新标准大学英语综合教程第八单元reading practise

If environmental trends in Western nations continue on a positive track, someday children may ask, "Mommy, what was pollution?" But between that day and ours stands the ultimate environmental problem: global warming. Fighting an artificial greenhouse effect is the greatest of environmental challenges, because the cure will not be possible unless almost every nation on Earth participates.

In the last century, global temperatures have risen one degree Fahrenheit. Some scientists remain skeptical about projected future warming, but an oft-heard claim, that the idea of global warming is being promoted only by environmental fanatics, is not true.

Will global warming cause harm? Some computer models suggest the world might warm by five degrees or more during this century, which might be dangerous. Melting polar ice could raise sea levels, while global warming might cause more intense storms and disrupt the weather patterns that bring rain to agricultural regions. Computer models are speculative (投机的), of course, but when the farming areas that we all depend upon for food rely on current temperatures, rolling the dice with the climate cannot be wise. Yet today the United States has no national legislation regulating greenhouse gases.

What can we do right now? There are methods to reduce global warming. For instance, individuals can make lifestyle changes. Replace the SUV with a regular car; an SUV that gets 14 miles to the gallon emits 100 tons of greenhouse gases over its lifetime. Check out the new hybrid cars, which get 45 mpg or better. Moderate your use of home heating and air conditioning, most of which is powered by fossil fuels, and upgrade appliances to Energy Star models.

1.According to the passage, what is the greatest environmental

challenge to human beings?

A. Dealing with the pollution caused by plastic bags.

B. Treating with the waste dumped by industrial factories.

C. Fighting against the artificial greenhouse effect.

D. Disposing the sound pollution.

2.What does the word "skeptical" (Para 2) mean?

A. be suspicious of

B. be negative to

C. be opponent to

D. be positive to

3.Which of the following is NOT mentioned as the harm of the

global warming for the earth?

A. The global temperature will increase.

B. Many precious species vanished from the earth.

C. The sea level of the oceans will rise.

D. The weather patterns may be disturbed.

4.What is the purpose of replacing the SUV with a regular car?

A. It can reduce the release of the greenhouse gases.

B. It can help you save money.

C. It will make your life more comfortable.

D. It will save oil and energy.

5.What is the main idea of this passage?

A. The temperature has risen because of the global warming.

B. We should carry out many ways to deal with global

warming.

C. Human beings should realize the global warming and try to

control it.

D. Many people do not notice the global warming problems.

Questions 6 to 10 are based on the following passage or dialog.

Each time a city building is erected, the grass in that spot and trees that once reached up to the sky are replaced by a swath of asphalt (沥青) or a tar roof. Add to that the construction of roads, parking lots, and yet more buildings, and the total lost green space can have