Unit 54
After stepping down this summer as the head of the EPA, the embattled Christine Todd Whitman is once again in the hot seat. This time it's over her role in the downplaying of health hazards for New York City residents after 9/11. A report by the EPA inspector general says that Whitman assured the public that the air was safe before testing was conclusive. She's also under fire for allowing EPA statements to be filtered through the White House and screened by the Council on Environmental Quality, which is chaired by James Connaughton, a lawyer who formerly represented the asbestos industry.
The long-term effects of inhaling contaminated air is unknown. But New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler accuses the administration of covering up a potential health danger in order to get the economy up and running. "Many people will die early because of this," says Nadler.
In her first interview since the release of the report, Whitman tells NEWSWEEK that she did not object when the White House edited out cautionary notes by EPA scientists. "We didn't want to scare people," she said, explaining that spikes in asbestos readings tended to return quickly to acceptable levels. She believes that much of the data were open to interpretation, and that the public wasn't harmed by the White House's decision to adopt the more reassuring analysis. But New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is calling for an investigation, saying she knows how the White House works and that somebody surely leaned on the EPA to lie. "We were not told to lie," says Whitman.
Firefighters and other rescue workers suffering health problems continue to blame the EPA for failing to make them aware of the risks. The EPA advised wearing protective clothing and masks, Whitman says, but many working on the site rejected the gear as too cumbersome. "We couldn't force them to do it," says Whitman. In addition, residents returning to the area say they weren't told to have their homes professionally cleaned. "Maybe there was one press release where we didn't say that, but then we said it over and over," says Whitman.
EPA's former ombudsman said soon after 9/11 that Whitman had a conflict of interest because of her husband's connection to Citigroup, which owns Travelers Insurance. By pronouncing lower Manhattan safe, critics say, Whitman saved the insurance giant millions in cleanup costs. Whitman was cleared of the conflict by the EPA inspector general. "There's no way in hell——excuse my language——that I would ever, ever play games with this kind of information."
注（1）：本文選自Newsweek; 9/8/2003, p8；
注（2）：本文習(xí)題命題模仿對象2003年真題Text 4；
1．What conclusion can we make from the first paragraph?
[A]White House shouldn't be informed of the EPA statements.
[B]Whitman shouldn't have made such a hasty conclusion about the air.
[C]The public had strong objection against Whitman's doings after 9/11
[D]Whitman had got unfair treatment.
2．The author uses the example of firefighters and other rescue workers' suffering to show that ______.
[A]someone should be responsible for their health condition.
[B]they should have been warned against the possible results in advance.
[C]it was their own fault for not wearing the protective clothes and masks.
[D]their equipments are out of date and fail to function well.
3．Hillary Clinton's attitude toward Whitman's remarks is one of ________.
[A]reserved consent
[B]strong disapproval
[C]slight contempt
[D]enthusiastic support
4．Facing charges against her, Whitman seemed to defend herself quite _________.
[A]extravagantly
[B]cautiously
[C]flexibly
[D]forcefully
5.The text intends to express that __________.
[A]Whitman has been proved innocent in this event.
[B]everything connected with 9/11 should be exposed
[C]Whitman has a good defense for what she has done
[D]Whitman shouldn't be blamed for her doings.
答案：CABDC
篇章剖析
本文主要講述美國前環(huán)保署署長惠特曼所面對的譴責(zé)和批評，以及她又是如何為自己辯解和開脫的。第一段指出惠特曼所面對的麻煩和受到的譴責(zé)；第二段指出紐約代表對*的指控；第三段、四段和五段指出惠特曼為自己所做的辯解和開脫。
詞匯注釋
step down v.走下, 逐步減低, 辭職, 下臺
EPA abbr. Environmental Protection Agency 美國環(huán)保署
hot seat 這個俗語指的是那種可能會產(chǎn)生麻煩，或讓人感到難堪的局面
downplay[`daJnpleI]vt.不予重視
under fire adv.受攻擊
filter[5fIltE（r）]vt.過濾, 滲透, 用過濾法除去
filter through 慢慢傳開；滲透
inhale[In5heIl]vt.吸入vi.吸氣
contaminate[kEn5tAmIneIt]v.污染
edit out v.編輯中刪除
spike[spaIk]n突然增長
lean on（俚語）恐嚇，對…施加壓力
cumbersome[5kQmbEsEm]adj.討厭的, 麻煩的, 笨重的
conflict of interest n.（政府官員以權(quán)謀私等的）公私利益沖突
ombudsman[5RmbJdzmEn]n.調(diào)查官員舞弊情況的政府官員
難句突破
She's also under fire for allowing EPA statements to be filtered through the White House and screened by the Council on Environmental Quality, which is chaired by James Connaughton, a lawyer who formerly represented the asbestos industry.
