Polluted water is nothing new in the United States．We have lived through flaming rivers and caustic creeks that could take the hide off a hound．For decades，however，efforts to safeguard drinking water were hampered beeause no one had an accurate sense of the full range of contaminants in the watef supply，nor of the geographic extent of the pollution．①This year two separate research teams unveiled sophisticated new tools to find out exactly what chemical dangers are lurking in freshwater streams．
“Research in Europe in the l990s showed that pharmaceuticals were turning up in the water，”says Dana Kolpin，leader of a U．S．Geological Survey Water Resources Division research team that develoPedI five new analyrtic methods for measuring water contaminants．“0ur big effort was tO develop methods to measure very small amounts of organic chemicals．”The research team fanned out across 30 states nationwide and conducted two years of sampling from 139 streams．They were chosen，says Kolpin，on the basis of their location downstream from“intense urbanization and livestock production．”In a study published in the March l 5 Journal of Environmental Science&Technology．Kolpin and his colleagues reported they looked for 95 different contaminants， such as antibiotics，steroids，hormones， antioxidants，plasticizers，and various solvents．They found 82 0f them．Nearly 80 percent of the streams showed one or more of the contaminants．The median stream contained seven．Even the good news--that the most frequently detected contaminants like fecal steroids，cholesterol，insect repellent， caffeine，disinfectant，fire retardant，and detergents were found in generally low concentrations--had to be qualified．Many of those compounds have no guidelines for safe amounts，and little is known about the effects of chronic exposure or the interactive effects of compounds that have been detected together．②
In a related Environmental Protection Agency study that is still in progress，a team of scientists at the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering is using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to detect the presence of various anticonvulsants and anticancer drugs in drinking water．Led by Lynn Roberts and Ed Bouwer，the researchers track samples at sewage-treatment facilities in Massachusetts and Maryland to determine whether and in what quantities pharmaceuticals are getting through the waste— treatment plants and the extent to which they may be accumulating in coastal waters．
The goal of both research teams is to provide a baseline of what organic compounds are in the water， in what quantities，and how they are getting there--key steps toward ensuring that the water we drink isn’t killing us． [422 words]
1．The second sentence of the first paragraph，“We have lived through…off a hound”，intends to say that______
A．many rivers and creeks have been excessively polluted by various contaminants
B．our lives depend on flaming rivers and caustic creeks
C．we cannot prevent rivers and creeks from being hounded
D．people cannot live without the supply of water from rivers and creeks
2．According to this passage，two research teams______
A．have determined the full range of contaminants in the water supply
B．have ascertained the geographic extent of the water pollution
C．have developed new methods to measure water contaminants
D．have succeeded in preventing drinking water from being polluted
3．Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A．Altogether 95 different contaminants have been found in streams．
B．Nearly 80 percent of the streams surveyed contains only the familiar contaminants．
C．The most frequently detected contaminants are usually in low concentrations．
D．The average number of contaminants in each stream surveyed is seven．
4．The two research teams mentioned in the passage endeavor______
A．to track samples at more sewage-treatment facilities
B．to determine latent chemical dangers in the water
C．to measure the exact amount of any drug found in drinking water
D．to find out the precise number of contaminants in freshwater streams
5．Which of the following can serve as the best title of the passage?
