Organic food, once considered something that only health fanatics desired, is now a regular feature at most supermarkets. And that has created a bit of a dilemma. On the one hand, you have a conventionally grown apple. On the other, you have one that’s organic. Both apples are firm, shiny and red. Both provide vitamins and fiber, and both are free of fat, sodium and cholesterol.
Conventionally grown food generally costs less, but is organic food a better choice? The advantages claimed for such foods over conventionally grown and sold food products are now being debated on a large scale. Supporters of organic foods ― a term whose meaning varies greatly ―are frequently telling the world that such products are safer and more nutritious than others.
The growing interest of consumers in the safety and nutritional quality of daily foods is a welcome development. However, much of this interest has been aroused by sweeping claims that the conventional food supply is unsafe or inadequate in meeting nutritional needs.
Almost daily, the public is surrounded by claims for “no-aging” diets, new vitamins and other wonder foods. There are numerous unsubstantiated(沒證實的) reports that natural vitamins are superior to man-made ones, that fertilized eggs are nutritionally superior to unfertilized eggs, that untreated grains are better than those treated with insect spray and the like.
Although most of these claims are not supported by scientific evidence, large amounts of written material about the benefits of organic foods makes it difficult for people to separate fact from fiction. As a result, claims that eating a diet consisting of organically grown foods prevents or cures disease or provides other benefits to health have become widely advertised and form the basis for people’s opinion.
One thing that most organically grown food products seem to have in common is that they cost more than conventionally grown foods. But in many cases consumers are misled if they believe organic foods can maintain health and provide better nutritional quality than conventionally grown foods. So there is real cause for concern if consumers, particularly those with limited incomes, distrust the conventional food supply and buy only expensive organic foods instead.
小題1:According to Paragraph 2, which of the following statements about organic food is true?
| A．It hasn’t been used until recent years. |
| B．It has no agreed definition. |
| C．It is popular among producers. |
| D．It is accepted by most nutritionists. |
小題2:In Paragraph 4, treated grains are examples of ________.
| A．healthier food | B．organic food |
| C．conventionally grown food | D．expensive food |
小題3:It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
| A．most doctors believe organic foods prevent disease or provide other benefits to health |
| B．organic foods are actually less nutritious than conventionally grown foods |
| C．people cannot separate fact from fiction because of the TV advertisements |
| D．organic foods cost more but are not necessarily better than conventionally grown foods |
小題4:According to the passage, many consumers are attracted by organic foods because they _____.
| A．want to try something new |
| B．have carefully researched the products |
| C．value food safety and nutrition |
| D．expect to save some money |
小題5:What is the author’s attitude towards the claims of organic foods?
| A．Doubtful. | B．Enthusiastic. |
| C．Supportive. | D．Uninterested. |
