8．No one would much like the idea of eating 61pounds of tomatoes a day．But if their goodness was put into an easytoswallow pill that you were told might prevent strokes（中風） and heart attacks you would probably be putting in an order tomorrow．
Researchers believe they may have come up with just that after trials．The daily pill contains a chemical called lycopene which makes tomatoes red and is known to break down fat in the vessels（血管）．A Cambridge University study found taking the pills improved blood flow and the lining of vessels in patients with preexisting heart conditions．It also increased the flexibility（靈活性） of their vessels by 50percent．The scientists believe it could limit the damage caused by heart disease-responsible for 180，000deaths a year-and help cut the 49，000deaths a year from strokes．They also hope it could benefit those with arthritis（關節(jié)炎），diabetes（糖尿病） and even slow the progress of cancer．
Each pill is equal to eating around 61pounds of ripe tomatoes．Studies have shown eating a Mediterraneanstyle diet rich in tomatoes，fish，vegetables，nuts and olive oil can significantly reduce cholesterol（膽固醇） and help prevent cardiovascular disease．
Preliminary results from a twomonth trial，in which the pill was given to 36heart disease patients and 36healthy volunteers with an average age of 67，were presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association．It was shown to improve the function of the endothelium-the layer of cells lining blood vessels．It also improved their sensitivity to nitric oxide，the gas which causes the enlargement of the vessels in response to exercise．
Ian Wilkinson，head of Cambridge University's clinical trials unit，said，"These results are potentially very significant and it meets the goal，but we need more trials to see if they translate into fewer heart attacks and strokes．"
Further studies are planned，with researchers hoping it could offer a choice for heart disease sufferers who can not take the cholesterollowing drugs．
Mike Knapton，head of the British Heart Foundation，said，"Although this showed lycopene improved blood flow in people with heart disease，that's a long way from demonstrating that taking it could improve outcomes for people with heart disease．The best way to get the benefits of a good diet is to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables．"
12．What can we infer from Paragraph 1？B
A．We can eat too much tomato food．
B．Tomatoes are helpful to strokes and heart attacks．
C．Tomatoes will lose healthy elements if they are put into pills．
D．We had better not eat tomatoes．
13．We can learn from the passage that the pillsA．
A．are at the experiment stage
B．can cure all the disease
C．are widely used among patients
D．cost patients so little money
14．Who were the volunteers by taking part in the trial？D
A．Children．
B．Youth．
C．Working people．
D．Old healthy people．
15．What was Ian Wilkinson's opinion on the trial？C
A．Disappointing．
B．Surprising．
C．Satisfactory．
D．Terrible．
分析 這是一篇說明文，講的是研究人員發(fā)現多吃蔬菜對預防中風等疾病很有效，研究人員還發(fā)現每天服用含有番茄紅素的藥片，對降低血管里的脂肪也很有效．這項研究正在進行，藥片的療效也在試用階段．
解答 BADC
12 B 推理判斷題．文章第一段第二句"But if their goodness was put into an easytoswallow pill that you were told might prevent strokes（中風）and heart attacks you would probably be putting in an order tomorrow．"是解題關鍵，此句中的their指代61磅西紅柿，由此可推知，西紅柿有助于預防中風和心臟�。蚀鸢高xB．
13 A 推理判斷題．通過文章倒數第三段中"but we need more trials to see if they translate into fewer heart attacks and strokes"和倒數第二段第一句中"Further studies are planned"可推知，這種藥丸還處于試驗階段．故答案選A．
14 D 細節(jié)理解題．根據文章第四段第一句"Preliminary results from a twomonth trial，in which the pill was given to 36 heart disease patients and 36 healthy volunteers with an average age of 67，were presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association．"可知，參與試驗的志愿者中有一些是健康的老年人．故答案選D．
15 C 觀點態(tài)度題．根據文章倒數第三段Ian Wilkinson的評論中的"These results are potentially very significant and it meets the goal"可推知，Ian Wilkinson對目前的試驗結果很滿意．故答案選C．
點評 學生需要認真閱讀原文，把握文章大意，對文章脈絡有整體的了解，能仔細查找文中細節(jié)，并能根據文章內容進行合理的推測判斷．
