Many scientists believe our love of sugar may actually be an addiction. When we eat or drink sugary foods, the sugar enters our blood and affects parts of our brain that make us feel good. Then the good feeling goes away, leaving us wanting more. All tasty foods do this, but sugar has a particularly strong effect. In this way, it is in fact an addictive drug, one that doctors recommend we all cut down on.

"It seems like every time I study an illness and trace a path to the first cause, I find my way back to sugar," says scientist Richard Johnson. One- third of adults worldwide have high blood pressure, and up to 347 million have diabetes. Why? "Sugar, we believe, is one of the culprits, if not the major culprit," says Johnson.

Our bodies are designed to survive on very little sugar. Early humans often had very little food, so our bodies learned to be very efficient in storing sugar as fat. In this way, we had energy stored for when there was no food. But today, most people have more than enough. So the very thing that once saved us may now be killing us.

So what is the solution? It's obvious that we need to eat less sugar. The trouble is, in today's world, it's extremely difficult to avoid. From breakfast cereals to after-dinner desserts, our foods are increasingly filled with it. Some manufacturers even use sugar to replace taste in foods that are advertised as low in fat.

But there are those who are fighting back against sugar. Many schools are replacing sugary desserts with healthier options like fruit. Other schools are growing their own food in gardens, or building facilities like walking tracks so students and others in the community can exercise. The battle has not yet been lost. 

According to the passage, why is it so hard to avoid sugar? 

 

 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

The Giant Panda has been on the ______ of extinction for many years. 

We cut down many forests. The Earth becomes hot. 

“Hello, I’d like to speak to Mr. Green, please.”

“______ _____________________.” 

“Do you mind if I use your phone?” “____________”. 

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The sky was grey and cloudy. _______, we went to the beach. 

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It is important to have someone you can ______ in. 

Recovery after the accident will be (A) a continual (B) process that (C) may take several months (D). 

“Why don’t you complain to the company, John?” said Peter. 

Despite (A) the time of the year, yesterday’s (B) temperature was enough hot (C) to turn on (D) the air conditioning

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

You ______ clean the windows. The window-cleaner is coming tomorrow. 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

Would you rather live in ________ town or in ________ country? 

John certainly can’t be held responsible for the accident. 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

What I like best of him is his ______. 

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He was lucky to escape from the accident with only ______ injuries. 

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It is _____ appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.