# The influence of children on adult eating habits - 科目：雅思听力真题（Part 4） - 考频：高频 - 最近考试：2021.5.22/2019.1.19/2016.6.16/2015.7.23/2011.4.16 - 题目数：10 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/9e4c7aa5-c51f-4c92-8af3-93535b902fe0（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 00:00:01,820 Now listen carefully and answer questions thirty-one to forty. 00:00:09,840 Today, we continue with our series of lectures on diet and society in the twenty-first century. We are all aware of the obesity epidemic facing our society. The reasons for this are well documented and are mainly due to poor eating habits coupled with too little exercise. In fact, a national health and nutrition survey here in the US concluded that the average total food intake increased considerably between the years nineteen seventy-one and two thousand. 00:00:41,860 This appears to be a general trend across most age groups. In fact, apart from the over sixties, all areas of American society are consistently above the dietary guidelines for caloric intake and saturated fat. However, total fat consumption is highest for teenagers, and there is a clear correlation with fast food consumption. 00:01:06,620 Among the wide range of factors influencing an individual's dietary choices, one of the strongest influences is the home. It will come as no surprise that within a family, the fat intakes of husbands and wives and parents and children who cohabit are remarkably similar. Many people assume that this relationship indicates the influence of parents on their children. But we wanted to ask if children influence poor diets in adults. This hypothesis had not been tested in a national sample until now. In our study, we focused only on adults, and we set our lower age limit at seventeen and the upper one at sixty-five. The key variable was the presence or absence of children. So we identified only those adults whose children were under seventeen. Other variables included the age of the adult, level of education they had reached, their ethnic background, their income, and foreign-born status. 00:02:09,500 To obtain our data, first, we conducted interviews in the respondent's own homes, and all in all, we interviewed six thousand six hundred adults aged over seventeen. Then we invited them to mobile examination centers where surveys were conducted. From this information, we were able to focus not only on the total fat intake but also on the person's total caloric consumption. 00:02:37,240 Our results show that the presence of children led to significantly higher levels of both fat consumption and saturated fat in adults. We found on average that adults with children in the home ate four point nine grams per day of fat more than adults without children. This result is consistent irrespective of race, gender, or age. The foods more commonly were convenience items high in fat or sugar, including pizza, salty snacks, and ice cream. Interestingly, there is a significantly higher percentage of adults in this group who drink milk. 00:03:19,440 There are many explanations for this increased fat intake. Hectic schedules where parents try to balance work, family, and leisure put time at a premium. Another issue is children's preference for fatty foods or foods with a high sugar content. Fast foods and ready-to-eat foods are convenient choices. It is inconvenient to prepare different meals for both the children and the parents, so it is likely that adults consume the same as their children. 00:03:51,440 Of course, there were limitations to our study. One of these is that we did not take into account the number of minors in each household, which could have an effect on the adult who feeds the children. In addition, this study does not take into account the relationship of the adult to the minor. We could also postulate that the older a child gets, the more independent he or she becomes, and so the influence a child has on an adult may lessen depending on the age of the child. In terms of recommendations as a result of this study, we would like to see more research conducted to overcome the limitations outlined earlier. We also feel there is a need for even further research into the influence that friends can have on our fat intake, given the clear link we've established between family members. 00:04:46,740 That is the end of section four. 00:04:49,800 You now have half a minute to check your answers. ## 题目与答案 ### 31. Background Obesity - mainly caused by bad eating habits and lack of exercise National survey conclusions: - food consumption rose between 1971 and 2000 - Americans in general eat above the recommended amounts - the age group that eat most fat is 31_____ . Background Obesity - mainly caused by bad eating habits and lack of exercise National survey conclusions: - food consumption rose between 1971 and 2000 - Americans in general eat above the recommended amounts - the age group that eat most fat is 31_____ . **答案**：teenagers 原文定位：However, total fat consumption is highest for teenagers, and there is a clear correlation with fast food consumption 同义替换：「eat most fat」↔「total fat consumption is highest」 ### 32. - Family members living together show 32_____ levels of fat in their diet. - Aims of present study: to show whether children affect adult diet. - Family members living together show 32_____ levels of fat in their diet. - Aims of present study: to show whether children affect adult diet. **答案**：similar 原文定位：It will come as no surprise that within a family, the fat intakes of husbands and wives and parents and children who cohabit are remarkably similar 同义替换：「fat in their diet」↔「fat intakes」；「Family members living together」↔「parents and children who cohabit」 ### 33. Methods & procedures Who? - Adults aged 17-65 with children under 17 - Other variables: age, education, race, 33_____ and whether born overseas. Methods & procedures Who? - Adults aged 17-65 with children under 17 - Other variables: age, education, race, 33_____ and whether born overseas. **答案**：income 原文定位：Other variables included the age of the adult, level of education they had reached, their ethnic background, their income, and foreign-born status 同义替换：「race」↔「level of education」；「whether born overseas」↔「foreign-born status」 ### 34. 34_____ held at Mobile Examination Centers . 34_____ held at Mobile Examination Centers . **答案**：surveys 原文定位：Then we invited them to mobile examination centers where surveys were conducted 同义替换：「held at」↔「were conducted」 ### 35. Results Adults living with children are more likely to: - eat more fat - eat convenience food - 35_____ Results Adults living with children are more likely to: - eat more fat - eat convenience food - 35_____ **答案**：milk 原文定位：Interestingly, there is a significantly higher percentage of adults in this group who drink milk 同义替换：「more likely to」↔「a significantly higher percentage」 ### 36. Reasons Parents have little 36_____ . Children`s preference for certain foods Inconvenience of making separate meals Reasons Parents have little 36_____ . Children`s preference for certain foods Inconvenience of making separate meals **答案**：time 原文定位：Hectic schedules where parents try to balance work, family, and leisure put time at a premium 同义替换：「have little time」↔「put time at a premium」 ### 37. Limitations of study The study did not consider the effects of: - the 37_____ of respondents is limited, which affects the validity of the result. Limitations of study The study did not consider the effects of: - the 37_____ of respondents is limited, which affects the validity of the result. **答案**：number 原文定位：One of these is that we did not take into account the number of minors in each household, which could have an effect on the adult who feeds the children 同义替换：「did not take into account」↔「the study did not consider the effects of」；「minors」↔「children」 ### 38. - the 38_____ between the adults and children. - the 38_____ between the adults and children. **答案**：relationship 原文定位：In addition, this study does not take into account the relationship of the adult to the minor 同义替换：「did not take into account」↔「the study did not consider the effects of」 ### 39. - influence may decrease with 39_____ - influence may decrease with 39_____ **答案**：age 原文定位：We could also postulate that the older a child gets, the more independent he or she becomes, and so the influence a child has on an adult may lessen depending on the age of the child 同义替换：「decrease」↔「lessen」 ### 40. Conclusions and recommendations - more research needed into above areas - Research needed into how our 40_____ affect our diet. Conclusions and recommendations - more research needed into above areas - Research needed into how our 40_____ affect our diet. **答案**：friends 原文定位：We also feel there is a need for even further research into the influence that friends can have on our fat intake 同义替换：「affect」↔「influence」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。