Whichissafer-stayingathome, travelingtoworkonpublictransport, orworkingintheoffice? Surprisingly, eachofthesecarriesthesamerisk, whichisverylow. However, whataboutflyingcomparedtoworkinginthechemicalindustry? Unfortunately, theformeris 65 timesriskierthanthelatter! Infact, theaccidentrateofworkersinthechemicalindustryislessthanthatofalmostanyofhumanactivity, andalmostassafeasstayingathome.
Thetroublewiththechemicalindustryisthatwhenthingsgowrongtheyoftencausedeathtothoselivingnearby. Itisthiswhichmakeschemicalaccidentssonewsworthy. Fortunately, theyareextremelyrare. ThemostfamousoneshappenedatTexasCity (1947),Flixborough (1974), Seveso (1976), Pemex (1984) andBhopal (1984).
Someofthesearealwaysinthemindsofthepeopleeventhoughthelossoflifewassmall. NoonediedatSeveso, andonly 28 workersatFlixborough. TheworstaccidentofallwasBhopal, whereupto 3,000 werekilled. TheTexasCityexplosionoffertilizerkilled 552. ThePemexfireatastorageplantfornaturalgasinthesuburbsofMexicoCitytook 542 lives, justamonthbeforetheunfortunateeventatBhopal.
Someexpertshavediscussedtheseaccidentsandusedeachaccidenttoillustrateaparticulardanger. ThustheTexasCityexplosionwascausedbytonsofammoniumnitrate（硝酸铵）,whichissafeunlessstoredingreatquantity. TheFlixboroughfireballwasthefaultofmanagement, whichtookriskstokeepproductiongoingduringessentialrepairs. TheSevesoaccidentshowswhathappensifthelocalauthoritieslackknowledgeofthedangerontheirdoorstep. Whenthepoisonousgasdriftedoverthetown, localleaderswereincapableoftakingeffectiveaction. ThePemexfirewasmadeworsebyanoverloadedsiteinanovercrowdedsuburb. Thefiresetoffachainreactionosexplodingstoragetanks. Yet, byamiracle, thetwolargesttanksdidnotexplode. Hadthesecaughtfire, then 3,000 strongrescueteamandfirefighterswouldallhavedied.
1.Whichofthefollowingstatementsistrue?
A.Workingattheofficeissaferthanstayingathome.
B.Traverllingtoworkonpublictransportissaferthanworkingattheoffice.
C.Stayingathomeissaferthanworkinginthechemicalindustry.
D.Workinginthechemicalindustryissaferthantravelingbyair.
2.Chemicalaccidentsareusuallyimportantenoughtobereportedasnewsbecause ____.
A.theyareveryrare
B.theyoftencauselossoflife
C.theyalwaysoccurinbigcities
D.theyarousetheinterestofallthereaders
3.Accordingtopassage, thechemicalaccidentthatcausedbythefaultofmanagementhappenedat ____.
A.Texascity
B.Flixborough
C.Seveso
D.MexicoCity
4.Fromthepassageweknowthatammoniumnitrateisakindof ____.
A.naturalgas, whichcaneasilycatchfire
B.fertilizer, whichcan'tbestoredinagreatquantity
C.poisonoussubstance, whichcan'tbeusedinovercrowdedareas
D.fuel, whichisstoredinlargetanks
5.Fromthediscussionamongsomeexpertswemaycocludethat ____.
A.toavoidanyaccidentsweshouldnotrepairthefacilitiesinchemicalindustry
B.thelocalauthoritiesshouldnotbeconcernedwiththeproductionofthechemicalindustry
C.alltheseaccidentscouldhavebeenavoidedorcontrolledifeffectivemeasurehadbeentaken
D.naturalgasstoredinverylargetanksisalwayssafe