下册研究生英语精读教程-Seven

《研究生英语精读教程》(第三版下)中国人民大学出版社UnitSevenABetonPlanetEarth1.Text2.Exercise3.SupplementaryReadingABetonPlanetEarthItwasdoom*

versus*

boom*,andalotmorethanmoneywasridingontheoutcome

CondensedfromNewYorkTimesMagazine

JohnTierneydoom△n.ruin,death毁灭versusprep.against反对boom※n.increase,development增加,发展MenuTranslationstake※n.bet赌注ultimateadj.final最终的Menu［1］In1980anecologistandaneconomistbet$1000overthefuturepriceoffivemetals,Atstake*wasmuchmore-aviewoftheplanet‘sultimate*limits,avisionofhumanity'sdestiny.Onesawpesticideseepingintogroundwater;theothersawfarmsilos*

brimmingwithrecordharvests.Onesawrainforestsbeingdecimated*;theothersawpeoplelivinglonger.［2］Today,thesemenleadtwointellectualschools...sometimescalledthedoomstersandtheboomsters-thatdebatewhethertheworldisgettingbetterorgoingtothedogs.silon.粮仓decimatev.todestroyalargepartof毁掉大部分TranslationMenu［3］Theecologist,PaulR.Ehrlich①,58,hasbeenoneoftheworld'sbetter-knownscientistssincepublishingThePopulationBombin1968.Morethantwomillioncopiesweresold.WhenheisnotteachingatStanfordUniversityorstudyingbutterflies,Ehrlichcanbefoundlecturing,collectinganawardorappearingonthe"Today"show.Heisthepessimist.MenuTranslation［4］ThePopulationBombbegan:“Thebattletofeedallofhumanityisover.Inthe1970shundredsofmillionsofpeoplearegoingtostarvetodeath.”Ehrlichwrotethat,“nothingcanpreventasubstantialincreaseintheworlddeathrate.”In1974,hepredictedthat“before1985mankindwillenteranageofscarcity”inwhich“theaccessiblesuppliesofmanykeymineralswillbenearingdepletion*".depletion△n.lesseningmarkedlyinquantity,contentorpower空虚；干枯,干涸TranslationMenu［5］Theeconomist,JulianL.Simon①,59,isaprofessorattheUniversityofMaryland.HisviewshavehelpedshapepolicyinWashingtonforthepastdecade,buthehasneverenjoyedEhrlich‘sacademicsuccessorpopularappeal*.Heistheoptimist.appealn.attraction吸引力MenuTranslation［6］Simonbelievesthatpopulationgrowthconstitutesnotacrisisbutaboon*thatwillultimatelymeanacleanerenvironmentandahealthierhumanity.Tomorrow'sworldwillbebetterbecauseitwillhavemorepeopleproducingmorebrightideas.Progresscangoonindefinitelybecausetheplanet'sresourcesarenotfinite.boonn.benefit,favor恩惠,恩赐物TranslationMenu［7］WhenSimonwroteabouthishappyvisionofthefutureinSciencemagazinein1980,hisarticleattractedaslewofangryletters.AnirateEhrlichprovidedthesimplearithmetic:theplanet‘sresourceshadtobedividedamongapopulationthengrowingattherateof75millionpeopleayear,outstripping*theearth'scarryingcapacity-itssuppliesoffood,freshwaterandminerals.outstripv.togofasterorfartherthan超过,胜过MenuAsresourcesbecamescarcer,itwasinevitable*"thatcommoditiesmustbecomeexpensive".［8］Simonrespondedwithachallenge.Pickanynaturalresource-grain,oil,coal,timber,metals-andanyfuturedate.Iftheresourceweretobecomescarcerastheworld'spopulationgrew,thenitspriceshouldrise.Simonwantedtobetthatthepricewouldinsteaddecline.inevitableadj.incapableofbeingavoidedorevaded不可避免的TranslationMenu［9］EhrlichacceptedSimon‘soffer.InOctober1980hebet$1000onfivemetals–chrome*,copper,nickel,tinandtungsten.Ifthe1990combinedprices,correctedforinflation,turnedouttobehigherthan$1000,Simonwouldpayhimthedifference.Ifpricesfell,Ehrlichwouldpayhim.chromen.铬MenuAcontractwassigned,andEhrlichandSimon,whohavenevermet,wentonattackingeachotherthroughoutthe1980s.［10］Ehrlichwasrightaboutworld

population.Itisnow5.3billion,1.8billionlargerthanwhenhepublishedThePopulationBomb.

