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】 A
【答案解析】解析:细节题。题目问的是支持吸烟的人所争论的论点是什么。定位到第一段第一句可知科学家认为吸烟会致死,但有人却反驳说没有直接的证据证明吸烟有害健康,故选A。
单选题 According to Bruce Alberts, science can serve as______.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】解析:细节题。题目问的是根据布鲁斯.埃尔伯特的说法,科学有什么作用。定位到第二段最后一句,但是科学确实为我们的未来提供了有关现在行为对将来后果的最好的判断,而这种判断是我们国家和世界重要决策的基础。故选B。
单选题 What does the author mean by "paralysis by analysis" (Last line, Para.4)?
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】解析:释义题。题目问的是第四段中的“paralysis by analysis是什么意思。定位到第四段可知,总统的大多数顾问并没有认真看待全球气候变暖问题。他们要求继续研究经典案例,进行“麻木的分析”,而不是制定一个行动方案,可知此处的含义与行动方案相对应,故选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:细节题。题目问的是作者认为政府应该采取什么措施。定位到最后一段第二句,可知即使政府不立法,国会也要关注这个问题,故选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:推断题。题目问的是作者为什么将全球变暖问题和吸烟问题联系在一起。定位到第一段,作者由以前反对者不相信吸烟有害健康,直到科学证明了这件事,但结果是有很多人因吸烟而死,可知吸烟一事是个教训,作者以此来告诫世人,不要重蹈覆辙,故选B。panel的定语,that引导从句作tell的间接宾语,句意为:最近由白宫招募的,来自美国国家科学院的一个小组,告诉我们地球的大气正在变暖,而这个问题主要是人类造成的。