主體句式：She's … under fire for allowing … statements to be filtered through … and screened …
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：本句并不難，關(guān)鍵是理解詞組“under fire”的含義和正確分析“for”之后所跟結(jié)構(gòu)成分。詞組“under fire”的意思是“受攻擊”：“for”用做介詞表原因，后跟動詞“allow”的現(xiàn)在分詞形式；動詞“allow”常用搭配形式“allow sb/sth to do sth”，其中“to be filtered through”和“screened by”都是不定式短語成分：“which”引導(dǎo)非限制性定語從句來修飾“Council on Environmental Quality”：“a lawyer”是“James Connaughton”的同位語：“who”引導(dǎo)定語從句來修飾“l(fā)awyer”。
句子譯文：而且她還因為向白宮方面透漏有關(guān)美國環(huán)保署所做聲明，并且讓美國環(huán)境質(zhì)量委員會主席進(jìn)行包庇而受到譴責(zé)。這一委員會主席是律師詹姆斯·康諾頓，他以前曾作過石棉工業(yè)的代表。
題目分析
1.答案為C，屬推理判斷題。從文中“the embattled Christine Todd Whitman is once again in the hot seat“我們可看出受到抨擊的惠特曼又一次麻煩纏身；句子”She's also under fire…“中詞組”under fire“的意思是”受攻擊“。從以上信息我們可作出選擇。
2.答案為A，屬推理判斷題。原文對應(yīng)信息是“Firefighters and other rescue workers suffering health problems continue to blame the EPA for failing to make them aware of the risks.”消防員和其他救援人員本不應(yīng)該是這起事件的受害者，應(yīng)該有人對他們的遭遇負(fù)責(zé)。選項B是受害人員譴責(zé)環(huán)保署的原因；選項C和選項D是惠特曼所做辯解。
3.答案為B，屬情感態(tài)度題。原文對應(yīng)信息是“But New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is calling for an investigation, saying she knows how the White House works and that somebody surely leaned on the EPA to lie.”從這句話我們可看出希拉里根本就不相信惠特曼所做辯解，所以她才強(qiáng)烈要求調(diào)查此事。
4.答案為D，屬事實細(xì)節(jié)題?；萏芈闊├p身，面對來自各方的譴責(zé)和壓力，她似乎都能巧妙地為自己辯解，為自己開脫，好象再大的麻煩也奈何她不得。
5.答案為C，屬中心思想題。文章主要講述惠特曼面對怎樣的麻煩，而她又是如何為自己辯解和開脫的。
參考譯文
作為美國環(huán)保署署長的克里斯蒂娜·托德·惠特曼今年夏天辭職以后，受到抨擊的她又一次麻煩纏身。這次是因為她在9·11事件發(fā)生之后，對這次事件對紐約居民產(chǎn)生的健康危害問題不予重視。環(huán)保署監(jiān)察長在一篇報道里談到，惠特曼在檢測尚未定論之前就向公眾保證空氣的安全性。而且她還因為向白宮方面透漏有關(guān)美國環(huán)保署所做聲明，并且讓美國環(huán)境質(zhì)量委員會主席進(jìn)行包庇而受到譴責(zé)。這一委員會主席是律師詹姆斯·康諾頓，他以前曾作過石棉工業(yè)的代表。
長期吸入被污染空氣的影響還無從知曉。但是紐約代表Jerrold Nadler指控*為了經(jīng)濟(jì)進(jìn)步和發(fā)展而刻意隱瞞人體健康方面存在的潛在危險?！昂芏嗳艘驗檫@個原因可能會早死。” Nadler說。
自報道公布之后，在對惠特曼的第一次采訪中，她告訴“新聞周刊”記者說她對美國白宮刪除美國環(huán)保署科學(xué)家發(fā)出的警告這一做法并不表示反對?！拔覀儾⒉幌胧谷藗兏械娇謶帧！彼忉屨f人們對石棉讀物的反常興趣很快會恢復(fù)到可接受的程度。她認(rèn)為很多數(shù)據(jù)都還有待解釋，并且白宮方面采用讓人較為安心的分析的決定并沒有傷害到公眾。但是紐約參議員希拉里·克林頓卻倡議要求調(diào)查，宣稱她知道白宮方面的運做程序，并且肯定有人對環(huán)保署施加壓力使其撒謊?！皼]人授意我們?nèi)鲋e。” 惠特曼如是說。
那些遭遇健康問題折磨的消防員和其他救援人員繼續(xù)譴責(zé)美國環(huán)保署沒能使他們意識到存在的危險情況?；萏芈忉屨f，環(huán)保署曾建議讓他們穿防護(hù)服，戴面罩，但是很多參加現(xiàn)場搶救的人員因為這種裝備太笨拙而拒穿。“我們無法強(qiáng)迫他們這樣做?！?惠特曼是這樣說的。另外，那些返回居住地的居民聲稱沒人告訴他們應(yīng)該把他們的住所找專業(yè)人員進(jìn)行清理。“可能在某篇新聞稿中我們沒有提及，但是后來我們強(qiáng)調(diào)了一遍又一遍?！?惠特曼如是說。
在9·11事件發(fā)生后不久，美國前環(huán)境署政府監(jiān)察官指出，因為惠特曼的丈夫同擁有旅行者人壽保險公司的花旗集團(tuán)之間的聯(lián)系，這使得她本身存在公私利益沖突。評論家指出，惠特曼宣布曼哈頓下城地區(qū)是安全的這一做法使保險公司免去了上百萬美元的清理費。環(huán)境署監(jiān)察長使惠特曼從以權(quán)謀私的指責(zé)中得以開脫。“這決不可能——請原諒我的措辭，我根本不可能會對這種信息敷衍塞責(zé)?！?BR>
