Cell phones: is there a cancer link? Could your cell phone give you cancer? Whether it could or not, some people are worrying about the possibility that phones, power lines and Wi-Fi could be responsible for a range of illnesses, from rashes to brain tumors. Some say there is evidence to support the growing anxieties. David Carpenter, a professor of environmental health sciences at the university at Albany, in New York, thinks there's a greater than 95 percent chance that power lines can cause childhood leukemia . Also there's a greater than 90 percent chance that cell phones can cause brain tumors. "It's apparent now that there's a real risk, " said Carpenter. But others believe these concerns are unjustified. Dr Martha Linet, the head of radiation epidemiology at the US National Cancer Institute, has looked at the same research as Carpenter but has reached a different conclusion. "I don't support warning labels for cell phones, " said Linet. "We don't have the evidence that there's much danger. " Studies so far suggest a weak connection between EMFs and illness-- so weak that it might not exist at all. A multinational investigation of cell phones and brain cancer, in 13 countries outside the US, has been underway for several years. It's funded in part by the European Union, in part by a cell phone industry group. The final report should come out later this year, but data so far don't suggest a strong link between cell phone use and cancer risk. Which of the following best describes the attitude of the author towards the debate? A) Optimistic. B) Objective. C) Opposite. D) Casual. ]
B
Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year that starts on April 13 annually. It's also callled the "Water Festival" because people believe that water will wash away bad luck and make people fresh. On the day, we spinklesmall drops of water to bless monks and elders. Their hands are spinkled with perfumed water. In addition, this festival is for rain because it is the hottest season. Nowadays, during the Songkran Festival, people always wet down everybody who walks past their houses or walks down the streets with cups or buckets of water. Everyone gets wet, but it is all in a spirit of friendliness, blessing and fun. People who get wet actually do not get angry because they know that it is traditional. People will go to the temples to batheBuddha imagesand give special food to the monks. People do good things such as fish or birds and other animals releasedfrom their cages. On this day, everywhere in Thailand, people celebrate and enjoy the festival, especiallly in the northern part of Thailand. We can see many foreigners join in the events and enjoyed this festival with Thais. Everybody also enjoys public events such as beauty contests, parades, and marching bands. The Water Festival gives us freshness, happiness and fun because the weather is very hot. I hope everyone will travel to Thailand and enjoy this festival. When Thai New Year comes, people think it _ to make others wet through. A) traditional B) unfriendly C) curious D) strange
A
Q: Earthquake is not an unfamiliar word to us as it is frequently covered on the news report. However, I never have the idea that it will take place in my city. But the truth is that it happened. When the building began to shake, I thought it was dizziness caused by long-time nonstop work and colleagues also kept silent till one of them shouted, "The chair is shaking." Then we came to understand it was not personal feelings, and we started to find the reason--the weak foundation of the building, or earthquake (in a joking tone), but we still kept doing what was in hand. It was kind of _ when I looked back, because of our slow reaction and stupid response. It was said that the staff in another building next to us all ran out of the building with their handbags; some of them even drove away. On hearing that, I thought it was a bitexaggeration . Did they really have to do so? It was only 20-second mild shaking. But now, when I totally get to know what happened, I change my mind. It is not over-reacting, but natural self-protection response. Luckily it's only the aftershocks; otherwise I guess I would be frightened to death. The aftershocks make me think what I'm going to do in case of earthquake, which I would never give a second thought before. I don't know what's on their mind for people who are on the spot of the earthquake, be frightened, at a loss, or simply running away, or trying to get contact with friends or... It is hard to imagine the picture and even harder to imagine what's next. For the first time, I have the feeling of insecurity. Humans are so fragile when they face the sudden disasters. Why did the author and his colleagues still keep working when the building began to shake? A) Because they thought the earthquake was slight. B) Because they thought the earthquake was just aftershocks. C) Because they didn't take the shake seriously. D) Because there were no signs of earthquake at that time.
A: C
The number of accidents involving pedestrians wearing headphones is on the rise , a report suggests, causing fresh warning from road safety groups in Britain . A US-based study found a total of 116 reports of death or injury to pedestrians wearing headphones between 2004 and 2011 , jumping from 16 in 2005 to 47 in 2011 . Most victims were men (68%) and under the age of 30 (67%) , with around one in ten of all cases (9%) under the age of 18 .Some 89% of the cases occurred in urban areas and more than half (55%) of the victims were struck by trains . Eighty-one of the 116 accidents (70%) resulted in the person's death--- even though a warning was sounded in around a third of the cases . The study concluded , " The use of headphone may be a safety risk to pedestrians , especially in environments with moving vehicles(cars) . Further research is needed to determine if and how headphone use threatens pedestrian safety ." British road safety groups warned pedestrians to be careful. Floor Lieshout , director of Youth For Road Safety , said, " This study shows once more the importance of using all of our senses while we are near traffic . It is important that we find an attractive way to make youth learn about the risks of wearing headphones in traffic ." Andrew Howard , who is the head of road safety at the Automobile Association , added that some pedestrians can be "so focused in their own little world they forget the world going on around them".That can include headphone wearers , Howard said, but also people talking on phones. However , Howard said that more researches needed to be done. Earlier studies have shown that people wearing headphones or talking on phones can suffer "inattentional blindness" which makes them isolated from the world around them . Ian Harvey , at the charity Civic Voice , said that " to defeat isolation and to help build a civic society , people need to interact with each other . He said , " A basis for any civilized society is communication--- Surfing the web , listening to MP3s ,... What Lan Harvey said shows the importance of _ . A) beating isolation B) communication between people C) building a civilized society D) new technologies
B