Yetsomehowtheaveragepersonishealthierandwealthier.MenuTranslationInfantmortalityhasdeclinedandlifeexpectancyhasincreased,mostdramaticallyintheThirdWorld.Therehavebeenfamiliesincountriesafflictedbywar,droughtanddisastrousagriculturalpolicies,butoverallfoodproductionhasoutpaced*population.ExpertsagreethattheaveragepersonintheThirdWorldisbetternourishedtodaythanin1968.Thedayofreckoningwillhavetoberescheduled.outpacev.tosurpassinspeed,tooutdo超过

TranslationMenu［11］Ehrlich‘sissuchanobviousproposition*inafiniteworld:thingsrunout.Asloganusedbyenvironmentalistsputsitnicely:"Wedonotinherittheearthfromourparents.Weborrowitfromourchildren."Theideashapesouractionswhenwebundlenewspaperstoavoidrunningoutofwoodforpaper.Thecounterargumentisnotnearlyasintuitivelyconvincing.Ithasgenerallyconsistedofasimplequestion:whyhaven'tthingsrunoutyet?posal,thepointtobediscussedinargument提议,建议

MenuTranslation［12］WhenJulianSimonheardgrim*predictionsaboutoverpopulationinthelate1960s,hebeganwritingontheneedtopersuadewomentohavefewerbabies.Butthenhereadstudiesshowingthat,overall,countrieswithrapidpopulationgrowthwerenotsufferingmorethanothercountries.Manydidbetter.grim△adj.fierce,stern严厉的,可怕的TranslationMenu［13］Healsocameacrossevidencethatthepriceofnaturalresourcessince1870hadfalleninrealterms.Theaverageworkertodaycouldbuymorecoalwithanhour'spaythanhecouldinthelastcentury,justashecouldbuymoremetalsandmorefood.Thingsweregettinglessscarceaspopulationgrew.MenuTranslation［14］Simonandotherslookedbackat10000yearsofresourcecrisesandsawapattern:asthingsbecamescarce,peoplerespondedwithinnovations.Theyfoundnewsuppliesorpracticedconservation.Menu［15］Oftenthescarcityledtoabettersubstitute.TheGreeks‘transitionfromtheBronzeAge①totheIronAge②3000yearsagowasinspired*byadisruptionoftrade.AshortageoftinneededtomakebronzeledtheGreekstotryiron.Similarly,timbershortagesin16thcenturyBritainusheredintheageofcoal;thescarcityofwhaleoilaround1850contributedtothefirstoilwellin1859.inspirev.tobethecauseorsourceof;bringabout作为……原因或根源；引起MenuTranslation［16］Temporaryshortagesdooccur,butSimonandotherboomstersarguethataslongasgovernmentdoesn‘tinterfere-bymandating*conservationorsettingpricecontrols-peoplewillfindalternatives.mandatev.toorder,direct,require命令；指挥；要求Menu［17］Inhis1981book,UltimateResource,Simonwrotethathumaningenuity*couldindefinitelyexpandtheplanet‘scarryingcapacity.ThisideamarkedakeydifferencebetweenSimonandEhrlich:theviewoftheworldnotasaclosedecosystem*butasaflexiblemarketplace.ingenuityn.cleverness,inventiveness聪明；创造力ecosystemn.ecologicalsystem生态系统MenuTranslation［18］Simonconcededthatthemarketplacedidneedsomeregulation.ButAmerica‘sairandwaterhavebeengettingcleanerfordecades,thankspartlytogreateraffluence(richersocietiescanaffordtopayforpollutioncontrols)andtotechnology(thepollutioninourcitiesfromcarsisminimalcomparedwiththesoot*fromcoal-burningfurnacesandthesolidwastefromhorsesattheturnofthecentury.sootn.煤烟,烟灰TranslationMenu［19］Simoninsiststhatenvironmentalcrisesarebeingexaggerated.“Assoonasonepredicteddisasterdoesn‘toccur,thedoomstersskiptoanother,”

