雅思（閱讀）模擬試卷4（共240題）

雅思（閱讀）模擬試卷4（共6套）（共240題）雅思（閱讀）模擬試卷第1套一、綜合題(本題共40題，每題1.0分，共40分。)READINGPASSAGE1Youshouldspendabout20minutesonQuestions1-13,whicharebasedonReadingPassage1below.TheseinvasivespeciesareruiningtheretailecosystemAInvasivespeciesoftentriumphasaresultofgoodintentionsgonewrong.TakeJapaneseknotweed(Fallopiajaponica),introducedtoBritainbyenthusiasticVictoriangardenerswhothoughtitanornamentaldelightthatdoubledascattlefeed.Butfromjustascrapofrootnobiggerthanapeaitcouldgrowthroughtarmac,pavementsandbrickwalls.Acenturylater,itsspreadisconsideredsuchathreatthatplantingordumpingknotweedisacrime.Knotweedissohatedbecauseitsuffocatesotherplants,replacingthemwithanunproductive,leafymonotony.ThenthereistheNileperch(Latesniloticus),brandedoneoftheworld'sworstinvadersbyconservationists.It'safreshwaterfishthatcangrowtohugeproportions.Again,withgoodintentions,itwasintroducedin1954toLakeVictoria,straddlingTanzania,KenyaandUganda.Sincethenithashelpedpushover200well-establishedlocalfishspeciestoextinction.LiketheNileperch,thecanetoad(Bufomarinus)eatsalmostanythingitgetsitsmoutharound.Introducedforpestcontrol,itturnedouttobenoisy,fast-spreading,andagreaterpestitself.BAsitisinnature,soitisintheeconomy.Bigsuperstoresandchainretailerswereallowedtospreadbyplanners,towncouncilsandgovernmentsinaweofbigbusiness.Butthenitstartedtogowrong.Thechainsbecametheeconomicequivalentofinvasivespecies:hungry,indiscriminate,oftenantisocialanddestructive.Whennoonewaspayingmuchattention,thesuperstoresandclonedshopsgrewtodominateandsuffocatetheeconomicecosystem.Theypassedthroughplanningregulationsaseasilyasknotweedpushesthroughtarmac,devouredsmallerandindependentretailerswithasmuchreflectionastheNileperchcleansingLakeVictoriaofcompetition.Theywereoftenintroducedtoprovideaspecificservicebutoutgrewtheirhabitatsuntiltheircash—tillsongcouldbeheardoneverystreetcorner,forecourt,roundaboutandout-of-townshoppingcentre.Neitherinbalance,norevenaboom-bustcyclewithothersimilar,localspeciesofshop;theybeganpermanentlytodisplacethem.CNaturalscientistsuseawholenewtermtodescribethecurrentepochofcomprehensive,globalhumaninterferenceinecosystems.Ourtime,theysa5shouldbecalledthe"Homogocene"todescribethewaythatdistinctivenessanddifferencearebeingeroded.Acombinationofthecreepofinvasivespeciesandhabitatsdestroyedbydevelopmentisdrivingamassextinction.TheWorldConservationUnionwarnsthatsuchinvasionsareleadingtotheirretrievablelossofnativebiodiversity.Typicalcharacteristicsofaninvasivespeciesincludetheabsenceofpredators,hardiness,andageneralistdiet.Whateverthereasonfortheirarrivalandproliferation,invasivespeciestendtocauseadisruptionoftheecosystemthatiscatastrophicfornativespecies.DThebig,centralisedlogisticaloperationsofthesupermarketsarelikewisedrivingthehomogenisationofbusiness,shopping,eating,farming,food,thelandscape,theenvironmentandourdailylives.Intheprocess,BritainisbeingsuckedintoavortexofUS-style,chain-store-led,cloneretailing,bothintownsandinsoulless"big-box"out-of-townshoppingparks—whattheycallintheUS,withitsassociatedsuburbansprawl,the"deadzone".Theyarespreadingintheway"invasivespecies"spreadinnature,lackingchecksandbalances,killingoffdiversityand"native"(inotherwords,local)species.Tescoisnottheonlyguiltyparty(thinkofMcDonald's,StarbucksandGap),butitispossiblythelargestdrivingforce.Witharound2000storesinBritain,almostonethirdofthegrocerymarket,andrapidinternationalgrowth,CityanalystsbelievethebrandhasthelandandresourcesinplacealreadytodoubleitsUKfloorspace.Cananythingstopit?EBearinmindthosecharacteristicsofaninvasivespecies:theabsenceofpredators(realcommercialcompetitionoreffectiveregulatorstoholdthemback);hardiness(thelegionsofcorporatelawyers,financialleverageandendlesscommercialcost-cutting);andageneralistdiet(supermarketswillsellvirtuallyanything,andchainstoresoperateaccordingtoalowcommondenominator).Ifyouwantdiversityinyourworldratherthanonekindofplantinyourgarden,onekindoffishinyourlakeandonlyonetypeofvenomous,croakingtoadunderyourshed,thenyouhavetomanageforthatoutcome.Whenwegarden,weholdbackaggressive,opportunisticplantsinordertokeepspaceopenforacelebrationofvarietyandcolour.FLikeitornot(anditissomethingaboutwhichmostpolicymakersandeconomistsareindeepdenial),weaklyregulatedmarketsgivefreereintoeconomicinvasivespeciesandhencetendtowardsmonopoly.Thisisthegreatmoderneconomicirony.Advocatesoffreemarketsargueagainstchecksandbalancestocounterthepowerofbigbusiness,butindoingsoultimatelydestroythepossibilityofmarketsthatcouldmeaningfullybecalledfree,or,rather,"open".Theyresistanti-monopolyregulationinthenameofprovidingconsumerchoice,andintheprocesstheyultimatelydestroyit.Insomeimportantways,wearereturningtoanearlierphaseofcorporatism.HenryFordtoldcustomerstheycouldhaveanycolourofcar,aslongasitwasblack.ThescaleandseriousnessofTesco'sambitionmeansthat,beforelong,unlesswerecognisewhatishappeningandhaveregulatorsuptothejob,onedaywewillbeabletoshopanywherewelike,aslongasit'sTesco.1、Questions1-4Thetexthas6paragraphs(A-F).Whichparagraphcontainseachofthefollowingpiecesofinformation?標準答案：F知識點解析：暫無解析2、*標準答案：A知識點解析：暫無解析3、*標準答案：C知識點解析：暫無解析4、*標準答案：D知識點解析：暫無解析5、Questions5-8CompletethefollowingsentencesusingNOMORETHANTHREEWORDSfromthetext.標準答案：cattlefeed知識點解析：暫無解析6、*標準答案：epoch知識點解析：暫無解析7、*標準答案：Corporatelawyers/Lawyers知識點解析：暫無解析8、*標準答案：weaklyregulatedmarkets知識點解析：暫無解析9、Questions9-13DothefollowingstatementsagreewiththeinformationgiveninReadingPassage1?TRUE——iftheinformationinthetextagreeswiththestatementFALSE——iftheinformationinthetextcontradictsthestatementNOTGIVEN——ifthereisnoinformationonthisA、真B、假C、NOTGIVEN標準答案：C知識點解析：暫無解析10、*A、真B、假C、NOTGIVEN標準答案：A知識點解析：暫無解析11、*A、真B、假C、NOTGIVEN標準答案：B知識點解析：暫無解析12、*A、真B、假C、NOTGIVEN標準答案：C知識點解析：暫無解析13、*A、真B、假C、NOTGIVEN標準答案：A知識點解析：暫無解析READINGPASSAGE2Youshouldspendabout20minutesonQuestions14-26,whicharebasedonReadingPassage2below.FruitthatFallsFarfromtheTreeAInthe2002footballWorldCup,France,thereigningworldchampions,sufferedahumiliatingdefeattounfanciedSenegal.All11membersofthevictoriousSenegaleseteamhadplayedforEuropeanclubs.Theywerenotalone.By2000,thefirstandseconddivisionsofEurope'sleagueshadpoachedenoughAfricanplayerstofield70teams.So,havegreedyEuropeanclubsdeprivedSenegalofitsbestfootballers,orhastheprospectofalucrativecareerinEuropeencouragedmoreSenegalesetotakeupthebeautifulgame?BThisquestionIsposedbyanewbook,"GiveUsYourBestandBrightest",byDeveshKapurandJohnMcHale.Theauthorsaredevelopmenteconomistsfirst,footballfanssecond