A．The Organic Compounds in the Water
B．Drinking Water Drugged
C．Polluted Rivers and Streams
D．Guidelines for Safe Water 難句透析
①For decades，however，efforts[to safeguard drinking water]were hampered because no one had an accurate sense”of the full range of contaminants in the water supply．nor of the geographic extent of the pollution]．
【結(jié)構(gòu)】第一個方括號所標示的動詞不定式短語用做后置定語，修飾“efforts”。第二個方括號所標示的部分是由“because”引導的原因狀語從句。兩個并列的介詞短語“of the full range…”和“0f the geographic extent…”用做“an accurate sense”的后置定語。
【釋義】但是，幾十年來，保護飲用水的努力一直受到阻礙，因為沒有任何人確切了解供水系統(tǒng)中污染物的種類總共有多少，污染的地理范圍有多廣。
②”Many of those compounds have no guidelines for safe amounts，and little is known about the effects of chronic exposure or the interactive effects of compounds[that have been detected together]．
【結(jié)構(gòu)】整句是由“and”連接的兩個分句組成的并列句。方括號所標示的部分用做后置定語從句，修飾“tom— pounds”。
【釋義】那些化合物中，許多種都沒有含量安全標準的規(guī)定。對于長期接觸這些化合物的后果或同時檢測到的各種化合物之間相互反應的后果，人們幾乎毫無所知。
③[Led by Lynn Roberts and Ed Bouwer]，the researchers track samples at sewage-treatment facilities in Massa— ehusetts and Maryland[to determine(whether and in what quantities pharmaceuticals are getting through the waste-treatment plants)and the extent(to which they may be accumulating in coastal waters)]．
【結(jié)構(gòu)】第一個方括號所標示的過去分詞短語用做狀語。第二個方括號所標示的動詞不定式短語用做目的狀語。第一個圓括號所標示的部分是動詞不定式“to determine”的賓語從句。第二個圓括號所標示的部分是“the extent”的后置定語從句。
【釋義】在林恩·羅伯特和愛德華·布維爾的領(lǐng)導下，研究人員跟蹤研究馬薩諸塞州和馬里蘭州污水處理廠處理的污水抽樣，以確定是否有藥物從污水處理廠排放出去，量有多大，并判定這些藥物在沿海水域會積聚到多大程度。
④The goal of both research teams is Eto provide a baseline of(what organic compounds are in the water，in what quantities．a(chǎn)nd how they are getting there)]--key steps toward[ensuring(that the water(we drink)isn’t killing us)]．
【結(jié)構(gòu)】第一個方括號所標示的動詞不定式短語用做整句的表語。第二個方括號所標示的動名詞短語用做介詞“toward”的賓語。
【釋義】兩個研究小組的目標都是要對水中存在哪些有機化合物、它們的含量以及進入水中的途徑確定基線——而這是保證我們喝的水不至于毒死我們的關(guān)鍵步驟。
全文翻譯
水污染在美國已經(jīng)不是什么新鮮事了。我們所經(jīng)歷的時代曾有像著火一般的河和極具腐蝕性的溪水從我們身邊流過，它們的水足以把獵狗的毛皮腐蝕掉。但是，幾十年來，保護飲用水的努力一直受到阻礙，因為沒有任何人確切了解供水系統(tǒng)中污染物的種類總共有多少，污染的地理范圍有多廣。今年有兩支獨立的研究組為人們揭示了新的復合檢測方法，以測定到底有多少有害物質(zhì)正匯入淡水的水流。
丹納·科爾平是美國地質(zhì)勘探局水資源分部下屬的一支研究小組的帶頭人，根據(jù)科爾平的說法，“20世紀90年代歐洲所進行的研究就已經(jīng)證明水中出現(xiàn)了制藥劑成份”，該研究小組發(fā)明了5種新的分析檢測方法以測量水中污染物的情況?！拔覀兯龅呐褪情_發(fā)能檢測出微量有機化合物的方法?！毖芯啃〗M走過全國30個州，在兩年中從139條河流中進行了取樣?？茽柶秸f選擇這些河流是基于他們的位置都處在“城市化高度集中以及生物繁衍密集地區(qū)”的下游。在3月15號發(fā)表在《環(huán)境科技學報》上的一篇研究報告中，科爾平和他的同事們稱他們在這些水域中尋找95種不同的污染物，比如說抗生素、類固醇、荷爾蒙、抗氧化劑、可塑劑以及各種溶劑等。他們發(fā)現(xiàn)了其中的82類。所調(diào)查河流中的80％都至少含有l(wèi)至2種污染物。中等河流達到7種。甚至就連好消息——就是常見的污染物比如排泄物所含類固醇、膽固醇、驅(qū)蟲劑、咖啡因、消毒劑、防燃劑以及去污劑都只是很少量的出現(xiàn)——也只是在有限的區(qū)域內(nèi)存在。那些化合物中，許多種都沒有含量安全標準的規(guī)定。對于長期接觸這些化合物的后果或同時檢測到的各種化合物之間相互反應的后果，人們幾乎毫無所知。
目前，由環(huán)境保護總局牽頭的一項相關(guān)研究也正在進行中。來自約翰霍普金斯大學懷汀工程學院的科學家們正利用氣相色譜法和質(zhì)譜法來偵測飲用水中各類抗驚厥藥劑和抗癌藥劑的含量。在林恩·羅伯特和愛德華·布維爾的領(lǐng)導下，研究人員跟蹤研究馬薩諸塞州和馬里蘭州污水處理廠處理的污水抽樣，以確定是否有藥物從污水處理廠排放出去，量有多大，并判定這些藥物在沿海水域會積聚到多大程度。
兩個研究小組的目標都是要對水中存在哪些有機化合物、它們的含量以及進入水中的途徑確定基線——而這是保證我們喝的水不至于毒死我們的關(guān)鍵步驟。
超綱詞匯
anticonvulsant adj．／n．抗驚厥的(藥物)，抗痙攣的(藥物)
antioxidant n．[化]抗氧化劑，硬化防止劑
caffeine n．咖啡因，茶精(興奮劑)
caustic adj．腐蝕性的，刻薄的
cholesterol n．膽固醇
chromatography n．[印刷]套色版
creek n．(美)小溪，小河；(英)小港，小灣
disinfectant n．消毒劑
fecal adj．排泄物的，渣滓的，糟粕的
hound n．獵犬，卑鄙的人
pharmaceutical n．制藥的，藥用的
plasticizer n．可塑劑
repellent adj．排斥的
retardant n．延緩(作用)劑
spectrometry n．[物]光譜測定法，度譜術(shù)
steroid n．[生化]類固醇
unveil vt．／vi．使公之于眾，揭開，揭幕，除去…的面紗
參考答案：1．A 2．C 3．D 4．B 5．B
