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.
26. An argument made by supporters of smoking was that
[A] there was no scientific evidence of the correlation between smoking and death.
[B] the number of early deaths of smokers in the past decades was insignificant.
[C] people had the freedom to choose their own way of life.
[D] antismoking people were usually talking nonsense.
[答案] C
[解题思路]
本题对应的是文章的第一段，首先要判断题干中提高的supporter就是第一句话中的doubter，因此才能正确判断supporter的观点。首先，A选项在原文中没有明确的表述，因而不是正确答案。B选项也与第一段的最后一句相矛盾，1000万烟民死亡这个数字显然不能说是insigfinicant。而D选项中用到的"nonsense"这个词在文章中是作者用来批判这些吸烟支持者们所用的词语，作者认为他们的理由才是"胡说八道"。关于C选项，文中提到支持吸烟的人们认为反对吸烟的人是要破坏我们的生活方式，也就是说他们认为人们有权利选择自己的生活方式，因此C是正确选项。
[题目译文]
吸烟支持者的一个观点是
[A] 吸烟和死亡之间的关系没有科学的证明
[B] 过去几十年烟民过早死亡的人数并不多
[C] 人类拥有选择自己生活方式的自由
[D] 反对吸烟的人通常都是在胡说八道
27. According to Bruce Alberts, science can serve as
[A] a protector.
[B] a judge.
[C] a critic.
[D] a guide.
[答案] D
[解题思路]
文章第二段中提到了Bruce Alberts说的话，即"Science never has all the answers. But science does provide us with the best available guide to the future"（科学从来就不能提供所有的答案，但科学确实能为我们的未来提供最好的指导），因此答案显而易见。
[题目译文]
根据布鲁斯·艾伯茨，科学可以作为
[A] 一个保护者
[B] 一个法官
[C] 一个批评家
[D] 一个向导
29. According to the author, what should the Administration do about global warming?
[A] Offer aid to build cleaner power plants.
[B] Raise public awareness of conservation.
[C] Press for further scientific research.
[D] Take some legislative measures.
[答案] D
[解题思路]
文章最后一段谈到"If the Administration won't take the legislative initiative, Congress should help to begin fashioning conservation measures"（如果现政府不采取法律行动，国会应该帮助着手制定保护措施），也就是说，政府现在还没有制定相应的法律法规，但是应该有所制定，正确答案为D。
[题目译文]
根据本文作者，政府就全球变暖这个问题应该做些什么？
[A] 资助修建更多更加清洁的发电厂
[B] 提高人们的保护意识
[C] 促进更进一步的科学研究
[D] 采取一些法律措施