13．（BBC News April 18）All flights in and out of the UK and several other European countries have been cancelled as ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland moves south．
Up to 4，000flights are being cancelled with airspace closed in Norway，Sweden，Finland and Denmark among others．
The UK's air traffic control service （Nats） said no flights would be allowed in UK airspace until at least 07：00BST on Friday for fear of engine damage．
Safety group Eurocontrol said the problem could last for 48hours．
The volcano is still erupting and the wind direction is expected to continue bringing clouds into UK and European airspace for some time to come．
The UK's airspace restriction was the worst in living memory，a Nats spokesman said．Some 600，000people are thought to have been affected．
Nats suggested that the restrictions were unlikely to be lifted （解除） after 07：00，saying it was"very unlikely that the situation over England will improve in the foreseeable future"．
Passengers were advised to contact their carriers before travelling．
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said he was"closely monitoring the situation"and would be meeting with key transport officials on Friday morning．
Experts have warned that the tiny particles of rock，glass and sand contained in the ash cloud from the still-erupting volcano could be sufficient to jam aircraft engines．
The Health Protection Agency said the ash from the eruption did not bring a significant risk to public health because of its high altitude．
However，the British Lung Foundation has warned people with lung conditions to keep their medication （医疗护理） with them as a precautionary measure．
These are some of the knock-on effects：
●Eurocontrol says Germany is monitoring the situation and considering partial airspace closures．
●The two main airports in Paris and many others in the north of France are closing．
●There is severe disruption （崩溃） in France and Spain，where all northbound flights are cancelled．
●Nats is due to make an announcement shortly as to the arrangements that will be in place
through to 13：00BST on Friday．
●British Airways offers refunds or an option to rebook after all its domestic flights are suspended．
Flybe announces it has cancelled all flights up until 13：00BST on Friday and more than 25services due to run after that．
British sports teams have been hit by travel problems after flights were grounded．
60．What may passengers do on hearing the news according to the passage？B
A．They may cancel their international flights．
B．They may contact the airlines before traveling．
C．They may take measures to protect their lungs from the ash．
D．They may stay indoors till the volcanic eruption dies down．
61．Why have some European countries cancelled flights after the volcanic eruption？C
A．Because the volcanic ash may make passengers ill．
B．Because people refuse to take the international flights．
C．Because the volcanic ash may jam or damage the engine．
D．Because the flights may be hit by the rocks from the eruption．
62．Which of the following statements is true according to the passage？D
A．All the flights are likely to return to normal in 48hours．
B．British people had experienced a worse airspace restriction before that．
C．Germany is monitoring the situation and considering closing all airspace．
D．The UK airspace restrictions are unlikely to be lifted in the foreseeable future．
分析 这是一则BBC新闻，由于冰岛一座火山爆发，冒出的火山灰南移，导致了进出英国的许多航班被取消．
解答 60B 细节理解题．根据Passengers were advised to contact their carriers before travelling．可知，乘客在出行之前最好跟航空公司取得联系；
61C 细节理解题．根据第二段 no flights would be allowed in UK airspace until at least 07：00BST on Friday for fear of engine damage．以及Experts have warned that the tiny particles of rock，glass and sand contained in the ash cloud from the still-erupting volcano could be sufficient to jam aircraft engines可知，火山灰里的颗粒，碎石片对飞机的发动机破坏很大．
62D 细节理解题．根据这句Safety group Eurocontrol said the problem could last for 48hours．可知A错误；Eurocontrol says Germany is monitoring the situation and considering partial airspace closures．可知C错误；The UK's airspace restriction was the worst in living memory表明B错误；
这句Nats suggested that the restrictions were unlikely to be lifted （解除） after 07：00，saying it was"very unlikely that the situation over England will improve in the foreseeable future"．表明航空管制不可能被解除，所以D正确．
点评 新闻类的阅读第一句话或者第一段往往是对整个文章的概括，因此读懂首句或首段很重要，作答题时善于捕捉细节，根据问题找到答案．
