2005年Text 2
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 Albert, 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 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 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.
30. The author associates the issue of global warning 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.
[答案] B
[解題思路]
文章第二段開頭提到了"There are upsetting parallels today"（這種令人不安的情況又在發(fā)生著），同時(shí)第三段開頭更明確地指出"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"（和現(xiàn)在對(duì)待吸煙問題上的看法一樣，來(lái)自很多地方的意見認(rèn)為，科學(xué)關(guān)于全球變暖的證據(jù)不足，在我們有確切證據(jù)之前還是可以繼續(xù)把廢棄排放到空氣中）。很顯然，作者認(rèn)為吸煙問題和全球變暖問題具有可比擬性"parallels"，因此后者的教訓(xùn)也有可能適用于前者，正確答案為B。C選項(xiàng)的錯(cuò)誤在于兩個(gè)現(xiàn)象不具有因果關(guān)系或先后聯(lián)系，而A、D選項(xiàng)的表述在文章中都沒有提到。
[題目譯文]
作者把全球變暖問題與吸煙問題聯(lián)系起來(lái)是因?yàn)?BR>[A] 兩者都被政府所忽視
[B] 后者的教訓(xùn)適用于前者
[C] 后者的結(jié)構(gòu)加重了前者
[D] 兩者都從不好的狀況變得更加糟糕
