单选题 The use of chemicals in almost all areas of life has become a commonplace phenomenon. There is growing evidence, however, that chemicals in the environment, including pesticides, may contribute to some illnesses. While studies are still being conducted, preliminary conclusions point to the verdict that such chemicals are indeed negatively impacting those humans to whom they are exposed.
Children are especially vulnerable to toxic substances. Pound for pound, they eat, drink and breathe more than adults, all of which exposes them more heavily to those chemicals to which most individuals encounter on a daily basis. Furthermore, their bodies are still in developing stages, exacerbating the negative effects of those chemicals, which negatively impact them.
Of 50 types of pesticides commonly used in American schools, a study conducted by the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides found that many caused negative reactions in laboratory animals. Such negative effects included kidney and liver damage, cancer, and neurological and reproductive problems.
These implications of these findings are far-reaching. Given the variety of harmful effects attributed to those pesticides tested, one must pause and consider whether it is wise to continue their use in the nation's schools, where children will be constantly exposed to them. Activists have lobbied for the elimination of such use with a degree of success, and recent findings, if supported by further analysis and confirmation, may help further the cause. A long term solution or alternative, however, remains elusive.
In the short run, however, there may be some measures that can be taken to mitigate the harmful effects of dangerous pesticides. The American Medical Association's Council on Scientific Affairs concluded in a 1997 report that given the "particular uncertainty.., regarding the long-term health effects of low-dose pesticide exposures," it is "prudent" for adults and children to limit their exposure and to "consider the use of the least toxic chemical pesticides or non-chemical alternatives. /

单选题 The citing of dangerous effects of pesticides on laboratory animals in paragraph 3 is used to suggest that______.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[考核题型] 信息推断题
[解析] 第三段说明很多杀虫剂会给动物带来诸多不良反应。第四段第一、二句说明这一研究的意义：这些研究结果具有深远的意义。考虑到形形色色的副作用，人们必然会思考这样一个问题：由于孩子们将与这些有害物质长时间地连续接触，那么在学校里继续使用这些杀虫剂是不是明智之举?由此可推知，选项D正确。其他选项在文中均无推理依据，故可排除。

单选题 Children are more likely than adults to suffer the negative effects of pesticides because______.

单选题 The main point of this text is that______.

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】[考核题型] 主旨题
[解析] 文章第一段第二句以however引出真正的主题：然而，愈来愈多的证据表明包括杀虫剂在内的暴露在环境中的化学品会导致一些疾病的发生。接下来的几段介绍了其具体的负面影响、有关研究结果及解决办法等，最后一段总结上文，强调指出：鉴于接触低剂量杀虫剂会给长期健康带来副作用……，无论成人还是小孩子都需行为谨慎，尽量减少与有害化学制品的接触，并且考虑使用含有尽可能少的有害物质的化学杀虫剂，或者使用不含化学成分的其他杀虫剂代用品。由此可见，选项A正确。选项B、C、D中都使用了语气绝对的词(most，most，everywhere)，与原文意思不符。

单选题 The author mentions the exaggerated effects of chemicals on children in paragraph 2 to______.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[考核题型] 信息推断题
[解析] 第二段第一句指出：孩子们尤其易受有毒物质的侵蚀。接下来的句子和段落都围绕着孩子、学校说明接触和使用杀虫剂的种种害处，进而提出忠告和解决办法。可见，孩子在文中只是作为一组受到杀虫剂影响的特殊研究对象。因此，选项D正确。其他选项A、B中的all，many用词太绝对，不符合文意；选项c在文中没有推理依据。