hecomplains."There'snothingwrongwithworryingaboutnewproblems-butwhydon'ttheyseethat,intheaggregate,thingsaregettingbetter?Theydenyourcreativepowersforsolutions."MenuTranslation［20］Simon‘sfiercestbattlehasbeenagainstEhrlich’sideathattheworldhastoomanypeople.Simonacknowledgesthatrisingpopulationcausesshorttermproblems,buthemaintains*thattherearelongtermbenefitswhenthosechildrenbecomeproductive,resourceful*adults.maintainv.toassert,affirm主张；坚持resourcefuladj.abletomeetsituations机智的,善于随机应变的MenuHeattackedEhrlichforsuggestingthatgovernmentsshouldusecoerciontolimitfamilysizeandcutofffoodaidtocountriesthatrefusetocontrolpopulationgrowth.MenuTranslation［21］Amongacademics,Simonseemstobegaining*inthedebate.Manyscientistsareuncomfortablewithhissweeping*optimism-thereisnoguaranteethatpasttrendswillcontinue-buttheconsensushasbeenshiftingagainstEhrlich'sideaofpopulationgrowthasthegreatevil.gainv.towinincompetitionorconflict取胜sweepingadj.markedbywholesaleandindiscriminateinclusion包罗万象的,笼统的TranslationMenu［22］Simonisstillfarbehind,however,whenitcomestowinningoverthepublic.PriortoEarthDay①lastyear,EhrlichwasonTVpromotinghisnewbookThePopulationExplosion,whichdeclaresthat“thepopulationbombhasdetonated*".detonatev.toexplodewithsuddenviolence爆炸MenuAttheEarthDayrallyinWashington,acrowdofover100000applaudedafterEhrlichtoldthemthatpopulationgrowthcouldproduceaworldinwhichtheirgrandchildrenwouldendurefoodriotsinthestreetsofAmerica.TranslationMenu［23］Thatsameday,onlyablockawayinasmallconferenceroom,Simoncalledpopulationgrowth“avictoryoverdeath”becauseitwasduetothedoublingoflifeexpectancysincethestartoftheIndustrialRevolution:“Thisisanincrediblegain,”hesaid.“You‘dexpectloversofhumanlifetobejumpingwithjoy;instead,they’relamenting*thatsomanypeoplearealive."lamentv.tomourn,expresssorrow哀悼；痛惜MenuOnly16peoplewereintheaudiencetocelebrateSimon'smessage.［24］Thebetwassettledlastfallwithoutceremony.EhrlichsimplymailedSimonasheetofcalculationsaboutmetalprices-alongwithacheckfor$576.07.EachofthefivemetalschosenbyEhrlich'sgroup,whenadjustedforinflationsince1980,haddeclinedinprice.

TranslationMenu［25］Pricesfell,inpart,forthesamereasonstheyhadfalleninpreviousdecades–entrepreneurship*andcontinuingtechnologicalimprovements.Prospectorsfoundnewlodes*.Thankstocomputers,newmachinesandnewchemicalprocesses,thereweremoreefficientwaystoextractandrefineores.entrepreneurshipn.创业精神loden.矿脉Menu［26］Formanyuses,metalswerereplacedbycheapermaterials,notablyplastics.Phonecallswentthroughsatellitesandfiberopticlinesinsteadofcopperwires.Ceramics*replacedtungsten*incuttingtools.ceramicsn.陶瓷tungstenn.钨TranslationMenu［27］Istherealessonhereforthefuture?“Absolutelynot,”saidEhrlich.“Lookatthenewproblems:theozone*hole,acidrain,globalwarming.Ihavenodoubtthatinthenextcentury,ifwelettheecologicalsystemskeeprunningdownhill,wecouldhaveagiganticpopulationcrash."ozonen.臭氧Menu［28］Simonwasnotsurprisedtohearabouthisopponent'sreaction."SoEhrlichistalkingaboutapopulationcrash,"hesaid."Thatsoundslikeanevenbetterwaytomakemoney.I'llgivehimheavyoddsonthatone."TranslationMenuExercise

