2015年考研英语阅读理解考前专项训练（27）
发布时间：2012/10/30 22:55:28 来源：城市网学院 编辑：admin
The heat wave in Europe in early August 2003 was a catastrophe of heartbreaking proportions. With more than 3,500 dead in Paris alone, France suffered nearly 15,000 fatalities from the heat wave. Another 7,000 died in Germany, 8,000 in Spain and Italy, and 2,000 in the United Kingdom. Understandably, this event has be#e a psychologically powerful metaphor for the frightening vision of a warmer future and our immediate need to prevent it.
For Europe as a whole, about 200,000 people die from excess heat each year. However, about 1.5 million Europeans die annually from excess cold. That is more than seven times the total number of heat deaths. Just in the past decade, Europe has lost about 15 million people to the cold, more than 400 times the iconic heat deaths from 2003. That we so easily neglect these deaths and so easily embrace those caused by global warming tells us of a breakdown in our sense of proportion. examda.
How will heat and cold deaths change over the #ing century with global warming? Let us for the moment assume--very unrealistically--that we will not adapt at all to the future heat. Still, the biggest cross-European cold/heat study concludes that for an increase of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit in the average European temperatures, our data suggest that any increases in mortality due to increased temperatures would be outweighed by much larger short-term declines in cold-related mortalities. -o For Britain, it is estimated a 3.6F increase will mean 2,000 more heat deaths but 20,000 fewer cold deaths. Likewise, another paper incorporating all studies on this issue and applying them to a broad variety of settings in both developed and developing countries found that global warming may cause a decrease in mortality rates, especially of cardiovascular diseases. examda.
But of course, it seems very unrealistic and conservative to assume that we will not adapt to rising temperatures throughout the 21st century. Several recent studies have looked at adaptation in up to 28 of the biggest cities in the United States. Take Philadelphia. The optimal temperature seems to be about80~F. In the 1960s, on days when it got significantly hotter than that （about 100~F）， the death rate increased sharply. Likewise, when the temperature dropped below freezing, deaths increased sharply.examda.
Yet something great happened in the decades following. Death rates in Philadelphia and around the country dropped in general because of better health care. But crucially, temperatures of 100F today cause almost no excess deaths. However, people still die more because of cold weather. One of the main reasons for the lower heat susceptibility is most likely increased access to air-conditioning. ~ Studies seem to indicate that over time and with sufficient resources, we actually learn to adapt to higher temperatures. Consequently we will experience fewer heat deaths even when temperatures rise.[465 words]
1. The death toll in several European countries is noted to show that______
A. it was hotter in early August 2003 than ever before
B. it is urgent to prevent the #ing of a warmer future
C. the catastrophe in Europe in 2003 was heartbreaking
D. Europe suffered from more heat deaths than anywhere else
2. The author believes that______
A. we have lost our sense of proportion
B. it is irrational to embrace heat deaths
C. cold deaths should claim due attention
D. the heat deaths in 2003 were only iconic
3. In the author's opinion, with global warming, ______
A. mortality rates will remarkably decrease
B. there will be less cardiovascular diseases
C. people will surely adapt to the future heat
D. temperature will rise 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit
4. The example of Philadelphia is used to illustrate that______
A. rising temperatures will cause more deaths
B. people still die more because of cold weather
C. rising temperatures will cause no excess deaths
D. people will be less susceptible to ring temperatures
5. The author argues that______
A. all deaths should be treated with equal concern
B. it is vital to avoid many more dying from cold
C. heat waves will no longer cause excess deaths
D. excess cold will cause more deaths in the future [NextPage] 难句透析
①[That we so easily neglect these deaths and SO easily embrace those（caused by global warming）]tells US of a breakdown in our sense of proportion.
【结构】方括号所标示的“That we…neglect…and…embrace…warming”用做主语从句。这个从句中的主语是“we”，后面跟有两个并列的谓语动词“neglect”和“embrace”。圆括号所标示的过去分词短语“caused by global warming”是“those”的后置定语；代词“those”指“deaths”。
【释义】我们对这些死亡视而不见，却轻易认可全球气候变暖所造成的死亡。这说明，我们完全丧失了正常比例的感觉。
②Still，the biggest cross—European cold／heat study concludes[that for an increase of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit in the average European temperatures,“0ur data suggest（that any increases in mortality due to increased temperatures would be outweighed by much larger short—term declines in cold related mortalities）J.”
【结构】 本句是主从复合句。主句的主语是“the—biggest cross-Europ—ean cold／heat study”，谓语动词是“con cludes”。 方括号所标示的“that…0ur data suggest that any increases…would be outweighed by…declines…”是“concludes”的宾语从句。圆括号所标示的“that any increases…would be outweighed by…declines…”是“suggest”的宾语从句。
【释义】尽管如此，一项最大的跨欧洲寒冷／炎热研究项目的结论说：我们的资料表明，就欧洲平均气温提高华氏3.6度来说，随气温升高而升高的死亡率要被寒冷致死的死亡率短期更大幅度的下降所抵消。
③Likewise，another paper[“incorporating all studies on this issue and”applying them tO a broad variety of set tings in both developed and developing countries]found[that“global warming may cause a decrease in mortality rates.examda.especially of cardiovascular diseases].”