After stepping down this summer as the head of the EPA, the embattled Christine Todd Whitman is once again in the hot seat. This time it's over her role in the downplaying of health hazards for New York City residents after 9/11. A report by the EPA inspector general says that Whitman assured the public that the air was safe before testing was conclusive. She's also under fire for allowing EPA statements to be filtered through the White House and screened by the Council on Environmental Quality, which is chaired by James Connaughton, a lawyer who formerly represented the asbestos industry.
The long-term effects of inhaling contaminated air is unknown. But New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler accuses the administration of covering up a potential health danger in order to get the economy up and running. "Many people will die early because of this," says Nadler.
In her first interview since the release of the report, Whitman tells NEWSWEEK that she did not object when the White House edited out cautionary notes by EPA scientists. "We didn't want to scare people," she said, explaining that spikes in asbestos readings tended to return quickly to acceptable levels. She believes that much of the data were open to interpretation, and that the public wasn't harmed by the White House's decision to adopt the more reassuring analysis. But New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is calling for an investigation, saying she knows how the White House works and that somebody surely leaned on the EPA to lie. "We were not told to lie," says Whitman.
Firefighters and other rescue workers suffering health problems continue to blame the EPA for failing to make them aware of the risks. The EPA advised wearing protective clothing and masks, Whitman says, but many working on the site rejected the gear as too cumbersome. "We couldn't force them to do it," says Whitman. In addition, residents returning to the area say they weren't told to have their homes professionally cleaned. "Maybe there was one press release where we didn't say that, but then we said it over and over," says Whitman.
EPA's former ombudsman said soon after 9/11 that Whitman had a conflict of interest because of her husband's connection to Citigroup, which owns Travelers Insurance. By pronouncing lower Manhattan safe, critics say, Whitman saved the insurance giant millions in cleanup costs. Whitman was cleared of the conflict by the EPA inspector general. "There's no way in hell——excuse my language——that I would ever, ever play games with this kind of information."
注（1）：本文選自Newsweek; 9/8/2003, p8；
注（2）：本文習(xí)題命題模仿對象2003年真題Text 4；
1．What conclusion can we make from the first paragraph?
