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Passage 1: “There is a clear link between weight and cancer,…

Passage 1: “There is a clear link between weight and cancer,” says Nagi Kumar, Ph.D., R.D., an expert on diet and cancer prevention at the H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center & Research Institute. Being overweight affects the hormones. It also affects hormonal-related cancer. Right now 30% of America is overweight or obese, she adds. Cancer rates keep rising every year, and we keep rising in our weight every year. We are a nation that is facing a new epidemic, and that epidemic is obesity. According to the National Cancer Institute, obesity and inactivity may account for up to 20 to 30% of breast, colon, uterine, and kidney and esophageal cancers. It may also increase the risk of other cancers, but the evidence is less dramatic. The interaction between fat and cancer is a tricky business. For instance, obesity is a major risk factor for breast cancer in post-menopausal women but not for pre-menopausal women. Excessive body fat also can lessen chances of recovery from cancer, according to a recent study of breast cancer survivors who often have a particularly hard time losing weight because of hormonal changes. In fact, many patients gain weight even as they are suffering from nausea because of radiation therapy. The good news is that obesity is a risk factor that we can control through diet and exercise. Being overweight affects the hormones. It also affects hormonal-related cancer. The interaction between fat and cancer is a tricky business. For instance, obesity is a major risk factor for breast cancer in post-menopausal women but not for pre-menopausal women.   1. “Being overweight affects the hormones. It also affects hormonal-related cancer. “   The relationship between the two sentences above is

Passage 8: Identity thieves are a lot like car thieves, expe…

Passage 8: Identity thieves are a lot like car thieves, experts say: If they want your information badly enough, they’ll probably get it. But taking a few simple precautions can make you a much less attractive target. Here are simple steps for protecting your identity. First, avoid phishing scams. The latest ploy of ID thieves is to send consumers official-looking e-mail messages that appear to come from companies you’ve done business with. The e-mail messages request passwords and other personal data. The practice — called “phishing” — can dupe even savvy consumers. When in doubt, verify by phone or through the company’s Web site that the e-mail is real. Second, buy a shredder. This is one of the easiest ways to guard against “Dumpster diving,” says Naomi Lefkovitz, an attorney for the FTC’s identity theft program. Identity thieves prowl public dumps and big trash bins looking for sensitive documents like credit card statements. Many of those papers contain all the information a thief needs to hijack your identity. Third, keep track of your credit by getting regular credit. It’s always a good time to get copies of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. It won’t protect you from theft, but it will let you spot suspicious activity taking place in your name. They normally charge around $10 for a copy, and consumers are encouraged obtain reports from all three bureaus; some deals offer reports from all three bureaus for a single price. Fourth, protect your social security number. The Social Security number has become a de facto customer ID, but most of the time you don’t have to give it away. SSNs are like spun gold to identity thieves. The FTC’s Lefkovitz advises consumers to ask companies that request an SSN why they need it. Retail stores, utility companies and insurers are among the sorts of companies that probably don’t need your Social Security number — even if they ask for it. The law doesn’t prevent them from asking, but many will back down if you insist on keeping your number private. Finally, practice safe computing by inoculating your home computer against attacks and spying, especially if you trade music or other digital files online. Buy anti-virus software and keep it updated with the latest virus definitions. Also consider firewall software. 22. Which of the following best restates the main idea of this passage?