Ⅰ.Comprehension

Ⅱ.Vocabulary

Ⅲ.Close

Ⅳ.Translation(EnglishtoChinese)Ⅴ.Translation(ChinesetoEnglish)

Ⅵ.WritingMenuⅠ.ComprehensionAnswerthefollowingquestionsorcompletethefollowingstatementsbychoosingthebestalternativeA,B,CorDundereach.Youareallowed2minutes30secondsforthispart.1.WhatisthenatureofthebetbetweenEhrlichandSimon?A.Theyarebettingonthefuturepriceoffivemetals.B.Theyaretryingtowinsomemoneyinthisway.C.Thedebatebetweenboomstersanddoomsters.D.Thehumandestinyisindanger.MenuAnswersⅠ.Comprehension2.ThedifferencebetweentheviewsofEhrlichandSimonis_____.whetherpeoplearegoingtostarvetodeathorpeoplearegoingtobehealthierandwealthierwhethermanwillenteranageofscarcityormaterialabundancewhetherwewillhaveapollutedenvironmentoracleanonewhethertheworldisgoingtothedogsorbecomingbetterMenuAnswers3.WhichofthefollowingisagroundforSimon’sideathattheworldisgettingbetter?Hisresearchinresource-crisispattern.Hisbeliefinscienceandtechnology.Hisoptimism.Hisfindingsthattheworldisaflexiblemarketplace.Ⅰ.ComprehensionAnswersMenu4.ThekeypointofSimon’sargumentisthat_____.environmentalcriseshavebeenexaggeratedpopulationgrowthisavictoryoverdeathtalkingaboutpopulationcrashisabetterwaytomakemoneyourplanet’scarryingcapacitycanbeexpandedbyhumancreativityⅠ.ComprehensionMenuAnswers5.Ehrlich’sideaabouttheworldisthat_____.overallfoodproductionhasnotkeptpacewiththerapidpopulationgrowthmanhasenteredanageofscarcityagiganticpopulationcrashwillinevitablyoccurhumaningenuityislimitedⅠ.ComprehensionAnswersMenu6.Fromthedebatebetweenthedoomstersandboomsterswecanconcludethat_____.A.SimonandEhrlicharebothrightB.humandestinyisindangerC.thedangerdoesexist,yetthereisawayoutD.bothoftheexpertsaretooextremeⅠ.ComprehensionMenuAnswers7.Thelasttwosentencesofthetext—“Thatsoundslikeanevenbetterwaytomakemoney.I’llgivehimheavyoddsonthatone.”suggestthat_____.Simonwantstoshowhiskindnessandgenerosityhefeelscertainthathewillwinthebetmuchasheissarcastic,heissympatheticwithEhrlichhefeelsquitesureofhiscompletesuccessinthedebateⅠ.ComprehensionAnswersMenu8.Thisarticleismainlyabout_____.theauthor’scriticizingSimonandpraisingEhrlichhisfindingfaultwithEhrlichandflatteringSimontherelationshipbetweenmankindandtheearththestrugglebetweenecologistsandeconomistsⅠ.ComprehensionMenuAnswers9.Onecaninferthattheauthor.avoidstakingsidesinthequarrelsbetweenthedoomstersandboomstersprefersEhrlich’sideatoSimon’sisinterestedlyneutralandseemsalittlebitpartialtoSimon’sideahasahappyvisionofthefutureⅠ.ComprehensionAnswersMenu10.Whatisyourimpressionoftheauthor’sattitudestowardsEhrlichandSimon?HeisonthesideofSimon’s.HeagreeswithEhrlich.Heagreeswithnoneofthem.Heistryingtobeobjective,althoughheshowspersonalpreference.11.Doyouthinkagiganticpopulationcrashwillinevitablyoccur?Whyorwhynot?Ⅰ.ComprehensionMenuAnswersⅡ.VocabularyA.IdentifyoneofthefourchoicesA,B,C,orDwhichwouldkeepthemeaningoftheunderlinedwordorphrase.1.Hestakedallhismoneyontheresultofthecardgame.A.put B.risked C.bet D.issued2.Althoughthefiredecimatedthecitytenyearsago,thepeopleofthatcityhaverebuiltitintoanevenmorebeautifulcity.A.destroyed B.maimedC.impaired D.hurtAnswersMenuⅡ.VocabularyA.IdentifyoneofthefourchoicesA,B,C,orDwhichwouldkeepthemeaningoftheunderlinedwordorphrase.3.Inthistimeoftheyear,thereisascarcityofapples.A.rareness B.infrequencyC.shortage D.uncommonness4.Youshouldnotmakesweepingstatementsaboutsuchimportantmatters.A.general B.complicatedC.overall