山东省德州市2013届高考英语二轮复习 阅读理解精练精析26

山东德州 2013 届高考英语二轮复习阅读理解精练精析 26 (A)Somewhere on the other side of the world, a small group of workers is busy with a life-or-death struggle. This b attle isn’t about self-protection, as admirable as that might be. By staying to face the radiation and fire at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station following the earthquake and t hen tsunami（海啸）in Japan, the 50 or so workers may have already shortened their lives. They knew that would happen. And yet they stay, working in near-total darkness, pumping seawater onto exposed nuclear fuel in hopes that they can prevent thousands of tons of radioactive material going into the air, and protect the health of millions of people. Their task sounds like something out of a sci-fi thriller. They worked on the equipment in the complete darkness only by their flashlights, listening for explosions. They carry heavy oxygen tanks on their backs. They wear white, full-body jump suits to protect their bodies. Like Oscar said in“Armageddon”: “Scariest environment imaginable. That’s all you have to say. ”According to news reports, some of t he 50 workers volunteered to remain behind to take charge of the fire pumps with which they’re spraying seawater on the exposed fuel. “It’s part of the job, part of the training, ”an American nuclear power plant operator said. “Nobody makes a secret of the possible dangers at a place like this. If there’s a problem, you don’t call somebody in to fix it. It’s our problem. We’re the only ones who can fix it. That’s just what we do. ”I don’t know a bout you, but I’ve never really thought of nuclear power plant workers as “guardians at the gate”—those whose jobs may at any...