(ifatall).TheyseetheemigrationofAfricanplayersasahighlyvisibleexampleofthe"braindrain".Lessvisible,butmoreworrying,isthedepartureofthepoorworld'sdoctors,nursesandteacherstomorelucrativejobmarketsintherichworld.Ghana,forexample,hasonly6.2doctorsper100000people.Perhapsthree-quartersofitsdoctorsleavewithintenyearsofqualifyingCTheanswertotheSenegalconundrumIsofcourse"both":thebestplayersleave,andthedreamofemulatingthemmotivatesmanyotherstotaketheirplace.Therealquestioniswhetherthesecondeffectoutweighsthefirst,leavingthegameinSenegalstrongerorweakerthanitotherwisewouldbe.Afeweconomists,includingAndrewMountford,ofRoyalHolloway(partoftheUniversityofLondon),andOdedStark,oftheUniversityofBonn.thinktheneteffectofthebraindrainissimilarlyambiguous.TheprospectofsecuringavisatoAmericaorAustraliashouldtemptmorepeopleinpoorcountriestoInvestineducation.MrStarkcallsthisa"braingain".Ifthetemptationisstrongenough,andthechancesoflandingavisalowenough,thepoorcountrycouldevencomeoutahead:itmightgainmorequalified(ifdisappointed)doctorsandengineersthanitloses.DAswithalldebatesaboutthebraindrain,theoryhasrimaheadofevidence.Thenumbersoninternationalflowsofpeoplearemuchpatchierthanthoseoncross-borderflowsofgoodsorcapital.Inarecentpaper,MrStarkandhisco-authorsinvestigateinternalmigrationInstead.TheruralvillagesofMexicolosemanyoftheirbrightestsonsanddaughterstoJobsintitlesorbordertowns,ThoseMexicanswholeavetheirhomevillagestendtobebetter-educatedthanthosewhostay.Despitethis,theexampletheleaversset(andthejobleadstheyprovide)raisestheaveragelevelofschoolingofthoseleftbehind.Becausetheycanaspiretoaworldbeyondthevillage,eveniftheyneverreachit,youngMexicanshaveanaddedreasontostayInschoolbeyondaninthyear,theauthorsshow.EEvenifthebraindraindoesleaveacountrywithabetter-educatedpopulace,isthisnecessarilyagoodthing?Educationisnotfree,andsomeofthosewhogambledonadiplomaasaticketoverseaswillregrettheirdecision.MrStarkassumesthatpeopleinpoorcountriestendtodemandtoolittleeducation.Aperson'sproductivitydependsontheskillsofthosearoundhim,aswellashisown.Becauseofthesespillovers,anindividual’seducationIsworthmoretotheeconomyasawholethanitistohimself,andhewillunderinvestinitasaresult.MrStarkseeslimitedemigrationasonewaytofixthismarketfailure.FIndia'ssoftwareengineersareperhapsanexampleofthisprincipleatwork.Indianstudentshadlittlereasontolearncomputercodingbeforetherewasasoftwareindustrytoemploythem.SuchanIndustrycouldnottakerootwithoutcomputerengineerstomanlt.ThedreamofajobInSiliconvalley,however,wasenoughtoluremanyofIndia'sbrightyoungthingsintocodingandthatwasenoughtohatchanindigenoussoftwareindustrywherenoneexistedbefits.GIndia'svalley-dwellersrepresentjustonecontingentinamuchlargerdiaspora.Accordingtothemostexhaustivestudyofthebraindrain,releasedlastmonthbytheWorldBank,therewere1.04mIndian-bornpeople,educatedpastsecondaryschool,livinginthe30relativelyrichcountriesoftheOECDin2000.