Europeans should try to stay indoors if ash from Iceland's volcano starts settling, the World Health Organization warned Friday as small amounts fell in Iceland, Scotland and Norway.

　　WHO spokesman Daniel Epstein said the microscopic(微小的) ash is potentially dangerous for people when it starts to reach the Earth because inhaled(吸入) particles can enter the lungs and cause respiratory problems. And he also said Europeans who go outside might want to consider wearing a mask.

　　Other experts, however, weren't convinced the volcanic ash would have a major effect on peoples' health and said WHO's warnings were "hysterical." They said volcanic ash was much less dangerous than cigarette smoke or pollution. Volcanic ash is made of fine particles of fragmented volcanic rock. It is light gray to black and can be as fine as talcum powder. During a volcanic eruption, the ash can be breathed deep into the lungs and cause irritation even in healthy people. But once it falls from a greater distance — like from the cloud currently hovering above Europe — its health effects are often minimal, experts say.

　　"Not all particles are created equal," said Ken Donaldson, a professor of respiratory toxicology at the University of Edinburgh, "In the great scheme of things, volcanic ash is not all that harmful." And he said most Europeans' exposure to volcanic ash would be negligible and that only those in the near districts of the Icelandic volcano would likely be at risk.

　　Dr. Stephen Spiro, a professor of respiratory medicine and deputy chair of the British Lung Foundation, said the further the particles travel, the less dangerous they will be. "The cloud has already passed over northern Scotland and we haven't heard of any ill effects there," he said. Spiro said to wear masks or stay indoors to avoid volcanic ash was "over the top" and "a bit hysterical."

　　1. The text is mainly about .

　　A. the effect of volcanic ash

　　B. the health risk of volcanic ash

　　C. the disadvantages of volcanic ash

　　D. the opinions on health risk of volcanic ash

　　2. Which one is true according to Paragraph3?

　　A. The volcanic ash’s effects on Europeans were little.

　　B. The ash caused irritation even in healthy people.

　　C. Other experts thought WTO’S warnings were useful.

　　D. The volcanic ash was more dangerous than cigarette smoke or pollution.

　　3. The underlined word “hysterical” in Paragraph4 most probably means .

　　A. amazing B. practical C. valuable D. overstated

　　4. What can we learn from the passage?

　　A. The volcanic ash wouldn’t be harmful to people.

　　B. All experts thought the volcanic ash did great harm to our health.

　　C. People close to the volcano would likely be at risk according to some experts.

　　D. Europeans should stay indoors because Iceland's volcano starts settling.

答案：

　　1.D. 主旨大意题。本文主要就火山灰对人的健康的危害问题世卫组织和其他专家给出不同观点。A太笼统;B不能体现不同的观点;C与文章内容无关;D符合题意。

　　2. A. 细节理解题。第三段最后一句可知A是正确的;由第三段中During a volcanic eruption……in healthy people.可知B错误;由第三段中Other experts, however, weren't convinced…… cigarette smoke or pollution可排除C D。

　　3. D. 词义猜测题。由上文中volcanic ash is not all that harmful和下文中only those in the near vicinity of the Icelandic volcano would likely be at risk可知D正确, 夸大的，言过其实的。

　　4.C. 由第三段 But once it falls from a greater distance….. effects are often minimal和第四段中 only those in the near vicinity of the Icelandic volcano would likely be at risk以及第五段中 the further the particles travel, the more diluted and less dangerous they will be可知C正确。ABD观点表达绝对。