Who would have thought that, globally, the IT industry produces about the same volume of greenhouse gases as the world’s airlines do—roughly 2 percent of all CO2 emissions? Many everyday tasks take a surprising toll on the environment. A Google search can leak between 0.2 and 7.0 grams of CO2, depending on how many attempts are needed to get the “right” answer. To deliver results to its users quickly, then, Google has to maintain vast data centres around the world, packed with powerful computers. While producing large quantities of CO2, these computers emit a great deal of heat, so the centres need to be well air-conditioned, which uses even more energy. However, Google and other big tech providers monitor their efficiency closely and make improvements. Monitoring is the first step on the road to reduction, but there is much more to be done, and not just by big companies.
Who would have thought that, globally, the IT industry produces about the same volume of greenhouse gases as the world’s airlines do—roughly 2 percent of all CO2 emissions? Many everyday tasks take a surprising toll on the environment. A Google search can leak between 0.2 and 7.0 grams of CO2, depending on how many attempts are needed to get the “right” answer. To deliver results to its users quickly, then, Google has to maintain vast data centres around the world, packed with powerful computers. While producing large quantities of CO2, these computers emit a great deal of heat, so the centres need to be well air-conditioned, which uses even more energy. However, Google and other big tech providers monitor their efficiency closely and make improvements. Monitoring is the first step on the road to reduction, but there is much more to be done, and not just by big companies.
参考解析
解析：从全球范围来看，有谁能想到 IT 行业释放的温室气体与全球航空公司所产生的一样多呢？大概占到二氧化碳总排放量的 2%。 许多日常工作对环境造成了意想不到的破坏。根据用户每次搜索并得到正确答案的尝试次数不同，每一次 在谷歌上的搜索都会产生 0.2 到 0.7 克的二氧化碳。为了快速将搜索结果提供给用户，谷歌在全球建立大型数 据中心，这些数据中心配备了很多大功率计算机。这些计算机在排放大量二氧化碳的同时也产生大量的能量。 因此，这些数据中心需要良好的空调降温，这同时又会消耗大量的能量。 然而，谷歌和其他规模较大的技术供货商严密地监控他们的效率并不断地进行改进。监控只是减排的第一 步，并且任重而道远，仅靠大公司还是不够的。
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EWe already know the fastest, least expensive way to slow climate change: Use less energy. With a little effort, and not much money, most of us could reduce our energy diets by 25 percent or more—doing the Earth a favor while also helping our wallets.Not long age. My wife, PJ, and I tried a new diet—not to lose a little weight but to answer an annoying question about climate change. Scientists have reported recently that the world is bending up even faster than predicted only a few years ago, and that the consequences could be severe if we don’t keep reducing emissions（排放）of carbon dioxide（CO2）and other greenhouse gases that are trapping heat in our atmosphere.We decided to try an experiment. For one month we recorded our personal emissions of CO2. . We wanted to see how much we could cut back, so we went on a strict diet. The average US household（家庭）produces about 150 pounds of CO2 a day by doing common-place things like turning on air-conditioning or driving cars. That’s more than twice the European average and almost five times the global average, mostly because Americans drive more and have bigger houses. But how much should we try to reduce?For an answer, I checked with Tim Flannery, author of The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth. In his book, he had challenged readers to make deep cuts in personal emissions to keep the world from reaching extremely important tipping points, such as the melting（融化）of the ice sheets in Greenland or West Antarctica. “To stay below that point, we need to reduce CO2 emissions by 80 percent,” he said.Good advice, I thought. I’d opened our bedroom windows to let in the wind. We’d gotten so used to keeping our air-conditioning going around the clock. I’d almost forgotten the windows even opened. We should not let this happen again. It’s time for us to change our habits if necessary.72. Why did the author and his wife try a new diet?A. To take special kinds of food B. To respond to climate change.C. To lose weight D. To improve their health
It can be inferred from the passage thatA. it is necessary to keep the air-conditioning on all the timeB. it seems possible for every household to cut emissions of CO2C. the average US household produces about 3,000 pounds of CO2 a monthD. the average European household produces about 1,000 pounds of CO2 a month
Text 3 In recent years, railroads have been combining with each other, mergingsintossuper systems, causing heightened concerns about monopoly. As recently as 1995,the top four railroads accounted for under 70 percent of the total ton-miles moved by rails. Next year, after a series of mergers is completed, just four railroads will control well over 90 percent of all the freight moved by major rail carriers.Supporters of the new super systems argue that these mergers will allow for substantial cost reductions and better coordinated service. Any threat of monopoly, they argue, is removed by fierce competition from trucks. But many shippers complain that for heavy bulk commodities traveling long distances, such as coal, chemicals, and grain, trucking is too costly and the railroads therefore have them by the throat.The vast consolidation within the rail industry means that most shippers are served by only one rail company. Railroads typically charge such“captive”shippers 20 to 30 percent more than they do when another railroad is competing for the business. Shippers who feel they are being overcharged have the right to appeal to the federal government's Surface Transportation Board for rate relief, but the process is expensive, time consuming, and will work only in truly extreme cases. Railroads justify rate discrimination against captive shippers on the grounds that in the long run it reduces everyone's cost. If railroads charged all customers the same average rate, they argue, shippers who have the option of switching to trucks or other forms of transportation would do so, leaving remaining customers to shoulder the cost of keeping up the line. It's theory to which many economists subscribe, but in practice it often leaves railroads in the position of determining which companies will flourish and which will fail.“Do we really want railroads to be the arbiters of who wins and who loses in the marketplace?”asks Martin Bercovici, a Washington lawyer who frequently represents shipper. Many captive shippers also worry they will soon be his with a round of huge rate increases. The railroad industry as a whole, despite its brightening fortuning fortunes. still does not earn enough to cover the cost of the capital it must invest to keep up with its surging traffic. Yet railroads continue to borrow billions to acquire one another, with Wall Street cheering them on. Consider the .2 billion bid by Norfolk Southern and CSX to acquire Conrail this year. Conrail's net railway operating income in 1996 was just million, less than half of the carrying costs of the transaction. Who's going to pay for the rest of the bill? Many captive shippers fear that they will, as Norfolk Southern and CSX increase their grip on the market.第51题：According to those who support mergers railway monopoly is unlikely becauseA. cost reduction is based on competition.B. services call for cross-trade coordination.C. outside competitors will continue to exist.D. shippers will have the railway by the throat.