“Research in Europe in the l990s showed that pharmaceuticals were turning up in the water，”says Dana Kolpin，leader of a U．S．Geological Survey Water Resources Division research team that develoPedI five new analyrtic methods for measuring water contaminants．“0ur big effort was tO develop methods to measure very small amounts of organic chemicals．”The research team fanned out across 30 states nationwide and conducted two years of sampling from 139 streams．They were chosen，says Kolpin，on the basis of their location downstream from“intense urbanization and livestock production．”In a study published in the March l 5 Journal of Environmental Science&Technology．Kolpin and his colleagues reported they looked for 95 different contaminants， such as antibiotics，steroids，hormones， antioxidants，plasticizers，and various solvents．They found 82 0f them．Nearly 80 percent of the streams showed one or more of the contaminants．The median stream contained seven．Even the good news--that the most frequently detected contaminants like fecal steroids，cholesterol，insect repellent， caffeine，disinfectant，fire retardant，and detergents were found in generally low concentrations--had to be qualified．Many of those compounds have no guidelines for safe amounts，and little is known about the effects of chronic exposure or the interactive effects of compounds that have been detected together．②
In a related Environmental Protection Agency study that is still in progress，a team of scientists at the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering is using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to detect the presence of various anticonvulsants and anticancer drugs in drinking water．Led by Lynn Roberts and Ed Bouwer，the researchers track samples at sewage-treatment facilities in Massachusetts and Maryland to determine whether and in what quantities pharmaceuticals are getting through the waste— treatment plants and the extent to which they may be accumulating in coastal waters．
The goal of both research teams is to provide a baseline of what organic compounds are in the water， in what quantities，and how they are getting there--key steps toward ensuring that the water we drink isn’t killing us． [422 words]
1．The second sentence of the first paragraph，“We have lived through…off a hound”，intends to say that______
A．many rivers and creeks have been excessively polluted by various contaminants
B．our lives depend on flaming rivers and caustic creeks
C．we cannot prevent rivers and creeks from being hounded
D．people cannot live without the supply of water from rivers and creeks
2．According to this passage，two research teams______
A．have determined the full range of contaminants in the water supply
B．have ascertained the geographic extent of the water pollution
C．have developed new methods to measure water contaminants
D．have succeeded in preventing drinking water from being polluted
3．Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A．Altogether 95 different contaminants have been found in streams．
B．Nearly 80 percent of the streams surveyed contains only the familiar contaminants．
C．The most frequently detected contaminants are usually in low concentrations．
D．The average number of contaminants in each stream surveyed is seven．
4．The two research teams mentioned in the passage endeavor______
A．to track samples at more sewage-treatment facilities
B．to determine latent chemical dangers in the water
C．to measure the exact amount of any drug found in drinking water
D．to find out the precise number of contaminants in freshwater streams
5．Which of the following can serve as the best title of the passage?
