The number of first responders suffering from cancer after breathing in 9/11 smokes has more than doubled since last year, according to a new report.

Some 1,655 cops, city workers, volunteers and locals exposed to poisonous substances from the collapse of the World Trade Center(WTC) have been diagnosed with the deadly disease, according to Mount Sinai Hospital’s World Trade Center Health Program, which tracks the health of 37,000 first responders. Another 863 firefighters and medical assistants have also fallen ill with various types of cancer since Sept. 11, 2001, the New York Post reported.

The latest findings are more than twice the number of reported cancer cases up to September of last year, when scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said some 1,140 people suffered from WTC-related cancers. “There are more cases out there, because we just know of the people in our government-funded medical programs, not those who have been treated by their private doctors,” has said Dr. Jim Melius, who oversees health programs for 9/11 first responders. 

 More than 60,270 people have been at risk of deadly diseases after inhaling dust and smokes containing asbestos from the building’s lower columns and benzene from jet fuel. The poisonous substances also include lead from 50,000 computers that had been broken into pieces and mercury from thousands of light bulbs.

“I was a very active guy -- now there’s not much I can do,” said one retired firefighter, who was recently awarded $1.5 million from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund after falling ill with lung disease and pancreatic cancer, to The Post.

In September 2012, federal authorities added 58 types of cancer to a growing list showing the variety of cancers that first responders have suffered. The most common cases are skin, prostate, thyroid and non-Hodgkins’ lymphoma. The Victim Compensation Fund has received some 1,145 cancer claims as of June 30, The Post reported. More than 880 of those have already been regarded as qualified for compensation while the rest remains under review. 

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1.How many people are suffering from the WTC-related cancers according to the passage?

A 1655

B 2518

C 37000

D 1140

解析：选B。B。数字计算题。根据文章第二段Some 1,655 …have been diagnosed with the deadly disease… Another 863… fallen ill with various types of cancer since Sept. 11, 2001可知，共有2，518人在9/11事件中因为吸入有毒粉尘被诊断出罹患癌症。

2.What does the underlined word mean in Paragraph Four?

A Staying in.

B Allowing in.

C Taking in.

D Adapting to.

解析：选C。 C。猜测词义题。根据文章第一段breathing in，结合语境可知，inhale在文章中意为“吸入，吸收”。故选C。

3.Which of the following can most probably put people’s health at risk?

A Lead.

B Columns.

C Computers.

D Light bulbs.

解析：选A。A。细节理解题。根据文章第四段The poisonous substances also include lead from…可知，铅属于有毒物质，给人们的健康带来最大的风险。

4.What can be inferred from the passage?

A The 9/11 victims have got good compensation for their loss.

B It is likely to suffer from lung cancer when one takes in smoke.

C The 9/11 victims are suffering great pains from the disease.

D The other responders will be less likely to receive compensation.

解析：选C。C。推理判断题。根据文章第五段一位退休的消防队员所说“I was a very active guy -- now there’s not much I can do”可以判断，9/11事件受害者们的健康遭到了极大的危害，生活充满了痛苦。

5.What is mainly talked about in the passage?

A People exposed to poisonous substances are likely to suffer from cancer.

B 9/11 victims have received compensation for injuries.

C Victims of 9/11 who have been diagnosed with cancer have doubled.

D Inhaling of poisonous gases causes cancer.

解析：选C。C。主旨大意题。通读全文可知，本文主要介绍了自去年以来，9/11事件受害者中发现罹患癌症的人数成倍增长的情况。故选C。