Global warming is causing more than 300,000 deaths and about $125 billion in economic losses each year, according to a report by the Global Humanitarian Forum, an organization led by Kofi Annan, the former United Nations secretary general.
The report, to be released Friday, analyzed data and existing studies of health, disaster, population and economic trends. It found that human-influenced climate change was raising the global death rates from illnesses including malnutrition and heat-related health problems.
But even before its release, the report drew criticism from some experts on climate and risk, who questioned its methods and conclusions. Along with the deaths, the report said that the lives of 325 million people, primarily in poor countries,were being seriously affected by climate change. It projected that the number would double by 2030.
Roger Pielke Jr., a politicalscientist at the University of Colorado, Boulder, who studies disaster trends, said the Forum’s report was “a methodological embarrassment” because there was no way to distinguish deaths or economic losses related to human-driven global warming amid(在...中间) the much larger losses resulting from the growth in populations and economic development in vulnerable(易受伤害的) regions. Dr. Pielke said that “climate change is an important problem requiring our utmost attention.” But the report, he said, “will harm the cause for action on both climate change and disasters because it is so deeply flawed(有瑕疵的).”
However, Soren Andreasen, a social scientist at Dalberg Global Development Partners who supervised the writing of the report, defended it, saying that it was clear that the numbers were rough estimates. He said the report was aimed at world leaders, who will meet in Copenhagen in December to negotiate a new international climate treaty.
In a press release describing the report, Mr. Annan stressed the need for the negotiations to focus on increasing the flow of money from rich to poor regions to help reduce their vulnerability to climate hazards while still controling the emissions of the heat-trapping gases. More than 90% of the human and economic losses from climate change are occurring in poor countries, according to the report. What is the finding of the Global Humanitarian Forum?
A.Rates of death from illnesses have risen due to global warming. |
B.Global temperatures affect the rate of economic development. |
C.Malnutrition has caused serious health problems in poor countries. |
D.Economic trends have to do withpopulation and natural disasters. |
What do we learn about the Forum’s report from the passage?
A.It caused a big stir in developing countries. |
B.It was warmly received by environmentalists. |
C.It caused a lot of interest in the scientific circles. |
D.It was challenged by some climate and risk experts. |
What is Soren Andreasen’s view of the report?
A.Its conclusions are based on carefully collected data. |
B.It is vulnerable to criticism if the statistics are closely examined. |
C.It will give rise to heated discussions at the Copenhagen conference. |
D.Its rough estimates are meant to draw the attention of world leaders. |
What does Kofi Annan say should be the focus of the Copenhagen conference?
A.How human and economic losses from climate change can be reduced. |
B.How rich countries can better help poor regions reduce climate hazards. |
C.How emissions of heat-trapping gases can be reduced on a global scale. |
D.How rich and poor regionscan share responsibility in curbing global warming. |
There were smiling children all the way. Charily they knew at what time the train passed their homes and they made it their business to stand along the railway, wave to complete strangers and cheer them up as they rushed towards Penang. Often whole families stood outside their homes and waved and smiled as if those on the trains were their favorite relatives. This is the simple village people of Malaysia. I was moved.
I had always traveled to Malaysia by plane or car, so this was the first time I was on a train. I did not particularly relish the long train journey and had brought along a dozen magazines to read and reread. I looked about the train. There was not one familiar face. I sighed and sat down to read my Economics.
It was not long before the train was across the Causeway and in Malaysia. Johore Baru was just another city like Singapore, so I was tired of looking at the crowds of people as they hurried past. As we went beyond the city, I watched the straight rows of rubber trees and miles and miles of green. Then the first village came into sight, Immediately I came alive; I decided to wave hack.
From then on my journey became interesting. I threw my magazines into the waste basket and decided to join in Malaysian life. Then everything came alive. The mountains seemed to speak to me. Even the trees were smiling. I stared at everything as if I was looking at it for the first time.
