The American population was the tallest in the world from about the American

The American population was the tallest in the world from about the American Revolution to World WarⅡ—that’s a long time.The U.S.had a very resource rich environment, with game, fish and wildlife. In fact we have data on disadvantaged people in America,such as slaves.They were obviously among the most mistreated populations in the world, but given the resource abundance，and given the fact that the slave owners needed their work,they had to be fed relatively decently. So the slaves were taller than European peasants. It’s no wonder that Europeans were just flooding to America.

Americans today are no longer the tallest people in the world.After World WarⅡ，many Western and Northern European countries began to adopt favorable social policies.There is universal health insurance in most of these societies—that,of course，makes a difference in health care.You can also consider income inequality in the U.S., since people who are at the low end of the totem pole(图腾柱)have considerable adversity making ends meet.I suspect the difference in height between Americans and Europeans is due to both diet and health care.

Americans today suffer from an additional problem:obesity.If children are too well nourished，then they’ re not able to grow optimally.There are certain hormones that control the start of the adolescent growth and the start of adolescence.Nutrition is one of the factors，along with genetic and hormonal ones which are associated with the start of puberty(青春期).And if puberty comes too early，then the youth will peak out sooner,and will not become as tall in adulthood as someone who had better nutrition.Also,the overload of carbohydrates and fats in a fast food diet may hinder the consumption of micro nutrients essential to growth.

1.The word "game" in(line 2，para.1)refers to.

(A). animals hunted for food

(B). rich natural resources

(C). activities played by kids

(D). sports events to be held

2.Slaves in America were taller than European peasants because.

(A). they were badly treated

(B). they did not do farm work

(C). they had sufficient food to eat

(D). they enjoyed better health care

3. It is implied in the second paragraph that.

(A). Europeans could make more money than Americans

(B). average Americans used to be shorter than Europeans

(C). welfare helps Europeans grow taller than Americans

(D). people on the totem pole are leading a comfortable life

4. According to the third paragraph,overweight children in the U.S..

A. tend to have better nutrition for growth

B. tend to eat more food to grow taller

C. will grow taller than average children

D. will fail to grow into an ideal height

5. Eating too much fast food may affect.

(A). the absorption of micronutrients

(B). the intake of carbohydrates

(C). the consumption of hormones

(D). the digestion of fats