D.specificMenuAnswersⅡ.VocabularyA.IdentifyoneofthefourchoicesA,B,C,orDwhichwouldkeepthemeaningoftheunderlinedwordorphrase.5.Ifyoumeantopleaseanypeople,youmustgivethemtheboonforwhichtheyask.A.gift B.favor C.largess D.present6.Hewouldhaveusfillupourdepletedcurriculumwithsubjectswhoseworthhasnotevenbeentried.A.drained B.exhaustedC.impoverished D.bankruptedAnswersMenuⅡ.VocabularyA.IdentifyoneofthefourchoicesA,B,C,orDwhichwouldkeepthemeaningoftheunderlinedwordorphrase.7.Therearemanywaysofcoercingtheenemyintosurrendering.A.compelling B.forcingC.inducing D.competing8.Itwashisdestinytodieinaforeigncountry,farfromhisfamily.A.doom B.portion C.fate D.luckMenuAnswersⅡ.VocabularyA.IdentifyoneofthefourchoicesA,B,C,orDwhichwouldkeepthemeaningoftheunderlinedwordorphrase.9.Insummeraslewofvisitorsflocktotheseaside.A.afew B.alargenumberofC.several D.few10.Outsideoftherestaurant,wecameacrossamandoingafire-eatingperformance.A.raninto B.cametoC.cameup D.cameaboutAnswersMenuⅡ.VocabularyB.Choosethecorrectanswer.Onlyoneansweriscorrect.11.Howmuchmoneywasthewinninghorse?A.dependingon B.goingtoC.paidto D.ridingon12.AlthoughMr.StewartwaslessskilledthanMr.Lawrenceinplayingthechessgames,hewould___.A.receiveodds B.giveoddsC.askodds D.layoddsMenuAnswersⅡ.VocabularyB.Choosethecorrectanswer.Onlyoneansweriscorrect.13.Hewouldnotallowanyoneto_____himinzeal.A.outstrip B.outbidC.transcend D.excel14.Lifeisfullofperils,butthewisemanignoresthosethatare______.A.inevitable B.ineluctableC.unessential D.unforgettableAnswersMenuⅡ.VocabularyB.Choosethecorrectanswer.Onlyoneansweriscorrect.15.Thefirstsnow_____thewinter.A.begins B.startswithC.beginswith D.ushersin16.Thelossinthatfiredisasteramountsto￥14billion_____.A.intheaggregate B.allinallC.inthetotal D.allinoneMenuAnswersⅡ.VocabularyB.Choosethecorrectanswer.Onlyoneansweriscorrect.17.He_____thathewillsticktohisobjectivenomatterwhatmayoccur.A.persists B.maintainsC.keeps D.adheresto18.Hewasreallya_____person,forhecansuccessfullydealwithvarioustoughsituations.A.careful B.cautiousC.carefree D.resourcefulAnswersMenuⅡ.VocabularyB.Choosethecorrectanswer.Onlyoneansweriscorrect.19.Withthedeclineofthenationaleconomy,peopletendtocomplainthatthingsare_____.A.goingdown B.decreasingC.goingtothedogs D.crashing20.Itisourtraditionto_____stricteconomyinourwork.A.practice B.have C.make D.carryMenuAnswersⅢ.CloseReadthepassagethroughandchooseonesuitablewordorphrasemarkedA,B,CorDforeachblankinthepassage.Wehadalwaysexpectedoneofthebeneficentresultsofeconomicaffluencetobeatranquilandharmoniousmanneroflife,alifeinArcadia.1hashappenedistheexactopposite.Thepaceisquickening,andourlivesinfactarebecomingsteadilymorehectic.A.That B.What C.Which D.ThisAnswersMenuⅢ.CloseIt2beassumedthat,asthegeneralwelfareincreased,peoplewouldbecomesuccessively3interestedinfurtherrisesinincome.Andyet4astillhighereconomicgrowthratehasbecometheoverridinggoalofeconomicpolicyintherichcountries,andthegoalalsoofourprivateeffortsandattitudes.A.isusedto B.would C.usedto D.happenedtoA.less B.more C.no D.muchA.intheory B.intime C.ingeneral D.inpracticeMenuAnswers5,muchofourexpenditureisnolonger6anyverycarefulconsideration,asisclearfromthesuccesses7byMadisonAvenue.Agrowingproportionofthelaborforceisemployedintheservicesector,8,ourresourcesareinfactlesswell“serviced”ormaintainedthanever.A.Atthesametime B.Atpresent C.Attimes D.AtnowA.opento B.subjectto C.belongto D.relatedtoA.achieved B.note C.won D.gotA.inspiteof B.although C.though D.howeverAnswersMenuItisbecoming