A greenhouse is a building made of glass which is used for keeping plants when the outside temperature is low. In a similar way there are several gases in the atmosphere which trap(捕捉)the heat produced by the sun and prevent it from escaping. These gases are known as"greenhouse gases"，and the way in which they trap heat in the atmosphere is called the "greenhouse effect". This is not simply air pollution. Most of the main greenhouse gases exist naturally in small amounts in our atmosphere, and without them earth would be 30 degrees colder and human life would not exist. In other words, the greenhouse effect is a natural course which is to some degree helpful to us.The problem is that in the last century and a half, we have been putting too many of these gases into the earth's atmosphere by burning large quantities of coal and oil and by cutting down forests. The rapid increase in greenhouse gases is making the world warmer. The world's temperature has already gone up by half a degree this century, and the sea level has risen by 10 centimetres. If the amount of carbon dioxide(二氧化碳)in the atmosphere doubles, there will probably be a rise in the earth's temperature of between 1 and 4 degrees. This may seem a small increase, but it would be enough to cause major changes in geography and agriculture. Large areas of the world would be flooded, and some areas would become dry and unable to produce crops. It is important, too, to consider that there may be a delay of about 30 years in the greenhouse effect. This means that we are probably experiencing only now the effect of the gases put into the atmosphere before the 1960s. Since then, our use of these gases has greatly increased.1. The"greenhouse effect"means _____.A. the way in which gases are used for keeping plants warmB. a natural course which is some degree helpful to usC. the way"greenhouse gases"trap heat on the earthD. the whole course in which greenhouse gases prevent heat2. If there were no greenhouse effect, _____.A. no plants would grow on our planetB. earth would be thirty degrees colderC. man could not live on the earthD. All of the above answers are correct3. Which of the following is NOT true? _____A. Burning too much coal and oil produces lots of greenhouse gases.B. It has become warmer on the earth now than in the past.C. Gases put into the atmosphere now will affect the earth years later.D. The temperature in a greenhouse is as high as that in the atmosphere.4. Suppose the earth's temperature rose by 3 degrees, _____.A. great harm would be done to mankindB. the sea level would go by 10 centimetresC. all the land in the world would be floodedD. crops would be unable to grow on the earth5. This passage mainly deals with _____.A. the concept(概念)and harm of greenhouse effectB. the relation between greenhouse gases and manC. the concept and change of greenhouse effectD. the effect of the rise of the earth's temperature
We have so many tasks which need to do in all phases of medicine, public health and industry.()
Text 1 Giant corporations often claim to be"green,"pointing to programs they've undertaken aimed at being environmentally conscious.But sometimes these efforts don't really amount to much.They can be no more than'igrcenwashing,"a public relations effort that doesn't represent any fundamental shift in thinking.But such a change may actually be going on among several of the world's largest fossil fuel companies,namcs such as ExxonMobil,Shell,and BP.One of the biggest reasons:pressure from the companies'sharcholdcrs.Investors arc asking corporations to make more transparent the effects climate change will have on their businesses,as well as explain what they are doing to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.While sharcholdcr motivcs are cerlainly aimed at helping in the worldwide fight against global warming,they also represent a practical need to better understand a company's prospects.If the burning of oil and gas is grcaily curtailed as a result of the December 2015 intemational Paris climate agreement,for example,how might that affect the bottom line of a corporation whose chief source of revenue is extracting and selling carbon-emitting oil and gas?Or,conversely,how is a company planning to take advantage of the business opportunities that emerge from a shift away from fossil fuels?Climate Action 100+,for example,is a shareholder action group that is asking corporations to make stronger commitments to meeting the 80 percent cut in carbon emissions proposed by the Paris agreement signed two years ago by nearly 200 nations.Some 225 investment groups who manage more than S26.3 trillion have signed on in support.Last week,intemational energy giant ExxonMobil said it will step up its reporting to shareholders and the public about the impacts climate change will have on its business,including any expected increased risks.The new policy follows a vote by ExxonMobil investors at the company's annual meeting in May that called for a yearly assessment of the effects of climate change on the company.The new position represents a sea change for ExxonMobil,which until the early 2000s had disputed the need to take action on climate change.Around the world national govemments are shaping new policies in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a level that will not allow global temperatures to rise more than 2 degrees Celsius.In the U,S.,individual states and cities are pursuing lawsuits against companies that fail to deal responsibly with greenhouse gas emissions,which they contend harm the public.22.Which of the following is right about shareholders?A.They explained their steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.B.They are reluctant to help fight against global warming.C.They have made some corporations'thought changed.D.They pointed out their understanding of companies'prospects.
