2005年Text 2

　　Do you remember all those years when scientists argued that smoking would kill us but the doubters insisted that we didn't know for sure? That the evidence was inconclusive, the science uncertain? That the antismoking lobby was out to destroy our way of life and the government should stay out of the way? Lots of Americans bought that nonsense, and over three decades, some 10 million smokers went to early graves.

　　There are upsetting parallels today, as scientists in one wave after another try to awaken us to the growing threat of global warming. The latest was a panel from the National Academy of Sciences, enlisted by the White House, to tell us that the Earth's atmosphere is definitely warming and that the problem is largely man-made. The clear message is that we should get moving to protect ourselves. The president of the National Academy, Bruce Albert, added this key point in the preface to the panel's report "Science never has all the answers. But science does provide us with the best available guide to the future, and it is critical that our nation and the world base important policies on the best judgments that science can provide concerning the future consequences of present actions."

　　Just as on smoking, voices now come from many quarters insisting that the science about global warming is incomplete, that it's OK to keep pouring fumes into the air until we know for sure. This is a dangerous game: by the time 100 percent of the evidence is in, it may be too late. With the risks obvious and growing, a prudent people would take out an insurance policy now.

　　Fortunately, the White House is starting to pay attention. But it's obvious that a majority of the president's advisers still don't take global warming seriously. Instead of a plan of action, they continue to press for more research -- a classic case of "paralysis by analysis."

　　To serve as responsible stewards of the planet, we must press forward on deeper atmospheric and oceanic research. But research alone is inadequate. If the Administration won't take the legislative initiative, Congress should help to begin fashioning conservation measures. A bill by Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, which would offer financial incentives for private industry, is a promising start. Many see that the country is getting ready to build lots of new power plants to meet our energy needs. If we are ever going to protect the atmosphere, it is crucial that those new plants be environmentally sound.

　　26. An argument made by supporters of smoking was that

　　[A] there was no scientific evidence of the correlation between smoking and death.

　　[B] the number of early deaths of smokers in the past decades was insignificant.

　　[C] people had the freedom to choose their own way of life.

　　[D] antismoking people were usually talking nonsense.

　　[答案] C

　　[解題思路]

　　本題對應的是文章的第一段，首先要判斷題干中提高的supporter就是第一句話中的doubter，因此才能正確判斷supporter的觀點。首先，A選項在原文中沒有明確的表述，因而不是正確答案。B選項也與第一段的最后一句相矛盾，1000萬煙民死亡這個數字顯然不能說是insigfinicant。而D選項中用到的"nonsense"這個詞在文章中是作者用來批判這些吸煙支持者們所用的詞語，作者認為他們的理由才是"胡說八道"。關于C選項，文中提到支持吸煙的人們認為反對吸煙的人是要破壞我們的生活方式，也就是說他們認為人們有權利選擇自己的生活方式，因此C是正確選項。

　　[題目譯文]

　　吸煙支持者的一個觀點是

　　[A] 吸煙和死亡之間的關系沒有科學的證明

　　[B] 過去幾十年煙民過早死亡的人數并不多

　　[C] 人類擁有選擇自己生活方式的自由

　　[D] 反對吸煙的人通常都是在胡說八道

　　27. According to Bruce Alberts, science can serve as

　　[A] a protector.

　　[B] a judge.

　　[C] a critic.

　　[D] a guide.

　　[答案] D

　　[解題思路]

　　文章第二段中提到了Bruce Alberts說的話，即"Science never has all the answers. But science does provide us with the best available guide to the future"(科學從來就不能提供所有的答案，但科學確實能為我們的未來提供最好的指導)，因此答案顯而易見。

　　[題目譯文]

　　根據布魯斯·艾伯茨，科學可以作為

　　[A] 一個保護者

　　[B] 一個法官

　　[C] 一個批評家

　　[D] 一個向導

　　29. According to the author, what should the Administration do about global warming?

　　[A] Offer aid to build cleaner power plants.

　　[B] Raise public awareness of conservation.

　　[C] Press for further scientific research.

　　[D] Take some legislative measures.

　　[答案] D

　　[解題思路]

　　文章最后一段談到"If the Administration won't take the legislative initiative, Congress should help to begin fashioning conservation measures"(如果現政府不采取法律行動，國會應該幫助著手制定保護措施)，也就是說，政府現在還沒有制定相應的法律法規，但是應該有所制定，正確答案為D。

　　[題目譯文]

　　根據本文作者，政府就全球變暖這個問題應該做些什么?

　　[A] 資助修建更多更加清潔的發電廠

　　[B] 提高人們的保護意識

　　[C] 促進更進一步的科學研究

　　[D] 采取一些法律措施

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