A popular holiday gift is putting children of all ages in emergency rooms across the country. Rare-earth magnets(稀土磁铁) are strong magnets that can kill if swallowed. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission restricted magnet sizes back in 2012. However, a federal court decision in 2016 vacated that decision. Since then, the rate of swallowing has sharply increased.

“I can see the appeal. I just think that parents need to go into this with open eyes and understand that despite good intentions, these are toys that are really potentially very harmful,” said Dr. Jackie Saito at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Saito says once the magnets are swallowed, they try to connect — no matter where they are in the digestive system(消化系统). With the strength of the magnets, they will eventually connect and can make holes in the intestines(肠). “What can happen is that there can be leakage of bacteria, so that’s what causes abdominal pain and fever. But more importantly, there’s a connection that’s not supposed to be there and so that can cause a blockage(阻塞) in the intestine, which has the potential to make children quite ill,” Saito said. “Fortunately, the children that we’ve seen at our hospital have eventually done OK, although with a major operation and in some cases, a couple of major operations.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics says parents should keep the magnets in a locked container out of the reach of children. Doctors say the patient needs to go to the emergency room immediately if the magnets are swallowed.

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1.The underlined word “vacate” probably means __________.

A cancel officially

B swallow quickly

C land fast

D prevent completely

解析：选A。A 词义猜测题。根据文章第一段第三句“The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission restricted magnet sizes back in 2012”可以得知原来磁力玩具是被禁止的；结合下句的however的转折可以推知联邦法院“废止”了那个决定。故选A。

2.What is Dr. Jackie Saito’s attitude towards the rare-earth magnets?

A Positive.

B Active.

C Negative.

D Supportive.

解析：选C。C 推理判断题。根据文章第二段第二句的“...these are toys that are really potentially very harmful”可以推知Jackie Sait是不支持玩这种玩具的。故选C。

3.Why will the digestive system be harmed if the magnets are swallowed?

A The magnets will break down fast.

B The magnets will block the intestine.

C The bacteria will be killed instantly.

D The holes in the intestine will be big.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据文章第三段中Saito所说的话“there’s a connection that’s not supposed to be there and so that can cause a blockage(阻塞) in the intestine”可知，被吞咽进入肠道的磁力玩具在肠道内容易形成阻塞，因而伤害消化系统。故选B。

4.Where should parents keep the magnets?

A In the emergency room.

B In an operating house.

C In a locked container.

D In the secret system.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据文章最后一段第一句的“...parents should keep the magnets in a locked container out of the reach of children”可以得知家长应该把磁力玩具放在锁好的容器里。故选C。