Recent research has claimed that an excess of positive ions in the aircan
have an ill effect on people's physical or psychological health. What are positive
ions?Well，the air is full of ions，electrically charged particlesand 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
参考答案：BCDAA