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-general³ 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 一 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 Intersun Project⁷，the two agencies will distribute packages showing teachers how to develop their own sun education programmes, 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 一 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 good¹¹，” 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.

词汇：

protective / prə"tektɪv/adj.保护的，防护的 

melanoma/ ˌmelə"nəʊmə/n. 黑素瘤

ozone/ ˈəʊzəʊn/n. 臭氧 

non-malignant  非恶性的

alert/ ə"lɜ:t/vt. 向……发出警报；使警觉 

malignant/ məˈlɪgnənt/adj. 恶性的

depletion / dɪ"pli:ʃn/n.耗尽 

full-blown / ˈfʊlˈbləʊn/adj.成熟的

complication / ˌkɒmplɪˈkeɪʃn/n.并发症，并发病 

fairer-skinned 肤色较浅的

ultra-violet 紫外线 

dub/ dʌb/vt. 给……起外号

radiation/ ˌreɪdiˈeɪʃn/n. 放射，辐射

preservation/ ˌprezəˈveɪʃn/n保护

substantial / səb"stænʃl/adj.重大的 

shield / ʃi:ld/n.屏，障；防护物，护罩

contract / "kɒntrækt/vt.患病；感染（恶习等）

aerosol / ˈeərəˌsɔ:l/n.烟，雾；烟雾剂

cataract/ "kætərækt/n. 白内障

vigilant/ ˈvɪdʒɪlənt/adj. 警惕的，警醒的

enforce/ ɪn"fɔ:s/vt. 实施，执行

注释：

1.United Nations (UN):联合国

2. World Health Organization (WHO)：世界卫生组织

UN Environmental Programme (UNEP)：联合国环境规划署

3.WHd Director-general:世界卫生组织总干事

4.condition：在医学文献中常常用来指“疾病”。

5.a news/press conference:记者招待会

6.susceptible to:对……易感的，容易受到…… 的

7.the Intersun Project:(世界卫生组织)保护儿童免受紫外线辐射的规划

8.UNEP Executive Director:联合国环境规划署执行主任

9.on the road to:在去……的旅途中

10.phase out:分阶段（逐步）结束

11.for good (and all)：永久地；决定性地

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

15 Million Americans Suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder

    Social anxiety disorder prevents some 15 million Americans from leading normal social and romantic lives, a new survey finds.

    The disorder leaves many isolated, ashamed and often misdiagnosed. Thirty-six percent of those with social anxiety disorder have symptoms for 10 years or more before seeking help, the Anxiety Disorders Association of America reports.

    “Social anxiety disorder is when somebody has an intense, persistent and irrational fear of social or performance situations," Jerilyn Ross, the association"s president and CEO, said during a teleconference Wednesday.

    ”The condition causes people to avoid common, everyday situations and even other people for fear of being judged or criticized or humiliated or embarrassing themselves," Ross said.

    Social anxiety disorder can interfere with daily routines and job performance，Ross noted. “ It also makes it very difficult for people to develop friends and romantic partnerships，” she said.

    People with this disorder recognize their fear is excessive and irrational, Ross noted. “But they feel powerless to do anything about it," she said.

    Social anxiety disorder can start in the early teens, Dr. Mark H. Pollack, director of the Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders and a professor of psychiatry at HarvardMedicalSchool, said during the teleconference.

    "This is a disorder that starts affecting people early on¹，” Pollack said. "The typical age of onset is early adolescence, age 12 or 13，and many individuals report a history of anxiety dating back to² earlier childhood. ”

    The disorder also has physical symptoms，including heart palpitations，feelings that their throat will close up³，sweating, blushing, faintness, trembling and stammering, Ross said.

    Among people with the disorder, 75 percent said the condition affected their ability to do normal activities. In addition, 69 percent said they didn"t want people to think they were crazy, and 58 percent said they were embarrassed by their condition，Ross said.

