Question

Climate Change Requires the World’s Attention

In 2013, a lot of people were shocked by a news photo of a dead polar bear that was found on Norway’s Arctic island of Svalbard. According to the scientists who found its dead body all that remained of the polar bear was “skin and bones”. An expert who has studied polar bears for many years said that from the position of its dead body, the bear appeared to have starved and died. Experts claimed that low sea-ice levels caused by climate change meant the bear could not hunt seals as before, so it had to travel greater distances in order to find food. This alarming case showed how the increase in temperature had an impact on Earth’s ecology.

Then what is causing the increase in the global average surface temperature? Climate scientists often mention a key climate process called the “greenhouse effect”, which has two common meanings: the “natural” greenhouse effect and the “man-made” greenhouse effect. The “natural” greenhouse effect, which helps keep the earth warm enough for people, plants and animals to live on, refers to the fact that heat from the sun enters the atmosphere and warms Earth’s surface as short-wave radiation. The heat is released back into space at longer wave lengths. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as methane (沼气) and carbon dioxide, trap some of the heat, keeping Earth’s climate warm and habitable. Without this process, Earth could not sustain life. However, the man-made greenhouse effect has now become a big problem. When people produce huge amounts of extra greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels, more heat energy is trapped in the atmosphere and causes Earth’s surface temperature to rise quickly.

There is strong and comprehensive evidence that the rise in temperature has led to an increase in extreme weather and natural disasters worldwide, not only causing serious damage, but also costing human lives. Climate scientists have warned that if we do not take appropriate actions, this warming trend will probably continue and there will be a higher price to pay. In fact, news reports are frequently broadcast about extreme rainstorms and heat waves causing deaths and economic losses.

Continued greenhouse gas emissions (排放) will result in further warming and long-lasting changes to the global climate. This requires the attention of people all over the world. Governments need to consider making policies and taking appropriate actions and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We as individuals can also reduce our “carbon footprint” by restricting the amount of carbon dioxide our lifestyles produce. It is our responsibility to seize every opportunity to educate everyone about global warming, along with its causes and impacts, because it is all of us that share this planet. So what will you do to help?

1.The dead polar bear was mentioned in the first paragraph to _____?

A.show polar bears are endangered

B.raise the problem of global warming

C.raise the awareness of protecting animals

D.warn people of the damage caused by travelling

2.What is causing the rise of Earth’s surface temperature?

A.Methane. B.Carbon dioxide.

C.Heat from the sun. D.Man-made heat energy.

3.The rise of Earth’s surface temperature may result in _____.

A.higher cost of living B.better growth of plants

C.more extreme weather events D.speeding of animal reproduction

4.The last paragraph mainly tells us that _____.

A.policies are important to stop carbon dioxide emissions

B.the long-lasting effects of climate change is very serious

C.everyone should take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

D.it is the governments’ duty to control the process of global warming

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.C

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。本文讲述了当今气候变化的原因，气候变暖主要由“自然”温室效应和“人造”温室效应，并且趋势持续下去会造成的影响，所以，气候变化需要全世界的关注，我们每个人都有责任。

1.

推理判断题。根据第一段最后一句 “This alarming case showed how the increase in temperature had an impact on Earth's ecology.”表明，这个令人震惊的案例显示了气温升高对地球生态的影响。由此可知，死去的北极熊被举例是为了证明气温升高对地球生态的影响。所以在第一段中提到死去的北极熊是为了提出全球变暖的问题，故选B。

2.

细节理解题。根据第二段 “When people produce huge amounts of extra greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels, more heat energy is trapped in the atmosphere and causes Earth's surface temperature to rise quickly.”可以看出，当人们燃烧化石燃料产生大量额外的温室气体时，更多的热能被困在大气层中，导致地球表面温度迅速上升。由此可知，是人为产生的热能导致了地球表面温度的上升。故选D。

3.

细节理解题。根据倒数第二段 “There is strong and comprehensive evidence that the rise in temperature has led to an increase in extreme weather and natural disasters worldwide, not only causing serious damage, but also costing human lives.” 意为：有充分和全面的证据表明气温上升已导致世界范围内极端天气和自然灾害增加，不仅造成严重破坏，而且造成人命损失。由此可以推出，地球表面温度上升会在世界范围内导致更多的极端天气事件。故选C。

4.

主旨大意题。根据最后一段 “We as individuals can also reduce our 'carbon footprint' by restricting the amount of carbon dioxide our lifestyles produce. It is our responsibility to seize every opportunity to educate everyone about global warming, along with its causes and impacts, because it is all of us that share this planet.”我们个人也可以通过限制我们的生活方式产生的二氧化碳量来减少我们的“碳足迹”。我们有责任抓住每一个机会，教育每个人了解全球变暖及其原因和影响，因为我们共享这个星球。由此可以推断出，最后一段告诉我们，我们每个人都应该采取行动以减少温室气体的排，这是我们共同的责任。故选C。