英語(yǔ)四級(jí)難度提升閱讀訓(xùn)練 Text 15

Text 15

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 Alberts, added this key point in the preface to the panel's report, "Science never has all the answer. 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 plan of action, they continue to press for more research — a classic 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.

1.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

2.According to Bruce Alberts, science can serve as_______.

A.a protector　B.a judge　C.a critic　D.a guide

3.What does the author mean by "paralysis by analysis" (Last line, Para. 4)?

A.Endless studies kill action.　　　　B.Careful investigation reveals truth.

C.Prudent planning hinders progress.　D.Extensive research helps decision-making.

4.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.

5.The author associates the issue of global warming with that of smoking because_______.

A.they both suffered from the government's negligence

B.a lesson from the latter is applicable to the former

C.the outcome of the latter aggravates the former

D.both of them have turned from bad to worse

長(zhǎng)難例句分析

［長(zhǎng)難例句］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.

［結(jié)構(gòu)分析］本句是一個(gè)由and連接的并列復(fù)合句。前面的分句結(jié)構(gòu)簡(jiǎn)單；后面的分句結(jié)構(gòu)略顯復(fù)雜，其結(jié)構(gòu)是：it is critical that...base... on the best judgments that... concerning...。it作形式主語(yǔ)，第一個(gè)that引導(dǎo)的從句是實(shí)際主語(yǔ)。第二個(gè)that引導(dǎo)的定語(yǔ)從句修飾the best judgments，在從句中concerning引導(dǎo)的現(xiàn)在分詞短語(yǔ)作狀語(yǔ)，意思是“就……而言，針對(duì)……而做的”。

［參考譯文］但是，科學(xué)的確為我們提供了通向未來(lái)的最有用的指引，我們的國(guó)家和整個(gè)世界根據(jù)由此作出的最佳判斷來(lái)制定重要政策，這是至關(guān)重要的——這些判斷是科學(xué)針對(duì)當(dāng)前的行動(dòng)所產(chǎn)生的未來(lái)后果能夠?yàn)槲覀兲峁┑摹?/p>

全文參考譯文

還記得以前的那些歲月嗎？當(dāng)時(shí)，科學(xué)家認(rèn)為吸煙會(huì)使我們喪命，而懷疑者則堅(jiān)持認(rèn)為我們不能肯定這種觀點(diǎn)；證據(jù)并不充分，科學(xué)對(duì)此也不確定；反對(duì)吸煙的游說(shuō)團(tuán)體就要破壞我們的生活方式了，政府應(yīng)該袖手旁觀嗎？許多美國(guó)人相信這種毫無(wú)道理的說(shuō)法，30年來(lái)，大約有1000萬(wàn)名吸煙者因?yàn)槲鼰熯^(guò)早夭折。

現(xiàn)在，由于科學(xué)家一次又一次地試圖喚醒我們正視全球逐漸變暖的威脅，令人憂慮的相似景象又卷土重來(lái)。最近，一個(gè)由白宮召集的全國(guó)科學(xué)協(xié)會(huì)小組表示，地球的大氣肯定在變暖，而且這個(gè)問(wèn)題主要是人為造成的。確鑿的信息是，我們應(yīng)當(dāng)行動(dòng)起來(lái)保護(hù)自己。全國(guó)協(xié)會(huì)的會(huì)長(zhǎng)Bruce Alberts在該小組的報(bào)告前言中附加了這個(gè)要點(diǎn)：“科學(xué)永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)找到所有答案。但是，科學(xué)的確為我們提供了通向未來(lái)的最有用的指引，我們的國(guó)家和整個(gè)世界根據(jù)由此作出最佳判斷來(lái)制定重要政策，這是至關(guān)重要的——這些判斷是科學(xué)針對(duì)當(dāng)前的行動(dòng)所產(chǎn)生的未來(lái)后果能夠?yàn)槲覀兲峁┑??！?/p>