The day passed fast and I even forgot to have my lunch until I felt hungry. I looked at my watch and was surprised that it was 3:00 pm. Soon the train pulled up at Butterworth. I looked at the people all around me. They all looked beautiful. When my uncle arrived with a smile, I threw my arms around him to give him a warm hug (拥抱). I had never done this before. He seemed surprised and then his weather-beaten face warmed up with a huge smile. We walked arm in arm to his car.
I looked forward to the return journey.The author expected the train trip to be
A.adventurous | B.pleasant |
C.exciting | D.dull |
What did the author remember most fondly of her train trip?
A.The friendly country people. |
B.The mountains along the way. |
C.The crowds of people in the streets. |
D.The simple lunch served on the train. |
Which of the following words can best take the place of the word “relish” in the second paragraph?
A.choose | B.enjoy |
C.prepare for | D.carry on |
Where was the writer going?
A.Johore Baru. | B.The Causeway. |
C.Butterworth. | D.Singapore. |
What can we learn from the story?
A.Comfort in traveling by train. |
B.Pleasure of living in the country. |
C.Reading gives people delight. |
D.Smiles brighten people up. |
“I Went Skydiving at 84!”
As a young girl growing up in the 1930s, I always wanted to fly a plane, but back then it was almost unheard of for a woman to do that. I got a taste of that dream in 2001,when my husband arranged for me to ride in a hot air balloon for my birthday. But the experience turned out to be very dull. Around that time, I told my husband that I wanted to skydive. So when our retirement community(社区)announced that they were having an essay competition and the topic was an experience of a lifetime that you wanted to have, I decided to write about my dream.
In the essay, I wrote about my desire to skydive, stating George Brush Sr. did it at age 80. Why not me? I was just 84 and in pretty good health. A year went by and I heard nothing. But then at a community party in late April 2009, they announced that I was one of the winners. I just couldn’t believe it. Inspired by this, I decided to realize my dream, even though some of my family members and my doctor were against it.
On June 11, 2009, nearly 40 of my family and friends gathered in the area close to where I would land while I headed up in the airplane. My instructor, Jay, guided me through the experience. The plane was the noisiest one I had ever been in, but I wasn’t frightened—I was really just looking forward to the experience. When we reached 13,000 feet, Jay instructed me to throw myself out of the plane. When we first hit the air, the wind was so strong that I could hardly breathe. For a second I thought, “What have I gotten myself into?” But then everything got calmer. We were in a free fall for about a minute before Jay opened the parachute(降落伞), then we just floated downward for about five minutes. Being up in the clouds and looking at the view below was unlike anything I have ever felt—much better than the hot air balloon. I was just enjoying it.
Skydiving was really one of the greatest experiences of my life. I hope other people will look at me and realize that you don’t stop living just because you are 84 years old. If there’s something you want to experience, look into it. If it’s something that is possible, make it happen.What happened to the author in 2001?
A.She flew an airplane | B.She entered a competition |
C.She went on a hot air balloon ride | D.She moved into a retirement community |
The author mentioned George Bush Sr. in her essay to .
A.build up her own reputation | B.show her admiration for him |
C.compare their health condition | D.make her argument persuasive |
How did the author feel immediately after she jumped out of the plane?
A.Excited | B.Scared | C.Nervous | D.Regretful |
What did the author enjoy most when she was skydiving?
A.The beautiful clouds | B.The wonderful view |
C.The company of Jay | D.The one-minute free fall |
Which word could be used to replace the word “instructor,” in Paragraph 3?
A.doctor | B.conductor | C.pilot | D.trainer |
Can you communicate with others when you live in a foreign country with no or little knowledge of its language? Of course, it is possible. You can communicate your moods and intentions to one another without words, because all human beings share a lot of common visual(看见的)signals. These signals are as effective as words during communication.
The gestures of the head play a key role in body language. The movements of eyes and eyebrows are as important as head movements in body language.
Besides the gestures of the head or the movements of the eyes and eyebrows, the action of arms, hands and legs is also a large part of body language. Extending one's arm and shaking hands with others is a greeting in both formal and informal cases. This part of body language might date back to primary tribes(部落).