(Anunknownnumberofthemacquiredtheireducationoutsidetheircountryofbirth,thereportnotes.)Thislargelysuccessfuldiasporaismorethanjustsomethingtoenvyandemulate.Itsmemberscanbeasourceofknow-howandmoney,andprovidevaluableentreesintoforeignmarketsandsupplychains.HMessrsKaputandMcHalethinkIndia'srelativelyhappyexperiencewithitseducatedemigresismorelikelytobetheexceptionthantherule.Itsmillion-strongbraindrainrepresentsJust43%ofitsvastgraduatepopulation,accordingtotheBank.Bycontrast,almost47%ofGhana'shighlyeducatednativesonsliveintheOECD;forGuyana,thefigureis89%.Thisisnotastimulativeleechingoftalent;itisahaemorrhage.IEmigration,asMrStarksuggests,mightbeaspurtogreateraccomplishment,andthepoorworld'stalent,likeSenegal'sfootballers,deservesachancetocompeteonaglobalstage.Itisnoteasytorunamanaged"emigration"policy.Thedrainofeducatedmindsfrompoorcountriesismostlydeterminedbyhostcountries'rules,nothomecountries'Interests,Therewillbetremendouspressuretoloosenthoserulesinthefuture,notleastbecause,asthebaby-boomgenerationretires,itwillseekto"backfillthetaxpayingworkforcebehindit",asMessrsKapurandMcHaleputit.Therichworldnolongerwelcomesthetiredandthehuddled;Itlookssettocompeteevermorefiercelyforthebrightandthequalified.14、Questions14-17Thetexthas9paragraphs(A-I).Whichparagraphdoeseachofthefollowingheadingsbestfit?標準答案：C知識點解析：暫無解析15、*標準答案：H知識點解析：暫無解析16、*標準答案：G知識點解析：暫無解析17、*標準答案：D知識點解析：暫無解析18、Questions18-22Accordingtothetext,FIVEofthefollowingstatementsaretrue.Writethecorrespondinglettersinanswerboxes18to22inanyorder.[A]Emigrationofhealthcareworkersismoreimportantthanthatoffootballers.[B]Ifthechancesofgettingavisatoarichcountryarelow,thiscouldbenefitpoorcountries.[C]Itisdifficulttomeasuretheflowofmoneyacrossnationalborders.[D]Aperson’sproductivitydepends,toacertainextent,ontheproductivityofthosearoundhim/her.[E]ManyIndianswereunsuccessfulingettingtoAmericasotheysetupcodingindustriesinIndia.[F]MostIndian-bornpeoplewithdegreesgotthosedegreesoutsideIndia.[G]MostIndianemigrantsreturntoIndia.[H]Internationalmigrationpolicyislargelydecidedbyrichcountriesratherthanpoorones.標準答案：A知識點解析：暫無解析19、*標準答案：B知識點解析：暫無解析20、*標準答案：D知識點解析：暫無解析21、*標準答案：E知識點解析：暫無解析22、*標準答案：H知識點解析：暫無解析23、Questions23-26Accordingtotheinformationgiveninthetext,choosethecorrectanswerfromthechoicesgiven.A、wasnotexpectedtobeatFranceinthe2002WorldCup.B、providesmostoftheAfricanfootballplayersinEurope.C、providesmorefootballerstoEuropethananyotherAfricancountry.標準答案：A知識點解析：暫無解析24、*A、theyarenotactuallythebestplayers.B、theyencourageotherpeopletoplayfootballwell.C、therearetoomanyfootballersinSenegal.標準答案：B知識點解析：暫無解析25、*A、heisfromMexico.B、internationalmigrationishardtomeasure.C、Mexicanstendtomigratewithintheirowncountry.標準答案：B知識點解析：暫無解析26、*A、itrepresentsasmallpercentageofIndia’shighlyeducatedpopulation.B、Indianpeoplearespreadallovertheworld.C、India’sgovernmentrestrictsemigrationcarefully.標準答案：A知識點解析：暫無解析READINGPASSAGE3Youshouldspendabout20minutesonQuestions27-40,whicharebasedonReadingPassage3below.BlackGoldDarkchocolateusedtobeanacquiredtaste.Thetroubleis,we'veallacquiredit.Ascocoapricessoar,andashortagelooms,ourchangingtastescouldbethreateningtheverysourceofourpleasure.A25%jumpindarkchocolatesalesintheUKprettymuchspeaksforitself.Asanationweareturningourbacksontheblandtasteofmilkchocolate,whichisoftensaturatedwithvegetableoil.Darkchocolatenowdominatescountersinmanysupermarkets.Chocoholicsshouldbracethemselves.Fearsoveraglobalchocolateshortagehavesparkedarunonthedarkstuffonworldcocoamarketsthathaspushedthepriceupofcacaobeans(usedtomakecocoa)