阅读短文，并按照题目要求用英语回答问题。(满分15分)
Some years ago industries had more freedom than they have now, and they did not need to be as careful as they must today. They did not need to worry a lot about the safety of the new products that they developed. They took little notice of the health and safety of the people who worked for them. Often new products were dangerous for the people who used them and the conditions in the work place had very bad effects on the health of the workers.
Of course, sometimes there were real disasters which attracted the attention of governments and which showed the need for changes Also scientists who were doing research into the health of workers sometimes produced information which governments could not ignore. At such times, there were inquiries into the causes of the disasters or the problems. New safety rules were often introduced as a result of these inquires, however, the new rules came too late to protect the people who died or who became seriously ill.
Today many governments have special departments which protect customers and workers. In the U.S., for example, there is a department which examines new planes and gives warnings about possible problems. It also makes the rules that aircraft producers must follow. Another department controls the foods and drugs that panies sell. The third department looks at the places where people work, and then reports any panies that are breaking the laws which protect the health and safety of workers. Of course, new government departments and new laws cannot prevent every accident or illness, but they are having some good results. Our work places are safer and cleaner than before. The planes and cars which we use for travel are better. Producers are thinking more about the safety and health of the people who buy and use their products.
【小题1】What had bad effects on the health of the workers? (No more than 6 words)
【小题2】In what ways do the departments protect customers and workers? (No more than 20 words)
【小题3】Please explain the underlined phrase took little notice of in the lst paragraph in English. (No more than 5 words)
【小题4】What is the passage mainly about? (No more than 15 words)
【小题5】Do you think our working or living place is safer and cleaner than before? Give one or two examples.(No more than 20 words)
The conditions in the work place/the working conditions.
网友回答
(答案→)The conditions in the work place/the working conditions.
解析：文章对比了在工人的工作环境和消费者的权益发生的变化。以前，工人和消费者的权益得不到保障，现在情况不同了，有了政府的介入，相关的法律也得到了完善。
【小题1】根据第一段的最后一行“the conditions in the work place had very bad effects on the health of the workers”可知，工厂的工作环境对工人有害。故填The conditions in the work place./The working conditions.
【小题2】根据最后一段第二至五行可知，有关部门通过检测新产品，控制销售的食品药品，监控工作场所，举报违法行为等来保护消费者和工人。故填By testing new products, controlling foods and drugs and examining work places.
【小题3】根据第一段“...They took little notice of the health and safety of the people who worked for them.”k可知，企业很少关注工人的健康和安全，划线部分pay little attention to同义。故填paid little attention to/ignored。
【小题4】文章对比了工人和消费者健康与安全方面发生的变化。企业以前很少关注工人和消费者的权益，现在政府的介入使得情况得到了一些改善。故填The changes of safety and health of workers and customers.
【小题5】主观题，只要言之有理，皆可。Yes, the river around us is cleaner than before; the traffic is safer.