Dangerous Sunshine to Children

Two United Nations1 agencies warned on Tuesday that children are most at risk of developing skin cancers as a result of the long-term decline in the earth’s protective ozone layer. The agencies, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) 2,issued the warning as they launched a global programme aimed at alerting schools to the dangers of exposure to the sun.

“As ozone depletion becomes more marked, and as people around the world engage more in sun seeking behaviour, the risk of health complications from over-exposure to ultra-violet radiation is becoming a substantial public health concern,” said WHO Director-genera3 Lee Jong-wook. By reducing the time children and adolescents are exposed to direct sunlight, he said: “We can substantially reduce the risk of contracting skin cancers, cataracts and other conditions4 which might only appear much later in life.”

In its 2002 World Health Report, the WHO said around the world an average of 66,000 people died every year from melanoma or other types of skin cancer. Independent scientific research shows that every year there are between two to three million new cases of non- malignant melanoma and around 130,000 malignant—and normally fatal—new full blown skin cancer cases.

Although most known skin cancers seemed to occur in the industrialized world, WHO radiation and environmental health specialist Mike Repacholi told a news conference5, there were many cases believed to be unreported in poorer countries. Although people with darker skins were less susceptible to6; skin cancers, they were just as likely to contract eye cataracts as fairer-skinned populations, and people living close to the equator were even more likely to develop them.

As for the protection method, the WHO said that under the school plan, dubbed the Inter sun Project7, the two agencies will distribute packages showing teachers how to develop their own sun education programrnes, the WHO said. In a joint statement from the two agencies which also marked the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, UNEP Executive Director8 Klaus Toepfer said latest studies showed the protective shield was on the road to9 recovery. This was the result of international agreements over the past two decades to phase out10 use of various chemicals—like those used in some pesticides, refrigerators and aerosols.

“But we must remain vigilant and more needs to be done before we can say that the problem is solved for goodH ,” said Toepfer. This included stopping illegal trade in banned chemicals and enforcing the agreements in developing countries.“Only then can we say that the sky above our heads will be safe for our children and their children to come,” the former German environment minister said.

练习:

1. Why does the risk of developing skin cancers in children become greater and greater?

A Because they pay little attention to their skin health.

B Because they are short of physical training.

C Because the earth’s protective ozone layer declines year after year.

D Because the earth is getting warmer and warmer.

2. How many people die from skin cancers including melanoma all over the world every year?

A An average of 66,000.

B Approximately 130,000.

C About 196,000.

D Between 2,000,000 to 3,000,000.www.kao8.cc

3. What people are more likely to develop eye cataracts?

A Fairer-skinned people.

B Darker-skinned people.

C People living near the equator.

D People living near the poles.

4. All of the following articles may use some chemicals unfavorable for the preservation of the ozone layer EXCEPT______.

A aerosols

B refrigerators

C pesticides

D medicines

5. The phrase “for good” in the last paragraph can be best replaced by______.

A permanently

B correctly

C largely

D well

答案与题解：

1．C 文章第一句就说到，由于地球起保护作用的臭氧层一直缩小，因此儿童发生皮肤癌的危险性增大，故C项应是最佳答案。

2．A 第三段第一句说，WHO在2002年的世界健康状况报告中提到，全世界每年平均有S6， 000人死于黑素瘤及其他类型的皮肤癌，故A项是正确答案。

3．C 第四段最后一句说到，住在赤道附近的人更容易患白内障，并没有提到南极、北极。至于肤色，该句说到，白人、黑人患白内障的可能性是相等的。

4．D 第五段最后一句举例说明某些杀虫剂、电冰箱及烟雾剂可能使用一些对臭氧层有害的化学物质，并没有提到供内服的药品，而且根据推理，也应将其排除在外。

5．A 短语for good或for good and all的意思是“永久地”、“决定性地”；英英词典的释义为“permanently”、“finally”、“forever”，故其他选项均不确切。