理工類C級:補(bǔ)全短文Fire-Fighting Fabric
Each year thousands of people worldwide are killed or seriously injured by fires started in mattresses. 46 . To help prevent fires in crowded public spaces， E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co. recently invented a fire resistant fabric（防火織物）。 The company claims that this fabric significantly reduces the combustibility（易燃性） of mattresses and upholstered（裝有套子或墊子的）furniture. In tests conducted by a Boston-based hotel chain， the material has proved very efficient in preventing or delaying the combustion of mattresses and furniture after fires have been started. 47 . California and several other states are considering new regulations that would require the use of fire-resistant furniture in public places （defined as area where 10 or more people gather）。 48 . American laws require hotels to buy fire-resistant mattress covers， though covers made of fiber glass（纖維玻璃） and cotton do exist and are used by some companies. 49 .
The Du Pont fabric will sell for less than $5 a yard and it is believed that the market will develop over the next two years. 50 .
A The development of the material is timely
B And last year， England passed a law requiring that all furniture contain fine resistant material
C The company expects that the competition will be very strong in the market because right now， its product is just one option
D And there are some expects
E Often the fires occur in hotels， and are caused by people smoking in bed
F However， the cotton covers wash out over time and the fiber glass is not very comfortable