Global warming may or may not be the great environmental crisis of the 21st century, but—regardless of whether it is or isn’t—we won’t do much about it. We will argue over it and may even, as a nation, make some fairly solemn-sounding commitments to avoid it. But the more dramatic and meaningful these commitments seem, the less likely they are to be observed. Al Gore calls global warming an “inconvenient truth,” as if merely recognizing it could put us on a path to a solution. But the real truth is that we don’t know enough to relieve global warming, and—without major technological breakthroughs—we can’t do much about it. From 2003 to 2050, the world’s population is projected to grow from 6.4 billion to 9.1 billion, a 42% increase. If energy use per person and technology remain the same, total energy use and greenhouse gas emissions (mainly, CO2) will be 42% higher in 2050. But that’s too low, because societies that grow richer use more energy. We need economic growth unless we condemn the world’s poor to their present poverty and freeze everyone else’s living standards. With modest growth, energy use and greenhouse emissions more than double by 2050. No government will adopt rigid restrictions on economic growth and personal freedom (limits on electricity usage, driving and travel) that might cut back global warming. Still, politicians want to show they’re “doing something.” Consider the Kyoto Protocol(京都议定书). It allowed countries that joined to punish those that didn’t. But it hasn’t reduced CO2 emissions (up about 25% since 1990), and many signatories (签字国)didn’t adopt tough enough policies to hit their 2008-2012 targets. The practical conclusion is that if global warming is a potential disaster, the only solution is new technology. Only an aggressive research and development program might find ways of breaking our dependence on fossil fuels or dealing with it. The trouble with the global warming debate is that it has become a moral problem when it’s really an engineering one. The inconvenient truth is that if we don’t solve the engineering problem, we’re helpless.
The author believes that, since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, _________ . A. politicians have started to do something to better the situation B. few nations have adopted real tough measures to limit energy use C. reductions in energy consumption have greatly cut back global warming D. international cooperation has contribute to solving environmental problems
ID：9121-12860 Passage Two What you give your relatives, friends, husband, or wife can help you know yourself better. Also, what they give you can tell you something about their personality. Most gift-giving (and getting) shows nothing more than the spirit of love and friendship. But it is possible to form some associations between the kinds of things bought and the people who buy them. Here is a guide to who gives what ---and why. The clothes you wear tell something about your personality. They tell the world not only how you want to be seen but how you see yourself as well. When someone gives you something to wear that agrees with your self-image, they’re saying, “I agree with you. I like you the way you are.” Such a gift should be taken as a form of compliment. On the other hand, a gift of clothing that does not match your personality could be an insult to your character. Making something by hand has become the exception in many countries today--- so much that giving a homemade gift is sometimes considered unusual. If you receive a homemade gift, you’re lucky. It may not be made perfectly, but it will show a certain quality of love. People who give homemade gifts may be said to be very generous. They’ve given time and emotion, two important characteristics of being creative. A person who thinks of food when thinking of a gift is a good example of what human warmth means. Whether you gibe a box of chocolates, a bag of oranges, or a ball of cheese, all carry the same message of comfort and support. People who give books as gifts either like reading or would like everyone to think they do. If you happen to receive a large, heavy book, its giver may be much more interested in the way things appear than in the way they actually are. Of course, reading is a way of feeling the emotions of another person and of learning new things. Giving a book can be a way of sharing a feeling or a newly learned meaning. The giver is probably trying to say to you what the book said to him.
ID：9121-12367（本题为引用材料试题，请根据材料回答以下问题） We learn from the first paragraph that many Americans believe ________. In Japan’s preschool education, the focus is on ________. A. preparing children academically B. developing children’s artistic interests C. tapping children’s potential D. shaping children’s character
