单选题 On the eve of global warming negotiations, scientists from several Western nations are clamoring for a crash program to develop clean energy that would rival the Manhattan Project and the Apollo mission to the moon.
Writing in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature, scientists from North America and Europe predicted that global warming will soon become the environmental equivalent of the Cold War as the world's increasing reliance on fossil fuels releases more carbon dioxide and other heattrapping pollutants into the atmosphere. The 11 scientists urged negotiators at environmental talks scheduled to begin Nov. 2 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to push for a mobilization of scientific resources to develop alternative forms of energy, such as solar, wind and nuclear power. "Developing and commercializing carbon-flee power technologies by the mid-21st century could require efforts, perhaps international, pursued with the urgency of the Manhattan Project or the Apollo space program," said Martin Hoffert, a physicist at New York University. Only 20% or less of today's energy use comes from carbon-free sources. The Nature paper is unusual because it contains broad policy recommendations. Normally, the journal publishes straightforward scientific studies.
Last year, governments meeting in Kyoto, Japan, agreed to emission reductions by the United States, Japan, the 15-nation European Union and 21 other industrial nations. The nations are to cut their output of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to 5% below their 1990 levels by 2012. This year, negotiators for 166 nations are meeting to determine how each country will achieve the reductions.
To some, rising annual average temperatures in the 1990s amount to early proof that global warming has arrived and that the current treaty won't protect nations from climatic upheaval during the 21st century. Some scientists said global warming is inevitable and no amount of effort—not even a crash program—will prevent it. "We will experience a substantial amount of further climate change even if we make huge cuts in emissions," said Martin Parry of University College in London. Others said there are many ways of reducing global warming without mobilizing scientists worldwide. Energy conservation and efficiency, such as greater use of cleaner-burning natural gas and nuclear power, might be a cheaper solution, they say. Smokestack and tailpipe controls, as well as planting trees, can reduce pollution, too. Countries can also provide utilities with financial incentives to invest in experimental technologies.
Even optimists at the meeting agreed that demand for crude oil will outstrip production by 2020 and that worldwide reserves will be exhausted by 2100. Oil shortages and higher prices will make the world a more dangerous place, they warned.

单选题 In the first paragraph, the word "crash" probably means
[A] destructive. [B] urgent. [C] advanced. [D] universal.

单选题 The author compared the clean energy campaign to Manhattan Project and the Apollo mission to show that
[A] the world will come to its end short of this campaign.
[B] the campaign puts at stake the benefits of all nations.
[C] the campaign has an epoch-making significance.
[D] the campaign entails the efforts of an unprecedented scale.

单选题 What is particular about the Nature paper?
[A] It presents a clear picture of the precent environmental problem before us.
[B] It contains very convincing and straightforward scientific statistics.
[C] It advocates the study and use of non-polluting sources of energy.
[D] It presents its findings about global warming and proposes some polices.

单选题 Those who consider global warming inevitable believe that
[A] even substantial emission reductions can not prevent its arrival.
[B] only international efforts can help to slow it down, if not to stop it.
[C] the Kyoto agreement is too ambitious to be of any practical value.
[D] the effect of the present emission-reducing efforts can only be seen in the next century.

单选题 Which of the following is NOT considered a way of combating global warming?
[A] Using fossil fuels more efficiently.
[B] Introducing advanced technologies to improve utilities.
[C] Building taller smokestacks.
[D] Increasing the use of carbon-free sources.