[A]White House shouldn't be informed of the EPA statements.
[B]Whitman shouldn't have made such a hasty conclusion about the air.
[C]The public had strong objection against Whitman's doings after 9/11
[D]Whitman had got unfair treatment.
2．The author uses the example of firefighters and other rescue workers' suffering to show that ______.
[A]someone should be responsible for their health condition.
[B]they should have been warned against the possible results in advance.
[C]it was their own fault for not wearing the protective clothes and masks.
[D]their equipments are out of date and fail to function well.
3．Hillary Clinton's attitude toward Whitman's remarks is one of ________.
[A]reserved consent
[B]strong disapproval
[C]slight contempt
[D]enthusiastic support
4．Facing charges against her, Whitman seemed to defend herself quite _________.
[A]extravagantly
[B]cautiously
[C]flexibly
[D]forcefully
5.The text intends to express that __________.
[A]Whitman has been proved innocent in this event.
[B]everything connected with 9/11 should be exposed
[C]Whitman has a good defense for what she has done
[D]Whitman shouldn't be blamed for her doings.
答案：CABDC
篇章剖析
本文主要講述美國前環(huán)保署署長惠特曼所面對的譴責(zé)和批評，以及她又是如何為自己辯解和開脫的。第一段指出惠特曼所面對的麻煩和受到的譴責(zé)；第二段指出紐約代表對*的指控；第三段、四段和五段指出惠特曼為自己所做的辯解和開脫。
詞匯注釋
step down v.走下, 逐步減低, 辭職, 下臺
EPA abbr. Environmental Protection Agency 美國環(huán)保署
hot seat 這個俗語指的是那種可能會產(chǎn)生麻煩，或讓人感到難堪的局面
downplay[`daJnpleI]vt.不予重視
under fire adv.受攻擊
filter[5fIltE（r）]vt.過濾, 滲透, 用過濾法除去
filter through 慢慢傳開；滲透
inhale[In5heIl]vt.吸入vi.吸氣
contaminate[kEn5tAmIneIt]v.污染
edit out v.編輯中刪除
spike[spaIk]n突然增長
lean on（俚語）恐嚇，對…施加壓力
cumbersome[5kQmbEsEm]adj.討厭的, 麻煩的, 笨重的
conflict of interest n.（政府官員以權(quán)謀私等的）公私利益沖突
ombudsman[5RmbJdzmEn]n.調(diào)查官員舞弊情況的政府官員
難句突破
She's also under fire for allowing EPA statements to be filtered through the White House and screened by the Council on Environmental Quality, which is chaired by James Connaughton, a lawyer who formerly represented the asbestos industry.
主體句式：She's … under fire for allowing … statements to be filtered through … and screened …
結(jié)構(gòu)分析：本句并不難，關(guān)鍵是理解詞組“under fire”的含義和正確分析“for”之后所跟結(jié)構(gòu)成分。詞組“under fire”的意思是“受攻擊”：“for”用做介詞表原因，后跟動詞“allow”的現(xiàn)在分詞形式；動詞“allow”常用搭配形式“allow sb/sth to do sth”，其中“to be filtered through”和“screened by”都是不定式短語成分：“which”引導(dǎo)非限制性定語從句來修飾“Council on Environmental Quality”：“a lawyer”是“James Connaughton”的同位語：“who”引導(dǎo)定語從句來修飾“l(fā)awyer”。