如同吸煙的問(wèn)題一樣，一些不同的觀點(diǎn)堅(jiān)持認(rèn)為，有關(guān)全球變暖的科學(xué)還不完善，我們可以繼續(xù)向空氣中排放煙霧，直到我們確實(shí)了解其后果。這是一種危險(xiǎn)的游戲：等到有了百分之百的證據(jù)時(shí)就可能太晚了。由于風(fēng)險(xiǎn)明顯并且在不斷增長(zhǎng)，一個(gè)謹(jǐn)慎的民族現(xiàn)在就應(yīng)該購(gòu)買(mǎi)一份保單。

所幸的是，白宮正開(kāi)始關(guān)注此事。但是，很顯然總統(tǒng)的大多數(shù)顧問(wèn)仍然沒(méi)有認(rèn)真看待全球變暖這個(gè)問(wèn)題。他們不是采取行動(dòng)，而是繼續(xù)要求進(jìn)行更多的研究——這是“被分析而麻痹”的杰作。

要想擔(dān)任這個(gè)星球負(fù)責(zé)任的管理者，我們就必須堅(jiān)持進(jìn)行更深入的大氣和海洋研究。但是，只是研究還不夠。如果政府不在立法上采取主動(dòng)的話，國(guó)會(huì)就應(yīng)當(dāng)開(kāi)始幫助制定保護(hù)措施。來(lái)自于西弗吉尼亞的民主黨參議員Robert Byrd提出的一個(gè)法案是一個(gè)大有前途的開(kāi)端，該法案將為私營(yíng)產(chǎn)業(yè)提供財(cái)政獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)。很多人都注意到，我們國(guó)家正在準(zhǔn)備修建大量新電站，以滿足我們的能源需求。如果我們要保護(hù)大氣層的話，那么從環(huán)境的角度來(lái)看，至關(guān)重要的是那些新電站必須安全可靠。

題目答案與解析

1.一種由支持吸煙者提出的論點(diǎn)是，________。

A.沒(méi)有科學(xué)證據(jù)證實(shí)吸煙與死亡之間的相互關(guān)系

B.過(guò)去幾十年，過(guò)早死亡的吸煙者人數(shù)忽略不計(jì)

C.人們有選擇他們自己的生活方式的自由

D.反對(duì)吸煙的人們通常是在胡說(shuō)八道

【答案】C

【解析】本題可參照文章的第一段：還記得以前的那些歲月嗎？當(dāng)時(shí)，科學(xué)家認(rèn)為吸煙會(huì)使我們喪命，而懷疑者則堅(jiān)持認(rèn)為我們不能肯定這種觀點(diǎn)……反對(duì)吸煙的游說(shuō)團(tuán)體就要破壞我們的生活方式了，政府應(yīng)該袖手旁觀嗎？據(jù)此可知，支持吸煙者認(rèn)為，人們有權(quán)按照他們自己選擇的生活方式生活。C項(xiàng)與文章的意思相符，因此為正確答案。

2.按照Bruce Alberts的觀點(diǎn)，可以用科學(xué)充當(dāng)________。

A.保護(hù)者　　B.法官　　C.評(píng)論家　　D.向?qū)?/p>

【答案】D

【解析】本題可參照文章的第二段。從中可知，全國(guó)協(xié)會(huì)的會(huì)長(zhǎng)Bruce Alberts在該小組的報(bào)告前言中附加了這個(gè)要點(diǎn)：“科學(xué)永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)找到所有答案，但是，科學(xué)的確為我們提供了通向未來(lái)的最有用的指引，我們的國(guó)家和整個(gè)世界依據(jù)由此作出的最佳判斷來(lái)制定重要政策，這是至關(guān)重要的——這些判斷是科學(xué)針對(duì)當(dāng)前的行動(dòng)所產(chǎn)生的未來(lái)后果能夠?yàn)槲覀兲峁┑摹！睋?jù)此可知，Bruce Alberts認(rèn)為，科學(xué)為我們作指引。D項(xiàng)與文章的意思相符。因此為正確答案。

