阅读理解
Cancer is feared by everyone. And there is more and more fear about cancer. Not the disease
itself -there is no such thing as a high incidence rates (发生率)of cancer . Except for lung cancer,
mostly caused by cigarette smoking ,the incidence rates are not on the rise. However, some kinds
of cancer are decreasing. But the fear of cancer is catching, and the country stands at risk of an
anxiety. The earth itself is coming to seem like a huge carcinogen(致癌物). The ordinary, more or
less, scientific statement that something between 80 and 90 percent of all cancers are due to things
in the environment is taken to mean that none of us will be safe until the whole environment is
"cleaned up." This is not at all the meaning.
The 80-percent calculation is based on the unthinkable differences in the incidence of cancer
in various societies around the world - for example, the high incidence of liver cancer in Africa and
the Far East, stomach cancer in Japan, breast cancer in Western Europe and North America, and
the relatively low figures for breast cancer in Japan and parts of Africa and for liver cancer in America.
These data shows there may be specific environmental influences, but largely based on personal
life-style, which determines the incidence of various forms of cancer in different communities - that is
all the data suggests. The overall incidence of cancer, counting up all the cases, is probable roughly
the same everywhere.
1. According to the passage, the incidence of cancer is generally believed _____.
A. to be based on inactive life style
B. to be due to anxiety
C. to result from environmental influences
D. to be caused by heavy smoking
2. It can be inferred from the passage that the writer's opinion about the relationship between
cancer and environment is_____.
A. positive
B. negative
C. neutral
D. approving
3. According to the passage, the writer seems to feel that_____.
A. cancer risk is on the rise
B. the whole earth resembles a huge carcinogen
C. the risk of catching cancer is not so great as most people think
D. cancer can be cured sooner or later
4. Which of the following would be the best TITLE for the passage?
A. Cancer and Environment
B. The Fear Caused by Cancers
C. Data on Cancer Incidence
D. Cancer and its Investigation