【结构】方括号所标示的两个并列的现在分词短语“incorporating…”和“applying”用做“another paper”的后置定语。方括号所标示的“that global warming may cause a decrease…diseases”是动词“found”的宾语从句。
【释义】另一篇论文综合了对此问题所进行的全部研究，并且把这些研究应蹦于发达国家和发展中国家众多不同环境。这篇论文同样认为，“全球气候变暖可能导致死亡率下降，特别是心血管疾病死亡率的下降”。
④But of COUrse，it seems very unrealistic and conservative[to assume（that we will not adapt to rising tempera tures throughout the 21st century）].
【结构】代词“it”是形式主语；真正的主语是方括号所标示的动词不定式短语“to assume…the 2l st century”；圆括号所标示的“that we will not adapt…the 21st century”是动词不定式短语“to assume”的宾语从句。
【释义】但是，毫无疑问，认为整个21世纪我们对温度升高将听之任之，无所作为，这似乎非常不切实际，非常保守。
De of the main reasons for the lower heat susceptibility is nlost likely increased access to ai r_conditionin9.
【结构】“One of the main reasons”是主语，“is”是谓语动词，“increased access…”是表语。过去分词“increased”用做“access”的定语。“likely”是副词，意思是“很町能”。
【释义】受气候炎热伤害程度下降的一个主要原因最可能是由于空调日益普及。
参考注释：
1.第一段以欧洲几国2003年因天气炎热而死亡的人数为例，说明该段最后一句提出的观点“understandably，this event…for the frightening vision of a warmer future and our immediate need tO prevent it”。所以，选项B应为 答案。
2.第二段以数据说明，因严寒致死的人数远远超过因炎热致死的人数。作者在该段最后一句指出“That we so eas— ily neglect these deaths and SO easily embrace those caused by global warming tells US of a breakdown in our sense of proportion”，即：不应该只关注后者，而忽视前者。所以，选项c应为答案。
3.根据第四段第一句“But of course，it seems very unrealistic and conservative to assume that we will not adapt to rising temperatures throughout the 21st century”可知，选项C应为答案。
4.作者在第四段第一句指出，人类肯定会想方设法适应气温的升高。最后两段以“Philadelphia”为例说明该观点。所以，选项D应为答案。
5.根据上下文，比如，第二段最后一句“That we so easily neglect these deaths and SO easily embrace those caused by global warming tells US of a breakdown in our sense of proportion”，以及第五段中的“But crucially，temperatures of 100F today cause almost no excess deaths.However，people still die more because of cold weather”可知，作者 认为，既要重视因炎热致死的问题，同时也应重视因严寒致死的问题。所以，选项A应为答案。 [NextPage] 全文翻译
2003年八月初欧洲的热浪致使悲剧频发。仅巴黎就有3500人死于热浪，法国的死亡人数达15000人。德国的死亡人数达7000人，西班牙和意大利8000人，英国2000人。可以理解，这次事件已经成为一个强烈的心理信号，人们对未来全球变暖的前景感到担忧，迫切需要我们采取预防措施。
就整个欧洲而言，每年约有20万人由于过热的天气而死亡。然而，欧洲每年约有150万人由于天气严寒而丧命。天气过冷导致死亡人数是天气过热导致死亡人数的7倍。仅在过去10年，死于寒冷的人数约1500万，超过2003年以来死于炎热人数的400倍。我们对这些死亡视而不见，却轻易认可全球气候变暖所造成的死亡。这说明，我们完全丧失了正常比例的感觉。
在即将来临的世纪里，随着全球气候日趋变暖，炎热致死和寒冷致死的情况会如何发生变化？此刻，我们非常不切实际地假设，将来我们根本不去适应全球气候变暖。尽管如此，一项最大的跨欧洲寒冷／炎热研究项目的结论说：我们的资料表明，就欧洲平均气温提高华氏3.6度来说，随气温升高而升高的死亡率要被寒冷致死的死亡率短期更大幅度的下降所抵消。对于英国来说，据估计，温度提高华氏3.6度就意味着因炎热致死的人数增加200C人，而因寒冷致死的人数减少20000人。另一篇论文综合了对此问题所进行的全部研究，并且把这些研究应用于发达国家和发展中国家众多不同环境。这篇论文同样认为，“全球气候变暖可能导致死亡率下降，特别是心血管疾病死亡率的下降”。
但是，毫无疑问，认为整个21世纪我们对温度升高将昕之任之，无所作为，这似乎非常不切实际，非常保守。几项最近的研究已经对美国28个特大城市的应对措施进行了探讨。以费城为例，最佳温度似乎是华氏80度。在20世纪60年代，如果温度远高于华氏80度，那么死亡率就会大幅上升。同样，温度远低于冰点，死亡率也大幅上升。
然而，随后几十年的情况大为改观。费城以及全国的死亡率普遍下降，这得益于医疗条件的改善。但是，关键在于，华氏100度如今并不会引起死亡人数的增加。尽管如此，仍然有更多的人死于寒冷。受气候炎热伤害程度下降的一个主要原因最可能是由于空调日益普及。研究似乎表明，随着时间的流逝，有充足的资源，实际上，我们可以学会适应较高的气温。其结果，即使气温升高，因炎热死亡的人数也会减少。
超纲词汇
Catastrophe n.灾变，灾祸
metaphor n.隐喻，暗喻
Iconic adj.人像的，传统的
Mortality n.死亡人数；死亡率
Cardiovascular adj.心脏血管的
optimal adj.最佳的，最理想的
Susceptibility n.敏感性，易感性
参考答案：1.B 2.C 3.C 4.D 5.A
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