Chemically, there are many different alcohols. All of them are poisons for almost all living things. After a person swallows a drink containing alcohol, the alcohol is absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream. It is then slowly removed and burned up, changing entirely in the process to carbon dioxide and water, mostly by action of the liver. The effects of alcohol on the body come from its effect on the brain. And they depend upon the amount of alcohol that builds up in the bloodstream.
As with many other poisons, a small amount of alcohol has some special effects. In small amounts it acts as a stimulant. People who are “uptight” — tense and nervous — are apt to become more relaxed and talkative, and seem to lose their worries. For this reason, some people drink a little alcohol after a hard day’s work.
The trouble with alcohol begins with just a little more just — a slightly higher amount — in the bloodstream. Then it becomes a depressant. Depressants make people slower at thinking and slower at moving. But people are apt to think they are smarter and faster. That’s bad. You can easily understand why they should not be driving a car.
There’s another part about drinking too much alcohol, which is even worse. People are likely to lose self-control. Then they are likely to drink even more. Those who are drunk are not very nice to be around and can be dangerous— to themselves and others.
Some people are compulsive drinkers. Even a small amount of alcohol “sets them off,” and they keep on drinking. These people are called alcoholics. The American Medical Association says they have the disease of alcoholism.
So far, no one has found a cure. The only treatment for an alcoholic is to never take a drink of alcohol-not even a little bit. That may sound simple, but for an alcoholic it’s not.
【小题1】Which part of body does alcohol have the most effects on?A.The bloodstream. | B.The heart. |
C.The brain. | D.The liver. |
A.To relax themselves. | B.To make them smarter. |
C.To have a good sleep. | D.To become braver. |
A.Drink n little bit each day. | B.Cut down on the amount. |
C.Never drive after drinking. | D.Stop drinking completely. |
A.The benefits of alcohol drinking. | B.The effects of alcohol on people |
C.The treatments on alcoholism. | D.The causes of getting drunk. |