《2026年学易优高考二轮总复习英语》

(2025·太原高三模拟)
Pick up any packaged processed food, and there's a decent chance that one of its listed ingredients will be the “natural flavor”. The ingredient sounds good, particularly in contrast to “artificial flavor”. But what exactly does the natural flavor mean? It refers to extracts（提取物）got from natural sources like plants, meat or seafood. When consumers see “natural flavor” on a label, they are unlikely to assume that someone is squeezing the juice from oranges into their bottles. They know even though natural flavor must come from natural sources, it needn't all come from the plant or meat. For example, orange flavor might contain not only orange extract, but also extracts from bark and grass. Nor is the common belief true that ingredients extracted from nature are necessarily safer than something artificially made.
So if flavors like orange are needed, why not just use oranges? The answer comes down to “availability, cost and sustainability”, according to flavor chemist Gary Reineccius of the University of Minnesota. “If you're going to use all your grapes on grape soda,” Reineccius says, “you don't have any grapes for wine making; the products are going to be exorbitant; besides, what do you do with the by - products you create after you've squeezed all the juice out of the grapes?”
Actually, while chemists make natural flavors by extracting chemicals from natural ingredients, artificial flavors are made by creating the same chemicals artificially. The reason why companies bother to use natural flavors rather than artificial flavors is simple: marketing. “Many of these products have health titles,” says Platkin, professor from Hunter College. “Consumers may be talked to believe products with natural flavors are healthier, though they're nutritionally no different from those with artificial flavors. Natural flavors may involve more forest clear - cutting and carbon emissions from transport than flavors created in the lab.”
Platkin suggests getting more transparent labeling on packaging that describes exactly what the natural or artificial flavors are, so consumers are not misled into buying one product over another because of “natural flavors”. Reineccius also offers some simple guidance, “Don't buy anything because it says ‘natural flavors’. Buy it because you like it.”
1. Which is a misunderstanding about the “natural flavor” juice according to Paragraph 1?
A. It comes from 100% original fruit.
B. It is nothing but advertising tricks.
C. It certainly contains extracts made in the lab.
D. It is absolutely safer than juice with artificial flavors.
2. What does the underlined word “exorbitant” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A. Popular.
B. Expensive.
C. Durable.
D. Innovative.
3. Why do companies use natural flavors in their products?
A. To cut the costs.
B. To promote the sales.
C. To advocate a healthy diet.
D. To avoid food safety issues.
4. What can we conclude from the text?
A. Gary and Platkin hold opposite perspectives.
B. Natural flavors are more environmentally friendly.
C. Customers are misled for ignoring labels on packaging.
D. Natural and artificial flavors are more alike than you think.

答案： 1.D 推理判断题。根据第一段中的“Pick up any packaged processed food... The ingredient sounds good,particularly in contrast to ‘artificial flavor’.”可知，消费者在看食物成分表，看到含有天然香精字样时会认为食品好，尤其是和人造香精对比。再根据第一段的最后一句“Nor is the common belief true... something artificially made.”可知，大家认为天然香精一定比人造香精要安全，但这种观点一点也不成立。
2.B 词义猜测题。根据画线词所在句中的“The answer comes down to ‘availability,cost and sustainability’”可知，原因分为三个部分。本段中的“you don’t have any grapes for wine making”对应的是“availability”；“the products are going to be exorbitant”对应的是“cost”；“what do you do with the by-products... the grapes?”对应的是“sustainability”。故选B项。
3.B 细节理解题。根据第三段中的“The reason why companies...is simple:marketing.”可知，公司使用天然香精是为了营销。故选B项。“To promote the sales”是marketing的同义转换。
4.D 推理判断题。根据第三段中的“Consumers may be talked...those with artificial flavors.”可知，消费者相信有天然香精的产品会更健康，尽管从营养上来讲这些产品和用人造香精的产品没有什么差别。故选D项。