英语听力精选进阶版 6244

How Healthy is a Potato-only Diet? 只吃土豆的减肥法有多健康？

Can a diet of eating only potatoes for 60 days be good for you?

This is precisely¹ what one American man has done in order to "remind the public about the nutritional² value of potatoes."

Chris Voight, a 45-year-old from Washington, has eaten nothing but 20 potatoes every day for the last two months.

As Head of the Washington State Potato Commission, he's trying to debunk³ perceptions that potatoes are unhealthy and instead are a good source of fibre, potassium and vitamin C.

So, how has the diet affected⁴ his health?

He said: "I've been struggling being borderline high cholesterol⁵ for four or five years. I absolutely feel great. I've always had lots of good energy on this diet, I've had no strange side effects, I sleep well at night."

Mr Voight also claimed to have lost 1.5 stone (10 kilos) since beginning the diet.

He accepted that a diet of just potatoes was not sustainable in the long term but said his experiment had shown how "truly healthy" the vegetable is.

"I'm not encouraging anyone to go on this crazy diet, nor would my doctor. This diet was just a bold statement to remind people that there is a lot of nutrition in a potato."

So what is Mr Voight planning to eat once freed from his self-imposed diet?

"I think my first meal is going to be a spicy⁶ beef taco, a glass of milk, a crunchy apple, and yes… roasted potatoes."

In 2003, American filmmaker Morgan Spurlock embarked⁷ on a McDonald's-only diet for a whole month in order to investigate the health effects on the body. While filming Super Size Me he gained 1.7 stone (11 kilos) and also experienced depression and lethargy.

Glossary⁸ 词汇表

diet 饮食、日常食物 

nutritional value 营养价值 

debunk 揭穿、推翻 

perceptions 认知、看法 

fibre 纤维 

potassium 钾 

borderline 边界的、超标的 

high cholesterol 高胆固醇 

side effects 副作用 

stone 英石（1英石=6.35 公斤） 

sustainable 可持续的、可行的 

bold statement 大胆的宣称 

self-imposed 自愿接受的 

spicy beef taco 墨西哥辣牛肉玉米卷 

crunchy 脆的 

roasted potatoes 烤土豆 

filmmaker 电影制作人 

embarked 开始、从事 

depression 抑郁 

lethargy 疲倦、倦怠

1 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

2 nutritional   

adj.营养的，滋养的

参考例句：

• A diet lacking in nutritional value will not keep a person healthy.缺乏营养价值的饮食不能维持人的健康。
• The labels on food products give a lot of information about their nutritional content.食品上的标签提供很多关于营养成分的信息。

3 debunk   

v.揭穿真相，暴露

参考例句：

• let's debunk some of the most common falsehoods.让我们来揭穿一些最常见的谬误吧。
• Sequences of maps can also debunk misconceptions.一系列的地图，也有助于厘清错误概念。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 cholesterol   

n.（U）胆固醇

参考例句：

• There is cholesterol in the cell of body.人体细胞里有胆固醇。
• They are determining the serum-protein and cholesterol levels.他们正在测定血清蛋白和胆固醇的浓度。

6 spicy   

adj.加香料的；辛辣的，有风味的

参考例句：

• The soup tasted mildly spicy.汤尝起来略有点辣。
• Very spicy food doesn't suit her stomach.太辣的东西她吃了胃不舒服。

7 embarked   

乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
• She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。

8 glossary   

n.注释词表；术语汇编

参考例句：

• The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
• For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便，我们在附录中也提供了术语表。