3.作者通過(guò)“paralysis by analysis”（第四段最后一行）表達(dá)了什么意思？

A.無(wú)止境的研究妨礙行動(dòng)?！　.仔細(xì)的調(diào)查揭示真理。

C.謹(jǐn)慎的計(jì)劃阻礙進(jìn)步?！　　.深入的研究有助于作出決定。

【答案】A

【解析】本題可參照文章的第四段：幸運(yùn)的是，白宮正開(kāi)始關(guān)注此事；但是，很顯然，總統(tǒng)的大多數(shù)顧問(wèn)仍然沒(méi)有認(rèn)真看待全球變暖這個(gè)問(wèn)題，他們不是采取行動(dòng)，而是繼續(xù)要求進(jìn)行更深入的研究——這是“被分析而麻痹”的杰作。據(jù)此可知，作者說(shuō)這句話的意思是太多的研究阻礙人們采取行動(dòng)。A項(xiàng)與作者的觀點(diǎn)相符，因此為正確答案。

4.按照作者的觀點(diǎn)，政府對(duì)于全球變暖問(wèn)題應(yīng)該做些什么？

A.提供援助，幫助修建更清潔的電站?！　.喚起公眾的保護(hù)意識(shí)。

C.繼續(xù)要求進(jìn)行進(jìn)一步的科學(xué)研究?！　　.采取一些立法措施。

【答案】D

【解析】本題可參照文章的最后一段。從中可知，要想充當(dāng)這個(gè)星球負(fù)責(zé)任的管理者，我們就必須堅(jiān)持更深入地研究大氣和海洋；如果政府不在立法上采取主動(dòng)，國(guó)會(huì)就應(yīng)當(dāng)開(kāi)始幫助制定保護(hù)措施。據(jù)此可知，作者認(rèn)為政府應(yīng)該在立法上采取行動(dòng)。D項(xiàng)與作者的觀點(diǎn)相符。因此為正確答案。

5.作者將全球變暖問(wèn)題與吸煙問(wèn)題結(jié)合起來(lái)的原因是，________。

A.這兩個(gè)問(wèn)題都受到政府的忽視

B.從吸煙問(wèn)題吸取的教訓(xùn)適用于全球變暖問(wèn)題

C.吸煙問(wèn)題產(chǎn)生的后果加劇了全球變暖問(wèn)題的后果

D.這兩個(gè)問(wèn)題都越來(lái)越嚴(yán)重

【答案】B

【解析】文中講道：還記得以前的那些歲月嗎？當(dāng)時(shí)，科學(xué)家認(rèn)為吸煙會(huì)使我們喪命，而懷疑者則堅(jiān)持認(rèn)為我們不能肯定這種觀點(diǎn)；證據(jù)并不確鑿，科學(xué)對(duì)此也不確定……如今，由于科學(xué)家一輪又一輪地試圖喚醒我們正視全球逐漸變暖的威脅，令人憂慮的相似景象又卷土重來(lái)；最近的情況是，一個(gè)由白宮召集的全國(guó)科學(xué)協(xié)會(huì)小組告訴我們，地球的大氣肯定在變暖，而且這個(gè)問(wèn)題主要是人為造成的；正如有關(guān)吸煙問(wèn)題一樣，來(lái)自于不同角度的觀點(diǎn)堅(jiān)持認(rèn)為，有關(guān)全球變暖的科學(xué)還不完善，繼續(xù)向空氣中排放煙霧沒(méi)有關(guān)系，直到我們確實(shí)了解其后果。據(jù)此可知，作者認(rèn)為在吸煙問(wèn)題上的爭(zhēng)論與目前在全球變暖問(wèn)題上的爭(zhēng)論很相似。B項(xiàng)與文章的意思相符，因此為正確答案。