A．The Organic Compounds in the Water
B．Drinking Water Drugged
C．Polluted Rivers and Streams
D．Guidelines for Safe Water 難句透析
①For decades，however，efforts[to safeguard drinking water]were hampered because no one had an accurate sense”of the full range of contaminants in the water supply．nor of the geographic extent of the pollution]．
【結(jié)構(gòu)】第一個方括號所標示的動詞不定式短語用做后置定語，修飾“efforts”。第二個方括號所標示的部分是由“because”引導的原因狀語從句。兩個并列的介詞短語“of the full range…”和“0f the geographic extent…”用做“an accurate sense”的后置定語。
【釋義】但是，幾十年來，保護飲用水的努力一直受到阻礙，因為沒有任何人確切了解供水系統(tǒng)中污染物的種類總共有多少，污染的地理范圍有多廣。
②”Many of those compounds have no guidelines for safe amounts，and little is known about the effects of chronic exposure or the interactive effects of compounds[that have been detected together]．
【結(jié)構(gòu)】整句是由“and”連接的兩個分句組成的并列句。方括號所標示的部分用做后置定語從句，修飾“tom— pounds”。
【釋義】那些化合物中，許多種都沒有含量安全標準的規(guī)定。對于長期接觸這些化合物的后果或同時檢測到的各種化合物之間相互反應的后果，人們幾乎毫無所知。
③[Led by Lynn Roberts and Ed Bouwer]，the researchers track samples at sewage-treatment facilities in Massa— ehusetts and Maryland[to determine(whether and in what quantities pharmaceuticals are getting through the waste-treatment plants)and the extent(to which they may be accumulating in coastal waters)]．
【結(jié)構(gòu)】第一個方括號所標示的過去分詞短語用做狀語。第二個方括號所標示的動詞不定式短語用做目的狀語。第一個圓括號所標示的部分是動詞不定式“to determine”的賓語從句。第二個圓括號所標示的部分是“the extent”的后置定語從句。
【釋義】在林恩·羅伯特和愛德華·布維爾的領(lǐng)導下，研究人員跟蹤研究馬薩諸塞州和馬里蘭州污水處理廠處理的污水抽樣，以確定是否有藥物從污水處理廠排放出去，量有多大，并判定這些藥物在沿海水域會積聚到多大程度。
④The goal of both research teams is Eto provide a baseline of(what organic compounds are in the water，in what quantities．a(chǎn)nd how they are getting there)]--key steps toward[ensuring(that the water(we drink)isn’t killing us)]．