Text 1 Giant corporations often claim to be"green,"pointing to programs they've undertaken aimed at being environmentally conscious.But sometimes these efforts don't really amount to much.They can be no more than'igrcenwashing,"a public relations effort that doesn't represent any fundamental shift in thinking.But such a change may actually be going on among several of the world's largest fossil fuel companies,namcs such as ExxonMobil,Shell,and BP.One of the biggest reasons:pressure from the companies'sharcholdcrs.Investors arc asking corporations to make more transparent the effects climate change will have on their businesses,as well as explain what they are doing to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.While sharcholdcr motivcs are cerlainly aimed at helping in the worldwide fight against global warming,they also represent a practical need to better understand a company's prospects.If the burning of oil and gas is grcaily curtailed as a result of the December 2015 intemational Paris climate agreement,for example,how might that affect the bottom line of a corporation whose chief source of revenue is extracting and selling carbon-emitting oil and gas?Or,conversely,how is a company planning to take advantage of the business opportunities that emerge from a shift away from fossil fuels?Climate Action 100+,for example,is a shareholder action group that is asking corporations to make stronger commitments to meeting the 80 percent cut in carbon emissions proposed by the Paris agreement signed two years ago by nearly 200 nations.Some 225 investment groups who manage more than S26.3 trillion have signed on in support.Last week,intemational energy giant ExxonMobil said it will step up its reporting to shareholders and the public about the impacts climate change will have on its business,including any expected increased risks.The new policy follows a vote by ExxonMobil investors at the company's annual meeting in May that called for a yearly assessment of the effects of climate change on the company.The new position represents a sea change for ExxonMobil,which until the early 2000s had disputed the need to take action on climate change.Around the world national govemments are shaping new policies in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a level that will not allow global temperatures to rise more than 2 degrees Celsius.In the U,S.,individual states and cities are pursuing lawsuits against companies that fail to deal responsibly with greenhouse gas emissions,which they contend harm the public.25.The U.S.is quoted to indicateA.its great achievement in dealing with climate change.B.greenhouse gas emissions have been under control.C.countries are striving to cope with climate change.D.it has rules and laws against greenhouse gas emissions
When I opened the first "Body Shop" in 1976, what I wanted to do was to earn （挣） enough money to feed my children. Today the "Body Shop" is a great company growing fast all around the world. In the years since we began, I have learned a lot. Much of what I have learned will be found in this book, because I believe that we, as a company, have something worth saying about how to run a successful business without giving up what you really believe in.It's not an ordinary business book. It is not just about my life, either. The message is that to succeed in business you have to be different. Business can be fun, and can be run with love and do good. In business, as in life, I need to enjoy myself, to have a feeling of my family and to feel excited by something unusual. I have always wanted the people who work for the "Body Shop" to feel the same way.Now this book sends these ideas out into the world, and makes them public. I'd like to think there are no limits （界限） to our "family", and no limits to what can be done. I find that an exciting thought. I hope you do, too.What would someone learn from this text?A. How to make a lot of money.B. How to write a book about business.C. What the book is about.D. What the writer's family is like.
When I opened the first "Body Shop" in 1976, what I wanted to do was to earn （挣） enough money to feed my children. Today the "Body Shop" is a great company growing fast all around the world. In the years since we began, I have learned a lot. Much of what I have learned will be found in this book, because I believe that we, as a company, have something worth saying about how to run a successful business without giving up what you really believe in.It's not an ordinary business book. It is not just about my life, either. The message is that to succeed in business you have to be different. Business can be fun, and can be run with love and do good. In business, as in life, I need to enjoy myself, to have a feeling of my family and to feel excited by something unusual. I have always wanted the people who work for the "Body Shop" to feel the same way.Now this book sends these ideas out into the world, and makes them public. I'd like to think there are no limits （界限） to our "family", and no limits to what can be done. I find that an exciting thought. I hope you do, too.How does the writer feel about the business she runs?A. It's the biggest company in the world.B. It will possibly be more successful.C. It's one of the most successful businesses.D. It is the only company that is growing all around the world.
共用题干第二篇Around 45%of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions come from the energy people use every day-at home and when they travel.In order to generate that energy,fossil fuels(coal oil,and gas)are burnt,and these produce greenhouse gases-in particular carbon dioxide(CO2).Car emissions are a major problem, but the truth is that more CO2 comes from the energy used at home.The average household creates aroundfive and a half tonnes of CO2 a year,and it is the same CO2 that is changing the climate and damaging the environment.CO2 and various other gases wrap the earth in an invisible blanket helping to prevent heat from escaping.Without this greenhouse effect,the average temperature on Earth would be around-18℃， compared with the current average of around+15℃．