9

difficult,forinstance,forelderlypeopletoobtainthespecialkindofservice—careandattention—thatthey

10

need.Ourso-calledserviceeconomypracticesinrealitya11systematalllevels,includingthehumanlevel.A.increasing B.increased C.increasingly D.increaseA.very B.muchmore C.more D.verymuchA.throw-away B.throw-in C.throw-out D.throw-toMenuAnswersWehavelong12theeliminationofmaterialcareswouldcleartheway13abroadculturaladvancement.Inpractice,noteventhose14withthenecessaryintellectualandemotionalcapacityhaveshown15propensityforimmersingthemselvesinthecultivationoftheirmindsandspirit.Thetendencyisratherthereverse.A.given B.expressed C.exposed D.knownA.to B.at C.in D.forA.endowed B.endowing C.toendow D.beendowedA.some B.any C.more D.lessAnswersMenuⅣ.Translation(EnglishtoChinese)ItisamiraclethatNewYorkworksatall.Everytimetheresidentsbrushtheirteeth,millionsofgallonsofwatermustbedrawnfromtheCatskillsandthehillsofWestchester.Everytimeanincisionismadeinthepavement,thenoisysurgeonsexposeyousavagely.ByrightsNewYorkshouldhavedestroyeditselflongago,frompanicorfireorriotingorfailureofvitalsupplylineinitscirculatorysystem.MenuAnswersⅣ.Translation(EnglishtoChinese)Itshouldhaveperishedhungerwhenfoodslinesfailedforafewdays.Itshouldhavebeenwipedoutbyaplaguestartinginitsslumsorcarriedinbyships’rats.Itshouldhavebeenoverwhelmedbytheseathatlicksatitoneveryside.ItshouldhavebeentouchedintheheadbytheAugustheatandgoneoffitsrocker.AnswersMenuⅤ.Translation(ChinesetoEnglish)1.农民们比城里人更焦虑地期待下雨,因为他们有更多的东西处于生死攸关之中。(atstake)2.这是个每年有提炼一百万吨石油能力的炼油厂。(capacity)

3.当涉及教育时,他的主张是只要我们重视它,就可找到许多解决问题的方法。(cometo,aslongas)

4.回顾人类一万年的历史,我们发现由于科学技术的发展,人们可用新能源来代替正在耗尽的能源。(runout)MenuAnswersⅤ.Translation(ChinesetoEnglish)5.赢得任何严峻的斗争,首先我们必须沉着应付可能出现的各种问题,然后克服一切艰难。(respondwith)6.在某些民族的语言中,人们把未来视作在“自己的后面”，把过去视作在“前面”。他们认为:“如果你试图在脑海中看到过去或未来,你可以看到哪一个?”答案明显是我们可以看到过去。“那么过去一定在你的前面,你看不到的未来在你的后面。”由此可见,描述同一事物可以用相反的方式，但效果相同。AnswersMenuⅥ.WritingTitle:ScienceandEthicsOutline:Paragraphone:Scienceimpingesuponethicsinatleastthreedifferentways.Inthefirstplace,itcreatesnewethicalsituations.Paragraphtwo:Secondly,itmaycreatenewduties.Paragraphthree:Thirdly,itaffectsourwholeethicaloutlook.Timelimit:30minutesWordlimit:120～150wordsMenuAnswersⅠ.SupplementaryReadingⅡ.QuestionsSupplementaryReadingMenuSupplementaryReadingWhatIstheTruthAboutGlobalWarming?