【結(jié)構(gòu)】第一個方括號所標示的動詞不定式短語用做整句的表語。第二個方括號所標示的動名詞短語用做介詞“toward”的賓語。
【釋義】兩個研究小組的目標都是要對水中存在哪些有機化合物、它們的含量以及進入水中的途徑確定基線——而這是保證我們喝的水不至于毒死我們的關(guān)鍵步驟。
全文翻譯
水污染在美國已經(jīng)不是什么新鮮事了。我們所經(jīng)歷的時代曾有像著火一般的河和極具腐蝕性的溪水從我們身邊流過，它們的水足以把獵狗的毛皮腐蝕掉。但是，幾十年來，保護飲用水的努力一直受到阻礙，因為沒有任何人確切了解供水系統(tǒng)中污染物的種類總共有多少，污染的地理范圍有多廣。今年有兩支獨立的研究組為人們揭示了新的復合檢測方法，以測定到底有多少有害物質(zhì)正匯入淡水的水流。
丹納·科爾平是美國地質(zhì)勘探局水資源分部下屬的一支研究小組的帶頭人，根據(jù)科爾平的說法，“20世紀90年代歐洲所進行的研究就已經(jīng)證明水中出現(xiàn)了制藥劑成份”，該研究小組發(fā)明了5種新的分析檢測方法以測量水中污染物的情況?！拔覀兯龅呐褪情_發(fā)能檢測出微量有機化合物的方法?！毖芯啃〗M走過全國30個州，在兩年中從139條河流中進行了取樣?？茽柶秸f選擇這些河流是基于他們的位置都處在“城市化高度集中以及生物繁衍密集地區(qū)”的下游。在3月15號發(fā)表在《環(huán)境科技學報》上的一篇研究報告中，科爾平和他的同事們稱他們在這些水域中尋找95種不同的污染物，比如說抗生素、類固醇、荷爾蒙、抗氧化劑、可塑劑以及各種溶劑等。他們發(fā)現(xiàn)了其中的82類。所調(diào)查河流中的80％都至少含有l(wèi)至2種污染物。中等河流達到7種。甚至就連好消息——就是常見的污染物比如排泄物所含類固醇、膽固醇、驅(qū)蟲劑、咖啡因、消毒劑、防燃劑以及去污劑都只是很少量的出現(xiàn)——也只是在有限的區(qū)域內(nèi)存在。那些化合物中，許多種都沒有含量安全標準的規(guī)定。對于長期接觸這些化合物的后果或同時檢測到的各種化合物之間相互反應的后果，人們幾乎毫無所知。
目前，由環(huán)境保護總局牽頭的一項相關(guān)研究也正在進行中。來自約翰霍普金斯大學懷汀工程學院的科學家們正利用氣相色譜法和質(zhì)譜法來偵測飲用水中各類抗驚厥藥劑和抗癌藥劑的含量。在林恩·羅伯特和愛德華·布維爾的領(lǐng)導下，研究人員跟蹤研究馬薩諸塞州和馬里蘭州污水處理廠處理的污水抽樣，以確定是否有藥物從污水處理廠排放出去，量有多大，并判定這些藥物在沿海水域會積聚到多大程度。
兩個研究小組的目標都是要對水中存在哪些有機化合物、它們的含量以及進入水中的途徑確定基線——而這是保證我們喝的水不至于毒死我們的關(guān)鍵步驟。
超綱詞匯
anticonvulsant adj．／n．抗驚厥的(藥物)，抗痙攣的(藥物)
antioxidant n．[化]抗氧化劑，硬化防止劑
caffeine n．咖啡因，茶精(興奮劑)
caustic adj．腐蝕性的，刻薄的
cholesterol n．膽固醇
chromatography n．[印刷]套色版
creek n．(美)小溪，小河；(英)小港，小灣
disinfectant n．消毒劑
fecal adj．排泄物的，渣滓的，糟粕的
hound n．獵犬，卑鄙的人
pharmaceutical n．制藥的，藥用的
plasticizer n．可塑劑
repellent adj．排斥的
retardant n．延緩(作用)劑
spectrometry n．[物]光譜測定法，度譜術(shù)
steroid n．[生化]類固醇
unveil vt．／vi．使公之于眾，揭開，揭幕，除去…的面紗
參考答案：1．A 2．C 3．D 4．B 5．B