Question

Is there link between humans and climate change or not? This question was first studied in the early 1900s. Since then, many scientists have thought that our actions do make a difference. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol explained our role in the Earth’s changing atmosphere and set international limits for gas emissions（排放）from 2008 to 2012. Some countries have decided to continue these reductions until 2020. More recently, the Paris Agreement, stuck by nearly 200 countries, also aims to limit global warming. But just now how much warmer it will get depends on how deeply countries cut carbon emissions.

3.5℃: This is how much temperatures would rise by 2100 even if nations live up to the initial Paris promises to reduce carbon emissions; this rise could still put coastal cities under water and drive over half of all species to extinction.

2℃: To meet this minimum goal, the Agreement requires countries to tighten emissions targets every five years. Even this increase could sink some islands, worse drought and drive a decline of up to a third in the number of species.

1.5℃: This is the most ambitious goal for temperature rise set by the Paris Agreement, after a push by low-lying island nations like Kiribati, which say limiting temperature rise to 1.5℃ could save them from sinking.

0.8℃: This is how much temperatures have risen since the industrial age began, putting us 40% of the way to the 2℃ point.

0℃: The baseline here is average global temperature before the start of the industrial age.

1.It can be concluded from Para.1 that _______.

A. the problem of global warming will have been quite solved by 2020

B. gas emissions have been effectively reduced in developed countries

C. the Paris Agreements is more influential than the Kyoto Protocol

D. humans have made continuous efforts to slow down global warming

2.If nations could only keep the initial promises of the Paris Agreement, what would happen by the year 2100?

A. The human population would increase by one third.

B. Little over 50% of all species would still exist.

C. The Agreement’s minimum goal would not be reached.

D. Nations would not need to tighten their emissions targets.

3.If those island nations not far above sea level are to survive, the maximum temperature rise, since the start of the industrial age, should be_______.

A. 0.8℃    B. 1.5℃    C. 2℃    D. 3.5℃

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.B

【解析】本文介绍了人们一直努力减少温室气体的排放，并设立了到2100年我们应该达成的目标以及达成目标要求符合的条件。

1.推理判断题。根据文章第一段中Since then, many scientists have thought that our actions do make a difference. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol explained our role in the Earth’s changing atmosphere and set international limits for gas emissions（排放）from 2008 to 2012. Some countries have decided to continue these reductions until 2020. More recently, the Paris Agreement, stuck by nearly 200 countries, also aims to limit global warming.可知，自从20世纪早期开始人类就一直在努力减少温室气体的排放，希望能减缓全球变暖的趋势。故选D。

2.推理判断题。根据文章第二段This is how much temperatures would rise by 2100 even if nations live up to the initial Paris promises to reduce carbon emissions;可知，如果各国的气体排放能够符合巴黎协议的要求到2100年气温会比现在高8度，而根据第三段2℃右边的内容To meet this minimum goal,---可知最小的目标是上升两度，也就是说即使各国的气体排放能够符合巴黎协议的要求，也达不到最小的目标。故选C。

3.细节理解题。根据1.5℃:右边的内容This is the most ambitious goal for temperature rise set by the Paris Agreement, after a push by low-lying island nations like Kiribati, which say limiting temperature rise to 1.5℃ could save them from sinking.可知，对于那些低海拔的国家来说最多上升1.5度，他们就可以避免被淹没。故选B。