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Many Americans harbor a grossly distorted and exaggerated view of most of the risks surrounding food. Fergus Clydesdale, head of the department of food science and nutrition at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, says bluntly that if the dangers from bacterially contaminated chicken were as great as some people believe, "the streets would be littered with people lying here and there."

Though the public increasingly demands no-risk food, there is no such thing. Bruce Ames, chairman of the bio-chemistry department at the University of California, Berkeley, points out that up to 10% of a plant's weight is made up of natural pesticides (杀虫剂). Says he: "Since plants do not have jaws or teeth to protect themselves, they employ chemical warfare." And many naturally produced chemicals, though occurring in tiny amounts, prove in laboratory tests to be strong carcinogens—a substance which can cause cancer. Mushrooms (蘑菇) might be banned if they were judged by the same standards that apply to food additives (添加剂).Declares Christina Stark, a nutritionist at Cornell University: "We'Ve got far worse natural chemicals in the food supply than anything man-made."

Yet the issues are not that simple. While Americ. ans have no reason to be terrified to sit down at the dinner table, they have every reason to demand significant improvements in food and water safety. They unconsciously and unwillingly take in too much of too many dangerous chemicals. If food already contains natural carcinogens, it does not make much sense to add dozens of new man-made ones. Though most people will withstand the small mounts of contaminants generally found in food and water, at least a few individuals will probably get cancer one day because of what they eat and drink.

To make good food and water supplies even better, the Government needs to tighten its regulatory standards, stiffen its inspection program and strengthen its enforcement policies. The food industry should modify some long-accepted practices or turn to less hazardous alternatives. Perhaps most important, consumers will have to do a better job of learning how to handle and cook food properly. The problems that need to be tackled exist all along the food-supply chain, from fields to processing plants to kitchens.

1. What does the author think of the Americans' view of their food?

A. They overstate the government's interference with the food industry.

B. They are overoptimistic about the safety of their food.

C. They overestimate the hazards of their food.

D. They overlook the risks of the food they eat.

2. The author considers it impossible to obtain no-risk food because____.

A. no food is free from pollution in the environment

B. pesticides are widely used in agriculture

C. many vegetables contain dangerous natural chemicals

D. almost all foods have additives

3. By saying "they employ chemical warfare" (Line 4, Para. 2), Bruce Ames means____.

A. plants produce certain chemicals to combat pests and diseases

B. plants absorb useful chemicals to promote their growth

C. farmers use man-made chemicals to dissolve the natural chemicals in plants

D. farmers use chemicals to protect plants against pests and diseases

4. The reduction of the possible hazards in food ultimately depends on_____.

A. the government

C. the processor

B. the consumer

D. the grower

5. What is the message the author wants to convey in the passage?

A. Eating and drinking have become more hazardous than before.

B. Immediate measures must be taken to improve food production and processing.

C. Health food is not a dream in modem society.

D. There is reason for caution but no cause for alarm with regard to food consumption.

参考答案：C A A B D

Around the world more and more people are taking part in dangerous sports and activities. Of course, there have always been people who have looked for adventure-those who have climbed the highest mountains, explored unknown parts of the world or sailed in small boats across the greatest oceans. Now, however, there are people who seek an immediate excitement from a risky activity which may only last a few minutes or even seconds.

I would consider bungee jumping to be a good example of such an activity. You jump from a high place (perhaps a bridge or a hot-air balloon) 200 meters above the ground with an elastic rope tied to your ankles. You fall at up to 150 kilometers an hour until the rope stops you from hitting the ground. It is estimated that two million people around the world have now tried bungee jumping. Other activities which most people would say are as risky as bungee jumping involve jumping from tall buildings and diving into the sea from the top of high cliffs.

Why do people take part in such activities as these? Some psychologists suggest that it is because life in modern societies has become safe and boring. Not very long ago, people's lives were constantly under threat. They had to go out and hunt for food, diseases could not easily be cured, and life was a continuous battle for survival.

Nowadays, according to many people, life offers little excitement. They live and work in comparatively safe environment; they buy food in shops; and there are doctors and hospitals to look after them if they become ill. The answer for some of these people is to seek danger in activities such as bungee jumping.

1. A suitable title for the passage is .

A. Dangerous Sports: What and Why?

B. The Boredom of Modern Life

C. Bungee Jumping: Is It Really Dangerous?

D. The Need for Excitement

2. More and more people today .

A. are trying activities such as bungee jumping

B. are climbing the highest mountains

C. are close to death in sports

D. are looking for adventures such as exploring unknown places

3. People probably take part in dangerous sports nowadays because .

A. they have a lot of free time

B. they can go to hospital if they are injured

C. their lives lack excitement

D. hey no longer need to hunt for food

4. The writer of the passage has a(n) attitude towards dangerous sports.

A. positive

B. negative

C. objective

D. subjective

参考答案：A A C C

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