Question

We already know the fastest, least expensive way to slow climate change: Use less energy. With a little effort, and not much money, most of us could reduce our energy diets by 25 percent or more—doing the Earth a favor while also helping our wallets.

Not long ago, my wife, PJ, and I tried a new diet—not to lose a little weight but to answer an annoying question about climate change. Scientists have reported recently that the world is heating up even faster than predicted only a few years ago, and that the consequences could be severe if we don’t keep reducing emissions(排放) of carbon dioxide(CO2) and other greenhouse gases that are trapping heat in our atmosphere.

We decided to try an experiment. For one month we recorded our personal emissions of CO2. We wanted to see how much we could cut back, so we went on a strict diet. The average US household(家庭) produces about 150 pounds of CO2 a day by doing common-place things like turning on air-conditioning or driving cars. That’s more than twice the European average and almost five times the global average, mostly because Americans drive more and have bigger houses. But how much should we try to reduce?

For an answer, I checked with Tim Flannery, author of The Weather Makers:How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth. In his book, he had challenged readers to make deep cuts in personal emissions to keep the world from reaching extremely important tipping points, such as the melting(融化) of the ice sheets in Greenland or West Antarctica. “To stay below that point, we need to reduce CO2 emissions by 80 percent, ”he said.

Good advice, I thought. I’d opened our bedroom windows to let in the wind. We’d gotten so used to keeping our air-conditioning going around the clock. I’d almost forgotten the windows even opened. We should not let this happen again. It’s time for us to change our habits if necessary.

1.Why did the author and his wife try a new diet?

A. To take special kinds of food.

B. To respond to climate change.

C. To lose weight.

D. To improve their health.

2.The underlined words “tipping points” most probably refer to “ ”.

A. freezing points B. burning points

C. melting points D. boiling points

3.It can be inferred from the passage that .

A. it is necessary to keep the air-conditioning on all the time

B. it seems possible for every household to cut emissions of CO2

C. the average US household produces about 3, 000 pounds of CO2 a month

D. the average European household produces about 1, 000 pounds of CO2 a month

4.Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

A. Saving Energy Starts at Home

B. Changing Our Habits Begins at Work

C. Changing Climate Sounds Reasonable

D. Reducing Emissions of CO2 Proves Difficult

Answer 1

1.B

2.C

3.B

4.A

【解析】

試題分析：為了保護環境，為了減少溫室氣體的排放量，作者號召我們從自己做起，從日常生活的細節著手，降低二氧化碳的排放量。

1.】細節理解題：根據第二段Not long ago, my wife, PJ, and I tried a new diet—not to lose a little weight but to answer an annoying question about climate change.得知作者和妻子嘗試新飲食是回應氣候變化。答案選B。

2.】詞義猜測題。根據后一句的such as the melting（融化）of the ice sheets in Greenland or West Antarctica.可知tipping points的意思是：融點，A. freezing points冰點 B. burning points發火點,燃燒點 C. melting points 融點 D. boiling points沸點。答案選C。

3.】推理判斷題。根據最后一自然段大意可知家家戶戶都可以為環保出一份力。B項正確。

4.】最佳標題。本文作者說明人們從日常生活的細節做起，從自己家庭開始，一 點一滴著手保護環境，故本文最佳標題選A.

考點：環保類文章