Big or tall baby girls are more likely to develop breast cancer when they grow up, research suggests. Each extra pound at birth or 2cm increase in length raises women's chances of the deadly disease by 6 percent.It is thought that hormones (荷尔蒙) which drive growth could alter the programming of the breast, making it more likely to develop the cancer which kills more than 1,000 British women a month.Big babies could also go through puberty (青春期) early—another factor linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.The researchers from the London School of Hygiene (卫生) and Tropical Medicine examined the results of 32 studies involving more than 600,000 women, most of whom lived in developed countries and more than 22,000 had developed breast cancer.One of the researchers said: "Our study indicates that birth size is a marker of possibility of breast cancer in adulthood, at least in developed countries. Little is known on how the environment before birth may affect breast cancer risk in later life. Further research is needed."A better understanding of the biology behind the phenomenon could lead to new drugs to beat the disease.In an accompanying article, US experts said that while the increased risk might seem small, it was "not unimportant for a common disease like breast cancer."In Dr Sarah Cant's opinion, breast cancer is a complex disease that can be influenced by many factors throughout a woman's life. It is very interesting that birth size may be one of them. Although there is nothing a woman can do about her size at birth, there are some things she can do to help reduce her risk of developing breast cancer such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet and limiting her alcohol drinking.According to Dr Jodie Moffat, a cancer researcher in the UK, breast cancer remains the most common cancer in the UK, but regardless of birth weight, it's important for all women to be breast-aware and go for screening when invited.1. What kind of women are more likely to develop breast cancer according to this passage?A) Those who are several pounds heavier than normal at birth. B) Those who are several pounds lighter than normal at birth.C) Those who are several centimeters shorter than normal at birth.D) Those who grow faster than others after they are born.2. How many women die from breast cancer annually in Britain?A) More than 1,000.B) More than 12,000. C) More than 22,000.D) More than 600,000.3. What can we infer from this passage?A) The size at birth is one of the obvious signs of the possibility to develop cancer in adulthood. B) The women who are much taller at birth will definitely develop breast cancer in adulthood.C) The women whose environment before birth is bad will have a higher breast cancer risk in adulthood.D) The slight increase in risk from birth weight is not important for breast cancer.4. What can help a woman protect herself from developing breast cancer according to this passage?A) Eating vegetables only.B) Reducing her weight as much as possible.C) Drinking as little alcohol as possible. D) Limiting her smoking.5. Dr. Jodie Moffat suggests that ________.A) breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwideB) breast cancer can be influenced by many factors throughout a woman's lifeC) those women who are not born with bigger size needn't pay much attention to the breast cancer riskD) every woman should raise the awareness of the breast cancer and do medical examination when necessary

Big or tall baby girls are more likely to develop breast cancer when they grow up, research suggests. Each extra pound at birth or 2cm increase in length raises women's chances of the deadly disease by 6 percent. It is thought that hormones (荷尔蒙) which drive growth could alter the programming of the breast, making it more likely to develop the cancer which kills more than 1,000 British women a month. Big babies could also go through puberty (青春期) early—another factor linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. The researchers from the London School of Hygiene (卫生) and Tropical Medicine examined the results of 32 studies involving more than 600,000 women, most of whom lived in developed countries and more than 22,000 had developed breast cancer. One of the researchers said: "Our study indicates that birth size is a marker of possibility of breast cancer in adulthood, at least in developed countries. Little is known on how the environment before birth may affect breast cancer risk in later life. Further research is needed." A better understanding of the biology behind the phenomenon could lead to new drugs to beat the disease. In an accompanying article, US experts said that while the increased risk might seem small, it was "not unimportant for a common disease like breast cancer." In Dr Sarah Cant's opinion, breast cancer is a complex disease that can be influenced by many factors throughout a woman's life. It is very interesting that birth size may be one of them. Although there is nothing a woman can do about her size at birth, there are some things she can do to help reduce her risk of developing breast cancer such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet and limiting her alcohol drinking. According to Dr Jodie Moffat, a cancer researcher in the UK, breast cancer remains the most common cancer in the UK, but regardless of birth weight, it's important for all women to be breast-aware and go for screening when invited.1. What kind of women are more likely to develop breast cancer according to this passage?A)  Those who are several pounds heavier than normal at birth. B)  Those who are several pounds lighter than normal at birth.C)  Those who are several centimeters shorter than normal at birth.D)  Those who grow faster than others after they are born.2. How many women die from breast cancer annually in Britain?A)  More than 1,000.B)  More than 12,000. C)  More than 22,000.D)  More than 600,000.3. What can we infer from this passage?A)  The size at birth is one of the obvious signs of the possibility to develop cancer in adulthood. B)  The women who are much taller at birth will definitely develop breast cancer in adulthood.C)  The women whose environment before birth is bad will have a higher breast cancer risk in adulthood.D)  The slight increase in risk from birth weight is not important for breast cancer.4. What can help a woman protect herself from developing breast cancer according to this passage?A)  Eating vegetables only.B)  Reducing her weight as much as possible.C)  Drinking as little alcohol as possible. D)  Limiting her smoking.5. Dr. Jodie Moffat suggests that ________.A)  breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwideB)  breast cancer can be influenced by many factors throughout a woman's lifeC)  those women who are not born with bigger size needn't pay much attention to the breast cancer riskD)  every woman should raise the awareness of the breast cancer and do medical examination when necessary