Download Why Go Vegetarian? and more Exercises Poetry in PDF only on Docsity!
Why Go Vegetarian?
People choose to eliminate meat from their diets for many reasons. Concerns about health risks, farming practices, and environmental problems are just a few. In recent years, many animal rights activists have investigated the way animals are treated on large factory farms. They found that many farm animals spend their entire lives in cages where they are often neglected and abused. Investigators also found that these animals are often fed chemicals in order to fatten them up or to make them produce more milk or eggs. Some health experts say that a healthy vegetarian diet can help reduce heart disease, cancer, and stroke. They say vegetarians also have lower cholesterol and blood pressure and are less likely to develop diabetes. Others claim that a vegetarian diet will lead to a longer life. Much of the evidence to support these claims comes from scientific studies. Many vegetarian supporters would say the best thing you can do for the environment is to stop eating meat. Some estimates show that the amount of water used just for farming equals the amount of water used for everything else in the United States combined. Supporters say it takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce a single pound of beef. This is equivalent to taking a long shower every day for two-and-a-half weeks. The fertilizer used to grow crops that feed animals has also been identified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a major water pollutant. However, there are many who disagree with vegetarian supporters. A recent United Kingdom study shows that while vegetarians seemed less likely to have cancer overall, they were more likely to have colon cancer. Another study says that vegetarians risk not having enough iron because the richest sources of iron come from meat. Some experts even say that animal fats are "necessary for human health." Organizations such as The Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based research center, deny that meat production harms the environment. In fact, they say that most of the land that is used for livestock farming is not suitable for growing food. So using it to raise cattle doubles the amount of food produced. Heartland also says that safe practices are required by law and that farmers must take care of their animals in order to make money. They say that poorly fed and treated animals produce less meat. In turn, farmers make less money. No matter which side you agree with, you should always consult with your doctor before changing your diet.
- Which sentence from the passage supports the claim that eating meat is bad for the environment?
A.
The fertilizer used to grow crops that feed animals has also been identified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a major water pollutant.
B.
In recent years, many animal rights activists have investigated the way animals are treated on large factory farms.
C. In fact, they say that most of the land that is used for livestock farming is not suitable for growing food.
D. Heartland also says that safe practices are required by law and that farmers must take care of their animals in order to make money.
- Based on the passage, the reader can tell that The Heartland Institute is probably
A. in favor of raising livestock. B. politically motivated. C. against meat consumption. D. completely unbiased.
- Which of these best supports the idea of raising cattle as cruel?
A.
Others claim that a vegetarian diet will lead to a longer life. Much of the evidence to support these claims comes from scientific studies. B. Some experts even say that animal fats are "necessary for human health."
C. They say that poorly fed and treated animals produce less meat. In turn, farmers make less money.
D. They found that many farm animals spend their entire lives in cages where they are often neglected and abused.
- What does the author mean when he or she writes, "No matter which side you agree with, you should always consult with your doctor before changing your diet"?
A.
It is important to seek the advice of a health professional before making drastic diet changes. B. Doctors are more likely to agree that a vegetarian diet is the best choice for everyone.
C. A health professional can refer you to a qualified dietician and personal trainer for weight loss. D. A doctor would convince you that keeping lean meats in your diet is the healthiest choice.
- According to the article, what pieces of evidence support the claim that vegetarians are healthier?
A. lower occurrences of heart disease, cancer, and stroke B. animals raised on factory farms are treated poorly C. fats in animal meat are essential to human health D. higher risk of colon cancer and lower levels of iron
rats refused to eat anything at all for two weeks. Again, researchers noticed changes in the rat’s brains that resulted from their unhealthy diets. Other rats in the study were fed healthy food and had limited access to junk food. They did not eat compulsively. There is not yet scientific research that shows how this relates to the human mind, but many researchers have suggested that severe weight gain in humans may be linked to changes in the brain caused by diets high in fat and sugar.
- Based on the evidence from the passage, what can be concluded?
A. Fast food should be regulated just like other illegal drugs that people use. B. The rats in the last study preferred healthy food over the junk food options. C. If the rats in the last study couldn't have junk food, they would rather starve. D. Human beings and rats have similar brain reactions to high sugar foods.
- Which statement from the passage represents information that could be useful in studying severe weight gain in humans?
A.
Another study from the University of Wisconsin Medical School observed how rats behaved after they had sweet, salty, and fatty food.
B. They quickly gained weight and eating became so compulsive for the rats that they kept doing it even when their legs were receiving an electric shock as a warning to stop eating.
C.
Scientists then injected the rats with a fake form of the opiates the brain produces on its own. D. Other rats in the study were fed healthy food and had limited access to junk food.
