空氣污染是南亞預期壽命縮短的罪魁禍首

A new environmental report says rising air pollution across South Asia can cut life expectancy（平均壽命） rates by up to five years. South Asia includes the world’s most polluted countries， including India， Bangladesh， Nepal and Pakistan. The area accounts for more than half of the total lives lost worldwide to pollution， the Energy Policy Institute said in its latest Air Quality Life Index.

The institute is part of the University of Chicago. The report blames the air pollution dangers on fast industrialization（工業化） across South Asia. Researchers estimate the area currently has particle（顆粒） pollution rates that are 50 percent higher than at the start of the century.

Individuals living in Bangladesh， the world’s most polluted country， stand to lose 6.8 years of life on average per person， the report found. This compares to 3.6 months in the United States. The information is based on satellite data used to estimate the effects of increased airborne fine particles on life expectancy. The report said India has been responsible for about 59 percent of the world’s increase in pollution since 2013. In densely populated New Delhi， the world’s most polluted large city， the average life expectancy had dropped by more than 10 years.

The report called for cuts in worldwide levels of lung-harming airborne particles to levels sought by the World Health Organization （WHO）. If these cuts were reached， it could raise average life expectancy rates by 2.3 years. A person living in Pakistan would gain 3.9 years from meeting WHO pollution guidelines， the report added. And in Nepal， a person would live 4.6 years longer if the guidelines were met.

The researchers noted it’s amazing that China has made a difference by reducing pollution by 42.3 percent between 2013 and 2021. The researchers added this shows the need for governments to produce and share air quality data to help reduce unfairness in getting tools to fight pollution.

（材料選自VOA，有刪改）

1. Which country may suffer from serious air pollution from paragraph 1？

A. Spain. B. Australia. C. India. D. England.

2. What can be inferred according to the report？

A. People living in the US lose 6.8 years of life per person.

B. The life expectancy in New Delhi had increased quickly.

C. People in Nepal can live 4.6 years longer with air pollution rising.

D. People can benefit from cutting worldwide levels of harmful particles.

3. What did the researchers think of the pollution reduced in China？

A. Objective. B. Positive.

C. Doubtful. D. Negative.

4. What did the report call on government to do？

A. To share air quality data.

B. To try to set goals for the future.

C. To concentrate on the serious pollution.

D. To have a deep understanding of the harm.

1.C。解析：細節理解題。材料第一段提到“南亞包括世界上污染最嚴重的國家，有印度、孟加拉國、尼泊爾和巴基斯坦”，由此可知印度是空氣污染很嚴重的國家，故選C。

2.D。解析：推理判斷題。根據材料第三段的第一句可知，孟加拉國的人平均每人將失去6.8年的壽命，而在美國這個數字為3.6個月，故排除A選項。根據材料第三段的最后一句可知，新德里人民的平均預期壽命下降了10年多，故排除B選項。根據材料第四段的最后一句可知，在尼泊爾，如果落實這些指導方針，一個人可以多活4.6年，故排除 C選項。根據材料第四段的前兩句可知，將全球范圍內對肺部有害的空氣顆粒物水平降低到世界衛生組織所要求的水平，平均預期壽命可能會提高2.3年，故D選項正確。

3.B。解析：觀點態度題。材料第五段的第一句提到“研究人員指出，中國在2013年至2021年間減少了42.3%的污染，取得了顯著的成效，這令人驚嘆”，因此研究人員對于中國污染減少的成效持贊賞的態度，故選B。

4.A。解析：細節理解題。材料第五段的最后一句提到“研究人員補充說，這表明政府需要生產和分享空氣質量數據，以幫助減少獲取抗擊污染工具的不公平現象”，由此可知該報告呼吁政府共享空氣質量數據，A選項與材料內容相符，故選A。