The composition of this blanket of gases has remained relatively constant for many thousands of years.However,since the industrial revolution began around 200 years ago,people have been burning increasing amounts of fossil fuels,thus releasing more CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the process.This has increased the heating effect of the blanket,trapping more of the sun's energy inside the Earth's atmosphere in turn the Earth's temperature has increased more rapidly in a shorter period of time than it has for thousands of years.In 2008,the total UK CO2 emissions were 533 million tonnes.27%(144 million tonnes)of those emissions came from the energy used to heat,light,and power homes.Transport emissions caused by passenger cars,buses and motorcycles accounted for a further 16%(87 million tonnes)of the UK's CO2 emissions.These figures show that a significant amount of CO2 results from ordinary citizens carbon footprint in their daily activities and lifestyle.The effects of climate change can be seen all around us.Weather patterns are becoming more and more fractured and uncertain,and over the last century trends in warm weather have become increasingly common.In the UK in the last 40 years,winters have grown warmer,with much heavier rainfall.One of the clearest shifts over the last 200 years is towards summers that are hotter and drier,causing pervasive（普遍的）water shortages.Recent years have been the hottest since records began and during August 2003,the hottest ever outdoor temperature in the UK was recorded-38.5℃．CO2 emissions from vehicles_______.A:are a more serious problem than energy shortageB:do not cause any problemsC:are high because the average household owns a carD:contribute considerably to greenhouse gases
共用题干第二篇Around 45%of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions come from the energy people use every day-at home and when they travel.In order to generate that energy,fossil fuels(coal oil,and gas)are burnt,and these produce greenhouse gases-in particular carbon dioxide(CO2).Car emissions are a major problem, but the truth is that more CO2 comes from the energy used at home.The average household creates aroundfive and a half tonnes of CO2 a year,and it is the same CO2 that is changing the climate and damaging the environment.CO2 and various other gases wrap the earth in an invisible blanket helping to prevent heat from escaping.Without this greenhouse effect,the average temperature on Earth would be around-18℃， compared with the current average of around+15℃．The composition of this blanket of gases has remained relatively constant for many thousands of years.However,since the industrial revolution began around 200 years ago,people have been burning increasing amounts of fossil fuels,thus releasing more CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the process.This has increased the heating effect of the blanket,trapping more of the sun's energy inside the Earth's atmosphere in turn the Earth's temperature has increased more rapidly in a shorter period of time than it has for thousands of years.In 2008,the total UK CO2 emissions were 533 million tonnes.27%(144 million tonnes)of those emissions came from the energy used to heat,light,and power homes.Transport emissions caused by passenger cars,buses and motorcycles accounted for a further 16%(87 million tonnes)of the UK's CO2 emissions.These figures show that a significant amount of CO2 results from ordinary citizens carbon footprint in their daily activities and lifestyle.The effects of climate change can be seen all around us.Weather patterns are becoming more and more fractured and uncertain,and over the last century trends in warm weather have become increasingly common.In the UK in the last 40 years,winters have grown warmer,with much heavier rainfall.One of the clearest shifts over the last 200 years is towards summers that are hotter and drier,causing pervasive（普遍的）water shortages.Recent years have been the hottest since records began and during August 2003,the hottest ever outdoor temperature in the UK was recorded-38.5℃．What is the author's opinion about the level of CO2 emissions in the UK?A:The majority of CO2 emissions come from motorized transport.B:CO2 emissions may cause climate change in the future.C:More CO2 emissions come from homes than from cars.D:The average citizen does not create much CO2.
共用题干第二篇Around 45%of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions come from the energy people use every day-at home and when they travel.In order to generate that energy,fossil fuels(coal oil,and gas)are burnt,and these produce greenhouse gases-in particular carbon dioxide(CO2).Car emissions are a major problem, but the truth is that more CO2 comes from the energy used at home.The average household creates aroundfive and a half tonnes of CO2 a year,and it is the same CO2 that is changing the climate and damaging the environment.CO2 and various other gases wrap the earth in an invisible blanket helping to prevent heat from escaping.Without this greenhouse effect,the average temperature on Earth would be around-18℃， compared with the current average of around+15℃．The composition of this blanket of gases has remained relatively constant for many thousands of years.However,since the industrial revolution began around 200 years ago,people have been burning increasing amounts of fossil fuels,thus releasing more CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the process.This has increased the heating effect of the blanket,trapping more of the sun's energy inside the Earth's atmosphere in turn the Earth's temperature has increased more rapidly in a shorter period of time than it has for thousands of years.In 2008,the total UK CO2 emissions were 533 million tonnes.27%(144 million tonnes)of those emissions came from the energy used to heat,light,and power homes.Transport emissions caused by passenger cars,buses and motorcycles accounted for a further 16%(87 million tonnes)of the UK's CO2 emissions.These figures show that a significant amount of CO2 results from ordinary citizens carbon footprint in their daily activities and lifestyle.The effects of climate change can be seen all around us.Weather patterns are becoming more and more fractured and uncertain,and over the last century trends in warm weather have become increasingly common.In the UK in the last 40 years,winters have grown warmer,with much heavier rainfall.One of the clearest shifts over the last 200 years is towards summers that are hotter and drier,causing pervasive（普遍的）water shortages.Recent years have been the hottest since records began and during August 2003,the hottest ever outdoor temperature in the UK was recorded-38.5℃．Which of the following is the best title for the passage?A:Ways of reducing the UK's CO2 emissions.B:UK citizen's carbon footprint.C:The effect of industry on climate change in the UK.D:Changes in weather patterns in the UK.
