Recently, a shocking medical case has raised public concern about the health risks of extreme sun avoidance. A 48-year-old woman suffered a spinal fracture (脊柱骨折) while simply turning over in bed. Test results revealed her vitamin D levels were less than one-third of the normal range, directly linked to her decades-long sun protection habits. Since childhood, she had completely covered her skin outdoors, almost wearing long sleeves year-round and always applying sunscreen when going outside.

Vitamin D plays a critical role in bone health and calcium (钙) absorption. “All the bones in our body are renewed every 10 years, but from the age of 30, we start to lose bone mass at a rate of 0.5 to 1% per year. Low calcium intake, lack of sunlight exposure and vitamin D all hinder calcium absorption,” Jiang Xiaobing, director of the Department of Orthopedic Spine Surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University said. While sunscreen effectively prevents skin damage from UV rays, complete sunlight blockage deprives (使丧失) the body of its primary natural source of vitamin D. Medical experts emphasize balanced sun exposure.

The case went viral on social media, sparking debates about beauty standards. Many users connected the patient’s behavior to the preference for fair skin. Dr. Jiang Xiaobing commented: “It is not uncommon to see people covering their entire body from head to toe to protect themselves from the sun. It is really unhealthy.”

This incident highlights the complex relationship between health and beauty practices. While skin cancer prevention remains crucial, doctors warn that overprotection causes new problems — weakened immunity, increased depression risks, and bone disorders. As modern lifestyles shift indoors and sun protection products become more advanced, healthcare professionals urge the public to reconsider extreme behaviors and adopt science-based approaches to sun safety.

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1.1. What caused the woman’s physical injury?

A A sudden fall.

B Lack of Vitamin D.

C Too much calcium.

D Bone infection.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第一段的“Test results revealed her vitamin D levels were less than one-third of the normal range, directly linked to her decades-long sun protection habits.”测试结果显示，她的维生素D水平不到正常范围的三分之一，这与她几十年来的防晒习惯直接相关。由此可知，她脊椎骨折的主因是维生素D的缺乏。故选B。

2.2. What does “hinder” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A Cause.

B Measure.

C Replace.

D Prevent.

解析：选D。词义猜测题。根据语境“Low calcium intake, lack of sunlight exposure and vitamin D ”指的是钙摄入量低、缺乏阳光照射、维生素D缺乏；结合前文中的“Vitamin D plays a critical role in calcium absorption”可知人体对钙的吸收需要维生素D；因此，这些负面因素会阻碍钙吸收过程。由此可推断，hinder意为“阻碍，妨碍”，与prevent近义。故选D。

3.3. What can be inferred about social media users’ opinions on the case?

A They criticized the woman’s carelessness.

B They doubted the doctors’ diagnosis.

C They linked her behavior to beauty standards.

D They praised modern sun protection products.

解析：选C。推理判断题。根据第三段中的“Many users connected the patient’s behavior to the preference for fair skin”可知，网友认为该病患过度防晒是因为受到审美标准的影响。故选C。

4.4. What is the main purpose of the passage?

A To discuss the risks of extreme sun avoidance.

B To promote sunscreen products.

C To introduce a new medical treatment.

D To compare beauty standards globally.

解析：选A。推理判断题。全文通过一名48岁女患者过度防晒引起脊椎骨折的相关病情分析，介绍了过度防晒导致的健康问题，本文核心是讨论极端防晒的风险。故选A。