销商获得了巨大的成功。但是，像可口可乐Dasani品牌、百事可乐Aquafina品牌、或沃尔玛超市品牌的各种瓶装饮用水真的要比自来水更有益健康吗?在家里使用饮用水过滤器是否会更好呢?

　　随着我们更多地了解我们所饮用的水，饮用水过滤器和净化系统的技术得到了巨大改进。过滤器能除去杂质、化学品、重金属、细菌，以及几乎所有你能想到的各种污染物。[2]假如你的家里配上大小合适的过滤器组合，你家里的自来水会变得格外纯净并且有益于健康。

　　成本比较

　　而且，饮用水过滤系统已经变得更加便宜而容易操作。[3]虽然整个家用系统的最初成本通常要花几百美元，但是把费用分摊到系统的整个使用期限.每年的费用一般不到100美元。

　　也许更换饮用水过滤系统的活性炭过滤器、反渗透膜、或水处理设备的紫外线灯需要增加额外的费用。[3]这些费用可能会使饮用水过滤器和净化系统的年成本增加100美元左右。

　　虽然有人可能不愿意每年花这么多钱使用清洁、安会的饮用水，但他们却可能买更贵的瓶装饮用水。测算表明，以每加仑1至4美元的价格计算，瓶装水或公司送来的水年平均费用为400美元，如果你购买的是特殊的瓶装水的话尤其如此。[4]这还不算开车到商店的汽油费和所有空塑胶瓶对环境的影响。

　　健康方面

　　许多选择瓶装饮用水的人都知道，瓶装饮用水更加昂贵，但是他们还是愿意支付这笔额外的费用，因为人们认为瓶装水要比过滤饮用水更加安全和更加有益于健康。毕竟，瓶装水经常被冠以“天然泉水”或”纯净的冰川水”之名进行销售。

　　[5]事实上，没有多少瓶装水来自天然泉水，大多是来自当地的自来水。这些公司能够逃脱虚假销售的罪名，主要是因为瓶装饮用水的法规和标准没有居民饮用水源的法规和标准那么严格。

　　[6]瓶装水的质量属食品和药物管理局(FDA)的管辖范围，而饮用水系统通常由国家条例规定，或者由环境保护局(环保局)管理。这并不是说，食品和药物管理局没有履行自己的职责。只不过瓶装水的各项规则只要求它们同自来水一样好，而不是更好。

　　此外，食品和药物管理局的法规仅仅是针对跨州运输的瓶装饮用水。如果某公司的瓶装饮用水生产和销售都在同一个州，则不属于联邦政府的法规管理范围之内。其结果是，许多瓶装水并不比过滤水更有益于健康，事实上，有些反倒没有过滤水那么纯净。

　　[7]这在1999年自然资源保护委员会进行的一项研究中得到了证明。他们测试了1OO多个牌子的瓶装饮用水，发现约有1/3的水含化学物质、细菌、砷一类的污染物。研究还发现，高达40%的瓶装饮用水来自城市供水系统。

　　如何判断所喝的水是否有益于健康?

　　那么，你如何判断你饮用的水是否有益于健康呢?[8]就自来水而言，这相当容易。如果你用的水是来自奉市自来水厂，法律要求供应商每年提供水质报告。如果你家有一口井，你可以请一家权威试验室测试你家的井水。也许费用在100美元或更多，但连笔小小的费用买到了心境安宁。或者你也可以购买一套测试工具自己进行测试。但结果自然不会像权威试验室的试验结果那么确定可靠。

　　至于瓶装饮用水，可能更难知道自己会得出什么样的结果。首先检查标签或瓶盖。[9]有些上面会说明，水来自市自来水系统或者“社区供水系统”，也就是自来水。

　　如果标签没有给出任何信息，你可以打电话到瓶装饮用水企业咨询。但如果你辗转于各个部门之间也得不到站果，那也不要觉得奇怪。[lO]有些州有追踪瓶装饮用水的计划。你可以从中了解你所买瓶装饮用水的来源以及其他的信息。

　　安全和健康的饮用水已经成为巨大的商业。数以万计的公司都在觊觎你的血汗钱，一些公司对于自己的产品所能提供的东西并不总是诚实。一套零庭饮用水过滤系统最初的投资成本可能看起来会昂贵一些，但是随着时间的推移，它往往比瓶装饮用水要便宜一些。况且，如果使用滤水器的话，你至少知道喝的水采自何处，是怎么被处理的。

　　在你准备出去花费你来之不易的钱购买不比自来水好多少的瓶装饮用水之前，做一些调查研究显然是一个好主意。你很可能会决定，一套饮用水过滤系统和/或者净化器是使你更加健康的选择，并且也是你省钱的最佳方案。