Like handshaking, there are still many other forms of body language presented by hands. Raising one's hand and making a circle with his thumb(拇指)and for finger signals, that something is OK. Clasped(握紧的)hands raised above the head, a traditional picture accepted by sportsmen after winning a fight, is a display of triumph that grows out of a kind of feeling following a victory. Waving one's hands, a speaker can make his words more powerful and vigorous(有活力的).
Besides hand gestures, there are times when a person says something with his legs as well as with his head and eyes. The leg gestures often reflect one's attitude towards something or someone that person is with.
According to the above facts, body language has offered a more reliable(可靠的)way to understand one's mind by means of gestures. Though it is soundless and wordless, once you understand it, you will feel the world is bigger than you realized. Which of the following is the proper title for this passage?
A.Body Language | B.How to Communicate with the People around You |
C.The History of Body Language | D.Gestures And Languages |
After reading the passage we can conclude that ________.
A.hand shaking suggests that the speaker is excited |
B.head plays a less important part in body language |
C.actors and actresses are good at gestures |
D.people began to use body language long long ago |
What's the characteristic of body language?
A.Soundless and wordless. | B.Difficult to understand. |
C.Powerful and vigorous. | D.Effective and normal |
When sports men win a match, they probably ________.
A.clasp their hands to announce their victory |
B.clasp their hands to express their excited feeling |
C.have a picture taken as soon as possible |
D.show a sign of thankfulness |
When thinking about quitting(停止) smoking…
List all the reasons why you want to quit. Every night before going to bed, repeat one of the reasons 10 times.
Decide positively that you want to quit. Try to avoid negative thoughts about how difficult it might be. Develop strong personal reasons as well as your health and responsibility to others. For example, think of all the time you waste taking cigarette breaks, rushing out to buy a pack, hunting a light, etc. Set a date for quitting --- perhaps a special day like your birthday, a holiday. If you smoke heavily at work, quit during your vacation. Make the date seriously, and don't let anything change it. Begin to condition yourself physically; start a modest (适当的) exercise; drink more water; get plenty of rest.
Immediately after quitting...
The first few days after you quit, spend as much free time as possible in places where smoking is prohibited, e.g. libraries, museums, theatres, department stores, etc.
Drink large quantities of water and fruit juice. Try to avoid wine, coffee, and other drinks which remind you of cigarette smoking.
Start a conversation with someone instead of a match for a cigarette.
If you miss the feeling of having a cigarette in your hand, play with something else - a pencil, a pen, a ruler. If you miss having something in your mouth, try a fake (仿制的) cigarette.According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
A.Whenever you feel like a cigarette, try to forget it by sleeping. |
B.Try to start a conversation before asking for a light. |
C.If you miss the feeling of having a cigarette in your mouth, play with a pen. |
D.Every night before going to bed, repeat all the reasons 10 times. |
From the passage, we know smokers __________.
A.should drink a lot of coffee | B.have to stop to smoke from time to time |
C.should drink a lot of wine | D.should not do any exercise |
According to the passage, what does the underlined word “prohibited” mean?
A.forbidden | B.allowed | C.received | D.welcomed |
If the passage is in a newspaper, which section is it in?
A.Sports | B.News | C.Health | D.Culture |
Today, roller skating is easy and fun.But a long time ago, it wasn’t easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn’t exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin’s work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.
One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.
Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.
On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was astonished to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin’s grand entrance for a long time!The text is mainly about ________.
A.a strange man |
B.an unusual party |
C.how the roller skating began |
D.how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century |
People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he _________.
A.often gave others surprises | B.was a gifted musician |
C.invented the roller skates | D.was full of imagination |
Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to ________ .
A.impress the party guests | B.arrive at the party sooner |
C.test his invention | D.show his skill in walking on wheels |
What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph?
A.The roller skates needed further improvement. |
B.The party guests took Merlin for a fool. |
C.Merlin succeeded beyond expectation. |
D.Merlin got himself into trouble. |