- Read this quote from the passage.
Researchers said that high fat foods may release "pleasure chemicals" in the brain that mimic the effects of opiates.
What is implied by this statement?
A. Junk food should be treated like other illegal drugs are. B. People addicted to drugs should replace them with sugar. C. Some people's brains respond to junk food like an illegal drug. D. Some people are fooled into thinking junk food is a drug.
- What evidence from the passage supports the claim that junk food could be addictive, or habit-forming?
A.
Another study from the University of Wisconsin Medical School observed how rats behaved after they had sweet, salty, and fatty food.
B. Researchers said the lasting changes in the rats' brain chemistry were similar to that of people who have abused morphine or heroin. C. Surprisingly, the rats refused to eat anything at all for two weeks.
D. In yet another study, rats were given unlimited access to candy bars, bacon, pound cake, and other junk food.
“Your main problem is that you take yourself too seriously, Flo,” Aubrey said. “There’s nothing wrong with being a poet, but do you have to wear all black and speak in that sing-song voice all of the time?” “Don’t try to stifle my intellectual growth, man,” Flo said. “I need to think, walk, and act poetry all of the time so that I am ready to write a poem whenever it comes to me!” “Flo, I have known you since we were 5 years old, and you are not that deep!” Aubrey responded. “You read all of the Midnight series, for goodness sake! Stop pretending, and just be yourself!” “Aubrey, keep your voice down!” Flo said, checking to make sure no one heard her. “I didn’t come here for you to tell me what to do. I came so you could tell me what to do to get a date for the poetry reading.” “Since when are you interested in getting a date? I thought you said you enjoyed being alone so you could ‘channel all of your high school anguish’ into your poetry?” “Since I found out all of the other girls in my poetry group are bringing dates,” Flo said. “Are you going to help your best friend or what?” “You know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to help you, but I don’t know any special strategies or anything,” Aubrey said. “I am just myself around guys. If they like me, then great. If they don’t, it’s not the end of the world.” “You do what?” Flo said in disbelief. “If that’s what it takes to get a boyfriend, I think I will stay single!” She slammed her locker. Aubrey just shook her head and laughed. “Are we still on for movie night Friday?” “Only if you bring Mean Girls ,” Flo said, pouting. “You know it’s my favorite!” “Of course, Flo,” Aubrey replied. “I know you like complex international films." Both girls broke up into laughter.
- Based on the evidence in the passage, which statement is most likely true?
A. Flo is pretending to be deep just to get a date. B. Flo is probably very dramatic about most things. C. Aubrey and Flo do not get along very well. D. Aubrey is one of the best poets at school.
Answers
1. A
2. A
3. D
4. A
5. A
6. B
7. A
8. C
9. B
10. C
11. B
12. B
13. B
Explanations
- This sentence from the passage gives an example of how meat agriculture harms the environment. The fertilizer that farmers use can contaminate the water supply.
- All of the information from The Heartland Institute included in this passage is intended to overturn the claims that agricultural farming is bad for the environment. The reader can infer that this research center is probably in favor of meat farming.
- This sentence from the passage gives an example of animal cruelty that takes place on some big farms.
- The final sentence in this passage recommends that readers see a doctor before they decide to make any drastic diet changes.
- This idea from the passage supports the claim in paragraph 3 that vegetarians lead healthier lifestyles overall.
- Read the paragraph from the passage again. First, the writer says that it takes 2,500 gallons of water for a single pound of beef. Then, he or she uses the long shower to give an example of exactly how much water is used in livestock farming.
- This sentence from the passage says that most of the land used for cattle could not be used to plant crops that can be used to feed people anyway. These farmers believe farming meat makes better use of the land than not using it at all.
- In paragraph 5, the rats in the study refuse to eat anything when the junk food was taken away and replaced by healthy food. The reader can conclude that they would rather starve than have their junk food taken away.
- Based on the information in the passage, compulsive eating in rats could have been caused by the rapid weight gain that comes from a high fat diet. This could also be helpful in studying huge weight gain in humans because there could be a possible connection in the brain activity of humans and rats.
- Based on the sentence from the passage, people who eat high fat foods have the same brain activity as a person who does illegal drugs. Therefore, the reader can conclude that some people get the same feeling with high fat foods that they would get with illegal drugs.
- This statement from the passage shows that researchers have found that brain changes in rats with diets that are high in fat and sugar are similar to those of people who have abused drugs. This suggests that junk food is a drug, too.
- Pay special attention to the things Aubrey says to Flo and Flo's responses. The reader can conclude she is probably a dramatic person.
- In this passage, Aubrey is honest with Flo. She tells Flo that she needs to stop pretending to be someone she is not. She also reveals how she relates with guys.