totheirhighestlevelformorethantwoyears.Thepriceofcocoafutures,whichishowthebeansaretradedonworldcommoditymarkets,hasclimbedsteadilysincelastNovember,revivingfearsofthecocoacrisisof2002thatforcedmajormanufacturerssuchasNestletohikethepriceofsomeofitschocolatebars.Althoughspeculatorshavebeenfingeredforpushingthepriceofcocoahigher,Britishchocolateaficionadosmustshareatleastsomeoftheblamefortherunonthebean.SoaringdemandfordarkchocolateintheUKhasputarocketundertheglobalpriceofcacaobeans,compoundingtheimpactofaseveredroughtinWestAfrica,whichishometomuchoftheworld'scacaobeansupplies.Consumersaredoingthesamethinginchocolateasintherestofthefoodmarket.Theyaretradingupandbeingmorediscerningaboutwhattheybuy.Allofthecountry'stopsupermarketchainshaveaddednewpremiumdarkchocolatevarietiestotheirown-brandrangesinresponsetothisphenomenon.Supermarketshavealsoexpandedthenumberofdarkchocolatelinestheystock,dwarfingtheirmilkchocolatevariantsinsomecases.Ofcourse,ittakesmorebeanstoproduceabarofdarkchocolatethanareneededforabarofmilk—andthat'sattherootoftheproblem,YesterdaythecostofcacaobeansfordeliveryinJulyontheLondoncocoaexchangeshotto￡1028atonneonexceptionallyheavytrading.Thiswasup￡22onthedayandthehighestpricethatthecrophasfetchedatanypointsinceNovember2004.Thecostofbuyingcacaobeanswaspushedhigherbycannyinvestorswhohaveplacedrecordbetsthatpriceswillkeeprising.Hedgefunds,whichmakemoneybypuntingonwhethercommodityorsharepriceswillriseorfall,haveswallowedupathirdofthecocoacontractstradedinNewYork,theothermaincocoatradingcentre.Sofar,industrybuyers,suchasCadburySchweppes,haverefrainedfromjoiningthefrenzy,althoughtradersbelievethatajumpinpriceswillpromptthemtobuilduptheirstocks.PriceshaverisennearlythirtyparcentsincethebeginningofDecember,largelyongrowingconcernaboutwhatfarmersinlvoryCoast,thebiggestcacaobeanproducerinwestAfrica,havedubbedtheworstdroughtinlivingmemory.Tomakemattersworse,demandisoutstrippingsupplyastheteethofconsumersindevelopingmarketsbegintosweeten.TheInternationalCocoaOrganisationpredictsaglobalcocoashortfallofaround100000tonnesthisyearalone,althoughprivateforecastswarnthedeficitcouldbeasmuchas250000tonnes.Gettingtherightbeansisbecomingcrucialinamarketthatisfastfollowinginthefootstepsofwineandcoffeeintermsofgettingconsumerstoappreciateitseffectonthepalate.Peoplethesedaysarewillingtoexperimentmorewithfoodanddrink.Ratherlikewineandcoffee,peoplearerealisingtherearevarietiesofchocolateavailable.Darkusedtobeaniche,butnotanylonger.Withdarkchocolateyoueretastingthecocoa,whereaswithmilkyouaretastingtherecipe.Thereare450differentflavourelementsinasinglecacaobean,whichitselfvariesintastedependingonwhereitisgrown.ChocolatefromColombiamightseempeppery,whilechocolatefromVenezuelamightsmalllikevanilla,forexample.Thisisdrivingdemandforanuberpremiumversion:theso-celledsingle-estatechocolatebar,whichsourcesitsbeansfromasinglelocation.Scientistsarefailingoverthemselvestocompletestudiesshowingthatmoderateconsumptionofhigh-qualitychocolatecanbegoodforyou?OnlylastweekaHarvardprofessorunveiledresearchsuggestingthatanutrientincocoacelledepicatechincouldlowertherisksofcancer,strokes,heartdiseaseanddiabetes.DrNormanHollenberg,ofHarvardMedicalSchool,basedhisfindingsonastudyoftheKunapeopleofPanama,whoareweanedoncocoaandcandrinkupto40cupsofthestuffaweek.SepareteresearchattheJohnsHopkinsUniversityinBaltimore,Maryland,latelestyearfoundthatsnackingondarkchocolatedecreasedthedevelopmentofpotentiallyfatalblooddots.Andotherstudieshavefoundthatdarkchocolatehasproportionatelymareantioxidantsthanotherfoodsthatarebetterknownfortheirhealth-givingproperties,suchasredwine,greenteaandberries.Healthhasprobablyplayedarole,butmoreasajustificationforconsumptionthananythingelse.Oneofdarkchocolate'sbigsellingpointsisthatitdoesn'ttrapthechocoholicinthesamedownwardsugar-cravingspiralasmilkchocolateversions.Parentsshouldbearthisinmindwhentheygoshoppingforsnacksfortheirchildren.Anewbreedoffashionabledietshasalsohelpedtopromotethecauseofdarkchocolate.Mostdieticiansagreethatalittleofwhatyoufancydoesyoumomgoodthanoutrightdenial.Someexpertsthinkmorepeopleareeatingdarkchocolatebecausetheproductshavegotbetter.Thechallengewithhighercocoavariantsistogettherighttrade-offbetweenthepercentageofbitter-tastingcocoa,whichiswhereallthegoodmicronutrientscomefrom,andsugar.Inthepast,darkchocolatewasbitterandreasonablygrittytasting.Somecompaniesuseagentle-tastingcocoabeanwhich,ifyou'renewtodarkchocolate,doesn'tscareyouoff.Addingahintofvanillacanalsohelp.Vanillaactsasaseasoningtosoftenthebiternotesofthecocoaandtobringoutthesweetness.27、Questions27-30Foreachquestion,onlyONEofthechoicesiscorrect.Writethecorrespondingletterintheappropriateboxonyouranswersheet.A、chocolate.B、darkchocolate.C、milkchocolate.標準答案：B知識點解析：暫無解析28、*A、awatershortageinWestAfrica.B、speculators.C、transportationproblems.標準答案：C知識點解析：暫無解析29、*A、buyingfarmorecacaobeansthanusual.B、notbuyingenoughcacaobeanstomakechocolate.C、notyetrespondingtothepriceriseincacaobeans.標準答案：C知識點解析：暫無解析30、*A、ManufacturersB、cientistsC、Advertisers標準答案：B知識點解析：暫無解析31、Questions31-35CompletethefollowingsentencesusingNOMORETHANTHREEWORDSfromthetext.標準答案：shortfall/deficit知識點解析：暫無解析32、*標準答案：wineandcoffee知識點解析：暫無解析33、*標準答案：bloodclots知識點解析：暫無解析34、*標準答案：outrightdenial知識點解析：暫無解析35、*標準答案：grittytasting知識點解析：暫無解析36、Questions36-40DothefollowingstatementsagreewiththeinformationgiveninReadingPassge3?TRUE——iftheinformationinthetextagreeswiththestatementFALSE——iftheinformationinthetextcontradictsthestatementNOTGIVEN——ifthereisnoinformationonthisA、真B、假C、NOTGIVEN標準答案：B知識點解析：暫無解析37、*A、真B、假C、NOTGIVEN標準答案：A知識點解析：暫無解析38、*A、真B、假C、NOTGIVEN標準答案：A知識點解析：暫無解析39、*A、真B、假C、NOTGIVEN標準答案：C知識點解析：暫無解析40、*A、真B、假C、NOTGIVEN標準答案：C知識點解析：暫無解析雅思（閱讀）模擬試卷第2套一、綜合題(本題共40題，每題1.0分，共40分。)READINGPASSAGE1Youshouldspendabout20minutesonQuestions1-13whicharebasedonReadingPassage1below.IndoorPollutionSincetheearlyeightieswehavebeenonlytooawareofthedevastatingeffectsoflarge-scaleenvironmentalpollution.Suchpollutionisgenerallytheresultofpoorgovernmentplanninginmanydevelopingnationsortheshort-sighted,selfishpoliciesofthealreadyindustrialisedcountrieswhichencourageaminorityoftheworld'spopulationtosquanderthemajorityofitsnaturalresources.WhileeventssuchasthedeforestationoftheAmazonjungleorthenucleardisasterinChernobylcontinuetoreceivehighmediaexposure,asdoactsofenvironmentalsabotage,itmustberememberedthatnotallpollutionisonthisgrandscale.Alargeproportionoftheworld'spollutionhasitssourcemuchclosertohome.TherecentspillageofcrudeoilfromanoiltankeraccidentallydischargingitscargostraightintoSydneyHarbournotonlycausedseriousdamagetotheharbourforeshoresbutalsocreatedseverelytoxicfumeswhichhungoverthesuburbsfordaysandlefttheangryresidentswonderinghowsuchadisastercouldhavebeenallowedtohappen.Avoidingpollutioncanbeafulltimejob.Trynottoinhaletrafficfumes;keepawayfromchemicalplantsandbuilding-sites;wearamaskwhencycling.Itisenoughtomakeyouwanttostayathome.Butthat,accordingtoagrowingbodyofscientificevidence,wouldalsobeabadidea.Researchshowsthatlevelsofpollutantssuchashazardousgases,particulatematterandotherchemical'nasties'areusuallyhigherindoorsthanout,eveninthemostpollutedcities.SincetheaverageAmericanspends18hoursindoorsforeveryhouroutside,itlooksasthoughmanyenvironmentalistsmaybeattackingthewrongtarget.Thelateststudy,conductedbytwoenvironmentalengineers,RichardCorsiandCynthiaHoward-Reed,oftheUniversityofTexasinAustin,andpublishedinEnvironmentalScienceandTechnology,suggeststhatitistheprocessofkeepingcleanthatmaybemakingindoorpollutionworse.Theresearchersfoundthatbaths,showers,dishwashersandwashingmachinescanallbesignificantsourcesofindoorpollution,becausetheyextracttraceamountsofchemicalsfromthewaterthattheyuseandtransferthemtotheair.Nearlyallpublicwatersuppliescontainverylowconcentrationsoftoxicchemicals,mostofthemleftoverfromtheotherwisebeneficialprocessofchlorination.Dr.Corsiwonderedwhethertheystaytherewhenwaterisused,orwhethertheyendupintheairthatpeoplebreathe.Theteamconductedaseriesofexperimentsinwhichknownquantitiesoffivesuchchemicalsweremixedwithwaterandpassedthroughadishwasher,awashingmachine,ashowerheadinsideashowerstalloratapinabath,allinsideaspeciallydesignedchamber.Thelevelsofchemicalsintheeffluentwaterandintheairextractedfromthechamberwerethenmeasuredtoseehowmuchofeachchemicalhadbeentransferredfromthewaterintotheair.Thedegreetowhichthemostvolatileelementscouldberemovedfromthewater,aprocessknownaschemicalstripping,dependedonawiderangeoffactors,includingthevolatilityofthechemical,thetemperatureofthewaterandthesurfaceareaavailablefortransfer.Dishwasherswerefoundtobeparticularlyeffective:thehigh-temperaturespray,splashingagainstthecrockeryandcutlery,resultsinanastyplumeoftoxicchemicalsthatescapeswhenthedoorisopenedattheendofthecycle.Infact,inmanycases,thedegreeofexposuretotoxicchemicalsintapwaterbyinhalationiscomparabletotheexposurethatwouldresultfromdrinkingthestuff.Thisissignificantbecausemanypeoplearesoconcernedaboutwater-bornepollutantsthattheydrinkonlybottledwater,worldwidesalesofwhichareforecasttoreach＄72billionbynextyear.D.Corsi'sresultssuggestthattheyarebeingexposedtosuchpollutantsanywaysimplybybreathingathome.Theaimofsuchresearchisnot,however,toencouragetheuseofgasmaskswhenunloadingthewashing.Instead,itistobringasenseofperspectivetothedebateaboutpollution.AccordingtoDr.Corsi,disproportionateeffortiswastedcampaigningagainstcertainformsofoutdoorpollution,whenthereisasmuchormorecauseforconcernindoors,rightunderpeople'snoses.Usinggascookersorburningcandles,forexample,bothresultinindoorlevelsofcarbonmonoxideandparticulatematterthatarejustashighasthosetobefoundoutside,amidheavytraffic.Overcrowdedclassroomswhoseventilationsystemsweredesigne