共用题干第二篇Around 45%of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions come from the energy people use every day-at home and when they travel.In order to generate that energy,fossil fuels(coal oil,and gas)are burnt,and these produce greenhouse gases-in particular carbon dioxide(CO2).Car emissions are a major problem, but the truth is that more CO2 comes from the energy used at home.The average household creates aroundfive and a half tonnes of CO2 a year,and it is the same CO2 that is changing the climate and damaging the environment.CO2 and various other gases wrap the earth in an invisible blanket helping to prevent heat from escaping.Without this greenhouse effect,the average temperature on Earth would be around-18℃， compared with the current average of around+15℃．The composition of this blanket of gases has remained relatively constant for many thousands of years.However,since the industrial revolution began around 200 years ago,people have been burning increasing amounts of fossil fuels,thus releasing more CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the process.This has increased the heating effect of the blanket,trapping more of the sun's energy inside the Earth's atmosphere in turn the Earth's temperature has increased more rapidly in a shorter period of time than it has for thousands of years.In 2008,the total UK CO2 emissions were 533 million tonnes.27%(144 million tonnes)of those emissions came from the energy used to heat,light,and power homes.Transport emissions caused by passenger cars,buses and motorcycles accounted for a further 16%(87 million tonnes)of the UK's CO2 emissions.These figures show that a significant amount of CO2 results from ordinary citizens carbon footprint in their daily activities and lifestyle.The effects of climate change can be seen all around us.Weather patterns are becoming more and more fractured and uncertain,and over the last century trends in warm weather have become increasingly common.In the UK in the last 40 years,winters have grown warmer,with much heavier rainfall.One of the clearest shifts over the last 200 years is towards summers that are hotter and drier,causing pervasive（普遍的）water shortages.Recent years have been the hottest since records began and during August 2003,the hottest ever outdoor temperature in the UK was recorded-38.5℃．The results of climate change in the UK can be seen in______.A:cooler summersB:water supplyC:warmer wintersD:stronger winds
共用题干第二篇Around 45%of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions come from the energy people use every day-at home and when they travel.In order to generate that energy,fossil fuels(coal oil,and gas)are burnt,and these produce greenhouse gases-in particular carbon dioxide(CO2).Car emissions are a major problem, but the truth is that more CO2 comes from the energy used at home.The average household creates aroundfive and a half tonnes of CO2 a year,and it is the same CO2 that is changing the climate and damaging the environment.CO2 and various other gases wrap the earth in an invisible blanket helping to prevent heat from escaping.Without this greenhouse effect,the average temperature on Earth would be around-18℃， compared with the current average of around+15℃．The composition of this blanket of gases has remained relatively constant for many thousands of years.However,since the industrial revolution began around 200 years ago,people have been burning increasing amounts of fossil fuels,thus releasing more CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the process.This has increased the heating effect of the blanket,trapping more of the sun's energy inside the Earth's atmosphere in turn the Earth's temperature has increased more rapidly in a shorter period of time than it has for thousands of years.In 2008,the total UK CO2 emissions were 533 million tonnes.27%(144 million tonnes)of those emissions came from the energy used to heat,light,and power homes.Transport emissions caused by passenger cars,buses and motorcycles accounted for a further 16%(87 million tonnes)of the UK's CO2 emissions.These figures show that a significant amount of CO2 results from ordinary citizens carbon footprint in their daily activities and lifestyle.The effects of climate change can be seen all around us.Weather patterns are becoming more and more fractured and uncertain,and over the last century trends in warm weather have become increasingly common.In the UK in the last 40 years,winters have grown warmer,with much heavier rainfall.One of the clearest shifts over the last 200 years is towards summers that are hotter and drier,causing pervasive（普遍的）water shortages.Recent years have been the hottest since records began and during August 2003,the hottest ever outdoor temperature in the UK was recorded-38.5℃．What is the author's main aim?A:To explain the greenhouse effect.B:To describe the effects of climate change in the UK.C:To show how much CO2 is produced by ordinary people's activities.D:To illustrate how industrial activity creates the greenhouse effect.
Time to Stop Traveling by Air Twenty-five years ago a young British man called Mark Ellingham decided that he wanted a change of scenery. So he went to Australia, stopping off in many countries between. He also decided to write about the experience and produced a guide for other travelers making similar journeys. In 1970, British airports were used by 32million people. In 2004, the figure was 216 million. In 2030, according to government forecasts, it will be around 500 million. It's a growth driven by the emergence of low cost airlines, offering access to all parts of the world for less than ￡100. This has made a huge contribution to global warming. One return flight from Britain to the US produces the same carbon dioxide(二氧化碳)as a year's motoring(驾车). A return flight to Australia equals the emissions(排放)of three average cars for a year. And the pollution is released at a height where its effect on climate change is more than double that on the ground. Mark Ellingham built his business on helping people travel. Now he wants to help people stop – at least by air. He is calling for a ￡100 green tax on all flights to Europe and Africa, and ￡250 on flights to the rest of the world. He also wants investment to create a low-carbon economy, as well as a halt to airport expansion. Mark Ellingham's commitment is important because his readers aren't just the sort of young and adventurous people who would happily jump on a plane to spend a weekend exploring a foreign culture. They are also the sort of people who say they care about the environment. It's a debate that splits people down the middle. The tourist industry has responded by offering offsetting(补偿)schemes. A small increase in the price of a ticket is used to plant trees. But critics say that it is not enough to just be carbon neutral. We should be actively cutting back on putting green house gases into the atmosphere. And for the average person, making a plane journey will be his or her largest contribution to global warming. It maybe good to repair the damage we do. But surely it is better not to do the damage in the first place.文章(1~7)Mark Ellingham spent quite a few days in China on his way to Australia 25 years ago.A.RightB.WrongC.Not mentioned
共用题干第二篇Railroad SupersystemIn recent years,railroads have been combining with each other,merging into supersystems, causing heightened concerns about monopoly.As recently as 1995,the top four railroads accounted for under 70 percent of the total ton一miles moved by rails.Next year,after a series of mergers is completed,just four railroads will control well over 90 percent of all the freight moved by major rail carriers.Supporters of the new supersystems argue that these mergers will allow for substantial cost reductions and better coordinated service.Any threat of monopoly,they argue,is removed by fierce competition from trucks.But many shippers complain that for heavy bulk commodities traveling long distances,such as coal,chemicals,and grain,trucking is too costly and the railroads therefore have them by the throat.The vast consolidation within the rail industry means that most shippers are served by only one rail company.Railroads typically charge such"captive"shippers 20 to 30 percent more than they dowhen another railroad is competing for the business.Shippers who feel they are being overcharged have the right to appeal to the federal government's Surface Transportation Board for rate relief,but the process is expensive,time consuming,and will work only in truly extreme cases.Railroads justify rate discrimination against captive shippers on the grounds that in the long run it reduces everyone's cost.If railroads charged all customers the same average rate,they argue, shippers who have the option of switching to trucks or other forms of transportation would do so, leaving remaining customers to shoulder the cost of keeping up the line.It's a theory to which many economists subscribe,but in practice it often leaves railroads in the position of determining which companies will flourish and which will fail."Do we really want railroads to be the arbiters of who wins and who loses in the marketplace?"asks Martin Bercovici,a Washington lawyer who frequently represents shippers.Many captive shippers also worry they will soon be hit with a round of huge rate increases.The railroad industry as a whole,despite its brightening fortunes,still does not earn enough to cover the cost of the capital it must invest to keep up with its surging traffic.Yet railroads continue to borrow billions to acquire one another,with Wall Street cheering them on.Consider the $10.2 billion bid by Norfolk Southern and CSX to acquire Conrail this year. Conrail's net railway operating income in 1996 was just$427 million,less than half of the carrying costs of the transaction.Who's going to pay for the rest of the bill?Many captive shippers fear that they will,as Norfolk Southern and CSX increase their grip on the market.What is many captive shippers' attitude towards the consolidation in the rail industry?A:Indifferent. B:Supportive.C:Indignant. D:Apprehensive.
