"I would almost rather see you dead. " Bobert S. Cassatt, a leading banker of Philadelphia, shouted when his twenty-year-old eldest daughter announced that she wanted to become an artist. In the 19th century, playing at drawing or painting on dishes was all right for a young lady, but serious work in art was not. And when the young lady’ s family racked among the best of Philadelphia’s social families, such an idea could not even be considered.

That was how Mary Cassatt, born 1844, began her struggle as an artist. She did not tremble before her father’s anger, she opposed him with courage and at last made him change his mind. Mary Cassatt gave up her social position and all thoughts of a thousand and a family, which in those times was unthinkable for a young lady. In the end, after long years of hard work and perseverance, she became America’s most important woman artist and the internationally recognized leading woman painter of the time.

What do we know about Mary Cassatt’s marriage（）

A．Her marriage failed because she never gave a thought to her husband and family.

B．She never married because she did not want to be just a wife and mother.

C．After marriage she decided to give up her husband rather than her career.

D．She did not marry because for a lady of her social position to marry below her was unthinkabl

     The World Health Organization says obesity rates are rising in Pacific island countries. So, too, are

health problems linked to being overweight.

     The WHO says a major reason for the rising obesity rates is an increase in imported foods. It says

many Pacific islanders have replaced their traditional diets of vegetables and fruits with imported

processed foods.

     Dr. Temu Waqanivalu is with the World Health Organization's South Pacific office in Suva, Fiji. He

says many of the imported products lack nutritional value.

      Temu Waqanivalu said: "In some of the places, you'd be amazed to see how a bottle of Coke is

cheaper than a bottle of water. I think that represents the kind of offenvironment we've created that

doesn't really encourage or make lifestyle choices an easy choice for the population."

     And a lack of physical activity among many Pacific islanders only adds to the obesity problem.

     The WHO says more than 50 percent of the population is overweight in at least ten Pacific island

countries. The rate is as high as 80 percent among women in the territory of American Samoa.Fiji had

the lowest obesity rate at 30 percent.

     In all, almost ten million people live in Pacific island countries. The WHO estimates that about 40

percent of them have health disorders related to diet and nutrition.

     Diabetes rates are among the highest in the world. Fortyseven percent of the people in American

Samoa have diabetes. So do 44 percent of the people in Tokelau, a territory of New Zealand.

     By comparison, the diabetes rate is 13 percent in the United States, a country that has its own

problems with rising obesity.

      Officials also note an increase in nutritional problems like anemia and not enough vitamin A in the

diets of Pacific islanders. Dr.Waqanivalu says treating conditions related to obesity and diet puts

pressure on limited health resources and budgets. 

1. The main reason why obesity rates are rising in many Pacific islanders is ________.

A. the change of society

B. the change of eating habits

C. the change of life style

D. lack of exercise 

2. Imported products lack nutritional value but people love to buy them because ________.

A. they are cheap

B. they are popular

C. they are tasty

D. they are convenient to get

3. How many people living in Pacific island countries have health disorders?

A. 1 million.  

B. 4 million.

C. 6 million.  

D. 10 million.

4. The percentage of diabetes rates in American Samoa is ________.

A. optimistic  

B. steady

C. worrying  

D. low

5. If the passage appears in a newspaper, which column will it be?

A. Science.  

B. Nature.

C. Entertainment.  

D. Health.