句子譯文：而且她還因為向白宮方面透漏有關(guān)美國環(huán)保署所做聲明，并且讓美國環(huán)境質(zhì)量委員會主席進(jìn)行包庇而受到譴責(zé)。這一委員會主席是律師詹姆斯·康諾頓，他以前曾作過石棉工業(yè)的代表。
題目分析
1.答案為C，屬推理判斷題。從文中“the embattled Christine Todd Whitman is once again in the hot seat“我們可看出受到抨擊的惠特曼又一次麻煩纏身；句子”She's also under fire…“中詞組”under fire“的意思是”受攻擊“。從以上信息我們可作出選擇。
2.答案為A，屬推理判斷題。原文對應(yīng)信息是“Firefighters and other rescue workers suffering health problems continue to blame the EPA for failing to make them aware of the risks.”消防員和其他救援人員本不應(yīng)該是這起事件的受害者，應(yīng)該有人對他們的遭遇負(fù)責(zé)。選項B是受害人員譴責(zé)環(huán)保署的原因；選項C和選項D是惠特曼所做辯解。
3.答案為B，屬情感態(tài)度題。原文對應(yīng)信息是“But New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is calling for an investigation, saying she knows how the White House works and that somebody surely leaned on the EPA to lie.”從這句話我們可看出希拉里根本就不相信惠特曼所做辯解，所以她才強(qiáng)烈要求調(diào)查此事。
4.答案為D，屬事實細(xì)節(jié)題?；萏芈闊├p身，面對來自各方的譴責(zé)和壓力，她似乎都能巧妙地為自己辯解，為自己開脫，好象再大的麻煩也奈何她不得。
5.答案為C，屬中心思想題。文章主要講述惠特曼面對怎樣的麻煩，而她又是如何為自己辯解和開脫的。
參考譯文
作為美國環(huán)保署署長的克里斯蒂娜·托德·惠特曼今年夏天辭職以后，受到抨擊的她又一次麻煩纏身。這次是因為她在9·11事件發(fā)生之后，對這次事件對紐約居民產(chǎn)生的健康危害問題不予重視。環(huán)保署監(jiān)察長在一篇報道里談到，惠特曼在檢測尚未定論之前就向公眾保證空氣的安全性。而且她還因為向白宮方面透漏有關(guān)美國環(huán)保署所做聲明，并且讓美國環(huán)境質(zhì)量委員會主席進(jìn)行包庇而受到譴責(zé)。這一委員會主席是律師詹姆斯·康諾頓，他以前曾作過石棉工業(yè)的代表。
長期吸入被污染空氣的影響還無從知曉。但是紐約代表Jerrold Nadler指控*為了經(jīng)濟(jì)進(jìn)步和發(fā)展而刻意隱瞞人體健康方面存在的潛在危險?！昂芏嗳艘驗檫@個原因可能會早死。” Nadler說。
自報道公布之后，在對惠特曼的第一次采訪中，她告訴“新聞周刊”記者說她對美國白宮刪除美國環(huán)保署科學(xué)家發(fā)出的警告這一做法并不表示反對?！拔覀儾⒉幌胧谷藗兏械娇謶帧！彼忉屨f人們對石棉讀物的反常興趣很快會恢復(fù)到可接受的程度。她認(rèn)為很多數(shù)據(jù)都還有待解釋，并且白宮方面采用讓人較為安心的分析的決定并沒有傷害到公眾。但是紐約參議員希拉里·克林頓卻倡議要求調(diào)查，宣稱她知道白宮方面的運做程序，并且肯定有人對環(huán)保署施加壓力使其撒謊?！皼]人授意我們?nèi)鲋e。” 惠特曼如是說。
那些遭遇健康問題折磨的消防員和其他救援人員繼續(xù)譴責(zé)美國環(huán)保署沒能使他們意識到存在的危險情況?；萏芈忉屨f，環(huán)保署曾建議讓他們穿防護(hù)服，戴面罩，但是很多參加現(xiàn)場搶救的人員因為這種裝備太笨拙而拒穿。“我們無法強(qiáng)迫他們這樣做?！?惠特曼是這樣說的。另外，那些返回居住地的居民聲稱沒人告訴他們應(yīng)該把他們的住所找專業(yè)人員進(jìn)行清理。“可能在某篇新聞稿中我們沒有提及，但是后來我們強(qiáng)調(diào)了一遍又一遍?！?惠特曼如是說。
在9·11事件發(fā)生后不久，美國前環(huán)境署政府監(jiān)察官指出，因為惠特曼的丈夫同擁有旅行者人壽保險公司的花旗集團(tuán)之間的聯(lián)系，這使得她本身存在公私利益沖突。評論家指出，惠特曼宣布曼哈頓下城地區(qū)是安全的這一做法使保險公司免去了上百萬美元的清理費。環(huán)境署監(jiān)察長使惠特曼從以權(quán)謀私的指責(zé)中得以開脫。“這決不可能——請原諒我的措辭，我根本不可能會對這種信息敷衍塞責(zé)?！?BR>