VOA标准英语2012--New York Sugary Drink Ban Targets Obesity

 

New York Sugary Drink Ban Targets Obesity¹

Do you really need 450 grams, 560 grams, 900 grams of sugary soda²? These are all quantities regularly sold and consumed in the United States.

Mayor Bloomberg said “enough” with his proposed ban on the sale of super-sized sugary drinks. Some New Yorkers aren’t pleased.

“What kind of a state is this? We can’t even drink soda for crying out loud,” one woman complained.

“This is a democracy and we should have a choice as to what kind of soda we want to drink,” another woman said.

David Almasi of the conservative-leaning National Center for Public Policy Research is against the mayor’s proposal.

“In the case of what he has suggested he wants to do ... you can go into a restaurant and you can buy a 40 ounce [1134 gram] beer, but you can’t buy a 40 ounce [1134 gram] Coke,” Almasi said.

American 7-11 convenience stores sell the Super Big Gulp³, a 32-ounce (907 gram) soda. New York City officials cite a 2006 study which argues that sugary drinks are linked to long-term obesity and increased risk of heart disease and diabetes⁴.

“Why does somebody need 32 ounces [907 grams] of liquid sugar?" concurs⁵ nutritionist Claire LeBrun. "There is no nutrient⁶ value in there. It just gives you extra calories that you are going to end up storing as fat.”

LeBrun notes that the more sugar you get, the more you want.

“To be honest with you, I was addicted⁷ to Coke. And right now I am having a hard time quitting,” one man admitted.

Many New Yorkers VOA spoke⁸ to support the ban.

“I actually think it’s a good idea," a bystander said. "And being a little bit overweight myself … I noticed you looking at my stomach there.”

The proposed ban on large sugary drinks must be approved by New York City’s Board of Health. That is likely -- Mayor Bloomberg appointed all of its members. 

1 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

2 soda   

n.苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
• I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

3 gulp   

vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽

参考例句：

• She took down the tablets in one gulp.她把那些药片一口吞了下去。
• Don't gulp your food,chew it before you swallow it.吃东西不要狼吞虎咽，要嚼碎了再咽下去。

4 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

5 concurs   

同意（concur的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Gilardi concurs that the newly compiled data is a powerful tool. 吉拉迪认同新汇集的数据是一个强有力的工具。
• Curtin concurs that it's been a blessing and a reward. 柯廷也同意这是一种祝福和奖励。

6 nutrient   

adj.营养的，滋养的；n.营养物，营养品

参考例句：

• Magnesium is the nutrient element in plant growth.镁是植物生长的营养要素。
• The roots transmit moisture and nutrient to the trunk and branches.根将水分和养料输送到干和枝。

7 addicted   

adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的

参考例句：

• He was addicted to heroin at the age of 17.他17岁的时候对海洛因上了瘾。
• She's become addicted to love stories.她迷上了爱情小说。

8 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。