    However, when the condition is diagnosed and treated, many reported improvement in their lives. In fact, 59 percent who were receiving treatment said treatment had a positive effect on their ability to have a romantic relationship. In addition, 39 percent wrio had received treatment said knowing that treatment can be successful aided their decision to get help, Ross noted.?

词汇：

teleconference / "telɪkɒnfərəns/ n.电话会议 

onset / ˈɒnset/ n. 开始
traumatic / trɔ:ˈmætɪk/ adj. 心灵创伤  

palpitation / ˌpælpɪ"teɪʃən/ n. 心悸

注释：

1.early on：在初期；早年
2.date back to：追溯到
3.close up：堵塞；封闭

People with social anxiety disorder are known for their fear of____

A:being left alone B:leading normal lives C:embarrassing other people D:facing social or performance situations

15 Million Americans Suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder

    Social anxiety disorder prevents some 15 million Americans from leading normal social and romantic lives, a new survey finds.

    The disorder leaves many isolated, ashamed and often misdiagnosed. Thirty-six percent of those with social anxiety disorder have symptoms for 10 years or more before seeking help, the Anxiety Disorders Association of America reports.

    “Social anxiety disorder is when somebody has an intense, persistent and irrational fear of social or performance situations," Jerilyn Ross, the association"s president and CEO, said during a teleconference Wednesday.

    ”The condition causes people to avoid common, everyday situations and even other people for fear of being judged or criticized or humiliated or embarrassing themselves," Ross said.

    Social anxiety disorder can interfere with daily routines and job performance，Ross noted. “ It also makes it very difficult for people to develop friends and romantic partnerships，” she said.

    People with this disorder recognize their fear is excessive and irrational, Ross noted. “But they feel powerless to do anything about it," she said.

    Social anxiety disorder can start in the early teens, Dr. Mark H. Pollack, director of the Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders and a professor of psychiatry at HarvardMedicalSchool, said during the teleconference.

    "This is a disorder that starts affecting people early on¹，” Pollack said. "The typical age of onset is early adolescence, age 12 or 13，and many individuals report a history of anxiety dating back to² earlier childhood. ”

    The disorder also has physical symptoms，including heart palpitations，feelings that their throat will close up³，sweating, blushing, faintness, trembling and stammering, Ross said.

    Among people with the disorder, 75 percent said the condition affected their ability to do normal activities. In addition, 69 percent said they didn"t want people to think they were crazy, and 58 percent said they were embarrassed by their condition，Ross said.

    However, when the condition is diagnosed and treated, many reported improvement in their lives. In fact, 59 percent who were receiving treatment said treatment had a positive effect on their ability to have a romantic relationship. In addition, 39 percent wrio had received treatment said knowing that treatment can be successful aided their decision to get help, Ross noted.?

词汇：

teleconference / "telɪkɒnfərəns/ n.电话会议 

onset / ˈɒnset/ n. 开始
traumatic / trɔ:ˈmætɪk/ adj. 心灵创伤  

palpitation / ˌpælpɪ"teɪʃən/ n. 心悸

注释：

1.early on：在初期；早年
2.date back to：追溯到
3.close up：堵塞；封闭

Which is NOT true of people with social anxiety disorder?

A:They"re often isolated and ashamed B:They find it difficult to make friends C:They often fail to get timely treatment D:They tend to judge or criticize other people

It is obvious that the opinion of famous people ______.

A:is often ignored by the public B:is seldom expressed to the point C:is often imposed on the public D:has a strong influence on people

Several (people) in the crowd seemed (as) they were fighting (for) a (ticket).

A:people B:as C:for D:ticket

People began to use stamps ______.

A:at the beginning of the nineteenth century B:in the middle of the nineteenth century C:more than two hundred years ago D:when people first sent letters and postcards.

According to the passage, what kind of people would probably favor yellow

A:People who are passive and conservative. B:People who are creative and aggressive. C:People who are hopeful and active. D:People who are ideal and dreamy.

Several (people) in the crowd seemed (as) they were fighting (for) a (ticket).

A:people B:as C:for D:ticket