Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow. 1. The idea that coffee is bad for heart pops up periodically. It was found that regularly drinking very strong coffee could sharply increase cholesterol levels. Researchers even isolated fatlike chemicals, cafestol and kahweol, responsible for the rise. 2. It turned out that the European brewing method — boiling water sits on the coffee grounds for several minutes before straining – produces high concentrations of cafestol and kahweol. By contrast, the filter and percolation methods remove all but a trace of these chemicals. Moreover, the studies involved large amounts of coffee — five to six cups a day. Moderate coffee drinkers down only two cups. 3. Research has also shown that regular, moderate coffee drinking does not dangerously raise blood pressure. And studies have failed to substantiate fears that coffee might trigger abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) in healthy people. 4. “For heart disease, I think the issue is closed,” says Meir Stampfer, an epidemiologist at Harvard who has studied many aspects of coffee and health. “Coffee drinking at reasonable levels is unrelated to heart risk.” 5. Evidence suggests that coffee may help fend off Parkinson’s disease. A 30 - year study of 8000 Japanese - American men found that avid coffee drinkers had one-fifth the risk of those who didn’t drink the brew. 6. Scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital, USA, found indirect evidence that Caffeine - the habit forming stimulant in coffee – may actually combat Parkinson’s disease. The caffeine seemed to protect mice brain cells from depletion of the nerve chemical dopamine – the problem underlying Parkinson’s disease in humans. However, these are preliminary findings; human studies have - not consistently supported caffeine’s protective role. 7. The studies on coffee and cancer have focussed on three organs – and are reassuring. You may remember a brief coffee scare in the early 1980s when a single study linked coffee with pancreatic cancer. A false alarm: Many studies since then have shown that the association is either extremely weak or non - existent. 8. If there’s a connection between coffee and bladder cancer, it possibly applies just to coffee junkies. A reanalysis of ten European studies found an increased risk only among people who drank ten or more cups a day. And studies show that coffee seems to have no adverse influence on the risk of colon cancer. 9. Caffeine is such a powerful stimulant that the International Olympic Committee and the National Collegiate Athletic Association set limits on how much can remain in the blood during competition. In addition to boosting physical endurance, caffeine increases alertness and improves mood. The buzz may come at a price, though. People who drink more than they’re used to may become restless and unable to sleep. Moreover, it’s possible to become physically dependent on caffeine in days. 10. The question now arises: how much to drink? Those with heartburn and anxiety may want to see if cutting back coffee improves their condition. For most people, however, there’s virtually no risk in consuming up to three normal cups a day. Harvard’s Stampfer tries to keep his coffee drinking irregular enough to avoid habituation: “That way, I can get a buzz when I feel like it.”
Identify the tone of the passage.
Informative
Understanding the Tone of the Coffee and Health Passage
The question asks us to identify the tone of the provided passage about coffee and its effects on health. The tone refers to the author's attitude towards the subject matter, conveyed through word choice and style.
Analyzing the Passage Content and Style
Let's examine the passage to understand how the author presents the information:
- The passage discusses various studies and research findings related to coffee consumption.
- It presents facts about the chemicals in coffee (cafestol, kahweol, caffeine) and their potential effects.
- It details findings regarding coffee's link (or lack thereof) to heart disease, high blood pressure, arrhythmias, Parkinson's disease, bladder cancer, and colon cancer.
- It quotes an expert researcher (Meir Stampfer) to support claims about heart risk.
- It mentions preliminary findings (on Parkinson's) and the need for further consistent human studies.
- It explains the effects of caffeine as a stimulant, including benefits and potential drawbacks like restlessness and dependence.
- It provides advice on moderate consumption for most people.
The overall approach is objective, presenting information derived from research and studies without excessive emotion or bias. The primary purpose is to educate the reader about the current scientific understanding of coffee's impact on health.
Evaluating the Options
Let's consider the given options:
- Laudatory: This tone involves praising or commending something. The passage does mention potential benefits of coffee (like protection against Parkinson's and increased alertness), but it also discusses risks (cholesterol with certain brewing methods, potential bladder cancer risk for heavy drinkers, caffeine's stimulant downsides). It's a balanced presentation, not purely praiseworthy. Therefore, laudatory is not the correct tone.
- Informative: This tone aims to educate the reader by providing facts, details, and explanations. As discussed above, the passage relies heavily on research findings, studies, and expert opinions to inform the reader about coffee's health effects. This fits the style and purpose of the passage well.
- Humanistic: This tone focuses on human interests, values, and dignity, often philosophical or cultural. The passage is primarily scientific and health-focused, based on medical research, rather than exploring the human experience or cultural significance of coffee drinking. Therefore, humanistic is not the correct tone.
- Speculative: This tone involves guessing or theorizing without firm evidence. While the passage mentions some "preliminary findings" and notes when human studies haven't consistently supported results, the vast majority of the passage presents findings from multiple studies ("many studies since then have shown", "A reanalysis of ten European studies", "studies show"). It's based on evidence presented as facts, not mere speculation. Therefore, speculative is not the correct tone.
Based on the analysis, the passage's primary aim is to inform the reader about the health implications of coffee consumption by presenting research findings and expert views. Thus, the tone is informative.
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
