歷年考研英語閱讀理解2005年02

[00:05.83]2005 Text2 [00:08.04]Do you remember all those years [00:10.15]when scientists argued that smoking would kill us [00:13.07]but the doubters insisted [00:15.30]that we didn’t know for sure? [00:18.24]That the evidence was inconclusive, [00:20.86]the science uncertain? [00:23.47]That the antismoking lobby [00:25.50]was out to destroy our way of life [00:28.01]and the government should stay out of the way? [00:31.24]Lots of Americans bought that nonsense, [00:34.24]and over three decades, [00:35.86]some 10 million smokers went to early graves. [00:40.41]There are upsetting parallels today, [00:43.14]as scientists in one wave after another try to [00:46.76]awaken us to the growing threat of global warming. [00:50.60]The latest was a panel [00:52.03]from the National Academy of Sciences, [00:54.77]enlisted by the White House, [00:56.78]to tell us that the Earth's atmosphere is definitely warming [01:00.95]and that the problem is largely man-made. [01:04.57]The clear message is [01:06.16]that we should get moving to protect ourselves. [01:09.31]The president of the National Academy, [01:11.51]Bruce Alberts, added this key point [01:14.23]in the preface to the panel's report: [01:17.17]"Science never has all the answers. [01:20.19]But science does provide us [01:22.28]with the best available guide to the future, [01:25.81]and it is critical [01:27.31]that our nation and the world base important policies [01:30.66]on the best judgments [01:32.17]that science can provide [01:33.87]concerning the future consequences of present actions." [01:38.60]Just as on smoking, [01:40.41]voice now come from many quarters insisting [01:43.44]that the science about global warming is incomplete, [01:47.07]that it's OK to keep pouring fumes into the air [01:50.49]until we know for sure. [01:52.51]This is a dangerous game: [01:54.73]by the time 100 percent of the evidence is in, [01:58.16]it may be too late. [02:00.37]With the risks obvious and growing, [02:03.10]a prudent people would take out an insurance policy now. [02:08.14]Fortunately, the White House is starting to pay attention. [02:11.67]But it's obvious that a majority of the president's advisers [02:15.40]still don't take global warming seriously. [02:18.52]Instead of a plan of action, [02:20.45]they continue to press for more research [02:23.06]--a classic case of "paralysis by analysis." [02:27.40]To serve as responsible stewards of the planet, [02:30.51]we must press forward on deeper atmospheric [02:33.72]and oceanic research. [02:35.95]But research alone is inadequate. [02:38.66]If the Administration won't take the legislative initiative, [02:42.70]Congress should help to begin fashioning conservation measures. [02:47.54]A bill by Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, [02:51.97]which would offer financial incentives for private industry, [02:55.80]is a promising start. [02:57.82]Many see that the country is getting ready to build [03:00.64]lots of new power plants to meet our energy needs. [03:04.27]If we are ever going to protect the atmosphere, [03:07.30]it is crucial that those new plants be environmentally sound.

00:00

00:00

MP3下載 文本下載