Recent research has claimed that an excess of positive ions in the air can have an ill effect on peoples physical or psychological health. What are positive ions?Well,the air is full of ions,electrically charged particles,and generally there is a rough balance between the positive and the negative charged. But sometimes this balance becomes disturbed and a larger proportion of positive ions are found. This happens naturally before thunderstorm,earthquakes when winds such as the Mistral,Hamsin or Sharav are blowing in certain countries. Or it can be caused by a build-up of static electricity indoors from carpets or clothing made of man-made fibres,or from TV sets,duplicators or computer display screens.
When a large number of positive ions are present in the air many people experience unpleasant effects such as headaches,fatigue,irritability,and some particularly sensitive people suffer nausea or even mental disturbance. Animals are also affected,particularly before earthquakes,snakes have been observed to come out of hibernation,rats to flee from their burrows,dogs howl and cats jump about unaccountably. This has led the US Geographical Survey to fund a network of volunteers to watch animals in an effort to foresee such disasters before they hit vulnerable areas such as California.
Conversely,when large numbers of negative ions are present,then people have a feeling of well-being. Natural conditions that produce these large amounts are near the sea,close to waterfalls or fountains,or in any place where water is sprayed,or forms a spray. This probably accounts for the beneficial effect of a holiday by the sea, or in the mountains with tumbling streams or waterfalls.
To increase the supply of negative ions indoors,some scientists recommend the use of ionisers:small portable machines,which generate negative ions. They claim that ionisers not only clean and refresh the air but also improve the health of people sensitive to excess positive ions. Of course,there are the detractors,other scientists,who dismiss such claims and are skeptical about negative/positive ion research. Therefore people can only make up their own minds by observing the effects on themselves,or on others,of a negative rich or poor environment. After all it is debatable whether depending on seismic readings to anticipate earthquakes is more effective than watching the cat.
1.What effect does exceeding positive ionization have on some people?
A.They think they are insane.
B.They feel rather bad-tempered and short-fussed.
C.They become violently sick.
D.They are too tired to do anything.
2.In accordance with the passage,static electricity can be caused by___.
A.using home-made electrical goods.
B.wearing clothes made of natural materials.
C.walking on artificial floor coverings.
D.copying TV programs on a computer.
3.A high negative ion count is likely to be found___.
A.near a pound with a water pump.
B.close to a slow-flowing river.
C.high in some barren mountains.
D.by a rotating water sprinkler.
4.What kind of machine can generate negative ions indoors?
A.Ionisers.
B.Air-conditioners.
C.Exhaust-fans
D.Vacuum pumps.
5.Some scientists believe that___.
A.watching animals to anticipate earthquakes is more effective than depending on seismography.
B.the unusual behavior of animals cannot be trusted.
C.neither watching nor using seismographs is reliable.
D.earthquake
答案:B C D A A
上一篇: 意群容易造成错误理解的几种情况
下一篇: 大学英语六级考试阅读理解分析
体坛英语资讯:China loses to Brazil 90-84 in World Cup warm-up
调查:生育成女性求职禁忌话题
到底如何才能灭掉肥肚腩?
习主席在APEC领导人非正式会议上的讲话要点(双语)
我是剧透狗 美国队长3泄密剧情盘点
囧研究 4成男人故意做不好家务
被判14天还是40年?牵涉“绝望主妇”的美国入学舞弊案宣判了!
国际英语资讯:Libyas UN-backed government launches airstrikes on east-based army
国际英语资讯:UN Security Council extends mandate of Afghanistan mission
国内英语资讯:Xi stresses development of real economy in tour to central China
工作中使用手机规则
谷歌发现一批危险网站,只要你访问,你的手机就被黑了
爱恨已入土 安妮斯顿称不再恨皮特夫妇
拿感冒没办法?科学家另辟蹊径对抗感冒病毒
体坛英语资讯:Chinas Chen Yufei reaches womens semifinals at badminton worlds
体坛英语资讯:Chinese Gu/Mu to fight for title against Japanese pair at ITTF Czech Open
互有利弊 茶和咖啡谁更健康
光棍节治愈系英文美句
64亿公里的等待 人类探测器首次登陆彗星
体坛英语资讯:China ousts Kazakhstan, into semifinals at Womens V-ball Asian Championship
意念控制他人成为现实
国内英语资讯:China Focus: 42 individuals awarded national medals, honorary titles
再见大嗓门 生活大爆炸霍华德妈妈去世
国际英语资讯:Chile, Colombia to meet in friendly
10条握手注意事项
宫崎骏访谈 不做电影做漫画
震惊 犹他州法官判决一夫多妻合法
国内英语资讯:Chinese premier urges China, Russia to expand opening up for common development
娱乐英语资讯:Chinese composer to present unique fusion music at NYC concert
众女星引领卷发波波头新潮流