Wearebeingaskedtoabsorbhugetaxincreases,indeedtochangethewaywelive,toavoidanenvironmentalcatastrophethatmaynotoccur.

RobertJamesBidinottoMenuSupplementaryReading［1］Inthesummerof1988,oneofthecentury'sworstheatwavesgrippedtheEastCoastandhadMidwestfarmerswonderingiftheDustBowlhadreturned.OnJune23,ataSenatehearingonglobalclimatechange,JamesHansen,arespectedatmosphericscientistanddirectorofNASA'sGoddardInstituteforSpaceStudies,gavealarmingtestimony."MenuSupplementaryReadingTheearthiswarmerin1988thanatanytimeinthehistoryofinstrumentalmeasurements",hesaid."Thegreenhouseeffectischangingourclimatenow.“［2］Hansen'sremarkstouchedoffafirestormofpublicity.AmajornewsmagazinespeculatedthattheGreatPlainswouldbedepopulated.MenuSupplementaryReadingOnNBC's"Today"show,biologistPaulEhrlichwarnedthatmeltingpolaricecouldraisesealevelsandinundatecoastalcities,swampingmuchofFlorida,Washington,D.C.,andtheLosAngelesbasin.MenuSupplementaryReadingAndinhisrecentbook,GlobalWarming,StephenSchneideroftheNationalCenterforAtmosphericResearchimaginedNewYorkovercomebyakillerheatwave,abaseballdouble-headerinChicagocalledbecauseofathickblackhazecreatedbyhugeforestfiresinCanada,andLongIslanddevastatedbyahurricane-allspawnedbythe"greenhouseeffect".MenuSupplementaryReading［3］InParislastJuly,theleadersofsevenindustrialdemocracies,includingPresidentBushandBritishPrimeMinisterMargaretThatcher,calledforcommoneffortstolimitemissionsofcarbondioxideandother"greenhousegases."Toaccomplishthis,manyenvironmentalistshaveproposeddraconianregulations-andhugenewtaxes-thatcouldsignificantlyaffectthewaywelive.MenuSupplementaryReadingWarnsEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyheadWilliamReilly:"Toslowdowntheglobalheatingprocess,thescaleofeconomicandsocietalinterventionwillbeenormous."［4］Thestakesarehigh:thepubliccouldbeaskedtodecidebetweenenvironmentalcatastropheandenormouscosts.Butdowereallyhavetomakethischoice?Manyscientistsbelievethedangerisreal,butothersaremuchlesscertain.Whatistheevidence?Hereiswhatweknow:MenuSupplementaryReading［5］Whatisthegreenhouseeffect?Whensunlightwarmstheearth,certaingasesintheloweratmosphere,actingliketheglassinagreenhouse,trapsomeoftheheatasitradiatesbackintospace.Thesegreenhousegases,primarilywatervaporandincludingcarbondioxide,methaneandman-madechlorofluorocarbons,warmourplanet,makinglifepossible.MenuSupplementaryReading［6］Iftheyweremoreabundant,greenhousegasesmighttraptoomuchheat.Venus,forexample,has60000timesmorecarbondioxideinitsatmospheresthanEarth,anditstemperatureaveragesabove800degreesFahrenheit.Butifgreenhousegaseswerelessplentifulorentirelyabsent,temperaturesonEarthwouldaveragebelowfreezing.MenuSupplementaryReading［7］Becauseconcentrationsofgreenhousegaseshavebeensteadilyrising,manyscientistsareconcernedaboutglobalwarming.ResearchersattheGoddardInstituteandattheUniversityofEastAngliainEnglandforeseeadoublingofgreenhousegasconcentrationsduringthenextcentur