共用题干第二篇Railroad SupersystemIn recent years,railroads have been combining with each other,merging into supersystems, causing heightened concerns about monopoly.As recently as 1995,the top four railroads accounted for under 70 percent of the total ton一miles moved by rails.Next year,after a series of mergers is completed,just four railroads will control well over 90 percent of all the freight moved by major rail carriers.Supporters of the new supersystems argue that these mergers will allow for substantial cost reductions and better coordinated service.Any threat of monopoly,they argue,is removed by fierce competition from trucks.But many shippers complain that for heavy bulk commodities traveling long distances,such as coal,chemicals,and grain,trucking is too costly and the railroads therefore have them by the throat.The vast consolidation within the rail industry means that most shippers are served by only one rail company.Railroads typically charge such"captive"shippers 20 to 30 percent more than they dowhen another railroad is competing for the business.Shippers who feel they are being overcharged have the right to appeal to the federal government's Surface Transportation Board for rate relief,but the process is expensive,time consuming,and will work only in truly extreme cases.Railroads justify rate discrimination against captive shippers on the grounds that in the long run it reduces everyone's cost.If railroads charged all customers the same average rate,they argue, shippers who have the option of switching to trucks or other forms of transportation would do so, leaving remaining customers to shoulder the cost of keeping up the line.It's a theory to which many economists subscribe,but in practice it often leaves railroads in the position of determining which companies will flourish and which will fail."Do we really want railroads to be the arbiters of who wins and who loses in the marketplace?"asks Martin Bercovici,a Washington lawyer who frequently represents shippers.Many captive shippers also worry they will soon be hit with a round of huge rate increases.The railroad industry as a whole,despite its brightening fortunes,still does not earn enough to cover the cost of the capital it must invest to keep up with its surging traffic.Yet railroads continue to borrow billions to acquire one another,with Wall Street cheering them on.Consider the $10.2 billion bid by Norfolk Southern and CSX to acquire Conrail this year. Conrail's net railway operating income in 1996 was just$427 million,less than half of the carrying costs of the transaction.Who's going to pay for the rest of the bill?Many captive shippers fear that they will,as Norfolk Southern and CSX increase their grip on the market.According to those who support mergers,railway monopoly is unlikely because________.A:cost reduction is based on competitionB:services call for cross-trade coordinationC:outside competitors will continue to existD:shippers will have the railway by the throat
共用题干第二篇Railroad SupersystemIn recent years,railroads have been combining with each other,merging into supersystems, causing heightened concerns about monopoly.As recently as 1995,the top four railroads accounted for under 70 percent of the total ton一miles moved by rails.Next year,after a series of mergers is completed,just four railroads will control well over 90 percent of all the freight moved by major rail carriers.Supporters of the new supersystems argue that these mergers will allow for substantial cost reductions and better coordinated service.Any threat of monopoly,they argue,is removed by fierce competition from trucks.But many shippers complain that for heavy bulk commodities traveling long distances,such as coal,chemicals,and grain,trucking is too costly and the railroads therefore have them by the throat.The vast consolidation within the rail industry means that most shippers are served by only one rail company.Railroads typically charge such"captive"shippers 20 to 30 percent more than they dowhen another railroad is competing for the business.Shippers who feel they are being overcharged have the right to appeal to the federal government's Surface Transportation Board for rate relief,but the process is expensive,time consuming,and will work only in truly extreme cases.Railroads justify rate discrimination against captive shippers on the grounds that in the long run it reduces everyone's cost.If railroads charged all customers the same average rate,they argue, shippers who have the option of switching to trucks or other forms of transportation would do so, leaving remaining customers to shoulder the cost of keeping up the line.It's a theory to which many economists subscribe,but in practice it often leaves railroads in the position of determining which companies will flourish and which will fail."Do we really want railroads to be the arbiters of who wins and who loses in the marketplace?"asks Martin Bercovici,a Washington lawyer who frequently represents shippers.Many captive shippers also worry they will soon be hit with a round of huge rate increases.The railroad industry as a whole,despite its brightening fortunes,still does not earn enough to cover the cost of the capital it must invest to keep up with its surging traffic.Yet railroads continue to borrow billions to acquire one another,with Wall Street cheering them on.Consider the $10.2 billion bid by Norfolk Southern and CSX to acquire Conrail this year. Conrail's net railway operating income in 1996 was just$427 million,less than half of the carrying costs of the transaction.Who's going to pay for the rest of the bill?Many captive shippers fear that they will,as Norfolk Southern and CSX increase their grip on the market.According to the text,the cost increase in the rail industry is mainly caused by________.A:the continuing acquisitionB:the growing trafficC:the cheering Wall StreetD:the shrinking market
