考研英语历年真题阅读理解精读笔记。
TEXT 2 Do you remember all those years when scientists argued that smoking would kill us but the doubters insisted that we didn’t know for sure? That the evidence was inconclusive, the science uncertain? That the antismoking lobby was out to destroy our way of life and the government should stay out of the way? Lots of Americans bought that nonsense, and over three decades, some 10 million smokers went to early graves.
There are upsetting parallels today, as scientists in one wave after another try to awaken us to the growing threat of global warming. The latest was a panel from the National Academy of Sciences, enlisted by the White House, to tell us that the Earth’s atmosphere is definitely warming and that the problem is largely man made. The clear message is that we should get moving to protect ourselves. The president of the National Academy, Bruce Alberts, added this key point in the preface to the panel’s report: "Science never has all the answer. But science does provide us with the best available guide to the future, and it is critical that our nation and the world base important policies on the best judgments that science can provide concerning the future consequences of present actions."
Just as on smoking, voice now come from many quarters insisting that the science about global warming is incomplete, that it’s OK to keep pouring fumes into the air until we know for sure. This is a dangerous game: by the time 100 percent of the evidence is in, it may be too late. With the risks obvious and growing, a prudent people would take out an insurance policy now.
Fortunately, the White House is starting to pay attention. But it’s obvious that a majority of the president’s advisers still don’t take global warming seriously. Instead of a plan of action, they continue to press for more research-a classic of "paralysis by analysis."
To serve as responsible stewards of the planet, we must press forward on deeper atmospheric and oceanic research. But research alone is inadequate. If the Administration won’t take the legislative initiative, Congress should help to begin fashioning conservation measures. A bill by Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, which would offer financial incentives for private industry, is a promising start. Many see that the country is getting ready to build lots of new power plants to meet our energy needs. If we are ever going to protect the atmosphere, it is crucial that those new plants be environmentally sound.
26. An argument made by supporters of smoking was that.
［A］ there was no scientific evidence of the correlation between smoking and death
［B］ the number of early deaths of smokers in the past decades was insignificant
［C］ people had the freedom to choose their own way of life
［D］ antismoking people were usually talking nonsense
27. According to Bruce Alberts, science can serve as.
［A］a protector
［B］a judge
［C］a critic
［D］a guide
28. What does the author mean by "paralysis by analysis" (last line, Paragraph 4)?
［A］ Endless studies kill action.
［B］ Careful investigation reveals truth.
［C］ Prudent planning hinders progress.
［D］ Extensive research helps decision making.
29. According to the author, what should the Administration do about global warming?
［A］ Offer aid to build cleaner power plants.
［B］ Raise public awareness of conservation.
［C］ Press for further scientific research.
［D］ Take some legislative measures.
