题目

阅读理解 In Silent Spring, a book that she referred to as her "poison book", Rachel Carson revealed the damaging effects of the abuse of chemical pesticides on the environment. She focused mainly on the insecticide DDT, which had been considered "one of the greatest discoveries of World War II" for its ability to kill insects and was routinely used in homes and on crops. Carson called for much greater caution against this great discovery. Though the scientific community already knew of the dangers, Carson was the first to make the information accessible to a mass audience in her book. "She wrote for the general public, not the scientific community," says Linda Lear, author of Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature. "Readers, including housewives who used a lot of these chemicals, were shocked at what they learned." The public's first taste of Silent Spring actually came in June 1962 when The New Yorker ran three excerpts(节选). By the time it was published that fall, it was in such high demand that it became an instant bestseller. As expected, the reaction from the chemical companies was severe. One industry spokesperson dismissed Carson's claims as "absurd". Others accused her of being a terrible woman. The president of the company that made DDT said Carson wrote "not as a scientist, but as a crazy defender of the balance of nature." Fortunately, Carson decided the personal risks were worth it. Shortly after her book was published, President Kennedy was asked at a conference if the government would look into the long-term effects of pesticides. He responded, "Yes, and I know they already are. I think, particularly, of course, since Miss Carson's book." Just as William Souder, author of On a Farther Shore: The Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson, says, "Carson changed the conversation about the environment, thinking of humankind as part of nature, not above it." （1） Who might be the intended readers of Silent Spring? A . Environmentalists. B . Ordinary people. C . Scientists. D . Businessmen. （2） What does the underlined word "dismissed" mean in paragraph 4? A . Criticized. B . Recognized. C . Abandoned. D . Praised. （3） What can we infer from the text? A . The profit of human beings should come first. B . Silent Spring enjoyed great popularity before 1962. C . Carson was the first to discover the danger of DDT. D . William Souder thinks highly of Carson and her book. （4） What can be the best title for the text? A . DDT: One of the Greatest Discoveries in the World B . Rachel Carson: Introducing Readers to the Natural World C . A "Poison Book": Awakening the World to the Danger of DDT D . Silent Spring: Winning the Approval of People from all Walks of Life 答案： B A D C

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