共用题干第二篇Railroad SupersystemIn recent years,railroads have been combining with each other,merging into supersystems, causing heightened concerns about monopoly.As recently as 1995,the top four railroads accounted for under 70 percent of the total ton一miles moved by rails.Next year,after a series of mergers is completed,just four railroads will control well over 90 percent of all the freight moved by major rail carriers.Supporters of the new supersystems argue that these mergers will allow for substantial cost reductions and better coordinated service.Any threat of monopoly,they argue,is removed by fierce competition from trucks.But many shippers complain that for heavy bulk commodities traveling long distances,such as coal,chemicals,and grain,trucking is too costly and the railroads therefore have them by the throat.The vast consolidation within the rail industry means that most shippers are served by only one rail company.Railroads typically charge such"captive"shippers 20 to 30 percent more than they dowhen another railroad is competing for the business.Shippers who feel they are being overcharged have the right to appeal to the federal government's Surface Transportation Board for rate relief,but the process is expensive,time consuming,and will work only in truly extreme cases.Railroads justify rate discrimination against captive shippers on the grounds that in the long run it reduces everyone's cost.If railroads charged all customers the same average rate,they argue, shippers who have the option of switching to trucks or other forms of transportation would do so, leaving remaining customers to shoulder the cost of keeping up the line.It's a theory to which many economists subscribe,but in practice it often leaves railroads in the position of determining which companies will flourish and which will fail."Do we really want railroads to be the arbiters of who wins and who loses in the marketplace?"asks Martin Bercovici,a Washington lawyer who frequently represents shippers.Many captive shippers also worry they will soon be hit with a round of huge rate increases.The railroad industry as a whole,despite its brightening fortunes,still does not earn enough to cover the cost of the capital it must invest to keep up with its surging traffic.Yet railroads continue to borrow billions to acquire one another,with Wall Street cheering them on.Consider the $10.2 billion bid by Norfolk Southern and CSX to acquire Conrail this year. Conrail's net railway operating income in 1996 was just$427 million,less than half of the carrying costs of the transaction.Who's going to pay for the rest of the bill?Many captive shippers fear that they will,as Norfolk Southern and CSX increase their grip on the market.The word"arbiters"(Line 6,Paragraph 4)most probably refers to those________.A:who work as coordinatorsB:who function as judgesC:who supervise transactionsD:who determine the price
共用题干第一篇A Sunshade（遮阳伞）for the PlanetEven with the best will in the world,reducing our carbon emissions is not going to prevent global warming. It has become clear that even if we take the most strong measures to control emissions, the uncertainties in our climate models still leave open the possibility of extreme warming and rises in sea level. At the same time,resistance by governments and special interest groups makes it quite possible that the actions suggested by climate scientists might not be implemented soon enough.Fortunately,if the worst comes to the worst,scientists still have a few tricks up their sleeves. For the most part they have strongly resisted discussing these options for fear of inviting a sense of complacency that might thwart efforts to tackle the root of the problem. Until now,that is a growing number of researchers are taking a fresh look at large-scale"geoengineering"projects that might be used to counteract global warming."I use the analogy of methadone,"says Stephen Schneider,a climate researcher at Stanford University in California who was among the first to draw attention to global warming."If you have a heroin addict,the correct treatment is hospitalization,and a long rehab. But if they absolutely refuse,methadone is better than heroin."Basically the idea is to apply"sunscreen"to the whole planet. One astronomer has come up with a radical plan to cool Earth:launch trillions of feather-light discs into space,where they would form a vast cloud that would block the sun's rays.It's controversial,but recent studies suggest there are ways to deflect just enough of the sunlight reaching the Earth's surface to counteract the warming produced by the greenhouse effect. Global climate models show that blocking just 1.8 percent of the incident energy in the sun's rays would cancel out the warming effects produced by a doubling of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.That could be crucial,because even the most severe emissions control measures being proposed would leave us with a doubling of carbon dioxide by the end of this century,and that would last for at least a century more.Scientists resist talking about their options because they don't want people to______.A:know what they are doingB:feel their efforts are uselessC:think the problem has been solvedD:see the real problem
共用题干第一篇A Sunshade（遮阳伞）for the PlanetEven with the best will in the world,reducing our carbon emissions is not going to prevent global warming. It has become clear that even if we take the most strong measures to control emissions, the uncertainties in our climate models still leave open the possibility of extreme warming and rises in sea level. At the same time,resistance by governments and special interest groups makes it quite possible that the actions suggested by climate scientists might not be implemented soon enough.Fortunately,if the worst comes to the worst,scientists still have a few tricks up their sleeves. For the most part they have strongly resisted discussing these options for fear of inviting a sense of complacency that might thwart efforts to tackle the root of the problem. Until now,that is a growing number of researchers are taking a fresh look at large-scale"geoengineering"projects that might be used to counteract global warming."I use the analogy of methadone,"says Stephen Schneider,a climate researcher at Stanford University in California who was among the first to draw attention to global warming."If you have a heroin addict,the correct treatment is hospitalization,and a long rehab. But if they absolutely refuse,methadone is better than heroin."Basically the idea is to apply"sunscreen"to the whole planet. One astronomer has come up with a radical plan to cool Earth:launch trillions of feather-light discs into space,where they would form a vast cloud that would block the sun's rays.It's controversial,but recent studies suggest there are ways to deflect just enough of the sunlight reaching the Earth's surface to counteract the warming produced by the greenhouse effect. Global climate models show that blocking just 1.8 percent of the incident energy in the sun's rays would cancel out the warming effects produced by a doubling of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.That could be crucial,because even the most severe emissions control measures being proposed would leave us with a doubling of carbon dioxide by the end of this century,and that would last for at least a century more.According to the first two paragraphs,the author thinks that______.A:strong measures have been taken by the government to prevent global warmingB:It is impossible to prevent global warming by reducing carbon emissionsC:despite the difficulty,scientists have some options to prevent global warmingD:actions suggested by scientists will never be realized