30. The author associates the issue of global warming with that of smoking because .
［A］ they both suffered from the government’s negligence
［B］ a lesson from the latter is applicable to the former
［C］ the outcome of the latter aggravates the former
［D］ both of them have turned from bad to worse
academy3 n.学院
action11 n.①行动，行为；②动作，活动；③（on）作用
administration2 n.①管理，经营；②行政（机关，部门）；③政府
aggravate3 v.恶化，加重，加剧
aid4 v.援助，救援，帮助；n.①援助，救护；②助手，辅助物，辅助设备
analysis8 n.分析，分解
applicable1 a.（to）能应用的，适用的
argue19 v.①争论，辩论；②认为，主张，论证；③说服
argument6 n.①争论，辨认；②论据，论点，理由
associate3 v.①（with）使联系，使联合；②交往，结合；n.合作人，伙伴，同事，同行；a.副的
atmosphere3 n.①大气（层）；②空气；③气氛，环境
attention14 n.①注意（力），留心；②立正
author69 n.①作者；②创始人
available18 a.①可用的，可得到的；②可以见到的，随时可来的
classic1 n.①［pl.］杰作，名著；②典型或传统的例子；a.第一流的，不朽的，古典的
concerning5 prep.关于
congress2 n.①（代表）大会；②［Congress］（美国等国的）国会，议会
consequence13 n.结果，影响，重要性
conservation2 n.①保存，保护，保守；②守恒，不灭
critic7 n.批评家，评论家
critical7 a.①批评的，评论的；②危急的，紧要的；③临界的；④重要的，关键的
crucial5 a.至关重要的，决定性的
decade18 n.十年
democratic6 a.民主的
evidence14 n.①根据，证据；②形迹，迹象
extensive2 a.广大的，广阔的
fashion6 n.①流行式样（或货品），风尚，风气；②样子，方式；vt.形成，制作，塑造
financial11 a.财政的，金融的
former10 a.①前任的；②以前的，在前的；pron.前者
fume1 n.（浓烈或难闻的）烟，气体；v.①用烟熏，冒烟；②发怒
global6 a.全球的，世界的
grave1 n.坟墓；a.严肃的，庄重的
hinder1 v.（from）阻止，妨碍
incentive2 n.①动机；②激励，鼓励；a.激励的
initiative3 a.创始的，起始的；n.第一步，创始，主动精神
insurance6 n.保险，保险费，保险业
issue18 v.①流出，放出；②发行，发表，颁布；n.①发行（物），（报刊）期号；②问题，争论点，争端
judgment6 n.①审判，判决；②判断力，识别力，看法，意见
latter3 a.后面的，末了的；pron.后者
lesson3 n.功课，课程；教训
lobby2 n.①门廊，门厅，（会议）休息厅；②游说团；vt.游说，疏通
measure14 v.测量；n.①尺寸，大小；②［常pl.］措施，办法；③法案，法律规定
nonsense1 n.胡说，废话
obvious13 a.明显的，显而易见的
outcome4 n.结果，成果
panel8 n.①面，板；②控制板，仪表盘；③专门小组
parallel3 a.①（to，with）平行的，并联的；②（to）相同的，类似的；n.①平行线，平行面；②类似，相似物；③对比，纬线
planet6 n.行星
policy12 n.政策，方针
preface2 n.序言，引言，前言
present16 a.①出席的，到场的；②现在的，目前的；n.①现在，目前；②礼物，赠品；v.①赠（送），呈献；②介绍，陈述；③提出，呈交；④上演
private11 a.私人的，个人的，秘密的，私下的
promising2 a.有希望的，有前途的
prudent1 a.谨慎的
responsible11 a.①（for，to）应负责的，有责任的；②可靠的，可信赖的；③责任重大的，重要的
reveal8 v.展现，显示，揭示，揭露，告诉，泄露
risk14 v.冒...的危险；n.风险，危险
science58 n.①科学；②学科
senator3 n.参议员
sound7 n.声音，声响；v.①发声，响；②听起来；a.①健全的，完好的；②正当的，有根据的；③彻底的，充分的
steward1 n.乘务员
suffer4 v.①（from）受痛苦，患病；②受损失；③遭受；④忍受，忍耐
threat9 n.①恐吓，威胁；②坏兆头，危险迹象
according47 ad.依照，根据
adviser1 n.顾问
antismoking1 n./a.反对吸烟（的），禁止吸烟（的）
atmospheric1 a.大气的
awareness2 n.了解，知道，察觉
correlation1 n.相互关系，相关（性）
definitely2 ad.明确地，干脆地
doubter1 n.怀疑者
enlist1 v.①参军，入伍；②获得（赞助，支持等）
environmentally1 ad.周围地，环境地
inadequate2 a.不充分的，不适当的
inconclusive2 a.非决定性的，不确定的
insignificant1 a.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的
investigation1 n.调查，研究
latest8 a.最近的
legislative2 a.立法的，立法机关的；n.立法机关
negligence1 n.疏忽
oceanic1 a.海洋的，海洋产出的，生活于海洋的
paralysis1 n.瘫痪，麻痹
upsetting3 a.令人心烦意乱的，令人苦恼的
