2015年考研英语阅读理解考前专项训练（85）
发布时间：2012/11/2 13:30:18 来源：城市网学院 编辑：admin
People who live and work in areas with elevated levels of ozone and other airborne pollutants aPPear to run an increased risk of lung cancer，US researchers report in the December issue of the iournal Environmental Health Perspectives.
The researchers，Dr.W.Lawrence Beeson of Loma Linda University in Californja，and colleagues studied more than 4，000 female and 2，000 male，white，nonsmoking volunteers from 1977 t0 1992.
At the start of the study，the volunteers filled out questionnaires about their occupations，their exercise patterns，diet and other lifestyle choices，and their family's health history.The questionnaires also asked whether the volunteers had any respiratory symptoms，how many hours they spent outdoors， and where they lived and worked.The researchers updated this information in 1987 and again in 1992.
Using air quality monitoring station data，Beeson and colleagues then determined the levels of particle soot，ozone or“smog”，sulfur dioxide，and other pollutants that the volunteers were exposed to。 given where they lived and worked.Over the course of the 15一year study，20 0f the women and 16 0f the men in the study were diagnosed with lung cancer.
Analyzing the relationship between exposure to airborne pollutants and lung cancer risk，the researchers found that both men and women regularly exposed to levels of particle soot that were lower than the National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 50 micrograms per meter cubed ran an increased risk of lung cancer.①And both men and women exposed to elevated levels of sulfur dioxide ran an increased risk of lung cancer.
In addition，men regularly exposed to ozone levels of 80 parts per billion（ppb）ran more than three times the risk of lung cancer as men exposed to lower levels.The Environmental Protection Agency（EPA）limit on ozone is 120 ppb，Beeson and colleagues report.Women，however，did not appear to run an increased risk of lung cancer if exposed to high levels of sm09.
“This gender difference may he due to the males spending much more time outdoors than females.” they write. “This was especially true for the summer when ozone levels are higher.The difference mav also have been due to hormonal differences，they add.Some research findings also suggest that the female sex hormone estrogen may partly offset the consequences of exposure to high ozone levels.
”Our findings suggest that the current EPA standard of l20 ppb for ozone may not adequatelv protect the large portion of the US male population who live or work in #munities where the current standard for ozone is frequently exceeded，“Beeson and colleagues conclude.”More research with a larger number of incident cases of lung cancer is needed to better understand the observed gender difference in regard to ozone exposure as well as to better separate the independent effects of ozone。airborne particulate matter，sulfur dioxide，“and other airborne pollutants.[476 words]
1.In the research done by Dr.Beeson and his colleagues，______.
A.researchers asked the volunteers to fill out questionnaires once a year
B.researchers intentionally studied twice as many female as male volunteers
C.the volunteers were asked to expose to high levels of airborne pollutants
D.the volunteers were asked to fill out questionnaires three times in l5 years
2.It was found in the research that did not seem to run an increased risk of lung cancer ______.
A.women exposed to high levels of sulfur dioxide
B.men regularly exposed tO high levels of sulfur dioxide
C.women exposed to high levels of smog
D.men regularly exposed to high levets of smog
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.Females are much stronger than males in many aspects
B.Males are more vulnerable to dangers in life than females.
C.Spending much time outdoors in summer is not harmful to females.
D.Male sex hormone may not be able to decrease the effect of exposure to high ozone levels.
4.It seems that ______.
A.more male volunteers should be used in the research
B.the current EPA standard should be modified
C.ozone exposure leads to the highest risk of lung cancer
D.there is no way to escape the risk of lung cancer
5.The proper title for this passage should be ______.
A.Smog Appears to Up Lung Cancer Risk
B.Airborne Pollutants
C.Lung Cancer Risk
D.The Gender Difference[NextPage] 难句透析
Analyzing the relationship between exposure to airborne pollutants and lung cancer risk.the researchers found [that“both men and women（regularly exposed to levels of particle soot（that were lower than the NationaI Ambient Air Quality Standard of 50 micrograms per meter cubed））ran an increased risk of lung cancer].
【结构】方括号所标示的部分是谓语动词”found“的宾语从句；圆括号所标示的部分是过去分词，用做”both.men and women“的后置定语；尖括号所标示的部分是”levels“的后置定语从句。
【释义】研究人员在分析接触空气污染物和致肺癌风险之间的关系时发现，无论男性还是女性，经常接触的空气 污染物含量低于国家制订的周边环境空气质量标准（每立方米50毫克空气污染物）时，得肺癌的风险也在增加。
全文翻译
根据美国学者在《环境健康视角》学刊12月份刊物上发表的报告，在臭氧及其他空气污染物含量较高区域居住和生活的人们患肺癌的风险会不断增加。
参与这项研究的是位于加州的略马琳达大学的w·劳伦斯·贝森博士和他的同事们，他们于1977年至l992年之间跟踪调查了一批不吸烟的自入志愿者，其中有4000名女性，2000名男性。
在研究一开始的时候，志愿者们填写了一份关于他们的职业、锻炼方式、饮食、其他生活方式相关信息以及家族病史的问卷。闯卷还涉及志愿者们是否患有呼吸道疾病、每天有多少时问外出、以及他们居住和生活的区域等问题。研究者们对同样的问题在1987年和l992年时分别进行了回访，对数据进行了更新。
然后，参照志愿者们居住和生活区域内空气质量监测站采集的数据，贝森和同事们判断出志愿者们所处环境中煤灰颗粒、臭氧或称”烟雾“、二氧化硫以及其他空气污染物的浓度。在长达15年的研究过程中，有20名女性和16名男性被诊断出患上了肺癌。
研究人员在分析接触空气污染物和致肺癌风险之间的关系时发现，无论男性还是女性，经常接触的空气污染物含量低于国家制订的周边环境空气质量标准（每立方米50毫克空气污染物）时，得肺癌的风险也在增加。并且无论男女，经常接触二氧化硫较高的空气之后得肺癌的风险也会增加。
除此之外，如果男性长期暴露在臭氧浓度到达十亿分之八十的环境中的话，那他得肺癌的几率几乎是生活在低浓度情况下的三倍。而贝森则称，环境保护局（EPA）对臭氧浓度的上限规定是十亿分之一百二十。但是女性在臭氧浓度较高的区域则不会出现患瘟风险增高的情况。
他们撰写到，”由性别产生的差异可能是由于男性在户外的时间多于女性，并且在夏季这样臭氧浓度较高的时候尤为突出。“他们也补充说这可能是由于荷尔蒙分泌的不同而引起的。研究中的一些发现还表明，女性荷尔蒙中的雌性激素可能能够部分抵抗高浓度臭氧环境所带来的负面影响。
贝森和同事们总结认为，”我们目前的发现说明EPA现行的十亿分之一百二十的臭氧浓度标准不足以保护那些通常在臭氧超标环境下生活和工作的美国男公民，我们需要对更多肺癌个案进行研究，以期对臭氧环境下男女患病差别的现象有更好的研究。同时也有助于分辨各种污染物的独立影响，比如说臭氧、空气中的粉尘、二氧化硫“和其他空气污染物等。
超纲词汇
Airborne .空运的，空气传播的，空降的
ambient n.周围的；周围环境
Hormonal .荷尔蒙的，激素的
ozone n.新鲜的空气，臭氧
Pollutant n.污染物质
Questionnaire n.调查表
respiratory adj.呼吸的
soot n.煤灰，烟灰
Estrogen n.[生化]雌激素
参考答案：1.D 2.C 3.D 4.B 5.A
