阅读理解材料之社会环境 (读写联动教学材料)

阅读理解材料之13

（环境与社会2）

设计人：沈俊成 2013.9.10【语篇解读】近几年来，全球气候变化的速度比前几年预言的要快得多，如果我们不减少二氧化碳及其它温室气体的排放，这种情况将愈演愈烈。众所周知，最快的最节省的降低气候变化速度的方法就是：尽量少用能源。让我们赶快行动起来，从现在做起吧。

1．We 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.

2．Not long ago, 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 heating 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.

3．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?

4．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.

5．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.

Words and expressions

1．predict v．预测，预报，预言

2．consequence n．结果，as a consequence adv．结果

3．severe adj．严重的，严厉的，恶劣的，难度大的

4．trap v．使…陷入困境，捕捉（动物），

5．European adj．欧洲的n．欧洲人 6．challenge n．/v．挑战7．extremely adv．极度地 extreme adj．极度的，非常的8．average adj．平均的n．平均数 9．Antarctica 南极洲 10．do sb a favor 帮某人忙

11．heat up 12．keep doing 继续做某事

13．cut back 14．go / be on a diet 节食

15．common-place adj． 16．check with … 和…核对检查17．let in

18．be / get / become / used / accustomed to（doing）sth 习惯于…19．around（round）the clock

Read the passage and answer the following questions quickly 1．How did the author answer the question about climate change？

A．By telling how the situation could be serious

B．By going on a new diet

C．By consulting Tim Flannery

D．By challenging readers to make deep cuts in personal emissions 2．Which meaning does the“diet”in the passage refer to，eating habits or