共用题干第一篇A Sunshade（遮阳伞）for the PlanetEven with the best will in the world,reducing our carbon emissions is not going to prevent global warming. It has become clear that even if we take the most strong measures to control emissions, the uncertainties in our climate models still leave open the possibility of extreme warming and rises in sea level. At the same time,resistance by governments and special interest groups makes it quite possible that the actions suggested by climate scientists might not be implemented soon enough.Fortunately,if the worst comes to the worst,scientists still have a few tricks up their sleeves. For the most part they have strongly resisted discussing these options for fear of inviting a sense of complacency that might thwart efforts to tackle the root of the problem. Until now,that is a growing number of researchers are taking a fresh look at large-scale"geoengineering"projects that might be used to counteract global warming."I use the analogy of methadone,"says Stephen Schneider,a climate researcher at Stanford University in California who was among the first to draw attention to global warming."If you have a heroin addict,the correct treatment is hospitalization,and a long rehab. But if they absolutely refuse,methadone is better than heroin."Basically the idea is to apply"sunscreen"to the whole planet. One astronomer has come up with a radical plan to cool Earth:launch trillions of feather-light discs into space,where they would form a vast cloud that would block the sun's rays.It's controversial,but recent studies suggest there are ways to deflect just enough of the sunlight reaching the Earth's surface to counteract the warming produced by the greenhouse effect. Global climate models show that blocking just 1.8 percent of the incident energy in the sun's rays would cancel out the warming effects produced by a doubling of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.That could be crucial,because even the most severe emissions control measures being proposed would leave us with a doubling of carbon dioxide by the end of this century,and that would last for at least a century more.What is Stephen Schneider's idea of preventing global warming?A:To ask governments to take stronger measures.B:To increase the sunlight reaching the Earth.C:To apply sunscreen to the Earth.D:To decrease greenhouse gases.
共用题干第一篇A Sunshade（遮阳伞）for the PlanetEven with the best will in the world,reducing our carbon emissions is not going to prevent global warming. It has become clear that even if we take the most strong measures to control emissions, the uncertainties in our climate models still leave open the possibility of extreme warming and rises in sea level. At the same time,resistance by governments and special interest groups makes it quite possible that the actions suggested by climate scientists might not be implemented soon enough.Fortunately,if the worst comes to the worst,scientists still have a few tricks up their sleeves. For the most part they have strongly resisted discussing these options for fear of inviting a sense of complacency that might thwart efforts to tackle the root of the problem. Until now,that is a growing number of researchers are taking a fresh look at large-scale"geoengineering"projects that might be used to counteract global warming."I use the analogy of methadone,"says Stephen Schneider,a climate researcher at Stanford University in California who was among the first to draw attention to global warming."If you have a heroin addict,the correct treatment is hospitalization,and a long rehab. But if they absolutely refuse,methadone is better than heroin."Basically the idea is to apply"sunscreen"to the whole planet. One astronomer has come up with a radical plan to cool Earth:launch trillions of feather-light discs into space,where they would form a vast cloud that would block the sun's rays.It's controversial,but recent studies suggest there are ways to deflect just enough of the sunlight reaching the Earth's surface to counteract the warming produced by the greenhouse effect. Global climate models show that blocking just 1.8 percent of the incident energy in the sun's rays would cancel out the warming effects produced by a doubling of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.That could be crucial,because even the most severe emissions control measures being proposed would leave us with a doubling of carbon dioxide by the end of this century,and that would last for at least a century more.What is NOT true of the effectiveness of"sunscreen",according to the last paragraph?A:It deflects sunlight reaching the Earth to counteract the warming.B:It blocks the incident energy in the sun's rays.C:It is a controversial method.D:It decreases greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
问答题Practice 1 The greenhouse effect causes trouble by raising the temperature of the planet. The 1 rise is not very much，but the Earth’s ecosystem is very weak，and small changes can have large effects. It has been believed that this 2 of one degree will happen by the year 2025. This could probably 3 the North American corn belt, which produces much of the world’s grain， 4 to much higher food prices，and even less food for the Third World than they already have. However，it would also mean that some countries which are further north would be able to 5 crops they had never been able to before，although there is less land as you move north from the corn belt. The other serious worry is that rising sea levels from the melting of the polar ice could 6 flood many countries. A rise in sea levels of one meter，which many expels are 7 by the year 2100 (and some as soon as 2030)，would flood 15 percent of Egypt，and 12 percent of Bangladesh. The Maldives in the Indian Ocean would almost 8 disappear. Most of the countries which would suffer most from a rise in sea levels are the poor 9 states，so the islands in the Caribbean，South Pacific，Meditertgiiean and Indian Ocean have formed the Alliance of Small Island States，AOSIS，so they have a 10 voice in international politics and can make the richer developed world listen to their problems.[A] severely [B] damage [C] island[D] critical [E] grow [F] mainland[G] louder [H] predicting [I] rise[J] completely [K] geometry [L] actual[M] extending [N] 1eading [O] develop
单选题Which statement about China is NOT true?AIt comes the second among nations in carbon emissions.BIt has five percent of the world’s population.CIt accounted for nearly half of the global increase in emissions in the last decade.DIts carbon emissions have jumped 47％since l990.
单选题Careful surveys have indicated that as many as 50 percent of patients do not take drugs ____ directed.AlikeBsoCwhichDas
单选题The writer’s analysis would have been strengthened most by the inclusion ofAthe number of people in the rest of the world who struggle with CFSBa further explanation of yuppie fluCthe names and backgrounds of the doctors who do not comprehend CFSDa description of experimental CFS therapiesEmore details about the symptoms and stereotypes of CFS