单选题 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 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 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.

单选题 An argument made by supporters of smoking was that ______.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[解析] 可以用排除法来做。选项A的意思是：没有科学证据来证明吸烟和死亡的相关性。文章第一段第二句话：“That the evidence was inconclusive, the science uncertain?”此句的意思是说，证据是非结论性的，还没有科学的确定性。但是这并不表明没有科学的证据存在，只是说科学的证明还不确定和非结论性。这是不同的概念。选项B的意思是：在过去的几十年里，因为吸烟而过早去世的人的总数不重要。文章中没有提到这个问题。选项D是，反对吸烟者经常胡言乱语。文章中第一段的最后这个句子：“Lots of Americans bought that nonsense, ”此句说明大多数美国人都相信了这些胡言乱语，并没有说反对吸烟者常胡言乱语。再看文章第一段第三句：“that the antismoking lobby was out to destroy our way of life and the government should stay out of the way? ”意为：反对吸烟的游说是为了毁掉我们的生活方式，而政府应该置身事外吗?这句话其实就是讲，人们有权选择自己的生活方式。这符合选项C的意思，故答案为C。

单选题 According to Bruce Alberts, science can serve as ______.

单选题 What does the author mean by "paralysis by analysis" (Last line, paragraph 4)?

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】[解析] 文章第四段最后的句子：“Instead of a plan of action, they continue to press for more research-a classic case of "paralysis by analysis" 。这话的意思是：不去作行动的安排，他们持续要求进行更多研究，这就是典型的分析导致麻痹的例子。选项A的意思是：无止境的研究扼杀了行动。因此选项A入选。选项B的意思是：仔细的研究才能揭示事实。文章中未谈到这个问题。选项C的意思是：过于谨慎的计划会影响进步。文章没有说到这个观点。选项D的意思是：广泛的研究能帮助决策的制定。文中也没提到。故答案为A。

单选题 According to the author, what should the Administration do about global warming?

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[解析] 原文最后一段第二句“If the Administration won"t take the legislative initiative, Congress should help to begin fashioning conservation measures”。如果管理部门不能主动采取一些立法行动，国会应该帮助去开始制定保护的措施。选项D的内容是，采取一些法律措施。这与原文意思相符，是正确的。选项A的意思是：给建造清洁能源的工厂提供帮助。选项B的意思是：提高全民对能量保护的认识。选项C的意思是：促进更多的科学研究。这三个选项本身的内容都对，但是都与本题无关。从文章可以看到，它们都不是管理部门的责任。故答案为D。

单选题 The author associates the issue of global warming with that of smoking because ______.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】[解析] 文章一开始谈论吸烟的问题，到第二段转入全球变暖的问题，接下来又谈吸烟问题。从文章最后一段可以看出，作者说的就是：如果政府对待全球变暖的态度就和对待吸烟的态度一样，就会产生严重的后果。选项B的意思是：后者的教训也同样适用于前者。这和文章的意思贴切。选项A的意思是：他们同样是由于政府的疏忽而造成的。这是错误的，政府并没有忽视这个问题，只是解决的方法不是很好。选项C的意思是：两者都已变得越来越糟。作者在文中没有表达这个意思，只是希望政府能够从对待吸烟的问题上找到解决好全球变暖的问题的方法。故答案为B。